EXPEDITION TO FUNK ISLAND. 497 



The U. S. National Museum possessed a stuffed specimen aiid an egg, 

 but in going over the osteological collection a single humerus of the 

 Great Auk was all that could be found, aud eveu this was from a New 

 England shell heap. In the spring of 1885 the writer suggested the 

 great desirability of securing, if possible, other bones of this extinct 

 bird, which could doubtless be found on Funk Island, where Profesvsor 

 Milne had secured a number during a brief visit in 1874. This sugges- 

 tion met with the approval of Professor Baird, but some correspond- 

 ence with the Hev. M. Harvey, of St. John's, Newfoundland, made evi- 

 dent the fact that in order to insure the success of an expedition to Funk 

 Island son]e naturalist should accompany the party, aud that such a 

 trip would entail the expenditure of considerable time and money. 



So the matter rested until the year of 1887, when it became apparent 

 that tbe work of the U. S. Fish Commission would make it desirable for 

 the schooner Grampiis to visit the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, 

 and the question of visiting Funk Island was referred to Captain Col- 

 lins. 



The undertaking met with the approval of Captain Collins, who by 

 indorsing the enterprise at the outset, aud by cordial co-operation 

 throughout the resulting trip, ensured the complete success of the ex- 

 pedition. 



It was my good fortune to be detailed to accompany the Grampus, 

 primarily to collect remains of the Great Auk, and also to secure as 

 much other anatomical material as might be obtainable. 



As the proposed route would take the vessel to some localities where 

 little collecting had been done, Mr. William Palmer was also detailed 

 for the trip. He devoted himself especially to the birds and his inter- 

 esting observations appear elsewhere. 



A more harmonious party probably never cruised together, and to 

 this, and to the fact that the rig and equipment of the Grampus fitted 

 her perfectly for the work in hand, may be attributed the success of 

 the voyage. 



The middle of June was the date set for sailing, but owing to circum- 

 stances tbe Grampus did not leave Gloucester until July 2, a delay, 

 however, that proved to be for the best, as the summer of 1887 was 

 unusually backward in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



The Bird Eocks of the Gulf of St. Lawrence was the first place set 

 down for a visit, but as wind and sea were then too high for landing 

 July 8 was passed at Grindstone Island, of the Magdalen group, where 

 a few birds were collected. 



The only mammal seen was a young seal {Phoca vitulina), and it is 

 difficult to realize that the Magdalen Islands were ouce the seat of a 

 flourishing walrus fishery, and that thousands of these huge beasts were 

 annually slaughtered along their barren shores. 



Molineux Shuldham, writing in 1775, speaks of the walrus as being 

 found on the Magdalens, St. John's Island, and Anticosti, and the 

 H. Mis. 142, pt. 2 3^ 



