whole immersed in methylated spirit for a week. The 
animals are preserved, and dry rapidly when removed 
from the spirit. The advantage of this method is that 
they may be kept intact with the animals still in their 
burrows, attached by the beard; being rendered aseptic, 
there is no risk of the specimen becoming offensive. 
Found in the North and South Islands. Narrow Neck, 
Auckland Harbour; Mount Maunganui. 
PECTEN CONVEXUS (peciten, a comb; convex) — 
This Scallop is not at all common, and in size is somewhat 
larger than the little Fan shells. It is distinguished from 
the other species by having five pronounced corrugations 
on each valve, in addition to the numerous small ribs which 
are distributed over the entire surface. The usual colour 
is reddish, purplish, or white mottled with pink. One 
specimen I have is a beautiful apricot colour, and another 
one maize colour. The valves are almost equal in size and 
shape, both being convex, with the right just a trifle fuller 
than the left. In colour the right is always much paler 
of the two. The interior is purple or pinkish in the left 
valve; paler, or in fact almost white, in the right valve. 
The lugs or ears are unequal, the anterior ones being much 
larger than the posterior. In order to determine the right 
valve from the left, hold the open shell in front of you, 
internal surfaces upwards, hinges touching, with the two 
large ears nearest to you; the right valve is in your right 
hand. Observe, also, that the scar for the adductor muscle 
which closes the valves—only one muscle in the case of the 
Scallops—is situated towards the further or posterior end; 
it is nearly circular, and rather large, but only faintly de- 
fined. The margins of the shell are crenated or finely 
notched. It is found among rocks below low-water mark, 
attached by a byssus, but is usually dredged in waters up 
to twenty-five or thirty fathoms. Although the Pecten con- 
vexus has a beard, it does not remain attached to one spot, 
for it has been observed by Captain Bollons to swim about 
in the water quite freely. 
Bay of Islands; Hauraki Gulf; Mount Maunganui ; 
Cook Strait; Stewart Island. 
PECTEN IMPARVICOSTATUS (pecten, a comb; tm- 
parvicostatus, with small ribs).—This small Scallop differs 
from the other pectens in having a striped colour effect. 
The right valve has the principal ribs, ten in number, of 
a pale purplish, almost white colour, with the intervening 
spaces deep purplish brown, alternating with reddish 
brown, The shell is symmetrical, and longer from the 
91 
Plate XI 
No. 3 
Plate XI 
No.5 
Sea Shells 
of New Zealand 
