The Sharks are numerous along our whole coast, and some of the larger kinds are taken in large numbers for the oil which is extracted from their livers. The first is known to grow six feet in length, and sharks of ten feet are said to follow vessels near the coast-perhaps of the second species. The others have not been found over three or four feet long, and no instances of any of them having attacked persons when bathing have been recorded. (178. Notorhynchus maculatus; 179. Isoplagiodon Henlei; 180. Triacis semifasciatus; 181. Gyropleurodus Francisci; 182. Acanthias Sucklii, the Dog-fish; 183. Sphyramalleus, the Hammer-headed Shark; 184. Alopias vulpes? the Thrasher.) The California Angel-fish (185. Rhina Californica) is like the Atlantic species, a sort of wide-flattened Shark, with wing-like fins on each side, and grows three or four feet long. It occurs rarely near San Francisco.

The Ray family has also many representatives, but they are not considered of much use, though some are eaten by the Chinese and others. The first grows four feet long; most of the others are nearly as broad as long, or broader, and the Torpedo much resembles that of the western Atlantic. The three last, called Sting-rays, have a spine in the tail, with which they inflict severe wounds. Some of these have been found eighteen feet wide. (186. Rhinobatus productus; 187. Rhinoptera vespertilio; 188. Uraptera binoculata ; 189. Torpedo Californica; 190. Urolophus Halleri; 191. Pteroplatea marmorata; 192. Trygon ?)

The Lampreys are the Eel-like fish of this division. They have no bones, and scarcely any teeth, only sufficient to make a slight incision in the skin of the fishes on which they fasten themselves to suck their blood like leeches, thus forming a link with the next lower class of animals. They enter the fresh water streams in large numbers in spring, and are occasionally caught by hand in shallow waters, being highly prized by some foreigners, though not much esteemed by Americans. They grow two or three feet long. (193. Lampetra plumbea ; 194. Entosphenus epohexadon; 195. E. ciliatus.)

Finally, there is a little worm-like fish found as yet only at San Diego, (though similar ones occur on the shores of the Atlantic), so low in development that it has no eyes, heart, or even brain, and looks like a bit of white gristle, flattened at the sides, and tapering towards each end. It may be called the "Worm-fish," (196. Branchiostoma?) Its length is about two inches, and it lives buried in the sand.

MOLLUSCA-SHELL-FISH.

To mention the numerous species of this class found in California would be impossible here, so we must limit this notice to a few eatable kinds.

The so-called "Date Fish," or "Rock Oysters," are several species of bivalves, which bore into soft rocks or clay between tides, from which they are easily extracted, and are considered among the best of the class for the table. Similar kinds are called "Piddocks" on some parts of the Atlantic shores. (1. Zirphæa crispata; 2. Pholadidea penita; 3. Parapholas Californica).

Some other harder-shelled species are found with these and not usually distinguished, though much inferior for eating. (4. Saxicava pholadis; 5. Platyodon cancellatus).

Much larger shell-fish, burrowing in softer earth, are occasionally obtained, and called Squirt-clams. Their shells are often six inches long, and one animal enough for a good meal. (6. Glycimeris generosa; 7. Schizothorus Nuttalli).

Several kinds, called Razor-fish, are found in the sandy sea-beaches and bays, but have not yet been much sought for, though considered about third rate for eating. (8. Solen sicarius; 9. Solecurtus Californianus; 10. Machara patula).

Several kinds, confounded as "Soft-shell Clams," are abundant along several parts of the coast, and some of them much eaten, though liable to have sand or mud inside the shell. They grow three or four inches wide, and are flattened. (11. Sanguinolaria Nuttalii; 12. Ma

coma secta; 13. M. nasuta; 14. Tellina Bodegensis). might be mentioned, but are rarely obtained alive.

Several others

The "Hard-shell Clams," "Quahogs," etc., are numerous, and therefore much eaten, though inferior to most of the preceding for the table. They are dug at low water in most sandy bays, and the largest grow only about four inches wide. (15. Chione succincta; 16. Tapes tenerrima; 17. T. laciniata; 18. T. staminea; 19. Saxidomus gracilis ; 20. S. Nuttallii). No. 18 is the most common at San Francisco.

The "Cockles" are sometimes dug for food, but not so commonly, though very good for soups. They are sometimes four inches wide and three in thickness. (21. Cardium corbis; 22. C. quadragenarium).

The "Mussels" are abundant along the whole coast, and the first named is most common, growing sometimes nine inches in length. The second, also found in the North Atlantic, is smaller, and found chiefly in brackish bays. (23. Mytilus Californianus; 24. M. edulis).

The "Fresh-water Mussels" are found in all the larger interior streams, but rarely eaten, though not unpalatable. Pearls may be found in them occasionally, especially in the first. (26. Margaritana falcata; 27. Anodonta angulata; 28. A. Californiensis; 29. A. Oregonensis; 30. A. Wahlamatensis.)

Several species of Scallops are found along the coast, but not much eaten, though doubtless as good as those of the Atlantic. The largest species are mentioned, growing four inches wide and an inch thick. (31. Pecten hastatus; 32. P. ventricosus). A very large kind, often with a shell six inches long and four wide, but irregular and rough outside, is rather common, and the shells often mistaken for those of Oysters, though when young they are perfect Scallops. (33. Hinnites giganteus).

