IPostelsta 13 



in wonderful profusion. No attempt short of an 

 exhaustive treatise can give an adequate idea of 

 the multiplicity of types and the richness of the 

 al2;al flora of the west coast of Vancouver Island. 

 2. Eel grass formation. 

 This formation as known along the shores of 

 Vancouver Island is built up to a large extent 

 of so-called eel grass or PhyUospadix scoiileri. 

 It occurs in great abundance over the jagged 

 sandstone rocks exposed only at low tide, and in 

 most of the numerous tide pools along the shore. 

 Mixed with various species of algae it forms in 

 some places a distinct zone covering the rocks 

 (Plate I.). The zone varies in width with the 

 slant of the shore, for in no case is the plant 

 found in very deep w^ater. Where it occurs in 

 tide pools, it is found mostly in a fringe along 

 the edge and the long blades float upon the 

 water in such manner and quantities as to com- 

 pletely obscure the surface. The wanderer upon 

 the beach at low tide must pick his way with 

 care, for it is extremely difficult to tell whether 

 the eel grass lies upon a flat rock surface or is 

 spread out over some deep tide pool. In such 



