MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES AND OBSEKVATIONS. 231 



XXIV. — Miscellaneous Notices and Observations. 



Note on Fungi from Newton Cap Colliery. — None of our mem- 

 bers have, I believe, paid any attention to the Fungi, and it is 

 much to be desired that some one not afraid of honest work, and 

 at a loss for a subject on which to exercise himself, would take 

 up this unwrought field of research. The subject, except per- 

 haps amongst the microscopic forms, would not be beset with any- 

 very serious difficulties. The recent publications of the Rev. 

 M. J. Berkeley, the first living authority on this branch of botany, 

 have much smoothed the way for students of the English species. 

 His " Outlines of British Fungology," together with the series 

 of papers now appearing in the "Intellectual Observer," consti- 

 tutes an excellent guide. The only published memoranda on 

 the Fungi of Northumberland and Durham are, so far as I know, 

 those contained in "Winch's Flora, which, of course, are very im- 

 perfect, and not at all consonant with the present state of science. 

 Indeed many microscopic forms are there included amongst the 

 Algse. The life-history of the terrestrial Algse and their rela- 

 tions to the young forms of Lichens and Fungi is a subject full 

 of interest, and having in it work for a lifetime : a most pains- 

 taking and able commencement of this enquiry has already been 

 made by Dr. J. B. Hicks. Both for this, and for the study of 

 the Fungi in particular, our damp northern climate offers many 

 advantages, while the varied physical features of our two coun- 

 ties (comprising as they do great variety of soil and elevation — 

 wooded, sheltered glens, alternating with exposed moorland and 

 arid crag) would doubtless afford a large variety of species to the 

 diligent hunter. During the excursion of the Club, last autumn, 

 to Knarsdale and Barhaugh Burn, I noticed a great number of 

 species, some of them of enormous size and wonderful beauty of 

 colour. Some of these I collected with a view of determining 

 the species, but having my hands full of other work, I never 

 accomplished this purpose. 



For the specimens now exhibited (February, 1866) I am in- 

 debted to Mr. Xirkby, who some few weeks ago kindly sent me 

 a similar sample, which I forwarded to Mr. Berkeley, with a 



