242 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



the prize, a volume of " Cook's British Fungi," presented by 

 Mr. William Gray, M.R.LA. These, when examined by the 

 judge, Rev. H. W. Lett, M.A., T.C.D., stood as to the number 

 of species in the following order : — 8, 10, 14, 15, 20, 21, 31, 33, 

 33, 40, and 56, the last being that of Mr. George Donaldson, 

 who was declared the winner. When the quick walk, the 

 novelty of the subject, and the restricted area (for nobody 

 strayed far from the carriage drive) are considered, it is very 

 creditable to bring together such a large variety, including 

 about eighty species. One specimen of the truly beautiful fly 

 agaricus {Amanita muscarius), which possesses dangerous, if 

 not poisonous, powers of intoxication, was secured. On a 

 decayed fallen branch was discovered a colony of the little 

 copper green Hehtium. The wood on which this species grows 

 acquires the peculiar green tint so well known in the green oak 

 used at Tunbridge for ornamental purposes. A sharp look-out 

 was kept for the presence of the gigantic snowy puff-ball Z>^co- 

 perdon giganteum), as it was desired to try if its flavour when 

 well fried is as good as reported, but nothing was seen of it 

 except the fragments of a big one, scattered by some previous 

 passer-by. About the most abundant fungus met with was 

 the clouded Agziic {Agaricus nebuIosus),yvith. its mouse-coloured 

 cap, looking as if it had been smeared with soot, and whitening 

 the grass about with its cloud of snowy spores. This is one of 

 the edible sorts ; it is impossible to mistake it, and it possesses 

 a delicious flavour. It was remarked that only half a dozen 

 examples of the common mushroom {Agaricus campestris) were 

 found during the excursion, though the old pasturage of the 

 park seemed just the spot for them. At the foot of a massive 

 oak was noticed the interesting oak rot {Dcedalea quercina), 

 which is of a corky, almost woody, consistency, the growing 

 portion coated with a creamy velvet, on which are always great 

 drops of moisture, as if it were weeping for the ravages it was 

 causing in the timber. The examination of the collections 

 being concluded, the announcement that the business of the 

 day was over was the signal for separation, the party breaking 



