496 THE GREAT AUK. 



of the common tame goose which at no period of its exist- 

 ence is able to fly, resembles greatly the penguins of the 

 southern hemisphere, the link between birds and amphibious 

 animals. Although at one time, according to ancient 

 authors, it belonged to the Scandinavian fauna, it cannot 

 now be considered as entitled to a place there. The last 

 heard of on the coast of the peninsula, was killed in the 

 Cattegat near to the town of Marstrand some fifty to sixty 

 years ago. About the same period, Denicken tells us, one 

 was shot in the harbour of Kiel, in Holstein. 



According to Graba, the great auk has not been seen in 

 Greenland, Iceland, or the Fseroe Islands of late years ; and 

 the author of an article in the " Edinburgh Cabinet Library," 

 who cites Graba, says, that " the race may now be regarded 

 as extinct." English and Swedish naturalists, as respects 

 the countries in question, seem to have come to pretty much 

 the same conclusion. But this is incorrect, for on parts at 

 least of the coast of Iceland it is still to be met with. This 

 is more especially the case on the so-called Geirfugle-Skjtfr, 

 (Danish), or Great Auk-Skar; on which, however, so fearful 

 a surf is said constantly to beat, that it is rarely, excepting 

 at imminent risk to life, that a landing can be effected. 



In the year 1813, a colony of these birds, we are told, 

 were here observed by a passing ship. A boat was at once 

 despatched to the spot, and no fewer than twenty were cap- 

 tured on their eggs, all of which were carried to Reikiavig. 

 One of the birds was afterwards stuffed, but the others were 

 eaten. In 1814, again, eight individuals were killed on a flat 

 Skar on the west coast of Iceland. In 1818 a single one was 

 taken at a place in South Iceland, where several others were also 

 observed. In 1823 two old birds were killed on a Skar near 



