226 MIDLAND UNION OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES. OCT., 1892. 
calling on tlie way at Frankton, where they found in the 
churchyard a fine “ fairy ring,” caused by the growth of 
Marasmius oreades. The other finds were Centaurea Scabiosa 
and Gromphidius viscidus. On arrival at Ellesmere the party 
walked past Ellesmere mere, across which they had a fine 
view of the residence of Mr. J. K. Main waring, to Blakemere. 
The name of this lake is sometimes written Blackmere, but it 
is said that blake does not mean black, but is an old English 
word for “yellow.” Perhaps some local correspondent can 
throw light upon this point. 
On entering the wood surrounding this, the path led past 
Kettlemere, a small lake of about 4J acres, occupying a deep 
circular depression which probably gave origin to its name. 
This latter and Ellesmere mere, amongst others, are locally 
famous for the phenomenon called “ the breaking of the 
meres,” which consists in the enormous development, at 
particular seasons of the year, of some minute species of alga, 
which cause the water to appear greenish and turbid. 
Although Blakemere is connected with Kettlemere by a wide 
artificial ditch, it is said that the former never “ breaks,” 
though a gentle current runs from Kettlemere into Blakemere. 
Ellesmere mere was “ breaking” at the time of the visit, the 
surface near the edge being covered with enormous numbers 
of spherical bodies, each about as large as a pin’s head. 
These were composed of radiating masses of the threads of a 
minute yellow-green alga, called Rivularia or Ecliinelia 
articulata. In Blakemere there grows Lobelia Dortmanni ; one 
of the party, wading in, gathered some of the leaves and 
withered flower-stalks. Among the other finds were:— 
Hypericum elodes, Cicuta virosa, Malva moschata, Linum 
uHtatissimum, Bidens tripartita. Lysimachia vulgaris , Rubus 
corylifolius , Myrica Gale , Lastrea spinulosa. 
The following Lichens were determined by Mr. Wilkinson, 
from in or near Oswestry :— 
Parmelia caperata, P. physodes, P. per lata , P. olivacea , P. 
saxatilis , Physcia prunastri, P. parietina, Peltigera canina , P. 
rufescens , Cladonia pyxidata, C. deformis, C. furcata , Placodium 
citrinum. 
In the wood near Blakemere, Mr. W. B. Grove and the 
other mycologists of the party gathered the following species 
of Fungi:— 
Agaricus ( Lep .) felinus, A. (Coll.) maculatus , A. (Coll.) 
nitellinus , A. (Myc.) parabolicus , A. (hio.) plumosus, A. (Ino.) 
geophyllus, Cortinarius rigidus, Russula heterophylla , R. cyano- 
xantha , R. emetica, R. citrina , R. ochroleuca, R. depallens, 
Marasmius androsaceus, Lactarius camphoratus, Phallus impu- 
dicus , Scleroderma Bovista, Thelephora laciniata. Peziza aurantia, 
