94 Recent Notes on the Great Ank. [Sess. 



are described as having been got on board by the ton weight. 

 The birds thus procured were salted down like herrings and 

 packed in barrels, and formed for many years the staple food 

 of the fishermen and others who visited the Newfoundland 

 banks and explored the North American coasts. It may be 

 admitted as a fact that, without the presence of the Great 

 Auks, the explorations that led to the settlement of North 

 America so quickly could not have been carried on, nor would 

 the fisheries upon the banks of Newfoundland have been de- 

 veloped as they were. The Great Auk was also a British 

 bird, and appears to have afforded food to our ancient inhabit- 

 ants in much the same way that at a later date it supplied 

 the wants of the voyagers to North America. The remnants 

 of the Great Auk colonies, in sadly reduced numbers, lingered 

 around the coasts of Britain and Iceland probably after the 

 birds had disappeared from the coasts of North America. The 

 final act in the drama, however, took place in the early days 

 of June 1844, when what are believed to have been the last 

 two Great Auks were killed upon a skerry called Eldey, off 

 the south-west coast of Iceland. The remains of this bird, 

 exterminated by man within the memory of those now living, 

 are so rare that they are among the most prized objects in 

 natural history collections. The skins and eggs are worth 

 many times their weight in gold, and the prices fetched at 

 public sales have caused quite a flutter of excitement far out- 

 side scientific circles. It is therefore no unworthy object we 

 have in view if we can place on record any information re- 

 garding the Great Auk ; and it is with that intention I am 

 about to address you to-night. 



Most of you are aware that a book was published a little 

 over two years ago, entitled ' The Great Auk or Garefowl ; its 

 History, Archaeology, and Eemains.' In those departments of 

 Great Auk research of which it treats, it may claim to be pretty 

 exhaustive ; but perhaps the most important result of its pub- 

 lication has been, that it has called attention to matters con- 

 nected with the Great Auk. This has led to accurate infor- 

 mation being given by critics and others upon a number of 

 points that might otherwise have remained unascertained. It 

 is with a portion of this supplementary information that I in- 

 tend to try to interest you. As it is desirable that I should 



