LIFE ON THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 33 



During the winter much snow falls, but it is swept away by the high winds which 

 prevail throughout the season. The wiuter temperature ranges from 22 to 26 F. 

 The waters about the islands do not freeze, but toward the end of the winter the drift 

 ice from the north floats down and incloses the islands, piling high upon the beaches 

 and in the bays under the action of the surf. It remains packed about the islands 

 until about the 1st of May, when it gradually disappears under the approaching 

 change of season. 



VEGETATION. 



The surface of the elevated portions of both islands is in summer clothed with 

 moss and grasses, in which are surprising numbers of showy wild flowers. Conspic- 

 uous among them are the Iceland poppy, monkshood, species of lupine, betony, 

 chrysanthemum, seuecio, saxifrage, harebell, and many others. The lower parts 

 of the islands are covered with a soil of black lava sand, in which flourishes a coarse, 

 rank, useless grass the wild rye grass (Elymus tnollis). Mingled with it is the coarse 

 putcliki. a species of Archangelica, used by the Aleuts as a spice. The abandoned 

 hauling grounds of the fur seals are rapidly invaded by two species of slender, 

 light-green grasses, Glyceria anyustata and Deschampsia ccespitosa, known as "seal 

 grass." These contrast sharply with the coarse, dark-green rye grass and a luxuriant 

 species of wormwood, neither of which grow on land where seals have regularly 

 hauled. About the rookeries themselves the movements of the animals virtually 

 destroy all vegetation. There are no trees or shrubs. A small, dwarfish willow and 

 a species of crowberry are tbe only approach to them that are to be found. 



THE MAMMALS. 



The principal mammals of the Pribilof Islands are the fur seals, which have 

 their breeding grounds on the rocky beaches of St. Paul and St. George islands. At 

 certain points on the islands are sea lion rookeries, and numbers of the animals are 

 at all times to be seen lying about 'among the fur seals. A smaller number of hair-seals 

 also frequent points about St. Paul Island. Formerly sea otters and walruses were 

 not uncommon, but they are now practically extinct. The blue fox is common to 

 both islands, and mingled with the blue foxes are a limited number of white ones. 

 Lemmings are found on St. George and shrews on both islands. 



THE BIRDS. 



Myriads of sea birds breed on the rocky cliffs of St. George Island. Among these 

 are the cormorants, murres, and chutchkis, sea parrots and gulls. Walrus Island 

 is literally covered with these birds in the nesting season. Their eggs are gathered 

 by the natives in boat loads in the spring. About the little ponds in the interior 

 of the islands sandpipers abound. Phalaropes are numerous in the summer. Teal 

 and mallard ducks are found in the fall. Geese in limited numbers alight on St. Paul 

 to feed on the berries near north shore. White owls have been found on both islands. 



INHABITANTS. 



At the time of the discovery of the Pribilof Islands, in 1786, they were uninhab- 

 ited. In order to obtain laborers to handle the seals, natives were brought over from 

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