THE GEEAT AUK, ETC. 179 



coast of Fimnark, and also on many of the Norwegian 

 fjords. 



The great auk (A. impennis). This bird may be 

 considered extinct in Norway, as it has not been seen 

 for many years. It is said to be still found in Iceland. 

 A few years ago a specimen was picked up dead on the 

 shore near Frederickstad, in Norway. In 1844 two 

 birds of this species were sent to Copenhagen from 

 Iceland. The egg is large ; the colour of it is dirty- 

 white, tinged with yellow, and blotched and streaked 

 at the larger end with black* 



The puffin (Fratercula arctica) .-r-This singular-look- 

 ing bird is very common on the coast of Finmark, 

 where large flocks breed on Fugle-O, or bird-island. 

 It is also common in the Loffoden Islands. Many 

 young birds of this species are seen on the Christiania- 

 fjord in autumn. It is called here the lund-fugl. Not 

 only do the Norwegian peasants eat the puffin, but 

 they also salt it down for winter use. The down is 

 also held in almost as much esteem as eiderrdown ; 

 but as it is plucked from the breast of the bird when 

 dead, it does not posses the elasticity of eider-down. 



The common cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is com r 

 mon on the coast of Finmark, where it breeds. Pontr 

 oppidan says that this bird is very expert in catching 

 fishes, and that it can dive twenty or thirty fathoms in 

 pursuit of its prey. It has the power of remaining a 

 long time under water. It is called in Sweden the 

 hafs-tjdder, or sea capercaillie. In autumn it is often 

 seen on the rivers and lakes of southern Norway. It 

 nests in the broad crevices, or on the ledges of rocks, 

 and lays from five to six dirty-white eggs, tinged with 

 green. 



N2 



