145 
lusty honey bee and a spider, who had boldly taken the bee’s head in his jaws in 
such an artistic manner (secundum artem—not South Kensington Art!) that his 
victim was unable either to defend or liberate itself. The mycologists now came 
upon a heap of dead leaves, which were as attentively examined and raked 
over as if they expected to come upon jewels of gold as in the fable. They were 
rewarded by finding Stemonitis ovata, P. and upon an adjoining stump, Reticularia 
umbrina, Fr. The remainder of the party now came up, bringing with them fine 
specimens of Orthalium vaporarium (Fr.). and lead the way to the wood walk. 
On the road Mr. Vize espied Synchytrium Taraxaci, De Bury, a species but 
recently added to our British Flora, which glows upon the living leaves of Tarax- 
acum: shortly afterwards, cidium viole, Schum, de. ranunculacearum D.C., 
Urocystis pompholygodes, Schlect. on Wood Anemone, Uromyces ficaric, Lib. 
and Peronospora pygmea, Ung. werediscovered. Ona heap of half dry clay were 
observed numerous colonies of a brilliant orange Peziza, P. Subhirsuta, Schum., 
one of the Humaria group. Specimens of this were eagerly gathered for a forth- 
coming number of Eivellacei Britannici, in which publication doubtless they will 
be distributed to various parts of the European Continent. An old half dead Privet 
Bush next arrested the party, under which was found a specimen of Peziza Acetabu- 
lum, Linn., a species when well grown that bears considerable resemblance 
to afont. Its cup measuring about two inches across, of a sombre brown hue," is 
supported on a peculiar ribbed and lacunose white stem. The ribs branch at the 
top, and ramify upon the exterior of the cup, forming reticulations upon it. 
“This gives it,” as Mr. Berkely observes, ‘‘the appearance of a cluster of pillars 
supporting a font with fret work between them.” (Eng. Flora, vol. v., p. 187). 
Within a few inches of this were several specimens of the beautiful Peziza livida, 
Schum. To the Privet Bush itself, however, the Mycologists next turned their 
attention, and were quickly rewarded by finding Tympanis, ligustri, Tue. This 
being a fungus of somewhat rare occurrence, two gentlemen proceeded to take a 
“ood supply.” For this purpose the twigs were cut into pieces about 18 inches 
in length, and tied by a cord into neat little faggots, which were carried with 
great care during the rest of the day. A few yards further a dead bush of Rosa 
canina furnished specimens of Pezizw rose, Pors., growing upon a bright brown 
tomentose subiculum and also Hysterium augustatum, A. & 8. Close by this rose 
bush was an oak stump covered with Caliciwm curtum, a very striking looking 
little lichen. But by far the richest treasures of the day were yet to be found. 
In a hollow, and upon an eminence, under the shade of some fine oaks, within an 
area of some 60 or 80 yards, the remaining time was spent : and here were gathered 
some of the rarest and most interesting Pezize our Flora contains, as well as 
several other species. The first find of any importance was Polyporus rutilans, 
Fr. on an oak branch. This plant is interesting on account of the rich carmine 
tint it assumes when treated with caustic potash—its natural colour being 
“‘tawny cinnamon.” ‘There is an excellent figure of it in Mycological Illustra- 
tions, t. 45, as well as of some ruby crystals of unknown composition which have 
been obtained from it. All fungologists know the vivid green which oak branches 
are sometimes stained by the mycelium of an Helotium: this is common enough 
