NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
41
FISHES.
The "Goldsinny" or "Corkwing" in Essex Waters,
—In a box of fish specimens sent to the Museum from Bright-
lingsea to-day, I was pleased to find an example of the "Gold-
sinny" or "Goldfinny," Crenilabrus melops. It was probably
caught off the Buxey Sands, the spot frequently worked by the
fisherman, Mr. Welham. The fish was unknown as a local
species to Dr. Laver when he wrote the Mammals and Fishes of
Essex, but he mentions that the late Dr. Bree had described two
specimens taken off the coast (Field, December 1st, 1866, p. 420).
And we gather from a note in Dr. Laver's paper on Essex Fishes
in the Victoria History that Dr. Murie has sent specimens to the
British Museum from the Thames Estuary. It is either very
rare in Essex waters, or is overlooked by the fishermen—and as
it has no food value the latter is the probable explanation.—W.
Cole, March 7th, 1903.
INSECTS.
The "Colorado Beetle" at Tilbury, Essex.—About
the end of May, 1902, Doryphora decemlineata made its unwelcome
re-appearance at Tilbury. In August, 1901, its presence in some
allotments in Tilbury Dock was reported to the Board of Agri-
culture; the beetles had been observed for some time, and in
August they were breeding with great energy. Eggs, larvae in
all stages, and adults, were found on a large patch of potatoes.
In 1902 traces of the destruction were found in several fields in
Tilbury as well as in the allotments. There can be no doubt
that the great vitality of Doryphora in the perfect state renders it
an enemy to be dreaded. The insects have been kept for weeks
without food; have withstood immersion in chloroform, 40 per
cent. formalin and in paraffin for some hours, and apparently
they can float unharmed for days in water. Nothing is easier for
these beetles, which swarm in America, and which have been
seen flying about the streets of New York, to settle upon some
outward bound vessel, and in the case of a pregnant female on
arrival in the Thames, to fly to the potato fields, lay eggs, and so
set up a colony. The climatic conditions of this country are not
unfavourable. The insect, says Riley, is northern rather than
southern in its distribution. A great number of natural enemies
tend to check the increase of the beetle in America. At Tilbury