176 Field Notes. 



however, be very little, for this is the most I have seen of it 

 hitherto. I also, to-day, saw the fighting action proper with 

 which two birds, in appearance equally resolute, advance 

 upon one another. This is that usual one in aquatic species, 

 viz., the whole length flat on the water, the bill in one straight 

 line with the head, neck and body, suggestive of the ram of 

 a war -ship. When, however, they were quite close, and the 

 battle seemed about to be tried, on one making only a slight 

 dart forward, the other would incontinently turn tail, and 

 swim away at full speed. 



: o : 



Fungi in Yorkshire, etc. — Coprinus atramentarius has 

 appeared in profusion on the grounds of Welbcck Abbey. It 

 seems a pity this edible fungus has settled down where its 

 esculent properties are unappreciated. A few years ago an 

 outburst of this species occurred on a patch of rich soil in the 

 public park at Selby ; their edible qualities were pointed out 

 to some of the members of the local society who ' sampled ' 

 a quantity to their entire satisfaction. Reticidaria Lycoperdon 

 has been particularly abundant on the old willow trees in the 

 Selby district, in conspicuous white patches from three to 

 six inches across. This is perhaps one of the earliest of the 

 Mycetozoa. It would be of value if observers could record 

 the order of appearance of different species of Mycetozoa 

 throughout the season ; there seems to be a lack of information 

 in this direction. ' A few days ago Mr. J. F. Musham brought 

 me an abnormal little fungus having gills somewhat reticulated 

 on the piletis, suggesting one of the Morel group. Microscopic 

 examination proves it to be a basidiomycete (spores exposed 

 on basidia). The spores of the Morels are enclosed in asci 

 (sacks). It appears that this fungus, Tiibaria furfiiracea, 

 had been accidentally bent down and become inverted, and 

 had developed its gills on the upper surface of its pileus, 

 so that its spores would be more easily distributed. Occasion- 

 ally this abnormality is observed in the field, where a growing 

 fungus has been overturned, but more frequently with the 

 polyporcs than with the agarics. It seems hard to understand 

 what forces induce these plants to take a right-about face in 

 their growth. The three polyporoids which created some 

 controversy at the Helmsley Foray were shown at the British 

 Mycological Society's Foray at Minehcad, and thev still 

 remained unsettled. Mr. A. A. Pearsoii, sent them to Mons. 

 Bourdot of Paris, who has pronounced them to be Merulins 

 corium Fr., Trametes mollis Fr., and a nodulose form of 

 Polyporus [Zanthochrous Pat.) radiatus Sow. He considers 

 that P. nodulosus is only a form of P. radiatus, having a 

 rounded obtuse edge to the pileus. — W. N. Chersm.vn, Selby, 

 2oth March, 1921. 



