1896-97-] The Great Auk. 245 



I have received from the author, Mons. M. H. Duchaussoy, 

 a paper entitled " Le Grand Pingouin du Mus^e d'Histoire 

 Naturelle d' Amiens," published in the ' Memoires de la Societe 

 Linn^enne du Nord de la France' (tome ix., 1892-95), with 

 plate of the Great Auk in the Museum of Natural History, 

 Amiens. This paper gives a rtsumd of published information 

 upon Alca impennis Linn., but refers in greater detail to 

 alcine remains preserved in France. 



The occurrence of two Great Auks in Waterford harbour 

 in 1834, and the capture of one of these alive, is referred to 

 in ' The Great Auk : its History, Archaeology, and Remains,' 

 pp. 23, 67-70. The following paragraph, which appeared in 

 the 'Graphic,' 5th August 1893, had escaped my notice, but 

 was sent home to me from India by one of my numerous 

 correspondents. The article is written by Sir Robert S. Ball, 

 LL.D., F.R.S., and gives some interesting information regarding 

 the Great Auk captured at Waterford, besides what is men- 

 tioned by Thomson, 'Birds of Ireland,' vol. iii. p. 238. 



Dr Burkitt, of Waterford, an old acquaintance of mine, and one of the 

 best known naturalists in Ireland, has just died at an advanced age. He 

 was principally famous as an ornithologist, and his name will be familiar 

 to the readers of Yarrell and Thomson, and other authors who have treated 

 of the birds of Great Britain. The career of this veteran student of nature 

 deserves notice, if for no other reason than that he was perhaps the last 

 surviving man of science who possessed and studied a living specimen of a 

 remarkable bird that has since become extinct. Now that Dr Burkitt has 

 gone, where is the naturalist who can say he has ever seen more of the 

 Great Auk than the bones or the skins or the eggs which form our care- 

 fully treasured relics of that notable fowl 1 Centuries ago this penguin- 

 like bird, as large as a goose, abounded on many coasts in northern lati- 

 tudes. Fly it could not, though it could swim and dive to perfection. 

 But, unfortunately for so defenceless a creature, the fishermen of New- 

 foundland discovered that roasted Great Auk was an extremely good dish. 

 The bird was thereupon slaughtered with such waste and thoughtlessness 

 that it became speedily exterminated. The last specimens of the Great 

 Auk seen near the British Islands appear to have been a pair which some- 

 how found their way into Waterford harbour in 1834. Both of them 

 were duly captured, and one was kept alive in the possession of Dr 

 Burkitt for some months. Fish was, of course, its natural diet, and doubt- 

 less it was supplied therewith. However, on one occasion, some vagary of 

 appetite tempted the captive to indiscretion in the matter of potatoes, and 

 a fatal attack of indigestion supervened. Thus lamentably perished the 

 last Great Auk in the British Islands, if not, indeed, the very last sur- 



