REPORTED OCCURRENCE OF A GARE FOWL. 201 
with Morten Nygaard, also of Porkere, I was out in a boat off Porkere-nees, 
for the purpose of Shooting, and killed a bird that was swimming on 
the sea. 
“In appearance this bird was like a young ‘Alka’ (Razorbill, Alca 
torda). The beak was more like that of an ‘ Alka’ than that of a ‘ Lomvia’ 
(Guillemot, Uria troile). The length of the beak was that of the ‘ Lomvia.’ 
It had at least one spot above each eye. The body was shorter, but about 
as broad as a young ‘ Havgaas’ (Great Northern Diver, Colymbus glacialis). 
The bones in the thigh were like those of the ‘ Havgaas’; the feet were 
like those of ‘ Lomyia,’ but light coloured on the under side, black on the 
upper. The bird weighed 5 tbs. Danish (52 tbs. English). 
Jacop Mitumr. 
“The above facts are testified to. 
Morten Nycaarp. 
Porkere, 27th May, 1873. 
“ Witnesses—G. Errrrso. 
JoHAN Larsen.” 
It will no doubt strike the reader, as it has the writer, that 
no reference is made to the wing of the bird, which in the case 
of a Gare-fowl would surely have at once attracted attention. 
The deposition of the two Froese fishermen and cragsmen was 
made without any prompting or Suggestion, and it is possible that 
when describing the bird as like a young Razorbill they implied 
that the wings were not developed. That the bird was not 
Colymbus glacialis or Colymbus septentrionalis is positively 
certain, for the Feroese fishermen know these species accurately, 
as well as all others commonly frequenting their islands. 
Of one thing I am certain, namely, that if the bird shot and 
probably eaten by Jacob Miiller of Porkere, was not a Gare-fowl, 
it was a strange visitant, and sufficiently uncommon to attract the 
special attention of the two men. Everyone who has had the 
opportunity of mixing with the simple-minded, truthful inhabitants 
of Feroe will agree with me that such a statement as is here 
printed would not have emanated from the source it has without 
some good reason. 
In ‘The Zoologist’ for November, 1872 (pp. 3280—3285), the 
reader will find all the information which I could collect concerning 
the Gare-fow] in the Feroes to that date. The above may now be 
added by way of supplement. 
—o—. 
