Figs. 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are of the Cominella family, the 
New Zealand representatives of the voracious English whelks. 
COMINELLA LURIDA (Plate IV.).—Fig. 7 is the most 
active and, for its size, the most voracious of our shellfish. Found 
in all harbours in the Province of Auckland, even up to high 
water mark, this greedy little animal, seldom more than an inch 
long, is well worth watching. In some localities, when a cart has 
been driven along a beach, the track, as soon as the tide reaches 
it, will swarm with the Cominella lurida. They are looking for 
cockles or other shellfish smashed by the wheel, and will even 
burrow in the sand to get at them. If you lift up a broken or 
injured cockle, some will cling to it with their rasp-like tongues 
till they are lifted out of the water. In calm, sunny weather, 
what looks like little bits of fat or candle-grease will be seen float- 
ing with the rising tide in very shallow water. These are Comi- 
nella lurida, which have perhaps eaten up everything in their 
vicinity, and have therefore decided to emigrate. A Cominella 
lurida, when shifting camp, will turn upside down, spread out 
its large white foot into a cup;shape, and let the rising tide sweep 
it along. They vary very much, from grey to purple or black, 
and sometimes even a mixture of two or more of these colours. 
COMINELLA HUTTONI (Plate IV.).—Fig. 8 is a small pale 
brown shell, spotted with reddish-brown. The ridges on the 
exterior of the shell make it easy to identify. 
COMINELLA MACULATA (Plate IV.).—Fig. 11 is a yel- 
lowish shell, with reddish-purple spots on the outside, the interior 
being also yellow. Its length is sometimes over two inches, and 
it is found in large numbers on sandy or shelly beaches, near low- 
water mark, in the North Island. Although a heavy, solid shell, 
it is of coarse texture, and therefore open to attacks by animal 
and vegetable parasites. A large specimen in good order is by 
no means common, the spire, or upper end of the shell, as shown 
in the plate, being usually worm-eaten. 
COMINELLA TESTUDINEA (Plate IV.).—Fig. 12 is a hand- 
some purple shell, the interior being darker than the exterior. It 
is about the same length as the Cominella maculata, but narrower, 
and the shell is thinner and harder. The exterior is covered with 
brown and white spots and splashes. It is common in the North 
Island and as far south as Banks’ Peninsula. It is found on 
