186 



THE PO MARINE JAGER. 



"^Lestris pomarinus, Temm. 

 PLATE CCCCLI.— Female. 



This bird I never had an opportunity of examining until I visited Labrador; 

 nor am I able to give you much information respecting its habits as obtained 

 by my own observation, and therefore I shall take the liberty of adding to 

 my description such notices as I may judge interesting, taken from the 

 works of authors who, having seen for themselves, are entitled to credit. 



While sailing towards the harbour of Little Macatina, and yet about forty 

 miles distant from it, although not far from the shore, we observed a bird of 

 this species approaching the vessel. It flew in the manner of the Pigeon 

 Hawk, to my account of which I may refer you, alighted on the water like 

 a Gull, and fed on some codfish's liver that had been thrown overboard for 

 the purpose of attracting it. Several small Petrels joined it, but it did not 

 come within shot, and the sea was too rough for even our whale-boat. On 

 the 30th of July the young men of my party brought me a fine adult female, 

 in excellent order, from which I drew the figure in the plate. A. few days 

 after we experienced a very heavy gale while in the harbour of Bras d'Or, 

 during the continuance of which twenty or thirty of these birds came about 

 us, although none of them approached within shot, and no boat could have 

 ridden the furious waves without imminent danger. On that occasion, how- 

 ever, I was enabled to observe some of their habits. They flew wildly 

 about, yet with much grace, moving rapidly to and fro, now struggling 

 against the blast, now bearing off and drifting to a considerable distance. 

 Many Gulls were flying about, having also made for the harbour to obtain 

 some shelter from the storm. The Lestris chased the smaller species with 

 effect, but never approached the Great Black-backed Gulls, nor even their 

 3 r oung, which were also flying with the rest. The Kittiwakes and the Ring- 

 billed Gulls were the species which we saw them attack, although they did 

 not procure much food from them, the weather being such that they could 

 not fish. They were therefore contented, as was the Lestris, with the fishes 

 that had been thrown on shore. At times the Jagers would ramble over 

 the land, flying close upon the rocks, and proceeding at a rapid rate even 

 against the wind. They remained in our neighbourhood until the tempest 



