PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



issued i^?(V^>V. s)5Mi by the 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 

 Vol.89 Washington: 1940 No. 3094 



THE WEST AMERICAN HALIOTIS 



By Paul Bartsch 



Several interesting sendings of sea-ears from California by 

 A. Sorensen made it necessary to subject the West American mem- 

 bers of the genus Haliotis to a critical examination. The results 

 are noted below. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Sorensen for the fine 

 specimens sent us, which not only materially expand our series of 

 the developmental stages of some species but also add several new 

 forms to the Californian faunal area. To Prof. H. H. Plough and 

 the authorities of Amherst College I am greatly obliged for the 

 privilege of examining and figuring the type of Haliotis ponderosa 

 C. B. Adams, which I am here reestablishing as a good species. 



Mr. Sorensen has also given me some interesting notes on the color 

 of Haliotis animals from which I quote : "Those with black bodies 

 are: Haliotis i^fescens Swainson and H. cracherodii Leach and its 

 varieties. Those with yellowish and dark spotted bodies are: Halio- 

 tis assimilis Dall, H. kamtschatkana Jonas, H. walallensis Stearns, H. 

 fulgens Philippi, H. corrugatus Gray, and Haliotis^ new species" 

 {Haliotis soretiseni, described herein.) He also states: "I am quite 

 well acquainted with the California coast, since 1885 continuously, 

 and with the abalone industry. The largest catch comes into 

 Monterey, the second to Morro Bay, and a few to Avila. There is 

 no regular commercial abalone fishing south of Avila, but occasionally 

 some of the boats go south to Santa Barbara, and what catch they 

 make there and up to Point Conception is sent by truck to Monterey." 

 These are facts of importance to students of abalones as well as to the 

 men commercially interested in the group. 



224000—40 49 



