13 



ve(;i:tation. 



The surface of the elevated parts of both islands are in snniiiier covered with moss 

 and fjrasses, in which are surprisiu.n' numbers of showy wild tiowers. A list of the 

 species of these has been publisheil by l>r. 0. Hart Merriani. Conspicuous among 

 them are the Iceland poppy, the nionlvshood, with species of lupine, betony, chrys- 

 anthemum, senecio, saxifrage, harebell, and many others. The lower parts of the 

 island are covered with a soil of damp bhick lava sand. Here flourishes a coarse, 

 rank, useless grass — the rye grass {Eli/mim molliti). With the rye grass is the coarse 

 Piitchki, a species of Archaitgelica. used by the Aleuts as a spice. The abaniloned 

 hauling grounds of the fnr seal are rapidly invaded by two species of slender light- 

 green grasses known as ''seal grass." These contrast sharply with the coarse dark- 

 green rye grass and a luxuri;int species of wormwood, neither of which grow on 

 land where seals have regularly hauled. About the rookeries themselves the move- 

 ments of the seals virtually destroy all vegetation. 



The Pribilof Islands are almost constantly envelo])ed in mist. Throughout .)uue 

 and July the wenther is continuously cloudy, usually foggy, with almost half the 

 time a dull, drizzling rain, usually accomi)aiiie(l by a soutlieast wind. Many stormy 

 days occur, but the storms in summer arc not violent, although ap[)roach to the 

 islands in rough weather is dangerous on account of the dense fogs. 



In August there are more clear days, and in bright weather the islands arc very 

 pictures([ue. With the fairer weather the occasional storms become more violent, 

 and by the middle of September all vessels which can get away find it well to leave 

 Bering Sea. With the winter come many clear days, and between them are tenapea- 

 tuous storms. The lloe ice gathers about the islands, tilling the bights and inlets 

 until April or May, and the snow piles high in the depressions between the hills. 

 The snow banks about Zai^adui, on St. Paul, remain till late in summer, serving as 

 landmarks to seamen. 



VI. THE FUR SEAL ROOKERIES. 



BREEDING GROUNDS. 



Wherever there is a rocky beach of some breadth or :i sloping rocky hill on the 

 Pribilof Islands, the fur seals have formed their rookeries. The best type of rookery 

 is a moderate slope covered with coarse rocks and descending to a beach of coarse 

 Bhingle or rounded bow Iders. On these rookeries the gregarious habit of the fur 

 seals causes them to crowd as closely as may be, often to their own disadvantage, 

 as on crowded areas many j'oung pups are trampled under foot. 



HAULING GROUNDS. 



The hauling grounds of the bachelors are usually sandy beaches adjoining the 

 rookeries, ascending on one side to the heights behind the latter. There are also 

 here and there neutral strips in the long rookeries which have been abandoned to the 

 bachelors, and along which they go back and forth to their hauling grounds or parade 

 grounds above the rookeries. Sometimes, as on Tolstoi and Zapadni, the bachelors 

 make runways across the rookeries, which are not recognized as neutral by the adult 

 bulls. Along these strips, which may be said to be not officially recognized as haul- 

 ing grounds, there is constant disputation between the beachmasters and the moving 

 bachelors. 



The different rookeries have for the most part retained their picturesque Russian 

 names. It seems to us very desirable that they should continue to do so. It would 

 perhaps be as well if Russian* equivalents were substituted for the few English 

 names which have come into use. 



* As to the spelling of the Russian names, there has been much disagreement, and 

 the current orthography is often far from correct. In the present report, without 

 attempting extreme purism, we have chosen the spelling which seems most nearly 

 correct. It has been found convenient to name two new sections of breeding terri- 

 tory not heretofore sejiarately recognized. For assistance in this matter we are 

 under special obligations to Mr. Alexis V. Babin, librarian of the University of 

 Indiana, a native.of Russia. 



