56 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS^ 



bers of old shells lying on the surrounding cliffs 

 and hills, far too high to have been cast up by 

 the waves. 



They are often mixed with charcoal, ashes, and 

 various bones and shells, and sometimes stone 

 tools are found near. These show that the ab- 

 origines were accustomed to come down to the 

 seaside and gather harvests of food from its pro- 

 ductive sands and rocks. 



If you dissect the head of a large abalone, you 

 will be surprised to see what a large ribbon of 

 teeth you will find in its mouth, and you will 

 understand better how it rasps its green food from 

 the little sea-plants which grow so abundantly 

 upon the wave-swept rocks. 



But the tide is coming, and soon our friends 

 will be covered with the cool water, much to their 

 satisfaction. We will just glance around to see 

 what are the conditions, and then picture to our- 

 selves their ocean home. 



When we, from the shore, can see nothing but 

 the tops of a few black rocks standing out amid 

 the foam of the waves, we know that at the base 

 of those rocks the cool, clear water is gently mov- 

 ing in from the deep sea, or slowly passing out 

 as the tide goes back again. 



We know that a soft light comes in from above, 



