Journal of Proceedings. lxi
Quarter Sessions, to make an order extending or varying the close
time. No doubt those sportsmen and naturalists who resided in
Essex would be the best judges of the period which would be most
suitable in their own county ; and from what he knew of Col. Russell's
capabilities and long experience in matters relating to wild-fowl, he
felt sure that his proposed application to vary the close time would not
be made without good reason.
The President was sure the Club was much obliged to Mr. Harting
for his remarks ; few naturalists had a better right to speak with
authority on the subject, and he proposed that the Secretary be
requested to write to Col. Russell with reference to this matter.
The Secretary thought that the great thing to be agitated for was a
close time for all birds without exception. At present the Act was
almost nugatory; it was simply impossible in most cases to prove
legally that a Hedge-popper or Bird-catcher was trapping or murder-
ing any particular species, and so a beneficent Act had become almost
a dead-letter in the law.
Mr. English exhibited a large number of species of Fungi, both in a
fresh and preserved state, belonging to the Agaricini and Polyporei for
the purpose of illustrating some remarks he had drawn up on the
connecting links which united these two orders of the family Hymeno-
mycetes. Among the species exhibited were Polyporus fomentarius, from
which Amadou or German tinder is made, the fungus being cut into
slices, dried and beaten until soft; Polyporus lucidus from Hornbeam,
interesting as being a cosmopolitan species, and Lenzites betulina from
Birch stumps. Mr. English exhibited also a specimen of Osmylus
chrysops. L., a pretty insect belonging to the Hemerobidae, which had
flown into his shop in August last. It is generally found amongst
hedges, seeming to prefer stony rapid streams fringed with alders.
Mr. Cole had taken it in New Forest, but had not observed it at
Epping.
Mr. Argent exhibited, on behalf of Master G. Watkins, a specimen of
Vanessa antiopa (the "Camberwell-beauty" butterfly), taken near Ilford
during the last week in August.
Mr. W. C. Barnes exhibited some pieces of a felt-like substance
which had been found closely covering some hot-water pipes in his
house. It had every appearance of being the work of spiders.
The Secretary presented, on behalf of Sir J. Clarke Jervoise, Bart.,
a collection of Mosses and Lichens made by Richard Warner (1711-
1775), author of" Plantae Woodfordienses." He thought that the Club
was much indebted to Sir J. C. Jervoise for another copy of the above-
named work, and also for his kind present of the Herbarium.
Although the latter was perhaps of no great scientific value, it was
extremely interesting as a memento of an Essex worthy—a quiet
"ingenious" country gentleman, who, at a time when botanical studies