CHEESEMAN.—On the Mollusca of Auckland Harbour. 807 
australis. On Zostera beds, Haminea obesa can always be found, and in 
some localities in countless thousands. A very different shell—Gibbula 
nitida—is also of constant occurrence. The largest of all our shells, 
Pinna zealandica, is also not uncommon, generally buried to nearly the top 
of its valves in the mud. At certain seasons of the year a species of 
Aplysia, apparently yet undescribed, can be picked up in some numbers, as 
also can a member of the curious genus Pleurobranchea, and a few small 
Nudibranchs. Pecten laticostatus is occasionally seen, as are Mysia zea- 
landica and Solemya australis, but these are more common in the next 
zone. 
We have now to consider the inhabitants of the Laminarian zone; an 
acquaintance with which we can only make by means of dredging, or by 
examining the refuse thrown up after heavy gales. The first of these 
methods is the most satisfactory, but is only applicable where the bottom is 
tolerably even, or composed of sand and mud. From the few dredgings I 
have been able to make, it appears that Venus mesodesma, Tapes intermedia, 
and Corbula zealandica are by far the most common species; the first 
named often forming extensive banks. Other forms of frequent occurrence 
are Zenatia acinaces, Anatina tasmanica, Nucula consobrina, and N. margari- 
tacea. In sandy places a species of Philine often comes up in the dredge, 
usually accompanied with the pretty little Monilea zealandica and a fine 
Pleurotoma, -as yet undescribed. Fusus stangeri, Marginella albescens, and 
Venericardia zealandica, are also commonly met with. Terebratella rubicunda 
is often seen attached to stones, and is also abundant about low-water mark 
at Rangitoto; but in no locality in the harbour have I observed it at all ap- 
proaching the size that it attains on more exposed coasts. In the deeper 
portions of the harbour Trichotropis inornata, Cerithium terebelloides, and a 
new species of Natica are tolerably plentiful. Murex octogonus is some- 
times dredged; but the commonest whelk is Buccinum lwridum, which 
occurs everywhere, and seems to take the place below low-water mark that 
its near ally, B. costatwm occupies above. Of the Chitons, Cryptoconchus 
monticularis is common on the reefs, and is occasionally exposed at low 
spring-tides ; a few smaller species also occur, of which a pretty little 
Acanthochetes, not yet identified, deserves mention. Of the shells that 
inhabit rocky ground, and are consequently only seen after storms, Haliotis 
iris and Imperator cookii, must not be passed over without notice: although 
both are common on many portions of our coasts, they are decidedly rare in 
Auckland Harbour. 
It remains for me to mention the occasional occurrence of a Cephalopod 
(Sepioteuthis major) which seems to be a summer visitant only, .I once 
observed a smaller species apparently allied to Octopus, but neglected to 
