This family is closely allied to the /Fissurellidæ/. The species are known on the Pacific coast by the name of abalone shells, and in England and the Channel Islands as ormers or sea-ears. There are no species of /Haliotis/ on the east coast of the United States, but one has recently been dredged at a considerable depth in West Indian waters. This family, with the last, possesses the striking anatomical feature of having the heart traversed by the digestive tract. It also has two gills, the degree of torsion in the visceral mass not being sufficient to have crowded out and destroyed the original right gill. The shell is spiral, but is so greatly flattened, and the body-whorl is so greatly extended, that the shell quite loses the spiral appearance. Along the dorsal side of the shell is a row of holes, through which project numerous tentacular processes from the mantle. The outer surface of the shell, before it is polished, is usually rough and unattractive, but within, when the [pg359] animal is removed, it displays a most beautiful and highly colored nacreous surface. The spot near the center of the inner shell surface where the muscles of the foot were attached is usually most brilliantly colored. The shell of the abalone is susceptible of taking a very high degree of polish, and is extensively used in commerce for colored mother-of-pearl and for inlaid work. /Haliotis/ is a vegetable-feeding genus. They cling with great tenacity to rocks about low tide, and it requires skill to remove them without breaking the shell. There are several species in California. The Chinese use the abalone for food, and have waged a persistent war upon the family along the Pacific coast until the specimens are not nearly as common as formerly. They are also eaten in France and in Japan. ^H. splendens.^ The largest and perhaps the most attractive in appearance of the Californian species. Speaking of this beautiful shell, Professor Keep says: "Within, a whole rainbow is condensed in one of the magnificent shells, though the shades of green are most conspicuous. The coloring in the center is particularly fine, resembling a peacock's tail. There are about six open holes near one side of the shell, and its length is about the same number of inches." (Plate LXVI.) ^H. rufescens.^ A large abalone, which sometimes attains a length of eight or nine inches. It is red in color, with three open holes in the body-whorl. The outer portion of the shell is usually incrusted with mineral deposit and overgrown with vegetation. ^H. cracherodii.^ Very dark green without, with five to nine holes; length from one to six inches; spire exceedingly short. Common on the Californian coast in crevices of rocks at low tide. FAMILY ~TROCHIDÆ~