M

1909 VOL. XXIII. 1910

THE

OTTAWA NATURALIST,

Being Volume XXV. of the

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB.

Organized March, 1879. , Incorporated March, 1884.

(The ©ttawa JfielD^IRaturaliete' Club.

Patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

douncil 1909=1910
IPresiOcnt :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

D(ce»pre0iOent0:

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

ILlbrarlan :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street).

(Central Experimental Farm).

LIST OF MEMBERS OF
THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB.

1909 - 1910

Adams, Prof. F. D., M.Sc, Ph.D.

(Montreal).
Ami, H. M., M.A., D.Sc, F.G.S.,

F.R.S.C.
Ami, Mrs. H. M.
Ami, S. T.

Anderson, Miss Constance.
Anderson, James R. (Victoria,

B.C.)
Anderson, Lieut. -Col. W. P., C.E.
Attwood, A. E., M.A.

Baker, .R. M., B.S.A.

Baldwin, J. W.

Ballantyne, James.

Bangs, J. S.

Barber, H. G.

Barlow, A. E., M.A., D.Sc.
F.G.S.A. (Montreal).

Bate, Miss Marjorie St. H. (East-
bury, Watford, Eng.)

Beaupre, Edwin, (CJkotoks, Alta.)
Bell, Robert, B.A.Sc, M.D., LL.D.,

F.R.S., F.R.S.C, F.G.S.A.
Bennett, Miss K. E.
Bennett, L. H., (Regina).
Bentley. Miss W. K.
Billings, C. M.
Billings, W. R.
Binnie, T. H., B.S.A.
Blackader, Dr. E. H.
Blackadar, Lloyd.
Blackball, John, (Toronto).
Bond, W.

Borden, Hon. Sir F. W,, M.D.
Bowen, Miss Alice, (Quebec).
Bradshaw, G. IL (Morden, Man.)
Brainerd, Dwight, (Montreal).
Brewster, W. (Cambridge, Mass.)
Brittain, John, (MacdonaW Colli pi\

Que.)
Brock, R. W., M.A.

Brown, Mrs. R. D.

Brown, W. J. (Westmount, Que.)

Brown, T. A.

Bruce, L. (Rossland, B.C.)

Bryce, P. H., M.D.

Burgess, T. J. W., M.D., F.R.S.C.

(Montreal).
Burt, Miss F. M.

Calder, Alex. (Winnipeg).

Cameron, E. R., M.A.

Cameron, Roy.

Camsell, C, B.A.

Carter, J. J.

Carson, W. H.

Casson, Rev. C. W.

Campbell, D. A., B.A.

Campbell, A. M.

Campbell, J. G. (Magog, Que.)

Campbell, R. H.

Carman, Mrs. F. W.

Clark, G. H., B.S.A.

Clarke, T. E., B.A., B. Pacd.

Cobbold, Paul A. (Haileybury,

Ont.)
Cole, H. W.

Cole, John (Westboro', Ont.,
Collins, J. Franklin (Providence,

R.I.)
Collins, W. H.
Connor, M. F., B.Sc.
Cote, J. C.
Crabtree, C. A.

Craig, Prof. John (Ithaca, X.Y.)
Cram, A. S.

Criddle, N. (Treesbank, Man.)
Currie, P. W.
Curry, Miss E. E.

Dawson, S. E., C.M.G., Ltt.D.,

F.R.S.C.
Dearness, J., M.A. (London, Ont.)
Beam, C. C. (Bluffton, Ind.)
Den^psev, J. H. C. (Hamilton).
Dent, W. A. (Sarnia, Ont.)
Dewar, Miss Ethel.
Director, Christian Brothers'

Academy.
Dixon, F. A.
Dowling, D. B., B.A.Sc.
Dulau & Co., (London, Eng.)
Dunne, J. P.
Dwight, Jonathan, Jr., M.D. (New

York).

Eddv, E. D., B.S.A.

Eifrig, Rev. G.

Ells, R. W., LL.D., F.G.S.A.,

F.R.S.C.
Evans, Jno. D., C.E. (Trenton,

Ont.)

Ewing, W. C, M.A.
Ewart. D.

Farley, Miss J. E.

Farley, F. L. (Red Deer, Alta.)

Farr, Miss E. M. (Philadelphia).

Finn, J. P., B.A.

Fisher, Hon. Sydney A.

FitzHenry, W. (Myrtle, Man.)

Fitzpatrick, Hon. Chas.

Fleck, A. W.

Fleming, J. H. (Toronto).

Fleming, R. F.

Fleming, Sir Sandford, K.C.M.G.,

C.E., F. R.C.I. , F.R.S.C.
Eraser, Geo., (Ucluelet, B.C.)

Gallup, A. H.
Gibson, Arthur.
Gibson. J. W., B.A.
Gilbertson, Miss B.
Glashan, J. C, LL.D., F.R.S.C.
Gorman, M. J., LL.B.
Graham, W.

Grant, Sir J. A., K.C.M.G., M.D.,
F.R.C.S. Edin., F.R.S.C, F.G.S.
Grenfell, Miss C. P., B.A.
Gnsdale, J. H., B.At^^r.
Grist, Miss Mary L.
Groh, H., B.S.A.

Haldane, Miss Maude.

Halkett, Andrew.

Hamilton, Mrs. F. L. H.

Hampson, E., B.A.

Hann, H. A. (Summit, N.J.)

Harcourt, Geo. (Edmonton, Alta.)

Hargrave, Miss I. (Sherbrooke, Q.)

Harmer, Miss G. (Entwistle, Alta.)

Harrington, W. Hague, F.R.S.C.

Harrison, Lieut. -Col. Edward.

Hart, F. C, B.S.A.

Harvey, R. V. (Victoria, B.C.)

Hay, George, Sr.

Hav, G. U., D.Sc, M.A., Ph.B.,

F.R.S.C. (St. John, N.B.)
Hayes, J. A., (Calgary).
Hennessev, F. C. .
Herriot, W. (Gait, Ont.)
Hewit, H. O.
Hodge, C. F., Ph.D. (Worcester,

Mass.)
Hodson, F. W.
Hope, James.

Houghton, J. A. (Bennington, Vt.)
Hunt, Miss L. E.

Ide, Wm, ^..4.

Irwin, Lieut. -Col. D. T.

Irvin, Ward M.

Jackson, Miss Queenie.

Jacobs, Miss C. M. (Hamilton,

Ohio).
Jacombe, F. W. H., M.A., M.F.
Johnson, Miss A. E.
Jamieson, Thos., B.A.
James, C. C, M.A. (Toronto).
James, H. C.
Jenkins, S. J., B.A.
Jennings, O. E. (Pittsburg, Pa.)
Johnston, W. A., B.Sc.
Johnstone, Miss A.
Jones, Harold (Maitland, Ont.)
Jones, J. W., B.A., (Macdonald

College, Que.)

Kearns, J. C.

Keefer, Thos. C, C.M.G., C.E.,

F.R.S.C.
Keele, J., B.A.Sc.
Kingston, A. G.
Klotz, Dr. Otto.
Klugh, A. B. (Kingston).
Knechtel, A.

Labarthe, J. (Trail, B.C.)

Lajeunesse, Rev. J. A.

Lainbart, Hon. O. H.

Lambart, The Hon. Mrs.

Lambe, L. M., F.G.S., F.G.S.A.,
F.R.S.C.

Latchford, Hon. F. R., B.A.

Lee, Miss K. G. (CHnton, N.Y.)

Lees, Miss V.

Lemieux, E. E.

Le Sueur, E. A.

Le Sueur, Miss Helen.

Letourneau, Jos. A.

Lewis, J. B., C.E.

Levden, Miss M.

Lochhead, W., B.A., M.Sc. (Mac-
donald College, Que.)

Lyman, H. H., M.A. (Montreal).

McCready, Prof. S. B. (Guelph).
McDougall, Miss J. C.
McDunnough, Jas. (Berlin, Ger-
many).
McElhmney, M. P.
McElhinney, Dr. M. G.
McElroy, Rev. W. A.
McGill.'A., B.A., B.Sc.
McGillivray, H.
Mcllmoyle, Miss M.
Mclnnes, Wm., B.A.
McLeod, Miss M. F.
McMillan, H. R., B.S.A.
McMillan, Thos. (Seaforth).
McNeill, Alex.

McNeill, Miss F. J. (Toronto).
McVeigh, Miss K.
MacCraken, John I., B.A.

MacKay, A. H., LL.D., B.Sc.

F.R.S.C. (Halifax).
MacLaughlin, T. J.
Macnamara, C. (Arnprior).
Macoun, Prof. John, M.A., F.L.S.

F.R.S.C.
Macoun, J. M.
Macoun, W. T.
Malcolm, Jno. (Fergus, Ont.)
Mallock, G. S., B.A.
Matthews, Miss Annie L.
Megill, W. H. T., B.A.
Meldrum, A. E.
Metcalfe, W.
Michaud, Geo.
Millar, H. H. (Chicago).
Miller, Prof. W. G. (Toronto).
Milne, Wm.

Moore, W. H. (Scotch Lake, N.B.)
Morris, F. J. A. (Port Hope, Ont.)
Morris, H. U.
Moule, Mi.ss F., B.A.
Munro, J. A. (Toronto).
Murphy, John.
Murray, James, B.S.A. (Brandon,

Man.)

•Nash, C. W. (Toronto).
Nelles, D. H., D.L.S.
Newcombe, C. F., M.D. (Victoria,

B.C.)
Newman, L. H., B.S.A.
Nieuwland, Rev. Prof. J. A., (Notre

Dame, Ind.)

O'Brien, S. E.
Odell, W. S.
Orde, J. F.
O'Sullivan, Owen.

Perney, F. E., B.A.

Pitts, H. H.

Poole, T. C.

Power, ]. F., B.A. (Toronto).

Prince, Prof. E. E., B.A.. F.L.S.

Putman, J. H., B.A., B. Paed.

Raine, Walter (Toronto).
Raynor, T. G., B.S.A.
Richard, Rev. A. E.
Ritchie, Miss Isabella.
Robertson, C. N.
Robertson, Prof. J. W., LL.D.

(Macdonald College, Que.)
Robinson, Miss M.
Robinson, Hiram.
Rodman, Miss A. E.
Rose, C.
Rush, M. L., B.A.

Saunders, Wm., C.M.G., LL.D..

F.G.S., F.L.S., F.R.S.C.
Saunders, W. E. (London, Ont.)

Saunders, H. S. (Toronto).

Scott, Geo. Inglis.

Scott, Mrs. G. I.

Scott, Norman M.

Scott, John A.

Scott, Harry S.

Scott, Miss Mary McKay.

Scott, W., B.A. (Toronto).

Scott, Rev. C. T. (Montreal, Que.)

Seton, E. Thompson (Coscob,

Conn.)
Shannon, Frank.
Shearman, F. J. W.
Shutt, F. T., M.A., F.I.C., F.C.S.,
F.R.S.C.

Simpson, Willibert.

Sinclair, S. B., B.A., Ph.D. (Mac-
donald College, Que.)

Skales, Howard (Mt. Forest, Ont.)

Small, H. Beaumont, M.D.

Smvthe, J. E.

Snider, W. W.

Soper, John.

Sowter, T. W. E.

Souliere, O.

Spence, J. C, B.A.

Spencer, A. G. , M.S.

Spreckley, R. O.

St. Jacques, H.

Summerbv, Wm. J., M.A. (Rus-
sell, Ont.)

Sutherland, J. C, B.A. (Richmond,
Que.)

Sutton, Mrs. L. L.

Swaine, J. M. (Macdonald College,
Que.)

Symes, P. B.

Taylor, F. B. (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Terrill, L. M. (Montreal).
Thompson, R.
Thompson, Rev. B. W., B.A.

Thorne, Janies, B.A.
Topley, Mrs. W. J.
Tufts, H. F.

Tyrrell, J. B., B.A., B.Sc, F.G.S.,
F.G.S.A. (Toronto).

Venables, E. P. (Vernon, B.C.)

