680 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Newton’s paper to the disappearance of a range of rocky skerries 
in Iceland, the Geirfuglasker, which was engulphed by the sea in 
1830 during a submarine volcanic disturbance, a catastrophe which 
contributed very materially to the birds’ destruction. This range 
was a noted haunt of the Great Auk for centuries, and the eruption 
which overwhelmed it seems to have been a final blow towards the 
extinction of the species. 
In connection with Iceland it may not be out of place to refer 
to the name given to the Great Auk by Niels Horrebow, whose 
work on Iceland appeared in 1752, viz., the “ Geir, or Vulture.” 
Whether this writer had traced any connection between the Iceland 
name Geirfugl and hammer geir, or geyer (literally, “lamb vulture”), 
which is a connecting-link between the Eagle and Vulture, I am 
not prepared to say — the etymology of the name Garefowl being 
confessedly a difficult question. Professor Newton informs me that 
the obvious resemblance at first sight between Geir and the German 
Geier or Geyer (its older form) has struck several persons, but that 
he doubts if it is more than a coincidence. The following is 
Horrebow’s account of the Garefowl which I have not seen quoted 
in any recent publication : — 
“ The Vulture Rocks, called also Bird Rocks, lie beyond Reikenes 
in the south district, about 6 or 8 leagues west of this place. 
On these cliffs and rocks are a great many Vultures, which, besides, 
harbour in other parts of the island. The inhabitants at a certain 
season go to these islands, though the expedition is very dangerous, 
to seek after the eggs of this bird, of which they bring home a cargo 
in a boat big enough for eight men to row. The danger and 
difficulty consist in getting ashore near these cliffs, which lie 6 or 
8 leagues out at sea, where the water generally runs so high 
that if the boat be not carefully managed it runs the risk of being 
dashed to pieces against the rocks by the violence of the waves. 
Though there are not so many of these birds as of other sea-birds, 
yet they are not scarce. They are frequently seen ; and those that 
go to take their eggs from them see enough of them. The eggs are 
very large, and about as big as Ostriches’.” Horrebow also quotes 
the authority of Herrn Johann Anderson, who states that “the 
Geir, or Vulture, is not often seen in Iceland except on a few cliffs 
to the west ; and that the Icelanders, naturally superstitious, have 
