Not a cartoon this time, but an extract from 'A History of British Birds' by William Yarrell, published in 1843. The Great Auk at that time was on the verge of extinction, a status that it was soon to achieve. The Great Auk The Great Auk is a very rare British Bird, and but few instances are recorded of its capture. "The natives in the Orkneys informed Mr. Bullock on his tour through these islands several years ago, that only one male had made its appearance for a long time, which had regularly visited Papa Westra for several years. The female, which the natives call the Queen of the Auks, was killed just before Mr. Bullock's arrival. The King, or male, Mr. Bullock had the pleasure of chasing for several hours in a six-oared boat, but without being able to kill him, for though he frequently got near him, so expert was the bird in its natural element that it appeared impossible to shoot him. The rapidity with which he pursued his course under water was almost incredible." About a fortnight after Mr. Bullock had left Papa Westra, this male bird was obtained and sent to him, and at the sale of his collection was purchased for the British Museum, where it is still carefully preserved.