214
NOTE ON HYDROBIA JENKINSI.
the River Roding; and the waste water from the mills is poured out
into the creek.
The shell, resembling those of Hydrobia from New Zealand and
Tasmania, gave me the idea that it might have been brought in bales
of New Zealand hemp, Phormium tenax, which is largely imported
from that colony, but spite of all endeavours I have not been able
to trace that this, or any other likely material, has been used in
manufacture anywhere in the district.
The species having also been found on the other side of the
Thames, at Plumstead, would rather tend against this hypothesis;
but it certainly does appear strange that such a well-defined species
should have hitherto escaped observation.
WALTER CROUCH.
Great Bustard in Essex.—In the "Essex County Chronicle" of December
19th is the following record : "The other day, on Bridge Wick Farm, William
Dines, bailiff to Mr. Robert Page, shot a Great Bustard. The bird, which weighed
8 lbs. 5 ozs., was in fine condition. It is now with Messrs. Ashmead and Co., of
35, Bishopsgate Street Without, for preservation." [We had the pleasure of seeing
this specimen at Ashmead's in company with Mr. Walter Crouch. It appears to
have been a young bird.—Ed.]
An Otter at Chappell.—In the "Essex County Chronicle" of January 23rd
it is recorded that Mr. J, S. Goodey, of Broom House, "shot a fine Otter a few
days ago [on the banks of the Colne ? ]. It measured forty-nine inches from the
nose to the pole and weighed twenty pounds. The same gentleman shot a Sea-
gull, and found in its mouth a live eel, which, on being put into the water, soon
recovered its vitality."
Chelmsford Churchyard in the Days of Queen Elizabeth.—Mr. R. H.
Browne writes (July 15th, 1890) : "Now that the Churchyard looks so neat and
pretty under the loving care of the 'goodman' Parmenter, it will doubtless
interest your readers to learn what was its condition three centuries ago:
'Wardens Accounts 1584 June 18—Itm Receyved of Willm Pamplyn for a yeares
rent, for the use of the Churchard, for settyng his "crotchys" (crutches or trestles)
and layeing hys woode, and workyng in yt—due at Easter last past — viijd.
(eightpence). 1585—Itm payd to Den Parker and Harry Strowde (a cople of
sobre men) for removyng ye fylthye dunghyll in the "pyckyll" (pightill, a small
field or enclosure in which the plays used to be performed) side, from the pale of
the Churchyard, bycawse the hoggs came over on yt————vjd. (sixpence).' It
must be remembered that there were no tombstones in the yard at that time."