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.

    7/72 page 237
    1896-97-] The Great Auk. 2 37 VIII.—SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE ON THE GREAT AUK OR GAREFOWL (ALGA IMPENNIS Linn.) By Mb SYMINGTON GRIEVE. {Read March 24, 1S97.) To some of you it may seem a waste of valuable time to write anything more about the Great Auk or Garefowl, so much has been done to record all that is known about it. To those who are only slightly acquainted with the history of this bird, such an opinion would seem, no doubt, quite reasonable. But others who have given more attention to the subject are better in- formed, and are aware that from time to time discoveries are being made of remains under extraordinary circumstances that are of sufficient interest to cause columns to be filled in the daily press and magazines about the Great Auk. In addition, there is a constant change of specimens going on, principally eggs; and these need to be traced to new resting-places or they will be lost sight of altogether. Certain purchasers, under some mistaken idea, are very reti- cent about the price they pay for alcine remains. If they fully realised the advantage to themselves should they or their heirs ever wish to sell their collections, they would only be too glad to have all the information that is known recorded, as the value of such rarities is thereby much enhanced. I am glad to be able to say that what I have just remarked refers to the very few, as in my large correspondence with possessors of such remains I have in the great majority of cases been fur- nished with the fullest Information, for which I have to thank these collectors. Since I read my last paper upon the same subject to this Society in November 1887, a number of events have occurred that are worth recording; hence I trouble you upon this occasion. When the sale of the egg of Alca impennis Linn, which be- longed to Mrs Wise took place on 12th March 1888, the egg was sold for £225, as mentioned in these ‘ Transactions.’1 This
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