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Parasitic Jaeger — Part 2
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It is not known whether the Long-tailed Jaeger, or Buffon's Skua, as they call it in England (Stercorarius longicaudus), undergoes the remarkable changes of plumage that its relatives indulge in or not, for its range is more northerly than that of any of the jaegers, and when it migrates south of the Arctic Circle, to our coasts, it is wearing feathers most confusingly like those of the parasitic jaeger in its light phase. Indeed, the young of these two species cannot be distinguished except by measuring their bills, when it is found that the long-tailed jaeger has the shorter bill.
The distinguishing mark of the adults of this species is the length of the central tail feathers, narrow and pointed, that project about seven inches beyond the others; but immature specimens lack even this mark. The description of the habits of the parasitic jaeger applies equally well to all of the three freebooters mentioned.
GULLS AND TERNS
(Family Laridoe)