1
The Great Auk.
(Alca impennis.)
The Great Auk or Gare-Fowl was a large swimming and diving bird which probably became extinct as recently as 1844. It was as large as a goose, and in appearance greatly resembled its surviving relative the Razor-bill; its wings, however, were so small that they were useless for flying, but served as paddles when the bird was diving and swimming under water in pursuit of fish. The Great Auk spent most of its time at sea, where it was safe, but at the nesting season it had to come ashore, and then, being incapable of flight, it became easy victim to man. Formerly it was plentiful in the North Atlantic, breeding on rocky islands near Iceland and Newfoundland.