ABALONES, OR SEA-EARS. 



with me early some morning and 

 we will make a little excursion to the 

 home of the abalones. We will go 

 down to a place where the 

 great cliffs have been pounded 

 and broken by the waves and 

 storms of centuries. All the 

 softer parts of the rock have been gone for a long 

 time, and as fast as new portions crumble, they 

 are swept away immediately and made into sand 

 or clay. 



The harder portions of the ledge stand out, rough 

 and stern, and through 

 the channels between these 

 jagged remains the water 

 surges, cool and green. 

 We put on our long rub- 

 ber boots and wade fear- 

 lessly in where the water 

 is not too deep, though al- 

 ways keeping an eye open 

 for breakers ahead; for we 



50 



REFERENCE TOPICS. 



Jagged coast-lines. 



Protective organs. 



Can turtles turn over ? 



Salt and fresli waters. 



California Indians. 



Shell-mounds . 



Let us spare natural ob- 

 jects. 



The " Japanese cur- 

 rent." 



