Journal of Proceedings. lxvii
most of the largest families of British Mosses, as well as some type speci-
mens, which were on exhibition, and which are now deposited in the
Museum of the Club. He also exhibited specimens demonstrating the
principal groups of British Lichens, and explained the leading charac-
teristics of each. He expressed himself as being somewhat disappointed
with the lichens he had met with in that day's excursion, and believed
that those who wished to explore the Lichen Flora of the county must go
farther afield. A number of rare lichens had been found by Mr. E. G.
Varenne, in the neighbourhood of Kelvedon, and he felt sure that a very
good list might be made out if Essex were systematically searched. So
far as his experience went it was of little use to look for lichens within
twenty miles of London. The immense volumes of smoke sent up by the
great city seemed to influence the atmosphere (probably being carried by
the prevailing winds) to that distance. The existence of lichens in a
healthy state on trees indicated a pure moist air. Lichens also liked wind
and light, consequently the trees on the outskirts of woods were generally
better clothed with them than those in the interior. These facts seemed
to militate against the Algal-Fungus (or Schwendenerian) theory of
lichens ; since Fungi as a rule shun the light, and moreover they are with
few exceptions ephemeral plants, while lichens are of very slow growth
and endure for many years. Fungi might be noticed in abundance in the
immediate neighbourhood of London, but lichens could not be found in a
perfect or healthy condition within many miles of that city. It was true
that Lecanora galactina, might be found on Kew Bridge or on walls in the
Caledonian Road ; but it speedily disappeared and became replaced by
mosses. It was a remarkable fact that hardly any lichenologists believed
in the Schwendenerian hypothesis, although it was accepted by several
vegetable physiologists of high repute. It was very instructive to observe
the stages in the growth of lichens in the course of a walk from London
towards the country. First the gonidial (or algal? ) state was met with
on trees, and then evidently the same plant showed an imperfect thallus,
and at last the perfect thallus and the fructification were met with at a
sufficient distance from town. If the lichen be a compound of fungus
and alga, it is the alga that appears nearest to London, and not, as might
be supposed, the fungus. Mr. Holmes had observed this development in
the case of Lecidea canescens in the course of a walk from Chislehurst to
Chelsfield. But although the list of lichens in Epping Forest was certain
to be a meagre one, the Moss Flora would probably well repay examination,
judging from the specimens met with during the day.
The party then adjourned to the exhibition room, where an hour or so
was agreeably and instructively spent in examining and determining the
large number of Fungi there displayed. Part of the gigantic Sparassis
had mysteriously disappeared (vide ' Gardeners' Chronicle'), but enough
remained to allow many mycologists to carry off slices as mementos of
our Fungus Foray of 1881.