with Morten Nygaard, also of Porkere, I was out in a boat off Porkere-na* for the purpose of shooting, and killed a bird that was swimming on the sea.
"In appearance this bird was like a young 'Alka' (Razorbill, Alca torda) The beak was more like that of an « Alka ' than that of a 'Lomvia' (Guillemot, Uria troile). The length of the beak was that of the 'Lomvia' It had at least one spot above each eye. The body was shorter, but about as broad as a young 'Havgaas' (Great Northern Diver, Colymbus glacialis). The bones in the thigh were like those of the 'Havgaas'; the feet were hke those of 'Lomvia,' but light coloured on the under side, black on the upper. The bird weighed 5 lbs. Danish (5½ lbs. English).
"The above facts are testified to.
Porkere, 27th May, 1873.
"Witnesses—G. Efferso.
Johan Larsen."
It will no doubt strike the reader, as it has the writer, that no reference is made to the wing of the bird, which in the case of a Gare-fowl would surely have at once attracted attention. The deposition of the two Færoese fishermen and cragsmen was made without any prompting or suggestion, and it is possible that when describing the bird as like a young Razorbill they implied that the wings were not developed. That the bird was not Colymbus glacialis or Colymbus septentrionalis is positively certain, for the Færoese fishermen know these species accurately, as well as all others commonly frequenting their islands.
Of one thing I am certain, namely, that if the bird shot and probably eaten by Jacob Müller of Porkere, was not a Gare-fowl, it was a strange visitant, and sufficiently uncommon to attract the special attention of the two men. Everyone who has had the opportunity of mixing with the simple-minded, truthful inhabitants of Faeroe will agree with me that such a statement as is here printed would not have emanated from the source it has without some good reason.
In 'The Zoologist' for November, 1872 (pp. 3280–3285), the reader will find all the information which I could collect concerning the Gare-fowl in the Færoes to that date. The above may now be added by way of supplement.
