KITTIWAKE.
RISS A TRIDACTYLA {Linn.).
Larus tridactylus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 224 (1766) ; Nauru, x.
p. 322; Hewitson, ii. p. 493.
Rissa tridactyla, Macg. v. p. 515; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 650;
Dresser, viii. p. 417.
Mouette tridactyle, French; Dreizehige Move, German;
Gaviota, Spanish.
This very graceful little Gull is one of the most
common of its family upon the coasts of the British
Islands throughout the year, but it breeds exclusively
on rocks, and on our low-lying shores is principally
known as an autumnal or winter visitor. A large
number frequent the coast of Devon between Torbay
and Plymouth during July and August, but I could
never hear of more than one nest in that district; this I
discovered on a rock off Berry Head in June 1876 ; it
contained three young birds nearly ready to fly. I was
constantly yachting about this part of the coast in the
latter part of July and beginning of August in the years
1880, 1881, 1882, and 1883, and none of the local
fishermen and boatmen would believe that I was not
mistaken about this isolated nest, and maintained that