NOTES —ORItHNAL AND SEI.KCTKO. 135 



captured in the Colne, at the Ilythe in this town. In many English rivers 

 the capture of a specimen of this fish would not be remarkable ; but here, from 

 its rarity, it may be worth a notice. It was brought to me by its captor to 

 name, as he said he could find no one at the Hythe who knew anything of 

 this strange fish — a sufficient proof that it is very uncommon in this district. — 

 Henry Lavkk, F.L.S., Colchester. 



A Voracious Eel. — On Saturda}-, May 23rd, a large eel was caught just 

 outside the locks at Heybridge Basin by Alfred Clarke. When opened it had no 

 less than nine perch and a rat in its stomach. The eel itself weighed about two- 

 and-a-half pounds. — John Basham, Maldon. 



Coleophora vibicigerella in Essex. — Mr. G. W. Bird reports in the 

 " Entomological Monthly Magazine " for June, the re-occurrence of this insect. 

 " A friend and myself journeyed down to the Essex Salt-marshes on April 27th, with 

 the particular intention of looking for hybernated larvae of Geometra smaragdaria. 

 In this, however, we were not successful, but, oddly enough, the very first plant 

 of Artemisia examined produced the Coleophora^ and about a dozen more were 

 found wiihin a few yards. The insect is exceedingly local, as Mr. Elisha has 

 previously observed, for further careful search during the day proved fruitless. 

 . . . . On the Continent this species is reported to be attached to Artemisia 

 campestm ; possibly a careful search among that plant might produce Coleophora 

 vibicigerella more plentifully than we have it at present from A. maritima." 



Essex Earthworms. — An Appeal. — The Rev. Hilderic Friend, F.L.S.j 

 who has latel}- so successfully studied those neglected, but exceedingly interesting 

 animals, the Earthworms (^Terricolw^ and allied groups, has kindly promised his 

 valuable aid in identifying our Essex species. Mr. Friend writes: — " I have now 

 worked at the worms of Devonshire, Sussex, Notts, Yorkshire, Cumberland, and 

 Westmoreland, S. Scotland, and other parts of the kingdom, and shall be dilighted 

 to add Essex to my list. I have found out some curious facts by this embracing 

 method, and if I can get a few more counties worked up in time, I propose 

 submitting a report to the British Association this year. Of course, I must have 

 material. So far as I am aware, there is no record of Essex worms in existence. 

 If you know of any references I shall be glad to incorporate them in such papers 

 as I might be able to submit to )-ou. Let me indicate where worms may be 

 sought : — 



"(i.) In cultivated ground, gardens, fields, &c. The species found here have 

 usually been ' lumped ' under the aggregate term Limibricus terreslris. 

 They need careful revision. 

 " (2.) In heaps of vegetable mould, old manure, refuse, compost, quitch, and 

 rubbish heaps. 'Brandlings' (Z. olidus^ Hoff.), 'Gilt-tail' worms, &c., 

 are found here. 

 "(3.) In woods, damp spots under trees, and by hedgerows generally — these 



are all good hunting grounds. 

 *' (4.) P^specially by streams and brooks and all kinds of water, fresh or 

 stagnant, running or still, the stones, tufts of grass, each to a depth of ten 

 or twelve inches, should be examined. In the roots of grass, the ' Square- 

 tail worm ' (^Allurus tetrcvdriis, Eisen) is mostly found. 

 " (5.) Under droppings, stones, logs, decaying trees, in fields and neglected 



places, &c. 

 " Put the worms alive and uninjured into a tin box. Wash some soft moss, 



