92 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



"A noticeable feature of this island is the vast number 

 of dead land shells strewn over the surface. * * * 



"They are almost as numerous as the grains of sand 

 driven before the wind, but not a living specimen is to be 

 found. When they flourished there was vegetation on the 

 island sufficient to support them, and their large size and 

 vast numbers indicate anything but the arid waste that the 

 surface now presents. 



"Mr. Nidever speaks of a portion of the island covered 

 fort}^ years ago with trees, brush, and moss. 



"San Nicolas Island must have once supported a large 

 population. In whatever direction one turns, he comes in 

 contact with human skeletons, broken mortars, pestles, 

 ollas, bone implements, ornaments, etc., and shell heaps." 



The entire description is full of interesting facts, the 

 account of the fossils being especially good. Dr. Bowers 

 estimates that about two-thirds of the island is cultivable, 

 the soil being apparently rich and fertile and the surface 

 comparatively level. 



Mrs. Trask to whom I sent Dr. Bowers' account finds 

 conditions somewhat different now. This is what she 

 writes: "I do not wholl}^ agree with Dr. Bowers' account. 

 There is no soil on the broad level top; but tons of pebbles, 

 round as shot and of a like size. Even here the ice-plants 

 flourish and an occasional gay patch of Hordeum or fox- 

 tail is seen. Everywhere the rocks are visible and the soil 

 thin. 



"There are three routes which can be followed entirely 

 around the island ; one over the reefs, another on a flat or 

 mesa, a third on the comparatively level top. 



"The canons are not what we usually call canons; 

 arroya is a fitter term. In them we hear no sound of bird, 

 no whirr of wing; we see no bright flowers, only the ice- 

 plants. There is no ripple of stream, only the briny tidal 

 waters which glide but do not flow and gliding sink. Many 



