40 NOTES ON TEE KURIL ISLANDS. 



on icthiology, he concludes belong to species inhabiting the deep 

 sea. 



At different times, altogether four specimens were picked up. 

 On each occasion the fish was in a dying state, although apparently 

 healthy. One, however, had a clean-cut wound on the body. Three 

 resembled Plagyochis ferox in almost every particular, and 

 measured 3^ feet in length. The other specimen was a Scopelus, 

 with oblong body, scaleless large eyes, and rounded caudal. It 

 measured about 4 feet in leDgth, and weighed about 30 lbs. 



When cooked, the flesh of these fish was of the consistency of jelly. 



Invertebrates. — Grabs of several kinds are common, some of 

 which are particularly well-flavoured. 



Mussels are plentiful all along the islands, but they are small in 

 size. 



Clams are to be found in Shikotan, but I have not noticed 

 them elsewhere in the Kurils. 



Sea-snails. — Large whelks were obtained in Little Kuril Straits 

 by digging into the sand below low-water mark. A smaller shell- 

 fish of this kind is common amongst the seaweed growing on the 

 rocks. Periwinkles of small size are abundant. 



Limi^ets of one or two kinds are common, but not plentiful. 



Squids. — Two kinds have been taken by the writer. 



Sea-urchins. — Vast quantities of these exist. They are a 

 favourite food of the sea-otter. 



Starfish, sea-squirts, sea-cucumbers, sea-anemones, etc., are 

 fairly plentiful. 



Mechiscc. — Some brilliantly coloured and elaborately formed ones 

 are found. 



Sand-fleas are abundant. 



Land-snails I noticed on the island of Rashau. 



Although oysters are plentiful in some places on the Yezo coast, 

 I have never seen any on the Kuril Islands. The ear- shell 

 (Haliotis) is common on Yezo also, but it has not been noticed by 

 the writer on the Kurils. 



Insects. — The abundance and variety of insect life on the 

 Kuril Islands is not great. The central islands have very few 

 species. On the northern islands insects are rather more numerous ; 

 and on the southern members of the chain, which are well wooded, 

 they are fairly abundant. 



