JAGERS. 311 



lower of one piece, shorter, angular beneath, and obtuse at the ex- 

 tremity Nostrils towards the point of the bill ; lateral, oblique, 

 narrow, pervious, closed behind by the cere. Tongue channelled, 

 acute, slightly cleft at the end. Feet slender ; naked space above 

 the knee moderate ; tarsus equal to the middle toe, scaly behind; 

 webs of the feet entire ; lateral toes edged exteriorly with a narrow 

 membrane ; hind toe very small, placed almost on a level with the 

 anterior, resting on the ground : nails strong, much curved and very 

 acute. Wings moderate, acute ; 1st primary longest. Tail slightly 

 rounded, consisting of 12 feathers, the two middle ones very long. 



The sexes alike in plumage : the young differing from the adult, 

 and changing repeatedly. They moult twice in the year without 

 changing their colors, which are generally dark brown, with white 

 or light tints on the neck and under surface of the body. The young 

 more spotted than the old, and with the middle tail feathers scarcely 

 longer than the others. The adult is distinguished by the presence 

 of these two long feathers. The head and eyes are large, and the 

 neck rather stout. 



These are bold and predacious birds, excepting in the breed- 

 ing season, and during migration almost constantly out at sea. 

 Their flight is high, soaring and majestic, describing circles round 

 the objects in which they are in quest, at times they are said to ap- 

 pear as if tumbling over, and then fly in short curves. They are 

 usually seen only in pairs, are voracious and parasitic, seizing their 

 prey from other birds, particularly from the Terns and Gulls, and 

 sometimes laying contribution even on the gigantic and cowardly 

 Albatross ; they thus attack their providers on the wing and 

 cause them to drop or disgorge their prey, which they then 

 seize before it arrives at the water. They also often provide 

 for themselves, feeding on floating objects, as they never dive, and 

 sometimes live on the flesh of cetaceous animals, shell-fish, molus- 

 ca, eggs, and young birds. They inhabit the Antarctic as well as 

 the Arctic seas, migrating only short distances towards the warmer 

 climates in the severity of winter ; they then sometimes seek out 

 the shelter of bays and inlets, and appear less active and courageous 

 than ordinary. They congregate in numbers to breed in the cold 

 regions which they prefer, nesting in tufts of grass, on rocks, or 

 merely on the sands. The eggs are 1 or 2. They show great cour- 

 age in defence of their young, attacking indifferently every thing 

 which approaches their eyries. 



