214 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN DIVING BIRDS 



of the boat by holding out a few fish, and then striking it with an 

 oar. Another bird was caught in a similar manner at the entrance 

 to Water ford Harbor in May, 1834. They were also caught by 

 baited lines on the Newfoundland banks. The bird caught at 

 Waterford partook greedily of potatoes and milk. It "stood very 

 erect, and frequently stroked its head with its foot, especially when 

 any favorite food was permitted. When in Mr. Cough's possession 

 it was chiefly fed on fish, of which fresh-water species (trout, etc.) 

 were preferred to sea fish. They were swallowed entire. It was 

 rather fierce." 



Behavior. It was a common saying among mariners that this bird 

 never strayed away from soundings, but the fact that individuals 

 were from time to time found on the coast of the British Islands in 

 the nineteenth century at the time that they did not breed at any 

 point nearer than Iceland, it is evident they must have wandered over 

 deep water. That they were capable of making long journeys is 

 shown by their remains in regions so remote from their breeding 

 haunts as Florida. Professor Newton (1861), writing on Mr. J. 

 Wolley's "Researches in Iceland" respecting the garefowl, says: 



They swam with their heads much lifted up, but their necks drawn in; they 

 never tried to flap along the water, but dived as soon as alarmed. On the rocks 

 they sat more upright than either guillemots or razorbills, and their station 

 was further removed from the sea. They were easily frightened by noise, but 

 not by what they saw. They sometimes uttered a few low croaks. They have 

 never been known to defend their eggs, but would bite fiercely if they had the 

 chance when caught. They walk or run with little short steps and go straight 

 like a man. One has been known to drop down some two fathoms off the rock 

 into the water. Finally, I may add that the color of the inside of their mouths 

 is said to have been yellow, as in the allied species. 



This last fact would give us a hint as to their courtship, and sug- 

 gest that they opened wide their mouths for display during this 

 performance. 



Like all the Alcidae it used its wings in swimming under water, 

 and, as large wings are an impediment in subaqueous flight, these 

 parts had become reduced so much in size that although they were 

 ideal for use under the water, they were useless in the air. In these 

 respects the bird resembled closely the Penguin of the Southern seas. 

 The rapidity with which it swam above and under water may be 

 judged from the fact that "one chased by Mr. Bullock among the 

 Northern Isles, left a six-oared boat far behind." Circumstantial 

 evidence of the use of its wings under water is presented by Fleming 

 (1824), who says it dives and swims under water, "even with a long 

 cord attached to its foot, with incredible swiftness." 



Audubon (1840) says: 



The only authentic account of the occurrence of this bird on our coast that I 

 possess was obtained from Mr. Henry Havell, brother of my engraver, who, when 



