THE KUKIL ROOKERIES. 247 



erect, almost as tall as the rest of the rock. The top is covered with a luxuriant growth 

 of grass [Ulymus), and numerous sea birds nest on its sides. 



Long Eock (pis. 81, 82) is long and narrow, being nearly 1,200 feet long (the 

 surrounding reef included) by about 400 wide. It is not nearly as high as High Eock, 

 being only 87 feet, as measured by my aneroid. This rock is also basaltic, with a 

 distinct columnar structure, but, unlike High Eock, it is surrounded by a rocky beach 

 which on the south side is fully 100 feet wide on an average, but considerably 

 narrower on the north side. The high portion has more or less sloping sides, covered 

 and capped with a very thick sod of long and stiff grass (Elymus) which the sea 

 parrots {Lunda cirrhata) have honeycombed with their nest burrows. A cleft splits 

 the high portion in two halves clear to the base. Numerous sea lions occupied the 

 beach at our arrival, but no trace of seals or seal rookery could be found on this rock, 

 although the beach looked rather favorable, and the series of rocks between this islet 

 and High Eock would seem to be a fine place for fur-seal pups to sport and learn to 

 swim in. In addition to the numerous sea birds, a couple of ravens were observed, 

 as well as a number of grasshopper warblers (Locustella ochotensis) among the high 

 grass, and a few specimens of the Kamchatka wagtail {Motacilla lugens). The number 

 of species of phtenogamous plants is exceedingly small, as I could only discover three, 

 viz, Gochlearia officinalis, Poa turneri, and JSlymus mollis. 



Seal Eock is the southernmost of the three, and distant about a mile from Long 

 Eock and Higli Eock. It is not quite as large as either, nor as high, being probably 

 less than 700 feet in length, while the height is certainly not more than 80 feet. Like 

 the others it consists exclusively of basalt, but unlike them it is entirely devoid of 

 soil or vegetation, and it rises abruptly out of deep water without any outlying reef 

 or rocks. The rise is precipitous on all sides except on the northern side, and even 

 here landing can only be effected with difficulty on account of the heavy swell Avhich 

 usually beats against this rock. Thus, although the sea was not particularly rough 

 on the day I visited the Mushirs, it was found impossible to land on this rock. The 

 top gradually rises into two rounded hills. 



As the name indicates. Seal Eock is the one upon which the breeding seals used 

 to haul out, and according to the unanimous testimony of the men who took seals 

 there in former days, this was the only one upon which there was .any rookery. It 

 being impossible to land, I had the boat pulled around it, and although every foot of 

 the ground could be seen, and was scanned carefully through the binocle, not a seal 

 was to be discovered. Sea lions there were hundreds of, but no fur seals; nor were 

 any seen in the water, though the few who still haul out here — and we have record of 

 at least one having- been seen there this year (1896) — may just have hai)pened to be 

 away feeding. But it was only on Augiist 22, and as no pups were to be seen, it is 

 safe to say that there was no rookery. 



Plate 106 is a traverse plane table sketch map of the Mushirs, made by me on 

 August 22, 1896. For this purpose I landed on Long Eock and on High Eock, the 

 station occupied on the former being the eastern high point, that on High Eock being 

 the northwest point, the only place where I could effect a landing. It will be seen 

 that it agrees pretty well with Captain Snow's sketch, from which I have also taken 

 the position of the sunken rocks, the soundings, and the scale. 



