Historical bird plates

Gould, The Birds of Great Britain · Volume V, plate 46

Great Auk

Volume V, plate 46 of Gould's The Birds of Great Britain: Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis)
Full resolutionSmithsonian Libraries and Archives, via the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

Printed on the plate

“Great Auk”

Alca impennis

Engraved caption: ALCA IMPENNIS.

Modern identification

Great Auk

Pinguinus impennis

  • Certain
  • Checked against the engraved caption
  • Auks, Murres, and Puffins · Alcidae
  • Extinct

Why

Alca impennis Linn. = Pinguinus impennis, Great Auk, extinct since the 1840s; same species.

Sources

engraved caption; Gould's text; the plate

Who made the plate

J. Gould & W. Hart, del et lith.Walter, Imp.

As the credit line gives it. More on who made these plates.

The same bird on other plates