ABALONES, OR SEA-EARS. 



51 



know that waves are no respecters of persons, and 

 it would be no joke to lose one's footing so near 

 to deep water. 



Here we are at last, right in the very home of 

 the creatures that build the finest shells to be 

 found on our coast. They are living on the rocks 

 all about us, and we are very glad to pay them 

 this friendly visit; for it is far from our purpose 

 to disturb 

 these peace- 

 ful creatures. 

 Weonlywish 

 to see how 

 theyfare,and 

 observe their 

 pleasant sur- 

 roundings. 



We notice 

 that they are 

 all clinging 



to the surface of the rocks, and that the soft parts 

 of the animal are well protected by the thick, low- 

 arched shell, on one side of which is a row of 

 holes, which answer the same purpose as the 

 chimney of the keyhole limpet. 



We notice, in the second place, that many of 

 these mollusks seek for some sheltered spot, 



Figure '20. 



