46 On the Australian Haliotidce. 



Shell smaller and less ventricose than the last ; the spire 

 proportionably longer ; umbilicus closed ; the marginal 

 rim very close below the notch ; the edge of the inner lip is 

 quite smooth. Colour rufous brown^, obscurely banded with 

 whitish. Aperture rosy. 



VI. — On the Australian Haliotidce or Ear-shells, with 

 Remarks on other Species. By William Swainson, Esq., 

 F.E.S. and L.S., dc. [Read 10th May, 1854.] 



Having accidentally met with Mr. Eeeve's monograph of 

 the genus Haliotis, and observing several points which 

 require either correction or elucidation, I have thrown 

 together the following notes, which, as they chiefly refer to 

 such species as I have met with in this hemisphere, will 

 probably be considered worthy a place in the Transactions 

 of the Society. 



The geographic distribution of animals should ever form 

 one of the first objects of study with the pliilosophic natu- 

 ralist. On this subject I find the following introductory 

 passage : — " It is a curious circumstance in the geographic 

 distribution of the TIaliotides, that few, if any, are to be 

 found where Chitons abound, as if they exchanged places, to 

 a certain extent, in the two hemispheres. . There are a few 

 species from California, but along the western coast of 

 South America, where Chitons are most abundant, not any 

 are found, and only one small species, the H. imlcherrima, 

 at any of the islands of the Pacific. They inhabit the 



