TAXIDERMY: A CAST OF A GREAT AUK SKULL (PINGUINUS IMPENNIS), with a square wooden mount

Skull: 16cm long

The Great Auk is a species of flightless bird that became extinct in the mid 19th century, it is most commonly known for its superficial resemblance to penguins. The species was of religious significance to North American Indigenous communities, however, a combination of hunting by European explorers, and the high demand for the birds' down, led to a heavy decrease in the numbers of population. These factors, in addition to the growing scarcity of breeding grounds, ultimately led to the Great Auk's demise.

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