The Pacific Kittiwake 



Authorities. — Loomis (Stercorarius longicaudus), Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 

 2, v., 1895, p. 213 (Monterey) ; Bishop, Condor, vol. vii., 1905, p. 141 (Pacific Beach, 

 San Diego Co.); Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 1, 1900, p. 8 (Kotzebue Sound. 

 Alaska; desc. nest, eggs, habits, food, etc.); ibid., Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 11, 1 9 1 5 , 

 p. 20 (Monterey). 



THIS, the smallest, as well as the most active and graceful of the 

 Jaegers, appears to be more of a stay-at-home than any of its fellows. 

 At least it does not come so far south in winter, having been only twice 

 recorded from California; once by Loomis at Monterey, and once by 

 Marsden at Pacific Beach, in San Diego County. 



The Long-tailed Jaegers are the first of their kind to revisit the 

 northern tundras when spring has forced winter's lock. On such oc- 

 casions they dash about like excited schoolboys, chasing their fellows in 

 mock pursuit, or relieving their feelings by shrill cries. The selection 

 of a mate is a noisy as well as momentous affair, but once accomplished, 

 the pair retires to some lonesome spot of the tundra, where two elongated 

 dark eggs of an olive-green hue, marked with blackish, are laid in a 

 cup-shaped depression lined with moss. The parent birds are skilled in 

 ruse rather than in defense, and in progressive paroxysms rehearse the 

 agonies of mortal wounds so as to deceive the very elect — the while the 

 nest is being left behind. 



Although as skilled as any of their kind in exacting fishing toll of 

 gull or tern, these furtive mischiefs have bad consciences, insomuch that 

 they make a poor fist of robbing birds' nests. Curlews, terns, tiny 

 sandpipers even, exalted by the righteousness of their cause, can drive 

 these cowards out of bounds. When courage fails, therefore, they will 

 descend to lemmings, insects, offal, — berries even. A full crop restores 

 confidence, and our hero of many inconsistencies settles on the highest 

 hummock which the neighborhood affords, cocks his head back, thrusts 

 out his gleaming white breast, and poses as an amiable landmark, till 

 digestion and cupidity urge a repetition of the endless round. 



No. 270 



Pacific Kittiwake 



A. O. U. No. 40. Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ridgway. 



Synonym. — Kittiwake Gull. 



Description. — Adult in summer: General plumage pure white, the mantle deep 

 pearl-gray; five or sometimes six outer primaries with terminal portion black, the 

 breadth of black area on first primary about three inches, decreasing to .85 in the 



I361 



