PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 243 



tides which may pass along in the current. As the 

 shell increases in size some of the holes become 

 closed from the inside, while new ones are formed 

 at the edge of the growing shell. 



If we look within we shall find the most highly 

 colored portion of the shell near the center, where 

 the huge muscle which controls the foot has been 

 detached. This great foot can cling to a rock with 

 surprising force, and the animal must be taken una- 

 wares if an easy conquest is expected. In no case 

 should the fingers be inserted between the shell and 

 the rock; for though no fatal results might occur, 

 as are sometimes reported, it is true that much pain 

 and inconvenience would probably be caused. 



The internal organs of the abalone are very inter- 

 esting for dissection, particularly the mouth parts, 

 or "buccal mass" as these organs are called. There 

 is a ribbon-like tongue as long as your finger, and it 

 is thickly set with flinty hooks, sometimes called 

 teeth. By means of these teeth the animal rasps its 

 vegetable food into fine shreds fit for swallowing. 

 Then there are the gills and the mantle, the heart 

 and the digestive organs; but a very large part of 

 the animal consists of the great central muscle. 



This species is essentially a southerner. I have 

 seen one living specimen at Monterey and have heard 

 rumors of another one, but they are seldom found so 

 far north. All of the abalones are rock-loving ani- 

 mals, and they must be sought where the clefts of 

 the ledges afford them an opportunity to hide from 

 their enemies, at least while they are young. Later 

 in life they may be found planted upon rocks, their 



