48 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. crap, xxiii. 



islands some interesting geological records are to be found. 

 Ancient beaches, well defined, as if moulded during the 

 present generation, rise far above the highest tides. And 

 water-worn rocks, shaped Hke gigantic Eg}^tian pillars, 

 front the sea, and give a strange and artificial aspect to 

 some of these wave-worn rocks. Seals and cod abound 

 upon the hmestone reefs and shoals. The four most 

 western islands, called the Perroquets, from the vast 

 number of those birds which burrow and build on them, 

 are low limestone rocks, quite denuded of trees. 



The variation of the compass between the Straits of 

 Belle Isle and Cape Whittle* was ascertained by Mr. 

 Lane, E.N., in 1768, and by Bayfield in 1834. The va- 

 riation found by Lane was 26° west, and by Bayfield 

 32°_33° west, showing a difierence of 6° to 7^ 



The north-western of the Perroquets is the highest of 

 the group, and on it the steamers North Briton and 

 Clyde struck. It has a layer of peat on its summit, in 

 which vast numbers of puffins burrow and rear their 

 young. Shoal water lies off" this island for the distance of 

 a quarter of a mile, both to the eastward and westward ; 

 but a vessel may pass to the north of it, at a distance 

 of 200 fathoms, in 14 or 15 fathoms water. The 

 Mingan Islands f are bold on the north side, and free 



* More correctly between Mistanoque Harbour and Mecatina. 

 ■f The Mingan Islands consist of : — 



Perroquets, four low islands. 



Outer Birch Islands, one mile broad. 



Inner Birch Islands, one mile and a quarter broad ; 



Harbour Island, one mile and a quarter broad. 



Montague Island, one mile and a quarter broad. 



Moniac Island, half a mile broad. 



Mingan Island, two miles long and one mile broad. 



