SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
Library. — The Honorary Librarian will attend at 20, Ilanover Square, 
from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., on the evening of December 17, for the purpose of 
issuing books to members. 
The Honorary Librarian has pleasure in acknowledging the following addi- 
tions to the Library: “Anglo-Saxon Grave Keys,” by John Acutt, kindly pre- 
sented by the Author ; “ Harrow Architectural Society’s Proceedings for 1902, 
1903 and 1906,” kindly presented by Ernest A. Nash, Esq.; “The Natural 
Plistory of Selborne,” Jardine’s edition, 1830; “The Natural History of Sel- 
borne,” Everyman’s Library edition, 1906, kindly presented by W. Whitaker, 
Esq., F.R.S. 
EXCURSIONS. 
Saturday , October 20. — A number of Selbornians took advantage of the kind 
invitation of the Essex Field Club to join in their Annual Fungus Foray in 
Epping Forest. Those who accompanied the morning party were the most 
successful in collecting in the Monk Woods. Here the fly agarics were the most 
prominent feature, but the less conspicuous species were also plentiful. The 
members of the afternoon parly started from Epping Station and drove to Wintry 
Wood, where they were fairly fortunate, many species being found which do not 
occur in Monk Wood, but the number of specimens was not so great. After tea 
at the “Old Thatched House,” Epping, Mr. George Massee described the finds 
of the day, three new records being added to the Forest Fungus Flora. All these 
were species of the genus Lactanus. Mr. Massee said that each year seemed to 
be marked by the profusion of a special genus, and 1906 might be described as a 
Lactanus year, just as 1905 was a Tricholoma year. Mr. Massee then gave a 
most interesting address on the “ Ecology of Fungi,” which was greatly appre- 
ciated by his audience. Lack of space forbids an extended account of this, but 
one item that was of special interest to the non-expert collector must be men- 
tioned. Of the four great groups of agarics, the black-spored series contains no 
poisonous species, the brown-spored only two or three, while the pink-spored are 
all poisonous save one species, and the white-spored are all poisonous. 
Saturday , October 27. — More than fifty Selbornians took part in the Autumn 
Meeting of the South-Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, of which the Selborne 
Society is the largest constituent body. A visit was paid to the Zoological 
Society’s collection in Regent’s Park, and in accordance with the excellent 
arrangements made by Mr. Norman Gray, several parties were formed, each 
under the guidance of a naturalist. Among the leaders were Dr. Henry Wood- 
ward, F. R.S., Mr. G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S., and Mr. Frank Finn, F.Z.S., so 
that much information was gained by the visitors during the afternoon. Those 
who had not been to the Gardens for some time were also greatly pleased to see 
the many and great improvements which have recently been made. 
Saturday , November 10. — At this meeting, with which the Winter Session was 
most successfully begun, Dr. A. Smith Woodward, F.R.S. (Keeper of the 
Department of Geology), gave a demonstration in the galleries of the British 
Museum (Natural History). He took as his subject the fossil mammals of 
Australia and South America, and described in a most graphic manner the 
way in which the true character of many of the great herbivorous animals had 
been recognised, as well as their method of life and their carnivorous foes, of 
which the bones have also been discovered. The true story of the South American 
Ground Sloth', of which some examples lived until quite recently, and must have 
been kept captive in the cave where their skins and bones were found, was not 
the least interesting of those that were told. Dr. Smith Woodward also men- 
tioned birds and tortoises, and touched upon the land connection between South 
America and Australia which it has been supposed once existed. At the end of 
an enjoyable afternoon, Mr. Cottanr, in most appropriate terms, expressed the 
thanks of the party (which numbered close upon thirty) to Dr. Smith Woodward 
for his kindness, and for speaking so that all were able to hear and to understand 
what he said. The Honorary Secretary seconded the resolution, which was 
carried with enthusiasm, and Dr. Smith Woodward expressed his pleasure at the 
cordiality of his reception. 
