HERTFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
xlvii 
or vault with a brick-built and groined roof, adjoining the church¬ 
yard, and which was well known to one of the party in his earlier 
days, has almost entirely disappeared. A glimpse at the Rector’s 
garden elicited an exclamation of surprise at the beauty of the view 
from it of the surrounding country, now at its best. 
Continuing their walk through the village of Widford, the party 
proceeded to the opposite side of the valley in order to examine a 
large tumulus, or harrow. The mound is of considerable size, and 
is covered with a thick growth of underwood. Some of the party 
searched diligently for specimens of flint implements, hut unfortu¬ 
nately without success. This barrow has never yet been opened. 
Proceeding onwards, the walk was continued to Mardocks Station, 
whence Mr. Croft had very kindly arranged for his waggonette to 
convey the ladies to Panhams Hall. The remainder of the party 
followed, and were most hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. 
Croft, and a very pleasant hour was spent. 
Several botanical specimens of interest were found, the following 
being a few of the rarer species in this neighbourhood :— Epilolium 
angustifolium , Linaria spuria, Linaria minor , Parietaria officinalis , 
Reseda lutea , and Reseda luteola. 
Pield Meeting, 1st November, 1884. 
VERULAM WOODS AND GORHAMBURY PARK, ST. ALBANS. 
The object of this, the third annual Cryptogamic Meeting of the 
Society, was to investigate the fungi, mosses, etc., of the woods in 
the neighbourhood of Gorhambury Park. The members assembled 
at the London and North-Western Station, St. Albans, at two 
o’clock, meeting here Hr. Braithwaite, F.L.S., Dr. M. C. Cooke, 
A.L.S., and Mr. Worthington G. Smith, P.L.S. 
The Yerulam Woods were first visited, and a number of mosses 
and fungi were found in the fosse which bounded the north-western 
side of the City of Yerulam. On leaving these woods the Roman 
road known as Watling Street was traversed as far as its junction 
with the Hempstead Road, and a footpath across a field on the 
opposite side of this road was then taken. By the side of this 
footpath there is still standing a considerable block of the Roman 
wall of the municipium, on which grow several species of Tortula y 
and the “extinguisher moss,” Encalypta vulgaris , but, owing to 
the very dry weather, this moss was not now to be seen. A 
number of the well-known “ fairy-rings ” next attracted attention, 
and a plentiful supply was obtained of the edible fungus, Maras- 
mius oreades , which forms these rings by gradually spreading from 
a centre, and by its growth exhausting the soil of the nitrogenous 
matter necessary for its existence. 
That part of the old city fosse known as “The Hollows” was 
then traversed, and this damp grassy glade yielded a rich harvest 
to the fungologists. On leaving it some fields were crossed and 
Gorhambury Park was entered. After spending some time in 
