122 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Dictydiaethalium plumbeum (Schum.) Rost. Two perfectly-formed
clay-coloured aethalia of this rather uncommon species were found on
an old hornbeam log, which also displayed large developments of Trichia
varia and Arcyria incarnata var. fulgens.
Reticularia Lycoperdon (Bulliard). Two aethalia of this usually summer
species were found. In one of them, the unbroken cortex was deeply
impressed with the print of three toes of probably a squirrel's foot. This
impression must have been made when the aethalium was young ; it is
surprising that the latter should have received so little injury from its
forest visitor.
Lycogala epidendrum (L.) Fries. This is usually a summer species,
and it was interesting to find several groups of young coral-red aethalia,
as well as others in mature condition, on fallen trunks.
Trichia scabra Rost. On an old stump. This species is usually less
abundant than T. persimilis, to which it is very closely allied. Under a
microscope the orange-yellow spores are seen to be marked with a close
reticulation over two thirds of the surface.
T. varia Pers. Very abundant in all stages of development.
Arcyria denudata (L.) Sheldon. Quantities of both the white immature
sporangia and those that had acquired the crimson colour of maturity
were found on dead wood.
A. incarnata Pers. One typical specimen with pale pink sporangia was
obtained, and also a fine growth from three to four inches in diameter of
the bright red var. fulgens on a dead hornbeam; the columns of capillitium
are more flaccid than those of A. denudata, and separate at the slightest
breath from the sporangial cups.
Since our last Foray another species has been added to the Mycetozoa
known to occur in the Forest district. In August, the beautiful yellow
sporangia of Craterium aureum were found by Mr. J. Ross on dead holly
leaves near Chingford. This is, I think, a new record for the county.
Our Epping Forest Mycetozoa now number seventy-five species.
The Cryptogamic Foray, held on November 13th, was taken in the
Forest from Loughton by Monk Wood to Theydon Bois.
The recent cold weather had not been very propitious for Mycetozoa,
and the heavy rain that had fallen on the two previous days probably
washed away many delicate sporangia. With the help of a collection,
made by Mr. Ross on his walk to join the party from Chingford, nine
species were obtained, as follows:—
Physarum nutans Pers. A few sporangia of both the typical form and
var. robustum.
Leocarpus fragilis (Dicks.) Rost. Two rather ancient specimens on
grass stalks.
Didymium squamulosum (Alb. and Schw.) Fries. On dead holly leaves.
Colloderma oculatum (Lippert) G. Lister. Found on the bark of living
trees, and also on mossy turf (Campylopus pyriformis) apparently uncon-
nected with any wood, both in Monk Wood and near Theydon. The
minute sporangia were found in four different stages; in the early white
stage; in the olive-black "eye-like" stage, when the dark spore-mass is.
seen through the shining gelatinous envelope; in the later stage, when the
spore-mass enclosed by the membranous inner sporangium wall sits,