ALCID.E — THE AUKS — ALLE. 465 



part of the coast of Spitzbergen. Parry's Expedition met with it as far to the north 

 as that party travelled. On their return, in August, they found it in great numbers 

 between latitudes 82° and 81°. It was not met with in the Stor Fjord. Its breeding- 

 places, though at a less height than those of its kindred, are very far from being easily 

 accessible. 



Mr. Gillett found this species numerous in Nova Zembla, especially in the northern 

 portion. Its wild and peculiar cry is said to have a very startling effect in the calm 

 light nights of the Arctic summer, especially when heard at the same time with the 

 hoarse bellowing of the walruses. Von Heuglin found this Auk abundant wherever 

 he went in the northern regions; and he speaks of it as more abundant farther north 

 than it is in the more southern regions. In the Kara Sea all the birds of this species 

 that he noticed were seen on floating ice. 



Dr. Walker, in his " Ornithological Notes of the Voyage of the Fox," mentions that 

 in passing up Baffin's Bay, and again in Melville Bay, he encountered myriads of 

 birds of this species. In the summer of 1858, when in the last-named locality, great 

 numbers were shot. They were found breeding near Cape York, and a number of 

 their eggs were procured. In that locality they were found in vast numbers flying 

 in and out of the stones, which formed a talus along the cliffs of primary rock. The 

 bird lays a single egg in the hollows between the stones, where foxes and Gulls 

 cannot reach them. 



According to Professor Bernhardt, this Auk is a common resident species in 

 Greenland. 



It is occasionally found wandering along the coast of Europe and Africa to Spain, 

 Madeira, and to the Azores. A single example was found by .Mr. Godwin in a private 

 collection of native birds at Terceira, in the Azores; it had been killed on the island 

 several years previous to his visit. Mr. Layard, in his voyage in 1867 from England 

 to Cape Town, when off Finisterre, on the coast of France, in November, met with 

 a large number of these birds. They appeared to be chiefly in pairs. Mr. Godman 

 also includes this species in his List of the Migratory Birds of Madeira and the 

 Canaries. It is more numerous among the eastern islands of the latter group, although 

 found occasionally among the others. It is also of occasional occurrence in Bermuda, 

 where one was taken alive, Jan. 28, 1850, four or five having been driven on to a piece 

 of grass-land near the house, of Rev. J. N. Campbell. 



This Auk is common during the winter off the New England coast, and was 

 especially abundant during the winter of 1871-1872. In along and violent northeast 

 storm which prevailed on the coast in the latter part of November, 1871, thousands 

 of these birds were driven upon the shore, and large numbers of them perished. 

 They were utterly powerless to resist the wind and waves, and were forced into 

 creeks, inlets, bays, harbors, and upon open beaches. Many were driven into the 

 harbor of Boston, and, at high tide, forced upon the wharves and under the bridges, 

 where hundreds were ruthlessly knocked on the head. This occurred also along the 

 entire extent of coast ; and some were even carried far inland, and were picked up 

 near Middletown, Conn., and other interior towns, a hundred miles or more from the 

 ocean. The birds, when found alive, appeared to be utterly exhausted, and a large 

 number were already dead. 



According to Giraud, this species is occasionally seen by the fishermen of Egg 

 Harbor, N. J., when hauling their nets outside of the beach. It is an excellent 

 diver, can fly well, subsists on small fish, and, not being timid, is easily secured. 



According to Professor Newton, it occurs in Iceland all the year round. It is 

 only known to breed on Grimsey, where Faber found it in 1820, and Proctor in 1837. 



vol. ii. — 59 



