244 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



backs covered with sea-mosses and other growths, 

 so that they might easily be overlooked by one who 

 was unacquainted with their habits of concealment. 



The shell of this species is quite thin, and it is 

 diversified externally by low spiral ridges of a dark 

 and dull color. Within, a whole rainbow is con- 

 densed in one of these magnificent shells, though 

 the shades of green are most conspicuous. The color- 

 ing of the center is particularly fine, resembling a 

 peacock's tail. There are about six open holes near 

 one side of the shell, and its length is about the same 

 number of inches. 



Var. walallensis, Stearns, occurs at Gualala, a 

 small seaport in Sonoma Co., Cal. It is more elon- 

 gate and flattened than the typical form, and it has 

 a paler nacre. Its length is four inches, and its 

 breadth is rather less than three. 



H a I i t is 

 rufescens^ 

 Swains., the 



Red Abalone, 

 is shown in 

 Figure 244. 

 The beauty ot 

 these shells has 

 caused them to 

 be very widely 

 distributed, 

 and though their comparative abundance in Califor- 

 nia makes us somewhat careless ot them, still they 

 are among the most beautiful objects ever gathered 

 from this coast. The outer layer of the shell pro- 



Fig. 244 



