40
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
such as Macoma, with the characteristic borings of Natica, were
collected on the Buxey Sand in 1962, suggesting that the species
may have been living in some numbers on the sand banks at that
time.
Order Stenoglossa
MURICIDAE
Trophon muricatus (Montagu)
Shells sometimes recorded in the material taken in grab
samples from the Blackwater.
Nucella lapillus (Linne) Dog-Whelk.
Recorded from the Blackwater in 1928-29 by Orton and Lewis
(1931) and in recent investigations. The species is mainly found
on the lower shore among stones and also among clumps of
mussels. It may be quite numerous in some places. Orton and
Lewis, in their paper, show that Nucella occurred mainly below
low water mark at that time.
Urosalpinx cinerea (Say) American Whelk Tingle
An American species, introduced to the Essex oyster grounds
with imported oysters in the early 1900's. Orton and Lewis (1931)
recorded it as common for the period 1928-29 and noted that it
was hardy to the severity of that winter. In recent years
Urosalpinx has been commonly found on oyster layings in creeks
but is not common in the main part of the Blackwater except
perhaps in the Thirslet area. It is considered to be a major pest
on oyster grounds as it feeds on young oysters.
Ocenebra erinacea (Linne) English Whelk Tingle or Sting-winkle
Orton and Lewis (1931) reported that the species was common
in the Blackwater previous to the winter of 1928-29 but suffered
badly from the low temperatures experienced at that time.
Mistakidis and Hancock (1951) produced evidence of a recovery
of the population, but in the Blackwater this is not very apparent.
Shells are very common on the shores and in bottom samples but
living specimens are rarely found. One living specimen was
obtained in a dredge sample in the Bench Head area (18.9.1961)
and others have been found on the lower shore.
Buccinidae
Neptunea antiqua (Linne) Almond Whelk
Shells are commonly washed up on the beaches of Mersea
Island and at Bradwell, but living specimens can only be caught
in deeper water outside the Blackwater and Colne. Living
specimens and spawn were collected from the Wallet on 4.5.1961.
Buccinum undatum Linne Common Whelk
Common on bottoms of shell, and shell and mud, from Osea
Island seawards, in the Blackwater. It had previously been
recorded by Cole (1888) and Walne (1956). In the recent investi-
gation, maximum numbers of 5-10 per nr of bottom were recorded.