TELLINA SPENCERI (‘ellina, Greek name for a kind 
of mussel; C. Spencer, the conchologist)—A thin, trans- 
lucent bivalve, elongated and flat, with the posterior end 
drawn out into a narrow point and showing a very well- 
marked fold descending from the beaks, which are situated 
almost in the middle of the dorsal margin. The anterior 
end is semi-circular. In length it is a trifle under two 
inches, and about one inch from the dorsal to the ventral 
border, so its comparatively narrow and elongated shape 
causes it to be readily distinguished from any other Tulip 
shell. It is rather rare. 
Akaroa Harbour; New Brighton; Mount Maunganui; 
Hicks Bay; Mercury Bay; Opotiki. 
LEPTOMYA LINTEA (lepfios, thin; mya, a mussel; 
lintea, from linum, flax).—A thin white semi-transparent, 
somewhat oval bivalve, about an inch long. At one time, 
from its general appearance, it was described as one of the 
Tellinidz, but now it is placed in a separate genus. It is more 
swelled out in the middle of the valves, and has the anterior 
end rounded and the posterior slightly angled. The most 
characteristic features are the almost central position of 
the beaks, and the sculpturing, which takes the form of 
fine concentric striations crossed at right angles by fine 
radiate striations. This mode of sculpture accounts for 
one of its synonyms, Tellina decussata—really an appropri- 
ate name, so far as the specific one is concerned. 
Hauraki Gulf; Manukau Harbour; Mount Maunga- 
nui; Petone; Banks Peninsula; Stewart Island. 
MESODESMA AUSTRALE (meso, middle; desma, a 
ligament; Australe, southern).—One of the two Maori 
Pipis. A rather long, oval yellowish bivalve with a heavy, 
thick shell. The epidermis is thin and horn-coloured, ex- 
tending a little beyond the free edge of the margins. A 
trifle wider at the posterior end, and evenly rounded; the 
anterior end also rounded, but slightly, though noticeably, 
smaller. The beaks are small, and situated about the middle 
of the dorsal margin. The sculpture consists of fine con- 
centric striations somewhat coarser at the posterior end. 
About two and a-half inches to three inches long. Found 
on sandy flats between high and low-water marks. 
Mount Maunganui; Matakana Island; Chatham Island. 
MESODESMA SUBTRIANGULATUM (meso, middle; 
desma, a ligament; subtriangulatum, almost triangular) — 
A strong, thick, solidly-built bivalve of a fairly smooth 
greyish-white exterior, concentrically striated. The pos- 
terior end is rather straight, and forms an obtuse angle 
99 
Plate XI 
No. 12 
Plate IX 
No.7 
Plate XII 
No. 11 
Plate XII 
No. 13 
Sea Shells 
of New Zealand 