Waddell, Miss K. F.

Walker, B. E., F.G.S. (Toronto).

Walker, E. M., B.A., M.B.

(Toronto).
Walker, Bryant (Detroit).
Wallace, J. S. (Toronto).
Wallis, J. B. (Winnipeg, Man.)

Warwick, F. W., B.Sc. (Bucking-
ham, Que.)

Weld, Wm. E.

Weston, T. C, F.G.S.A.

Whelen, Peter.

Whelen, Miss A.

White, E. G.

White, George R.

Whfte, James (Snelgrove, Ont.)

White, J. F., M.A., LL.D.

White, Lieut. -Col. W., C.M.G.

Whiteaves, J. F., LL.D., F.G.S.,
F.R.S.C., F.G.S.A.

Whyte, Miss Ida.

AVhyte, Miss Isabella.

Whyte, R. B.

Wight, E. C.

Williams, Miss M. B., B.A.

Williams, J. B. (Toronto).

Willing, T. N. (Regina, Sask.)

Wilson, Morley E.

Wilson, Miss L. (Toronto).

Wilson, W. J., Ph.B.

Wilson, E. (Armstrong, B.C.)

Winchester, H. S.

Young, C. H.
Young, Wm., B.Sc.

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

Bethune, Rev. C. J. S., A^LA., D.C.L., F.R.S.C, Guelph, Ont.
Greene, Dr. E. L., United States National Museum, Washington, D.C.
Hill, Albert J., M.A., C.E., New Westminster, B.C.
Holm, Theodor, Ph.D., Brookland, Washington, D.C, U.S.
Merriam, Dr. C. Hart, Department of Agriculture, Washington, U.S.
Smith, Prof. John B., D.Sc, Rutger's College, New Brunswick, N.J.
Taylor, Rev. G. W., M.A., F.R.S.C, F.Z.S., Nanaimo, B.C.
WiCKHAM, Prof. H. F.. Iowa City^ Iowa, U.S.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, APRIL. 1909 No. 1

THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE OTTAWA

FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB FOR THE YEAR

ENDING MARCH 16tii, 1909.

Membership.

With the view of increasing the membership, a letter was
prepared, outlining the work of the Club, and copies of this
letter were sent to persons known to be interested in such work.
During the year, 47 new members have been elected, making the
present membership 321, composed of 313 Ordinary Members
and 8 Corresponding Members. This represents a net gain of 30
for the year, and makes the present membership the largest in
the history of the Club.

Soirees.

Acting on the suggestion of Dr. J. F. White, Principal of
the Normal School, the various scientific and literary societies
prepared a joint lecture programme for the year 1908-1909.
The object was to provide a series of lectures of somewhat
popular interest to be given at intervals of two weeks in the
Assembly Hall of the Normal School. The plan has been com-
pletely successful. There has been no clashing of dates as in
former years, the various societies have been brought into
closer relationship, and large audiences have marked the entire
course.

The societies under whose auspices addresses have been
given are: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club, The Literary
and Scientific Society, The Royal Astronomical Society, The
Women's Art Association, The Women's Historical Association,
The Dickens' Fellowship, McGill University Club, Queen's Uni-
versity Club, Toronto University Club, and The Normal School.
Those who lectured under our auspices were Dr. A. P. Knight,
of Queen's Universitv, and Dr. Jas. Robertson. C.M.G.. Principal
of Ivlacdonald College. Dr. Knight read an able paper on
December 11th on the subject of "Water and Disease

8 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

Robertson spoke on February Sth on "The Call of the Land,"
and by special request gave a twenty-minute talk on the work
of Macdonald College. This meeting was graced by the presence
of His Excellency the Governor- General, who moved the vote
of thanks to the lecturer, which in turn was seconded by Hon.
Sydney Fisher, Minister of Agriculture.

As in former years, the Soirees Committee prepared a pro-
gramme of fortnightly meetings. It was their sad duty to make
the first of these a Memorial Meeting for the late Dr. James
Fletcher. Lt.-Col. Wm. White, C.M.G., the first president of the
Club, acted as chairman, and tributes were paid to the memory
of our lamented leader by Mr. A. E. Attwood, Lt.-Col. Wm. White,
Dr. Wm. Saunders, Mr. W. H. Harrington, Mr. R. B. Whyte,
Mr. Arthur Gibson, Prof. John Macoun, Dr. H. M. Ami, Prof.
F. T. Shutt, Rev. C. G. Eifrig, Mr. E. R. Cameron, Mr. T. J.
MacLaughlin, Mr. W. J. Topley and Dr. S. B. Sinclair. Verbatim
reports of these tributes appear in the Fletcher Memorial Number
of The Ottawa Naturalist.

On January Sth, Rev. C. G. Eifrig gave an address in the
Normal School on "Our Canadian Birds." The lecture was
illustrated with the Bickmore series of lantern slides on this
subject, which were kindly lent by McGill University for this
special lecture. Mr. Eifrig's address was rich in material gained
by actual observation in the field, and his talk was follow-
ed with keen interest bv an audience that completely filled the
large Assembly Hall.

On January 19th, Mr. Thos. W. Sowter read a paper on
"Algonquin and Huron Occupation of the Ottawa Valley."
Mr. Sowter, who has done excellent research work in the district,
presented three distinct sets of evidence to prove that the Hurons
had occupied portions of the Ottawa Valley. The lecturer opened
up a field that was new to most of the audience, and his paper
was also a masterly literary effort. This paper is to be published
in The Ottawa Naturalist.

Prof. R. W. Brock, Director of the Geological Survey,
delivered "A Popular Address on Minerals" on February 16th.
Prof. Brock's lecture was made specially interesting by means of
his excellent use of a large number of specimens.

March 2nd was "Ladies' Night" on the programme, a
pleasing innovation. Miss M. McKay Scott spoke on "Stories
about Flowers and their Healing Powers," dealing particularly
with the part flowers have played as s^^mbols and emblems from
the earliest times of the race. Miss Florence Burt followed with a
paper on "Mimicry in Nature." Various interesting examples of

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 9

mimicry in the animal world were described and the underlying
principles were dealt with in a skilful manner. Miss B. Gilbert-
son, the third speaker, told " How to Become a Field-Naturalist."
Miss Gilbertson treated the question from a psychological stand-
point, tracing clearly the development of the spirit that produces
the field-naturalist.

The final lecture of the course, "The Weather" is to be
delivered this evening by Mr. A. McNeill, one of the leaders of the
Meteorological Branch.

Under the joint auspices of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists'
Club and the Ottawa Teachers' Association, an address on
Forestry was given by Mr. A. Knechtel, Inspector of Dominion
Forest Reserves, in the Normal School on February 26th, with
Dr. J. C. Glashan, Inspector of the Ottawa Public Schools, in
the chair. The large audience present listened to one of the most
interesting addresses ever given before the Club. The address
Vv-as illustrated with a collection of remarkably fine slides, a
special lantern having been secured for the occasion.

Excursions.

In prcA-ious years it has often been found necessary to
cancel an excursion completely because of rain. In order to
obviate this, the Excursions Committee of the present Council
announced in the April number of The Ottawa Naturalist that
on rainy Saturdays the Club would meet in turn at the Fisheries
Museum, the Seed Division, and the Geological Survey. The
time of meeting for sub-excursions was changed from 3 o'clock
to 2.30, and the Council is pleased to note that the change has
proved acceptable to the members of the Club.

The following programme, embracing the names of a number
of localities that had not been visited by the Club in recent years,
was drawn up for the spring excursions :

April 25th, Rockliffe.

May 2nd, Beechwood.

May 9th, Queen's Park, Aylmer. ■

May 16th, Beaver Meadow.

May 23rd, Ironsides and Wright's Island.

May 30th, Cumberland (General Excursion).

June 6th, Brennan's Wharf.

June 13th, Cache Bay, Hull.

June 20th, McKay's Lake and Outlet.

June 27th, Eastm'an's Springs (General Excursion).

The first excursion was cancelled because of rain, but the
Club met at the Fisheries Museum where a pleasant hour was

10 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

spent in examining the exhibits under the leadership df Mr. A.
Halkett, NaturaHst of the Marine and Fisheries Department and
Curator of the Museum. It was found necessary to make some
other changes in the programme. The excursions to Brennan's
Wharf and Cumberland were cancelled because of the abnormally
high water of the Ottawa, which made landing at these places
impossible. Other excursions were substituted, however, reports
of which have appeared in The Ottawa Naturalist.

The programme of fall excursions was as follows:

Sept. 12th, Fairy Lake and Beaver Meadow.

Sept. 19th, Experimental Farm, a joint excursion of the
Ottawa Horticultural Societv and the Ottawa Field-Naturalists'
Club.

Sept. 26th, RockHffe and McKay's Lake

The fall excursions were carried out as arranged, and proved
most successful in every respect. Prof. McCready, of the Ontario
Agricultural College, Guelph, was present at the first of these
excursions and gave an interesting account of the nature study
work being done by the Macdonald Institute. Reports of all the
fall excursions appear in the November number of The Ottawa
Naturalist.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Volume XXII of The Ottawa Naturalist, the official organ
of the Club, has been published in monthly numbers. This volume
is larger than the average, consisting of 270 pages and 8 full
page plates. The earlier numbers were issued under the editor-
ship of Mr. J. M. Macoun, and the later numbers, published
during Mr. Macoun's absence from the city, were edited bv Mr.
Arthur Gibson.

The January number takes the form of a memorial number
to the late Dr. James Fletcher. It consists of almost fifty pages
and contains two excellent full page photographs of the late
Dr. Fletcher. It gives complete reports of the tributes paid to his
memory by all the speakers at the memorial meeting, it furnishes
a six-page reference list of his published articles, and is in every
respect a worthy tribute to this great man.

The following are among the papers that appear in this
volume :

On Geology.

1. "Notes on Silurian Stromatoporoids from Hudson's
Bay, " Wm. A. Parks, Ph.D.

2. "Report on a Collection of Fossil Woods from the
Cretaceous of Alberta," D. P. Penhallow, D.Sc.

3. "The Pelecypoda or Bivalve Mollusca of the Chazy
formation in Canada," Dr. J. F. Whiteaves.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 11

On Botany.

1. "Conditions Unfavorable to the Resumption of Growth
by the Dormant Embyro in Seeds," G. H. Clark, B.S.A.

2. "Observations on Seedlings of North American Phaenog-
amous Plants," Theo. Holm.

3. "Is Rhus Glabra in Canada?" Ed. L. Greene.

4. "Two Newly Introduced Plants," Dr. James Fletcher.

On Entomology.

1. "The Dragonflies of the Ottawa District," E. M. Walker,
B.A.

2. " Fauna Ottawaensis: Hymenoptera — Superfamilv III —
Vespoidea," W. H. Harrington, F.R.S.C.

3. "A Remarkable Visitation of the Snow-white Eugonia,"
Arthur Gibson.

4. "Notes on the Species of Phaeocyma found in Canada,"
John B. Smith, D.Sc.

5. "Notes on the Lepidoptera of Lake Rosseau District,
Muskoka. Ontario," Arthur Gibson.

6. "Gall Midges of the Goldenrod," E. P. Felt.

On Conchology.
1. "Lymnaea umbilicata in Canada," Bryant Walker.

On Ornithology.

1. "Winter Birds of the Cobalt Region," Rev. C. G. Eifrig.

2. "Bird Migration, 1907; observations made on Sable
Island," James Bouteiller.

3. "Nesting of Henslow Sparrow in Ontario," W. E.
Saunders.

4. "Some Bird Habits," Norman Criddle.

5. "Blue Birds of the Maritime Provinces," W. H. Moore.

6. "Birds Observed at Ottawa, Winter of 1908-1909,"
Rev. C. G. Eifrig.

On Zoology.

1. "Infant CannibaUsm among Animals," Prof. E. E.
Prince.

2. "The Cotton-tail Rabbit in Ontario," J. H. Fleming.

3. "Caribou on the Queen Charlotte Islands," ]. H. Keen.

