Supplementary note on the great auk or garefowl (Alca impennis Linn) / by Symington Grieve.

  • Grieve, Symington.
Date:
[between 1890 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Supplementary note on the great auk or garefowl (Alca impennis Linn) / by Symington Grieve. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/72 page 245
    1896-97-] I have received from the author, Mons. M. H. JJuchaussoy, a paper entitled “ Le Grand Pingouin du Musde d Histoire Naturelle d’Amiens,” published in the ‘ Mdmoires de la Socidtc Linn4enne du Nord de la France ’ (tome ix., 1892-95), with plate of the Great Auk in the Museum of Natural History, Amiens. This paper gives a r4suvi6 of published information upon Alca impennis Linn., but refers in greater detail to alcine remains preserved in France. The occurrence of two Great Auks in Waterford harbour in 1834, and the capture of one of these alive, is referred to in ‘ The Great Auk: its History, Archaeology, and Remains,’ pp. 23, 67-70. The following paragraph, which appeared in the ‘Graphic,’ 5th August 1893, had escaped my notice, but was sent home to me from India by one of my numerous correspondents. The article is written by Sir Robert S. Ball, LL.D., F.R.S., and gives some interesting information regarding the Great Auk captured at Waterford, besides what is men- tioned by Thomson, ‘Birds of Ireland,’ vol. iii. p. 238. Dr Burkitt, of Waterford, an old acquaintance of mine, and one of the best known naturalists in Ireland, has just died at an advanced age. He was principally famous as an ornithologist, and his name will be familiar to the readers of Yarrell and Thomson, and other authors who have treated of the birds of Great Britain. The career of this veteran student of nature deserves notice, if for no other reason than that he was perhaps the last surviving man of science who possessed and studied a living specimen of a remarkable bird that has since become extinct. Now that Dr Burkitt has gone, where is the naturalist who can say he has ever seen more of the Great Auk than the bones or the skins or the eggs which form our care- fully treasured relics of that notable fowl 1 Centuries ago this penguin- like bird, as large as a goose, abounded on many coasts in northern lati- tudes. Fly it could not, though it could swim and dive to perfection. But, unfortunately for so defenceless a creature, the fishermen of New- foundland discovered that roasted Great Auk was an extremely good dish. The bird was thereupon slaughtered with such waste and thoughtlessness that it became speedily exterminated. The last specimens of the Great Auk seen near the British Islands appear to have been a pair which some- how found their way into Waterford harbour in 1834. Both of them were duly captured, and one was kept alive in the possession of Dr Burkitt for some months. Fish was, of course, its natural diet, and doubt- less it was supplied therewith. However, on one occasion, some vagary of appetite tempted the captive to indiscretion in the matter of potatoes, and a fatal attack of indigestion supervened. Thus lamentably perished the last Great Ank in the British Islands, if not, indeed, the very last sur-
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