47 
Nesting. Similar to the preceding species. 
Distribution. Somewhat more northern than that of the Common Murre. 
SUBSPECIES. The Thick-billed Guillemot occurs in the northern Pacific and Atlan- 
tic oceans but as distinct subspecies. Our eastern form is the type and is known as Briin- 
nich’s Murre. 
Briinnich’s Murre is the only member of this family that is found on 
the Great Lakes. The birds have at times come in hundreds on lakes 
Ontario, Erie, and tributary waters in late autumn and early winter, 
all in a starving condition, and none seem to survive or return to their 
sea homes. These occurrences are as yet inexplicable. 
32. Razor-billed Auk. TINKER. FR.—GODD OR GUDD. LE PINGOUIN COMMUN 
Alca torda. L, 1650. The Razor-billed Auk is of the same general appearance as the 
last two species. 
Distinctions. Bill is considerably deepened and flattened (though not nearly as much 
so as in the Puffin); it is thus easily distinguished from the Murre especially in summer 
when a white line connects the eye and the base of the culmen, and the bill is crossed by 
a white band near the tip. Bill of the winter juvenile is less characteristic but may still 
be distinguished from that of the Murres. 
ae Marks. Deepened bill and, when swimming, cocked-up tail make good field 
marks. 
Nesting. Similar to that of the two preceding species but rather less gregarious. 
Distribution. Frequents our Atlantic coasts north to the Arctic. 
33. Great Auk. GARE-FOWL. FR.—LE GRAND PINGOUIN. Plautus impennis. L, 30. 
The Great Auk was the largest of the American Divers. Its wings were so reduced in 
size that though they made excellent swimming organs they were useless for other purposes 
and hence the bird was unable to fly. As the species is now extinct no further description 
is necessary. 
This bird had become so well adapted to an aquatic life that flying 
was no longer necessary and consequently its wings became reduced 
to mere swimming flippers like those of the penguins of the Antarctic, 
and flight was impossible. Though as well able to live at sea as any fish 
or marine animal, land was as necessary to it for reproduction as to any 
other bird. Even then, if it had inhabited the very extremes of the Arctic 
regions for nesting purposes it would probably have survived; but lonely 
outlying rocks and islets about the British isles and, on our side of the 
ocean, south to Newfoundland, were its nesting places and immediately 
in the course of the fleets of hardy fishermen who early in our history 
flocked to our shores. To them, these then countless thousands of large 
sea birds inhabiting islets in the immediate vicinity of their fishing grounds, 
so helpless on land that they could be killed in unlimited numbers with 
sticks and clubs, were irresistible. They took full advantage of their 
opportunities and the story passes current that to save labour, gang planks 
were placed ashore from the boats and the unresisting birds were driven 
aboard in droves to be clubbed to death on deck. Of course no numbers 
could long resist such destruction and to-day the Great Auk is only an 
interesting memory and is represented by only individual specimens and 
fragments in a few favoured museums. 
34. Dovekie. ‘SEA DOVE. FR.—LE MERGULE NAIN. Alle alle. L, 8. The Dovekie 
is a diminutive Diver, the smallest of its family in eastern Canada. When in our waters 
it is generally black above and white on throat, cheek, and below. 
Distinctions. Its size is enough to separate it from any other Diver in eastern Canada. 
Field Marks. Size and extremely rapid wing beats make the best field marks. 
Nesting. On cliff ledges in the far north. 
Distribution. In summer in the far north in the eastern Arctic, in winter along the sea 
coasts. 
