CHAPTER XI 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 



We have now come to the largest and finest shells 

 on the coast. They are locally known as Abalone- 

 shells, while the translation ot the scientific name 

 makes them "Sea-ears." 



Fig. 243 



Figure 243 represents our most beautiful species, 

 Haliotis fulgens^ Phil., the Green Abalone. The 

 shells of this genus are truly spiral, but the whorls 

 are extremely flattened, and the diminutive spire is 

 almost concealed at one end of the body-whorl, while 

 the oval aperture is nearly as long and broad as the 

 shell itself. 



Near one edge of the shell is a series of holes, 

 which serve as outlets for the water which has passed 

 over the animal's gills, together with any waste par- 



