Page:VCH Hertfordshire 1.djvu/228

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A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE from that of their hosts. Couch, in his History of the Fishes of the British Islands, vol. iv. p. 38, when discussing the lake bream, Cyprinus (or Abramis) brama, Linn., says, ' The Book of St. Albans is a further witness that "the breame " was accounted "a noble fysshe and a deyntous," for the taking of which particular directions were given/ In the same volume, p. 1 57, he says of the pike, Esox lucius, Linn., ' That it was known and greatly valued in England, at a time far preceding that in which Leonard Massel is reported to have introduced it, may be seen in the Book of St. Albans? Now the bream supports two remarkable parasites, one belonging to the family Lernaeidae, the other to the family Lernaeopodida?. The former is named Lern<zocera cyprinacea (Linn.). In the older and fixed condition the females lose all likeness to the normal appearance of the Copepoda, becoming long and worm-like, without limbs, and the head bearing horn-like processes. The maxillipeds are short. 1 The other species, Tracheliastes maculattts, Kollar, is remarkable by having its maxillipeds long and arm-like, united at the ends, and pro- vided with an organ of attachment. 2 On the gills of the pike Ergasilus sieboldii, von Nordmann, makes itself at home. This species has the second antenna? very long and arm-like, but it is much less anomalous in its general appearance than the two preceding forms. 3 It may be said that only a beginning has yet been made in describ- ing the crustaceans of Hertfordshire, but it is clear, from those which have been brought to light by a very few observers, that several interest- ing species are here at the disposal of the student, and that diligent research is likely to be rather richly rewarded. 1 Zaddach, Synofseos Crustaceorum Pruisicorum Pndromus, p. 39 ; Bassett-Smith, Proe. Zool. Soc. t p 480 (London, 1899).

  • Zaddach, loc. cit. ; Bassett-Smith, he. cit. p. 521.

8 Zaddach, Inc. cit. ; Bassett-Smith, he. cit. p. 443. 1 88