230
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
fungi on the occasion, intensive search by our enthusiastic hunters was
rewarded by a goodly gathering of specimens. Species of Russula were
frequent, as was Stropharia aeruginosa, while the abundance of Craterellus
cornucopioides was marked in certain places : on the other hand, there
was a remarkable scarcity of certain forms which in other years have been
in profusion, such as the species of Boletus, Hydnum repandum and
Amanita muscaria. Among ,the more interesting forms met with
may be mentioned Hydnum ericetorum, Helvella lacunosa, H. crispa,
Mutinus caninus and Daedalea unicolor.
Tea was taken at the headquarters, the Roserville Retreat, Highbeach,
at 4.30 o'clock, after which a meeting of the Club was held, with Miss G.
Lister, F.L.S., in the chair.
The Chairman remarked that we had present with us Mr. Carleton
Rea, author of the well-known standard work on the British Basidiomycetae,
and invited him to make some remarks on the day's results. Mr. Rea
commented on the scarcity of the Boleti and Cortinarii : he thought the
latter might be more in evidence a fortnight later. Hypholoma
lachrymabundum was an interesting form found that day : but generally
the yield was quite an ordinary one.
Mr. Pearson called attention to several forms of Cortinarius which lav
on the display tables. In connection with the numbers of Craterellus
cornucopioides met with, he reminded us that the French call this fungus
the "Trompette des morts" because of its usual abundance on All Souls'
Day. He had seen a Lettish woman collecting various funguses which
included specimens of Russula emetica (!), for pickling.
Mr. Ramsbottom, in outlining the usual classification of the
Agarics, noted the abundance of Laccaria laccata that day. He urged
the study of the life history of individual species of fungi.
Miss Lister expressed the regret of the meeting at Mr. Gould's
enforced absence owing to illness. She reported that the foray had
yielded twenty-two species of myxomycetes, which might be considered
a quite satisfactory total, and which included Colloderma oculatum in
immature condition. As illustrating the advisability of growing on
immature forms at home until they reached maturity, she referred to
last year's discovery of Licea pusilla, then new to Essex.
Hearty thanks to the several conductors and referees brought the
meeting to a close.
Mr. Pearson later reported that a total of 150 Basidiomycetes had
been recorded during the day : they included the following forms, which
are new records for Epping Forest, viz. :—
Pleurotus lignatilis Fr.
Collybia leucocephala (Fr) Bres
(= Tricholoma, leucocephalum Fr.)
Tricholoma murinaceum (Bull.) Fr.
Lactarius picinus Fr.
Russula xerampelina Schaeff., var. fusca Metz. and Zv.
Pluteolus aleuriatus Fr.
and Psathyra gossypina (Bull.) Fr.