106 
THE NATURALISTS' COMPANION. 
The Geirfug'l or' giant-aiilv was not 
many years ago numbered among the 
existing species of Iceland and indeed 
was known to inhabit our own coast of 
Maine. This noble bird was three feet 
high and had a black bill a little more 
than four inches long. Its wings were 
mere stumps like those of the Antarctic 
penguin, but under water it could swim 
with amazing speed, making a mile 
and a half in one minute. They were 
veiy improlific laying but one egg in 
a season and if this was destroyed no 
other was laid until the next year. 
To-day not a single specimen ol this 
handsome bird exhists alive. The 
skin in the Museum of Natural His¬ 
tory in Central Park is valued at over 
$1000. Vassal* College also possesses 
a specimen, but there are probably not 
over a dozen specimens in the entire 
world. The last living bird was killed 
in 1844, and their extermination is un- 
doubtedR complete. 
WIJVTER BIRDS 
OF PRIJVCE ED WARD 
ISLAJ^ri). 
BY FKAXCIS BAIN. 
Our only permanent residents really 
abundent in the winter months are the 
little Black-capped and Hudsonian 
Chichadees. We have rarely any 
Shrikes, and the Chickadees’ mode of 
nesting secures them against the larger 
birds of prey, and, being the only insec¬ 
tivorous tribes of consequence during 
winter, they have an ample supply of 
food, so that they enjoy a regular par¬ 
adise here among the groves of gray 
lichened firs. Everywhere you turn, 
even in the most severe wnather. a 
merr}^ chick-pee-dee greets you, and a 
little black-cap bobs from among the 
snow-laden boughs. ., . 
The Hudsonian Chickadee is less 
pert and obtrusive than its black-eap 
ped friend. lake a coy maiden in so¬ 
ber brown it keeps to the retirement 
of the thickets, attracting little atten¬ 
tion with its soft, whispered notes. 
I think that both species, though plen¬ 
ty at all times, are less abundant in 
midwinter. 
The Gold-crested Kinglet and the 
Ked-bellied and White-bellied Nut¬ 
hatches are permanent residents,though 
by'no means abundant. Besides the 
Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, and 
a rare Black-backed Woodpecker, the 
Brown Creeper may sometimes be seen 
in midwinter. Blue Jays are numer¬ 
ous, but Canadian Jays uncommon. 
During severe winters Crows get very 
scarce, yet a few will brave the most 
Arctic temperature while grain stacks 
are to be pilfered from. 
Goshawks are residents here and the 
terror of the desolate forest. Often 
we see the blood-stained snow and the 
scattered feathers of a Jay, or the fur 
of a hare, where this marauder has 
had his meal. 
Among Owls, the Barred and Horn¬ 
ed Owls are the most common. The 
Snowy Owl visits us in winter; the cu- 
! rious bell-like tones of the little Arca- 
dianOwl form the first voice of spring- 
in the wintery.woodlands. 
After the ice closes round the Island 
in January we see but few water fowl. 
Yet, in mild winters, occasional Golden 
eyes, Oldsquaws, Mergansers, or Eider 
Ducks, may be observed. Herring 
and Black-backed Gulls come in dur¬ 
ing softer spells and survey the ice- 
locked bosoms of the harbors for some 
quieter opening to fish in. But the 
Terns and the great fleets of Bonaparte 
Gulls, that all summer long drifted, 
like snow-clouds, round the blue ba 3 ’s, 
had all left in October, when these 
were first silvered with the breath of 
December. 
TO BE CONTINUED. 
FROM THE AUK, VOL. 2 , NO. 3 . 