^'

On Meteorology.

1. "Meteorological Optics," Otto Klotz, LL.D.

2. "Some Sanitarv Considerations Regarding the Construc-
lion. Health and Ventilation of Houses," Dr. P. H. Bryce.

12 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

Ox\ Nature Study.

1 . "The Importance of Nature Study with some sup:gestions
as to methods," J. F. Power, M.A.

In addition to the above-named papers, this volume con-
tains reports of excursions, meetings of the Branches, and meet-
ings of the Council. It also includes an unusually large number
of short noLes contributed from collectors and observers in dif-
feren': parts of Canada.

Reports of Branches.
The Branches again report an active year. No better
evidence could be furnished to show the all-round activity
manifested by the Club than the fact that every Branch has
contributed materially during the year either to the pages of
The Ottawa Naturalist or to the lecture programme.

The Geological Branch.

The Geological Branch reports that collections of fossils have
been made during the year from the vicinit}'' of Ottawa, and that
several new species have been described from one of these made
by Mr. Walter Billings. One or more of the leaders have attended
the field excursions and have given what assistance they could in
the study of the rock in the localities visited The leaders point
out the grand opportunities for live students who are willing to
take up this subject systematically, both in collecting fossils and
studying out the boundaries and relations of the different
formations which outcrop within easy reach of the city.

The Botanical Branch.

Meetings have been h^ld at the homes of various members
of the Branch throughout the winter. It is the custom of the
host of the evening to present a paper, after which there is a
discussion of it by the members present. The following subjects
discussed during the past winter will give some idea of the work
done by this department.

"Methods of Forestry," at residence of Mr. E. R. Cameron;
"Meanings of Some Common Plant Names," bv Mr. A. E.
Attwood; "Mendel's Law," by Mr. J. M. Macoun;"The Habitat
of Wild Plants," by Prof. Macoun; "Some Inter-relations
of Soils and Plants," and "Recent Work on the Longevity of
Seeds," by Mr. G. H. Clark ; "The Origin of our Cultivated FruitsL'
by Mr. R. B. Whyte.

Prof. John Macoun is at present collaborating a Flora
Ottawaensis. This will include the names of all species that have

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. . 13

been found in what is known as the Ottawa district, embracing
the area within a radius of thirty miles in every direction from
Ottawa. It will describe the characteristic habitat of each
species collected and will give the names of the. localities where
it has been collected as well as the name of the collector and the
date of collection. The work is being submitted in parts to local
workers so that each may add the results of his own field work.
Every record in the late Dr. Fletcher's Flora Ottawaensis is to
be included, and the work, when completed, cannot fail to prove
a \'aluable local guide to the botanists of the Club.

The Entomological Branch.
This Branch of the Club's work has had an active year.
During the collecting season, as mentioned in the annual report
of the Branch read at the evening soiree held on January 19th
last, several of its members collected rather extensively in
distant parts of Canada, thus adding considerably to the known
range of many species of insects. These collections have not,
as yet, been fully worked up, but some of the species are being
recorded in the "Entomological Record for 1908," which has
been prepared by Mr. Gibson, and which is being published in
the annual report of the Entomological Society of Ontario, for
that year.

The local members of the Branch have all been busy, and
several interestnig additions have been made to the Ottawa list.
Two valuable papers appeared in the Ottawa Naturalist during
the year, which are of particular interest, viz. : Dr. E. M. Walker's
article on "The Dragonflies of the Ottawa District," and Mr. W.
H. Harrington's paper on "Fauna Ottawaensis: Hymenoptera—
Superfamily III — Vespoidea."

»

The Ornithological Branch.
The ornithological section has made progress in its work
during the past year inasmuch as regular monthly ineetings have
been held at which papers have been read by the various members.
Some new blood has been infused into this Branch by the addition
of some young and capable ornithologists. Headway has been
made in the revision of the Ottawa list of birds, and new and
interesting records have been made. Particular attention might
be drawn to the unusual bird visitors of the present winter as
recorded in the November nmnber of The Ottawa Naturalist.

The Zoological Branch.
The Committee have to report that various members have
carried on active field work; but of actual results there !< VAf]c

14 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

to report. The chairman was absent on official work, in the course
of which some interesting points in the life-history and migrations
of the shad were decided, and a note of these will appear shortly
in The Ottawa Naturalist. Mr. Halkett was again for some
months in the Northwest Provinces, visiting remote lakes,
where interesting observations were' made in fish life in the
Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Biological Stations
at St. Andrews, N.B., on the Georgian Bay, near Penetanguishene
Ont., and at Nanaimo, B.C., have carried on important re-
searches. At the last named station Ronquihis jordani was
taken by the Rev. G. W. Taylor and Mr. Halkett in October,
the first record for Canada of this interesting trachinoid. A
further series of Biological Reports (forming Part III.) will be
issued at an early date. Three specimens of the interesting
Rocky Mountain Whitefish (Coregonus ivilliamsoni) have just
been received at the Fisheries Museum, and a short account of
this peculiar species is being prepared.

The Late Dr. Fletcher.

In the death of Dr. James Fletcher the Club has sustained
the greatest loss in its history. Dr. Fletcher was one of the
founders of the Club, and from its inception, thirty years ago,
he continued to take an active part in all its affairs up to the
time of his death. The present volume of The Ottawa Naturalist
contains contributions from his pen, and the published reports
of excursions and branch meetings of the past year bear witness
to his untiring zeal. No member ever brought to the work of
the Club greater genius, displayed a more charming personality,
or gave more unselfishly of his time and talents. It is quite
fitting, therefore, that the Club with which he was so closely
identified should take the initiative in the movement to erect
a permanent memorial to him. A circular letter has been
prepared and sent to societies and individuals interested in his
work, and the committee in charge of the movement anticipates
a generous response to its appeal for contributions towards the
proposed memorial.

The Library.

During the year a great many sets of The Ottawa Naturalist
have been transferred from the room in the basement of the
Normal School to the Geological Survey, where they are stored
under the direct supervision of the Librarian, Mr. C. H. Young.
The Council is pleased to be able to report that the question of
making the exchanges more accessible to the members at last
bids fair to be settled satisfactorily, as two definite plans for

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. IS

accomplishing this are to be submitted to this meeting for its
consideration.

On May 2nd, 1908, the Evening Journal printed a full page
illustrated article on the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club, prepar-
ed by Mr. Andrew Halkett and Mr. Arthur Gibson. The article
dealt with the history of the Club, its aims and its methods of
working. Some four hundred copies of this issue were kindly
suppHed by the Evening Journal to the Club for distribution.

The president, Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A., represented the
Club at the May meeting of the Royal Society of Canada.

The Treasurer's Report shows a balance on hand of $58.64.

The thanks of the Club are again due to Principal White
for the use of the Normal School Assembly Hall, to the Librarv
Board of the City Council and the Librarian, Mr. L. J. Burpee,
for the use of the Lecture Hall of the Carnegie Librarv, and to
the Press of the citv for its co-operation in furthering the aims of
the Club.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

T. E. CLARKE,

Secretary.

THE FLETCHER MEMORIAL FUND.

The members of The Ottawa Field- Naturalists' Club, and
friends of the late Dr. James Fletcher, will be glad to learn that
the Committee having charge of the above fund is meeting
with very encouraging responses to the appeal for subscriptions,
which was sent out a few weeks ago. Already the sum of
$1,100 has been promised. The Committee is much pleased
with the varying amounts which have been subscribed by many
friends of the late Dr. Fletcher living outside of Ottawa. There
are, however, many local members of the Club who doubtless
desire to contribute something towards the fund and who have
not yet sent in their subscription blanks to the undersigned. It
would help the Committee very much if these friends would in-
dicate soon, the amount they intend to give. It is hoped that
the sum of $1,800 will be raised.

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Sec.-Treas. of Committee.

16 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

TREASURER'S STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDING
16th march, 1909.

Receipts.

Balance from previous year S 197 24

Subscriptions— 1908-1909 204 00

Arrears 98 00

$ 302 00

Advertisements in Ott.\wa Naturalist 104 40

Ottawa Naturalists sold 40 01

Authors ' extras sold 32 44

Maps of Ottawa sold , 60

Net proceeds, General Excursion to Chelsea, May,

1908 9 05

Government Grant 200 00

$ 885 74
Expenditure.

Printing Ottawa Naturalist, Vol, XXII, 12 Nos.,

2 70 pages, including cover $455 52

Illustrations.. . . '. 60 45

Authors ' extras 62 13

Miscellaneous printing — circulars, mailing envelopes,

post cards, etc 54 65

$632 75

Postage on Ottawa Naturalist 35 84

Editor 50 00

$718 59

Less 2 per cent, for cash on printers ' accounts. . . 12 33

$ 706 26

Secretary 25 00

Treasurer 25 00

Soiree expenses 34 64

Library expenses 2 50

Sundry expenses, postage, etc 33 70

Balance 58 64

$ 885 74

ARTHUR GIBSON, Treasurer,
Examined and found correct,

R. B. WHYTE,) a, editors
F. T. SHUTT, )" ^^laixors.

SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE NEW CLUB YEAR ARE NOW DUE,
AND SHOULD BE PAID AT ONCE.

It is to be hoped that members will carefully examine the advertise-
ments in this volume of The Ottawa Naturalist, and make a point of
dealing with those firms who thus help the Club.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 17

CANADIAN SPECIES OF THALICTRUM.— I.

By Edward L. Greene.

The Dominion of Canada being a northern country, at least
when compared with Mexico, or even the United States, our
census of Thalicirum species may as well begin with that northern-
most member of the genus T. alpinuni.

That familiar books and lists are correct in attributing this
North- European species to Canada is a proposition that must,
first of all, be put to the usual test. An end ought to be made of
the practice of merely sul:scribing to, and reiterating the opinions
of past generations about the identity of our native plants.

What is that Old World plant like which first obtained the
appellation Thahclrum alpinuml That is the first question;
and the next is: Have we in Canada anywhere any plant which
as to essential marks, responds to the original description of that
Old World type? Queries like these send us back in search of
the first beginnings of the history of Thalicirum alpinum; and
the excursion will prove an interesting and instructive one.

Although the name now in vogue for the type dates from
Linnaeus, the thing itself was better known and had been better
described before that nomenclator Vvas born than it ever was by
him. The earliest records I have been able to find of the plant
show it to have been discovered originally in the moimtains of
the northern part of Wales. The discoverer was an Oxford
student, native of Wales, Edward Lloj^d by name, the same to
whom Salisbury, more than two centuries after Lloyd's death,
dedicated the liliaceous genus Lloydia.

The discoverer brought roots of the plant to Oxford, where
they were said to be flourishing at the time when the first de.scrip-
tion of the species was published, that is, in the year 1699.*
Lloyd himself had named his new plant Thalictruni montanum
minimum praecox joliis splendentihus ; and it is hardly possible to
indicate the essential peculiarities of the species more clearly
than was thus done by Lloyd more than two centuries since in
those six words. As compared with all other members of the
genus as then known, this was alpine, was diminutive, very
early flowering, and had a polished or shining green foliage.
Bobart, in the place of Morison's Historia cited below, in a very
full and admirable description (containing about a hundred
words), says that the leaves are as shining as if oil had run over
the surface of them. This, however, only of the upper face, the
lower being pale and dull, he sa3"S.

♦Bobart, in Moris. Hist. PI. III. 325.

18 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

There are before me two sheets of specimens, both of which
were collected — one of them fifty years since, the other seventy —
by the late Mr. John Ball, and which must be understood to
represent the plant of Lloyd, of Bobart and of Ray. One of the
sheets Mr. Ball gathered in 1859 on mountains near Llanberis,
North Wales — the very region whence T. alpinum was first
obtained — the other is from Glen Isla, Forfarshire, Scotland.
In the interests of the future investigation of the alpine meadow-
rue in America I shall here give a precise account of these two
sheets of British and indubitably typical specimens. Those from
Wales are in flower only, those from Scotland in fruit.

