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Mr. Coujngwood Ingram,



THE LITTLE AUK IN SPITZBERGEN.


By Coujngwood Ingram, M.B.O.U.


When I visited Spitzbergen this summer I procured a

nestling of the Eittle Auk, M emm lus alle, and for some time

succeeded in keeping it in perfect health. Had it not been for

the ship’s cat I have little doubt that it would have reached

England in safety but, despite all my precautions, this animal

found access to my cabin and, furthermore, successfully removed

the string that I had loosely tied round a box in which the bird

was placed. Having reached the young Auk I presume its

musty odour deterred the cat from killing it outright, at any rate,

when I returned to my cabin I found the little creature still alive

but so sadly mauled that it died very shortly after. When I first

procured the bird it obstinately refused to take nourishment and,

to keep it alive, I was obliged to force food down its throat; in a



