THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 125 
succeeded by his grandson, Thomas, as 2nd Baronet, who died in January, 
1919, in his 93rd year. 
Thomas, Lord Dacre, greatly altered Bellius, which was in a very bad 
state of repair when he succeeded to it: he laid out the grounds and 
formed a considerable piece of water, under the advice of “ Capability '* 
Brown. He also formed a fine Library, and got together from members of 
the family a remarkable series of family portraits, most of which are sti 11 
at Belhus. They represent all the heads of the Lennard family since 
Elizabethan times until to-day, and if none of them are by such popular 
artists as Gainsborough, Romney or Raeburn, they are nevertheless 
a fine collection, covering as they do a period of over 300 years. 
Practically no part of the historic house was withheld from the curious, 
inspection of the visitors, who pryed into the very attics, and the final 
touch to a most charming visit was afforded by an ascent of the Tower,, 
from the roof of which a fine prospect over the well-timbered Park, and 
beyond over the Thames valley to the heights of North Kent, was enjoyed.. 
Taking leave of Lady Barrett-Lennard at about 6 o'clock, the visitors 
were conducted by Sir Thomas through the Park and kitchen garden 
and Oak Wood to Little Belhus farm, where Sir Thomas left us, accom¬ 
panied by the renewed thanks of the party. 
By favour of the owner, Mr. Manning, the oak-panelled Drawing 
Room and delightful enclosed garden of Little Belhus were inspected 
by the Party, which then hurried by field paths to Ockendon Station, 
where the 7.12 o'clock train to London (via Upminster) was duly caught,, 
and an end brought to a most enjoyable excursion. 
ANNUAL FUNGUS FORAY (506th MEETING). 
Saturday, i8th October 1919. 
The Annual Fungus Foray was held in Epping Forest on the above 
date, in ideal weather, the Forest being resplendent with autumnal tints—• 
a quite exceptional display, due to the long-continued fine, dry weather 
and the absence of wind. Members and friends in considerable numbers 
availed themselves of the opportunity to view the feast of colour which 
the woodlands offered, and some 100 persons joined the Foray, of whom 
no less than 57 were of the Morning, or chief working, Party. As on former 
occasions, some Members of the Gilbert White Fellowship, of the 
Toynbee Nat Hist. Society, and of the School Nature Study Union, were 
present by invitation of the Club. 
Unfortunately, the weather, which was so grateful to human kind, was 
by no means favourable to the growth of damp-loving fungi, and the 
woods, usually gay with toadstools of varying hues, were on this occasion 
almost bare of such. However, the paucity in numbers of the larger, 
more conspicuous Agarics led to more careful search for smaller specimens, 
and, as a result, some of the less-conspicuous ascomycetes and bark-fungi, 
which tend in normal seasons to be overlooked in the widespread display 
of their more conspicuous brethren,were sought out, so that the gatherings, 
as eventually laid out on the tables at the Headquarters, made by no 
means a poor display, and included some interesting forms. 
