THE GREAT AUK. 



This species was formerly found on the north coast 

 of Britain, but it has become extremely rare. Some 

 years ago, Mr. Bullock, the proprietor of the London 

 Museum, which once existed in Piccadilly, when making 

 a tour of the Orkney Islands, was informed by the na- 

 tives that only one male had appeared for a long time, 

 and that this had regularly visited Papa Westra for se- 

 veral years. The female, called by the people the 

 Queen of the Auks, was killed just before his arrival. 

 Mr. Bullock chased the king, or male, for several 

 hours, in a six-oared boat, but without being able to 

 kill him. Though he frequently got near the bird, so 

 expert was it in its natural element, that it pursued its 

 course under water with almost incredible rapidity, and 

 it appeared impossible to shoot him. The smallness of 

 its wings render them useless for flight, the longest 

 quill-feather not exceeding four inches in length ; yet 

 these are admirably adapted to its mode of life, acting 

 as fins when the bird dives under water, and enabling it 

 to pursue its prey with astonishing velocity. 



