VOL. XV.] NOTES ON THE GREAT AUK. 107 



Next in order comes the reference to the Great Auk 

 contained in the Ornithology ot Francis Willughby. This 

 work which was edited by Willughby 's friend and companion, 

 John Ray, gives on Plate XLII. a figure entitled " Mergus 

 Americanus," closely resembhng that given by Clusius, but 

 has no text referring to the bird, while on Plate LXV. he 

 figures " Penguin Worm," after that author, and after 

 quoting Worm's description says — page 323 — •" Whether 

 it hath or wants the back toe neither Clusius* nor Wormius 

 in their description make any mention. In Wormius's figure 

 there are no back toes drawn." On page 322 of the Ornithology 

 Willughby refers to " The Bird called Penguin by our seamen, 

 which seems to be Hoiers Goifugel " and goes on to say : — 



" In bigness it comes near to a tame goose. The colour 

 of the upper side is black, of the underside wliite. Its wings 

 are very small and seem to be altogether unfit for flight .... 

 From the bill to the eyes on each side is extended a line or 

 spot of white, it wants the back toe and hath a very short 

 tail. I saw and described it dried in the Repository of the 

 Royal Society I saw it also in Tradescant's Cabinet at 

 Lambeth near London." 



The next account of the Garefowl we have to mention is that 

 contained in the work of Randle Holme, 1688. This remarkable 

 book deemed by Moule {Bibl. Heraldica) to be a most " extra- 

 ordinary composition " and one " of the most scarce of heraldic 

 books," contains on page 293 the following information : — 



" He beareth argent a Penguin proper borne by the name 

 of Whitehead. I have before given you the form and descrip- 

 tion of it as I then understood the bird but since being better 

 instructed take this further true draft of the fowl which comes 

 near the bigness of a goose, the upper side all black, the 

 underside all white, the wings are small and seem to be unfit 

 for flight. The bill is dark and dusky, having furrows graven 

 on both the mandibles. From the bill to the eye is a white 

 spot and a white ring about its neck. It hath no back toe, 

 thej^ walk erect with their heads on high and their tails down." 



From this description it would appear that Holme had 

 seen both the bird itself and Worm's picture of it. 



* Clusius, however, under " Mergus Americanus," says (wrongly) 

 "it has a spur or back toe like a duck." 



