Grecinvicli. It is oblong-orbicular in shape about i6 km. in ]en;^th and 14 

 km. in width. 



Alaid i.s an extinct volcanic Island in which the main peak, {Higashidake) 

 attainiuL,"^ a lieii^ht of 2339 m., occu[)ics the central situation. The rivers are 

 .short and run radially from the sides of Mt. Alaid {Amita fi/Ji). The coast 

 is rock}' and unapproachable and there are no harbours affcirding a complete 

 shelter. The island the boldest and steepest on the southern and western sides. 



Sandy beaches arc feebly developed, and consequently the vegetation is 

 comparatively poor. The following species were found forming the sand-beach 

 association of the island : — 



lUyiinis iiiollis, AiiiiiKhhnia uiajor, LatJivrns iiiaritiiita, Jfcitc?isia viaritwia, 



subsp. asiatica, Lactuca repots, Scnecio Pseudo- Arnica, Rosa rugosa, etc. 



Rosa rugosa occurs as abunduntly as in the other islands of the Kuriles. 

 A similar association extends to the adjoining stony and rocky shores. On 

 rock)- cliffs, the following species are found: — 



Sagina procnnibcns, Cochlcaria oblongifolia, Draba borealis, Sediim Rliodiola, 



Saxifraga rividaris var. Laiircutiana, Potiiitilla iiiegalantha, etc. 



Hills and terraces are mo.stly covered with fine grassy and herbaceous car- 

 pets. On hills and terraces are found, Pldeuvt alpiiium, Poa macrocalyx, Fcs- 

 tuca eriatitha, Po'ygomiiii vivipaniin, Aconitum kamtscliatlcuni, Sxnguisorba tenid- 

 folia var. kurilensis, Parimssia palustris, Geranium criantlium, Pedicularis respi- 

 nata, Pedicularis Chamissonis, \'ar. Maximoioicziana, etc. Sometimes the dwarf 

 shrubby communities are formed there, composed of Einpctrum 7tigrum, Vac- 

 cinium Mtis-Idaea, I'accinium uliginosum, ]'acci>iium Oiamissonis, Rftodüdt ndiTTfi~ 

 haintschaticum , etc . 



Bush formations are simple, represented mostly by Alnus Maximoiviczii, 

 forming impenetrable thickets. Occasionally small groups of Sorbus sambucifolia 

 are found mixetl here and there in the formation. The development of the 

 alder bush is better on the western and the northern sides than the eastern and 

 southern sides. The height of the alder trees varies according to the environ- 

 ment. They shi>w a lu.xuriant growth near Maruyama on the southern coast 

 {Minamiura) where the>' attain a height (if 3 m. or sometimes more, but far- 

 ther up on the exposed ridge, very dwarf .shrubby growth only is met with. 



