EXPLORATIONS IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR. 719 



Boues are found at all depths, but are most abundant, although poor- 

 est in preservation, near the surface. The final cause for the extermi- 

 nation of the Great Auk, as previously stated, is said to have been the 

 trade in feathers, and the birds are said to have been scalded, plucked, 

 and thrown aside, their bodies being so fat that they could be used as 

 fuel. Whether this last statement is or is not correct may be uncertain, 

 but the others are borne out by the condition of the remains. These are 

 most numerous along the crest of the island, where the upturned sod 

 reveals vast numbers of bones, interspersed here and there with patches 

 of charcoal, showing where the kettles swung in which the birds were 

 scalded. The parboiling was done along this ridge for the reason that 

 it was away from the sea, and thus would not alarm the birds when 

 landing, w T hile at the same time the drainage pools near at hand would 

 supply water for the kettles. From this point to the westward the 

 bones decrease in numbers, few being found on the southerly slope of 

 the island, although even here a deep stroke of the hoe never failed to 

 bring to light a bone or two. 



Eemains of the stone iuclosures, "compounds" they were called, into 

 which the Auks were driven like so many sheep, and where they were 

 kept until wanted, are still to be seen, the most complete lying near 

 the western point. These inclosures were readily made by standing 

 on edge some of the numerous granite slabs, which seem to have been 

 placed by nature just where they were most needed by the bird-hunters. 

 Almost in the center of the island are the ruins of three small huts, 

 two nearly leveled to the ground, the third, with its walls several feet 

 high, forming a conspicuous land-mark on the crest of the island. Tra- 

 dition is silent concerning the two older structures, but the third and 

 best preserved is variously stated to have been built for the accom- 

 modation of a sealing crew, placed here to winter some years ago, and 

 to have been erected by a party of guano-seekers in 1863. It is now 

 difficult to say which is the correct statement, but as for the others, it 

 seems quite probable that they were put up years ago by the extermi- 

 nators of the Auk. 



That the feather-hunters must have plied their trade with great vigor 

 is shown by the millions of bones scattered over an area of many acres, 

 and there is no doubt in the writer's mind but that parties passed the 

 entire season here in order to prosecute their work to the best advan- 

 tage. The sea would supply them with fresh fish, the island with eggs 

 and birds, occasional visits from the mainland would furnish such other 

 provisions as might be needed, such as water and wood, so that the 

 work of destruction sped merrily on to its end. 



Professor Milne doubted if all the bones he saw were those of the 

 Great Auk, but his doubts were without foundation, for it requires care- 

 ful searching to obtain remains of any other bird. Besides a large num- 

 ber of carefully-selected bones, a barrel full of indiscriminately chosen 

 remains was brought away, and yet in all this mass of material there 



