48 SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 



coasts, which, they carried away in their beaks. These nests of the 

 Hirundo esculenta are the results of a number of successive generations ; 

 those introduced into commerce are the portions secreted by the birds 

 carefully separated from the lichen. M. Bories also remarks that the 

 Japan moss of commerce is not prepared with the nests of these 

 salanganes, but with an alga of the genus qelidium. F. M. 



Ool-a-Chan Oil. — Among the new animal oils shown in the Interna- 

 tional Exhibition is one in the Vancouver's Island Court which has not 

 been before seen here, and termed Ool-a-Chan oil. We have been 

 favoured with the following brief account of it by a physician long 

 resident in the island, who is probably better acquainted with it than 

 any one else there : — The Ool-a-chan fish much resembles the smelt 

 both in size and transparency. It visits the coast about the month 

 of May, appearing upon the same day every year, and mounts the 

 streams by myriads to spawn. This fish is of a very rich flavour, and is 

 a favourite article of food. Some are salted and smoked, or dried for 

 winter use, being universally prized. By warming over a slow fire, or 

 by heating in water, an oil is abundantly obtained, which is used for the 

 same purposes as cod liver oil, and with as much, if not greater benefit. 

 The oil when cold is of the consistence of thick cream, white in colour, 

 with but little odour, and by no means unpleasant to the taste — in fact, 

 those who use it very quickly acquire a partiality for it. The Indians 

 make large quantities every season, and with them it supplies the place 

 of butter. They cannot live without it, and it forms a great article of 

 trade. They prefer it rancid. It is a notorious fact, that the Indians are 

 subject to spitting of blood and consumption ; they suffer theuroptysis 

 for years, but still live to a great age ? How much has the ool-a-chan to 

 do with the prolongation of their days. A vast quantity of this oil could 

 be obtained, were it found desirable for medicinal use. 



