THE KURIL ISLANDS 
5 
the surface. The depth of water inside the crater, 
so far as I sounded it, ranged from 5 to 23 fathoms. 
Near the centre of the basin are two rocky grass- 
covered islets. The western walls of this crater, 
mostly of hard rock, are the highest and steepest, 
reaching to a height of 1,360 feet in one place. 
From this side the crater-lip gradually slopes 
round to the northern side, where it appears to be 
formed of pumiceous earth, and is about 800 feet 
high. Continuing round to the east and south-east, 
the crater walls become narrow and lower, until they 
are not more than 500 feet in height. There is a 
narrow beach all round the basin. It is only on the 
northern and eastern sides that it is possible to scale 
the walls of the crater. From inside the basin the 
outer ocean is not visible. The water is as smooth 
as a mill-pond, and covered with countless numbers 
of sea-fowl, which make this island their breeding- 
place. On a fine day here, shut in by the lofty 
walls of the crater, the clouds of steam quietly rising 
from the fumaroles and springs, the blue sky visible 
above, and against it myriads of birds ceaselessly 
sailing to and fro in silent flight, with no apparent 
object but the enjoyment of the exercise, the scene 
is most impressive. So much soundless motion, 
however, soon becomes burdensome, and one longs 
for the roar of the surf or something else to relieve 
the monotony. 
This place is a veritable paradise for birds. 
There are no foxes or other land animals—the prin¬ 
cipal reason why so many birds abound. The burgo¬ 
master gull (Lams glaucus) makes its nest more or 
less all over the islands, around the hot spring and 
on the bank of sulphurous earth being favourite 
