207 



HAL10TIS. 



HALIOTIS MIDiE, — LinnCBUS. 



Mawes Linn. pi. 31. 



The Haliotides constitute a beautiful genus, numerous 

 in species, and remarkable for their singular form and 

 brilliant pearly substance. They are so well known 

 to all collectors by the trivial name of Ear Shells, that 

 a minute description of them here is not necessary, 

 particularly as the writer's object is chiefly to make 

 Lamarck's arrangement easy of comprehension to those 

 who are unacquainted with it, by giving his reasons for 

 having divided many of the genera, as they formerly 

 were constituted by other authors, and stating where 

 no alteration has taken place in a genus, as is the case in 

 the present, with the exception of the H. imperforata. 

 It is therefore only necessary to add a few particulars 

 mentioned by Lamarck, not generally known, regarding 

 the animal. As the animal increases the size of its shell 

 a new hole is commenced, appearing at first only a notch 

 on the external margin, but which afterwards is com- 

 pleted as the growth of the shell continues, and others 

 formed in succession, admitting the passage of a short 

 syphon. When at rest the animal adheres, like the Pn- 