Plants at early flowering H to 2|- inches high, the leaves
themselves 1 to 1\ inches long, normally of 11 leaflets, these
broad at base and with little suggestion of the cunate, the whole
leaflet broader than long, the terminals 3-lobed, the laterals
5-lobed, all lobes obtuse; upper face dark-green and polished,
lower face glaucous, but between the veins only, the veins them-
selves, fine, delicate, not at all prominent, deep-green, in no
degree glaucous ; fruiting pedicels long, filiform, firmly ascending,
but abruptly curved downwards just under the head of carpels.

Nothing well answering to the Welsh and typical Thalictrum
alpinum is knowm to occur on our side of the Atlantic; yet in
North America, north of the British Boundary, there exist at
least three notably different plants, all of which are in so far at
agreement with genuine T. alpinum as to admit of their being
treated as varieties of it, if not indeed as sub-species. Their
proposed names, and the peculiar marks of each, are subjoined.

Thalictrum alpinum, var. Gaspense. Plant of twice the
size of the type, often 6 or 8 inches high; leaflets normally 11,
longer than broad, manifestly cuneate, less deeply lobed, dark-
green and lustrous above, glaucous beneath even to the veins
and veinlets, these more prominent than in the type, and colored
green only during early stages; pedicels filiform, spreading away
from the rhachis and curved downward throughout their whole
length, never abruptly bent under the fruit; carpels (immature)
3 or 4.

Damp ledges, on the banks of the Grand River, Gaspe Co.,
Quebec; 30 June and 3 July, 1904, M. L. Fernald.

Thalictrum alpinum, var. microspermum. Plant very
tall, often a foot high; leaflets normally 11, always longer than
broad, cuneate, few more than 3-lobed, deep-green and shining
above, very white beneath with bloom even to the not very
prominent veins and veinlets; pedicels short, firm, even wiry,
curved throughout and not at summit only; carpels minute,
obliquely oblong-oval, sessile, seemingly one only from each
flower.

a

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist 19

In a marsh near the confluence of Exploits River and Badger
Brook, Newfoundland, 13 August, 1894, Robinson and Schrenk,
their n. 26 as in Herb. Canad. Geol. Sur\^

Thalictrum alpinum, var. nesioticum. Nearly as large
as the last, stouter; leaflets about 17, the terminals cuneate
some of the laterals not so, but broader than long, all lightly
lobed, dark and shining above save as there marked by verv
light-colored anastomosing veinlets, beneath only moderately
glaucous; pedicels firm, curved slightly throughout, not at apex;
carpels 1-3, narrowly obovate, tipped with a straight beak, and
conspicuously as well as rather slenderly stipitate.

Said to be common in gravelly places along rivers on the
Island of Anticosti, Jupiter River, 20 August, 1883, John
Macoun; the specimens at that season in quite mature fruit.
Types in Herb, Canad. Geol. Surv.

Thalictrum alpinum, var. pudicum. Size of the last;
leaflets normally 2 1 , all manifestly cuneate below and longer than
broad, dark and shining above, glaucous beneath even to the
veins; pedicels firm but altogether drooping, being curved down-
ward from almost the base and above the base almost straight ;
carpels 2 or 3, abruptly tapering at base rather than definitely
stipitate.

I do not here take into consideration Greenland specimens
of these plants, except to say that as far as they are known to me,
they can form no part of any rational Thalictnint alpinum, lack-
ing, as they do, the essential character of a dark-green shining
foliage. Those very high-northern congeners have leaves that
are of the same dull glaucous green on both faces. This type is
also plentiful in Europe outside of Great Britain — perhaps
present locally even there — occurring in Lapland, Norway, and
even on alpine summits in middle and southern Europe. Again
and again have these wholly glaucous plants been held separate
and segregate from the original British type by most competent
sy.stematists.

CRATAEGUS DOUGLASII, LINDL.

A note in the November Ottawa Naturalist recorded the
finding of Crataegus Douglasii near Lake Abitibi. Mr. W. J.
Wilson found this species along the Abitibi River and at the
mouth of Black River in 1901 and again about 100 miles below
Black River in 1902. His record was printed in The Naturalist
for February 1903. Mr. Wilson in 1906 again found C. Doug-
lasii east of Lake Abitibi so that it is probably a species of wide
distribution in that region. It has also been collected in Michi-
gan and on islands in both Lake Huron and Lake Superior.

J. M. M.

20 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

MEETING OF BOTANICAL BRANCH.

Held at the residence of Prof. John Macoun, February 20th,
at which were present, in addition to the host, Messrs. Attwood,
Cameron, Whyte, Clark, Bond, Reid, Groh, Newman, Campbeh,
J. M. Macoun and W. T. Macoun.

The subject for the evening's discussion was "The Habitat
of Plants and Its Relation to Cultivated Varieties."

In opening the meeting, Prof. Macoun described the develop-
ment of a well informed botanist. In the colleges he was trained
to learn plants from a biological standpoint, and even was given
some lessons in systematic botany. The relationships of plants
to one another was also now given considerable attention in the ;
class-room, by means of the improved methods of studying the
parts of plants which had been preserved in liquids. But while
he could from books and miscroscopical examinations get some
idea of the conditions under which the different species grew in
Nature, it was necessary for him to go to the field and see and ';
learn for himself if he were to become accurately informed and
make the best use of his knowledge. Having become acquainted
with the habits of the wild species he could then put his know-
ledge to practical use. In the examination of land, for instance,
he would be able to tell fairly accurately from the wild plants
which grew on it, the character of the soil and whether it was
dry, moist or wet. In exploring or surveying unsettled districts
it would be possible to tell by analogy what the climate was
likely to be from the plants which grew there and which grew in
some settled district. Prof. Macoun told of how he had used his ^
knowledge in this respect when he explored the Northwest
about thirty years ago. Finding wild species of grasses there
which ripened well and knowing that the same species grew and m
ripened at Belleville, Ont., in about the same season as wheat, *
he used this knovv'ledge in forming his conclusion that immense ■.
areas in the Northwest were suited for wheat growing. Consider- J;
able discussion followed bearing on thehardiness of plants, especial-
tyin regard to the cause of apple tree killing in the Northwest.
The conclusion reached by a number of the members was that
the trees were dried out owing to long continued, severe cold and
dr^nng winds. It was felt, however, that when the newer and
hardier sorts were more widely tested, it would be found that
abundance of apples could be grown in many sections. This
part of the discussion brought out the fact that fruits from wild
species in cold climates did better in cool soils than those from a
comparatively warm climate, instances being on the one side the
gooseberry, raspberry and currant, and on the other the peach.

W. T. M. ^Q6i ^

/^< %

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

Vol. XXIII. PLATE 1.

Stepheoceras Nicolense.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, MAY, 1909 No. 2

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF AMMONITE OF

THE GENUS STEPHEOCERAS, FROM SOME ROCKS

OF PRESUMABLY JURASSIC AGE IN THE NICOLA

VALLEY, B. C*

By J. F. Whiteaves.

The generic name Stepheoceras was proposed by Mr. S. S.
Buckman, in 1898, f for the Ammonites of the " Humphreys-
ianus-group " , which had previously been regarded as the most
typical section of Waagen's genus Stephanoceras. But, as Mr.
Buckman has pointed out, the latter name was "preoccupied %
when proposed by Waagen" in 1869, and "must lapse altogether
on account of prior use". Stepheoceras, as its author is careful to
say, is "only an alteration of the name Stephanoceras" , and per-
haps is not altogether free from objection on that account. Still,
the genus itself seems to be quite a natural one, and as such is
accepted as valid by Hyatt, in 1900, in his revision of the
Ammonoidea in the first volume of Eastman 's translation of
Zittel 's Text-book of Palaeontology.

The type of Stepheoceras , which, so far as known, is an exclu-
sively Jurassic genus, is the Ammonites Humphreysianus of
Sowerby. In a well preserved specimen of that species, from
Dundry, in the Museum of the Geological Survey of Canada,
which is five inches and three-eighths in its maximum diameter,
there are at least six rounded and slender whorls; the ombilicus
is wide and open, exposing a considerable portion of each of the
inner whorls ; and the surface is marked with straight and trans-
verse ribs, which trifurcate from a tubercle on the middle of each
side.

In 1876 Dr. G. M. Dawson made a collection of fossils from

* Communicated by permission of the Director of the Geological
Survey of Canada.

t Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. LIV, p.
454.

I By Ehrenberg, in 1838, for a genus of Rotifera.

22 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

some volcanic rocks of mes ozoic age on the Iltasyouco River and
Tigutlat or Tsehouts Lake, in the coast range of British Col-
umbia. These fossils were reported on by the writer in 1878, in
the Report of Progress of the Geological Survev for 1876-7 7, in
which the Ammonites were determined by Professor Hyatt.
Among them there is an Ammonite from Tigutlat Lake that
Hyatt referred to Stephanoceras H umphreysianum, and that
the writer identified with Olcostephanus LoganianMS of the Queen
Charlotte Islands in 1884, and figured under that name on Plate
XXIII, fig. 1 , of the first volume of " Mesozoic Fossils " published
by the Canadian Survey. It has long been obvious, however,
that this Ammonite can no longer be safelv identified with either
of the species named, and it would now seem that it probably
indicates a previously unnamed species of Stepheoceras, which
it will be convenient to designate as 5. Pluto. It seems to differ
from the typical O. Loganianus chiefly in its much wider and
more open umbilicus.

On the evidence of specimens recently collected in Alaska,
Dr. Stanton regards the two species of Ammonite from the Queen
Charlotte Islands which the writer described and figured in the
first volume of "Mesozoic Fossils "under the names Perisphinctes
Carlottensis and Olcostephanus Loganianus, as of Jurassic rather
than Cretaceous age, and refers them both to Stephanoceras,
Waagen.* If this view be correct these two species, also, may
possibly be referable to Stepheoceras, but the sutural line of both
is unknown, and their exact generic position is still uncertain.

In August, 1904, Dr. R. W. Ells and Mr. R. A. A. Johnston,
of the Geological Survey staff, collected a few specimens of a
large Ammonite, which is by far the most typical and distinct
species of Stepheoceras that has yet been found in Canada, from
a small outlier of compact and readily weathering limestone on
the side of a mountain about a mile and a half north of a point
in the road midway between Nicola and Coutlee, in the Yale
district of British Columbia.

These specimens are two casts of the interior of most of
the septate portion of the shell, and eight fraginents.

The larger of these two casts was originally about eighteen
or nineteen inches in its maximum diameter, but a piece of the
anterior end of it has been mislaid, and the specimen is now only
fourteen inches across.

The smaller cast is about eight inches in its greatest diameter,
and has most of the two outer whorls exposed on one side.

Neither of these casts show any evidence of septation, but

* In Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, June, 1905, vol.
16, p. 402.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 23

some of the fragments, which must have formed part of as large
specimens as the larger of them, are conspicuously septate.

The eight fragments are pieces of the anterior end of the coil
of large casts of the septate portion of the shell, which not only-
give clear evidence of septation, but also show the outline of a
transverse section of the coil, with the emargination caused by the
contact furrow on the dorsum.

The species indicated by these specimens may be provision-
ally named and described as follows : —

StEPHEOCERAS NiCOLENSE, SP. NOV.

Shell very large, with rounded whorls, and a wide and open
umbilicus. Whorls nearly circular in transverse section anter-
iorly but concavely emarginate on the dorsum by a well defined
longitudinal furrow of contact. They increase rather slowly in
thickness, the earlier ones being quite slender, but thev ultimately
become robust and strongly^convex. Their number appears to be
about five or six, but only four are visible in the largest specimen
known to the writer, the earlier whorls being either not preserved
or covered with the matrix.

Umbilicus occupying considerably more than one half of the
entire diameter, fully one half of each of the inner whorls being
exposed.

Test unknown; surface of the cast everywhere strongly and
regularly ribbed, the ribs being straight, transverse, and much
narrower than the concave grooves between them. On the outer
whorl each rib trifurcates from a low and obscurely defined tub-
ercle on the umbilical margin. As thus divided, the three ribs in
each set pass uninterruptedly over the venter, and reunite at a
corresponding tubercle on the umbilical margin of the opposite
side.

