SOME SOUNDINGS ON LAKE LOUISE.

Many of the small lakes that sparkle like turquoise jewels about the base of the great mountain, and on quiet days mirror its icy dome on their tranquil surfaces, owe their rich coloring to their great depth.

Nearly all such lakes occupy what is known as glacial cirques, rounded pockets gourged out of the side of the mountain by former glaciers. Lake Louise, famous for its rugged setting beneath Faraway Rock, and its big trout, is such a lake. Almost circular and about three hundred yards in diameter, Lake Louise is a typical water-filled cirque. It is deep, but we have never known just how deep.

Recently we made some soundings and found that the bottom drops away very rapidly toward the center which has been silted-in, leaving water between 40 and 60 feet in depth. Mowich Lake, which is much larger is known to be more than 100 feet deep.

A NEW BIRD.

While returning from Lake Louise about six in the evening, the naturalist noted a gull on Reflection Lake. Gulls have never before been noted in the park. The bird was preening its feather apparently making ready to spend the night on the lake. Wishing to identify the bird we flushed it into flight but due to the failing dusk were unable to get a distinguishing mark. Our idea is that it was an immature specimen, perhaps of the common glaucous-winged gull. It circled the lake twice then winged its way down the canyon and no doubt reached the sound beyond.