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LESTRIS POMARINUS— TEMMINCK. 



POMARINE JAGER. 



Lestris pomarinus, Bonap. 



Lestris pomariuus, Sw. & Rich. 



Pomarine Jager, Nuttall. 



Pomarine Jager, Lestris pomarinus, Aud. 



Specific Character — Middle pair of tail feathers retain their length 

 throughout, and are rounded at the tip. Adult with the "bill dark 

 brown, tipped with black ; legs black ; plumage of the nape, long, 

 tapering, acute ; head, neck, under eyelid, a patch at the corner of 

 the mouth, back, wings, and tail, brownish-black — flanks and sides 

 of the breast blotched with the same ; shafts of the quills and tail 

 feathers white, exeept at their tips ; neck straw yellow ; auriculars, 

 chin, throat, breast and belly, white , vent and under tail coverts 

 blackish-brown; tail slightly rounded, independent of the middle 

 pair of feathers, which project three inches ; these latter retain their 

 breadth throughout, are rounded at the tip, and are twisted so that 

 their vanes incline obliquely toward each other. Length twenty- 

 one inches, wing fifteen." An immature specimen now 

 before me, shot on the south shore of Long Island, has the upper half 

 of the legs yellow, lower half, feet, and webs, black ; fore part of 

 the head, crown, back, wings, and tail, blackish-brown ; lower parts 

 grayish-white ; fore part of neck and the sides of body barred with 

 blackish-brown. 



The Pomarine Jager is said to inhabit during summer the high 

 northern latitudes, migrating to the more temperate parts in winter, 

 at which season it is occasionally observed along the sea coast of 

 the Eastern States. Its occurrence on Long Island is exceedingly 

 rare, and from not having an opportunity of observing its habits, I 

 cannot do better than give the remarks as stated by Dr. Richardson. 



" The Pomarine Jager, or Gull-hunter, is not uncommon in the 

 Arctic seas and northern outlets of Hudson's Bay, where it subsists 

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

 and also on the matters which the Gulls disgorge when pursued by 

 it. It retires from the North in the winter, and makes its first ap- 

 pearance at Hudson's Bay in Maine, coming in from seaward. The 

 Indians abhor it, considering it to be a companion of the Esquimaux, 

 and to partake of its evil qualities." 



