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.

    27/72 page 257
    1896-97-] “ Whitepark Bay is on the north coast of Antrim, lying about midway between Ballycastle and the Giants Causeway. Bones. British Isles. Ballymena.—In the collection of Mr W. J. Knowles, Flixton Place, Ballymena, there are bones representing at least five or six individual birds (see p. 256). Dublin.—In the Natural History Museum of the Boyal 'Irish Academy there are bones representing probably three specimens (see p. 256). In answer to my inquiry by letter, the Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy, writing on 22nd April 1897, says : “ The curatorship of the Academy’s Museum is vacant, and pending the appointment of a successor to the late curator I have not been able to get particulars of the objects from Whitepark Bay.” Leeds: Museum of the Philosophical and Literary Society.— Writing me on 22nd November 1887, Mr Wm. Eagle Clarke, then of Leeds, now of Edinburgh, says: “We have some of the Funk Island remains in this Museum. They were purchased of Gerrard, the dealer.” London.—A right humerus was presented to Mr E. T. Newton by Mr W. J. Knowles, Ballymena, and is now in the possession of Mr Newton, who writes me from the Geological Survey Office, 28 Jermyn Street, London, S.W., 7th April 1897 (see p. 256). London.—Skull and several bones in the possession of Mr Rowland Ward, F.Z.S., 166 Piccadilly, London, W., in litt. dated 23rd December 1896. In another letter, dated 22nd March 1897, Mr Ward informs me that “ the bones in question came from Funk Island, and were bought at Stevens’ Auction Rooms.” Tring, Herts.—In the museum of the Hon. W. Rothschild there are some bones taken from a stuffed bird purchased from Shaw of Shrewsbury. Mr Rowland Ward, F.ZS. in litt 19th March 1897.
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