25S cassell's book of birds. 



twisting their heads in all directions, with most ludicrous pertinacity. In these northern regions 

 they are so fearless of man that they will allow themselves to be approached within a few hundred 

 paces without exhibiting the slightest mistrust. When, however, we tried to seize one of them, they 

 threw themselves headlong into the sea, from whence, after having swum about and dived a little, they 

 again ascended to their resting-place. Upon rocks much resorted to by sea-fowl we have observed 

 that the Razor-bills always take possession of rents and crevices, in which they deposit their 

 egg. Some are found under stones, and a few in holes. Each pair produces but a single egg, which 

 is of large size, much elongated, and very variable both in colour and markings, insomuch that no two 

 can be found exactly alike. The young when hatched are clad in a thick coat of brownish black down, 

 with white faces. Before they are half grown they become impatient of longer confinement, and 

 apparently excited by the noise around them, throw themselves into the sea beneath, or roll themselves 

 over and over upon the rocks until they reach it. The parents immediately follow them, and instruct 

 them how to obtain food. This first leap of the young is a very hazardous proceeding, and thousands, 

 instead of falling into the water, are dashed to pieces on the stones, insomuch that at this season the 

 foot of the rock is literally covered with their mangled remains. 



THE GREAT AUK. 

 The Great Auk {A lea pinguinus or impenms). This extraordinary bird occupied the northern 

 regions of the Atlantic at the commencement of this century, but is now apparently extinct, 

 owing to the determined pursuit to which it has been subjected. So abundant was it even a few 

 years ago, that it was used in Greenland and Iceland as an article of food — at present its stuffed skia 

 could not be bought for its weight in gold. This species is described by Fleming as a British bird, 

 and he assures us that it not unfrequently bred in the Island of St. Kilda. The distinguishing mark 

 of this interesting species was the rudimentary condition of its wings, for wings they must be called, 

 presenting as they do all the parts met with in ordinary birds, but yet so small as to be quite useless 

 as instruments of flight. The beak, as may be seen in stuffed specimens, is elongated and very high, 

 and gently curved along its oilmen ; the lower jaw is deep and vaulted, but much compressed at its 

 sides ; its cutting edge from the corner of the mouth to beyond the nostrils is nearly straight, but 

 beyond that bends downwards at an obtuse angle to the tip. The sides of the bill present several 

 furrows towards its anterior extremity : of these, six or seven are on the upper, and nine or ten on the 

 lower mandible. The structure of the foot resembles that of other Auks, as does the plumage. The 

 tail is also composed of the same number of feathers. Its stature is nearly that of a Goose ; its length 

 being about thirty inches ; the wings are not more than six and a half or seven and a half ; the tail 

 measures three inches or three and a half. Upon the upper surface the plumage is glossy black ; on 

 the throat blackish brown ; an oval white patch is situated immediately in front of the eye. The 

 under side and a thin streak across the tips of the secondary wing-quills are white. The winter 

 plumage is entirely white. The beak and feet are black. The history of a bird so recently blotted 

 out from the list of living creatures becomes a subject of considerable interest, and several writers 

 have endeavoured to rescue from oblivion the principal facts recorded concerning its habits and mode of 

 life. Previous to these inquiries, it was generally understood that the Great Auk inhabited all parts of 

 the Frozen Ocean ; such, however, appears not to have been the case. We have no proof that it ever 

 visited the coast of Spitzbergen, nor has it been found on the shores of North America even at very 

 high latitudes. It is authentically stated that it used formerly to breed on the Faroe Isles and was 

 a frequent visitor to the Hebrides. Briillock obtained one from the latter islands in 18 12, and 

 Fleming was present at the capture of another on St. Kilda's Isle in 1822. A dead specimen was 

 washed ashore in Normandy in 1830, and this is the furthest point south it is known to have reached. 



