145

Terakehi-not abundant.
Hapuka-plentiful near the entrance in deep water.
Barracouta-plentiful near the entrance.
Conger-eel, occasionally met with.
Ling-about four feet long, and resembling the Eu-
ropean fish of the same name.
Whiting (or resembling the European whiting.)
Kahawi.
Flat fish-Patiki, plentiful in the rivers at the end
of the Pelorus.
Eels, fresh water-common in the rivers and swamps,
and of great size. Some were seen more than four feet
long, and upwards of a foot in circumference at the
largest part. The natives said that they frequently
found them much larger than even this.
Herrings-a small kind, six to ten inches long.
Mullet-not numerous.
Sting-Ray-not very numerous.
Porpoises-occasionally seen a long distance up the
estuary.
Sharks-small size, from four to six feet in length.
Crayfish-at the entrance.
Oysters-a few, and bad tasted.
Mussels-many kinds and numerous.
Cockles-few.
Pipis-few.
Shrimps-few.

A cephalopod mullusc, called the Octopus or Poulpe,
was very plentiful and of great size. It has eight
arms, that may be extended two or three feet in length,
and each arm has upon it upwards of 110 suckers, the
largest about the size of a sixpence, the smallest not
larger than a twopenny silver piece. With this cup-
ping glass apparatus, the creature can adhere to any
surface with the greatest firmness; even smooth, slimy
earfish held with the greatest ease, as we proved on

several occasions by hauling up a fish with one of these
creatures firmly fixed to it, and even after cutting off its
arms, the detached portions remained firmly fixed to its
prey. When wounded in the water, the creature throws
out a large quantity of black fluid (sepia), and escapes
in the darkness caused by its diffusion in the water.

Thousands of medusa, or jelly fish, were floating
about in the water, showing beautiful golden and silver
colours, as the sun's rays were reflected from their va-
rious surfaces and fringes. All of them had four bril-
liant rings in the centre of the umbrella shaped crown,
placed at equal distances from one another.
Star fish of many varieties are numerous on the rocks
at low water.
Lizards-small, brown, and green, were occasionally
seen.

Insects were far from being numerous, excepting the
common house fly, flesh fly, mosquitos, and sand flies,
-these were all abundant enough.
The flesh fly deposited its larve upon all animal
substances, if left exposed for a short time, even the
flags, cloth clothes, and blankets, did not escape.
Wild pigs were plentiful in the bush, and some of
good magnitude. One brought on board weighed up-
wards of two hundred pounds, after the offal had been
removed, and was exceedingly fat and well flavoured..
The tusks of some of the boars were eight inches in
the curve, and exceedingly sharp at their points,-very
dangerous weapons, and capable of inflicting most se-
vere wounds. A native was brought on board with a
wound five inches long, and two deep, across the outer
part of the thigh, inflicted by the tusk of a wounded
boar.

Only two or three minute species of land shells were
found, although search was frequently made for them in
all places.

Printed by WILLIAMSON & WILSON, for the New Zealand Government.