THE FLORA OF WARWICKSHIRE. 
281 
seen anno 1522; this serpent was thought to be fifty cubits long by 
conjecture, by sight afar off: there followed this the banishment 
of King Christierung, and a great persecution of the Bishops; and it 
shewed also the destruction of the countrey,—(“ Olaus Magnus Com¬ 
pendious History,” folio 1658, p. 235), 
_ E. W. B. 
Handbook of the British Fungi. By M. C. Cooke. 1883. Second and 
Revised Edition. 
So many new species of Fungi have been added to the British Flora 
since the publication of the Handbook in 1871 that a want has long 
been felt for a new and revised edition of this valuable work. To in 
some measure meet this want the author proposes issuing instalments 
containing descriptions of the Hymenomycetes as an appendix to 
“ Grevillea,” but with a separate paging, so as to be bound separably if 
desired. The first instalment of sixteen pages appears in “ Grevillea ” 
for December, 1883, and is a great improvement on the former edition. 
The whole of the British species belonging to the genus Amanita, 
and a greater part of Lepiota are described, and in each species the 
special characters are printed in italics. Many of the old references 
are omitted, but in their stead we have references to the pages of Fries 
“Hymenomycetes Europsei” and other recent works, and also to the 
plates of “ Illustrations of British Fungi,” which illustrate each species. 
An interesting feature of the revised edition is that of giving the 
derivations of each of the generic and specific names so far as this is 
practicable. This will form a valuable companion volume to the 
“ Illustrations,” and will be welcomed by all working Mycologists. 
J. E. Bagnall. 
School Museums. —Efforts are being made to establish a small 
Museum of common objects in each of the Birmingham Board 
Schools. It is hoped that the Board will supply to each School 
a suitable cabinet in which to store and exhibit the specimens; but for 
the specimens themselves reliance must be chiefly placed on the 
exertions of the teachers, the scholars, and those friends to the 
movement who are willing to give practical aid. Donations of 
natural history specimens—rocks, fossils, dried plants, insects, birds, 
small animals, etc.—will be very acceptable ; as also examples of 
manufactures, etc., and, indeed, any articles likely to rouse the 
curiosity and awaken the interest of children. Mr. W. J. Harrison, 
365, Lodge Road, Birmingham, will be pleased to communicate with 
any readers of this magazine who will lend their assistance to this 
very useful and desirable scheme. 
