7° 
THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
strong terms of the fallacy of supposing that there was any rule 
whatever for discriminating between edible and poisonous species 
These respective characters could be learnt by anyone who would 
take the trouble to master a few details and exercise a proper 
amount of care in identifying specimens. Many edible species 
were unmistakable when their “ points ” were known. But apart 
from the gastronomic value of fungi, they possessed an interest 
from their often beautiful forms and colours, which added greatly 
to the pleasure of a woodland ramble, while the tougher and 
harder kinds might be readily dried and preserved. An excellent 
little guide to the student of the larger fungi was that recently 
issued at the modest sum of fourpence by the directors of the 
British Museum, South Kensington. On October 16th, at 8 p.m., 
a “ gossip meeting,” the first of the season, will be held, when 
papers will be read on matters relating to fruits and seeds, and, 
it is hoped, fully discussed. On November 6th, Mr. AY. B. 
Baskerville will deliver a lecture entitled “ Geography and Civili¬ 
sation. ” 
The Practical Naturalists’ Society. — We propose to send 
out again some circulating M.S. magazines and trust one for 
Ornithology will be ready immediately. Will members desirous 
of being included in the “ round ” let us know at once. Among 
the others contemplated are one for Geology (including pre¬ 
historic archaeology), Entomology, Botany and Microscopy. AA T e 
are desirous of sending round a box of slides with the last and 
should like to have a postal box of specimens accompanying the 
Entomological Circulation. We shall be glad to have names for 
all these, or any others, and as soon as we have, say, a dozen will 
send them off. Each member will be expected to add something 
tothe ever-accumulating store of information each circulation, 
will contain, and photos and drawings will always be welcomed 
whether for loan or to be afterwards added to the Society's 
Eibrary. The Secretary is anxious to make the Circulating M.S. 
Magazines as useful and interesting as possible and hopes that 
in this he will have the co-operation of every member. They 
will dispel the ennui of a long winter’s evening to many an isolated 
naturalist in a remote country district, and those whom inclement 
weather is keeping indoors can “ fight their battles over again ” 
by recounting their doings in the natural history way last summer, 
for the benefit of their brother or sister entomologists, ornitholo¬ 
gists, etc. In fact gossiping letters are just what we want in these 
projected, or rather revived, Circulating M.S. Magazines. — Albert 
H. Waters, b. a., Hon. Secretary. 
Jack Snipe at Fulham. —On Wednesday last, Mr. ]. Chill 
shot a beautiful Jack Snipe on Mr. Morrison’s farm. It is beau¬ 
tifully marked, and is a very rare bird in the neighbourhood of 
Fulham.--- Fulham Advertiser , October zoth. 
