Ixii Journal of Proceedimis. 



also with the party, Cryptogamic Botany in all its branches was well 

 represented. 



The section of the Forest searched included the district of High Beach, 

 Great and Little Monk Woods, and the Woods near Theydon Bois. The 

 gatherings were very large, and in the presence of such a band of accom- 

 plished botanists very few species went unnamed. The ladies of the 

 party set out their spoils in open baskets with moss and fern, thereby 

 revealing the wealth of colour and beauty that is to be found in the com- 

 monly despised mushrooms. Many of the baskets would \\e in appearance 

 with the finest bouquets, and they afforded hints for the decoration of 

 rooms at seasons when flowers are not abundant, for an hour's gathering 

 would furnish a collection of brilliantly coloured forms with which an 

 artist might be enra]Dtured. 



Hygrophorus ehurneus was very abundant, a white and sticky species, 

 said to be edible ; a close ally and " consort " of this plant was also 

 frequent in H. cossiis : the latter is much more glutinous, its top is slimy, 

 and the whole plant is rich in the potent odour of the he-goat, or — to 

 those who are not fortunate enough to know this odour — the scent of the 

 larva of the Goat Moth {Cossus ligniperda). The viscid tops of the speci- 

 mens of H. cossu.'i were covered with dead flies, at first probably attracted 

 by the odour and then caught and suffocated by the gluten. Some of the 

 younger members claimed these Fungi as undoubtedly " carnivorous 

 plants " ; they carefully placed them in their baskets, determined (they 

 said) to look for and find pepsine, distended fungus-cells, and digestive 

 cavities ! Another handsome ally is H. chrysodon : this was once or twice 

 met with ; the plant is named " chrysodon " from its fancied resemblance 

 in colour to the beautiful golden-greenish stone named "• chrysolite ^ One 

 gentleman found a vegetable beaf-steak, FistuUna hepatica ; and another 

 botanist, who had gathered one the day before, brought it to the Forest 

 cut up in slices between bread in the form of sandwiches. This was an 

 inveterate fungus-eater, for he even dispensed with mustard, and secured 

 the necessary pungency by the insertion of thin slices of the fiery Lac- 

 tarius piperatus. We cannot all go to such lengths ! One or two speci- 

 mens of the gorgeous vermilion-coloured Cortinarius cinnabarinus were 

 found with many examples of its handsome, but more soberly tinted ally, 

 G. cinnamomeus. Agaricus rubescens was very frequent ; this plant is 

 commonly said to be edible, although Mr. Berkeley cautiously omits any 

 reference to its esculent qualities. Dr. Wharton stated that this plant is 

 not only good for food, but is excellent for its production of a refined and 

 appetising ketchup, not so rich as that pecuHar to the mushroom, but a 

 delicate nepenthe, fit for the gods. The beautiful " consort " of Agaricus 

 ruhescens was present in A. jxintherinus, perhaps as edible as the last, but 

 seldom or never changing to sienna-red when broken or bruised. The 

 golden-yellow edible Chantarelle, Cantharellus cihai'ius, was frequent ; so 

 also was its duller-coloured but more elegant ally, C. tubaformis. 

 Russulas, so called because many of the species are red in colour, were 



