8 C. McLEiAN PRASER 



animal life that may be found along the shores and in the depths 

 and among the forms of animal life there is every reason to be- 

 lieve that the Hydroid is well represented. When the little col- 

 lecting that has been done, has brought to light 111 species in the 

 Vancouver Island Region and 101 species north of the Island, 

 what may we expect when the whole coast has been carefully ex- 

 amined ? 



In examining the distribution of the species along the Coast, I 

 have prepared two tables : one, a table of distribution showing the 

 number of species in various areas along the Coast, as well as to 

 some extent, their general distribution, though this is not intend- 

 ed to be exhaustive, the other, a table of comparisons in number 

 of species in various areas. An analysis of these tables shows 

 several interesting points. 



Before going into the general discussion, it might be well to 

 note that Dr. Clark Mas hardly justified in making the statement 

 that there is a distinct break at Shumagin Islands any more than 

 at any other point along the Coast. Of 57 species that have been 

 reported from Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands, distributed 

 as follows: Gym. 5, Camp. 11, Sert. 39 and Plum. 2, 38 or 67%, 

 Gym. 3, Camp. 8, Sert. 26, Plum. 1, have been found farther East 

 and South along the Coast, the various groups supplying propor- 

 tionate numbers. It is also interesting that, in proportion to the 

 number of species obtained in the two cases, the species found on 

 the West Coast of Vancouver Island bear a quite similar relation 

 to those north and south of the Island, as do those on the East 

 Coast. Of the 36 species found on the West Coast of Vancouver 

 Island, 21 have been found north of the Island, i. e. 58% and 22 

 south of the Island or 61%. This may be tabulated as follows: 



Total 



West 36 



Common to North, . . 21 



Common to South, . . 22 

 East 101 



Common to North, . . 52 



Common to South, . . 38 

 Of the 101 species on the East Coast 52 or 51% are also found to 

 the North and 38 or 38% are also found to the South. The affini- 

 ties of the species on the East side of the Island show a tendency 

 toward^ the North rather than the South, somewhat more so than 



