560 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



For the use of books from their jirivate libraries aud much kindly assistance in 

 the preparation of this paper I have to thank my friends Dr. Edw. L. Greene, IMr. 

 Theodor Holm, and my father, Prof. John Macoun. Mr. Holm's beautiful and correct 

 figures of new species were made after a careful study of the plants they rejiresent. 

 Species which I considered new have been described by specialists, and other difficult 

 species have been submitted to botanists who have made a special study of the groups 

 to which they belong — the Carices to Messrs. Bailey, Kukenthal, Holm, and Wheeler, 

 the gi'asses to Prof. Scribner — but I have in every instance given the result of my 

 own work. Where I have failed to agree with others who have examined my speci- 

 mens I have given the result of their investigation as well as my own. 



Dr. Nils C. Kiudberg. Dr. J. W. Eckfeldt, Pastor J. S. D. Branth, and Dr. C. 

 Warnstoff have verified or corrected my determinations of the cryptogams, 



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO 



THEIR VEGETATION. ^ 



Dr. Mcrriam's description of the natural features of the Pribilof Islands is so 

 good that I shall not attempt to im[)rove upon it. He says: 



The Pribilof group in Bering Sea is about 350 kilometers (220 miles) north of the Aleutimi chain 

 aud comprises the islands St. Paul and St. George, separated by about (iik kilometers (40 miles) of 

 sea, and two isU'ts, known as Walrus and Otter islands, near St. Paul. St. Paul is the largest, meas- 

 tiriiig about 23i kilometers (14 miles) in length by 12 kilometers (7i miles) in greatest breadth. St. 

 George is a little less than 19.3 kilometers (12 miles) in length by a little more than 8 kilometers (5 

 miles) in greatest breadth. The highest land is on St. (icorge, where a ])recii(itous clifl' fronting the 

 sea and a hill in the interior exceed 275 motors (900 feet). The highest land on St. Paul is a little 

 over 183 meters ((!00 feet). The group is of volcanic origin and the general surface is rolling with 

 precipitous clifl's along the water front in many places, alternating with broad valleys and basins. 

 The dirts predominate on St. George. In summer the islands are almost constantly euveloi)cd in fog. 

 The atmosphere is saturated (the. wet and dry bulbs registering the same) and the temperature is 

 uniformly low, the thermometer ranging from 7 ' C. (45" F.) to 9'- C. (48^ P.), or rarely 10 C. (.50 ' F.). 



The sandy shores and dunes of the I'ribilof Islands support a very scant vegeta- 

 tion. Cochlearia officinalis, Arenaria pcploidcs, and Elymus mollis are the characteristic 

 species. Lathyrus maritimus and Mertcnsia niaritima, though not rare, are far from 

 common, and these five species are the only shore plants that were seen. A few plants 

 that are not of general distribution grow on clitts near the sea. Among these are 

 Draba hirta, Xesodraba (jrandis, Arabis ambiyua, Sayina linnaei aud tSaxifraya bracteata. 

 Near the village on St. Paul Island aud elsewhere on the lower levels on both islands 

 the ponds and lakes are surrounded by mud flats, on which a number of species grow 

 that are not found elsewhere. The commonest of these are Ranunculus hyperboreus, 

 Ranunculus reptans, Montia fontana, Stellaria humi/usa, and Potentilla anserina. 

 Chrysanthemum arcticum is sometimes found with them, but is commoner in wet places 

 on higher levels, esi^ecially on St. George Island. 



The number of bog and marsh plants is very small, though many of the species 

 that grow elsewhere are also found on the damp, boggy spots that are so character- 

 istic of both islands. There is but one true bog on St. Paul Island, several on St. 

 George, On these Rubus chamaemorus, Saxifraya hirculus, Pedicularis sudetica, and 

 Petasites friyida grow in profusion, but they are all found on other parts of the island. 



The greater part of the surface of both islands is tundra-like and much resembles 

 the barren grounds of arctic America. The commonest plants throughout the wind- 



