398 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
In the bay of Monterey is a species of Mackerel, Scom¬ 
ber colias , in great plenty and easily taken. Here, as 
well as in most other parts of the coast, also swim schools of 
a small fish resembling, if not identical with, the Sardine of 
Italy, familiar to epicures. These are sometimes seen in 
such immense numbers that the surface of the water, for a 
great distance around, resembles a living mass, being kept in 
constant commotion by their fins. Porpoises are very nume¬ 
rous in almost every bay on the whole coast, and in foul 
weather may always be seen playing their pranks on the 
waves; while far in the offing appears the spouting of the 
huge whale. 
The halibut, pilchard, skate, turbot, bonito, and many other 
species, are found in various parts of the sea-coast. The 
shell-fish are numerous and valuable, particularly in the Gulf. 
Of these may be mentioned, Oysters, which are often of large 
size and excellent flavor, muscles, several species of haliotis, 
patella, cardium, and turbo, besides My a margaritifera , the 
Pearl Oyster, the product of which as an article of commerce 
is well known. The pearls produced by these shell-fish are, 
in this country, of very fine water, though rather irregular in 
figure. The manner of taking this valuable article of trade 
has been fully described on a former page. 
Plants. —The Californias offer a very interesting and but 
partially explored field of research to the botanist. Almost 
every variety of vegetation, from the luxuriant productions of 
the tropics to the stinted and scanty growth of the frozen 
regions, may be found in this country. The labors of Douglas 
and others have made known to the world many of the most 
valuable and remarkable species. Of these it is possible here 
to mention only a few. Of the Pine and Oak there are seve¬ 
ral noble and useful varieties in different parts of the country. 
One of these, Pinus JDouglasii , first described by Douglas, is 
probably the grandest of the whole vegetable kingdom. It is 
found on the mountains about the Bay of San Francisco, on 
the highlands near the upper branches of the Colorado riven 
