AUKS 37 



taken July 1, 1884, measures 3.17 x 1.96. The eggs are some- 

 what less pyriform than those of the Murre, certain types of 

 which they resemble in general appearance and markings, 

 though generally to be distinguished from them. They are 

 white or bluish white in color with brown and black spots and 

 markings, chiefly near the larger end. The food is said to 

 consist of fish, mollusks and surface swimming marine life in 

 general. 



Genus PLAUTUS Brunnich. 



33. Plautus impe7inis (^Linn.}. Great Auk; Gare Fowl. 

 Plumage in adults : Chin, throat, fore-neck, and sides of head and neck 

 dark brown ; elsewhere above black ; a large white patch between bill and 

 eyes ; breast and belly white. Wing 5.75 ; culmen 3.30 ; greatest depth of 

 bill about 1.50 (Ridgway). 



Geog. Dist. — Formerly coast and islands of the North Atlantic from Mass- 

 achusetts and Ireland northward to the Arctic Circle; extinct during the 

 past century. 



County Records. — Hancock; formerly occurred at Gouldsboro, (R. Me. B'd. 

 Agr. 1877, p. 261). 



It is exceedingly probable that the Great Auk formerly was 

 a winter visitor along our coast of somewhat general occurrence. 

 Being unable to fly it migrated by swimming, being perfectly 

 at home in the water and being said to use both feet and wings 

 in swimming and diving, which seems very probable as the 

 Murres and Guillemots use their wings likewise in diving. One 

 of the favorite breeding resorts was Funk Island, off" the coast 

 of Newfoundland, and here the Auks congregated in large num- 

 bers to breed, probably only going on land for this purpose. 

 They were exterminated at this as well as at other resorts by the 

 fishermen who killed the birds in thousands for their feathers, 

 flesh and fat. Being unable to fly and very clumsy on land 

 the extermination of these birds was only a mere question of 

 time. No living individual has been observed since 1842, and 

 only about seventy specimens are known to be preserved, while 



