Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27


TNHE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Is on
= the point of publishing descriptive &C
count Of an expedition made under its direc-
ton short time ago to Funk Island, of the
coast Of Newfoundland, which was the last ~
treat OF the now extinct great aux.
1t is now about fifty years since this interest
ing bird, existing q century ago in countless
myriads, succumbed to destroying man and
disappeared almost simultaneously from the
shores of Europe and America Az the buf-
falo contributed to the opening Of the great
west the great aux played its part in the Set
ting OF Newfoundland by supplying with food
the first corners in that region. For many
years the creatures we're used for provision,
bo:h fresh and sailed, as well as for bait by the
fishermen, but it was the trade in feathers that
had most to do with the destruction Of the
species.
FUNK ISLAND
seems always to have been the chief breeding
place OF the great aux, and there il fingered
long after it had been entirely extirpated in
other and more accessible localities. 1t was at
no small risk that the sailors of old and the
haruy colonlsts resorted for supplies to the
lonely rocky islet. thirty-two miles out in the
Atlantic. environed by reefs and shoals, over
which the sea breaks heavily during storms
But the supplies had to be got at any risk. and
so the work =, Of shaving the birds went
steadily on until the last Of their kind had dis
appeared from the face of the earth and the
place to which they had resorted for untold
ages knew them no more
Unfortunately, naturalists were not aware
that the great aux was actually being exter-
minated until the catastrophe had actually
taken place Thus sadly small number of
skins. skeletons and eggs Of the birds have been
preserved in museums. The National Museum
owned stuffed specimen and an egg. but in
going over the bone collection only single
fragment of a great auk's skeleton could be
found. This was exceedingly unfortunate and
subsequently 1t came about that Mr.. Frederic
A. Lucas. curator of the department of COM
paratlve anatomy at the Smithsonian. sug-
gested that an expedition should be made to
unk Island for the purpose of procuring what
remains might be found there of the vanished
fowl His idea was approved and subse-
4uently he was sent to the island on board the
fish commission schooner Grampus.
AN INHosPITABLE SPOT.
MIR. Lucas found this strange rock in the
midst of the sea to be about half mile in
length by quarter Of q mile in width, edged
FOR the greater part of its shore lire with steep
oluhs. A more inhospitable spot could hardly
De imagined. and ordinarily it is very difficult
TO make landing a. ALL Even the great auhs
which could onlylswim and had no power of
night must have got considerably banged up
IN trying to secure 4 landing. They were ac-
custoE1ed to migrate southwark every winter
and 1t seems wonderful indeed that they should
have been able to find their way back again TO
SO small dot in the ocean This sort of in
stmct In many animals amounts to a sixth
sense. which man does not seem to share at all
with them.
The island ia of red sandstone bnt less than
century ago the number of birds breeding
upon II was SO great to make il look white
and Audubon, in 1885,. compared the effect of the
birds. seen from distance lowering over the
summit, to heavy fall of snow. 1t should be
said here that the great aux Was not the only
water fowl that frequented Funk Island. There
were myriads besides of gannets. INJURIES and
razor-billed auks, which last are very near
cousins to the great auks 1t was at the west
end OF the island that the great auks congre-
gated. having that part to themselves where the
rock was shelving and comparatively easy If
access. Between this low and shelving area and
the eastern part Of the island comes a big step
up. which was sufficiently high to prevent the
great aux from passing over it. Whereas it
was reckoned in 1850 by DIR. Bryant that the
total number of gannets breeding on the sum-
nut OF the rock was O,o00 pair, not one Of these
birds is now left
EGG-sMAsHINd EXPEDITIONS.
1t is the egg gathering industry that has had
very much to do with the steady elimination of
these waterfowls of various kinds The plan
adopted on the islands along the coast of Lab
rador and elsewhere has usually been for a
party on arriving TO smash every egg it can
find. Then the birds lay fresh ones. and these
are gathered up and taken TO market at 81.
Johns s, Newfoundland. A law has been passed
against such proceedings. but it is difficult TO
enforce 1t, in fact almost impossible. Scarce n
day passes during fine weather without q visit
to Funk Island by fishermen in search of eggs
Ten years ago fog gun was set up on the rock
ana was a cause OF great destruction among
10 IrdC anh Al
INJURIES would fly up in clouds. nearly every
sitting bird taking its egg into the air between
Its thighs and dropping it after going few
yards.
There is one bird on Funk Island which has
fairly defied the effort of man to exterminate
II. 1t is the little puthn-a chunky creature
not quite foot in height and having a large
and powerful beak. The putin makes a burrow
Tor Its habitation. sometimes much as four
feet deep. by scratching. 1t is troublesome to
capture. therefore, and, inGsmuch as it bites
and claws unpleasantly, it is pretty much left
alone
WHAT THE EXPEDITION FOUND.
Mr.. Lucas and his party landed upon Funk
Island with dory full of provisions and equip
ments. including tent. guns and ammunition.
buckets, baskets, ropes and plenty of rubber
boots and coats. To reach the summit. which
was about forty-six feet high, was easy enough
by circuitOus path. 1t was at the west end of
the lslcl, however Wnere the great aux bred
in peace for ages, that the expedition found the
bones of myriads of these birds buried i'm the
shallow soil. with slabs of weather-beaten gram
lie scattered thickly about like so many crumb-
ling tombstones marking the resting places of
the departed fowls. On the summit. are the
ruins of q stone hut. built from these slabs.
which is said to have been constructed for the
accommodation of crew of sealers. who.
some years ago, passed the winter on the
island. All OF them were lost except the cook,
who was rescued in an almost insane condition.
FINDING SKELETONS.
The soil was found upon digging to be of two
distinct layers. the lower portion, formed dur
ing the occupancy of the aux. being from
three inches to one foot in thickness and con-
sisting largely of fragments of egg shells Over
this is black dust from decayed vegetation and
patches of charcoal from old fires. With two
clam hoes rapid progress was made in turning
over the soil. The skeletons were found
in o compact mass beneath the matted roots
of the plants the surface. In the vi
deposits of auk bones were discovered the
skeletons of thousands Of birds being mixed to-
gether in inextricable confusion. Patches of
charcoal and charred fragments of bones Law
here and there, showing where the kettles
once swung in which the fowls were parboiled
to render picking easy. Tradition SAYS that the
bodies of the great aux were so fat that they
could be used for fuel. Here and there were
the ruins of stone Enclosures. anciently built.
for the purpose of cQufininp tho hirds ri