268 REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



plants. — General Meeting — October 4th. Mr. Bolton exhibited the Ento- 

 mostracan, Polyphemus pediculus, from Sutton. Mr. Lane exhibited the fungus 

 from a brewer's cask. Mr. Bagnall exhibited Sphagnum cymbifolium, 

 S. auriculatum, and S. subsecundum, from Cut-throat Coppice, Solihull ; also, 

 on behalf of Mr. Wilkinson, Dipsacus pilosus, from Stafford Castle. Mr. 

 Southall called the attention of the members to an old volume " Abrahamii 

 Muntiugii Phytographia Curiosa," published at Amsterdam in 1711. The Secre- 

 tary then read a paper by Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., on " Underground Fungi," 

 illustrated by enlarged copies of Mr. Berkeley's drawingsou the black board. He 

 described the three classes into which subterranean Fungi may be divided, viz., 

 the true truffles, the false truffles, and a peculiar group called Endogone. 

 He also mentioned the conditions under which truffles abound, and the way in 

 which they are found ; but warned the local naturalists that, owing to the nature 

 of the soil, there would belittle to reward their search in the Midland Coun- 

 ties. — On October 8th the Society made a Fungus foray to Sutton Park, under 

 the guidance of Dr. M. C. Cooke, M.A., the eminent fungologiat. The day 

 was one of the worst for the purpose that could be conceived. The previous 

 dry weather and cold nights had produced a scarcity of Fungi, and the 

 rain which fell on the day before had saturated those few which had survived 

 almost past recognition. A cold wind caused the more delicate and less 

 enthusiastic of the party to take the shortest track towards shelter and refresh- 

 ment, but a devoted band surrounded the leader, bringing him ever new 

 species, and receiving their sounding names from his lips with becoming awe. 

 The " finds " were few ; among others a small specimen of the " Beef-steak 

 Fungus," Fistulina hepatica, was discovered on an old oak, and several 

 large specimens of the edible Agaiicus nudus, and of the jelly-like and 

 not-to-be-despised Tremella foliacea were found in the woods. No 

 one, however, could muster up courage enough to venture upon them, 

 though several of the party cast longing glances at the delicious morsels. 

 After tea, Dr. Cooke gave the members present some excellent advice on 

 commencing the study of Fungi, which will be found on page 249. 

 October 11th. — Biological Section. — Mr. J. E. Bagnall exhibited plants 

 illustrative of the flora of the Fame Islands — Festuca rubra, Arundo arenaria, 

 and others; also Hypnum irriguum and other mosses from Sutton Park, 

 Mycena alcalina, Pholiota heteroclita, Omphalia stellata, Cyphella capula, 

 Tremella foliacea , Peziza aurantia, and other fungi from the same locality : 

 also on behalf of Dr. J. Fraser, Frankenia Icevis (Sea Heaih) from Sussex, and 

 Ranunculus parviflorus (small-flowered Crowfoot) from Cornwall. Mr. 

 Southall exhibited Boletus luridus, B.edulis, Amanita aspera, A. rubescens, 

 Agaricus rutilans, A. separatus, Paxi lus involutus, Lepinta excoriata, Pus ula 

 emetic a, R. hetcrophyla, R. fragilis. R. fellea, Coprinits atramcntarius, Ag. 

 asterophonis, A. fascicularis, and Lactarius subdulcis, from Yardley Wood. 

 Mr. W. B. Grove exhibited a number of Fungi collected at or near Sutton Park 

 during the Fungus Foray, among which the most remarkable were — Agaricus 

 chioneus, a minute species growing on leaves ; A. echinatus (formerly called 

 A.hamatophyllus, on account of its colour), a most striking species, found 

 but rarely, and generally in hot beds; and ^4. udus,& species first discovered 

 in Britain in November last, in Epping Forest, and now found in 

 similar situations in the damp ground above Bracebridge Pool. 

 Mr. R. W. Chase read a paper on " The Birds of the Fame Islands," a small 

 group off the coast of Northumberland, in which he gave a very interesting 

 account of a visit in May last. The Ornithology of the islands was very 

 graphically described, and the paper was illustrated by a large number of speci- 

 mens, showing the various changes from the egg to the adult stage of most of 

 the birds. An excellent map and a series of beautiful photographs were also 

 shown, which gave a very vivid idea of the scenery of the locality. The 

 following birds were exhibited : — Muscicapa atricapilla, Certhia 

 familiaris, Anthus pratensis, A. obsctuns (nest, egg.-, and young), 

 Strepsilas interpres, Tringa maritima, Homateria mollissima (nest, eggs, and 

 young in various stageB), Fratercula arctica (egg and young in various stages), 

 Oraculus carlo (nest, eggs, and young in various stages), Sterna dougalli, £. 

 cantiaca, 8. Mrundo, S. Jtuviatilis (eggs and young in various stages), Lnrus 

 fuscus (nest, eggs, and young in various stages). October 18th. — Mr. Levick 



