Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-09
MANS WAR ON BIRDS AND
BEASTS.

Extinction of the Arctic Sea Cow, the
Great AUX, and the DOdO.
About 100 years ago the voyagers to the
Arctic seas were familiar with Rlarge and
powerful animal resembling our manatee,
says the New York Sun; in fact, it was a
northern representative of this animal,
called the Rhytina. 1t was extremely
common, seemingly taking the place of
the clOven-fOOted creatures among the
milk-giyers Of the sea. In general ap-
pearance the Arctic sea COW was a stu
pendOus spectacle, attaining when full
grown length of 30 feet and weight of
several tons. The general color was n
dark brown; the skin thick and Ieatberv.
covered with thick, bristling hair that
matted together, forming a protection
from the Ice and cold, and was compared
IN appearance to the bark of a tree. The
mead Of the sea COW was small in proper
ton TO the animals size, and, instead of
possessing teeth, was provided with two
curious maSticating plateS-One in the
gum, and the other in the under law. The
tail somewhat reSembled that of a whale.
having two fiukeS. The fore fins or mad
dies were blunt and without nails. having
instead thick growth of bFistling hairs.
such was the general appearance of the
animals that when first discovered were
weed of the shore. They showed no fear
OF the men, even allowing themselves to
be touched by them; but when one was
injured it Is said that they DISPLAYED much
bravery in its defense. Such was the
state of things in the year 1742. At this
time vessel was wrecked in the Arctic
sea. the crew escaping and making their
way to Behring Island. For some time
they subslsted upon fish and birds. but
finally the game became scarce, and on
the lst of June in the year mentioned they
began warfare upon the sea COW that has
since been named after Steller. one Of the
party. The animals were killed with har-
poems, and each was so large that forty
men could scarcely drag it through the
water.
The men were finally rescued from Beh-
ring Island, but in 1854 a vessel COM
manded by Russian, Ivan KrassiInikoff.
arrived there, and destroyed large num-
bers of the animals. In the succeeding
year an explorer named JakOOley, seeing
that they were about to become extermi-
mated, laid a petition before the authori-
ties at hamschatka asking that the anl-
mails be protected by law. He was not
needed. however, and In 1I5l another eX-
> petition landed at the islands, and others
in l5o aud 1862, and until 1880. when the
last living sea COW was seen by a native
OF NOlhynia. Thus in thrty-eight wears
from the time these mOnStrOus animals
were discovered they We're totally exter-
minated, and to-day not a single skin. and
only number of skeletons. remain in the
possession of naturalists to tell tie story
of the destruction of an entire race Of
large and powerful beasts. Much inter-
esting information concerning the Rhvti-
ma was obtained during the present Swe-
dish expedition to the north, and Prof.
NOrdenskjOld found numbers of deposits
of their bones that are now utilized by
the natives for various purposes, the ribs
being used for ShOeing the runners of
sledges. When alive, the fur or hide of
the animal was made by the natives into
boats called baydars.
1t IS supposed by some writers that the
determination of the great mammoth was
FASTENED by early man, who was of ne
cessity a hunter, and that the great ele-
phant existed at the same time with our
ancestors is shown by the fact that in
France their bones, together with those of
man and many animals now extinct, have
been found. AS late as 1884 NutUall the
famous authority on birds, wrote con-
corning the great aux
As a diver he is unrivalled. having almost
the velocity or birds in the air. They breed
IN the Farce Islands, and in Iceland, Green
land, and Newfoundland, nesting among the
cliffs and laying but one egg each. They are
50 unproliiic that If this egg be destroyed, no
. other Is laid during that season. The aux Is
known sometimes to breed in the isle of ST.
kilda. and inllapa Westra, according to Mr..
Bullock, Tor several years past no more than
single pair had made their appearance.
To-day not single individual of this
specIes of aux is alive, and the skin in the
Museum of Natural History in Central
Park. that is valued at over one thousand
dollars, one at NaSSar College. and several
others, probably not over twelve in all.
are the only specimens known in the
world. Sixty or one hundred years ago
Il, II
northern coast, coming as far south as
Nahant; but warfare was begun upon
them also, and though it hardly seems
possible, their determination is undOubt-
eddy complete, the last living bird having
been killed IN 1914 on a group of islands
called Funglasker, on the southwest coast
of Iceland. In the last century these
birds, which were large, handsome, and
striking in appearance, We're very COM
mon at the Farce Islands They were
found to be good eating, and We're slaugh-
tered by the boat load. not only for imme-
date use. but to preserve or dry. They
were finally driven to a desOlate rock that
was considered inaccessible, but on a
calm day EarOeSe vessel succeeded in
landing, and the crew DESTROYED nearly
the entire rOokery. \ few escaped to sea
and returned after the departure of the
men. and were for time unmOlested but
as if nature herself was in league against
them. the rock was in a few years en-
quilted by submarine eruption. The few
remaining great aukS assembled and
formed a rOOkery on a rock called Eldey.
where for fourteen years they lived a pre-
cIriOus existence. During this time sixty
of their number were captured, and final
ly the last pair were destroyed. The his
tory Of other localities Is very similar.
That the birds were once frequent on the
Maine coast is shown by their bones. that
are found in the oyster she'll heaps of that
region.
At this time there lived in the same To-
calities the Labrador duck a fine bird,
stuffed specimens of which are quite rare
even in collections. The last known living
specimen was killed by Col Wedderburn.
of Halifax, in 1852. In a similar manner
the curious dOdO, giant pigeon, was eX-
terminated, the sailors who visited the
island of Mauritius killing them in mere
wantOn amusement. or to obtain the legs
for pipe stems, and the curious stones
found in the gullet. In our own time we
have seen the buffalo crowded to the
West. Civilization is also advancing
from there, and before many years the
buffalo, the mountain sheep, the prong
horn, and all the noble game animals OF
the great West will be represented only
by the stuffed skins and dried bones Of our
museums.
StOnewaII JacksOn's Daughter.
Washington Star.