THE MUSEUM. 



159 



though large specimens are not so 

 common as formerly, there, seems to 

 be no danger that the species will soon 

 become extinct. 



The next species is the red abalone, 

 H. riifcsccns Swainson. This animal 

 has a much larger shell than the last, 

 some of them reaching the length of 

 nine or ten inches; possibly more. 

 They were formerly very common 

 about Pacific Grove, but they have 

 been so persistently collected that 

 adult specimens are rarely found. They 

 live at a somewhat lower level than 

 their black brothers, and are not often 

 seen on the rocks above the water, ev- 

 en at low tide. The Chinese fisher- 

 men cruise around in their boats at 

 such times armed with a hook on the 

 arm of a long pole, with which they 

 secure the coveted prize. The large 

 shells are mostly collected from the 

 more unsettled parts of the coast, and 

 there is danger that the supply will 

 soon become seriously diminished. 

 Last summer I saw a two-horse wagon 

 loaded with these shells, which had 

 been drawn up to Pacific Grove from 

 a point some thirty miles down the 

 coast. 



The third species, named from its 

 beautiful internal color the "green ab- 

 alone," has generally been known to 

 scientific circles as Haliotis splendcns. 

 It was given that very appropriate 

 name by Reeve in 1846, but it has 

 been found that in 1845 it was named 

 by Philippi H. Fnlgcns, and so the 

 latter name must stand. This beauti- 

 ful shell abounds in southern waters, 

 but as I have never had an opportunity 

 to study its habitat,! cannot report up-, 

 on its prospective decrease. The only 

 live one I ever saw was an aged speci- 

 men which was found upon the rocks 



near Cypress Point. Monterey Bay 

 seems to mark its extreme northern 

 location, and even then I have never 

 found a specimen in the Indian shell- 

 heaps, though rufcsccns and Cracltcr- 

 odii are found by the thousands in all 

 stages of decomposition. 



//. coryiigata Gray, does not come 

 so far north as the last species. A 

 fine specimen before me from San Pe- 

 dro, Cal., measures 6.^ in. in length, 

 5i in breadth, and 2.^ in convexity. 

 The shell has strong ridges upon its 

 back, and there are four large open 

 holes. I have never seen a living spe- 

 cimen, and know very little concern- 

 its habits. 



//. assiiiiilis Dall, is now consider- 

 ed to be a distinct species. The Man- 

 ual reports it from "Monterey to San 

 Diego in deep water." A specimen 

 before me from San Diego is 4 inches 

 long and 3] inches wide. It has seven 

 open holes. The exterior of the shell 

 is marked by many threads like Brus- 

 sels carpeting, and the spire is short 

 but distinct. The interior is smooth, 

 silvery, and without visible muscle-scar. 

 The shell is tolerably thick, and ap- 

 pears very compact and solid. 



The last species to be noticed is 

 Haliotis gigaiiiea Chem. \'ar. Kaiiits- 

 cliatkaiia Jonas. The large typical 

 form of this species belongs essentially 

 to Japan, but the variety seems to have 

 come around with the warm current 

 past the Aleutian Is., and down the 

 coast, at least as far as the middle of 

 California. My best specimens I pur- 

 chased in Victoria, B. C, where I 

 was told that they were gathered on 

 the west coast of Vancouver Island. 

 My largest specimen is 5 inches long, 

 3,^ inches wide, and \\ inches high. 

 In shape it appears long and narrow 



