ALCIDvE — THE AUKS — ALLE. 



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part of the coast of SpitzbergtMi. Parry's Expedition met with it as far to the north 

 as that i)arty travelled. On their return, in August, they found it in great numbers 

 between latitudes 82° and 81°. It was not met with in the Stor Fjord. Its breeding- 

 places, though at a less height than those of its kindred, are very far from being easily 

 accessible. 



Mr. Gillett found this species numerous iti Nova Zend)la, especially in the northern 

 portion. Its wild and peculiar cry is said to have a very startling effect in the calm 

 light uiglits of the Arctic summer, especially vhen heard at the same time Avith the 

 hoarse bellowing of the walruses. Von Heuglin found this Auk abundant wherever 

 he went in the northern regions ; and he speaks of it as more aliundant farther north 

 than it is in the more southern regions. lu the Kara Sea all the birds of this species 

 that he noticed were seen on floating ice. 



Dr. Walker, in his " Ornitholo.^ieiil Notes of the Voyage of the Fox," mentions that 

 in passing up Baffin's IJay, and again in Melville Uay, he encountered myriads of 

 birds of this species. In the summer of 18.~)8, when In the last-named lo(^ality, great 

 numbers were shot. They were found breeding near Cape York, and a number of 

 their eggs were procured. In that locality they were found in vast numbers flying 

 in and out of the stones, which formed a talus along the clift's of jjrimary rock. The 

 bird lays a single egg in the hollows between the stones, where foxes and CJuUs 

 cannot reach them. 



According to Professor Iveinhardt, this Auk is a common resident species in 

 Greenland. 



It is occasionally found wandering along the coast of Europe and Africa to Spain, 

 Madeira, and to the Azores. A single example was found by Mr. Godwin in a private 

 collection of native birds at Ter(!eira, in the .\zores ; it had been killed on the island 

 several years previous to his visit. Mr. Layard, in his voyage in 18(57 from England 

 to Cape Town, when off Finisterre, on the coast of France, in November, met with 

 a large number of these birds. They appeared to be chiefly in pairs. Mr. (Jodman 

 also includes this species in his List of the Migratory Birds of IMadeira and the 

 Canaries. It is more numerous among the eastern islands of the latter group, although 

 found occasionally among the others. It is also of occasional occurrence in Bermuda, 

 where one was taken alive, Jan. 28, 1850, four or five having been driven on to a piece 

 of grass-land near the house of Itev. J. N. Campbell. 



This Auk is common during the winter olf the New England coast, and was 

 especially abundant during the winter of 1871-1872. In a long and violent northeast 

 storm which prevailed on the coast in the latter part of November, 1871, thousands 

 of these birds were driven upon the shore, and large numbers of them perished. 

 They were utterly powerless to resist the wind and waves, and were forced into 

 creeks, inlets, bays, harbors, and upon open beaches. Jlany were driven into the 

 liarbor of Boston, and, at high, tide, forced upon the wharves and under the bridges, 

 where hundreds were ruthlessly knocked on the head. This occurred also along the 

 entire extent of coast ; and some were even carried far iidand, and were picked up 

 near Middletown, Conn., and other interior towns, a hundred miles or more from the 

 ocean. The birds, when found alive, appeared to be utterly exhausted, and a large 

 number were already dead. 



According to Giraud, this species is occasionally seen by the fishermen of Egg 

 Harbor, N. J., when hauling their nets outside of the beach. It is an excellent 

 diver, can fly well, subsists on small fish, and, not being timid, is easily secured. 



According to Professor Newton, it occurs in Iceland all the year round. It ia 

 only known to breed on Grimsey, where Faber found it in 1820, and Proctor in 1837. 

 VOL. ir. — 59 



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