C esto. ©) 
GREAT AUK. 
ALCA IMPENNIS, Linn. 
PLATE CCCXLI. Anutr. 
Tue only authentic account of the occurrence of this bird on our 
coast that I possess, was obtained from Mr Henry Have t, brother 
of my Engraver, who, when on his passage from New York to Eng- 
land, hooked a Great Auk on the banks of Newfoundland, in extremely 
boisterous weather. On being hauled on board, it was left at liberty 
on the deck. It walked very awkwardly, often tumbling over, bit 
évery one within reach of its powerful bill; and refused food of all kinds. 
After continuing several days on board, it was restored to its proper 
element. 
When I was in Labrador, many of the fishermen asSured me that 
the “ Penguin,” as they name this bird, breeds on a low rocky island 
to the south-east of Newfoundland, where they destroy great numbers 
of the young for bait; but as this intelligence came to me when the 
season was too far advanced, I had no opportunity of ascertaining its 
accuracy. In Newfoundland, however, I received similar information 
from several individuals An old gunner residing on Chelsea Beach, 
near Boston, told me that he well remembered the time when the Pen- 
guins were plentiful about Nahant and some other islands in the Bay. 
The egg is very large, measuring five inches in length, and three 
in its greatest breadth. In form it resembles that of the Common 
Guillemot; the shellis thick and rather rough to the touch ; its colour 
yellowish-white, with long irregular lines and blotches of brownish- 
black, more numerous at the larger end. 
Acca 1MPENNIs, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 210.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 791. 
Great Aux, Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 553. 
Adult in Summer. Plate CCCXLI. Figs. 1, 2. 
Bill as long as the head, feathered as far as the nostrils, beyond 
which it is very high, exceedingly compressed, tapering, and slightly 
» eee 
