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III.—-A List of Species of Mycetozoa recorded from
Essex.
The following species of Mycetozoa recorded for Essex
were gathered almost entirely in the Epping Forest district.
No doubt, if other parts of the county having different ecological
conditions could be searched, a much richer harvest would be
obtained. The specimens were found chiefly by my father
and myself, with the help, from time to time, of a number of
kind assistants. Among these I may mention Mr. Thomas
Petch, who for several years was a very successful ' myxo-
hunter ' in the Forest. When, in 1904, he went to Ceylon to
act as mycologist to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya,
Mr. Petch continued his valuable observations on Mycetozoa,
the results of which he published in the form of a descriptive
list of the Mycetozoa of Ceylon.11 Other keen observers of
our forest Mycetozoa are Miss A. Hibbert-Ware, F.L.S., and Mr.
Joseph Ross. Miss Hibbert-Ware has paid attention to Mycetozoa
for sixteen years, and by the charm and inspiration of her teach-
ing has shared their interest with many others. Since 1912,
she has worked at the subject in Essex. For the last four
years, Mr. Ross has been so good as to send me monthly lists
of the species he has seen about Chingford. The amount of
continuous observation involved in making these lists has
been no light work, and has resulted in fresh light being thrown
on the seasonal appearance of the various species, and in several
additions to the county records.
The list of Mycetozoa found in Essex which is given below
numbers eighty-eight species, not including varieties. Among
them mention is made of a new species, Comatricha fimbriata,
which was found first by Mr. Raymond Finlayson in Wanstead
Park. A full description of this novelty, with a portrait, has
appeared in the Journal of Botany.12
In order to compare the Essex Mycetozoa (1) with those
found in other parts of Britain, I append also tables showing
the records obtained (2) from the counties of Bedfordshire,
Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire, (3) from Somerset
11 See Annals of the Roy. Bot. Garden, Peradeniya, vol. iv., pt. vi (1910).
12 Op. cit, vol. lv., p. 122, pl. 548, figs, 2, 2a-2d.
D