1875 



NORTHUMBERLAND ISLAND. 



47 



fathoms with rocky 

 bottom. The water 

 was literally black 

 with the multitudes 

 of little auks, and 

 guillemots were nu- 

 merous ; there is an 

 immense breeding 

 station of these birds 

 on the north-east face 

 of Hakluyt Island. 

 The passage between 

 these two islands is 

 very imposing ; on 

 either side rise al- 

 most perpendicular 

 cliffs of sandstones 

 to a height of not 

 less than 800 feet ; 

 near to the sea strata 

 of a bright red sand- 

 stone predominate, 

 but higher up the 

 <'lifFs these alternate 

 with light yellow, 

 the whole series 

 dipping at an angle 

 of 4° or 5° to the 

 south. The summit 

 of Northumberland 

 Island being covered 



with 



an ice-cap. 



