The Great Auk. j 33 



Gutmbjornsskjoerne) on the east coast of Greenland, since closed up by the ice, 

 consequent on a great lowering of the temperature ; some islands (notably Funk) 

 off the coast of Newfoundland ; some of the islands in the Bay of St. Lawrence, 

 and at Cape Briton and probably Cape Cod. It was apparently more abundant 

 in the vicinity of Newfoundland than elsewhere. 



Specimens have been obtained in England, Ireland, Germany, Norway and 

 Sweden ; while remains have occurred in parts of Scotland, England, Ireland, the 

 United States, and Denmark. It is usually stated that the last pair of Great 

 Auks were killed on Eldrey Island, in 1844; but another is said to have been 

 killed near Vardo, in 1848 ("Bird Life in Arctic Norway"). The late Colonel 

 H. M. Drummond-Hay used to relate that, in returning to Europe in 1852, he 

 saw, when on the edge of the Newfoundland banks, a Great Auk within thirty or 

 forty yards of the steamer. 



" The natives in the Orkneys informed Mr. Bullock, in his late tour through 

 those islands, that one male only had made his appearance for a long time, which 

 had regularly visited Papa Westra for several years. The female (which the 

 natives call the Queen of the Auks) was killed just before Mr. Bullock's arrival. 

 The King, or male, Mr. Bullock had the pleasure of chasing, for several hours, 

 in a six oared boat, but without being able to kill him, for though he frequently 

 got near him, so expert was the bird in its natural element, that it appeared 

 impossible to shoot him. The rapidity with which he pursued his course under 

 water, was almost incredible" (Montagu). This bird was afterwards captured by 

 some fishermen, who killed it and sent it to Mr. Bullock. At his death it was 

 purchased for ^15 5s. 6d. and placed in the British Museum. It is said that 

 the fishermen enticed it to the side of the boat by holding out a few fish, and 

 then struck it with an oar. 



In 1821 a bird was captured at St. Kilda by Donald M'Queen, and others. 

 From these men the bird was obtained by Mr. Maclellan, the tacksman of Glass 

 or Scalpa, and the Rev. John Fleming (author of the " History of British Animals") 

 obtained it as he was leaving Glass on board the yacht of the Commissioners of 

 the Northern Lighthouses, on the 18th August. Fleming states "this bird was 

 emaciated, and had the appearance of being sickly, but in the course of a few 

 days became sprightly, having been plentifully supplied with fresh fish, and 

 permitted occasionally to sport in the water, with a cord fastened to one of its 

 legs to prevent escape. Even in this state of restraint it performed the motions 

 of diving and swimming under water with a rapidity that set all pursuit from a 

 boat at defiance. A few white feathers were at that time making their appearance 

 on the sides of its neck and throat, which increased considerably during the 



Vol. VI. X 



