AUKS AND MU RUES 
241 
This bird had become so well adapted to an aquatic life that flying 
was no longer necessary and consequently its wings became reduced 
to mere swimming flippers like those 
of the penguins of the Antarctic, and 
flight was impossible. Though as well 
able to live at sea as any fish or marine 
animal, land was as necessary to it for 
reproduction as to any other bird. 
Even then, if it had inhabited the very 
extremes of the Arctic regions for nest- 
ing purposes it would probably have 
survived; but lonely outlying rocks 
and islets about the British Isles and, 
on our side of the ocean, south to 
Newfoundland, were its nesting places 
and immediately in the course of the 
fleets of hardy fishermen who early in 
our history flocked to our shores. To 
them, these then countless thousands 
of large sea birds inhabiting islets in 
the immediate vicinity of their fishing 
grounds, so helpless on land that they 
could be killed in unlimited numbers with sticks and clubs, were irresistible. 
They took full advantage of their opportunities and the story passes current 
that to save labour, gang planks were placed ashore from the boats and 
the unresisting birds were driven aboard in droves to be clubbed to death 
on deck. Of course no numbers could long resist such destruction and 
today the Great Auk is an interesting memory represented by only indi- 
vidual specimens and fragments in a few favoured museums. 
FAMILY — ALCINAE. AUKS AND MURRES 
General Description. This family is composed of strictly maritime species of rare or 
only accidental occurrence on fresh water, 't hough most at home in the water, the birds 
stand upright on land and walk about with considerably more ease than do the grebes or 
loons. Their bills are usually straight and tapered. 
Distinctions. The obvious diver-like form, combined with webbed feet and no liind 
toes (Figure 352), is diagnostic. 
Field Marks. General resemblance to ducks, but with short necks, and pointed bills. 
Nesting. Usually breed in large colonies, many of mixed species, on rocky islets or 
inaccessible sea-washed cliffs. Build no nest, but lay their eggs directly on the ground. 
Eggs are unusually large for the size of the bird and markedly pyriform, a shape that 
causes them to roll in circles rather than in straight lines and lessens the danger of their 
falling from the bare, rocky, nesting ledges. 
Distribution. Along the seacoasts to the Arctic, rarely occurring on fresh water. 
This family frequents the open sea, coming ashore only to breed. 
The birds differ from the other divers in habitually using their wings under 
water as in flying. In primitive Indian and fishing communities Sea- 
divers and their eggs have in the past been much used for food. In certain 
localities, they may still be a most important food supply for tribes who have 
little other source of fresh meat and who have depended upon them from 
time immemorial. It is not suggested that they are legitimate food supply 
for white men, who are expected to provide themselves with other supplies 
beforehand. These birds are protected under the Migratory Birds Con- 
