FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 385 



Figure 13. — Periwinkles, Littorina sp., clinging to rocks in the tidal zone. 



Unalaska, July 27, 1937. 



CHITONS 



Murie picked up a fragment of the giant chiton, Amicula stelleri 

 on Amchitka Island, The species is brick red, as large as 10 by 20 

 centimeters, and has a leathery girdle completely covering the 

 eight dorsal plates. 



Katharina tunicata is fairly common. Many individuals were 

 noted at Umnak Island in shallow tidal pools and at Amlia Island 

 on a rocky, kelp-covered ledge. The body is black and leathery, 

 with a row of eight plates down the back. Its local name "bidarka" 

 is also applied to the skin boat of the Aleuts. The natives prepare 

 the chiton for eating by boiling it in sea water for 10 minutes, then 

 peeling off the skin, scales, and viscera and soaking in fresh 

 water. The general color of the live chiton is dark brown with 

 brown and tan plates. 



Mopalia ciliata wosnessenskii is a small chiton about 25 milli- 

 meters long that is pink on the dorsal surface. Its fringed edges 

 have given it the name of mossy or hairy chiton. It was collected 

 at three stations. 



Schizoplax brandti and ToniceUa ruber were collected in sea- 

 otter droppings, and, in addition, 24 specimens of Schizoplax 

 brandti were collected on the rocks of Herbert Island. 



