120 WEST COAST SHELLS 



we are ready to describe almost any of the numerous 

 shells that we are to consider in the remaining part 

 of the book. 



The name of the species whose shell is shown in 

 Figure 91 is Chrysodomus dirus^ Rve., the Dark 

 Chrysodome. The clean shell is of a dark liver color, 

 though this is often obscured by an ashy powder, 

 giving it a dingy appearance. 



As we have considered this type of the uni- 

 valve shells out of its natural order, we will 

 now turn our attention to what is properly 

 Fig. 92 our first species of the great class of the Gas- 

 teropoda, named Actczon punctoccslatus^ Cpr., 

 the Barrel-shell, shown in Figure 92. It is a pretty 

 little thing, which is sometimes found washed up on 

 the beach, and at certain times of the year it may 

 be found alive in the tide-pools where it has gone to 

 lay its eggs. Its length is about half an inch. There 

 is a small fold on the columella and numerous re- 

 volving ribs. The surface is pure white, with two 

 series of narrow black bands. I have seen dead 

 specimens of this shell at Pacific Grove, and have 

 found it alive on the shores of Dead Man's Island, 

 near San Pedro. 



Actczon painei^ Dall, Paine's Actseon. This is 

 one of the new species secured by Lowe and Paine, 

 while dredging near Avalon, Catalina Island. The 

 length of the shell is 8 mm., and it may be dis- 

 tinguished from the last species by its short spire, 

 stouter form, and the absence of color bands. 



^ornatina culcitella, Gld., the Pillow Lathe-shell, 

 is shown in Figure 93. It has a cylindrical body as 



