TOHEROAS AND TOIMANGAS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1820, 30 April 1918, Page 1

TOHEROAS AND TOIMANGAS.

In one of his recently published noles, Mr J. Drummond thus refers to the (ohcroa: —“A Maori told Mr W. Best, of Otaki, that a large shellfish found on the beach there, and called toimanga, is identical with the toheroa which is very plentiful on the west coast of the North Island. The two species, however, are quite distinct. The toheroa ranks in conchological literature as Mcsodesma ventricosum, and the toimanga as Mectra elongata. The toheroa is much more plentiful than the toimanga. It is sometimes offered for sale in Auckland fish shops, but it does not seem to have been brought under public notice in other centres. Many people regard if as a. great delicacy. The toimanga probably would lie as acceptable as (he (ohe-, roa if it was in sufficient quantities to attract commercial attention. Mr Best stales that the toimanga, when it wishes to change its place, comes up out of the sand at a time when the fide begins to come in. It is carried along in the current until the tide turns. If there up-ends, and disappears once more in the sand. “These shell-fish,” Mr Best says, “can work their way down into the sand at a surprising rate. If one is dug out; and placed on the surface it will be out of sight in two or throe minutes. Sharp work with a spade is required to overtake them. My first experience with toimangas was a failure. I had no kit to put them in, and they wont down faster than I could get them out.” These shellfish burrow into the sand by their foot, a plough-shaped organ, which in them is very highly developed.