THREE WEEKS IN HUBBARD BAY 



CREST WITH BOWLDERS, HOYT ISLAND 



too steep, were strewn with glacial bowlders, different from the 

 bed-rock, though eruptive, with the exception of three conglom- 

 erates. Glacial striae were seen on the northeast summit. The 

 whole island is seamed by frost fissures. Many of the projecting 

 pinnacles are weathered into fantastic forms and surrounded by 

 a conical talus of glittering rhombic crystals. In many places 

 the talus formation was so active as to overwhelm the vegetation. 

 Nine freshwater lakes, the largest about 30 acres in extent, were 

 seen, some in the valleys, others on the level summits. Thejr 

 were the favorite resort of the red-throated diver, always seen in 

 pairs, but no other life was observed in them. The life in the 

 sea was exceedingly abundant. Seals were seen nearly every 

 day ; eider ducks QmitteJc) in long lines, each numbering perhaps 

 five hundred, were paddling over the water with rhythmic cackle ; 

 each cove was alive with little auks (serpak), handsome in their 

 coat of black, white, and red, their thin, piping voices seeming 

 curiously out of proportion to the size of the bird. The air 

 was alive with gulls and terns. Wherever the depth of water 

 permitted, the bottom could be seen completely covered with 

 vegetation. Long strings of kelp, when drawn out of the water, 

 were found to harbor quite a fauna of crustaceans and mollusks. 

 A piece of bone thrown into the water would be covered with 



