Alfcinistic Plumages. R. Deane. 
38 . Stercorarius parasiticus. Richardson’s Jaeger.- —Nau- 
mann mentions (Naturgesch. der Vogel Deutsekl., Vol. X, p. 518 ) speci¬ 
mens having single white feathers or spots of white feathers mixed with 
the usual brown color. 
. Bull N, O.O, 5, Jan., 1880, p, 30 
The Parasitic Jaeger at Bellingham Bay, Washington. —October 28, 
1893, I shot, on Bellingham Bay, a Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius para 
siticus, which species, I believe, has not heretofore been reported from 
this quarter of the Union, or at least from this State. The mounted skin 
of this specimen is now in my possession. The phase of plumage which 
it represents may, perhaps, be understood from the following description : 
Above chiefly dusky, darker on primaries, rectrices and crown, the hind 
neck paler, the sooty-brown feathers of interscapulars interspersed with 
feathers which are black broadly tipped with white; black and white bars 
extend around lower neck and across chest in a broad band; sides 
coarsely barred with black and white; both under and upper tail coverts 
contain plain dusky feathers mingled with feathers barred with black and 
huffish white; belly, throat and chin white; sides of neck whitish finely 
specked with dusky; small patch of pale buff at extremity of forehead; 
tarsi and feet black; nasal shield leaden blue. Length, 20 inches; wing, 
13; longest tail feathers, 8.50. When killed, the bird, with another of 
presumably the same species, was vigorously chasing a Bonaparte’s Gull. 
Its companion, which escaped capture, appeared to be of a nearly uniform 
sooty brown above and below, rather lighter than the upper parts of the 
one taken.— John M. Edson, New Whatcom , Washington. 
Auk XI. Jan. 1894 p.73 