Body chamber, and finer details of the sutural line unknown.

HOW THE ENGLISH SPARROW IS ADAPTING ITSELF
TO NEW CONDITIONS OF LIFE.

By Norman Griddle, Treesbank, Man.
The English, or House Sparrow, was introduced into the
United States in the early fifties of last century and into eastern
Canada in 1854. Probably but few colonies were started in the
Dominion, but in the United States small lots were liberated in
many of the larger cities, both on the coast and inland. As a
result of those early introductions. House Sparrows are now
to be found in nearly every portion of the continent. It is
uncertain when the first individuals invaded Manitoba. They

24 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May-

were certainly rare fifteen years ago, even in the cities, and it is
only within very recent times that the country farm buildings
have become inhabited by them. The western birds almost
surely introduced themselves from the south, as the wide chain
of hills to the east would greatly retard a movement from that
direction. It is, however, of small importance how the birds
arrived; they are here to stay and their injurious habits present
us with an excellent example of the danger of introducing
animials of questionable value.

The mo.st remarkable attribute of English Sparrows is the
way in which they have already become adapted to wide cli-
matical conditions. Heat, cold, wet or dry, has apparently
little effect in retarding their increase. This is unquestionably,
due, in part, to their habit of seeking shelter in buildings from
weather extremes, especially cold. There is, however, a limit,
as was shown in Manitoba last January during an exceptionally
cold spell, when shelter of somiC sort became absolutely necessary
for the preservation of life. Where this was not secured there
is no doubt that great mortality occurred, even shelter in sheds,
etc., not being sufficient to save them.

During the period mentioned above, lasting ten days, with
an average temperature of about 21 degrees Fahr. below zero
and a minimum of 40 below,* sparrows were found dead in city
streets and around farm buildings by observant farmers in many
parts of the province, while a number of the birds hardl}^ able
to fly were also noticed. The chirp so commonly associated
with them remained unheard for days, as if the fear of death .>-

was upon them and all were struggling for very existence, as '■

indeed was the case with those individuals obliged to pick up a
living in the open air. Many undoubtedly perished from cold
and starvation, the latter being the direct result of the former.

Thus it is seen that there is a limit to the birds' range, so
far as open air is concerned. This was also demonstrated in
southern Greenland by introduced sparrows failing to survive
more than a few seasons.

There are, therefore, but two ways in which the House
Sparrows can withstand our northern climate: (1) by sheltering
themselves in buildings containing animals of some kind, or
(2) b}^ migrating to warmer regions during the colder months.
Both these methods have already been adopted. Migration has
taken place, to some extent, for several years past and is ap-
parently becoming rapidly more general, so that now it is not
an uncommon occurrence to see fifty or more birds moving
south or north according to the time of the year. Of course,

* These researches are from the meteorological station at Aweme.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 25

many birds move into the cities to winter, but apart from this
there is undoubtedly a movement south and back again. The
southern flight takes place at many odd times, but chiefly during
November, and the return in March and April.

The other group confines itself almost entirely within build-
ings throughout the colder months and only appears outside
during the warmer hours of each day, or when the weather is
not excessively cold. Thus we have the domicile birds seeking
winter quarters at home and the more restless individuals pre-
ferring to move to milder climates, even though that entails a
long journey twice yearly. The question is, will this lead, in
time, to two distinct races? Or, will the individuals of both
inclinations, or habits, mix? By watching the resident birds I
am led to believe that these commence to breed earlier thantheir
migratory-inclined relatives, and if this is so it is possible to
conceive that use or disuse of wing power, accustoming the
eyes sufificiently to partly dark buildings to pick up food,
different winter conditions and many other considerations might
eventually cause a change; just as geographical conditions have
caused so mam^ local races to appear.

I believe much valuable information might be secured as to
migration and acquired habits, by a careful study of the English
Sparrow, especially if observations were made in all parts of the
continent. The birds are already learning to migrate and to
build nests in trees away from buildings, in fact they are show-
ing marvelous powers of adapting themselves to new conditions
of life, and it would be a great pity to lose an insight into their
evolutionary characters through lack of careful study.

It would be interesting to know how far the birds move
south, whether they become more plentiful in any special State
during the winter months than in the summer. Does the winter
movement exceed the southern limit of the summer range? and,
are there any differences in the habits of securing food, etc.,
in those parts of the continent where shelter from cold is un-
necessarv ?

THE FOREST RESERVES.

(Synopsis of a lecture given by Mr. A. Knechtel, Inspector of

Dominion Forest Reserves, on Feb'y 26th, 1909, under the

joint auspices of the Ottawa Field- Naturalists' Club and

the Ottawa Teachers' Association.)

It would almost seem as if the white race had begun wrong
on this continent. Needing cleared land for agriculture, \ye
began in the woods, and now when we need the woods we begin

26 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

on the cleared land. The prairie should have been placed near
the Atlantic and the woodland in the Northwest. Arranged as
it was with the forest on the land that was close to the market for
its products, forest destruction was at first a necessity and later
became a habit. Fire, the good servant in clearing the land, ran
rampant, carrying forest destruction far beyond the necessities
of the people.

The earliest settlers coming from Europe were used to forest
conservation. They had practised it in the countries from which
they came. Forest destruction was to them a new thing; but
the forests were so vast that they thought there never could be
a scarcity of wood, and they reasoned that the more the forest
was destroyed the more the agricultural interests of the country
would be advanced. But the modern settler sees the forest in a
different light, especially so in the great Northwest, where, on the
wide prairie, wood is a luxury. To him forest conservation is the
necessity, not forest destruction. He has no delight in the de-
vastation of the woods by fire, and he hails with hope legislation
and management tending to improve the condition of the forest.
He sees clearly that his comfort and his agricultural interests
are closely dependent upon a plentiful supply of wood.

The country is so vast and the demand for wood so great
that it is a tremendous problem to so manage the forests that this
demand may be met continuously. Hope seems to lie in the
creation of forest reserves, and the policy of setting aside land
to be used as forest reserves is now pretty well established by the
Dominion Government.

The Dominion Forest Reserves are intended to preserve and
produce a perpetual supply of timber for the people of the prairie,
the homesteader's needs being considered of first importance.
They are not intended to furnish wood for the lumber trade.
Hence the policy of the reserves is favorable to small mills
rather than to large ones which need large tracts of forest, and
manufacture lumber beyond the needs of the settlers.

Let us consider some of the various purposes that forests
subserve. In the first place, we need them to supply us with
wood, and wood we must have to cook our food; to build and
furnish our houses, our railroads, our steamships; to erect our
telegraph and telephone lines; to mine our metals and our coal,
which takes no small amount of wood; to supply us with paper,
charcoal, tan-bark, dynamite, boxes, tools, pails, matches, and
many innumerable articles.

On going from a forested country to a prairie, one realizes
the importance, convenience and cheapness of wood to a home.
To be sure, coal and gas may be used for fuel, and brick, stone,
cement and iron for building; but wood is still largely used

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 27

for such purposes in places where it must all be imported and is
very high in price. Even in Venice, Italy, the lecturer saw in
the canals several barges laden with firewood and he was astonish-
ed at the quantity of wood used for other purposes. In Italy the
use of wood is reduced to the minimum, and yet the country
finds it necessary to import twenty-five million cubic feet an-
nually, although she herself produces two hundred and forty-five
million cubic feet annually.

Then, we need forests to give an even flow of water in the
streams, to prevent the washing away of the soil, and to act as a
break to the wind. In some parts of the Northwest the soil is a
peculiar clay loam that breaks beneath the feet like ashes. In
other parts it is a light sand. Such soil is picked up and carried
by the wind as if it were light snow. To prevent this drifting
of soil the settlers are planting shelter belts in manv places. The
Dominion Government has already sent out from Indian Head
eleven million trees free of charge for this purpose.

Forests are needed also for health, rest and recreation, and
to furnish food and shelter for the game and the fish. The esthetic
value the forests have for the country one learns to appreciate
in travelling over it. The trees with their variety of form and
richness of coloring, clothing the hills and bordering the lakes
and streams, lend a peculiar grace and loveliness to the landscape.

Some of the reasons why forests should be preserved have
now been given. They furnish wood, feed springs, prevent floods,
hinder erosion, shelter from storms, protect the game and fish,
and give the country esthetic features. How then can the forests
best be preserved?

To protect the forest from fire is the first law. In our forests
where old rotten logs lie everywhere on the ground, and where the
lumberman leaves the tops of trees, and gathers the brush into
heaps as if getting the woods ready for burning, the question is
difficult. In Europe, where the brush is all utiHzed, and where
even the stumps are taken out of the ground for fuel, the problem
is comparatively simple.

The Forestry Branch of the Department of the Interior
keeps constantly in the woods a large force of fire rangers, whose
duty it is to prevent and extinguish forest fires. They prevent
fires by posting along roads, trails and streams cloth notices
which state the law in regard to the use of fire. They also call
upon the farmers and caution them in regard to burning fallows,
logs, stumps, brush, grass and straw stacks in violation of the
law.

Then, these fire rangers extinguish fires that start in the
woods. It is their duty to warn out the settlers, who are obliged
bv law to obev the summons, and direct them in fighting the fire.

28 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

When a forest fire occurs there is a deplorable loss. The
forest is a great chemical laboratory, taking air, and earth, and
water, and combining them together for the use of the people.
Fire comes along, the laboratory is burned, wood production
stops and the people must do without.

There is a common notion that the forest will restore itself,
and that valuable species of trees will by natural seeding again
cover the soil. Such hope is in most cases vain. Poplar and white
birch will probably occupy the ground; but the hope that the
spruce and the tamarac will again cover the soil is just a poetic
dream. These, to be sure, do reproduce in certain places and on
certain soils ; but if one observes carefully the conclusion is forced
upon him that this kind of reproduction of the conifers is not
going on with sufficient rapidity to furnish a perpetual supply of
timber to meet the demand of the country. If the conifers are
to be kept in the reserves in commercial quantity they will need
to be reproduced artificially, either by sowing the seed or planting
small trees. The Canadian Government has already begun thus
to provide for the future.

The forest cannot be properly managed without the cutting
of trees. Like the farmer, the forester has his seed time and his
harvest. Agriculture produces food crops ; forestry, wood crops.
The lumberman harvests the natural wood crop, which Nature
has taken about two hundred years to produce; the forester
harvests an artificial one, which takes him about eighty years to
produce. The lumberman takes in his harvest everything from
which he can make present profit ; the forester leaves the smaller
trees in the forest to grow into future values. It is of no concern
to the lumberman if the falling timbers crush little trees or the
skidding tear them out by the roots. They offer no present
profit and he looks upon them as worthless; but the forester sees
in these voung trees his future harvest and gives them his most
earnest care. The lumberman's path has been full of fire. In
many places he has been followed by flaming forests and dense
clouds of smoke. But in the forester's tracks the green trees
grow, forests again flourish on the denuded wastes, and shed upon
the whole country their benign influences.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH, 1908.

The members of the Entomological Branch have been
active during 1908. The season on the whole from the collecting
standpoint was better than it has been for several years, not-
withstanding the continued drought which began in early June
and lasted well on into September. Many interesting species

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 29

of insects have been taken during the season in the Ottawa
district by local members.

The Entomological Branch, in the death of its foremost
leader, Dr. James Fletcher, has sustained an irreparable loss.
It is hardly necessary to refer here other than briefly to this sad
event which is felt so keenly by the Club, as the January issue
of the Ottawa Naturalist is a Memorial Number containing
tributes from leading members.

In August we were glad to welcome to the Branch, Mr.
Herbert Groh, a new Assistant in the Division of Entomology
and Botany of the Dominion Experimental Farms.

