STERCORARTID.E — THE SKUAS AND JAEGERS — STERCORARIUS. 333 



is occasionally seen in the interior, on the Great Lakes, and on both of the Atlan- 

 tic shores, and is found far down the southern coast, to Africa on the east, and to 

 Florida on the west. 



It is abundant during the winter on the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts, and 

 is the common Gull Hunter of our fishermen. Single examples have been taken on 

 Lake Michigan in midwinter. 



A single example of this species was procured by Mr. MacFarlane on the Lower 

 Anderson River, near the Arctic Ocean ; it was shot in June, 1863. It was not noted 

 by Mr. Dall as occurring in Alaska, and no specimen was secured ; but Mr. Bannister 

 refers to a Stercorarius with an apparently even tail, which he frequently observed 

 at St. Michael's. 



Mr. Kumlien states that this bird was observed by him at Bourne Bay, New- 

 foundland, August 16; and he met with it from that point to latitude 71°. It was 

 abundant in many localities. He nowhere found it so common as on the southern 

 shores of Disco Island, where it was breeding on inaccessible cliffs. This bird lives 

 chiefly by plundering the Kittiwake; but will also attack other species — even the 

 glaucus. It is also very destructive of young birds and eggs. 



Specimens of this bird were secured at Fort Simpson by Mr. B. Ross; at Fort 

 Rae by Mr. Clarke ; at Fort Resolution by .Mr. McKenzie ; at Big Island by Mr. 

 Reid ; and it is said by Richardson to be a not uncommon species in the Arctic 

 Seas and in the northern outlet of Hudson's Bay, where it subsists on putrid fish 

 and other substances thrown up by the sea. and also on the matters disgorged by 

 the Gulls which it pursues. It retires from the north in the winter, and makes its 

 first appearance in Hudson's Bay in May, coming in from seaward. The Indians of 

 the Hudson's Bay region look upon it as the companion of the Fskimos, and as par- 

 taking of all the evil qualities ascribed to that hated race, and therefore hold it in 

 abhorrence. It is given by Professor Reinhardt as being a resident species in Green- 

 land ; and Mr. Bernard Ross met with it on the Mackenzie. 



Professor Alfred Newton refers to Scoresby as having observed two species of Skua 

 in Spitzbergen, but thinks it doubtful whether one of them was this bird or the 

 longicaudus. Ross speaks positively as to a single example of this species having 

 been seen in Parry's voyage; this flew past his boats, in latitude <S2°. Professor 

 Newton adds that some of his party saw a bird in Sassen Bay which Mr. Wagstaffe 

 described as having the form of the tail unmistakably characteristic of the adult 

 of this species. No specimen has, however, been actually secured at Spitzbergen. 



An immature bird of this species is mentioned by Giraud as having been shut 

 on the south shore of Long Island. Its occurrence on that coast he regarded as 

 exceedingly rare. An example is recorded as having been obtained, July 4, 1869, 

 on the Susquehanna, in Lancaster County, Pa., by Mr. Vincent Barnard; and an adult 

 bird was secured by Professor Baird, during the summer of 1840, at Harrisburg, on 

 the same river. Such occurrences, of course, can only be regarded as accidental, and 

 cannot be readily accounted for. 



J. Matthew Jones records (" Am. Nat." IV. 253) that, Oct. 4, 1869, a fine example 

 of this species was shot at Digby, N. S. 



Professor Newton states that on his voyage to Madeira the steamer in which he 

 was a passenger was followed by a company of about thirty birds of this species, 

 which kept in close attendance while the vessel was weather-bound at Torbay ; and 

 about as many more were around each of two other craft detained in like manner. 

 The birds were very tame, coming close alongside the quarter-deck in quest of food ; 

 and dire was the strife and loud the contention as one lucky bird after another seized 



