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THE ARCTIC JAGER. 



LeSTRIS PARASITICUS) BoiE. 



PLATE CCLXVII. Male and Female. 



During winter this indefatigable teaser of the smaller Gulls often 

 ranges along our southern coasts as far as the Mexican Gulf, where I 

 have seen it, as well as opposite the shores of the Floridas ; but I never 

 met with a single individual in summer, even in the most northern parts, 

 although I had expected to find it breeding on the coasts of Labrador 

 and Newfoundland. Few birds surpass it in power or length of flight. 

 It generally passes through the air at a height of fifty or sixty yards, 

 flying in an easy manner, ranging over the broad bays, on which Gulls 

 of various kinds are engaged in procuring their food. No sooner has it 

 observed that one of them has secured a fish, than it immediately flies to- 

 ward it and gives chase. It is almost impossible for the Gull to escape, 

 for the warrior with repeated jerkings of his firm pinions sweeps towards 

 it, with the rapidity of a Peregrine Falcon pouncing on a Duck. Each 

 cut and turn of the Gull only irritates him the more and whets his keen 

 appetite, until by two or three sudden dashes, he forces it to disgorge the 

 food it had so lately swallowed. This done, the poor Gull may go in 

 search of more ; the Lestris is now for a while contented, and alights on 

 the water to feed at leisure. But soon, perceiving a distant flock of 

 Gulls, he rises on wing and speeds towards them. Renewing his at- 

 tacks, he now obtains an abundant supply, and at length, when quite 

 gorged, searches for a place on which to alight, unseen by any other of his 

 tribe more powerful than himself. When on wing, its beautiful long 

 tail-feathers seem at times to afford this bird great assistance in execut- 

 ing short sudden turns, which have often brought to my mind the mo- 

 tions of a greyhound while pursuing a hare. By sudden lashings of its 

 tail, it can instantly turn, or arrest its flight. When it is on the water, 

 it keeps that part upright, but when on a rock or a floating piece of tim- 

 ber, it allows it to fall in a graceful manner. 



Although usually seen single, or at most in pairs, during the winter, 



I observed this species in April, on my voyage to the Florida Keys, in 



■ flocks of from ten to fifteen, congregated as if for the purpose of return- 



