Sea Shells | 
of New Zealand 
Plate IT 
No 22 
Plate IT 
No. 21 
Kahawai. Some old shells, not necessarily of large size, 
are very much thicker than usual, the interior showing 
irregular lumps and nodes of green pearl, while the row 
of holes diminishes in number, some having only three 
holes, instead of the usual seven, and occasionally an ancient 
individual will be seen with only one hole with which to 
carry on the enfeebled functions of his declining days, 
It is about five inches in length, and may attain to as 
much as six or seven inches. Found avout a foct or so 
below low-water mark on rocks, usually in sheitered posi- 
tions. North and South Islands; Mount Maunganui, 
HALIOTIS AUSTRALIS (halios, marine; otus, the 
ear; Australis, southern) —In some respects this shell is 
a prettier one than the Pawa. On the outside are corru- 
gations which are always well marked. They radiate from 
the apex to the row of holes, but do not extend beyond. 
Between the row of holes and the rim of the shell are 
several, three or four, strongly-marked ribs, also two on 
the lip, one on the outer side and one on the inner, The 
interior is very iridescent and silvery, red, blue and green 
in colour, the red or pink being the most noticeable; the 
fact of the surface being sculptured by the corrugations, 
crossed by spiral cords, or rather their impressions from 
the outside, adds considerably to the play of colours. It 
is about half the size of the Pawa, as a rule. The animal 
has a yellow foot, in distinction to the black foot of the 
Pawa, by means of which it attaches itself to rocks, and 
is enabled to move its quarters. 
Found throughout New Zealand; Mount Maunganui. 
HALIOTIS VIRGINEA (halios, marine; otus, the 
ear; virgo, the Virgin).—In this species of Sea Ear the 
corrugations of the shell are by no means conspicuous, and 
are limited to the upper half. It is also rather thin, nar- 
rower and longer in comparison to the H. Australis, and 
the apex is almost terminal—that is to say, quite close up 
to the end of the shell, and the dark brown outside is 
marked with more or less distinct V-shaped streaks of 
green, the initial letter or sign of the Virgin. The sculp- 
ture consists of a number of spiral ribs, small and well 
defined, of which there are about forty between the apex 
and the row of holes. In consequence of the absence of 
large corrugations, the interior lacks the chequered appear- 
ance of the H, Australis, though the colouring is much the 
same, more silvery and delicate in tone, perhaps, with a 
preponderance of pink. About two or three inches in 
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