KAMTSCHATKA. 31 1 



ber of species is not very considerable, it is made 

 up for by that of the individuals of a few species 

 generally diffused. Several Balamts, and the com- 

 mon muscle, {Mytihcs eduUs,') for the most part 

 cover tlie strand. The muscle, whicli among us 

 is generally eaten, is here a most dangerous food, 

 which is only taken in case of necessity. It is 

 said to operate, at times, as a most decisive poison ; 

 and we were assured that people had often died 

 in consequence of eating it. No MoUuscce of 

 these seas can be compared for the production of 

 lime-stone with the Chama gigas and other species 

 of the south. 



Among the ZoophijteSy Cuv. the sea-stars {As- 

 teiias, L.), sea hedge-hog (Echinus, L.), and sea- 

 jelly (Medusa^ L.) are distinguished. The most 

 common sea-star (Asterias rubens ?) attains a size 

 of almost a foot in diameter. A Eurgale {Caimt 

 mediiscp) is decidedly a different kind from that 

 found at the Cape of Good Hope. The most 

 common sea hedge-hog {Echinus esculentus /") 

 serves for food. The MediisWy and other insigni- 

 ficant animals, supply the whales with sufficient 

 sustenance.* The place of the southern Litho- 

 phtjtes is occupied by the Ceratophytes ; and the 

 north coast of Umnack, in particular, produces 

 several veiy distinguished species. The fishermen 

 frequently draw up with their lines, from the bot- 



* We did not meet with Clio bnrenlix in these seas. 

 X I 



