258 SWIMMERS. 



This species chiefly inhabits the Arctic seas of both conti- 

 nents, whence it migrates short distances in winter, and is then 

 seen in Sweden and Norway, and perhaps also in the Orkneys 

 and the west of Scotland ; the old very rarely visit the banks 

 of the Rhine and the coasts of the ocean ; the young are more 

 given to wandering, and are sometimes even seen upon the 

 lakes of Switzerland and Germany. According to Richardson, 

 the Pomarine Jaeger is seen in the Arctic seas of America and 

 about the northern outlets of Hudson Bay. Mr. Audubon ob- 

 tained specimens on the coast of Labrador. It subsists on 

 putrid and other animal substances thrown up by the sea, and 

 also on fish and other matters which the Gulls disgorge when 

 pursued by it ; it also devours the eggs of sea-birds. It goes 

 more to sea in winter, and also towards the south, arriving at 

 Hudson Bay in May, coming in from seaward. It is rare and 

 accidental on the coast of the United States. 



This ocean prowler and parasite breeds in the Arctic regions, 

 and in winter roams on the open sea, wandering from the latitude 

 of New York southward. It occurs occasionally in the Bay of 

 Fundy, and a few examples have been taken on the Great Lakes. 



PARASITIC JAEGER. 



ARCTIC JAEGER. RICHARDSON'S JAEGER. MAN-OF-WAR. 

 StERCORARIUS PARASITICUS. 



Char. Light phase : Upper parts slaty brown ; top of head grayish 

 brown; rest of head and neck white, varied with yellow; under parts 

 white. Dark phase : Entire plumage sooty slate. Shafts of primaries 

 white ; middle tail-feathers long, narrow, and pointed ; bill slaty gray 

 tipped with black; legs and feet black. Length about 20 inches. 



Young birds of both phases are mottled and more or less varied with 

 buff. Adults also are met with in a mixed plumage, and these mottled 

 specimens are much more numerous than birds in full plumage. 



Nest. On an open moorland near the sea or the margin of a lake, or 

 upon an ocean island, — a mere hollow in the mossy turf, slightly lined 

 with grass and leaves. 



Eggs. 1-3 (usually 2) ; olive green, sometimes deeply tinged with yel- 

 low or reddish brown, marked with brown of several shades and lilac ; 

 average size about 2.30 X i-6o. 



