THE HISTORY OF MYCOLOGY IN ESSEX.
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1541 Cortinarius( Phlegmacium) decoloratus Fr. Epping, Mr. J.
English.
1559 Hygrophorus lacmus Fr. Epping, Mr. James English.
1775 Cortinarius (Dermocybe) decumbens Fr. In Woods.
Epping.
[Hymenogaster decorus Tul. B. & Br. in Ann. Mag. Nat.
Hist. 1846 p. 75.]
The last complete account of the fungi of this country is
M. C. Cooke's Handbook of British Fungi (1871). I have noted
only twelve species with Essex localities, and eight of these
refer to specimens given by Berkeley and Broome. The re-
maining ones are :—
Agaricus (Amanita) Ceciliae B. & Br. Common in Epping
Forest.
Agaricus (Flammula) carbonarius Fr. Epping.
Boletus calopus Fr. Epping Forest.
Boletus pachypus Fr. Epping Forest.
The modern study of Essex Fungi may be regarded as
beginning with the first fungus foray held by the Essex Field Club
over fifty years ago (Oct. 2nd, 1880). It was to be expected
that, "Epping being perhaps one of the best localities for the
larger Fungi in England," their study should be one of the first,
as it has been one of the most fruitful, of the Club's activities.
From that time until now practically every British mycologist
of note has attended one or more forays. M. C. Cooke, Wor-
thington G. Smith and James English acted as leaders of the
first one, and the High Sheriff and Verderer with more than
fifty members and friends "including several ladies "formed
the party. The proceedings were very similar to those we still
follow—with the exception that high teas were then in vogue
and the more substantial sustenance made for later hours,
there being a disinclination on the earlier forays to separate
until nine o'clock or so. M. C. Cooke in his remarks after tea
said "Since the collapse of the Fungus Meetings of the Royal
"Horticultural Society, lovers of these lowly plants had had no
"opportunity of meeting together for pleasant conversation
"and comparison of notes, and he was sure, should the meetings
"become an annual institution, they would be much appre-
"dated by metropolitan "botanists." The fungus meetings
of the Royal Horticultural Society here referred to were the