THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 357
weather being perfect and the river banks looking their best in their attire of
early summer flowers. The scientific conductors were Prof. Boulger, F.L.S.,
Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb, F.L.S., and we were favoured with the presence of our
President, Mr. Rudler, F.G.S., Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., and Mr. J. A.
Clark, F.E.S. Stoppages were made from time to time to permit of botanising
on the banks and meadows. A great number of the commoner riverside plants
were noticed— and the great abundance of the yellow iris (Iris pseud-acorns), the
yellow mimulus (commonly called Mimulus luteus), the melilot (Melilotus
officinalis), and of tomato plants (!) on the rubbish-heaps forced themselves upon
the attention of even non-botanical visitors. A number of "nests" of the
Tortoiseshell butterfly (Vanessa urticae) were observed on the nettles by the water-
side. Some of informal demonstrations on the mollusca, insects and plants
were given on the deck of the barge.
Luncheon was taken at the Rye House, Hoddesdon, and afterwards an
Ordinary Meeting (the 231st) was held, the President in the chair.
Mr. Alfred Buxton was elected a member.
A paper on "The Uredineae and Ustilagineae of Essex," by Mr. F. J. Chitten-
den was read in abstract by Prof. Boulger. (This paper was printed ante pp.
283—294).
The Secretary read portions of a paper by Mr. F. W. Reader, entitled
"Wooden Water-pipes at Clerkenwell" (ante pp. 272—4).
Thanks were voted for these papers, and with some announcements of future
meetings, the business ended.
During the afternoon Prof. Boulger gave a very interesting address on
"Aquatic Plants," illustrated by several species obtained from the river, and Mr.
Wilfred Mark Webb gave a demonstration on Aquatic Mollusca, based on
examples obtained during the day.
Tea was served on board as on previous occasions, and the voyage terminated
at Enfield Lock, the bulk of the members taking train home, whilst others drove
by road to Woodford, Buckhurst Hill, etc.
THE ANNUAL FUNGUS FORAY.
Saturday, October 15th, 1904.
As frequently on previous occasions, the headquarters for this meeting were at
the "King's Oak" Hotel, High Beach, Epping Forest. The day was fine and
dry, and the numerous parties of collectors much enjoyed the ramble in the
autumnal woods. The experts on this occasion were Dr. M. C. Cooke, A.L.S.
Mr. George Massee, F.L.S., Mr. Arthur Lister, F.R.S., Miss G. Lister, and
Mr. A. Clarke, of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, from Huddersfield.
A short excursion had been made on the previous Thursday by the Hon.
Secretaries, and the specimens collected had been sent to the exhibition room,
together with those collected during the early part of the day on Saturday, so that
the examination and determination could be proceeded with at once. The ground
in the forest was very dry, and cracking in many places, so that the crop of fungi
was unusually small, and considerably reduced by the cold dry winds and recent
frosty nights. Notwithstanding all the drawbacks, no fewer than 100 species were
determined as the result of the foray, and amongst these were several species of
special interest. Of the latter may be mentioned a young specimen, about five