THE NAUTILUS. 



G7 



strange and interesting implements of stone, bone and shell have 

 been found, showing very skillfull workmanship. 



On this favored spot it was the writer's good fortune to spend three 

 weeks in scientific research during the month of February, 1902. 

 The marine shells are all of rare occurrence, with the exception of 

 Acmsea giganten, Haliotls cracherodii and Mytilus califvrnianns, which 

 grow on the rocks by the thousand. The red " abalone," Haliotis 

 rufesce)is, used to be very abundant on the island, as was also the 

 giant Cryptochiton stelleri, but are now of very rare occurrence. The 

 smaller species, such as Ocinebra circumteyfa, Marginella varia, 

 Gadinia reticulata, Mitromorpkafilosa, Megatebennus bimaculatus and 

 a few of the smaller chitons were found under stones in little shel- 

 tered inlets away from the heavy surf. 



The remainder of the coast line is composed alternately of great 

 ledges of smooth rocks and strips of smoother sand beach. Unlike 

 the other islands, with their sleep cliffs jutting off abruptly into deep 

 water, San Nicholas is low, lying with bluff's sloping gradually to the 

 water's edge, with shallow water a long distance from shore. A belt 

 of kelp, in places more than a mile wide, surrounds the island, mak- 

 ing a landing very difficult. A fair idea of the marine species in- 

 habiting the coast may be obtained from the bleached shells found on 

 the old Indian camp grounds, as they seemed to have eaten molluscs 

 of every description, principally the Haliotis, fragments of which 

 cover the mounds by the million, and the irridescent shells reflecting 

 the rays of the sun in a gorgeous and dazzling play of color, present 

 a picture long to be remembered. 



The following is a list of marine species found on the Indian 

 mounds: 



Cyprsea spadicea Gray. 

 Trivia solandri Gray. 

 J'rato vitelina lids. 

 Acmsea gigantea Gray. 

 Acmsea mitra Esch. 

 ActnseapeUa var. nacelloides Dall. 

 Chlorostomn brunneum Phil. 

 Chlorostorna montereyensis Kien. 

 Cftlorostoma funebrule A. Ad. 

 Gadinia reticulata Cpr. 



Cryptochiton stelleri Midd. 

 Cardium quadrigenurium Con. 

 Cnrdium biangulittuin Shy. 

 Rupellaria latnellifera Con. 

 Luciua californica Con. 

 Venus fordii Yates. 

 Hinnites giganteus Gray. 

 Pec ten eequisulatus Cpr. 

 Tapes st(tminea Con. 

 Norrissia norrissii Sby. 



