Mr. A. Newton on Alca impennis. 139 
brother Edward and myself that in former days he used to follow 
the Newfoundland Cod-fishery, and that he had seen Penguins off 
that coast. He added that they used to resort by hundreds to some 
islands there to breed, but were destroyed for their feathers, being 
driven up in a corner by people in boats. This practice, however, 
must have nearly or altogether ceased in his time; for he stated 
that he had never seen but two or three birds himself, and never a 
dead one. I mention these facts merely to show that Mr. Wolley’s 
determination to work out the history of the Gare-Fowl, or Northern 
Penguin, was formed prior to his acquaintance with Professor Steen- 
strup’s valuable discoveries, and to their publication in the elaborate 
and excellent article (Vidensk. Meddelelser, 1855, pp. 33-116) on 
this bird to which it always gives me so much pleasure to refer. 
When Mr. Wolley, later (in 1856), became aware of what that illus- 
trious naturalist had ascertained, he was more than ever bent upon 
prosecuting his researches; and, acting upon the information I received 
from him, I at once set about doing what I could to further them*, 
Believing at the time that no example of the bird’s skeleton existed in 
any of the European museums, and having great confidence in the 
trustworthiness of Herr Stuvitz’s statements, as given by Professor 
Steenstrup (doc. cit.), that there were still many of its bones to be 
found on Funk Island, I began to address letters of inquiry respect- 
ing them to almost every one I could hear of in Newfoundland who 
seemed likely to be able to give assistance’ I need not here go into 
details. For a long time I could get no response from any of those 
to whom I wrote; some of my epistles were returned to me through 
the dead-letter office ; and occasionally I almost despaired of calling 
attention to the subject in that colony. At last I had the great 
pleasure of receiving from the clergyman of the Island of Fogo, the 
Rev. Reginald M. Johnson, a reply which in the most obliging terms 
promised me his valuable help in the matter. Still the chances of 
procuring specimens of bones that would really be serviceable towards 
determining the osteology of A/ca impennis were not good. Though 
when Stuvitz, in 1841, visited Funk Island the bones were in quan- 
tities (i Mengde), many causes during the time that had since elapsed 
might have scattered or destroyed them. The locality, as I have 
before shown, was a distant one and, like all resorts of the Gare-Fowl 
as far as I know them, not easy of access. Stuvitz stated there were 
but two landing-places, and these only to be attained by a hazardous 
leap (kun ved et voveligt Spring). These latter particulars were 
confirmed by Mr. Johnson; and in the last letter which I had from 
that gentleman (only a few weeks ago) he told me he had come to 
the gallant determination to make the expedition himself, as without 
him he was sure all endeavours to obtain the bones would fail. 
Meanwhile the Bishop of Newfoundland, in the course of one of his 
visitations, had been shown by Mr. Johnson my letters, enclosing 
sketches of the principal bones and other papers relating to the 
subject, and most kindly volunteered to give me all the aid in the 
matter which his high position afforded. When the members of 
* Cf. ‘The Ibis,’ 1861, p. 397. 
