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where the great bird used to live are frequented by vessels every year. It 

 is true that a certain Lorenz Brodtkorb told that in April, 1848, he saw four 

 Great Auks, of which he shot one, near the Varanger Fjord, east of the 

 North-Cape, but Professor Newton and Wolley have, in 1855, had an inter- 

 view with Brodtkorb, and came to the conclusion that he saw and shot the 

 Great Northern Diver. This is the more likely to be the case, as the 

 occurrence north of the Arctic Circle is as yet uncertain, the finding of 

 Great Auks both on the island of Disco (west-coast of Greenland) and on 

 Grimsey and Mevenklint on the north coast of Iceland being open to doubt. 



From sub-fossil and prehistoric finds, we know that the Great Auk 

 formerly inhabited Norway and Sweden, Denmark, with Seeland, Sejero and 

 Havno, the British Islands (Cleadon Hills in County Durham, Scotland, 

 Ireland), the east coast of North America from Labrador to Florida. 



In historic times we know of the occurrence on the islands near 

 Labrador, Greenland — where it certainly used to breed on the east coast, 

 but was probably only of rare and exceptional occurrence on the west coast — 

 Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Fair Island between the Orkney and Shetland 

 Islands (doubtful), Orkneys (Papa Westra), St. Kilda, Skye, and Waterford 

 Harbour in Ireland. But as breeding stations within historic times the 

 following only are absolutely certain : — - 



1. Funk Islands near Newfoundland. 



2. Iceland (Geirfuglasker, Grimsey, Eldey). 



3. Faroe Islands. 



4. St. Kilda. 



5. Orkney Islands. 



While we know of regular occurrence and may assume that the bird 

 has been breeding on the north and west side of Newfoundland, and in east 

 Greenland (opposite Iceland). 



The remains of the Great Auk and its eggs in collections are more 

 numerous than one would think, considering the enormous prices paid for 

 mounted specimens and eggs. There are at present known 79 or 80 skins, 

 26 or 27 skeletons, a great quantity of detached bones, and about 73 eggs. 



I HAVE IN MY MUSEUM: 

 1. One adult female, formerly in the collection of the late Comte de Riocour at Vitry- 

 le-Francois, in France. I bought this specimen from the late Ahpjionse Boucard, 

 together with the bulk of the birds of the Riocour collection. It is evidently an adult 

 female, having the white lines on the bill not very much developed, and showing a 

 distinct grey tinge on the flanks. This shade is present in both my Great Auks; the 

 feathers of the flanks, just under the wing, are nearly white, with a conspicuous, very 

 light grey border. This grey tinge is present in all females, but appears to be absent 

 in adult males. My bird is apparently in worn breeding plumage. As it was not 

 very well mounted and the feet slightly damaged, I had it reduced to a " skin." 



