34 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



Plumage, blackish-brown all over, shading into black 

 on crown, lightening on abdomen; primaries, whitish 

 at base; feet, blotched with yellow and dusky; middle 

 tail-feathers |irojecting but half an inch. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest: On the ground in northern 

 marshes, of grass and moss. Eggs : 2 or 3, olive, pale 

 greenish, or brownish, spotted with dark brown. 



Distribution. — Northern part of northern hemi- 



sphere; breeds from Melville Island and central Green- 

 land south to northern Alaska, northern Mackenzie, and 

 Baffin Land, and also on .\rctic islands of eastern 

 hemisphere ; winters off Atlantic coast south to New 

 Jersey; in fall migration common along the California 

 coast: winters south to the Galapagos, Peru, Africa, 

 and .Xustralia ; accidental in Nebraska ; occurs irregu- 

 larlv on the Great Lakes. 



Aly first experience with that bold niaritinie 

 robber, the Poniarine Jaeger, was on a day late 

 in August, many years ago, when I crossed 

 some Cape Cod sand-dunes and came in sight of 

 the sea. Flocks of Terns and small Gulls were 

 hovering over the water in all directions. Over 

 them were big dark-colored birds with long tails 



On the fishing-banks out at sea, wherever the 

 Shearwaters and Petrels gather, from August on 

 through the autumn, I have usually found this 

 Jaeger in attendance, ^^'ith them are apt to be 

 about as many Parasitic Jaegers atid an occa- 

 sional one of the Long-tailed species. The Jaegers 

 are seen flying about, not close to the water like 



Young — Dark Phase 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



POMARINE JAEGER (i nat. size) 

 A bold maritime robber 



coursing about with strong, swift flight. Now 

 and then one of these would select for its victim 

 a Tern which had just caught a fish, and give 

 chase. No matter how the unfortunate one might 

 dart and dodge, the Jaeger followed every move, 

 atid by savage attacks finally compelled it to 

 drop the fish. Then by a spectacular swoop the 

 robber would seize the booty in mid-air. When 

 no victims are available for a hold-uii. the 

 Jaeger turns scavenger and picks uj) dead 

 marine life like a true Gull, but its preference 

 is for depredation. 



the other:^, but higher up, say fifty to seventy- 

 five feet, as though to get a better view, to detect 

 any weaker bird which makes a lucky strike. 

 Though somewhat shyer than the rest, they are 

 bold enough upon occasion, especially when 

 eatables are being passed around. Sometimes I 

 have brought theiu up quite close by making 

 believe to throw something overboard. I have 

 baited up numbers of them by throwing out fish 

 livers, and made the most of the opportunity in 

 securing photographs. At close range it was 

 fasciimting to study the different individuals as 



