THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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the oyster-beds in the river. Of these, two exceedingly fine varieties of the
beautiful sea-anemone, Bunodes (Tealia) crassicornis, at once attracted attention ;
and the white and orange-coloured specimens of Alcyonium digitatum, or "dead-
man's fingers," with their crowd of translucent extended polypes, each with eight
feathery tentacles. Crawling on the sides of the glass vessels were two specimens
of the Gastropod, Philine aperta, whose delicate shells are concealed beneath the
mantle lobes ; and the little Top-shell, Trochus cinerarius, but both of these had
been recorded in the previous year's excursion (see Essex Naturalist, vol. iv.,
p. 171).
On leaving Ipswich, the walls of the quay were observed to be lined with green
Algae of a filamentous character, probably (Mr. E. M. Holmes suggested) consist-
ing of species of Urospora and Enteromorpha, and possibly (in the darker patches)
of Oscularia, Lyngbya and Protococeus, but neither time nor opportunity permitted
of their examination.
The weather was rather dull and cold as the "Stour" dropped down the river,
under the command of Captain Mills, and it remained so during the greater part
of the day.
The reader is referred to the report of the previous dredging meeting on June
14th, 1850, in the Essex Naturalist (vol. iv., pp. 169-173), for much interesting
information on the natural history of the estuary of the Stour. The methods of
working were the same as on the first visit; but a greater number of large
clear-glass bottles and small aquaria having been provided than on the previous
occasion, the members were enabled to view the various animals brought up with
ease and minuteness. Microscopes and hand lenses were provided for this
purpose. Mr. W. Jolly (the lessee of the Orwell Oyster Fishery) again gave
permission for dredging in his waters, and rendered most valuable assistance.
The first cast of the dredge was made on the Woolverstone Park side of the
river, just beyond the Cat House, and this haul (and subsequent casts both in the
Orwell and Stour) brought up an abundance of the POLYZOAN, Alcyonidium
gelatinosum, or "Barley Sugar," on which were thickly sprinkled young specimens
of a mollusc allied to the periwinkle, Lacuna crassior, with the epidermis of the
shell drawn up into ridges. On the same Polyzoan, and also on the siliceous
sponge, Chalina oculata, were crowds of the small scarlet and white skeleton
CRUSTACEAN, Caprella linearis, both male and female. Other Crustaceans
observed were Nymphon gracilis (in good numbers), Eupagurus bernhardus (in
Buccinum shells), Hyas araneus, Carcinus mamas (abundant, as usual) ; of Pallene
brevirostris Mr. Fitch recorded one specimen, &c.
Of other Polyzoa, some specimens of Bugula avicularia and Membranipora
pilosa were noticed investing the algae ; and on dead shells, species of Eschara
and Lepralia.
A few forms of the Tunicata, or "Sea Squirts," were brought up—Botryllus,
Cynthia and Ascidium ; among the latter, A. intestinalis, with almost transparent
gelatinous tunic, which was fairly abundant, and generally attached to dead
shells of Tapes, &c.
Among the Sea Anemones were many free-swimming Ilyantus scoticus and
specimens of another species that comes nearest to Edwardsia callimorpha, and
another small sage green species with yellow furrows that seems to come near
Gregaria fenestrata ; it was attached to seaweeds, especially Laminaria and Fucus.
The Medusae (Hydrozoa) included Aurelia aurita, and one specimen of
Cydippe pontiformis; and the division Hydromedusae was represented by