12 



THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY 



two eggs, averaging 3 : 00x2:00 in. among 

 the fissures of the rocks. Eggs are cream y 

 or bluish white, marked with brown and 

 blackish. 



(11) 34. Alle alle: 



Dovekie (752.) 



Small. Above black. Edges of scapulars, 

 tips of secondaries, and under parts white. 

 Bill short, black. Feet reddish. Length 

 7 1-2 in. 



Not uncommon along the coast in winter 

 Two or three instances of its capture here. 

 I had one specimen which was caught in a 

 creek at Shelter Island, evidently blown in 

 from sea by a heavy easterly storm. Breeds 

 in the far north, laying one pale bluish egg, 

 in crevices of the rocks. Eggs average 1 : 

 85 x 1 : 27. 



(12) 35. Megalestris skua: 



Skua Gull. (696) 



"Above dark brown, the feathers tipped 

 with gray. Wings chocolate brown, with 

 their shafts and basal parts white. Tail dark 

 brown, white at base. Beneath dark gray- 

 ish brown. Bill, legs, and feet black. The 

 central tail feather extend beyond the others 

 Length 22 in. Bill 2: 50. This species has 

 rarely been obtained in the United States" 

 (Baird). 



Extremely rare straggler in winter. "Mr. 

 M. F. King, one of the crew of the Life. 

 Saving Station at Amaganset, Suffolk Co., 

 sent to me, in the flesh a specimen of this 

 species. He informed me that he found the 

 bird March 17, '86 in a large piece of ice, 

 which had formed on the meadow back of 

 the beach, He also stated that Jan. 9th the 

 tides were exceedingly high, by reason of a 

 very severe N, E. storm and gale of wind. 

 He thought the bird probably died near the 

 shore and was driven by the very voilent 

 surf and wind to where it was found. The 

 high tide was followed immediately by very 

 cold weather which encased the bird in its 

 icy tomb, thus preserving it until found 



ai d permitting a new record for Long Island 

 and the third and most southern one for 

 North America. Mr. King, further stated 

 that no ice was driven on the beach during 

 the past winter, therefore the bird must have 

 died while on or near the beach. It is prob- 

 able that it died of starvation as it was very 

 much emaciated. The sex could not be 

 determined as the viscera had begun to 

 decompose" (Dutcher). 



Breeds in the far north, laying two or 

 three eggo of an olive or drab, with brown 

 and chocolate markings, in a shallow nest 

 on the ground. 



(13) 36. Stercorarius pomarinus: 



Pomarine Jaeger (697.) 



Above blackish brown. Throat and under 

 parts white. A band of brown spots across 

 upper part of breast. Sides and back of 

 neck bright yellow. Shafts of quills white. 

 The middle tail feathers extend beyond the 

 others 2 inches. Length 20 in. 



Probably a very rare straggler in winter. 

 Breeds in Greenland. Habits and eggs 

 similar to preceding. 



(14) 37. Stercorarius parasiticus: 



Parasitic Jaeger. (69§.) 



"Above blackish brown, darkest on wings 

 and tail. Shafts of primaries white. Nape 

 and sides of neck yellowish white. Beneath 

 with. Bill and feet black the former bluish 

 at base. Centeral tail feathers extend 

 beyond the others about 3 in. Length 21 

 inches. Breeds in the far north. 



About the 10th, of Sept. 1882 they were 

 common in this part of the Sound. I shot 

 a malejabout this time. At the present time 

 (Aug. 25, '83) Jaegers are reported to be 

 occasionally seen from Stratford Shoal Light 

 House. I saw several there Aug. 16th and 

 17th, ('83.) I have also seen them at other 

 times but was unable to tell which species 

 they were. Sometimes they are not un- 

 common late autumn visitors at the time 

 when the Terns are moving South" (Helme). 