During the winter months the fortnightly meetings of the
Branch have been continued. These meetings are most helpful.
Many specimens of great interest are exhibited at each meeting
and much information given concerning their habits, etc. At
these meetings it is customary for each member to bring some-
thing to exhibit or some paper to read. New books on ento-
mology are shown from time to time, and in this way the members
are kept in touch with publications as they appear. It is a
pity that more members of the Club do not take an interest in
insect life. There is no more promising field for good work of
a scientific nature than in entomology, and certainly no subject
of more intense interest. The pleasure derived from watching
an insect emerge from its egg, or a caterpillar change to the
chrysalis state, or a moth issue from its cocoon, is most
fascinating.

As in previous years some of our local members brought
back with them from their distant fields of labour, small collec-
tions of insects of special interest. Mr. Joseph Keele, of the
Geological Survey, made some valuable collections at the mouth
of the Gravel River and along the McKenzie River adjacent,
on the eastern slope of the Rockies. Mr. C. H. Young, of the
same department, spent the months of August and September
at the Biological Station, Departure Bay, B.C., with our highly
esteemed Honorary Member, the Rev. G. W. Taylor, who
is now there as Curator of the Station. Mr. Young collected
insects of several orders, among which are some of much interest.
Mr. Douglas H. Nelles, of the Alaska Boundary Survey, spent
the summer in the Yukon district between Whitehorse and the
141st Meridian and brought back with him a small collection of
butterflies. Mr. Andrew Halkett, of the Fisheries Museum,
returned to Ottawa in November, with a small collection of
insects taken in Alberta. Dr. Fletcher made a hurried trip to
British Columbia in September and October and while stopping
over for a day or two each at Nepigon, Ont., Regina. Sask..
Banff, Alta., and Departure Bay, B.C., collected many insects

30 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

of value. Mr. Arthur Gibson spent the most of July at Youghall,
N.B., and while there made collections in all orders.

The members of the Branch were delighted to have with
them in Ottawa during spring and early summer, Mr. Norman
Criddle, of Aweme, Man. Mr. Criddle while here attended the
spring excursions of the Club and also did some splendid collect-
ing in the neighborhood.

During the year Mr. Harrington completed a paper on Su-
perfamily III of the Hymenoptera of the Ottawa District, which
was published in the July number of the Ottawa Naturalist.
Dr. Walker's paper on the Dragonflies of the Ottawa District
appeared in the April and June numbers of the Naturalist.
This has been of much help to members of the Branch.

Among the more interesting insects taken during the year
at Ottawa, within the area limited by the Club, as the Ottawa
District, the following may be mentioned: —
Lepidoptera:

Brenthis triclaris, Hbn. Mer Bleue, June 6, three specimens,

(Young, Criddle, Gibson).
Phyciodcs tharos, Dru., var. packardii, Saund. Mer Bleue,

(Young).
Phyciodes hatesii, Reakirt. On railway track between Cache

Bav and Beaver Meadow, June 13, (Gibson).
Pholus pandorus, Hbn. Larva on Virginian creeper, moth

emerged July 8, (Gibson).
Hyphoraia parthenos, Harr. July 1, (Baldwin).
Catahena lineolata, Wlk. July 20, (Baldwin). New record

for the district.
Platysenta videns, Grt. June 6, (Gibson).
Pachnobia monochromata , Morr. Mer Bleue, July 3, (Young).
Agrotis geniculata, G. & R. Meach Lake, August 31,

(Fletcher).
Mamestra gussata, Sm. April 24, (Young).
Homoptera minerea, Grt. Britannia, June 20, (Baldwin).
Homoptera helata, Sm. Britannia, June 20, (Baldwin).
Cramhus bidens, Zeller. Mer Bleue, July, (Young).
Crambus zeellus, Fern. July 15, (Gibson).
Crambus youngellus , K. Mer Bleue, July 2-10, (Young).
Eucosma medioviridana, K. August 21, (Young).
Coleophora elcBagnisella, K. Larvae abundant on ElcBagnus
argentea; moths emerged July, (Fletcher and Gibson).
LithocolleHs basistrigella, Clem. Bred from oak, March 11,

(Young).
Argyresthia laricella, K. Mer Bleue, reared from terminal
twigs of Larix americana; moths issued June 12-23,
(Fletcher and Gibson).

^

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist.

31

Coleoptera:

Hydrophilus ovatus, G. & H. May 12, (Fletcher).
Acanthocinus csdilis, S. A specimen of this fine European
beetle was found at Ottawa b}^ Mr. R. B. Whyte among
some packing in a box of chinaware received from
Germany.
Hymenoptera:

Bombus mfocinctus. Cress. September 20, (Fletcher). This

species is rare in eastern Canada.
Bombus virgimcus, Oliv. Mer Bleue, June 6, (Gibson).
Ephialtes gigas, Walsh. Hull, June 13, (Gibson).
Hemiptera:

A number of species new to the Ottawa list have recently
been determined by Mr. E. P. Van Duzee. Among
these may be mentioned :
Telamona am pel ops ides, Harr., July 14, (Gibson).
Cyrtolobus vau, Say. June 29, on red oak, (Fletcher).
Cyrtolobus griseus, Van D. On oak, August 25, (Metcalfe).
Scolops sulcipes, Say. On goldenrod, September 5, (Groh).
Liburnia foveata, Van D. Mer Bleue, June-September,

(Metcalfe).
Phlepsius irroratus. Say. October 8, (Fletcher).
Thyreocoris unicolor, P. B. Aylmer, August 29, (Groh).
Geocoris limbatus, Stal. Mer Bleue, uncommon, (Metcalfe).
Plagiognathiis obscurus, Uhler. Aylmer, August 29, (Groh).
Corythuca marmorata, Uhl. June, rare, (Metcalfe).
Ranatra quadridentata, Stal. July, (Metcalfe).
Hydrometra m.artim, Kirby. July, (Metcalfe).

W. H. Harrington, ]
Arthur Gibson,
C. H. Young,
J. W. Baldwin,

Leaders.

BOOK REVIEW.

Thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Entomological Society
of Ontario: Ontario Department of Agriculture, Toronto. This
is a volume of 152 printed pages, with 19 excellent plates. Like
all its worthy predecessors, it is a publication which can be per-
used with interest, not only by the scientific and working
entomologist, but equally by the novice and merely casual
reader. It contains the official report of the proceedings of the
annual meeting of the Society, held at Guelph in November last,
including the reports of the Branch Societies, and of the District
Directors and other officers, the discussions on insect pests of the

^

32 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

season, and the various papers presented during the two days'
session. Among the latter are several by members of the Ottawa
Field-Naturalists' Club who attended the meeting, viz. : Hydroecia
micacea in Canada, by Arthur Gibson; Some Beetle Haunts by
an Amateur Botanist, by F. J. A. Morris, Port Hope; Notes on
the Occurrence of Lachnosternas in 1908, and, Collecting with a
Lantern-trap in 1908, by J. D. Evans, Trenton, Ont. ; The Straw-
berry Weevil, b}^ Prof. W. Lochead, Macdonald College, Que.;
The Farmer's Woodlot, by Rev. T. W. Fyles, Levis, Que; Life
History of Euchaetias ore gonensis, by H. H. Lyman, Montreal;
and. Injurious Insects in Ontario in 1908, by Rev. Prof. Bethune,
Guelph. Two excellent papers by Dr. E. P. Felt, Albany, N.Y.,
The Economic Importance and Food-habits of American Gall
Midges, and. The Interpretation of Nature, also appear. An
article of more than ordinary value is the Catalogue of the Gall
Insects of Ontario, by T. D. Jarvis, Guelph, which arranges the
species which he has found in his several years of collecting, under
their host plants, and furnishes means of identification by the
galls. A bibliography of references completes his useful treat-
ment of the subject. The Entomological Record, which has for
some years been contributed by James Fletcher and Arthur
Gibson as a regular feature, again appears, presenting in a con-
cise way the most valuable of the results of Canadian collectors'
activities during the year. Also, the loss which entomology has
suffered in the removal by death of two of its foremost representa-
tives, Dr. Fletcher, late President of the Society, and Dr. W. H.
Ashmead, of Washington, is given suitable recognition in brief
references to their respective careers.

H. G.

OBITUARY.

THE LATE REV. CANON BURMAN, B.D.

The death of Canon W. A. Burman, which occurred on
January 20th, is a heavy loss to the people of Winnipeg and of
the Northwest. For so many years he has been among us that
his place will indeed be difficult to fill.

The late Canon, who was a member of the Ottawa Field-
Naturalists' Club for many years, was an Englishman by birth
and came to Manitoba in the late seventies. He entered the
ministry in 1879 and soon became well known and loved for his
work among the Sioux Indians. He was made Rural Dean of
Brandon in 1886, and was given charge of the Rupert's Land-
Industrial School (Indian) in 1889. In 1893 he came into Win-
nipeg as incumbent of St. Peter's, combining with his duties there

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 33

those of the Rural Dean of Lisgar. The work proving too
onerous, he resigned in 1903, to take up the position of bursar and
steward of St. John's College, Winnipeg, which, with the position,
in the same institution, of lecturer in botany and the English
Bible, he held until his death.

As a botanist Canon Burman was widely known. An
enthusiastic collector, his herbarium of local plants is easily the
finest in Manitoba. Not only local plants are represented how-
ever. Some five years ago, I well remember a delightful evening
of the Manitoba Natural History Society, when Canon Burman
showed a splendid collection of Arctic plants.

To know the Canon was to admire and love him. Quiet,
unassuming, he was always engaged in work for the benefit of
others, as the history of our Humane Society and that of our
Children's Aid Society testify.

Some years ago it was found he was suffering from tubercular
trouble, and nothing could be done to check its inroads. Just
before Christmas I spoke to him and he told me of an intended
visit to Texas in January. His illness took a worse turn and he
was unable to leave. For several weeks he suffered intensely but
with marvellous fortitude and then death intervened.

Truly Canada has reason to mourn that two such men as
Dr. Fletcher and Canon Btirman — warm personal friends — have
been called awav within such a short space of time.

J. B. Wallis.

MEETINGS OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH.

At the Botanical Branch meeting of February 27th, a
discussion on the inter-relation of soils and plants was led by
Mr. George H. Clark, sixteen members of the Club being present.

Evidence was presented to illustrate that plants are grouped
in nature according to the physical, chemical and biological
conditions of the soil. A knowledge of plant relations, range of
conditions respecting their habitat, and their habits of growth
under those varying conditions, serves the botanist as an index
to the range of temperature of the district, the moisture, and
the physical, chemical, and, to some extent, the biological con-
ditions of the soil on which the species are found.

"De Candolle's theory of the excretions of plants" and the
results of recent experiments and observations pertaining to
toxic excretions from the roots of plants were discussed. Ex-
periments in the seed laboratory at Ottawa showed that after
making germination test with cereal grains, it was necessary to
discard the soil from the boxes before making a subsequent

34 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

germination test with cereals.. Aeration and drying of the soil
produced only a slight improvement. The average percentage
germination from twelve tests of oats in a good fresh compost
soil was 86 per cent. When the same soil was used for sub-
sequent germination tests, after being aerated and dried, the
average percentage vitality of twelve tests of the same oats
(100 grains of oats being used for each test) was reduced to 76
per cent.

If the theory of toxic root excretions is to be accepted as
an explanation for this falling off in vitality, as would be shown
by soil test, it would seem that the poisonous excretions from
the first crop of oats proved to be fatal to the weaker plants
from the second and subsequent crops. Since the oat plants
had been left in the soil fourteen days only, the reduction in
plant food would be inconsiderable.

If, as contended b}' supporters of the "De CandoUe theory
of root excretions," plants excrete from their roots substances
which impair growth within themselves and render the soil less
suitable to the growth of other plants belonging to the same
order or having the same requirements in respect to plant food,
then the necessity of crop rotation in agriculture and horti-
culture becomes more obvious; the reasons for the so-called
clover sickness in some soils, "fairy rings" of mushrooms, and
much in connection with plant relations in nature also becomes
easier of explanation.

