lxxxiv Journal of Proceedings.
and local; he had placed it in Dr. Cooke's hands to work out; probably
it would prove to be a new species.
The Epping District seems most favourable for the growth of the
Lactarii; the speaker could record twenty species, and sixteen of the
genus Russula. Here the young botanist had a wide field for research, a
great reason for the exercise of the utmost care in his determinations, the
species being very numerous and very perplexing even to the experienced
student. When rambling through Monk Wood in the autumn in search
of Fungi, they might often encounter an ochraceous Russula, which had
long proved very puzzling both to the speaker and to Dr. Cooke. It was
only during the week of the Club's last "Foray'' that that crux was
overcome by Dr. Cooke, and the ochraceous plants resolved into three
distinct forms—Russula ochroleuca, R. citrina and R. fellea.
Mr. English had met with fourteen species of Boletus, but they could
not all be met with in one season. He had gathered a specimen of B.
satanas nine inches in diameter across the pileus, and some specimens of
B. piperatus only an inch in diameter. The most brilliant forest species
was B. rubinus, which was also the scarcest.
The genus Polyporus was pretty well represented, twenty-four species
being recorded as inabitants of their woodland districts. The species
presented more diversity of size and form than did those of preceding
genera. P. squamosus was a good example. Mr. English had gathered
a specimen over eighteen inches in diameter, but "Dr. Greville mentions
an instance of one attaining a circumference of seven feet five inches,
and weighing thirty-four pounds after having been cut four days. It
was only four weeks attaining these dimensions, thus acquiring nineteen
ounces per day" (see Cooke's ' Handbook '). The little P. pieipes was
an interesting plant, having a black stem, white pores, and a frondose
appearance unlike any other he knew. He had only met with it on two
occasions; like many other species it was only to be found in certain
years, and under very favourable circumstances. This remark applied to
other species of Fungi. Soon after the charcoal burning had ceased in
the Forest many species cropped up. Agaricus carbonarius could then be
seen -by thousands, but was now not to be found. Peziza sepiatra, then
new' to Britain, and others had now disappeared till the necessary condi-
tions of environment once more awoke them to life; and with such
changes working they might even look for the appearance of new forms
and species—at least new to the Forest Flora.
The President said that he had to submit to the meeting, for its approval
and confirmation, a resolution which had been drawn up by the Council
to express the views of the Society with reference to certain schemes to
be brought before Parliament in the Session of 1882. The resolution
was as follows:—
" That this Society respectfully requests the Conservators of Epping
Forest to oppose, on behalf of the large section of the population of
London and others interested in the study of Natural History, any Bill in
Parliament conferring upon another public body rights over portions
of the land placed in their care by the Epping Forest Act, which
directs that the Forest is to be preserved as far as possible in its natural
aspect; and in particular to oppose the Bill of the Lea Bridge, Leyton
and Walthamstow Tramways Company which proposes to obtain per-
manent running rights over a part of the Forest known as the ' Banger's
Road,' so depriving the Conservators of their powers over that portion of