TOWNSEND AND ALLEN: LABRADOR BIRDS. 
309 
of Labrador and Audubon was probably misinformed when lie states: 
“The cod-fishers assured me that they frequently breed there.” He 
himself did not S£e any. Stearns savs they are “abundant certain 
seasons. Occasional all along the coast,” and (“ Bird life in Labra¬ 
dor”): “From October 15 until the ice sets in, I found these little 
fellows common.” Turner found them “common in Hudson Strait” 
and on December 19, 1882, a specimen was taken 100 miles up the 
Koksoak River. “ Occurs in myriads along the eastern shore of Labra¬ 
dor. Breeds plentifully in certain localities not visited by me.” 
Low reports that tliev were very common in Hamilton Inlet till Jan- 
uary 20, 1894. Numbers were found frozen in bushes along the 
edge of open water. More recently, Low (’ 06 ) found ’them not 
common during winter in Hudson Bay, but rare in the summer. 
Bigelow saw one on September 18th off Cape Harrison. Mr. Schmitt, 
the Moravian brother at Nain told us that he not uncommonly saw 
this species in summer. 
We saw none on the Labrador coast, but at Flower’s Cove, New¬ 
foundland, across the Straits of Belle Isle, on July 9th, a bird that was 
crippled by the loss of one foot swam up to the steamer’s side and 
was captured by the mate with a bucket. The specimen (coll. C. W. 
Townsend, no. 1204) is a female in much worn summer plumage. 
Its crippled condition undoubtedly accounted for its presence so far 
south at this season. Its occurrence on the coast in winter is of course 
determined by the ice or rather by the presence of open water. If 
there is no open water, water birds are not found. 
Megalestris skua (Briinn.). 
Skua; “Sea-hen.” 
Accidental visitor. 
There is but one record for this species on the Labrador coast. 
Turner (in Packard, ’ 91 , p. 438) states that one was “seen near the 
vessel, sitting in the water off the north side of the Strait of Belle Isle, 
June 22, 1882.” Low (’ 06 ) speaks of having seen this bird in the 
eastern part of Hudson Strait. 
Stercorarius pomarinus (Teinin.). 
Pomarine Jaeger; “Bo’s’n.” 
Common summer visitor; probably breeds in northern part. 
Audubon saw some Pomarine Jaegers “not far from shore” at 
