FUNGUS FORAYS, 1886. 
61 
were so scarce that not a single specimen of Agaricus ( Armillaria ) 
melleus could be found, although it is often so common as to be 
almost a nuisance ; and the equally common Agaricus (Clitocybe) 
laccatus was represented by one solitary specimen. None of the ex- 
cursionists present could remember any previous instance in which 
the Forest was so bare of fungi during the month of September. 
Hertfordshire Natural History Society. — The day ap- 
pointed for this Foray, November 6th, in Berry Grove Wood 
and Heart’s Spring Wood, was one of continuous rain, as well as 
the day previous ; hence the excursion was practically a failure. 
Cryptogamic Society of Scotland. — The annual conference, 
held this year at Aberdeen, was presided over by Professor J. W. 
H. Trail, and commenced on Wednesday, 29th September, by an 
excursion to Monymusk, and continued in the evening by business 
meetings and a public meeting, at which the President delivered his 
annual address. On Thursday the excursion was made to Drum 
Woods, which concluded in the evening by the annual dinner at 
the Douglas Hotel. On Friday, 1st October, an excursion was 
arranged for Kingcausie Woods. A brief report of the meetings 
was communicated to the “ Gardener’s Chronicle,” from which it 
would appear that although the intercourse between the mycolo- 
gists north and south of the Tweed was an agreeable one, there 
were no startling scientific results and no long record of interesting 
additions to the “ Fungus Flora.” 
Carlisle. — While the Cryptogamic Society was holding its 
meetings at Aberdeen a private investigation of some of the 
country around Carlisle revealed the fact that Lactarius helvus , 
Fr., was growing in some abundance in a boggy wood some four 
miles distant from the city. 
Woolhope Field Club, Hereford. — The Foray this year 
was pervaded by a general feeling of depression, consequent on the 
remembrance of the severe loss which the Club had sustained since 
the meeting of last year in the death of Dr. Bull. A considerable 
number of mycologists met as usual, but the enthusiasm was 
damped by the unfavourable weather and the scarcity of fungi. 
The Tuesday excursion, October 5th, was to Whitfield, which the 
Club had not visited for some years. Nothing worthy of special 
note was found during the day, but sufficient to employ the even- 
ing in examination and discussion. Wednesday was devoted to 
the woods around Belmont — new ground to the Club — but not very 
successfully this year. Thursday, the Club Foray day, was given 
to the old grounds of Haywood Forest, but as the rain was almost 
incessant, with little result. The dinner in the evening was more 
limited in number of visitors than it has been for many years. An 
address by M. C. Cooke on the event of the day ; the character 
and influence of the late Dr. Bull on mycology ; a paper by the 
Bev. J. E. Yize on modes of mounting for the microscope ; and 
one by the Bev. Augustin Ley, on Welsh Highland Floras 
in relation to the new Herefordshire Flora, brought the proceed- 
ings practically to a close. The illness of the President, Mr. 
