Page:Condor18(3).djvu/25

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May, 1916 A VISIT TO HAT AND EGG ISLANDS 115 the near vicinity of the island, a very marked musk-like odor was observed. This came from the deposits of guano on the rookery. A landing was made and a temporary camp pitched on the sandy beach. Great care had to be exercised in selecting a camp 'site to avoid destroying the num;erous nests of the gulls. After a hasty supper we examined a few of the nests in the near vicinity, and then repaired to our sandy couches to impatiently await the coming of Sunday morning. All through the night were heard the various calls of the gulls, the occasional hoarse croak of the Caspian Tern, now and then the dissatiffled grunt of the Heron. This latter bears a close resemblance to the first part of the very unmusical call of the American Bittern. The early matins of the gulls forbade sleep after the first appearance of dawn, so we all arose early and made a rapid excursion over the nearby beach. Near the camp were found sixteen nests of CashJan Terns that had chosen this location for their colony. To this reference will be made later. After a hur- Fig. 35. SAND SPIT, WITH RESTING. FLOCKS OF PELICANS AND (lULLS. CARRINGTON AND STANSBURY ISLANDS IN THE DISTANCE; LAKE BONNEVILLE LEVELS SHOWN ON THE FOR- MER. ried breakfast a somewhat detailed examination of the island was made. Hat Island is located about thirty-five miles almost due northwest of Salt Air. It probably derived its name from its partial resemblance to a broad-rimmed straw hat that had lost its band and hence had suffered vertical telescoping. It is roughly circular in form, about thirty rods in diameter. On three sides the beaches gracefully flank the central eminence that rises to a height of some seventy-five feet. On the southeast side the beach is much the widest; also from that side a spit extends (shown in figure 35) out into the lake for about ten rods. This spit extends for perhaps a mile farther under the water. It was formed and is being extended by the prevailing northwest winds that cause the waves to beat against the northwest side of the island, where they have eroded away the rocks, carried the resulting sand around each side of the island, and deposited it on the lee side. At first two short spits were formed on either side. As the work of the waves progressed the two spits grew in