EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXXII. 



The Great Auk. 



ABOUT ONE-QUARTER NATURAL SIZE. 



From the specimen in the U S. National M.iseum, No. 57338, 



Wilhelm Schluter, of Halle, Germany, from whom this Auk was procured, gives 

 its history as follows: It was obtained by Mr. Salmin, of Hamburg, from Iceland; 

 by him sold to a merchant of Hamburg, who sold it to Mr. Goetz, of Dresden, who 

 in turn parted with it to Mr. Schluter. 



In the U. S. National Museum catalogue of birds it is recorded as t? ad. Eldey, 

 June, 1834. 



Since the photograph was taken from which the accompanying plate was inade 

 the specimen has been remounted in a different attitude and shortened between two 

 and three inches. It is still, like nearly all mounted skins, considerably too long, 

 but could not be shortened any more without cutting the skin, a proceeding that, 

 under the circumstances, was deemed inadmissible. 



Before remounting a full-sized figure of the specimen was made. 



