1869.] BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY, 95 



resemblance, when out of flower, to the flax of commerce ; Dr. 

 Prior, however, favours a difierent derivation. — Abridged from 

 Science Gossip. 



The Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club introduced a 

 novelty into its proceedings by devoting a day to explore the 

 Fungi of the district where the Club meets, and after a critical 

 examination of the species collected, closing its meeting by a 

 feast, the principal feature of which was the edible species which 

 were the spoil of the days ' foray. ' Such excursions will 

 certainly bring into notice many species of a tribe of plants which 

 are not only extremely fugacious, but also very enigmatical in 

 their appearance. They will also overcome popular prejudices 

 against a wholesome and nutritious source of food almost entirely 

 overlooked, and introduce additional valuable species to those 

 who already have found out their virtues, as will appear from 

 the report of the dinner wliich follows, and for which, as well as 

 that of the excursion, we are indebted to the kindness of Dr. 

 Bull. 



The members met at the Mitre Hotel, at 9 o'clock, Friday, 

 October 9, 1868, and after transacting the ordinary business of 

 the Club, they set out for Holme Lacy Park, accompanied by 

 Mr. Edwin Lees, F.L.S., and Mr. W. G-. Smith, F.L.S. Leaving 

 their conveyance, and entering the grounds of Sir E. L. S. S. 

 Stanhope, a beautiful group of the maned Agaric (Goprinus 

 coniatus) attracted attention. It took almost the form or' a 

 circle, though not one of those that usually do so. It is very 

 common, and as interesting and handsome in appearance as it is 

 good to eat, if people did but know it. The pretty crested 

 Agaric, (Agaricus cristatus,) also edible, and A. vulgaris, were 

 next gathered, and on a bank under Scotch fir-trees several 

 specimens of the not very common Boletus granulatus were 

 found, and, as a matter of course, some bunches of the common 

 poisonous Agaricus fascicularis. A flower-bed in the garden 

 had a fine crop of A. infundibuliformis in it, and a cluster of 

 Boletus subtomentosus was gathered below the terrace walk. 

 This Boletus was also seen many times during the day. 



The Club had a part of their dinner to procure in the pjirk, 

 not in the shape of venison from the deer, but as vegetable 

 beef-steaks from the trees. Several specimens of Fistulina 

 hepatica, the ' liver fungus, ' or J vegetable beef-steak, ' as it 