It was suggested that, in consideration of how plants feed,
it would seem reasonable to expect that these toxic root excre-
tions, if anv, would be more abundant with a given species on
some soils than on others, owing to the relation between the
requirements of the plant and the mineral constituents in solu-
tion in the soil ; also that bacterial life and the fermentation
induced bv it in the soil might be expected largely to overcome
the effects of toxic excretions from plant roots.

A short discussion on the longevity of seeds and recent
work by Dr. Ewart, of Melbourne University, Australia; Dr.
Croker, of Chicago University, and Dr. Duval, of Washington,
D.C., was also taken up, and the progress results of some work
that is being conducted by Mr. William Bond, of the seed labora-
tory staff, in making periodic germination tests of weed seeds
that were collected in 1902, were presented. The evidence now
available would seem to make clear that weed seeds and other
seeds which are buried in the soil do not retain their vitality
as long as when stored in a cool, dry place. There are relatively
few kinds of seeds which will retain their vitality for a longer
period than, approximately, fifteen years. Ewart found from
exhaustive tests that of the species which are best able to retain

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 35

vitality in their seeds for a long period, those belonging to the
Leguminosffi are in greatest numbers.

G. H. C.

"The Origin of Our Cultivated Fruits" was the main
subject under discussion at a meeting of the Botanical Branch
held at the home of Mr. R. B. Whyte on March 6th. There
were present in addition to the Chairman, Messrs. Attwood,
Campbell, Bond, T. E. Clarke, Geo. H. Clark, Eddy, Binnie',
Groh, Morris, and W. T. Macoun.

The origin of our cultivated fruits had evidently been
thoroughly investigated by Mr. Whyte, who gave a very interest-
ing account of what was known in regard to it. Most of our
fruits have been cultivated for such a long time that there is
little definite information as to their origin. It is known that
the Romans cultivated the apple, for Pliny wrote about it.
An apple was also exhibited by Mr. Eifrig at a former meeting
of the Botanical Branch taken from the ruins of the habitations
of Lake Dwellers in Switzerland who lived probably a thousand
or more years before the Roman era. Practically all of the culti-
vated apples are derived from European species, the only
named variety with American blood being the Soulard crab,
one of whose parents was Pyrus coronaria. The pear is also
a native of the old world and has evidently been cultivated
since very ancient times. One of the first historical references
to the pear is in Virgil, where it is stated that "Varieties of
pears are almost countless and nine-tenths are unworthy of
census." The two species of pears from which most of the
cultivated varieties came are Pyrus communis and Pyrus sinensis.

The peach is another fruit of which little is known regard-
ing its origin, but it is believed to be a native of China and taken
to Persia in very early times, in which country it has been
improved very much.

The early history of the European plum is also wrapt in
mystery, but it is supposed to have been derived from Pninus
spinosa and later from Prunus domestica. The Asiatic species
from which comes the Japanese plums is Prunus trifbra. The
Apricot plum, Prumis Simoni, from China is another Asiatic
species. In America improvement is just beginning with the
native species, P. americana, nigra, hortulana, and angustijolia.

The European grapes are derived from Vitis vinijera,
improvement evidently having been begun in very early times.
In America, hybrids of Vitis Labrusca, the fox grape, and this
European species had given marked results. One of the earliest
known grapes of American origin is the Catawba, found wild
in Maryland in 1819. It probably has European blood. The

36 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

Isabella also appeared about the same time. The Concord grape,
a pure seedling of Vitis Labrusca, was introduced in 1853.
Rogers' Hybrids followed in 1856, and since that time many
have been introduced. No grapes of high quality have yet been
originated from the Canadian species including Vitis riparia
and V. cordijolia, although some improved varieties have been
introduced.

All our cultivated red currants have been originated from
the European species Rihes rubruni. This fruit has been culti-
vated since the middle ages as has also the black currant which
has also been derived from the European species Rihes nigrum.
No good improved forms of our native Rites ,^oridum have been
introduced.

The European gooseberry, Rihes Grossularia, began to be
cultivated in the 16th century. It is a very important fruit in
Great Britain, where it has been cultivated for 300 years. The
greatest improvement has taken place in the last 100 years and
to-day specimens are produced weighing two ounces each. The
climatic conditions in most inland places in America are not
suited for the European gooseberry and it does not thrive well
except under specially favourable conditions. The native
American species, Rihes oxyacanthoides is the parent of the
Houghton, an improved form, and from the Houghton has
sprung the Downing, probably with some European blood in
it. The Pearl, one of Dr. Wm. Saunders' productions, is a
hybrid between Houghton and a European variety. Rihes
Cynoshati has not given any good variety yet, but this has been
improved by Dr. Saunders by crossing it with the European
gooseberry.

The red raspberry has been cultivated since the 4th century
and probably before. It became popular in the 16th century
in Europe. The European varieties are derived from Rubus
Id(Fus. For the most part, these are not hardy in the colder parts
of America. Most of the named sorts grown in Canada are from
the native species, Rubus strigosus, which began to be cultivated
about 1831. The Herbert raspberry originating with Mr. Whyte,
has probably considerable European blood and may claim as its
parent some two of the varieties Herstine, Clark and Franconia.

Practically all the named black cap raspberries grown to-
day are chance seedlings of the wild species, Rubus occidentalism
as are the cultivated blackberries of Rubus allegheniensis and its
varieties. Other fruits of less importance were also dealt with
by Mr. Whyte.

The lines of improvement in our cultivated fruits suggested
by him were: the raising of new sorts of apples from seed
specially suited for certain conditions; improvement of American

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 37

plums to ameliorate the skin; the breeding of red currants for
greater mildness, and black currants for size; the raising of
seedlings of the European gooseberry to obtain varieties more
immune from disease; and the raising of seedling grapes from
the many hybrid forms already in existence.

In the discussion which followed, Mr. Whyte stated it as
his belief that the growing of seedlings under very favourable
conditions would change, and cause to be perpetuated, the
characteristics of a seedling in respect to vigor of plant, size and
flavor of fruit, etc. In other words, that after a seed had
germinated the merits of that seedling would not necessarily
depend on inherited characteristics, but would be largely in-
fluenced by the environment up to time of fruiting. A curious
freak was shown by Mr. Geo. H. Clark, it being a cane of Cuthbert
raspberry which instead of being of the usual shape w^as quite
flattened out, having grown this way.

In order to ensure a record being kept of the meetings of
the Botanical Branch, it was decided to recommend a Botanical
Associate Editor to the new council of the Club, Mr. W. T.
Macoun being nominated for this office.

W. T. M.

CANADIAN SPECIES OF THALICTRUM.— II.

By Edward L. Greene.

The species discussed in our first paper, namely, T.
alpinum* is in many particulars widely different from every
other; so very different that no member of any other group
leads up to it. The transition to any others is abrupt; there-
fore it is unimportant what other meadow rue be selected to
immediately succeed it in a systematic sequence of the species.
It may as well be that other northern type, or aggregation,
that passes under the name of T. dioicum.

Out of the great diversity of plants so designated in books
and herbaria there is not one that can to any certainty, or even
with any high probability, be identified with that of Linnaeus.
There is nothing in the name itself that is indicative. Almost
all meadow rues, certainly the greater proportion of the American
species, are dioecious. Moreover, the short Linnaeus description
would be wholly inadequate to the determination of his type,
even if the description were not also in two points false for
anything that botanists have heretofore called T. dioicum; for
he says that both the sepals and the filaments of his plant are

* cf. Ott. Nat. xxiii.

38 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

white. t To every one knowing American meadow rues such
an expression will seem to point to something belonging to the
group of T. polygamum; yet when he assures us that the plant
he has in mind is hardly a foot high, and is also distinguished
from all other members of the genus by a drooping foliage, we
seem to see that he probably had something of this T. dioicum
sort before him.

I have met with no good evidence that this type of
Thalictrum was known before Kalm; though Philip Miller says
that Parkinson grew the plant a hundred years earlier. J I can
not, however, verify this by anything which I find in Parkinson.

Out of that multitude of things which, while answering to
the Linnaean account of the size and habit of T. dioicum, are
still widely dissimilar among themselves in essential marks of
flower and fruit, it is necessary that some one marked type be
selected, and that of necessity arbitrarily, to be described, as not
one of them ever yet has been, with something approaching
fulness and precision. To such a type, though arbitrarily
chosen from among others, the name T. dioicum mav l)e assigned,
according to the now prevailing custom ; though from several
points of view it would seem wiser to abandon that name
altogether, as one that has never been adequately published.

Thalictrum dioicum. Thalictrum dioicum, Linn., Sp. PI.
545. Stem solitary, 1-2 feet high, upright from a tuft of fleshy-
fibrous widely spreading and not deeply seated roots; leaves 2
or 3, ample for so small a plant, long-petioled, thin and delicate,
deep-green above, pale beneath, glabrous; terminal leaflets in
maturity 1 inch broad or more, of suborbicular outline, commonly
with subcordate base, the length seldom quite equalling the
breadth, primary lobes 3, reaching to near the middle, the
central one broadly equally and shortly 3-lobed, the other two
unequally 2-lobed, or sometimes entire, all lobes short and very
obtuse; lateral leaflets smaller, in general 3-5-lobed with little
or no distinction of primary and secondary lobes: staminate
plant with fewer flowers and less ample inflorescence than the
pistillate, its sepals 4, oval, obtuse, thin, pale, often purplish-
tinged, delicately parallel-veined; anthers green, not quite as
long as the purplish filaments, linear, acutely rather long-
pointed: achenes rather light-green, less than 5 mm. long, of
soraewhat obliquely elliptic outline, the about 10 ribs thick
but acutely edged, the furrows between them as broad and
acute.

Billings' Bridge, Ottawa, Ont., J. M. Macoun, 12 May, 1891,

t Linn. Sp. PI. 545.

X Mill. Diet. Ed. vii (1749).

1909 The Ottawa Naturalist. 39

being Geol. Surv. No. 841, a rank staminate plant in flower;
also from the same station and by the saine collector, June,'
1898, Geol. Surv. 59,615, the summit of a plant in mature "fruit;
also "Whirlpool Woods," Niagara, Ont., 9 May, 1901, Geol.'
Surv. 33,609, staminate plant in flower; Wingha'm, Ont., J A
Morton, May, 1891, Geol. Surv. 840.

Numerous localities for the same type as occurring within
the United States need not here be cited.

Thalictrum dioicum var. adiantinum. Leaves of a more
vivid and rather metallic green above, also marked with delicate
dark veins and veinlets ; both terminal and lateral leaflets more
slightly lobed primarily as well as secondarily, the secondary
extremely short and subtruncate, thrice, and even more than
thrice as broad as long: achenes a trifle shorter and notably
thicker than in the type, being 4 mm. long and of oval-elliptic
outline, the ribs very thick, turgid, broadly rounded, the inter-
vening furrows, when not nearly obsolete, very narrow and
sometimes deep.

Southwestern Ontario, near St. Thomas, Mr. Macoun, 24
June, 1907, Geol. Surv. 72,515.

The specimens of this quite remarkable and very handsome
meadow rue consist of the terminal portions of two fruiting
plants. The largest is a foot long, and shows but one of the
usually two or three leaves. The leaflets, no less clearly than
the achenes, indicate relationship of some more or less close
degree to the foregoing. If when flowers of plant become known,
especially the staminate, these show as much divergence from
the type as do the leaflets and the fruits, the rank of a distinct
species w411 be assured for it.

Thalictrum dioicum, var. Huronense. Size and habit
perfectly as in the type, but leaflets almost v/ithout distinction
of primary lobes and secondary, being not very unequally 5-7
crenate-lobed: sepals of staminate flowers, more green-her-
baceous, purplish-edged, the veinlets faint; anthers much
elongated, longer than the filaments, greenish-yellow, pointless,
not even mucronulate but rather obtuse, or at least obtusish.

