NATURAL HISTORY. 
635 
a-half inches in diameter, with a glossy dark olive-colored 
epidermis, and blueish grey inside; it extends as far south 
as Auckland. A similar Helix, half-an-inch less in dia- 
meter, ranges as far south as Waikato. Another kind is 
met with at Hokianga, which differs from the former in 
having its volutions girdled with one band instead of three, 
the color of this band is blackish brown, whilst the general 
color of the shell is a dull olivaceous brown. It is rather 
singular, although no Jand shell at all approaching these in 
size has been met to the south of the Waikato in the Northern 
Island, two specimens of a helix, allied to Helix Busbyi, have 
been discovered in the vicinity of Nelson. 
A beautiful shell. Helix Dunnioe, Helix Caroiolla Zelandia, 
is found on the Kawau an inch in diameter, of a light yel- 
lowish brown, surrounded with a white ridge-like keel on 
the outer whorl. Another Helix of similar size is met with 
as far south as the Waitara. A large chocolate-colored slug 
has its habitat in the interior, and on the banks of the Wan- 
ganui, having a miniature haliotis shell on its back covered 
with a light olive epidermis. There are smaller kinds of 
slugs with similar shells on their backs, which differ in being 
less in size, longer, and of a darker color. 
The TJniOy or fresh-water mussel, Ttaltahi, inhabits nearly 
all our streams and lakes. The finest are those in the 
Waikari Lake, which are distinguished by their size, round- 
ness, and light glossy epidermis ; it may be remarked of the 
New Zealand unio, that, as a general rule, the lake unios are 
small, round, and thick, whilst those in the rivers are long, 
narrow, and flat. The natives eat them, but their strong 
earthy flavor and insipid taste will never render them an 
article of European consumption ; they are extremely abun- 
dant, as is evidenced by the large shell heaps encircling the 
lakes. The imported rat, however, feeds upon them, and by 
breaking the umbo, obtains a speedy access to the fish; little 
heaps of shells close to the water's edge, are the remains of 
his feasts. Pearls, and some very fine ones, are not unfre- 
quently met with in the fresh-water mussels, especially those 
in Rotorua Lake ; two kinds are there obtained, a fine round 
