187 



are very diversified and beautiful on all sides, and round back again by that 

 beautiful walk called Price's walk— from its baving been laid out by Sir Uvedale 

 Price — a walk that takes you past such a series of noble, picturesque old oaks 

 that can seldom be met with. They are at once the glory of Hobn Lacy and 

 the pride of the county, and to all lovers of forest scenery the memory of a 

 visit to Price's walk is an abiding pleasure. 



3Iais revenons a nos " mouccrons." Numerous other agarics were gathered 

 in this route. There was the pretty bright yellow Boletus degam, which may 

 be eaten if you please ; the Afjaricus fusipcs, good, when cooked, in many 

 ways ; immense clusters of A. meUeus, beginning to decay ; the B'jffrophorus 

 pratensis; the ff. virgineus; the H. niveus; the H. chuvniis; the elegant H. 

 chrysodon ; and the rare H. califptrrpformis, so rare that it has never yet 

 been figured ; and the little paroquet agaric, with its greenish stems, the H. 

 sittacimis, all edible. Tlieir congeners, however, the beautiful scarlet-topped 

 Hygropjhorus coccincus ; the closely-allied H. miniatus ; the yellow and rare jy. 

 cerasinus; and the strong-scented H. cosstts are all poisonous. So, too, is the 

 beautiful green Agaricus ccruginosus, with the pretty white spots from its 

 flocculent veil. Then there was the Pohjporus suaveolens, and the P. ulmarius ; 

 the Agaricus apipcndiculatus ; the pale blue A. pturus, and the pretty A. 

 (Ltpiota) granulata, both edible, if you wish, and can find enough of them; 

 the brilliant orange A. spcclahiUs; the poisonous incfariws tvrpis ; and, lastly, 

 numerous rings and patches of one of the very best of all edible agarics, the 

 fairy-ring champignon 3farasmius orcades, which were abundant enough on 

 the lower grounds. 



Munching sweet chestnuts picked up from beneath the trees on the hill — 

 and so abundant and well filled were they from the brilliant summer we have 

 had, that every prickly seed-vessel had its ripened kernels, and in many were 

 three nuts of very good si/e — the Club passed the pond with the tame black 

 swans upon it, and found the coach at the entrance of the park. 



Having sufficiently beaten the umbrageous presei-res of Holme Lacey, and 

 carried off piles of vegetable beef-steaks, one grand specimen of which would, 

 with accessories of Hydnum for oyster sauce, have made a dish enough for 

 a dozen aldermen, the retreat was sounded, the caniages remounted, and a 

 move made by the bridge over the Wye through Fownhope to Caplar Hill and 

 Camp. Suddenly the coach pulled up before reaching the bridge. The Presi- 

 dent thought he saw the oyster agaric A. nstreatus on a gate post. It was 

 only a Polyporut squamosus, however, — good for making razor strops — so the 

 journey was quickly resumed. Hanging gi-oves cover the sides of Caplar, but 

 its flat summit atiU remains as greensward, and bare as when left by the 

 rude warriors who once defended the deep fosse that encompasses it. As 

 was written by Shtnstone of a somewhat similar fortified billj — 



" 'Twas on those heights, by Roman hosts annoy'd. 

 Fought our bold fathers ; rustic, unrefined ; 

 Freedom's plain sons, in martial cares employ'd, 

 They ting'd their bodies, but unmask'd their mind." 



