[TAYLOR] MARINE MOLLUSCA 99 



I suppose to belong to this species, and which I found in a dying condi- 

 tion on the beach at Oak Bay near Victoria. 



OMMASTEEPHES, D'Orbigny. 



351. Ommastrephes sagittatus, Lamarck, sp. 



This appears to be the commonest of our Cephalopods. It was 

 first recorded from our province by Mr. Whiteaves who writes that three 

 specimens were taken at low water in Victoria Harbour by Dr. Dawson. 

 There are numerous fine specimens from various British Columbian locali- 

 ties in the Provincial Museum at Victoria. 



Of the species above enumerated, the following are of economic 

 importance, being used as food by the Indians, and also, to a less extent, 

 by the Chinese and whites. Most of them, in their proper season, may 

 be seen exposed for sale in the Victoria stores : 



Ostrea lurida, Macoma nasuta, 



Mytilus Calif 07-nianus, Macoma inquinata, 



Mytilus edulis, Tresus Nuttalli, 



Cardium Nuttalli, Mya areriaria. 



Tapes staminea, Ealiotis Kamtschatkana, 



Saxidomus squalidus, Katherina tunicata, 



Macoma secta, Cryptochiton Stelleri, 

 Octopus punctatus. 



Ostrcea Virginica is largely imported, but native specimens of this 

 species are much too scarce to be of commercial value. 



Many other of our species are edible, and in other countries would 

 be sought after for food, but their value does not seem to have been 

 discovered as yet by the British Columbians. 



The larger Pectens (which I know from personal experience to be 

 exceedingly toothsome, Penitella penita, Siliqua patula, Zirphoea cris- 

 pata, the Furpuroe, the Littorince and the Limpets, will possibly all 

 some day be utilized. 



A large number of our British Columbian Mollusca occur also on 

 the " Old Country " coasts. 



* Hemithyris psittacea, * Leda minuta, 



* Limatula subauriculata, Kellia suborbicularis, 



* Mytilus edulis, Lasea rubra, 



* Modiola modiola, Cryptodon fleocuosus, 



* Modiolaria nigra, * Mya truncata, 

 Modiolaria marmorata, * Mya arenaria, 



* Crenella decussata, * Saxicava rugosa, 



* Nucula tenuis, * Panopaea Norvegica, 



