258 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Fig. 255 



is also elevated, the hinged area not higher than the 

 area in front of it. The interior of this shell, which 

 is found at Monterey, is bluish white in color, and 

 the length is a trifle' less than an inch. 



Nuttallina californica^ Nutt., the 

 California Chiton, Figure 255, is a very 

 common species, living high up on the 

 rocks which are left bare by the tides, 

 and hiding in crevices which are ordi- 

 narily covered by a growth of seaweed. 

 The coarse, rough valves are often much 

 eroded, but where the surface is pre- 

 sented it is of a dark color, and is sculp- 

 tured with fine granules. The girdle is covered with 

 short, stiff spinelets of a dark color. The foot of 

 the animal is reddish, and the interior of the valves 

 is bluish-green. The length of a well grown speci- 

 men is an inch and a half. 



The true Nuttalina scabra^ Rve., the Scaly Chiton, 

 is a southern species, much resembling the last, but 

 having the individual valves 

 very much shorter in propor- 

 tion to their width. The color 

 of the valves is lighter and 

 more variegated. 



Mopalia 7?iuscosa^ Gld., the 

 Mossy Chiton, is shown in 

 Figure 256. This very vari- 

 able species extends from the 

 far north to San Diego. It 

 may generally be readily rec- 

 ognized by its hairy mantle- Fig. 256 



