Mr. A. Newtoo on Alca impeuuis. 139 



brother Edward and myself that in former days he used to follow 

 the Newfoundland Cod-fishery, and that he had seen Penguins ofiF 

 that coast. He added that they used to resort by hundreds to some 

 islands there to breed, but were destroyed for their feathers, being 

 driven up in a corner by people in boats. This practice, however, 

 must have nearly or altogether ceased in his time ; for he stated 

 that he had never seen but two or three birds himself, and never a 

 dead one. I mention these facts merely to show that Mr. Wolley'a 

 determination to work out the history of the Gare-Fowl, or Northern 

 Penguin, was formed prior to his acquaintance with Professor Steen- 

 strup's valuable discoveries, and to their publication in the elaborate 

 and excellent article (Vidensk. Meddelelser, 18.55, pp. 33-116) on 

 this bird to which it always gives me so much pleasure to refer. 

 When Mr. Wolley, later (in 1856), became aware of what that illus- 

 trious naturalist had ascertained, he was more than ever bent upon 

 prosecuting his researches; and, acting upon the informatiou I received 

 from him, I at once set about doing what I could to further them*. 

 Believing at the time that no example of the bird's skeleton existed in 

 any of the European museums, and having great confidence in the 

 trustworthiness of Herr Stuvitz's statements, as given by Professor 

 Steenstrup (loc. eit.), that there were still many of its bones to be 

 found on Funk Island, I began to address letters of inquiry respect- 

 ing them to almost every one I could bear of in Newfoundland who 

 M^ed likely to be able to gire assistance. I need not here eo into 

 details. For a long time I could get no response from any ot those 

 to whom I wrote ; some of my epistles were returned to me through 

 the dead-letter office ; and occasionally I almost despaired of calling 

 attention to the subject in that colony. .\t last I had the great 

 pleasure of receiving from the clergyman of the Island of Fogo, the 

 Rev. Reginald M. Johnson, a reply which in the most obliging terms 

 promised me his valuable help in the matter. Still the chances of 

 procuring specimens of bones that would really be serviceable towards 

 determining the osteology of Atca impennU were not good. Though 

 when Stuvitz, in 1841, visited Funk Island the bones were in quan- 

 tities (i Mangde), many causes during the time that had since elapsed 

 might have scattered or destroyed them. The locality, as I have 

 before shown, was a distant one and, like all resorts of the Gare-Fowl 

 as far as I know them, not easy of access. Stuvitz stated there were 

 but two landing-places, and these only to be attained by a hazardous 

 leap (/run ced et toveliyt Spring). These latter particulars were 

 confirmed by Mr. Johnson ; and in the last letter which I had from 

 that gentleman (only a few weeks ago) he told me he had come to 

 the gallant determination to make the expedition himself, as without 

 him he was sure all endeavours to obtain the bones would fail. 

 Meanwhile the Bishop of Newfoundland, in the course of one of his 

 visitations, had been shown by Mr. Johnson my letters, enclosing 

 sketches of the principal bones and other papers relating to the 

 subject, and most kindly volunteered to give me all the aid in the 

 matter which his high position afforded. When the members of 

 • Cf. 'Thelbi»,'1861,i».397. 



