MARINE ZOOLOGY 



on the east shore of the Colne just below the 

 mouth of Blake-stone Hole. This tract is 

 kept constantly wet and soft by water oozing 

 out, and the animals are so abundant that 

 several are often found in each spadeful of 

 material. A number of these have been ex- 

 amined by Mr. A. E. Shipley, and though he 

 cannot identify them with any named species 

 he does not like to give them a new specific 

 name. 



2. Priapulus caudatus. 



This occurs in small numbers at most 

 stations along the coast in mud banks left dry 

 at low water. I have specimens with tails 

 one and a half times as long as the body. 

 Occasionally there are two tails. 



VII. ARTHROPODA 

 I. COPEPODA 



A considerable amount of material was 

 collected but had deteriorated too much by 

 long keeping before being properly examined. 

 When the material was fresh I identified the 

 following species with more or less certainty, 

 but probably many others occur in the dis- 

 trict : 



1. Dactylopus titboides. 



2. Dias longirtmis. 



3. Harpacticus c he lifer. 



4. Laophontt curticauda, 



5. longicaudata. 



6. simi/is. 



J. Psrudocalanus elongatut. 

 8. Timor a longicornis. 



II. PANTOPODA (Sea Spiders) 



1. Pycnogonum Httorale (StrOm.). 



An occasional specimen collected at most 

 stations, but it was very abundant in the 

 Crouch at Burnham, living amongst the ten- 

 tacles and on the bodies of the Actinia?, and I 

 think even inside them without apparent in- 

 jury. 



2. Nymphon rubrum (Hoda.). 



A few specimens found in most places, but 

 not so fine or abundant as in the Deben in 

 Suffolk. 



VIII. MOLLUSCA 



On the whole I have paid but little atten- 

 tion to the shells, one reason being that they 

 are not of much interest in connection with 

 my special studies, and another being that it 

 seems to me to be a poor district except for a 

 limited number of species, the individuals of 

 which are extremely abundant. I have often 



been surprised to find so very few species in 

 dredging, and at the great number of dead 

 shells in many places where the living animals 

 arc rare or altogether absent. In some cases 

 this may be due to the extra amount of fresh 

 water at flood time now that the land is better 

 drained, and in others to sewage discharge or 

 to the operations connected with oyster cul- 

 ture. The following list is given mainly to 

 show what are the commonest species, not 

 including those of small size. It might have 

 been made much longer by including dead 

 shells of species which must have lived in the 

 district not many years ago. I mention only 

 those found near the coast alive or very 

 recently dead. The names adopted are those 

 recommended by the Conchological Society. 



I. AMPHINEURA 



1. Craspedochilui onyx (Spengl.). 



2. Acantboc hitei fascicularis (Linn.). 



In the Colne district and probably else- 

 where. 



II. LAMELLIBRANCHIA 



1. Nucula nucleus (Linn.). 

 Dredged off Essex. 



2. Mytilui eJu/is, Linn. 



Common along the coast and largely 

 dredged for manure. 



3. Ostrea edulit, Linn. 



Naturally common, and its culture is the 

 chief industry in some localities. Enormous 

 numbers of dead shells occur where the living 

 animals are seldom, if ever, found, which 

 may have been exposed at the bottom for a 

 very long period ; since, unlike some shells, 

 they decompose very slowly. I often think 

 that many of these dead shells are of more 

 elongated shape than the modem living 

 varieties. These also vary, and those who 

 have paid much attention to the subject can 

 recognize them as coming from particular 

 localities, and how they have been moved 

 from one to another. The large oysters 

 dredged in the North Sea differ greatly from 

 those of the Essex estuaries. The contrast 

 between the comparatively young and well- 

 fed Colchester and Burnham natives, and 

 some of the very old oysters I have occa- 

 sionally dredged from places little, if ever, 

 disturbed is very remarkable. Instead of 

 having large fat animals and thin shells, the 

 animals may be relatively small, and the shell 

 a solid, heavy mass, something like i $ inch in 

 thickness. 



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