HALIOTIS. 



and Lamarck particularly directs our attention to tlie 

 observation, that until the last of these is completely 

 formed there is a notch in the outer lip, at the more dis- 

 tant part from the spire : very rarely, indeed, have we met 

 with an instance in which the whole of these perforations 

 have been closed by the animal, (probably on account of 

 disorder,) and in those instances it is very evident that 

 they have existed, so that these perforations may be 

 regarded as a certain distinguishing mark between Hali- 

 Otis and all other genera. The columellar lip is generally 

 flattish and much lengthened; sometimes a very strongly 

 marked orbicular muscular impression nearly in the center 

 of the inside is observable, and we believe the interior is 

 always pearly and variegated with brilliant colours. 



This Genus as its name implies is marine; about 

 thirty species are known at present, most of which are 

 very ornamental shells, and some are exceedingly scarce ; 

 the commonest of all, which may be looked upon as the 

 type of the Genus, is the H, tuherculata, which is very 

 abundant on the coasts of Guernsey and Jersey, where 

 the animal is eaten, and the shells are frequently arranged 

 in quincunx order, exposing their brilliant and variegated 

 interior to the rays of the sun as ornaments on the out- 

 sides of the houses. We do not think this shell can with 

 propriety be considered a native of our own coasts, 

 though the dead shells are sometimes thrown up on our 

 southern shores after violent storms. The existence of 

 fossil species is very doubtful : the only approach to it 

 that we have ever seen were some incrustations taken up 

 fi'om the sea near the Cape of Good Hope. 



Fig. 1. Haliotis e.rcavata, Lam. 



2. Asinina, Auct. 



3. parva. Linn, canaliculata. Lam. carinata, Swainson. This is 



one of two shells that have been confounded under the Linnean specific name 

 parva, but we think it quite proper to retain that name, because the other has 

 been well designated by the specific name of Scalarisj by Leach, which is equally 

 good, whether it be called Padollus or Haliotis. 



r 



