Dark  stage :  Plumage  dark  slaty  brown,  darker  on  top  of
head,  very  slightly  lighter  on  under  parts.  Immature  speci-
mens, which  seem  to  be  most  abundant  off  our  coasts,
show  sooty  slate  plumage;  bordered,  tipped,  or  barred
with  buffy,  rufous,  or  brownish  black,  giving  the  bird  a  mot-
tled appearance.  Plumage  extremely  variable  with  age  and
season.
Range — Nests  in  Barren  Grounds,  Greenland,  and  other  high
northern  districts;  migrates  southward  along  the  Atlantic
and  Pacific  coasts  and  through  the  Great  Lakes,  wintering
from  New  York,  California,  and  the  Middle  States  to  Brazil.
Season — October  to  June.     Winter  visitor.
This  dusky  pirate,  strong  of  wing  and  marvelously  skilful
and  alert  in  its  flight,  uses  its  superior  powers  chiefly  to  harass
and  prey  upon  smaller  birds.  Lashing  the  air  with  its  long  tail,
and  with  wide  wing  stretchings  and  powerful  strokes,  the
jaeger  comes  bearing  down  on  a  kittiwake  gull  that  holds  a

32


CORMORANTS.
Jaegers

dripping  fish  ready  for  a  contemplated  dinner.  To  dart  away
from  its  tormentor,  that  darts,  too,  even  more  suddenly ;  to  outrace
the  jaeger,  although  freighted  with  the  fish,  are  tried  resorts  that
the  little  gull  must  finally  despair  of  when  the  inevitable  moment
arrives  that  the  coveted  fish  has  to  be  dropped  for  the  pirate  to
snatch  up  and  bear  away  in  triumph.
