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grows abundantly the rare fir-cone Boletus, Strobilomyces Strobilaceus, while on its 
mossy banks and promontories are to be found other funguses rare and interesting. 
Think of this, and shake off the scales of your mental obfuscation ! 
At the Castle Bridge on an elm branch a fine Agaricus Plewrotus ulmarius 
was observed and gathered successfully. Though abundant in the parks and 
neighbourhood of London it is rare in Herefordshire, so that we may as well note 
that it is pleasant and said to be edible. We should suspect it would need a power 
of stewing to make it tender. Almost at the entrance of the walks the foragers 
were encountered by a heavy storm of a full hour’s duration, which, however, did 
not stop the hunt or damp the enthusiasm of the hunters. Marasmius fatidus 
gladdened their hearts, however much it might offend their noses, and its sister 
Marasmius erythropus was pleasant to their visual organs. Why will people keep 
sniffing at things unpleasant when they know what to expect? At Downton the 
sweet-scented Lactarius Glyciosmus, Agaricus clitoche odorus and fragrans were at 
hand ; and so, too, in plenty was Ay. (Hebeloma) pyriodorus, which has a strong 
odour of pears beginning to ferment, so that savours more agreeable or less dis- 
agreeable, as the taste may incline, were not wanting. On a charcoal bed—a 
“charking place,” in the woodman’s vernacular—one of the most graceful and 
beautifully coloured forms of the variable Ag. (Omphalia) pyxidatus delighted the 
eyes of the fungologists, lifting away the depressing influence of the rain, which 
was just then at its heaviest. Ordinary mortals may be afraid of rain: a fungo- 
logist has but to retreat under sheltering rock or tree, and wholly forget its impor- 
tunity in the contemplation, as in this case, of the rare Peziza succosa, or the 
peziza-like Solenia ochracea, not to mention Lactarii, Cortinarii, Boleti, and 
Hygrophori growing all around in the utmost profusion and variety. 
After a short halt in the rustic arbour at the Mill (which it was pleasant to 
see at work), to admire the lofty rocks, and to sketch a picturesque and many- 
headed boll of a Wych elm, the way was taken up the highest walks to ‘‘ Renny’s 
Promontory,” a name perhaps not of local significance, yet henceforth never to be 
forgotten in mycologic love. It is a high, moss-covered promontory, thinly studded 
with trees, moist, though well drained, damp, and yet airy, a very paradise for 
funguses. To see them in a favourable season covering the ground here is a sight 
to remember. Rare funguses affect the spot. It was here in 1872 that Mr. Renny 
discovered the brilliant Cortinarius (Dermocybe) cinnabarinus growing in clusters, 
each richer and more dazzling than its fellow, just gathered ; a bright orange ver- 
million in colour with a metallic lustre that defies water colours to imitate. Here, 
too, in the following year Dr. Bull found the Cortinarius Miltinus, equally new 
to the British Flora, though by no means so striking in colour or form. The sea- 
son of 1874 has been so dry and unfavourable that finds were scant on this 
occasion. The Rev. W. Houghton was the first to find C. cinnabarinus, and a ery 
of joy quickly summoned his co-mates to admire its lovely tints. Smaller groups 
were afterwards found, and so the day’s foray was a success. True, Strobilomyces 
strobilaceus was not found, though keenly searched for. It is clear that it does not 
like dry seasons. Dut many other interesting varieties yielded themselves to the 
