54
NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
only just alive, on the sea-wall or saltings by a lad named Nichols. It was
alive when brought to me, but died in the night, it seemed to be starved. .
Perhaps the late rough cold weather caused its death." Dr. Laver identifies
the bird as the Thick-Knee or Norfolk Plover (oedicnemus scolopax). Mr.
Matthams adds that a Thick-knee was brought in several years ago to him,
but that no other person on the Island had ever seen a specimen. [Dr. Laver
has kindly ordered this bird to be stuffed for presentation to the Club's
Museum.—Ed.]
INSECTA.
Gnorimus Nobilis in Epping Forest.—With reference to Mr. Cole's
remark at the meeting of Dec. 17th, 1898, that he once found a specimen of
Gnorimus nobilis in Lord's Bushes, which "had possibly been introduced"
among the roots of imported plants (Essex Naturalist, vol. x., p. 411) it
may be of interest to record that I captured a specimen of this beautiful beetle
at Loughton in 1880, in an open glade in the Forest about two miles north
east of that village. My specimen was captured in full flight on a bright
sunny day ; as the beetle is very active, and flies readily, it is scarcely likely
to be imported in the manner suggested ; and its occurence in two places
some distance apart, presumably at different dates, would point to the con-
clusion that it is indigenous to the Forest. In agility when on its legs, and in
speed when flying, there is as much difference between G. nobilis and its
congener, the common Rose-beetle (Cetonia aurata), as there is between a cart
horse and hunter.—J. O. Braithwaite, Clooneaven, Chingford, Essex.
Slab-shaped Nest of Vespa Germanica.—I have acquired a rather
interesting specimen of a wasps' nest. It comes from the house called, I
think, the "Wellington Inn," near High Beach. It is a slab nearly square,
approximately 15in. by 12in. and about four thick. It is in three layers of
comb, and among the cells are a few fragments of wasps, which may be suffi-
cient to determine the species. The shape of the nest was evidently con-
trolled by its situation—the side of the house, between two posts, I was told.
I shall be happy to present the nest to the Museum.—S. Arthur Sewell,
F.R.H.S , Buckhurst Hill, March 15th, 1899. [Mr. Edward Saunders, F.L.S ,
has kindly given his opinion that the fragments of wasps we sent to him
belonged to the workers of Vespa germanica. The nest is now in the Museum
Mr. Sewell's courtesy.—Ed.]
CRUSTACEA.
Crab carrying an Oyster on its Shell.—Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, F.L.S.,
records the following incident in the Field for December 17th, 1898 :—"I have
received from Mr. A. H. Went, of West Mersea, near Colchester, a very
interesting specimen of a crab bearing on its shell a two-year-old oyster.
These conjoined animals are not merely curious, but they are of interest as
affording some data as to the rate of growth of the two species. The oyster
must have been attached to the crab for two years, during which time the
latter could not have cast its shell, which was 21/2in. wide at the broadest part,
the greatest width of the oyster being 11/2in'. This specimen recalled to my
remembrance an anecdote recorded of a very well-known inspector of fisheries,
who, when talking to the fishermen on the beach, told them that they could
help very much in scientific observations if they chose to do so. When you
catch a small crab in your nets, you throw him over, and that's the end of