104 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
[Mar. 
of the Conus, but the spire is much longer and the mouth wider. There 
are a number of species found in Australia, most of them larger and 
handsomer than ours. We have several species, of which the largest, 
Voluta arabica (Martyn), is fairly common, and, living on sandy beaches 
rather below low-water mark, is frequently brought up in the fishermen’s 
nets. It was in this way that over twenty years ago I picked up in Evans 
Bay, Wellington Harbour, a particularly beautiful specimen of a Voluta, 
which until a few weeks ago was classed as Voluta arabica (Martyn). 
I recently showed it to Mr. W. B. B. Oliver, and he declared it to be 
Voluta fusiformis Swainson. It is about 6 in. in length, smooth, rather 
highly polished, and beautifully marked with chestnut-brown longitudinal 
zigzags. Mr. C. Hedley, of the Australian Museum, Sydney, has since con¬ 
firmed the identification, but he has pointed out that the species now passes 
under the name of Ericusa sowerbyi Kiener.* As Ericusa sowerbyi Kiener 
is an Australian species, it may have come to New Zealand adhering to the 
bottom of some ship ; and possibly it may have been knocked off by the 
vessel being put on the Patent Slip. 
When this specimen was obtained it was a common thing to find more 
or less perfect specimens of Voluta arabica (Martyn) which had come up 
in the nets, but some time ago when I was along that beach there was no 
sign of any having come up. Possibly that part of the bay is no longer 
netted. 
ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. 
It is intended to publish in this column notes from the astronomical 
observatories and societies, and from amateur astronomers of New Zea¬ 
land. Contributions for this column are therefore invited, and should be 
forwarded to the Government Astronomer, Wellington. 
The mean time used in these notes (unless otherwise stated) is civil 
mean time for the meridian 12h. east of Greenwich, and the hours are 
counted from 0 to 24. Oh., or 24h. = midnight. To find the corresponding 
New Zealand civil mean time subtract 30 minutes; to find the corre¬ 
sponding Greenwich mean time subtract 1 day. 
Phenomena, 1918. 
d. 
h. 
m. 
5 
1 
33 
7 
23 
8 
0 
8 
5 
46 
8 
13 
19 
10 
1 
10 
21 
48 
11 
16 
34 
12 
23 
11 
15 
2 
19 
15 
23 
17 
9 
18 
16 
8 
19 
7 
15 
19 
14 
44 
April. 
Moon, last quarter. 
Mercury greatest heliocentric latitude north. 
Mercury at greatest elongation, 19° 19' E. 
Uranus in conjunction with the moon. Uranus, 5° 34' S. 
Venus in conjunction with the moon. Venus, 3° 14' S. 
Saturn stationary. 
Moon in perigee. 
New moon. 
Mercury in conjunction with the moon. Mercury, 0° 32' S. 
Jupiter in conjunction with the moon. Jupiter, 1° 38' S. 
Neptune stationary. 
Mercury stationary. 
Moon, first quarter. 
Neptune in conjunction with the moon. Neptune, 3° 19' N. 
Saturn in conjunction with the moon. Saturn, 4° 41' N. 
* C. Hedley, Studies on Australian Mollusca, Part xii, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W ., 
vol. 39, pp. 695-755 (see p. 724), 1915. 
