NATURAL HISTORY. 
417 
is chiefly found near the North Cape; it is there abundant 
amongst the flax plants. This fine shell is of a dead chocolate 
color, with either a white or bright orange interior; it is nearly 
four inches long. The bulimus fibratus, is said to abound on 
the three kings. 
Fam. Mesodesmidce. — Tipi. —This is more abundant, and 
larger in the north, occasionally black pearls of considerable 
size are found in them. 
Fam. Mytilidce. — Kuku, (mussel,) is very abundant in the 
north of the island, where it is frequently found ten inches 
long; this is called kuharu. In the south, one is found with 
a thick bright green periostraca, and a reddish color outside ; 
another with a thin periostraca, and a tuft of a kind of flustra 
springing from the upper shell. The smallest kind is called 
kukupara. The mussel of the Middle Island is striated. 
Fam. Unionidece. — Karo,kakahi. —There are several distinct 
varieties of the unio; one found at the Waimate, Bay of 
Islands, is remarkable for its flatness ; another at Taupo is 
short and round, with a very dark periostraca; another, which 
is common in the south, is long, narrow, and indented in the 
centre, with a thick shell; but, by far the most beautiful 
variety of this shell is found in the Lake Waikari; it has a 
clear bright yellowish green periostraca, and is of an oval form, 
about three inches in length. 
Fam. Pimiidce. — Kokota (pinna Zelandica ). This shell is 
nearly a foot long ; part of the inside is of a purple pearly 
lustre ; it is extremely fragile, and seldom obtained perfect. 
Fam. Pectinidce .— Piwara, kuakua, the largest kind is 
eaten; some of the smaller are very beautiful. One is of a 
bright yellow; another of an equally bright red color. 
Fam. Ostreidce. —( Tio ,) ostrcea, the rock oyster, is the cocks¬ 
comb, and is identical with the Australian. If taken from 
below the low water mark, it is extremely good, and far 
superior to the mud oyster, which is generally large, and has 
a strong taste. 
Fam. Terebratulidce. —A large smooth ierebratula is found 
in Cook’s Straits. Another striated one, ( terebratula recurva,) 
and a smaller smooth one, ( terebratula savguinea,) of a bright 
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