THE GREAT-AUK 35 



could have been obtained unless some breeding-place existed in the 

 vicinity. Probably, as Mr. Ussher suggests, the Waterford birds were 

 obtained from the low-lying Keragh Isles, though the encroachment 

 of the sea may have washed away any low islet then existing in 

 Tramore Bay. Rathlin Island may well have afforded similar hunting- 

 grounds to the dwellers on the Antrim coasts. Still more recently, 

 remains have been recorded from the coasts of Clare, and among the 

 sand-dunes at Rosapenna Mr. R. J. Ussher and Miss Weir found five 

 humeri in July 1910. l Only one occurrence of this species within 

 historic times is on record, namely, in May 1834, when a fisherman 

 named Kirby managed to entice an immature bird to close quarters 

 by throwing sprats to it, some miles to the west of Waterford Harbour. 

 It was then captured in a landing-net, and appeared to be half starved. 

 For some time after it would take no food, but potatoes and milk 

 were then forced down its throat, after which it ate voraciously. It 

 was fed chiefly on fish, which were swallowed entire, and trout were 

 preferred to sea fish. " This auk stood very erect, was a very stately- 

 looking bird, and had a habit of frequently shaking its head in a 

 peculiar manner, more especially when any food was presented to it : 

 thus if a small trout was held up before it the bird would at once 

 commence shaking its head." 2 This specimen was fortunately 

 preserved, and is at the present time in the Museum of Trinity College, 

 Dublin. 



Most of what little we know of the breeding habits of this bird 

 will be found in the " Classified Notes," and need not be repeated here. 

 Although in some cases pairs appear to have bred on isolated 

 stations, as in the Orkneys, we know that when the bird was common, 

 as on Funk Island off the Newfoundland coast, very large numbers 

 were found breeding close to one another. No nest whatever was 

 made, the single egg being laid on the dung-covered rock. From the 

 fact that " brooding spots " have been found in skins of both sexes, it 



1 See Irish Naturalist, 1910, pp. 171 and 195, pis. 10, 14. 



2 Dr. Burkitt, quoted in the Birds of Ireland, p. 359. 



