ZOOLOGY. 417 



Locusts and grasshoppers are abundant in the valleys; 

 mosquitoes in the tules, and along the streams in the Sacra- 

 mento Basin ; and flies everywhere. 



344. Honey-Dew Aphis. Among the noteworthy insects 

 of the State is one which secretes a sweet liquid called " honey- 

 dew," and deposits it on trees. It is transparent, thick like 

 honey, and sweet, sometimes with a bitter after-taste, but more 

 frequently having a flavor like parched corn. The leaves and, 

 twigs are covered with it, the deposit usually being nearly even, 

 occasionally in spots or drops. The honey-dew is more fre- 

 quently found on oak-trees than on any other tree or bush ; and 

 oftener in dry seasons, and remote from the coast, than in wet 

 weather or within reach of the sea-fogs. A kind of molasses 

 may be made by breaking off the twigs covered with the secre- 

 tion, and boiling them in water. Honey-dew is found in most 

 countries where the soil is barren or the climate dry, and may 

 be the same with the manna of the Hebrews. 



345. Shell-Fish We have five species of shell-fish val- 

 uable for the table : one oyster, two mussels, one cockle, and a 

 soft-shelled clam. The oysters are small, not finely-flavored, 

 nor abundant. 



The abelone or aulone (Haliotis) is found as far north as 

 Point Reyes, and abounds south of Point Conception. It is a 

 mollusk with one shell, from five to seven inches across ; beau- 

 tifully iridescent, and is much used in the arts for buttons, knife- 

 handles, and inlaying. Many vessels are engaged in fishing 

 for them. The abelones stick to the rocks and to each other, 

 collecting in some places in masses two feet thick ; the fisher- 

 men break them off from the rocks with a spade. When the 

 abelones do not suspect danger, they loosen their hold and raise 

 their shells from the rock, and then the fisherman may easily 

 thrust his spade down along the surface of the stone ; but if 

 he alarms the abelone beforehand, he finds the shells fastened 

 down to the rock with great power, and all the strength of a 

 man is scarcely sufficient to pry one of them off. The meat of 

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