S.A. NAT., VOL. XV- 
Nov. 30th, 1933. By Bernard C. Cotton and F. K. Godfrey. 15 
Haliotis; when placed on a smooth rock it strides on apace, with 
body slightly swaying from side to side, evidently exerting great 
muscular force. Mutton-fish are eaten in many countries. Should 
the animal be fried, it must be beaten for some time, like a tough 
beef-steak; if it is scalloped, it must first be well scrubbed, then 
allowed to simmer for several hours, and then can be scalloped 
like an oyster. Many consider “abalone soup” as fit for the 
table of the most fastidious. They were a favourite article of 
diet with our natives. 
The inside of the shell displays all the colours in the rain¬ 
bow. Sir David Brewster explained this iridescence as due to 
minute striae or grooves on the surface of the nacre, which al¬ 
ternate with others of animal membrane. Stewart opines that 
the colour is produced by the nature of the laminae, which de¬ 
compose the light in consequence of the interference caused by 
the reflection from the two sides of each film, as may be seen in 
soap bubbles; he further believes that the nacreous or inner layer 
is only a modification of the previously formed prismatic layer, 
each layer being composed of particles or prisms mostly repre¬ 
senting an hexagonal outline. The shells are much used for 
the manufacture of pearl buttons, buckles, and inlaying-. If the 
rough covering of the exterior be removed, the shell beneath is 
seen to be quite as beautiful as that of the interior. In New 
Zealand, seals eat species of Haliotis apparently without crush¬ 
ing the shell with the teeth, and when the animal has been di¬ 
gested the empty shells are disgorged; the shells lying about on 
the beach are pearly outside, having lost the periostracum through 
the action of the acid gastric juice in the seal's stomach. Fine 
green pearls are sometimes found under the mantle of the animal. 
The centre of distribution of Recent species is in the Aus¬ 
tralian and adjacent seas; here are found the greatest number 
cf species and greatest diversity of forms. The largest species 
inhabit the west coast of North America. Not one species is 
found on the east coast of North or South America. The South 
Australian beach collector will probably find H. naevosa, H. 
conicopora. and H. cyclobates before the others, though roei 
and //. albicans are common on Yorke Peninsula. 
Haliotis Linne 1758. “Sea-ear, Ear-shell, Mutton-fish.” 
Dorn hallos marine, and ous (< otos) an ear. Characters are those 
of the family. Type— H. asinina Linne (Queensland). The prin¬ 
cipal characters for distinguishing the species are the outline of 
the shell, which is either equally curved on the two sides or 
straighter on the right margin; the convexity of the back, which 
roay be carinated or rounded at the row of holes; the sculpture; 
