The Ear Shells. Abalones 



inches. Its pearly lining abounds in green and pink tints. The 

 exterior is brick red, with lumpy surface finely sculptured with 

 radiating and cross ridges. The holes are large and elevated; 

 usually four are open. These shells are often polished outside, 

 and sold for cabinet ornaments. The flesh is boiled in sea water, 

 then dried on the rocks for export to China; the shells are shipped 

 in quantities to Europe for use in button-making, for ornaments 

 and for inlay work. The Smithsonian Institution has a large col- 

 lection of treasure boxes taken from the graves of Indians on San 

 Nicholas Island. Two handsome shells, sealed together with 

 asphaltum, contained trinkets belonging to the dead. 



The Black Abalone (H.Cracherodii, Leach) is black outside, 

 with shadings of purple or green. The lines of growth are its 

 only sculpturing. The shell averages five inches in length, 

 four inches in width and two inches in height. It is less shallow 

 than the two species just described. The holes are small and 

 not elevated; about eight are open. The pearly lining is thick 

 and smooth, with silvery lustre and green and pink reflections. 



This species is abundant on the rocks along shore from the 

 Fallerone Islands to San Diego, Cal. Young ones exhibit very 

 interesting habits of life when kept in jars of sea water. 



The Rough Abalone {H. corrugaia, Gray) of Catalina Island, 

 San Diego and southward, is often six inches long. Its shell is 

 wrinkled and knobbed outside, and the holes are much elevated. 

 But four are open. There is a row of nodules parallel with the 

 tubercled row of holes and below them; a deep channel separates 

 the two series of tubercles. The lining is wavy and brilliantly 

 iridescent. The thin epidermis is brown or greenish, often 

 handsomely banded. 



The Giant Ear Shell (H. gigantea, Chemn.),j to lo inches in 

 length, is the largest known species. It is reddish outside, the 

 thin leathery epidermis raised in wavy folds along the lines of 

 growth. The row of pronounced tubercles has five open holes. 

 The lining is wavy, with unusually beautiful iridescence. 



This is the "Awabi" of Japan, valuable not only for inlay 

 work and mother-of-pearl articles curiously fashioned from the 

 shells, but a staple article of food. Sir Edwin Arnold, writing 

 his book, "Japonica" in Enoshima, where the awabi is taken 

 in great quantities, says: "A strip of the membrane of this is 

 put into the folded coloured paper — noshi — which accompanies 



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