GEEAT AUK 



ALCA IMPENNIS, Linn. 



Alca impennis, Linn. S. N. i. p. 210 (1766) ; Naum. xii. 

 p. 630; Macg. v. p. 359; Hewitson, ii. p. 469; Yarr. 

 ed. 4, iv. p. 61 ; Dresser, viii. p. 563. 



Grand Pingouin, French ; Grosser Alk, German. 



I need hardly say that I never had any personal 

 acquaintance with this extinct and much-lamented fowl 

 in life, as there is no authentic record of its occurrence 

 "in the flesh" since 1844. To those interested in 

 ornithology the history of the Great Auk is probably 

 well known from the published researches of Professor 

 Alfred Newton, but I may mention that a valuable 

 summary of references on the subject is to be found in 

 the 4th edition of Yarrell's ' British Birds,' vol. iv. p. 62, 

 and as all the information in my possession is derived 

 from the works there enumerated, I will not attempt to 

 set it forth. I may, however, briefly quote that it is 

 very doubtful if this bird was ever met with to the 

 north of the Arctic circle, that its principal haunts were 

 certain islands in the neighbourhood of Newfoundland, 

 others near the east coast of Greenland, and some 



