GUILLEMOT AND AUK FAMILY

(Alcidae), a family of marine swimming birds confined to the colder regions of the northern hemisphere, characterized by short wings, heavy body, and fully webbed anterior toes, the first toe being absent. The most interesting and largest member of the family was the flightle Great Auk or Garefowl (Alcea tmpennis), distinguished by its large, deep beak, equalling the head in length, black plumage on the upper surface and white on the under, as well as on a patch above the eyes. Confined to the North Atlantic, its chief breeding- ‘places were rocky islands off Iceland and ter for more than two centuries brought about its extinction in 1844. Its remains have been found in Orkney.