214 WEST COAST SHELLS 



Velutina Iczvigata^ Linn, the Light Vel- 

 vet-shell, is our next species, and its little 

 shell is shown in Figure 207. The color is 

 '^" light brown, and the aperture is nearly cir- 



cular. In fresh specimens a velvet-like epidermis 

 covers the shell. It lives in northern waters. 



Lamellaria stearnsii^ Dall, Stearns's Lamel- ^^ 

 laria is rather poorly represented in Figure ^^m 

 208. It is pure white, very thin, and has so 

 large an aperture that the interior of the shell Fie- 208 

 is plainly visible. During the life of the ani- 

 mal the shell is wholly covered by the white, trans- 

 lucent soft parts of the living creature. It has been 

 reported from Monterey and San Pedro. 



In Lamellaria diegoensis^ Dall, the San Diego La- 

 mellaria, the soft parts are bright red in color, and 

 the little shell is 17 mm. in diameter. The animal is 

 much larger, though it is a comparatively small crea- 

 ture. 



And now we have come to a very important class 

 of shells, most of which are easily collected and all 

 of which are interesting. But before describing 

 any of them let me have a few words with my 

 younger readers. 



Did you ever go camping in the summer'? Did 

 3'Ou and your friends ever get tired of living in 

 one place all the year, and decide to take a tent and 

 go out to some shady spot and have fun and 

 fresh air and freedom for a little while? I hope 

 so, for there is nothing quite so good as a few days of 

 tent life to brighten up all the rest of the year. 



Perhaps your tent was near a mountain stream. 



