RICHARDSON'S JAGER. 191 



Male, 1S^, 40. Young, in September, 15^; wing, 11^. 



Coast of Massachusetts and Maine, during winter. Breeds in the northern 

 barren grounds, away from the coast. 



Adult Male in spring. 



Bill about the length of the head, rather slender, straight, the tip curved. 

 Upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, toward the end curved, the 

 ridge broad and convex, the sides separated from the ridge by a narrow 

 groove, extremely narrow and convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip 

 compressed, rather obtuse. Nostrils in the fore part of the nasal groove, 

 nearer the tip than the base, sub-marginal, pervious, linear-oblong, wider 

 anteriorly. Lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, a slight 

 prominence at its extremity, beyond which the dorsal line is straight and 

 ascending, the sides sloping outwards and convex, the edges sharp and 

 inflected, the tip obliquely truncate and rather obtuse. 



Head rather small, oblong, much narrowed before. Neck of moderate 

 length. Body rather slender. Feet rather short, and of moderate strength; 

 tibia bare at its lower part; tarsus anteriorly covered with broad decurved 

 scutella, on the sides with oblong scales, behind with smaller oblong 

 prominent scales; hind toe extremely small and elevated, the fore toes of 

 moderate size, connected by reticulated webs, which have their margins 

 convex; the third toe longest, the fourth a little shorter, the second con- 

 siderably shorter; all covered above with numerous scutella, the lateral ones 

 margined externally with small prominent scales directed forwards. Claws 

 of moderate size, curved, acute, compressed, that of third toe with a sharp 

 inner edge. 



The plumage in general is close, elastic, soft, and blended; the feathers on 

 the back and wings rather compact and distinct. Wings very long, rather 

 broad, pointed; primary quills tapering and rounded, the first longest, the 

 rest rapidly graduated; secondary rather short, obliquely rounded. Tail 

 feathers of moderate length, excepting the two middle, which extend 

 beyond the rest and taper to a point, the other feathers broad and rounded, 

 there being twelve in all. 



Bill greyish-black, the upper part bluish. Iris brown. Legs and feet 

 black. The general colour of the plumage is of a sooty-brown, the upper 

 part of the head, the primary quills, and the tail darker, the breast and 

 abdomen lighter; the shafts of the primary quills white, of the tail feathers 

 brownish. 



Length to end of tail 18^ inches, to end of wings 17; extent of wings 40; 

 wing from flexure 12f; tail 8^, the middle feathers 2f longer than the rest; 

 bill along the back 1 T %, along the edge of lower mandible If; tarsus 1 T 8 ^; 

 middle toe 1-fV, its claw T \. 



