now in our leading museums. Hitherto unknown species await the enthusiastic specialist in chitons.
Except for the more easily recognized and common species, such as the Pacific Coast Katherina tunicata and Amicula stelleri, most identifications require a simple understanding of the various parts of the shells and the patience to remove one or two of the eight valves for observation under a hand lens. Tourist collectors have little time to devote to the special but simple methods of collecting and preserving chitons, and unless they are willing to take to the shore a bucket, penknife, some thin slabs of wood or small glass plates and some soft twine, it would be best for them to concentrate their searches on the olives and cowries.
No one man has done more for the encouragement of chiton collecting in America than Dr. S. Stillman Berry of Redlands, California, and we cannot do better than to follow his simple directions. Curled-up specimens in collections signify ignorance of methods or lack of time while in the field. The chitons are easily flipped from the rock surfaces by quickly inserting a knife blade beneath the edge of the animal. If the chiton is then quickly transferred to the wet surface of a piece of shingle or glass of the appropriate width, it may be possible to flatten the creature before it curls into a ball. Wood and chiton should be tightly wound with twine or strips of cotton cloth, so that the animal will die in this flattened position. The bound chiton may be soaked in 60 to 80 percent alcohol for an hour or more, or in fresh water, for killing. Unbind, scrape the meat away from the underside, being careful not to damage the outer rim or girdle. Rewrap on the wood and set in the hot sun or oven to dry thoroughly. If scientific study is to be done at a later date, it is best to keep a few specimens permanently in a jar of about 70 percent alcohol. When specimens roll up before they can be straightened against your piece of wood, they may be dropped into the bucket of sea water where they will eventually straighten out and allow a second attempt of transfer.
Habitats of chitons are usually specialized for each species, some being found only on the underside of rocks between the tide levels, others on wave-dashed headlands, a few in tidepools, others only in deeper waters offshore. Pinna pen shells recently cast ashore often have tiny chitons attached on the outside of the shell. Those who do not have dredging facilities may acquire the latter species through exchange or by purchase from several of our excellent shell dealers. A watchful eye and variation in collecting localities will soon bring familiarization with the various habitats of most of the species.
