TOPS AND TURBANS • 235 



being to the pearh^ tint of the aperture. It is a very 

 important genus for our coast, some of the species 

 being represented by innumerable specimens, though 

 others are comparatively rare. In our description 

 both the older and the newer name will be given, 

 so that there will be no confusion. 



T'egula funehralis^ A. Adams, 

 (Chlorostoma funebrale), the 

 Black Turban-shell, Figure 234, 

 is extremely common on the cen- 

 tral coast of California. Its 

 shell is strong, for it lives on the 

 rocks midway between high and FigT23r 



low tides, where it frequently 

 gets a vigorous lashing by the waves. In some places 

 it is so abundant that I have seen rocks almost 

 black with them, all ages and sizes lying close 

 together. 



On m)^ first visit to the seaside I wanted them 

 all, so I gathered specimens and cleaned shells for 

 hours. Two very natural results followed: first, 

 that there remained apparently as many as there 

 were before I began operations; and second, that on 

 subsequent visits I gathered few. But whether we 

 collect them or merely watch their movements and 

 study their habits, they soon become like old friends 

 to anyone who has learned the pleasant art of put- 

 ting himself in sympathy with the lower animals. 



The color of the shell is dark purple, almost 

 black on the outside, and there is a greenish-white 

 pearly layer beneath. The whorls are four in num- 

 ber, of which the uppermost one or two are fre- 



