SELHORNE SOCIETY XOTICES 
239 
of various insects, as well as their structure, pointing oat what was known and 
what was still open to doubt ; moreover, he suggested one or two such little 
experiments as children love to make, appealing occasionally also to their sense of 
humour. 
Mr. Philip Oyler, himself a lecturer on natural history, kindly took the chair 
on this occasion. 
Lancelyn House School Junior Branch, Kew Gardens. — Two interesting 
rambles in Kew Gardens have taken place since last June. The first one, con- 
ducted by Mr. Drummond and attended by about seventeen members (divided 
into two parties), was a visit to the Succulent House, Orchid House, and Plerba- 
ceous Beds. During the second ramble, also conducted by Mr. Drummond, a 
visit was paid to the Temperate House. 
On Friday, October 30, a very interestiag lantern lecture was kindly given by 
Mr. A. G. Buckhurst, Headmaster of the Richmond County School, on the 
“ Romance of I’lant Life,” at which about thirty members were present. The 
lecturer illustrated the use of pollen to plant life, and the different methods 
adopted by plants to ensure cross-fertilization. 
EXCURSIONS. 
Saturday, October 31. — On this day was held the long-established annual 
P'ungus P'oray of the Essex P'ield Club, and once again a kind invitation was 
extended to members of the Selborne Society to participate. A larger number 
than usual took advantage of this invitation, some few joining the morning 
collecting party, but the greater number attending in the afternoon. 
A large number of excellent photographs of fungi, taken by Mr. Henry Irving, 
a member of the Selborne Society, were on view in the meeting-room at Oak 
Hill Farm throughout the day, and were greatly admired. 
The frosts in mid-October had seriously diminished the fungus flora of the 
Forest, but in spite of that a very satisfactory number of species was found, both 
on the morning collecting-ground between Loughton and Theydon Bois, and in 
the parts searched after luncheon round Theydon and Ambresbury Banks. 
Specially noticeable were the numerous species of Cortinarius. Each succeeding 
year seems to be marked by the prevalence of one special group. Last year 
Tricholoma was dominant. Several new species were found, one new to the 
county and one new to the Forest, and a truffle was recorded for the first time. 
Alter tea, Mr. George Massee gave a very interesting address dealing with 
many different aspects of mycology. Lovers of the pleasant-flavoured mushroom 
will be sorry to learn that fungi have very little nutritive value — flavour is all 
that can be credited to them, and to retain that to the fullest degree fungi should 
be cooked slowly for an hour in a covered pan. One warning was given — do not 
take alcohol immediately after eating fungi ; alcohol turns the fungi into a leathery, 
indigestible mass. Many of the reported cases of poisoning by mushrooms would 
be more correctly diagnosed as being cases of indigestion due to the mixture of 
perfectly wholesome fungi and “ n\ountain dew.” 
Mr. Massee then proceeded to describe the groups into which fungi are divided, 
and on coming to the Myxomycetes, stated that in Great Britain agriculture lost 
annually fifty million pounds sterling by the attacks of these microscopic foes, 
apple-canker alone being responsible for one million, while grain-rust was esti- 
mated to do damage to the extent of fifteen millions. Mr. Massee urged that 
much greater study should be given to the ecology of fungi, and especially to that 
of the Myxomycetes, as preventive or palliative measures must be based upon a 
true understanding of the life-histories and ecological necessities of these insidious 
foes. 
FORTHCOMING EVENTS. 
Council and Com.mittee Meetings. 
Monday, December 21. — General Purposes Committee, 5.30 p.m. 
Monday, January 18. — General Purposes Committee, 5.30 p.m, 
Tuesday January 26. — Council Meeting, 6 p.m. 
