270 



seen was singularly few, the propdrtion being very far less than in most other 

 genera, whilst, in the number of individuals, Lactarius and Russula exceeded it. 

 Coprinus was seen but once or twice, and all the species of Cortinarius were 

 extremely rare. Dinner at the Speech House Hotel, and a careful scrutiny of all 

 the baskets, with the inevitable " nightcaps," ended the first day. 



On the Wednesday the members proceeded by train to Park End, which 

 proved so satisfactory last year ; but here again they were doomed to disappoint- 

 ment, for although more prolific than any spot visited on the Tuesday, yet the 

 best was very bad, nothing of interest being found except some very fine specimens 

 of Russula inteora, and a few Hiigrophori. Strolling slowly back through devious 

 ways to Speech House, soon after two o'clock, light refreshment and waggonettes 

 carried the party a drive of eight miles to Newnham Station for Hereford, and 

 completed the two memorable days of fungus hunting in the Forest of Dean. 

 Like bears of the forest, in another corner of Europe, the fungi had retreated to 

 the mountains, and would not be found. 



Thursday, being the Club day, was devoted to a little excursion in the woods 

 and lawns of Holme Lacy, where Bracken flourished in luxurious profusion, but 

 fungi were more scarce than in the Forest of Dean, although that was a contin- 

 gency never anticipated. How it could be possible in October for any wooded 

 locality to be worse than the Forest was not credited, but such was the summary 

 of results. Dinner, as usual, at the " Green Dragon " Hotel, was followed by 

 some remarks by Dr. M. C. Cooke on " The Mycology of 1887-1888," with a 

 summary of the books, and local lists published during the year, with new species 

 which had for the first time been found in this country, including Lactarius 

 aurantiacus in Epping Forest, Agaricus (Oniphalia) chrysophijUus in Scotland, 

 Russula pucUaris and R. roseipes near Morpeth, Russula barlce and R. granulosa 

 at Kew, Russula maculata and R. armeniaca at Epping, with Hygrophorus 

 spadiccus from Crum Forest, and Agaricus (Hypholoma) catarius from Kew and 

 the Forest of Dean, and lastly, the singular appearance of Mutinus bambusinus 

 at Sunningdale. A comparison was also instituted between the meagre results 

 of the present year's Woolhope excursions and the unusually successful excursion 

 recently made in Epping Forest, but no clue could be given to the causes of such 

 divergence, which, like some other phenomena associated with fungi, " no fellow 

 can understand." The tisual soirdc at the residence of Mr. Cam was largely 

 attended in the evening, the papers read being " On Dr. Bull's Birds of Hereford- 

 shire," by H. T. Wharton, M.A., F.Z.S. ; "Notes and Queries on Russula," bj 

 M. C. Cooke ; and "On Spiders," by the Rev. J. E. Vize, M.A. 



The final excursion on Friday, October 5th, was made by train to Pontrilas, 

 thence by carriages to Kentohurch Park, returning to luncheon at 3 p.m. with 

 Mr. and Mrs. Attwood Mathews at Pontrilas. This latter experiment gave immense 

 satisfaction at the close of a barren week ; the genial hospitality extended to the 

 excursionists compelling them to forget the immediate past in the enjoyment of 

 the present. The lawn was decorated by clever models of various fungi, painted 

 by the hostess in such excellent style that one of the excursionists rushed upon 

 them with his basket, and until he touched them did not discover his mistake. 



