104 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
feet. As I approached the spot where the Snipe’s eggs lay, 1' 
noticed those birds on a knoll just beyond, but had paid no 
attention ; but as the birds kept leaving me to hover over the 
knoll and then return to the attack, I examined the spot, and 
there, in a cup-shaped depression in the moss, lay two dark 
greenish eggs marked with an abundance of spots. During 
the breeding season these birds and the preceding species have 
a cunning habit of tolling one away from their nests by dragging 
themselves along the ground and feigning the greatest suffering. 
They roll among the tussocks, beat their wings, stagger from 
side to side, and seem to be unable to fly, but they manage to 
increase the distance from their starting point at a very respect- 
able rate, and ere long suddenly launch forth on the wing. 
“After a successful hunt, the Jaegers of this and the last 
species alight upon some prominent knoll and sun themselves, 
their white breasts showing for a long distance. They are very 
curious at times, and I have called them within gunshot on 
several occasions by tossing some conspicuous object into the 
air as the birds were passing. On one occasion I saw a Jaeger 
swoop down at a Duck paddling quietly on the surface of a 
pond, and the latter went flajiping away in mortal terror, while 
the Jaeger passed on, probably highly pleased at giving the 
Duck such a fright. 
“ Their taste is omnivorous, and they harry the marshes for 
Mice and Lemmings, and feast upon the dead fish and other 
animal matter cast up by the sea, or search the hillsides for 
berries. The arrival of a vessel in their neighbourhood calls 
them about to secure the offal thrown overboard. The Eskimo 
say that they eat just what men like, hence the name given 
them, derived from the word ‘yuk,’ or ‘man.’ 
“ The swiftness and dexterity with which they pursue Gulls 
and force them to disgorge is a beautiful sight to witness; and 
while either of the small Terns or Gulls can drive the Jaeger 
from the vicinity of their nest, the latter robs them of their 
prey at pleasure. While I was camping at the Yukon mouth a pair 
of these birds made their haunt in the vicinity of my tent and fed 
upon the offal thrown upon the ice a few yards from the door. 
They soon became very familiar, and w'ere always on hand, 
hovering close overhead when we came in from a hunt. They 
would stand about within a few yards and watch us with wistful 
