DESCRIPTION BY THE ARTIST OF THE WOOLHOPE MENU. 



For such readers as may not be so deeply versed in fungi as the Members 

 of the Woolhope Chib, appended is a brief explanation of the allusions to be 

 found in the pictorial border of the Menu card. Beginning at the top, the 

 pleasant faces seen in the "edible" fungi, and the dolorous mementos manifest in 

 the "poisonous" ones, explain themselves. The former are suitable for frying, and 

 " Fries " is the greatest living authority on fungi ; the latter cause unpleasant 

 symptoms, and pain us — "Panus" is a genus of fungi; the pill-box, pill, and 

 medicine bottle, are represented by the genus of fungi, named "Pil-o-bolus." Mr. 

 Berkeley, in the top centre, is being attacked by a starry puff-ball (a species of 

 vegetable octopus), and his exclamation of affright naturally takes the form of 

 another genus of fungi, named "Odontia. " It will be observed that Mr. Berkeley, 

 has let fall his Outlines of Futi-fiolmjy. The bottle of "Currey" on the left, 

 immortalises Mr. Frederick Currey, the famous fungologist. "Kneiffia," under- 

 neath, is a genus of fungi, and "Forkia" is a genus shortly to be established. The 

 cuneiform iusci'iption indicates the character of the fungoid octopus, as well as the 

 Colorado beetle at Hereford. The porcine quadruped on the left, points to Dr. 

 Robert Hogg, who has published a book on fungi, and the inscription, "NonSow," 

 indicates that he is not to be confounded with Sowerby. The umbrella handle and 

 great knife on the left always appear at the Hereford Meetings ; they belong to 

 Mr. 0. B. Plowright, the famous surgeon and fungologist of King's Lynn. The 

 wine bottle bears the name of renowned wine merchants who supply so many 

 fungus-eaters with their (as pronounced after dinner) " Sphasria Champign." 

 "Spha;ria" is an immense genus of fungi, and "Champign" is Champignon 

 with its tail off. On the right, we have Dr. Bull, the physician, of Hereford, 

 supporting " Cornu " (Latin for Dr. Bull's Horn of Plenty). M. Max Cornu, of 

 Paris, is one of the highest living authorities on fungi, and was a guest at 

 Hereford. The chains and ropes ornamenting the bovine nose, indicate the power 

 and irrepressible energy of Dr. Bull. Leveille is the name of a great fungus 

 author, and refers, at the same time, to the "veal" which, at an early period, 

 clothes the bones of all oxen. "Magnus" refers to Dr. Magnus, of Berlin, the 

 fungologist. The greatness of this author's name has expelled the cork from the 

 bottle to the knife blade above. "Badham," on the dried pig's leg, refers to Dr. 

 Badham, who wrote Esculent Funguses of England; whilst the mole hanging head 

 downwards indicates the miserable condition of Mr. Lees' "molar theory," which 

 referred the formation of fairy-rings to the underground gyrations of the mole. 

 " Hygrophorus " (the water-bearer) is the name of a large genus of watery fungi, 

 and the " Myxomycetes " are a large group of fungi now attracting peculiar atten- 

 tion. "Phallus" is a genus of fungi, which does service here in indicating that 

 there is no fallac-y as to the quality of the wine consumed. Some fungi bear 

 special corkscrew-like springs for use in dispersing the spores ; the springs are 

 named "elaters," therefore, the corkscrew figured, is, in more senses than one, an 

 "elater." The bottle of cider on the left, and "Agaricus cider-is "are synony- 

 mous; and "Du Port," on the right, is the name of an excellent fungoid Canon, 

 from Norfolk, who attends the Hereford Meetings. Arriving now at the bottom, 

 we have " Tode," a writer on mushrooms, together with a figure of "Boletus 

 edulis," beheaded. Hussey, Broome, Cooke, and Curtis, are all renowned fungolo- 

 gists. Hussey and Cooke are in conflict, the latter has just thrown a rolling-pin 

 (Clavaria — a genus of fungi) at the latter, and is now in the act of discharging a 

 jjasiu of batter (Batarrea — another genus of fungi) at her opponent. The cook's 

 name is Psalliota, a suli-genus of fungi ; the hussy's name, Polyporus, a large 

 genus of the same class of plants. C.E.B., M.A., on the hussy's weapon, point to 

 the name and degree of Mr. Broome, the fungologist. "Sparassis" is an important 

 genus of fungi, which is here hinting to the combatants how to proceed when their 

 artificial weapons are no longer available. " Orucibulum " is the name of a large 

 genus of fungi, and means a saucepan ; the "Batch," inside, is the name of a great 

 fungus author. " Flammula," — a little flame — is a sub-genus of fungi ; and " Fries' 

 Epi-crisis " (the fat in the fire) is the name of the best text-book of fungi in exist- 

 ence. The nature of the Woolhope Ketchup, or "cats-up," was fully described in 

 the Gardener's Chronicle, last year. As a matter of fact, the word " Poissons " 

 (fish) was misprinted "Poisons," by the printer ; the error was overlooked by the 

 revising editor, and appeared as "Poisons " on all the cards on "the fungus dmner 

 table." 



