244 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



Hydractinia echmata (on various shells), Sertularia abietina, Hydralhnannia 

 falcata, and Thuiaria thiiia. 



The ECHINODEKMATA were represented by 6". papposa, and Ophiothrix 

 (" brittle-star "). 



Worms. Good specimens of Sabella penicillus^ in their leathery tubes, were 

 brought up, and in their new abode, in the bottles and aquaria, soon displayed the 

 delicate mottled plumes, as though they sought for admiration. 



On an old oyster shell was a tube of Terebella conchihga, with its rough 

 exterior composed of broken fragments of shells and stones, but the annelid- 

 builder was no longer within. 



On the Laminaria, a host of the tiny spiral calcareous tubes (which simulate 

 a true shell) occurred, the shelter of the delicate plumed Spirorbis nautiloides. 



Many other species of Marine Worms of the genera Phyliodoce, Nereis, 

 Po'ynof, Nepht/iys, &c., were taken, and it is hoped that they may be subsequently 

 worked out. 



Sponges. Some grand specimens of Grantia compressa and G. ciliata (of the 

 former two very large ones) were brought to the surface, which were pronounced 

 by Dr. Taylor and Mr. Crouch to be the largest they had ever seen. One of 

 these measured 7 inches in length, and z\ inches in breadth, and is prettily lobed. 

 Chalini oculata, and Halkhondria panicea (" The Crumb of Bread Sponge ") were 

 abundant, as on the previous occasion ; and a number of the small but very 

 interesting Sycon ciliatus, with its tri-radiate calcareous spicules around the 

 osculae. The largest one taken is barely half-an-inch long. 



MOLLUSCA. A larger number were captured than on the previous trip,' when 

 only sixteen species were recorded. These (with two exceptions — Saxicava and 

 Eolis) were again taken, and Mr. Crouch has now been enabled to add twenty- 

 one to the list, making in all thirty-seven species. Of these, nine were in the 

 River Stour, and in the following list Mr. Crouch has detailed these and marked 

 those which had occurred in 1890. 



A large specimen (dead) of the northern shell Fusus norvegicus was dredged 

 up ; but this cannot be taken as indigenous, as they have been brought here at 

 different times v\ith oyster spat from the North Sea, the Dogger Bank, &c. 



LIST OF MOLLUSCA OBSERVED IN THE ORWELL AND STOUR 



ESTUARIES. 



{Species marked * occurred also in 1890.) 

 Bivalve Shells — Pelecvpoda. 

 * Ostt ea edui'is. 

 * Pecteti varius .... Two dead shells. 



* Mytihis edulis 

 Modiolaria marmorata . 

 Nttcula nitida 



* ,, nucleus 

 Lucina bar ea lis 

 Cardium exiguum 



* „ edule 



* Tapes piillastra 



,, decussatus . 

 Tellina balthica (Stour) 



Abundant. 

 Four alive. 

 A few. 

 A few. 



One valve, young. 

 A quantity. 

 Mostly dead. 

 Mostly dead. 

 Several dead. 

 One dead valve. 



See Essex Nat., vol. iv. 



