178 
NATURE NOTES 
129. Abnormal Dandelion. — The other day I found a curious sport of 
this plant. A fine head rose to a height of fully two feet and round the base of 
the flower was a large bunch of leaves just as are to be seen at the base of the 
plant. It gave it a very queer appearance. Is this usual ? 
Grange-ovir-Sands, Lancashire. R. C. Lowthek. 
[The malformation has been recorded, but is, I think, uncommon. — E d. 
N.N.^ 
EXCHANGE DESIRED. 
Fungi in North Wales. 
The wet summer promises an unusually early crop of autumn fungi. As the 
Conway Valley affords many beautiful varieties I should be glad to exchange 
specimens with any Selbornian who is collecting. I could send, in their season, 
Hygrophorus miniatus, H. chlorophamts, H. psittacinus, H. pratensis and H. 
virgineus, Tricholoma nudum, .Stropharia ceruginosa, Hydnum repanatim, Peziza 
aurantia and cocdnea, and several of the Clavarias. I should be glad to secure 
Geasier sericeus and Lepiota Rachodes. 
Ffynnon Bedr, Llanbedr, Angela Brazil. 
Taly Cafn, R.S.O., N. Wales. 
ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER 
Mars will be visible in the southern sky in the evenings, but is declining in 
brightness. Near moon on l6th. 
Jupiter will be a morning star rising at midnight on the l8th. 
Saturn will be favourably visible during the whole night, and now appears 
practically devoid of rings. Near moon on 21st. 
Daniel's comet will be seen before sunrise, in Cancer, as a naked eye object. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
[Note.— All Announcements with regard to Future Meetings of 
THE Central Society or Branches will be found together at the 
END OF these NOTICES.] 
New Members. — The following members stand for election ; Central 
Society. — Miss Phyllis Fleming; F. Moore, Esq. ; A. H. Wheelwright, Esq. 
Ealing Branch. — G. W. Thompson, Esq. 
Library. — The Honorary Librarian will attend at 20, Hanover Square, from 
6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., on the evenings of September 16 and October 21, for the 
purpose of issuing books to members. 
EXCURSIONS. 
Saturday, July 27. — The excursion on this day was rather more of an under- 
taking than usual, seeing that it necessitated a journey to Marlow by train and, 
afterwards, a drive of fourteen miles. Nevertheless, twelve members availed them- 
selves of the kind invitation of Mr. Alfred Heneage Cocks, M.A., F.S.A., F.Z.S., 
who met the party at Fingest Church. This building is remarkable for its fine 
Norman tower on the one hand, which is surmounted by a roof with two ridges, 
while on the other it is noteworthy because in the nave only four persons can sit 
in a row. In fact, it was nearly possible for two members, holding hands, to 
reach from one wall to the other. After leaving the church, the members pro- 
ceeded to Poynetts, the residence of Mr. Cocks, which is situated in the hamlet of 
Skirmett, that lies in a valley among the Buckinghamshire hills. Here Mr. 
Cocks showed his collection of living British carnivorous animals, which includes 
wild cats, martens, pole-cats, otters and badgers. After seeing these and some 
curious cats which are partly wild, partly Abyssinian and partly domestic cat, the 
party was entertained by Mr. Cocks to tea. In the evening the members were 
