Great AuK. NATATORES. ALCA. 433 
flight,—a character which indicates a close connexion with 
the true Penguins. They are strictly oceanic birds, and 
never leave the water, but for reproduction; and in powers 
of swimming and diving they are not inferior to any of the 
present family. They are (like the Guillemots) subject to a 
double moult, and the change is perfectly of a similar cha- 
racter to that which takes place in the last described bird. 
GREAT AUK. 
Aca mpennis, Linn. 
PATE EXeXer. 
Alca impennis, Linn. Syst. 1. 210. 3.—Gmel. Syst. 1. 550.—Lath. Ind. Orn. 
2. 791. sp. 1.—Shaw’s Zool. 13. 51. pl. 6.—Flem. Brit. Anim. 1. 129. 
No. 203. 
Alca major, Briss. Orn. 6. 85. pl. 7. 
Penguin, Raii Syn. 118.— Will. 242. t. 65. 
Le Grand Pingouin, Buff: Ois. 9. 393. t. 29.—Id. Pl. Enl. 367. 
Pingouin Brachiptere, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 939. 
Great Auk, Penn. Br. Zool. 2. 507. No. 229. pl. 81.—Arct. Zool. 2. 424. 
—Lath. Syn. 5. 311. 1.—Levin’s Br. Birds, 6. pl. 222.—Mont. Orn. Dict. 
—Bewick’s Br. Birds, ed. 1826, 2. pt. 397.—Shaw’s Zool. 13. 51. pl. 6.— 
Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 127. No. 203. 
Tue visits of this curious species to the northern islands Very rare 
of Scotland appear to be very rare, many years frequently Ane 
elapsing without a single individual being seen. Since the 
account given by Dr Fiemrine of a bird taken alive at 
St Kilda, in 1822, and the one chased by Mr Buttock, du- 
ring his tour to the northern isles, I am not aware of its 
having been met with, although many excursions connected 
with ornithological pursuits have been at different times 
made into those remote districts of the kingdom. It is found 
throughout the Arctic Seas in very high latitudes, although 
not in any considerable numbers, or congregated like the 
Razor-bill, Guillemot, and some others. It is frequent about 
the coasts of Norway and Iceland, and still more so around 
the icy shores of Greenland and Spitzbergén, where it breeds 
VOL. II. Ee 