The Oysters native in our bays are rather small in size, but great quantities of larger ones are brought from the more northern coast and planted in San Francisco Bay, where they become very good. A Mexican species is also brought here, which grows four or five inches long, but these large ones are considered too tough. The attempt is being made to naturalize them in the bay. (34. Ostrea lurida; 35. O. concha*phila).

Of the Univalves very few are eaten, though they will probably be more used when better known, as many of their allies are on both coasts of the Atlantic. Some of the largest Snails are eaten, chiefly by foreigners, and are said to be equal to the European species, so much prized by some epicures. They grow about an inch or an inch and a half high and wide. (36. Helix arrosa; 37. H. tudiculata; 38. H. fidebis; 39. H. infumata, and perhaps others).

Some of the "Abelonés," or "Ear-shells," growing here ten inches in width and two deep, are much sought for, though the foot, which alone is eaten, is very tough and needs much pounding. They are numerous on many parts of the coast, and large numbers are dried by the Chinese. (40. Haliotis Cracherodii; 41. H. rufescens; 42. H. splendens; 43. H. corrugata, the last two rare). The shells are also exported for inlaying work.

The Limpets are eaten on other coasts, and our largest species here also occasionally, but not much in request. It grows two inches long. (44. Lottia gigantea, and probably some Acmeas).

Some of the large Top-shells, found here from two to three inches high, and the same in width, are eatable, but have not been much used. (44. Pomaulax undosus; 45. Pachypoma gibberosum). Our "Periwinkles" (Littorina) are too small to be eaten.

Our large "Sea Snail," (46. Lunatia Lewisii), growing five inches

wide and nearly globular, is eaten by the Indians, but has not attracted much attention from others.

Several, which may be called "Whelks," as they resemble more or less the Atlantic species so called, grow four or five inches long, and are doubtless quite as good as that animal for food, but have not yet been offered for sale, though many could be obtained by proper means. (47. Priene Oregonensis; 48. Ranella Californica; 49. Nassa fossata; 50. Purpura crispata; 51. Chorus Belcheri; 52. Chrysodomus tabulatus, and many smaller kinds).

Of Cuttle-fish" and "Squids," of which many kinds are eaten in Europe, and much used for bait on the Atlantic coast, we have several species, some growing three feet long, their arms stretching seven feet. They are much used by the Chinese, who consider them a luxury, and dry many for export to China. Among them is the kind which forms the beautiful Paper Nautilus, or Argonaut Shell. (53. Argonauta Argo; 54. Octopus punctatus; 55. Ommastrephes giganteus).

CRUSTACEA.

CRABS, LOBSTERS, SHRIMPS.

These animals are abundant and large on our coast, but few species are used as food, although many more might doubtless be so.

The "Crabs" common in San Francisco market are of the following species, the first and largest of which grows six or eight inches in width, and all are excellent eating. (1. Cancer magister; 2. C. antennarius; 3. C. productus). A vast number of strange and little known species of Crabs are found in the salt waters, some of them growing over a foot in breadth, but too rarely caught to be used as food.

The "Lobster," which, however, has not the large claws of the Atlantic species, grows a foot and a half long, and is a favorite luxury, brought by steamers in large numbers from Santa Barbara. (4. Panulirus interruptus).

The Shrimps" are caught abundantly in the bays, and almost always plentiful in market. They grow three inches long. (5. Crangon Franciscorum; 6. C. nigricauda).

"Crawfish" are also found in the interior, burrowing in the muddy banks of fresh water streams, and are doubtless very good eating, some being four or five inches long. (7. Astacus

·?)

CHAPTER VIII.

FLORA.

General Remarks-Sequoia-The Mammoth or Big Trees-Redwood-California Pines-→→ Oaks-Cedars-Firs-California Nutmeg-California Yew Tree-Laurel-ManzanitaMadrona-Horse Chestnut, or Buckeye-Shrubs and Plants--Poison Oak-Alder-Barberry-Canchalagua-Pitcher Plant-Yerba Buena-Flaxworts-Flea-bane-Soap Plant Grasses-Catalogue of Native Trees of California.

It appears from the reports of Botanists, over eighty of whom pursued their labors in California and Oregon, between the years 1792 and 1865, that only eighteen hundred different species were collected during that period. Of these eighteen hundred species, seventy-four per cent. are found in the collections of the State Geological Survey and of the California Academy of Sciences. Five per cent. are new to science, and eleven per cent. new to California. The Flora of California presents many original and striking features; the trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and even the mosses, ferns, etc., while bearing a general resemblance to corresponding orders and genera elsewhere, are here marked by strong individual peculiarities; and in many instances the Flora exhibits examples wholly original-for instance, the Mammoth or Big Tree (Sequoia gigantea) and the Monterey Cypress (Cupressus Macrocarpa) occur nowhere out of California. The rapid growth of Californian vegetation is remarkable; the Botanist is surprised to find, after only a fortnight's absence, in revisiting the same locality, that not only most kinds of its flowering plants during that time have ripened their seeds, but that many new plants have made their appearance. The mountains of California are covered with forests of Pine, Cedar and Fir, exhibiting a great preponderance of coniferous over dicotyledonous trees, these conifers being restricted for the most part to the sea-coast and the mountain sides. Our streams are fringed with various deciduous trees and shrubs, whilst in the vast plains and prairie country of the valleys the prevailing plants are gramineæ, compositæ, leguminosa, with a greater number of liliacca than in any part of the