Peat Beds of Anticosti Island. 69 



The precipitation in the form of rain in the three montlis of 

 the growing- season varies from twenty-three to twenty-eight 

 centimeters.* This does not appear to fall in a i^vv heavy- 

 down pours, but in small cjuantities and often. The mean 

 annual rainfall lies between fifty and one hundred centimeters, 

 but is nearer the latter figiire.f The snowy precipitation 

 ranges from an average of three feet at the west end to about 

 two feet at the east end.:}: Cloudiness and fogginess often 

 prevail. The island lies in that region of North America that 

 has the second highest per cent of clouded sky. The mean 

 annual sunshine consists of less than 1750 hours.§ Fogs are 

 extremely common on the east and south sides, as is shown by 

 the fact that Mr. Emile Laprise, the South Point light-keeper, 

 sounded the fog alarm on twenty-six days in July, 1909. 



The water is collected in the numerous lakes and ponds, 

 which abound everywhere from the lowest to the highest 

 levels, as well as in the bogs and vegetable deposits. The 

 falling water is absorbed by the substratum and little immedi- 

 ate flow results to swell the creeks and rivers, which were at 

 no time seen in a muddy condition. They have, however, a 

 steady permanent flow. Nearly every rock outcrop is a spring. 

 At the old and new sea cliflis nearly every joint and many 

 bedding planes are pouring forth water, a fact which will be 

 rather strongly impressed in the experience of any one who 

 attempts to collect fossils from these cliffs. 



During more than seven months of the year the whole is 

 ice bound ; during the remainder of the year, except the early 

 spring time before the annuals appear, the whole is effectually 

 shielded by the profuse growth of annuals aided by the ever- 

 green cover. Oxidation cannot occur, or at least is extremely 

 limited, during the summer season and is hardly possible when 

 the whole is ice bound and covered with snow. 



Topographic Conditions. — The island's surface has been 

 described as a series of flat, wave-cut terraces. || This level 

 floor has favored the development of undrained areas. The 

 highest terrace, which is more or less dissected, has an eleva- 

 tion above three hundred and flfty feet ; the lowest is between 

 eight and fifteen feet above high tide. Inferences as to the 

 possible increased future extent of the deposits may be founded 

 on the following facts : The island is surrounded by a wave- 

 cut terrace upon which vegetation is wanting. This is now 

 a part of the littoral, reaches a maximum width of more than 

 two miles, and will average more than one-fourth mile. There 



•Scbmitt, Idem, p. 50. 



f Herbertson, A. J., Bartholmew's Atlas, pi. 18, 1899. 

 jSchmitt, idem, p. 51. 



§ Van Bebber, J. W., Bartholmew's Phys. Atlas, pi. 18, 1899. 

 II This statement is known to be correct for the major portion of the 

 island. In the extreme interior it may not be true. 



