PHYSIOQRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE ISLANDS. 5 



With the single exception of Shumshir, all the islands are 

 mountainous and of volcanic origin.* Active, dormant, or extinct 

 volcanoes are found on every island with the exception mentioned. 

 The heights range from 1360 feet (Ushishir) to 7640 feet (Alaid). 



In the Kuril Islands there are now twenty volcanoes from which 

 steam issues. They are as follows: On Paramushir, northern 

 part, 1 ; Chirinkotan, 1 ; Shiashkotan, 2 ; Matau, 1 ; Rashau, 1 ; 

 Ushishir, 1 ; Ketoi, 2 ; Simushir, north-west side of Milne 

 Mountains, 1 ; Black Brothers, 2 ; Urup, 2 ; Yetorup, 3 ; Kunashir, 1. 



Those I have noticed sending forth lava-streams are Chirinkotan, 

 Simushir, Black Brothers, Matau, and the volcano at the north-east 

 end of Yetorup, on the south side of Bear Bay. From the craters 

 of Chirinkotan and Matau, the red-hot lava simply appeared to well 

 over the breached lip, and run down as a small stream along a scar 

 in the side of the mountain. The remaining three I have seen in 

 violent eruption, emitting clouds of black smoke, rocks, and ashes 

 to a great height, accompanied by thundering noises which could 

 be heard 50 miles or more away. 



On one of my visits to the islands in June, 1879, I witnessed 

 the formation of a new point of land at the Black Brothers. This 

 was effected by a most remarkable, slow and gradual upheaval of 

 the southern slope of the mountain, close to the sea. 



This gradual raising went on under my very eyes, masses of 

 black volcanic rock being pushed up from below, which at short 

 intervals rolled down the slope and fell crashing and splashing into 

 the sea. Watching an opportunity, I pulled my boat alongside 

 this recently erupted rock, and found it quite hot, the heat, how- 

 ever, not being more than the hand could bear. From all parts of 

 this newly formed point smoke or steam was issuing. 



Notwithstanding a recent violent eruption from the crater, and 

 this gentler one from the base of the mountain, innumerable 

 guillimots, gulls, shags, and other birds, were located on the ledges 

 of the cliffs, laying their eggs, close to the disturbed portion of the 

 island. At each thundering and splashing noise made by the 

 masses of rock rolling down, clouds of these birds would fly scream- 

 ing off, to return and settle again a few minutes later. 



How long this slow upheaval lasted I am unable to say. It was 



* On Kunashir and Yetorup, forming a fringe round, and flanking volcanio nucloi, 

 are horizontally stratified tertiary tuffs (Professor John Milne, f.r.s.). 



