28 THE ESSEX NATURALIST OITHONIDAE Oithona helgolandica Clavis Rare. Recorded from a plankton sample taken at the Barrier Wall in December 1962. LICHOMOLGIDAE Mytilicola intestinalis Steuer A common intestinal parasite of Mytilus edulis but also infect- ing oysters. An investigation carried out on the shores of the Blackwater and Colne Estuaries in 1964 showed the parasite to be common and widespread in the Mytilus population. NOTODELPHYIDAE Notodelphys allmani Thorell Frequently found as a commensal with the ascidians, Ascidiella and Ascidia, mostly being attached to the walls of the pharynx. Doropygidae Ascidicola rosea Thorell Found with the last mentioned as a commensal with Ascidiella and Ascidia. Lernaeidae Lernaeenicus sprattae (Sowerby) An external parasite of the Sprat; mostly found attached to the eye. Commonly occurring in Sprat shoals in the winters of 1963 and 1964. See also Harding & Wheeler (1958). Lernaeenicus encrasicola (Turton) Another external parasite of the Sprat but found on parts of the body other than the eyes. Commonly occurring in 1963 and 1964 with the last mentioned. See also Harding & Wheeler (1958). Class CIRRIPEDIA Order Thoracica Balanidae Balanus crenatus Brugiere Very common in the Blackwater and Colne estuaries and off- shore. Mostly occurring below low water mark on shelly and stony bottoms but also on the lower shore. Highest population density recorded from a shelly bottom was 6,000/m2 at station TL.4 (11.5.1960). The species is also recorded as a fouling organisms on anchored ships and in Bradwell Power Station water intake culverts. Balanus perforatus Brugiere Of rare occurrence in the bottom fauna.