THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 115 
In deeper water, requiring the collector to strip and work 
in three or four feet of water, are found the rarer species, 
Chiton cox, C. limans, Lorica volvox, and Loricella angast. 
Some species are consistent in colouring, while others vary 
infinitely in colour and diversity of marking. I am inclined 
to divide the colouring into four classes :—(1) Specific, that is 
common to all individual members of a species: This is 
exemplified in the constant alternate lines of blue and orange- 
brown in the central areas of Chiton jugosus, the blue freckling 
of Ischnochiton lentiginosus, and the olive-black of JI. australis. 
(2) Sub-specific, that is permanent in the individual, but not 
common to all members of the species—for instance, white 
dorsal stripe, and red, black, blue, brown or green sides of 
Ischnochiton: crispus ; the wavy lines in black, pink, or purple 
of the sub-species known as decoratus; the coloured dorsal 
stripe and variegated radiating lines of I. smaragdinus sub- 
species picturatus, &c. (38) Protective, that is assumed more or 
less temporarily in order to assimilate the shell with its imme- 
diate surroundings: Thisis most marked in Callochiton platessa, 
which assumes a wonderful range of shades from grey-green 
to brilliant red, but which fade out almost completely when 
the animal is removed, and the shell becomes almost uniformly 
brownish. In spirit this protective colour is soluble and 
suffuses the shell. (4) Absorbed or stained: This is gener- 
ally the result of environment, but is not consciously: adopted 
for protection. Shells found adhering to ironstone or sand- 
stone impregnated with iron are often changed to reddish 
brown, orange and yellow, and where an old rusty tin has been 
lying in a Chiton haunted pool, many of the shells are richly 
coloured with yellow and orange markings. This is merely a 
suggestion for a more careful study of the colouration of 
Chitons, which will require close observation and chemical 
tests, before any satisfactory classification can be arrived at. 
The pursuit of the wily Chiton il its native lair is one of 
the most fascinating and exhilarating pastimes. Clad in a 
bathing suit anl a pair of old boots, armed with a short crow- 
bar and many slips of wood, with plenty of string to tie down 
the shells, one can spend the three hours of low-water in the 
most profitable and interesting manner. Owing to the habit 
of the animal to curl up after removal from his rock, he must 
be promptly clapped on a flat stick, his girdle spread out by 
slipping a thin knife-blade under it, and he must then be tied 
securely down until the time comes to remove him. When 
the animal is taken out and the shell wiped clean, it must be 
again tied down, and left to}dry for at least 24 hours, It should 
be painted over on the inside with a 2 per cent. solution of 
corrosive sublimate as a preservative, and is then ready 
for the cabinet. If spirit specimens are desired, the slips of 
wood, with shells tied thereon, may be put in the spirit bottle 
