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Photo by George Shiras, 3rd 
NEST OF CORMORANTS ON A PINNACLE OE THE ISLAND: THE MAIN SHORE BEHIND 
SHOWS THE SNOWFIELDS CLOSE TO THE SHORE OF SKILAK LAKE 
west. j\Iy desire to remain for one night 
at the upper end of this fine body of 
water was strengthened by observing 
two rocky islets ahead, over which g'ulls, 
terns, and cormorants were flying' in con- 
siderable numbers. When passing by 
these, many nests were seen, and in a few 
minutes the boats were beached in a shel- 
tered bay just opposite the islands. 
Here, growing in the shallow waters, 
we collected our first wild onions and, 
erecting a single tent on the sandy shore 
in order to escape a hoard of mosquitoes 
buzzing in the forest behind, we spent a 
rather uncomfortable night, but enter- 
tained by the shrill cries of the gulls and 
the weird grunts and groans of the black 
cormorants. Shortly after sunrise the 
bird islands were visited, being escorted 
to a landing place by a great flock of 
protesting parents. 
While the gulls and terns continued to 
circle just overhead, the cormorants flew 
a short distance on heavy wings, drop- 
ping into the lake to watch with anxiety 
our visit to their nursery. Some of the 
scenes are recorded in the accompany- 
ing pictures, with explanatory foot-notes. 
THE GIANT MOOSE OF THE KENAI 
PENINSULA 
Continuing along the high and rocky 
northern shore seven miles, and finding 
the direction of the wind favorable, 
though a considerable sea was running, 
we crossed the lake, where it was about 
four miles wide, to a beautiful little beach 
flanked by a grove of open pines, the site 
selected for a two weeks' camp, and situ- 
ated at the end of the longest and most 
sheltered bay on the lake (see page 447). 
The distance across the base of the 
western promontory was less than 75 
yards, so the canoe was carried over, and 
during the remainder of the stay we had 
boats in adjoining bays, thus saving con- 
siderable time, according to the direction 
taken in our trips by water, besides af- 
fording a lee shore for one boat or the 
other, an important feature in a country 
Avhere furious gales suddenly spring up 
in response to local conditions and seldom 
439 
