§4 NOTES OF TWO DAYS' TRAWLING AND 



and being withal of gastronomic importance, they shall have first 

 mention. 



The most abundant catches were of the various kinds of flat fish. 

 Plaice {Pleuronedes platessd) and Dab {P. limanda) were exceedingly 

 common, one of the latter being of large size, about thirteen inches 

 in length. We also took two Flounders {P.flesus), and several Brill 

 {Rhombus hvvis). Of the Sole {Solea vulgaris), only three slips 

 came up. 



Some young Dogfish, or "Topers" {Galeus vulgaris); with the 

 empty capsules {^'■pixy-purses'") of the young fry, and a goodly 

 number of Skate {Raia clavata\ but all small " maids." When large 

 they are termed "thornies " or " thornbacks," from the spines on the 

 back, which are very large and sharp. 



We also took three Suckers, "sea snail" {Liparis vulgaris); a 

 few Bull rout {Coitus scorpius) ; the Pipe-fish {Syngnathus acus) ; and 

 one Butterfish or Gunnel {Centro/iotus gunnellus), 5I inches in 

 length. 



Of the Invertebrate forms, I will first mention the Mollusca. 



On the last occasion (E. N., v., pp. 1 49-1 51), twenty-two species 

 were recorded, and of these eleven again occurred, those which were 

 new numbering eighteen. So that we now know forty species in 

 these waters. This result seems very poor ; but conditions were not 

 favourable for obtaining the very small species which must occur, 

 the mesh of the dredge being too large to retain many when caught, 

 and I hope this year we may have an opportunity of trying the 

 dredge with a bunting lining, and a finer cod' to the trawl : but for 

 this we should require calmer weather. 



We were scarcely under weigh, when I asked one of the men to 

 fill some jars with sea water, and the first capture, strangely enough, 

 was two specimens of a brackish-water form, Hydrobia ve?itrosa, 

 which had probably been washed out of a ditch by the high tide. 

 They are seldom, if ever, found in salt water, but always near it ; 

 though not in ponds or ditches usually overflowed by the tide. You 

 will, perhaps, remember how they occurred in thousands in a pond 

 near the Martello Tower, St. Osyth, on our visit there on 7th 

 September last (E. N., v., 259). 



Of the Bivalves not previously recorded, I may mention a dead 

 valve of Anoinia ephippium, the first I have ever met with on the 

 Essex shore. The shell is generally white, with pearly nacre inside. 



I This word was misprinted " cord '' in E. N., v., p. 147, line three from bottom. 



