1863.] MR. A. NEWTON ON ALCA IMPENNIS. 437 



when Stuvitz, in 1841, visited Funk Island the bones were in quan- 

 tities (i Mcengde), many causes during the time that had since elapsed 

 might have scattered or destroyed them. The locaHty, as I have 

 before shown, was a distant one and, like all resorts of the Gare-Fowl 

 as far as I know them, not easy of access. Stuvitz stated there were 

 but two landing-places, and these only to be attained by a hazardous 

 leap {kun ved et voveligt Spring). These latter particulars were 

 confirmed by Mr. Johnson ; and in the last letter which I had from 

 that gentleman (only a few weeks ago) he told me he had come to 

 the gallant determination to make the expedition himself, as without 

 him he was sure all endeavours to obtain the bones would fail. 

 Meanwhile the Bishop of Newfoundland, in the course of one of his 

 visitations, had been shown by Mr. Johnson my letters, enclosing 

 sketches of the principal bones and other papers relating to the 

 subject, and most kindly volunteered to give me all the aid in the 

 matter which his high position afforded. "When the members of 

 this Society know the result, I think they will congratulate me on 

 my good fortune in having excited his lordship's interest. After 

 several other friendly letters, I had three days ago the great plea- 

 sure of receiving one in which the Bishop informed me his success 

 had surpassed anything I could have anticipated ; for his lordship 

 had done no less than secure me what may be not inaptly called 

 the "mummy" of an Alca impennis, which, having come into 

 my hands yesterday, I have now the honour of exhibiting to the 

 Society. 



It appears that the Colonial Government have recently conceded 

 to a Mr. Glindon the privilege of removing the soil from Funk 

 Island ; for this soil, being highly charged with organic matter, is 

 consequently valuable as manure when imported to Boston and other 

 places in North America. The Bishop, through Mr. N. R. Vail, a 

 gentleman of the United States, well informed on scientific subjects, 

 and therefore aware of the interesting nature of the research, made 

 application to the lessee of Funk Island, who ordered his men em- 

 ployed there to use their best endeavours to obtain for me bones of 

 the Penguin. They appear to have done their work very effectually ; 

 for I hear that they " brought away many puncheons of bones and 

 other remains" — of course not all necessarily " Penguins " — which 

 I believe are now on their way to New England, where they will 

 doubtless be readily bought up by the farmers, though I trust some 

 may be rescued from ignoble uses by the American naturalists. 

 This mummy, however, the Bishop tells me, was " found four feet 

 below the surface, and under two feet of ice." I need scarcely point 

 out to the Society what an advantage it is to have obtained so many 

 bones undeniably belonging to one individual bird. Though the 

 skeleton is not perfect, it is plain that we have here at least one side 

 of the entire vertebral column. The extremities of the limbs are 

 altogether wanting on either side ; and though this is greatly to be 

 regretted, it is some consolation to think that a knowledge of what 

 these parts are like in Alca impennis may be, with a little trouble, 

 supplied from almost every one of the sixty-three or sixty-four 



