THE aARE-FOWL AND ITS HISTOEIANS. 477 



low rocks fifty years before, at wliicli time, undoubtedly, it was very 

 rare. 



With regard to Iceland, we need not go so fully into details 

 as we bave hitherto done, for the researches into the Grare-fowl's 

 liistory carried on in that island by AYolley, have been very recently 

 laid before English readers in one of the papers quoted at the head 

 of this article. But it will be well to point out some of the dis- 

 crepancies between the statements therein made, and those contained 

 in M. Preyer's treatise, for as this gentleman was in Iceland since 

 Wolley's visit, it might periiaps be supposed otherwise that the 

 information he furnishes is founded on better authority, as it is of 

 later date. The reverse is the case. M. Preyer seems to have had 

 his time fully occupied with other matters during his stay in Ice- 

 land, while WoUey's voyage was undertaken with the sole purpose 

 of ascertaining the fate of this species, and of hunting up tradi- 

 tions respecting it ; so, that while the former was apparently content 

 with obtaining such information as he could from persons in Eeyk- 

 javik, who had never visited its haunts, the latter was living for 

 two months at the miserable fishing-village whence all the later 

 Gare-fowling expeditions had started, pertinaciously and laboriously 

 examining, cross-examining, and re-examining every survivor who 

 had taken part in them. It is also the fact that M. Preyer's principal 

 informant was the same merchant who gave "Wolley a statement 

 containing some " details which are certainly inaccurate." Thus 

 then not the slightest credence should be given to the assertion 

 that Karlsklippe was formerly an abiding- place of the G-are-fowh 

 It is a little stack of rock, nearly perpendicular on every side, 

 situated hardly more than a stone's throw from Cape Eeykjanes, and 

 were it not that the shopkeepers of Eeykjavik are as imperfectly 

 acquainted with the minute topography of their coasts as the citizens 

 of London are with that of the Nore, it could hardly be thought 

 possible for any man in his senses to ascribe such an abode to the bird. 

 M. Preyer also shows but little knowledoe of the remarkable skerries 

 which run out from Eeykjanes. The rock known as Kerling, or more 

 properly Kelling, is part of the mainland, and not an island at all. 

 Karl, as we have already said, is only just separated from the land, 

 and is never counted by sea-faring Icelanders as one of the Powl- 

 skerries ; while it is Geirf ugladrangr and not EUlevjnrdrangr (a little 

 insignificant islet, over which the waves break) which lies the furthest 

 to seaward. In addition to these manifest inaccuracies, we have also 



