122 
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 
Dictydicethalium plumbeum (Schum.) Rost. Two perfectly-formed 
clay-coloured aethalia of this rather uncommon species were found on 
an old hornbeam log, which also displayed large developments of Trichia 
varia and Arcyria incarnata var. fulgens. 
Reticularia Lycoperdon (Bulliard). Two aethalia of this usually summer 
species were found. In one of them, the unbroken cortex was deeply 
impressed with the print of three toes of probably a squirrel’s foot. This 
impression must have been made when the aethalium was young ; it is. 
surprising that the latter should have received so little injury from its 
forest visitor. 
Lycogala epidendrum (L.) Fries. This is usually a summer species, 
and it was interesting to find several groups of young coral-red aethalia,. 
as well as others in mature condition, on fallen trunks. 
Trichia scabva Rost. On an old stump. This species is usually less 
abundant than T. persimilis, to which it is very closely allied. Under a 
microscope the orange-yellow spores are seen to be marked with a close 
reticulation over two thirds* of the surface. 
T. varia Pers. Very abundant in all stages of development. 
Arcyria denudata (L.) Sheldon. Quantities of both the white immature 
sporangia and those that had acquired the crimson colour of maturity 
were found on dead wood. 
A. incarnata Pers. One typical specimen with pale pink sporangia was 
obtained, and also a fine growth from three to four inches in diameter of 
the bright red var. fulgens on a dead hornbeam ; the columns of capillitium 
are more flaccid than those of A. denudata, and separate at the slightest 
breath from the sporangial cups. 
Since our last Foray another species has been added to the Mycetozoa 
known to occur in the Forest district. In August, the beautiful yellow 
sporangia of Craterium aureum were found by Mr. J. Ross on dead holly 
leaves near Chingford. This is, I think, a new record for the county. 
Our Epping Forest Mycetozoa now number seventy-five species. 
The Cryptogamic Foray, held on November 13th, was taken in the 
Forest from Loughton by Monk Wood to Theydon Bois. 
The recent cold weather had not been very propitious for Mycetozoa, 
and the heavy rain that had fallen on the two previous days probably 
washed away many delicate sporangia. With the help of a collection 
made by Mr. Ross on his walk to join the party from Chingford, nine 
species were obtained, as follows : — 
Physarum nutans Pers. A few sporangia of both the typical form and 
var. robustum. 
Leocarpus fragilis (Dicks.) Rost. Two rather ancient specimens on 
grass stalks. 
Didymium squamulosum (Alb. and Schw.) Fries. On dead holly leaves. 
Colloderma oculatum (Lippert) G. Lister. Found on the bark of living 
trees, and also on mossy turf ( Campylopus pyriformis) apparently uncon¬ 
nected with any wood, both in Monk Wood and near Theydon. The 
minute sporangia were found in four different stages ; in the early white 
stage ; in the olive-black “ eye-like ” stage, when the dark spore-mass is 
seen through the shining gelatinous envelope ; in the later stage, when the 
spore-mass enclosed by the membranous inner sporangium wall sits. 
