91 



of wetness, yet following after a week of mild dewy nights the 

 specimens were fairly abundant and in good condition. The 

 experiment of arranging two different hours of departure was 

 justified by the fact that when the morning party left Esher village 

 it consisted of nine persons, and the afternoon train brought the 

 total up to fifteen, of whom thirteen foregathered for tea in the 

 evening. 



The hunting-ground was the fir-woods lying between Claremont 

 palings and Oxshott Heath. Russula emetica with its crimson 

 pileus and stem was one of the first species to attract attention, 

 and was found to be abundant throughout the day. The only other 

 species of Russula that appeared to be at all abundant was the 

 dingy yellow R.fceteus, an evil-smelling species which is regarded as 

 poisonous, though eagerly devoured by slugs. 



Amanita 77iuscarius was frequently met, but the specimens were 

 not typical either in size or colour. None of the Amanitas were 

 abundant, but a few specimens of A. rubescens and A. vaginaius 

 were bagged for the table, whilst the dangerous A. phalloides was 

 seen and left severely alone. The pretty red form of Clitocybe 

 laccatus was more plentiful than the violet form. Twigs were found 

 upon which the delicate-looking Claicdopus variabilis was growing 

 back downwards. Stropharia ceruginosus was common with its blue 

 slime, making the yellow pileus appear green. Cantharellus cibarius 

 was by no means plentiful, where a few weeks earlier it had been 

 exceedingly abundant. The worthless C. aurantiacus was met as 

 frequently ; another member of the same genus was found with sooty 

 pileus and gills, and tubular orange stems, and proved to be C. 

 tubceformis. The two closely allied and toothsome species of 

 Clitopihcs, C. prunichis, and C. ojrella, were abundant ; orcella 

 growing in large rings wherever the ground was fairly clear. Other 

 Agarics found included the common Armillaria melleus^ Maras- 

 mius urens, and M. peronatus, besides several that fell a prey to the 

 maggots before I had time to identify them. 



The Polyporei were represented by many species. Among the 

 Boleti may be mentioned the poisonous B. satanas and B. luridus, 

 both changing colour when the flesh is cut or broken ; B. bovinus, 

 with sticky yellow pileus and the tubes extending down the stem ; 

 B. edtilis, whose name gives confidence to the inexperienced 

 Mycophagist ; B. scaber, equally good, and known by its rough stem ; 

 B. luteus, with its thick coating of umber slime and handsome frill, 

 was not as common as I had expected. The large, rare Polyporus 

 schweinizii was here abundant, growing apparently on the roots of 

 pine \ and the similar but smaller, softer, and more ruddy P. rufescens 

 grew on stumps. Of the stemless species the common P. versicolor 

 was, of course, much in evidence : also Stereum hirsutum, S. pur- 

 pureum^ and the swollen gelatinous Auricularia lobata. Several 

 specimens of the rare Hydnum imbricatum were found, one of them 

 being very large (seven inches diameter of pileus) and perfect. A 



