
* Buffon called it Le Grand Pengouin. 
_ (fox goose) to distinguish it from the rest of the 
1 ^ 

THE GREAT AUK. 539 
Friendless bird! How is it possible for her to rear such a 
numerous family, when surrounded by so many enemies. 
Not only does man contrive many schemes to entrap them, 
but many of the rapacious quadrupeds and birds are ever 
ready to make them their prey. The mink follows them in 
the woods with as unerring skill as does the setter dog, 
while the red-tailed hawk hunts them in more open ground. 

THE GREAT AUK. 
BY PROFESSOR JAMES ORTON. 
c — 
Tn recent addition of a specimen of this rare bird to the 
Smithsonian Museum, is an event worthy of record. There 
are now three specimens in the United States; the one just 
mentioned, another in the Academy of Natural Sciences, 
Philadelphia, and a third in the Giraud Cabinet in Vassar 
College. The last is the most perfect specimen, and cer- 
tainly possesses the greatest historical value, as it is the one 
from which Audubon made his drawing and description. It 
Was caught on the banks of Newfoundland. 
The Great Auk or Gare-fowl,* fortunately for itself did 
not live long enough to receive more than one scientific 
name— Alca impennis. It was about the size of a goose, 
With a large head, a curved, grooved and laterally flattened 
bill; wings rudimental, adapted to swimming only, ap- 
Proaching in this respect the penguins of the southern 
hemisphere. The toes are fully webbed, the hind one want- 
ing; the plumage is black, excepting the under parts, the 
tips of the wings, and an oval spot in front of each eye, 
Which are white. It was an arctic bird, dwelling chiefly in 
MOS hoist os arr 

Moehring adds the tribal name Chenalopez 
Alcidæ. 
