THE GREAT AUK- SLAUGHTERED TO EXTINCTION

Once it abounded along the Atlantic coasts & islands, from Newfoundland & Iceland as far south as Florida. On shore where it nested, it was an easy catch. Jaques Cartier on his 1st voyage in 1534 salted down 5 or 6 barrels of the birds for his ships. By about 1830 only a few remained in Europe, where museums were now clamouring for them.
And so one morning in June, 1844, driven by a museum reward of 100 kroners( about 30 dollars), 2 men went ashore on an island near Iceland & killed the last 2 auks on earth. They ran but uttered no cry & offered no fight, for they were gentle birds.