ABALONES, OR SEA-EARS. 53 



bath. But we try again, and at length we have 

 a fine specimen in our hands. We notice his 

 great yellow foot, which is made up of muscular 

 fibers. It seems to be in continual motion, as if 

 it were trying to get hold of something, which, in 

 fact, is just what it is trying to do. 



This foot has a rim of black skin, and above 

 this is the black mantle, with numerous little 

 feelers arranged like the threads of a fringe. 

 The cold-blooded fellow evidently does not like 

 the warmth of our hands, and so, after looking 

 at him for a little w^hile, we decide to see how he 

 will behave when left to himself. 



We put our creature down upon a mossy rock, 

 and sit down beside him to watch his motions. 

 To keep him from clinging tight again, we turn 

 him on his back; but he is no more easy than a 

 turtle would be in that position. We see him 

 put out his stumpy head, somewhat after the 

 manner of a turtle, though not so far from his 

 shell, and then his great muscular foot grows 

 long and slender, and reaches out over the side of 

 the shell. As soon as a bit of it can feel the rock, 

 it clings fast, shortens itself rapidly, and lo! our 

 abalone is right side up, and is creeping away at 

 a great rate. 



The front and back parts of the single foot 



