482 ALCIDA# 
it appears to have bred; one of these—the Geirfugla-sker 
near Reykjanes—disappeared during a submarine eruption 
in 1830, after the colony on it had been nearly extirpated ; 
Eldey or the Meal-sack was systematically robbed until the 
last two birds were taken alive in June 1844; and there 
can now be no hope that a remnant may exist on the surf- 
encircled Geirfugla-drangr.”’ 
Systematic invasions were made annually on the Great 
Auk between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries off 
the North American coasts, especially those of Newfound- 
land where the bird was extremely plentiful. 
Only some forty years after the American Continent was 
discovered, British as well as French traders visited the 
shores of Newfoundland, ‘‘ driving the helpless and hapless 
birds on sails or planks into a boat ‘as many as shall lade 
her’ and salting them for provision.” Such slaughter was 
indulged in until the close of the eighteenth century. ‘“‘ In 
1819, Anspach reported their entire disappearance, but it 
is possible that some few yet lingered” (Newton).’ 
COMMON GUILLEMOT. Uri troile (Linneus). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. y, pl. 
48; Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. viii, pl. 621; Lilford, 
‘Coloured Figures,’ vol. vi, pl. 838; Booth, ‘ Rough Notes,’ 
vol. ili, pls. 23, 24. 
The swarms of Common Guillemots which resort to the 
stupendous cliffs of the British coasts in spring and summer, 
and which in most situations outnumber the other members 
1 Tt would appear that in Greenland the bird became very rare at a 
comparatively early date and as far back as 800 years ago was known 
only as a straggler. 
2 On Funk Island, their last resort, large numbers of bones and even 
mummified remains have been collected. The stone enclosures or 
‘pounds’ into which the victims were driven before being slaughtered 
have also been found and described by several travellers long after the 
birds ceased to exist. 
Mr. Ussher in his article, ‘The Great Auk, Once An Irish Bird’ 
(‘Irish Naturalist, 1899, pp. 1-3), embodies an extract from Lady Blake’s 
article, published in the ‘ Victoria Quarterly’ for August, 1889, which 
details an account of the brutal treatment to which these unfortunate 
birds were subjected. 
