40 THK BIRDS OF MAINE 



sufficiently advanced. This species is an inhabitant of the 

 drier portions of the lowlands, usually solitary, though several 

 may be seen at one time in the neighborhood. When not on 

 the wing they may be seen sitting on an elevated tussock of 

 grass watching for insects. They seek their food by wandering 

 over great areas, generally the chains of lakes. Any refuse 

 matter, small fish or wounded bird, is eagerly seized by them. 

 When sitting on the water, the bouyancy of this bird is such 

 that it seems to scarcely touch the surface of the water. The iris 

 of this bird is dark brown, tarsi and toes bluish, web and soles 

 black." Chapman says (Birds of Eastern North America, p. 

 65) "Except during the nesting season the Jaegers are as a 

 rule pelagic, though they sometimes visit large bodies of 

 water inland. They generally obtain their food by robbing 

 Gulls and Terns, and have been named the Hawks of the sea." 

 The nest is reported to be placed on the ground on dry elevated 

 portions of the Arctic marshes and moors. It is a rude aifair 

 of grass and moss, in which two to four eggs are laid during 

 late June. The eggs are pale olive green or yellowish gray 

 colored, spotted with brown, umber or black, chiefly about the 

 larger end. Size about 2.25 x 1.70 (Brewer). 



37. Stercorarkis parasiticus (^hinn.^. Parasitic Jaeger. 



Plumage in adults : dark phase ; dark slaty brown, slightly lighter below ; 

 light phase; above slaty fuscous; top of head and lores black; sides of head 

 and back of neck yellowish ; breast and belly white, flanks fuscous. Imma- 

 ture plumage : dark phase ; differs from adult dark phase in that the feath- 

 ers on the under parts are marked more or less with buff ; light phase ; while 

 differing in other details the chief difference readily discernable is that the 

 white under parts show more or less buffy washings and are somewhat irreg- 

 ularly barred with fuscous. Wing 11.80 to 13.50 ; culmen 1.30 ; tarsus 1.65 ; 

 tail of adults 7.00, immature 5.50. 



Geog. Dist. — Northern part of northern hemisphere, nesting in Arctic 

 regions and wintering from New York and California to Brazil and South 

 Africa. 



County Records. — Cumberland; have received many in spring and fall, 

 (Lord). Hancock; spring and fall visitor, (Knight). Knox; winter visitor, 

 (Rackliff ); received a female from Port Clyde in May, 1901, (Spinney). Saga- 

 dahoc; not common near shore, (Spinney). Washington; rare, (Boardman). 



