The following notes upon the Kuriles were collected during an excursion which I made to these islands in the summer of 1878. Owing to a continuance of foggy weather, which I do not think would find its equal even in Newfoundland, the want of harbours, and the strong currents, although I was almost a month steaming. amongst these islands, it was seldom that we could effect a landing. In consequence of this the bulk of the material embodied in the following notes was written from what I saw from the deck of our vessel. However, as I had good opportunities for seeing nearly every island in the group, and many of these from several points of view, the following notes may not be altogether without value. One advantage which was gained by viewing these island from a distance was, that I was thereby better able to judge of the number, and the general from of the mountains they contained, and to roughly make comparisons of their relative heights, than I could have done had I been actually on the island themselves.