Crossland : The Study oj Fungi i7i Yorkshire, 151 



interest considerably increased when the specimens collected 

 during the day were, in the evening, displayed side by side 

 on the show cases at the Leeds Philosophical Society's Museum. 

 The variety in form and colour was most striking. After that, 

 fungi opened out to me a new world, and though its study 

 proved full of difficulties, constant plodding, in season and out, 

 coupled with friendly assistance and advice, enabled me to 

 conquer some of the obstacles. I take this opportunity of 

 acknowledging generous assistance from both the Kew and 

 British Museum mycologists, also from British and foreign 

 specialists in the different groups. 



In 1890 I made the acquaintance of James Needham, an 

 iron moulder, of Hebden Bridge, who proved a good guide in 

 the investigations of that mycologically fruitful district. Having 

 gained a knowledge of the local flowering plants and ferns, he 

 became a diligent collector of fungi, mosses, and hepatics. 

 For years, in the season, I was never left short of fungi to work 

 at ; he could collect as many in half a day as, at first, took me all 

 the following week to get through, the more perishable always 

 receiving first attention. Many species new to science were 

 thus discovered, two or three of which are named after him. 

 Besides these were many new to Britain, all of which may be 

 found in the ' Naturahst,' and in the ' Yorkshire Fungus Flora.' 

 He proved most useful at the Yorkshire Forays, having devel- 

 oped the knack of knowing where to look for specimens, large or 

 small. He compiled the hst of plants of the Hebden Bridge 

 district, published in the local guide book. 



The present ' British Mycological Society ' had its origin 

 at Selby in 1896. It was an offshoot of the Mycological section 

 of the Union. The idea of a National Society had often been 

 discussed by mycologists at various times and places. The 

 matter was again brought forward at the Selby Foray, when it 

 was finally decided to form one. About a score members 

 were at once enrolled ; the name of the Society decided upon ; 

 and the necessary officers elected. These were G. Massee, 

 President ; Carleton Rea, Worcester, Hon. Sec. ; C. Crossland, 

 Treasurer. The objects to be kept in view were — (i) An Annual 

 gathering of a week's duration to be held at a new locahty each 

 year, for the investigation of the mycological flora of Great 

 Britain ; (2) The publication of an annual report and resume 

 of work — British and Continental — deahng with mycology for 

 the current year. Sherwood Forest was suggested as a suitable 



1908 April I. 



