1897] A. Halkett.— Notes on the Pacific Coast. 109 



The Shag or Cormorant {Phalacrocorax pelagicus, Pall.) 

 belongs to the Stcganopodes or Totipalmate* order of birds, 

 which is distinguished by having the hallux or hind claw drawn 

 to the front, so that the foot is three-webbed, a peculiarity which 

 is not shared by any other ordei. Another peculiarity is the 

 possession of a naked gular pouch, which in the case of the 

 Pelicans {Pelicanus) is enormously enlarged, but is quite rudi- 

 mentary and non-functional in the Cormorants. It is rather 

 curious that the Steganopodes, in common with a few other 

 orders comparatively low in the avian scale, are altricial, that is 

 the young, like the young of the Insessorials or singers and 

 perchers, are immaturely hatched, and therefore require to be 

 fed and tended by the parent birds. 



The Pigeon Guillemot {Cepphus columba^ Pall.) has a pure 

 white space on each wing, called the "mirror," which contrasts 

 finely with the sooty black colour of the body, hence seamen 

 call it the " white-winged diver." 



When the tide recedes at Ucluelet Arm the pools are full 

 of Star-fishes {Asterias), Sea-urchins {Echinus), Anemones 

 {Actinia), Mussels {Mytihis), various Gastropods, Hermit-crabs 

 {Pagurus), and Barnacles ; and how delightful it is to watch the 

 harmonious mingling of colours, forms, and movements, in these 

 limpid salt-water pools of a soft emerald green. 



Several genera of Star-fishes are represented, but the most 

 common is a species of the typical genus Asterias, the indivi- 

 duals of which are nearly as varied in their colour as the flowers 

 on a vine of morning-glories. Some are yellow, others purple, 

 and others agais brown, and in seeking a solution to this prob- 

 lem of difference of colour in the same species, I advance the 

 following as a simple explanation. 



It is well known that under domestication animals are more 

 varied in their coloration than they are in a wild state, as is 



* " Having all four toes connected by webbing. "—yi?r</a«. 



