44 



No. 70. OSTREA VIRESCENS, Angas. 



A rare species found at very low tides on some of the 

 small islands in Port Jackson. (From Mr. Brazier's 

 collection.) 



COLLECTION OF OTHER EDIBLE MOLLUSCA. 



1. Haliotis nsevosa, Marf. 



The " Mutton-fish," or Ear-shell as it is sometimes called, 

 was once very abundant on our coast, and is still plentiful 

 on certain unfrequented parts. It is considered a great 

 delicacy by the Chinese, by whom it is chiefly used, and 

 worth from lod. to \s. per lb. 



I a. Animal dried ; i b. Animal dried and salted ; i c. 

 The shell as used for making ornaments, &c. 



2. Ninella straminea, Mart. 



Found under ledges of the rocks at low water, and still 

 tolerably plentiful in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson. 

 With other shellfish they formed one of the chief articles of 

 food in the early days of the aborigines, and are still eaten 

 by some of the colonists ; when boiled slowly or steamed 

 for a considerable time, the animal becomes soft and is 

 easily extracted from its shell. The shells are used for 

 ornaments when polished, and in the manufacture of but- 

 tons. Zoologists may be interested in the fact that a small 

 parasitic crustacean is sometimes found imbedded in the 

 integument of this species. 



3. Trochocochlea tseniata, Q. d G. 



4. Tectarius pyramidalis, Qnoy. 



5. Littorina mauritiana, Lam. 



These, known under the name of " Periwinkles," are 

 occasionally eaten, being sold in the streets to the juvenile 



