92 THE RED ABALONE. 



Within, a whole rainbow is condensed in one of these 

 magnificent shells, though the shades of green are 

 most conspicuous. The coloring in the center is par- 

 ticularly 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. 



Haliotis rufescens, Swains., ru-fes'-sens, Fig. jj, 

 is the common Red Abalone of commerce. The 

 beauty of these shells has caused them to be very 



Fig- 77- 



widely distributed, and though their abundance 

 makes us somewhat careless of them, still, they are 

 among the most beautiful objects ever gathered from 

 this coast. 



In the Eastern States they are commonly called 

 California shells, and are highly prized as mantle 

 ornaments. 



My earliest recollection goes back to a quarterly 

 children's meeting, at the close of which the big 

 shell was utilized as a contribution plate, and into 

 its broad, pearly aperture, we dropped the big copper 

 cents, which went to establish schools for heathen 



