BIRDS OF NEW YORK II5 



feathers on the sides of the neck; bases of the wing feathers Ught. This 

 melanotic plumage is usually confined to the immature Vjirds, but may be 

 found in adults, and all stages or gradations between the dark phase des- 

 cribed above and the normal light plumage may be found. Intermediate 

 plumage: Dark band of spots across the breast, sometimes broadening 

 till the whole breast appears brown, mottled with white; sides barred with 

 brown ; under and upper tail coverts barred with white ; central tail feathers 

 project one inch; feet blotched with chrome yellow. Otherwise like the 

 adult. Young: Considerably smaller than the adult; bill and feet much 

 smaller and weaker ; central tail feathers projecting only one half inch or 

 less; body transversely waved with dull rufous, becoming broad bars on 

 the flanks and the tail coverts; brownish black prevailing on the back and 

 wing coverts; rufous predominating on neck and under parts; wings and 

 tail brownish black ; a dusky spot in front of the eye ; feet yellow ; toes black. 

 The different phases of plumage grade into each other imperceptibly. 



Length 20-23 inches; extent 48; wing 14; tail 8-9; bill i. 45-1. 75; 

 tarsus 2 ; tibia, bare .75 ; middle toe and claw 1.9-2 ; young less, in all dimen- 

 sions, wing 12.5 ; bill 1.25 ; tarsus 1.69, the tail varying from 5.5 to 6.5 inches; 

 the tail of the adult, exclusive of the elongated feathers, 5 inches. 



This species ma}^ be distinguished from the other jaegers by its greater 

 size, and by the shape of the central tail feathers, which are quite blunt 

 and twisted on their axes so that the vanes at the tips are nearly vertical. 



The Pomarine jaeger is a regular transient visitant along our Atlantic 



seaboard, occurring in June and July (Chapman), but more common in 



the fall from August 6th to October 30th. It is also a rare visitant to the 



Great Lakes. Their appearance in numbers on our coast is said to depend 



largely on the abundance of small bluefish. Migration records are as follows : 



Rockaway, L. I. Sept. 19, 1875. (i). N. T. Lawrence, Forest and Stream, 10: 235 



Aug. 30-Oct. 15, 1872. Numerous. " " 



Ossining, N. Y. Oct. 18, 1877. Dr A. K. Fisher 

 Long Lsland, N. Y. Aug. 11, 1888. L. S. Foster 



Little Gull Island, L. L Aug. 6-16, 1888. (common). Dutcher, Auk, 6: 125 

 Lake Ontario, Monroe co., N. Y. wv, rare. Truman R. Taylor 

 Buffalo, N. Y. (2). (Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. Collection and R. H. Reed collection). 



James H. Savage 

 Shinnecock bay, L. I. Oct. 9, 1885. (Carter). Dutcher, Long Island Notes 

 Amityville, L. I. 1885. " " 



Montauk, L. I. Sept. 18, 1888. (Scott). " " 



Little Gull Island, L. I. Sept. 18, 1888. (50). (Field)." « 



