Sea Shells 
cf New Zealand 
Plate IV 
No. 21 
Plate V 
No. 17 
Plate IV 
No. 13 
suture is one rather deep and broad groove winding spir- 
ally along near the top of the axial ribs, giving them the 
appearance of being crowned with separate tubercles or 
little knobs. The same formation being carried out to the 
top of the spire, lends a turretted effect to the shell. In 
colour it is greyish or pinkish white, and attains a height 
of about an inch and a-half. Exceptionally large specimens 
may be as much as two inches high. 
Found in the South Island only. From Cook Strait to 
Stewart Island. Auckland, Chatham and Campbell Islands, 
COMINELLA VIRGATA (cominella, dim. of comes, a 
companion) ; virgata, striped).—An opaque ash grey or 
light brown spiral univalve with seven or eight rather fine 
raised brownish spiral lines on the body whorl. The colum- 
ella is bright reddish orange. Found in rocky pools at low 
tide. This shell must not be confounded with the Euthria 
linea, in which the spiral stripes are wider and more con- 
spicuous, flatter and more numerous. 
Found from the Bay of Islands to the East Cape. 
Mount Maunagnui. 
MUREX ANGASI var. EOS (murex, a pointed rock; 
Angas, the naturalist; Eos, the goddess of Dawn).—This 
delicate little Murex is a spiral univalve of about three- 
quarters of an inch in length, of rosy coral pink or flesh 
colour, and characterised by three varices disposed at equal 
distances apart and running longitudinally from the apex 
of the shell to the base. These varices are thin and lamel- 
lar, drawn out into hollow spines pointing upwards, of 
which there is one on the shoulder of each whorl. Besides 
these spines, there are also frilly ornamentations lying in the 
angles between the lamellae and the whorls, further streng- 
thening the thin outstanding plates. The whorls are sculp- 
tured with low spiral ribs and whitish polished rounded 
nodules on the shoulders of the whorls, The mouth is 
small, rounded above, angled at the shoulder, and drawn 
out below into a somewhat prolonged and narrow open 
canal, curving at first to the left, and then to the right. 
There is also a well-marked canal at the upper and outer 
angle of the aperture, directed upwards and outwards. This 
shell, which is much prized on account of its beautiful 
sculpturing, elegant shape, and exquisite colouring, is a rare 
species. It has so far only been recorded from the Bay 
2 Islands, and is restricted to a very limited area at that 
place, 
MUREX OCTOGONUS (murex, a pointed rock; octo- 
gonus, eight-sided).—A spiral univalve, sculptured with 
66 
