
82 




























: REV. CANON DU PORT. 
Another of the older generation of British Mycologists has 
passed away in the person of the Rev. Canon Du Port, who died at 
Denver Rectory, in the County of Norfolk, on 21st February, 1899. 
James Mourant Du Port, the son of James Du Port, Assistant 
Treasurer of the States of Guernsey, was born at St. Peter’s Port on — 
14th April, 1832. He was educated at Elizabeth College, from 
whence he obtained a scholarship at Caius College, Cambridge. He 
took his B.A. in 1855, being tenth wrangler and subsequently became 
Dean of his College. He was Hebrew Lecturer from 1855 to 1862. 
In the latter year he was appointed to the vicarage at Mattishall, 
where he remained till 1884, when he became Rector of Denver. In 
1881 he was made Honorary Canon of Norwich and in 1890 Rural 
Dean. ‘Throughout his life he was keenly interested in Natural 
Science. For a long series of years he conducted meteorological 
observations both at Mattishall and Denver. His greatest pleasure, 
however, was in the study of botany. Not only did he possess 4 
sound practical knowledge of the phanerogams of his own country, 
but also the floras of France and Switzerland, as well as that of Egypt, 
received his attention. He was best known however asa fungologist, 
and for many years was a regular attendant at the Fungus Forays of 
the Woolhope Club, of which Field Club he was an honorary member. 
His knowledge of Latin was greatly appreciated by his fellow-mem- 
bers, and it was always at their service, for he spared no trouble in 
hopians. For many years he was a member of the Société Mycologique 
de France, and attended several of the forays, notably in 1887, 1891 
and 1896, where his knowledge of the French language stood him in 
good stead, for he was as much appreciated there as here. Mainly 
interested in the Hymenomycetes there was nothing in the shape of 
fungus which came amiss to him. One of the species found by him 
at Mattishall—Russula Du Portii—was named after him ; it is figure 
in Cooke’s Illustrations, pl. 1,042. 
He contributed the following papers :-— 
“On some species of Tricholoma not easily distinguished,” Wool. 
Trans., 1883. 

