234 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
be filled by searching through the wet undergrowth for the few terrestrial
species which were obtainable and supplementing this collection by the larger
arboreal kinds.
Groups of members took somewhat varying routes and thus made their
way to the Duke of Wellington Inn at High Beach. Here the spoils were
laid out in the usual manner and named by the experts. The seating accom-
modation was taxed to the utmost for thirty-four persons sat down to the
good tea provided by Mrs. Glass and at the conclusion of the meal the
party was reinforced by a number of student visitors from the South-
West Essex Technical College who stood at the back of the room during
the ensuing formal meeting.
Mr. W. Howard was elected to the chair and he commenced the proceed-
ings by referring to the loss suffered by the Club by the death on October 3rd
of one of its Vice-Presidents, Mr. D. J. Scourfield. He said that it was to
such gifted and industrious workers that the Club owed its reputation. He
commended his name with affectionate memory to those present and trusted
that others would be found to succeed him in similar devoted work. The
Chairman then extended a welcome to the expert visitors, Mrs. Balfour-
Browne, Professor Ingold and Doctor Gregory, and also to the student
visitors.
Mrs. D. M. Harris, of 41, Woodside Road, Woodford Green, was elected
to membership of the Club, and the names of a number of candidates for
membership were read.
Speaking of the fascination of the study of fungi, the Chairman related
the story of the lady who told a fungus enthusiast that she was not interested
in fungi. Said the enthusiast, "You soon will be, they grow on one!" He
then called on the experts for their comments on the day's collecting.
All were agreed in describing the number of species found as almost a
low record—a lamentable fact which was, of course, due to the dry summer
and autumn. Professor Ingold pointed out that most of those found were
growing on wood or were in communication with roots and were thus able to
draw upon the reserve of water which wood held in dry times.
Dr. Gregory referred to the work done on the new fungus of Sycamore
found in Wanstead Park by Mr. Waller and asked members to report any
further occurrence of this fungus. Data regarding its distribution was
urgently required, for upon this information would depend the measures
taken to combat the ravages of the fungus.
A list of the fungus species seen during the day has been kindly supplied
by Dr. Gregory. These totalled forty-six including the following species
which are not included in Pearson's Fungi of Epping Forest, or do not come
within the scope of that work:
Marasmius erythropus Boletus appendiculatus
Cantharellus aurantiacus Coryne sarcoides
Ustulina zonata (on Beech stumps)
Ustilago longissima (on Glyceria fluitans)
Claviceps purpurea (on Molinea caerulea)
Melampsoridium betulinum.
Mr. Ross reports that only the following six species of Mycetozoa were
found : Fuligo septica var. candida (the base of an aethalium), Stemonitis
fusca (several mouldy groups on one log), Lycogala epidendrum (the base of
an aethalium), Dictydium cancellatum (weathered but recognisable with a
hand lens), Arcyria pomiformis (four scattered and badly weathered spor-
angia, identified by microscopic examination) and Arcyria denudata (the
only species found in reasonably presentable condition).