THE NAUTILUS. 67 



strange and interesting implements of stone, bone and shell have 

 been found, showing very skillfull workmanship. 



On this favored spot it was the writer's good fortune to spend three 

 weeks in scientific research during the month of February, 1902. 

 The marine shells are all of rare occurrence, with the exception of 

 Acmsea gigantea, Hidlotis cracherodii and Mytihis californianusy which 

 grow on the rocks by the thousand. The red " abalone," Haliotis 

 rufescens, used to be very abundant on the island, as was also the 

 giant Cryptochiton steUeri, but are now of very rare occurrence. The 

 smaller species, such as Ocinebra circunitexta, Margiiiella varia, 

 Gadtnia reticulata, Mitromorpha filosa, Megafebennus biimiculatus and 

 a few of tiie smaller chitons were found under stones in little shel- 

 tered inlets away from the heavy surf. 



The remainder of the coast line is composed alternately of great 

 ledges of smooth rocks and strips of smoother sand beach. Unlike 

 the other islands, with their sleep cliffs jutting off abru})tly into deep 

 water, San Nicholas is low, lying with bluffs sloping gradually to the 

 water's edge, with shallow water a long distance from shore. A belt 

 of kelp, in places more than a mile wide, surrounds the island, mak- 

 ing a landing very dilRcuU, A fair idea of the marine species in- 

 habiting the coast may be obtained from the bleached shells found on 

 the old Indian camp grounds, as they seemed to have eaten molluscs 

 of every description, principally the Haliotis, fragments of which 

 cover the mounds by the million, and the irridescent shells reflecting 

 the rays of the sun in a gorgeous and dazzling play of color, present 

 a picture long to be remembered. 



The following is a list of marine species found on the Indian 

 mounds: 



Cyprsea spadicea Gray. Cryptochiton stelleri Midd. 



Trivia solandri Gray. Cardium quadri geiiarium Con. 



J'rato vitelina Hds. Cardium biangidatiun Sby. 



Acmsea gigantea Gray. Rupellaria lamellifera Con. 



Acmsea mitra Esch. Lucina californica Con. 



Acmsea pelta var. nacelfoides Dall. Venus fordii Yates. 



Chlorostomn brunneum Phil. Hinnites gigantetts Gray. 



Chlorostoma montereyensis Kien. Pecten aequisulatus Cpr. 



Chlorostoma funebrale A. Ad. Tapes staminea Con. 



Gadinia reticulata Cpr. Norrissia norrissii Sby. 



