101 



previously been collected during the forays. A quiet walk through the gardens 

 and grounds was duly appreciated as a, finale to the week's engagements, the wea- 

 ther having become very unsettled in the afternoon ; and, to the surprise and 

 satisfaction of the foragers who, under the care of the gardener passed out at an 

 unexpected corner, they found themselves in the streets of Ledbury not far from 

 the President's residence, where dinner was in course of active preparation on 

 their account. 



Even as the season has been somewhat unusual or abnormal in its character, 

 so in the neighbourhood of Hereford there has been an undoubted peculiarity 

 in the fungus flora. The species of Jiusmla, for instance, which are generally 

 exceedingly plentiful both in species and individuals, were comparatively rare. 

 Of the Lactarii also only a few species were observed, and those not very prolific 

 in individuals. Lactarius pubescens was plentiful in one locality only, whilst 

 three or four species so common in previous years were not seen at all. The 

 white-spored Agarics were certainly scarce, except perhaps Agarieus terreus and a 

 few Mycena, whilst the sub-genus Amanita was represented by its noblest ex- 

 ample, A. muscarius, in rather more than an average number, and A. vaginatus 

 by a few scattered specimens, the common A. rtihescens being almost absent, and 

 a few others represented by a single specimen. In like manner there were none 

 of the larger species of the sub-genus Lepiota, not a single A. rachodes, or A. pro- 

 cerus, but the pretty little A. Bucknalli turned up at Ledbury for the first time 

 out of the Bristol district. Even amongst Armillarice the ubiquitous A. melleus 

 was by no means common. 



To make up for these deficiencies it soon became evident that the experiences 

 of the first day were to be repeated in the succeeding excursions, that Cortinarii 

 were the ruling genii of the woods. Never perhaps were the species of Corti- 

 narius in stronger force than this season, and fully compensated by their interest 

 for the absence of other fungi. This was characterised by one of the excursionists 

 as a Cortmarius year, and he was not far wrong in his estimate, as the following 

 enumeration will testify. The first section, called Phhgmacium, which is charac- 

 terized by a glutinous cap and dry stem, contains some of the largest and most 

 attractive species. G. triumphant, so well figured by Mrs. Hussey, was found in 

 one or two places. On the last excursion of the week C. claHcolor several times 

 went into the baskets. O. sebaceui was at home in Haywood Forest, one speci- 

 men over eight inches high. 0. varius was reported from Ledbury. C. cyanopus 

 on one or two occasions. C. anfractus was brought from Shrewsbury by Mr. 

 Phillips, and during the week was met with in two Herefordshire localities. C. 

 multiformis turned up on the last day, as also did C. glaucopus and one solitary 

 specimen of C. calochrous found a place on the table for exhibition, whilst the 

 golden C. fulgens was bagged in two or three localities. 



The next section, Myxacium, with a slimy stem as well as a glutinous pileus, 

 is a much smaller one, and had less numerous representatives. Of course the com- 

 mon C. elatior was collected, together with two or three small specimens of 0. 

 mucifiuus, and one or two of C. Riedm'i, and this completes the list. There is a 

 species called C. salor, which was not present, although it was announced one day. 



