304 GARE-FOWL 
merly a native of certain remote Scottish islands, the GREAT AUK 
of most English book-writers, and the Alcea impennis of Linneeus. 
Of this remarkable creature mention has been already made 
(EXTERMINATION), but since the species has a mournful history 
and several egregious misconceptions prevail concerning it, a few 
more details may not be unacceptable. In size it was hardly less 
than a tame Goose, and in appearance it much resembled its 
smaller and surviving relative the RAZor-BILL, 4. torda; but the 
GARE-FowL, or GREAT AUK. 
glossy black of its head was varied by a large patch of white 
occupying nearly all the space between the eye and the bill, in 
Hebrides, p. 158) gives the correct Gaelic spelling as Gearr bhul or An Gearra- 
bhul, meaning ‘‘the strong, stout bird with the spot”; but others may think 
the word to be a rendering of the old Norsk name. According to Pennant, 
Carfil is the generic word in Welsh for any of the Alcidx. It may be observed 
that just as ‘‘ Penguin” (or Pin-wing), being the first English name applied to 
this species, on its discovery in America, has been transferred to birds of a very 
different Order, so also has Gorfou, the French corruption of Geirfug?, been 
applied to some of the same. 
