16 



sesn in oblique light. Its hanging woods and groups of trees, the fine cedars, 

 planes and other ornamental tress of the garden, all met with a share of the ad- 

 miration they deserve — when the whistle sounded, and after a card of grateful 

 apology, 42-fold strong, for the intrusion, had been left, the visitors carried oflE 

 with them very bright recollections — " a joy for ever "—of their pleasant trespass. 

 Following some little distance a tempting glade by the river's side the ascent 

 of the hill was again made for the home journey, and the fungus hunt was re- 

 sumed all the more vigorously for the charming hiatus of the visit to the valley. 

 The buff Hygrophorus pratensis— edible and good — with its odd little associate, H, 

 psiitacintts, and several others were gathered here. This last is said to be 

 edible tos, in spite of its greenish-yellow, untempting aspect — and as the es- 

 culent Funguses have at length come uppermost, it may as well be said at 

 once that many varieties of them were found. A good dish of the " Maned agaric," 

 Coprinus comatus, had already been secured as provision for the feast, and others 

 had still to be gathered. A hunt was made for the "Vegetable beefsteak," 

 Fisiulina hepatica. for it may almost be said of this, as Browning has lately said 

 of the Pomegranate in the Island of Rhodes : — 



"Where'er the red bloom bums 

 I' the dull, dark verdure of the bounteous tree 

 Dethroning in the rosy Isle, the rose 

 You shall find food, drink, odour, aU at once." 



but though some small specimens were found, they were too young to be fit for 

 the table. The spiked mushroom, Hydnum repandum, " Hydnum good as oys- 

 ters" as Dr. Badham says, was found growing in sever.al localities and some 

 fine specimens were gathered, but as this one had already been cooked at the 

 dimners of the Clnb, the caterer passed them by, for the "Red Milk Agaric," 

 Lactarius deliciosus, which is very plentiful this autumn in the situation it de- 

 lights in, the drip of Scotch Firs. Ths Chantarelle, Cantharellus cibarius, was 

 gathered, and very common it has been this year in almost every oakwood of 

 the county. This and Marasmius arcades, the Fairy-ring agaric, or Champig- 

 non, have been extremely abundant all through the summer. If people did but 

 know how strong and excellent the catsup it makes is they would not let it be 

 thus wasted, though from its small size and rather dry nature it takes a deal of 

 gathering to get a supply of this delicious condiment. Then there was Agaricus 

 orcella " vegetable sweet bread," Boletus edidis, Bussida lieterophylla, Agaricus 

 rubescens, Lcpista nuda, and some others of which compassion for the compositor 

 alone forbids the mention at this time. 



Edible Funguses often get into discredit from being eaten when unripe. 

 There is a common saying about the pear, that you should sit up all night to catch 

 the minute it ripens, and if there is a basis of truth in the proverb, with a fruit 

 that takes so many months to reach perfection, one ought to be electrically sensi- 

 tive to the exact moment of maturation of a mushroom, which a few hours will 

 BufiBce to develops. 



An entomologist present noticed the following insects : Vanessa atalanta, 

 and Plusia gamma were careering on the wing, enjoying the Indian summer. 



