Gibbs : Coprophilous Ftuigi at Helmsley. 



again illustrates the importance of this biological property as 

 a factor which must be taken into account in plant distribution. 

 One factor which compensates to a great extent for the removal 

 of shade is the direction of slope (northward, i in 25) which 

 means a reduction in the angle of incidence of the sun's rays. 



From a review of the various features of the soil and 

 vegetation described, it is possible to arrive at some conclusions 

 as to the conditions w^hich must have existed and the changes 

 which have gradually come about and resulted in the present 

 characters of the field. 



The higher ground w^as formerly occupied by an Oak wood, 

 but as cultivation was extended in the neighbourhood, the trees 

 and shrubs were removed from the slope, those only being left 

 on the bank, which, as shown by levels, is too steep for the 

 employment of agricultural implements. 



The low-lying ground was occupied by a slow-flowing 

 stream which, owing' to silting up in conjunction with local 

 disturbances connected with the drainage of the district, 

 assumed first the character of a marsh, and, later, conditions 

 became sufficiently dry for the grasses {Cynosiu'us) to obtain 

 a foothold. 



It is probable that, as this drying up continues, Cynosurus 

 may itself be replaced by other grasses, a supposition which 

 receives considerable support from the evidence afforded in the 

 flourishing conditions and apparent progress of Foxtail and 

 Meadow Fescue. 



FVNGl, 



Coprophilous Fungi at Helmsley. — At the Helmsley Fungus 

 Foray in September last I collected samples of sheep and deer 

 droppings, and have since kept them for observation under glass. 

 These produced upwards of a dozen species, of which the fol- 

 lowing four are additions to the list published in ' The Naturalist,' 

 November 1903 : — Coprinus Gibbsi'i Mass. SiCrossl. This appeared 

 in considerable quantity on the sheep dung, also on the deer 

 dung. Some specimens considerably exceeded the dimensions 

 given in 'The Naturalist,' January 1902, measuring from one to 

 two mm. in diameter of pileus. In all other respects they 

 agreed with the diagnosis. On the sheep dung were also found 

 Sordaria neglecta Hans., Saccobolus negiectus Bond., and Asco- 

 phamis ar gen tens ^owdi. — Thos. Gibbs, Sheffield. 



1904 April I. n 



