44, REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, 
The Rev. C. W. Shickle (Bath Natural History and Antiquarian 
Field Club) instanced the assistance given to the study of local Fungi by 
the valet of the late Mr. Skrine, of Warley. 
Mr. W. Bell (Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society and 
delegate from Section K) spoke of the general ignorance in regard to the 
poisonous and edible forms of Fungi, and thought a closer study of the 
family would do much to remove the present prejudice. It was a most 
desirable thing to have a complete series of all plants, including Fungi, 
in County Herbaria. Hitherto the collection of Leicestershire plants, 
which contained from twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand sheets, 
had not more than a dozen forms of Fungi. This was due to the fact 
that great difficulty obtained in regard to the preservation of the 
specimens. He strongly recommended that, where it was impossible to 
preserve actual specimens, coloured photographs, such as those exhibited, 
should be file1. 
Mr. J. A. Longden (Institution of Mining Engineers) said that he 
had never been able to eat mushrooms, for they were absolutely poisonous 
to him. It was important that the school children should be taught 
which mushrooms are edible for the ordinary mortal. 
The Rev. R. Ashington Bullen (South-Eastern Union of Scientitic 
Societies) said that there was no doubt a large quantity of nourishing 
material neglected in England. In Italian markets, he believed, there 
was an inspector of Fungi, who decided whether the species exposed for 
sale were edible ; quite a large number are available for human food, 
although a fungus diet does not suit every person. Following the old 
proverb fiat eaperimentum, &e., his corpus vile had enjoyed, when he 
lived in Kent, C/avaria of various species, and the ‘ fairy-ring ’ fungus, 
Marasmius (superior in flavour to the ordinary mushroom); and in 
Hunts he had eaten Agaricus (Psalliota) arvensis and slices of young 
giant puff-balls, which in point of tastiness he considered equal to beef- 
steak. 
The Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing called attention to a recent article in the 
‘Museum Gazette,’ under the editorship of Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson, 
F.R.S. This article not only strongly insisted on the dangers involved 
in eating Fungi, but also maintained that, however agreeable they 
might be to the palate, they were almost entirely devoid of nutritious 
quality. 
Mr. F. W. Rudler (Essex Field Club) remarked that the Society 
which he represented had always taken much interest in the study of 
Fungi. Ever since its foundation it had held annually a fungus foray, 
and in this way had registered pretty completely the fungus flora of 
Epping Forest. The next foray would probably take place in the woods 
around Chelmsford. Moreover, the Museums under the Essex Field Club 
exhibited models and coloured illustrations of Fungi, seeking by such 
means to explain to the public the differences between edible and 
poisonous species. 
Professor J. W. Carr (Nottingham Naturalists’ Society) pointed out 
the practical difficulties in working out the fungus flora of any district by 
the Local Society, owing to the general lack of expert knowledge of the 
plants of this group by the members of such Societies. He suggested 
that much good might be done if an expert mycologist, such as the opener 
of the discussion, would undertake to give an address on the best methods 
