Egg 'hidden' from world for 150 years; Rare item goes on show.

Byline: BY NIA GIBBONS Daily Post Correspondent

A RARELY-SEEN great auk egg will be on show as this month's Hidden Treasure of Liverpool in the city's World Museum.

Thought to be the finest example known in existence of the extinct bird's egg it has been "hidden" for the past 150 years in the museum's collection.

Only specialists have been able to see it under the watchful eye of Clem Fisher, the museum's curator of vertebrate zoology for 33 years.

She said: "The flightless waddling birds liked flat land, so slate was perfect to nest in, but it also meant human beings could easily get to them.

"Apart from being killed for oil, feathers and food, the birds had a weird call that superstitious sailors thought were the cries of witches."

The birds, which used their wings to swim with, were related to puffins, guillemots and little auks, with eggs a little larger than that of a goose or razorbill.

The 13th Earl of Derby bequeathed the egg with his entire natural history collection in Knowsley Hall to Liverpool on his death in 1851.

Ms Fisher said: "I think people should see it because it's beautiful, and out of respect for a bird that was wonderful, that we destroyed.

"We should learn from this because we are still destroying species of birds and animals thinking they are common, but if we carry on, they won't be common any more."

As one of the most famous birds in history, the great auk gave inspiration to wildlife artists and writers including Lewis Caroll, Charles Kingsley and Edward Lear, famous for his nonsense rhymes and whose illustration sits beside the egg.

T hey originally lived on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean particularly in Scotland, Greenland and Iceland.

Their bones have been found on the Isle of Man and sightings were recorded in Ireland.

The last pair were killed and their egg smashed by sailors in 1844 on Eldey Island, off Iceland and the last official sighting was of a solitary great auk in Newfoundland, Canada in 1852.

Though Ms Fisher believes people are much more conservation minded now, she spoke of another bird that may be reaching a similar fate.

She said: "The albatross has a mass species, several of which are on the point of extinction because of tuna fishing with long lines, as nets were stopped because dolphins got caught in them.

"But the birds see the bait, then get stuck and drown."

It is not certain if the egg will return from storage for the public to view again.

TO see video of the egg visit www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk and keep up to date with all things ornithological by reading John Dempsy's blog at www.birdblog.merseyblogs.co.uk

CAPTION(S):

Clem Fisher with a replica of the real Auk egg, right - hidden away for the last 150 years Pictures: RICHARD WILLIAMS/rw160508Auk-4 & 3; The Auk; Details from the exhibit