310 
NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 
THE POMARINE HAWK-GULL 
Lestris pomarinus. 
PLATE CXXXIII. FIG. 292 (Immature). 
Lestris pomarinus. Temminck, Man. d’Orn. Vol. 2, p.793, Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p.364. 
L. id. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 315. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 7, p. 186, pi. 451 (female). 
Characteristics. Tarsus 2'0. A broad dusky band, more or less distinct, over the breast. 
Central tail-feathers wide to the tips, where they are rounded. Length, 
18-0. 
Description. Adult: “Front, crown and occiput, back and wings uniform dark brown; 
feathers of the neck long and yellowish ; throat, fore part of the neck and belly white : on the 
breast a wide collar, formed by broad spots. Length, 15'0-16'0” {Temminck). 
A yearling in the State Collection: Bill 1 • 1 measured from above, 0'3 wide at base. 
Tarsus 1 • 8. Tail nearly even ; the outer feather somewhat longer than the adjacent one ; 
the central pair broad, subacuminate, 0‘7 longer than the others. Color: Crown brown 
varied with rufous ; the occiput darker : a deep crescent-shaped black spot before the eyes : 
corners of the mouth dark brown. Back and wing-coverts dark brown; the feathers tipped 
with rufous. Outer webs of the quills deep black, and tipped with rufous : in some lights, the 
outer web of the first quill appears to be slate-colored. Shafts white, except at the tips ; the 
base of all the quills white, more or less tinged with reddish. Upper tail-coverts with broad 
angular bars of rufous, tipped with brown : lateral tail-feathers tipped with whitish. Chin 
rusty white. Throat whitish, streaked with brown; lower part of the throat dusky, barred 
with brown and reddish : sides and vent barred with the same, the rufous tint becoming more 
pronounced. Underside of the wings, and the long axillary feathers light rufous, with angular 
brown bars. Legs and feet yellowish ; outer part of the web dark colored or black. Length, 
17'5. 
In the collection of my friend W. Cooper, is a specimen younger I think than the one just 
described, and presenting the following variations : The whole head and neck light rufous, 
faintly striped with brown. Quills and secondaries tipped with reddish, passing into white. 
A broad bar of reddish or cream on the outer webs of the first six quills : inner webs white 
to within a short distance from the tips. The same black crescent-shaped eye-mark, bill, 
feet, etc. 
In the Cabinet of the Lyceum is another, with the crown brown, streaked with greyish; 
occiput, nape and sides of the neck light straw-yellow, finely streaked with brown; chin and 
abdomen white, immaculate ; throat with interrupted pointed brown dots or streaks, slightly 
tinged with rufous; breast and sides barred with brown ; rump and upper and under tail- 
coverts with interrupted brown bars, which are bordered with rufous; quills and tail-feathers 
