194 THE ARCTIC JAGER. 



of the quills and only the upper parts of the tail-feathers pure white, the rest 

 blackish-brown; the two elongated tail-feathers gradually diminish in breadth 

 towards the extremity, which ends in a very attenuated point; bill and feet 

 as in the old individuals." 



Captain James Clark Ross has informed me by letter, that this species 

 was seen in great numbers during his late voyage towards the Arctic circle; 

 that the Pomarine Lestris was less abundant, and Richardson's very rare. 



Lestris Buffonii, Bonap. Syn., p. 364. 



Lestris parasitica, Arctic Jager, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer,, vol. ii. p. 430. 



Arctic Jager, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 317. 



Arctic Jager, Lestris parasiticus, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 470. 



Male, 23, 45. 



Ranges, during winter, along and off the coast, though always in sight of 

 land, as far as the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds in high latitudes. 



Adult Male. 



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 not much 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, rounded. Tail feathers of 



