CONCHOLOGY. 119 



Shell. This beautiful genus derives its name from its resem- 

 blance to the human ear. The exterior, tuberculated, and gene- 

 rally loaded with marine substances, giving it an uncouth appear- 

 ance, but its irridescent interior forms a magnificent contrast; it 

 is pearly, with all the hues of the rainbow, recurving very de- 

 pressed, oval, spire very small, sometimes eroded, almost posterior, 

 aperture as large as the shell, with margins reflected inwards, 

 the right sharp, left flat, and enlarged ; disk pierced with holes, 

 disposed in a line parallel to and near the left margin, the last 

 commencing with a notch. These holes formed by the animal, 

 as it increases the size of the shell, to admit the passage of a short 

 syphon ; they adhere to rocks, and are removed with much diffi- 

 culty. Inhabits the sea at Molucca. Nineteen species. 



Haliotis tuberculata. _X Haliotis dubia. 



H. striata. H. iris. 



H. asinina. H. tubifera. 



H. glabia. H. excavata. 



H. lamellosa. H. Australis. 



H. unilateralis. H. Midse. 



H. rtigosa. H. rubra. 



H. canaliculata. H. tricostata. 



H. tricostalis. H. corrugata. 



H. Mariae. 



FAMILY XIV. 

 Plicacea. Two genera. 



1. Genus Tornatella. PI. XI. 



minimal. Body oval, subspiral ; foot divided into two heels by 

 a wide transverse furrow ; head provided with two vertical cylin- 

 drical tentacula, having the eyes placed sessilely upon their inte- 

 rior side. 



Shell. Convolute, oval, cylindrical, mostly striated trans- 

 versely ; no epidermis ; spire very short, last whorl much larger 

 than all the oihers together; one or two large plaits on the 

 columella. Inhabits the coast of Britain. Six species. 



