112 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August 



very small shark, seldom exceeding a length of three feet. It 

 occurs in both Atlantic and Pacific. The teeth have their points 

 "so much turned aside that the inner margin of the tooth forms 

 the cutting edge." — Gunther. Each dorsal fin is armed with a 

 spine. The Dog-fish is valued for the oil which it yields. 



A species of plant, of the natural order Ericaceae, called 

 GaultJierla shallon grows commonly throughout the woods at 

 Ucluelet, and the berries are dried and used as food by the 

 Siwash Indians, The Shallon grows several feet high in shaded 

 woods. It is an ally of the Winter-green, the Heaths, the 

 Arbutus, &c. 



Leaving the shores of Vancouver Island the most conspicu- 

 ous creatures to be seen whilst the vessel plies its way over the 

 broad bosom of the Pacific Ocean are two species of birds. One 

 of these is the Gony or Black-footed Albatross {Diomedea 

 nigripes, Aud.j which " is noted for its protracted powers of 

 flight, following vessels for hundreds of miles and subsisting on 

 the refuse thrown overboard."* The other bird is the graceful 

 Gray Fork-tailed Petrel {Ouanodroma furcata, Gmel), called by 

 seamen the " Seal-bird." 



Early one morning after a voyage of some twelve days land 

 was fully in view, and the contrast between the vast expanse of 

 ocean and the imposing volcanic mountain which now, as it 

 were, suddenly loomed up before one, was so great as to render 

 description difficult. Mount Shishaldin, situated on Unimak 

 Island near the entrance to Unimak Pass, is over 8900 feet high. 

 Adjoining it is another mountain, not a volcano nor as high, and 

 both are covered with snow. As the volcano was approached, a 

 thin film of smoke was observed to be issuing from it, but dur- 

 ing the time it was in sight it did not appear to be continuously 

 smoking. 



On the west side of Unimak Pass are the picturesque 

 islands of Tigalda, Akun, Akutan, &c. 



Whilst the vessel was making its way through the pass I 

 had the good fortune to see tens of thousands of Shear-waters 

 {Ptiffljtus) winging their way, near the surface of the water, in 

 the opposite direction. These birds belong to the order Longi- 

 pennes, which also comprises the Gulls, Terns and Petrels. 

 Their onward, yet easy flight, their jet-black colour, and their 

 countless numbers, produced a pleasing effect. 



Ottawa, March, 1897. 



* " Nests and Eggs of North American Birds," by Oliver Davie. 



