HORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 23 



all killed, the last pair being taken about the 3d of June, 1844, this being the last 

 authentic record of the Great Auk in Europe. It was from this locality that most 

 of the skins now qxtant were obtained, only one mounted specimen being recorded 

 from American localities, although nearly all ckeletons have come from Newfound- 

 land. The history of the Great Auk in America may be said to date from 1534, when, 

 on May 21, two boat's crews from Cartier's vessels landed on Funk Island, and, as we 

 are told, "In lesse than half e an hour we filled two boats full of them, as if they had 

 bene stones. So that besides them which we did eat fresh, every ship did powder 

 and salt five or sixe barrels of them." The Great Auk having thus been apprised 

 of the advent of civilization in the regular manner, continnpc' to be utilized by all 

 subsequent visitors. The French fishermen depended very largely on the Great 

 Auks to supply them with provisions; passing ships touched at Funk Island for 

 supplies; the early colonists barreled them up for winter use, and the great abundance 

 of the birds was set forth among the other inducements to encourage emigration to 

 Newfoundland. The immense numbers of the Auks maybe inferred from the fact that 

 they withstood these drains for more than two centuries, although laying but a single 

 egg, and consequently increasing but slowly under the most favorable circumstances. 

 Finally some one conceived the idea of killing the Garefowl for its feathers, and 

 this sealed its fate. "When and where the scheme originated, and how long the 

 slaughter lasted, we know not, for the matter is rather one of general report than of 

 recorded fact, although in this instance circumstantial evidence bears witness to the 

 truth of Cartwright's statement that it was customary for several crews of men 

 to pass the summer on Funk Island solely to slay the Great Auks for their feathers. 

 That the birds were slain by millions; that their bodies were left to molder where 

 they were killed; that stone pens were erected; and that for some purpose frequent 

 and long continued fires were built on Punk Island, is indisputable. This locality 

 has been but thrice visited by naturalists, the last time in the summer of 1887, by a 

 party from the U. S. National Museum, who, by the aid of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, were enabled to obtain much information in regard to this interesting spot, 

 and to make very extensive collections of remains of the Great Auk. Just when 

 the Great Auk ceased to exist in America is unknown, for there were few naturalists 

 oh this side of the water when the Garefowl was being done to the death; but the 

 extinction took place not far from 1840, almost coincidently with the extermination 

 of the bird in Europe. Few birds have received more attention than has the Great 

 Auk since it became extinct, and it has been the subject of numerous papers, both 

 popular and scientific, while its remains bring extravagant prices whenever chance 

 brings them into the market. The last skeleton sold brought $600, the last skin 

 $650, while an egg brought $1,250, and then was resold for the round sum of $1,500." 

 The following is from the Naturalists' Journal, of London, for June, 1895, p. 129: "A 

 specimen of this extinct bird was reqently offered for sale at Steven's Great Sale 

 Hooms, Convent Garden. The specimen belonged to Sir F. Milner, M. P., to whose , 

 father — Sir W. Milner — it was sold by Graham, of York, who stated it had been ob- 

 tained in the Orkneys. For some years it has been in the Leeds Museum, but since 

 its removal has been re-stuffed. The bidding went up to 350 guineas, and the bird 

 was then bought in, but has since been sold to the Edinburgh Museum for £350. 

 Of the 24 skins of the Great Auk now in Britain, 11 are safely lodged in public 

 museums. An egg of this bird was offered for sale at the same time, and knocked 

 down for 180 guineas to an hotel keeper." The egg is like that of the Razor-billed 

 Auk, but of course much larger, measuring 4.69x2.92 Inches. 



