128 GREAT AUK. 



GREAT AUK. 



GAIRFOWL. 

 PLATE CCXI. 



Alca impennis, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. SELBY. 

 Alca impennis, FLEMING. JENYNS. GOULD. YARRELL. 



Great Auk hatches its egg on the bare ground, 

 -- close above the sea-borde, or in the cleft of a rock. 

 This in the month of June. 



The egg is yellowish white, streaked and spotted, 

 principally about the larger end, with black, the ground 

 colour being a dull white tinged with yellow. 



These eggs may be said to be 'worth their weight 

 in gold;' I know of about sixty guineas having been 

 given for a pair, and others have fetched much more 

 since then. 



I have to thank W. F. W. Bird, Esq., for an offer 

 of a drawing from a specimen in the fine collection 

 of the Right Hon. Lord Garvagh, but the present 

 engraving was already executed: I am equally indebted 

 to my obliging friend. 



