Journal of ProceedbKjs, Ixvii 



most of the largest families of British Mosses, as well as some type speci- 

 mens, which were on exhibition, and which are now deposited in the 

 Museum of the Club. He also exhibited specimens demonstrating the 

 principal groups of British Lichens, and explained the leading charac- 

 teristics of each. He expressed himself as being somewhat disappointed 

 with the lichens he had mot with in that day's excursion, and believed 

 that those who wished to explore the Lichen Flora of the county must go 

 farther afield. A number of rare lichens had been found by Mr. E. G. 

 Varenne, in the neighbourhood of Kelvedon, and he felt sure that a very 

 good Hst might be made out if Essex were systematically searched. So 

 far as his experience went it was of little use to look for lichens within 

 twenty miles of London. The immense volumes of smoke sent up by the 

 great city seemed to influence the atmosphere (probably being carried by 

 the prevaihng winds) to that distance. The existence of lichens in a 

 healthy state on trees indicated a pure moist air. Lichens also liked wind 

 and light, consequently the trees on the outskirts of woods were generally 

 better clothed with them than those in the interior. These facts seemed 

 to militate against the Algal-Fungus (or Schwendenerian) theory of 

 lichens ; since Fungi as a rule shun the light, and moreover they are with 

 few exceptions ephemeral plants, while lichens are of very slow growth 

 and endure for many years. Fungi might be noticed in abundance in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of London, but lichens could not be found in a 

 perfect or healthy condition within many miles of that city. It was true 

 that Leeanora galacUna might be found on Kew Bridge or on walls in the 

 Caledonian Koad ; but it speedily disappeared and became replaced by 

 mosses. It was a remarkable fact that hardly any lichenologists believed 

 in the Schwendenerian hypothesis, although it was accepted by several 

 vegetable physiologists of high repute. It was very instructive to observe 

 the stages in the growth of lichens in the course of a walk from London 

 towards the country. First the gonidial (or algal ? ) state was met with 

 on trees, and then evidently the same plant showed an imperfect thallus, 

 and at last the perfect thallus and the fructification were met with at a 

 sufficient distance from town. If the lichen be a compound of fungus 

 and alga, it is the alga that appears nearest to London, and not, as might 

 be supposed, the fungus. Mr. Holmes had observed this development in 

 the case of Lecidea canencem in the course of a walk from Chislehurst to 

 Chelsfield. But although the list of lichens in Epping Forest was certain 

 to be a meagre one, the Moss Flora would probably well repay examination, 

 judging from the specimens met with during the day. 



The party then adjourned to the exhibition room, where an hour or so 

 was agreeably and instructively spent in examining and determining the 

 large number of Fungi there displayed. Part of the gigantic Sparaxsis 

 had mysteriously disappeared {vide ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' ), but enough 

 remained to allow many mycologists to carry ofi slices as mementos of 

 our Fungus Foray of 1H81. 



