1911] Sicarth; AlasK-a Expedition of 1909. 13 



feet high — round-topped hills, covered with timber; while the 

 same distance south of us, was a ridge that reached an altitude 

 of approximately 2,000 feet. . Some steep cliffs were visible 

 along the sides, and the top was bare of timber and snow- 

 covered. 



The larger of the two streams was explored inland for 

 fifteen miles. The drainage appears to be mostly toward the 

 west side of the island. 



Near the beach, and along the streams, is a dense growth of 

 timber, mostly spruce and hemlock, with some cedar; farther 

 back the country opens up into a series of parks, covered with 

 a scattering growth of scrubby pines from ten to thirty feet 

 high, boggy and hummock}^ underfoot, and with a thick carpet 

 of moss. Along the beach the forest is bordered with a scattering 

 fringe of alder. 



During our stay on Kupreanof, April 10 to 25, the weather 

 was quite cold. The thermometer dropped as low as 6° C, 

 and we had several snowstorms. Land birds were extremely 

 scarce and of few species, nor was there any species of small 

 mammal that was at all abundant. 



THEEE-MILE ARM, KURT ISLAND. 



Our camp at this point was in a little cove on the east side 

 of the inlet, and some three miles from its head. On this part 

 of Kuiu Island the coast line is very much cut up with bays and 

 inlets, and the country' is more hilly and uneven than on 

 Kupreanof. In vegetation the two places are essentiall}' the 

 same. The conspicuous feature of this place is the extensive 

 tide flats. The whole head of the inlet is bare at low tide, 

 exposing hundreds of acres of mud banks, and these fairly 

 swarmed with wading birds of various species. As land birds 

 were still very few in numbers most of my time was devoted to 

 the securing and preparation of series of these waders, and 

 a good representation was obtained. We remained here from 

 April 25 to May 6. 



Kupreanof and Kuiu together are generally known as the 

 Kake Islands, from the tribe of Kake Indians, which inhabits 

 them. 



