220 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
many of the specimens gathered (in default of better) were either dwarfed by
deficiency of moisture, or had been discoloured by the midnight frosts. We
found that the woods to the north of Epping were the most productive, and par-
ticularly a somewhat damp bit of forest on the left-hand of the road leading to
Weald Gullet. We were twice cheered by the sight of some of the forest deer ;
once near the "Wake Arms," and again in Honey Lane Quarters, the latter
apparition comprising two fine bucks. At High Beach a party of keepers and
onlookers were discovered much exercised as to the best method of regaining
some lost ferrets ; the eager little animals had been sent into the rabbit burrows
in the old warren on the brow of the high ground near the "King's Oak,''
and, probably finding a well-furnished larder below, had refused to re-appear
at the call of their owner, charmed he never so wisely ! No flowering plants
worthy of note were gathered, but the woods in the soft sunlight were gayer
than any garden, glowing with the rich red, russet, and golden tints of the
fading foliage of the beeches, hawthorns and brackens. On taking the hampers
containing the day's gatherings to the head-quarters for the meeting, the "Roebuck
Inn,'' on Buckhurst Hill, we found good contributions of specimens awaiting
us from Mr. Wire, who had searched the forest about Wanstead and Wood-
ford ; from Mr. C. Oldham, who had hunted more particularly at High Beach
and Monk's Wood, and from Mr. C. Hundley, whose basket had mainly been
filled at Loughton.
On the Saturday, the various parties of visitors were driven to High Beach,
collecting there, and in Monk's Wood, Loughton Camp, etc. As the gather-
ings were brought up to the Inn, they were closely examined by Dr. Cooke
and Mr. Massee, and from the combined contributions of members, too numerous
for individual notice, a very fair series of named specimens was gradually
amassed and arranged upon the tables devoted to the fungi. A minute criticism
of the specimens enabled Dr. Cooke to report that the additions made to the
Essex list during the two days' hunting, although but few (seven in number), were
not without interest. Amongst them was Cortinarius brunneus, Fr., of which
the typical form has, perhaps, not been found in Britain, and if so, had certainly
not been recorded since the time of Withering. The other additions to the local
flora were : Agaricus (Clitocybe) catinus, Fr., ; Cortinarius hemitrichus, Fr, ; Cor-
tinarius dolabratus, Fr.; Cortinarius torvus, Fr. ; Hygrophorus russo-coriaceus,
B. & B. ; and Sphaerobolus stellatus, Fr. Thus making, with those above recorded
as having been found on October 15th, the substantial contribution of thirteen
species and one variety to the Epping Forest list—certainly by no means an un-
satisfactory result in view of the paucity of fungi prevailing not only in England,
but in France also, during the exceptionally arid and unfavourable season of
1887.1
In addition to the gatherings of fresh fungi, four ranges of tables in the great
room at the "Roebuck" were very completely filled with interesting collections of
dried plants, and other specimens, kindly brought up to the meeting by members
and friends. Mr. F. J. Hanbury, F.L.S., exhibited a series of the British
Hieracia, or "Hawkweeds," forming part of his magnificent collection of species
1 Our last published list of the Epping Forest fungi was that compiled by Dr. Cooke and Mr.
English in 1882 (Trans. Essex Field Club, vol. ii. (1882), pp. 181-91). Many additions have since
been made to this, but the notes are still in manuscript. We think that the time is about come for
the publication of an extended and revised catalogue, and we hope, by the kindness of Dr. Cooke, to
be enabled to print such a list in the Essex Naturalist before the arrival of next year's fungus
season.—Ed.