1902] Saunders Birds of Sable Island, N.S. 19 



one accustomed to a land breeze, however, a 30-mile wind feels 

 quite strong, and one has to bend forward considerably in walk- 

 ing- against it. 



Passing up through the gully we got our first sight of the 

 interior of the island, and at once our idea of a desert was dissip 

 ated. From the hill tops on the north the land sloped away south- 

 ward in an undulating manner until it almost reached the level of 

 the ocean, and while the higher hills were but thinly covered by 

 the long, creeping grass, Atnmopliila repetis, there was a variety 

 of plant growth on the lower ground which was as green as it 

 would have been in any other part of the world before the new 

 spring shoots become conspicuous. Before us lay the superinten- 

 dent's house, painted white, and its front yard consisted of an 

 acre or two of timothy and clover, which was as green as an 

 Ontario field. Beyond the house lay a couple ot small ponds, and 

 south of them again the large inland lake of salt water, which 

 extends fifteen miles through the interior of the island. Across 

 this lake is a long, low sandbar separating it from the ocean. At 

 times this bar attains the height of ten or twenty feet, and is then 

 covered with creeping grasses and other beach plants. 



At one time an opening in the bar permitted the entry of 

 fishing schooners into the lake ; but once two of these that took 

 refuge from a storm through this passage, were caught, as the 

 storm from which they fled closed the passage, and thus prevented 

 their exit, unless it could be made overland, which was eventually 

 accomplished. 



From east to west the island is of the same general character, 

 except that towards the east, there are many large patches of 

 cranberry and crowberry, the former of which is gathered in quan- 

 tities for the market. 



The vegetation on Sable Island is strongly modified by the 

 fierce winds which hurl particles of sand at one's face with such a 

 force that their sting is felt severely ; and so thickly that there 

 seems to be a stratum of mist just above the beach. The effect 

 of this assault on soft-leaved plants can readily be guessed, and 

 Mr. Boutilier told us that on his willow tree, which is planted in 

 a fence corner and grows three feet above the fence each year, the 

 leaves turn black and die after some of the strong winds in 