Port Huron, Michigan, 4 May, 1896, Charies K. Dodge; the

1^. type specimen being in Herb. Univ. of Wyoming. The remark-

^ ably long and quite blunt anthers no less than the peculiar cut

of the foliage mark this as a thing not to be confused with our

ktype of T. dioicum. The fruit when known may confirm it in
the rank here assigned, or may demand its promotion.
There is a fragment of a pistillate specimen mounted with
the staminate, purporting to have been obtained a week later
in the same neighborhood; but the one leaf which this
fragment bears shows leaflets of a cut so extremely different that

40 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

I am unable to think of it as representing the same species. The
fruits of this fragment are immature.

Since Port Huron, whence this new variety comes, is only
separated from Ontario by the St. Clair River, it becomes
extremely probable that this plant will be found also on the
Ontario side; so that it ought to be here inserted at least pro-
visionally as a Canadian type.

Thalictrum dioicum, var. Langpordii. Stem 2 feet high,
marked for 6 or 8 inches up to the first and sometimes the only
well developed leaf; leaflets much smaller than in the type,
seldom subcordate or even subtruncate at base, and more inclined
to flabelliform, their lobes somewhat less obtuse: filaments short,
purplish; anthers also not long as in other forms, somewhat
uncinate-mucronate: achenes long and narrow, obliquely oblong,
fully 5 mm. long, their 10 ribs not very thick, closely approxi-
mate, more or less wavy.

Vanorder's Grove near Kingston, Ont., T. E. Langford,
1897, the flowering specimens on the 10th, the fruiting on the
25th of May. Tvpe specimen in Herb. Field Museum, Chicago,
sheets 83,939 and 83,940.

While the foliage of this beautiful form does not so widely
differ from that of ordinary T. dioicum, the carpels, with their
irregular outline and undulating rather thin ribs, might well
be thought to mark a species. The same is in Herb. Field Mus.,
sheet 190,985, from Hamilton, Massachusetts, by the late Thos.
Morong, in 1875, the flowers in May, fruit in June; the waviness
of the ribs less pronounced.

THE FLETCHER MEMORIAL FUND.

Since the appearance of the note in our April issue, a fur-
ther number of subscriptions have been received from members
of the Club and friends of the late Dr. Fletcher. There must
still, however, be many members who are desirous of contribut-
ing something to the above fund, and it would help the work of
the Committee very much if they would intimate the amount
of their subscription, at an early date, to the Secretary-Treas-
urer, Mr. Arthur Gibson, Central Experimental Farm.

I

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, JUNE, 1909 No. 3

THE PRONG-HORN ANTELOPE.

(Antilocapra americana, Ord.)

By Professor Edward E. Prince, Dominion Commissioner

OF Fisheries, Ottawa.

Like most railway travellers, crossing our vast wastes of

^irairie in the west, I have found one of the most interesting

occupations to be that of observing the mammals, birds, etc.,

which from time immemorial have peopled the lonely plain

bel!v/een Brandon and the foot-hills of the Rockies. It has been

m .1 lot to make the journey nearly a score of times, but it never

proves wearisome if one keeps a sharp lookout for living creatures

on :hese grassy wilds. On my last recent trip Isaw once more

th"^, usual gophers, prairie hares, hawks, ducks, geese, and sea-

g..llis in numbers, the beautiful prairie wolf or coyote with bushy

tail, either wandering deviously like a lost sheep-dog or taking

a survey from a rising knoll, while the appearance of a badge

shambling along rewarded my sight. These I had seen before,

yet in spite of my keen watch for antelopes, I had crossed the

prairie time after time without seeing those wonderfully interest-

ir -J animals. On one occasion, however, when travelling from

Prince Albert to Regina, in the company of His Grace Monsignor

Pascal, and I was in the act of expressing my disappointment

at always failing to see any antelope. His Lordship suddenly

turned to the right as we stood on the rear platform of the car,

exclaiming, "Why, there is a band of them," and, lo, five or six

of these lovely creatures proudly pranced along not more than.

100 yards from the train. With heads aloft and stepping high

on their nimble feet, they recalled the action of trained ponies

in a circus. They were going northward as our train sped south,

so that my near view was brief, but the beautiful animals were

so near and apparently so fearless that I had ample timeto

notice their form, colour, and general appearance. Their active

graceful actions delighted me. Few experiences in the wilds, and

42 The Ottawa Naturalist [June

I have had many, have given me greater pleasure, and I felt
rewarded for my long disappointment in failing to see before
that remarkable mammal the prong-horn antelope of Canada.

Several years have since elapsed and I continued to keep
a keen outlook on the occasion of my many recent journeys, but
I was not privileged to see the antelope again until a few weeks
ago. In the first week of May, about 70 miles west of Swift
Current, a western man in the Pullman car was calling my
attention to a large herd of cattle scattered over some low hills,
400 or 500 yards from the railway track, when he excitedly
exclaimed, "There's a small band of antelope beside them."
A group of four or five prong-horn antelope were grazing about
one hundred yards from the cattle. They fed nervously and
every few seconds one or other of them would raise his head and
look round, keeping watch. They were plainly to be seen,
though less favourably than the group which I had observed a
few years before. My friend had the keen acute vision of the
western man, familiar with the moving objects of the plains, and
he had made no mistake. Indeed, one can make no mistake
about this graceful prairie animal as it haughtily tosses its
head and looks round, the dark perpendicular horns resembling
a high crown on its forehead and adding to its proud bearing.
The slender neck held erect, the sharp nose, high forehead, small
ears not unlike those of a pony, and the forked curved horns,
impart to it a peculiar aspect, very characteristic, and not
readity forgotten. There is a resemblance to the goat, the
delicate trim feet and the erect horns being so goat-like, but
the expression of the eyes and the light graceful bearing recall
the deer tribe. Our prong-horn antelope is indeed neither a deer
nor true antelope nor goat, but is intermediate in position, and
combines their zoological features. Like the giraffe, which,
is also a unique Ruminant, the antelope of the Canadian prairie
occupies a position by itself amongst mammals. The Rumi-
nantia form the highest group of the even-toed Ungulates or
hoofed animals. This group includes the Bovidae or hollow-
horned cattle, oxen, sheep, goats, and true antelopes; the
Cervidse or deer, the Ruminants with solid horns; the Camelidae
or Camels; and two peculiar families, the Giraffidae or Giraffes,
and the Antilocapridaj or Prong-horn x^ntelopes. These two
last families are remarkable as containing each only one species,
unless there be two species of Giraffes. The Prong-horn is there-
fore a unique species in a unique family, and cannot be ranked
with any other living ruminant. In height our antelope is about
three feet at the shoulder and about forty-eight inches from
snout to tail, while its weight averages 70 pounds, being therefore
much smaller than the Virginia deer (Cariacus virginianiis).

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 43

which is usually four feet high and about five feet in length and
averages 100 to 175 pounds in weight. The general ground-
colour is almost white with a kind of saddle or saddlecloth patch
on the back and the side of the body, of a light yellowish brown;
the neck is brown with two bands or collars of white across the
throat, there is a dark patch on each cheek, the nose is dark
and the chin and sides of the mouth pale ochre. The tail is
almost black, and a large patch of white surrounds the tail
region. The white hairs forming this large rounded patch are
said to be erectile, and in extreme fear or anger they rise and
give a very peculiar appearance to the prong-horn. This com-
plex arrangement of white, yellow, and dark brown wotild be
grotesque were it not for the grace and delicacy of the form and
action of the wearer of these colours.

The sharp goat -like muzzle, the high precipitous forehead,
the bright piercing grey eyes near the summit of the brow and
close below the root of the horns, the slender erect neck, per-
pendicular short ears and the deer-like bod}^ make a peculiar
combination. The creature is a goat with its trim delicate legs,
not an antelope; its hair is coarse, tubular and fragile just as is
the hair of a deer. But it has no tear-canal near each eye with
the double lachrymal apertures of the deer, and the posterior
accessory hoof or "deer claw" is absent. There is a mane, not
unlike that of the moose, consisting of firm, erect red hairs pro-
jecting four or five inches from the back of the neck. But the
most striking feature is the pair of horns standing upright on the
summit of the brow, 10 or 12 inches high and of a black or dark
brown colour, thicker at the base and for a third of the total
length, at which point the prong or sharp knob projects forward,
while the sharp upper part curves backward like a hook. The
short anterior fork on each horn imparts a peculiar jaunty
aspect to the head, and justifies the name "prong-horn." But
still more remarkable is the fact that this hollow horn is de-
ciduous or shed annually. All the deer tribe have solid antlers,
which are shed each season, but in the oxen, antelopes, goats,
sheep, etc., the horns which are of the nature of a sheath cover-
ing a projecting bony core of the frontal bone, are not shed but
permanent through life. Alone amongst cavicorn or hollow-
horned ruminants, the prong-horn sheds these ornaments which
are possessed bv both sexes. The hollow horn becomes loose
in mid-winter after the "battles of the fall," and in January
or earlier they drop off. The frontal process or core, if examined
after the old horn has dropped, is found to show fine white pro-
jecting hairs developed in a soft epidermal layer. At the tip
these hairs are black and dense and they coalesce to form the new
horn. A writer in Forest and Stream (New York) stated that : —

44 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

"Towards autumn the periosteum becomes thicker, and
takes on the character of skin, and from this skin grows the
fine hair, which, as stated, finally pushes the sheath of the old
horn away from its supporting bone, and at the extremity of
the skin becomes new hard horn. After the sheath has been
shed, the hair continues to grow, and as it grows it becomes
matted together below the tip, dark and hard, and gradually
working down toward the head, changes from a covering of single
hairs, which are white in color, to a mass of black agglutinated
fibres, precisely like the sheath which the animal carried the
year before. This process gradually extends further and further
down the horn, until at the base it is sometimes difficult to be
certain just where the sheath ends and the skin of the head begins.

"During September and during the first half of October,
antelope use their horns to some extent in fighting, and often
come together with considerable force and energv, and push
head to head for a long time. It is not probable, however, that
such battles are ever severe enough to loosen the horns, or that
they have anything to do with the annual loss of the sheath,
which has been described."

It is an interesting fact that the female prong-horn
possesses these ornaments, but they are smaller, rarely more
than 3 or 4 inches long, if hunters are to be trusted. Packard
gives an interesting figure, after Hays, of a young prong-horn
with a pair of sharp conical horns, not pronged, but covered
with hair like the rest of the head. Its method of feeding is
unlike that of the deer for it crops grass but never nibbles ^:
leaves or shrubs. It is nomadic and so far as I could learn has
no special local haunts.

Formerly large bands numbering thousands roamed over
the prairie, but it is now scarce, indeed in some of the western
states it is quite exterminated, so that where fifteen years
ago in a county, in Colorado, fifty thousand of these beau-
tiful creatures were known to exist, to-day there are not
fifty. They never frequent wooded or sheltered districts, but
constantly roam over the open plains where they are exposed
to the hunter's rapacity. East of the Rockies, in Canada, small
bands may be found, but excepting in California where a few
have occasionally been noticed, the prong-horn is absent from
the coast country west of the mountains. Only in severe storms
do they forsake the open country, and seek shelter on the slopes
of coulees, and they have been known to migrate hundreds of
miles in winter to find slopes where the snow was light and feed
obtainable. They cannot subsist on the rich eastern grasses, or
live confined in sheltered reserves, and in captivity very little
grass must be given if the captives are to be kept in health.

**7

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 45

Even on the prairie they are subject to mysterious maladies, due
no doubt to improper food, and they have been noticed to be
plentiful one year and very ■scarce the next from this cause.
The year 1873 (or 1874) was said to be a scarce year for prong-
horns. Owing to their rapid nimble gait they can cover long
distances, especially when disturbed. "In fleetness",says Caton,
"they exceed all other quadrupeds of our continent." When
feeding out in the open, usually standing prominently on some
rounded grassy area, they are visible from a long distance; but
on the lower fiats, and near coulees, they are less easily detected
as their peculiar patched coloration effectually masks them.
When watched one sees them feeding for a few moments and
then moving on, one or two of the herd constantly raising the
head and keeping a lookout. The wolves are their main enemies,
apart from the insatiable cruelty of man, and in June when the
voung are born, the prong-horns are especially on the alert.
Theodore Roosevelt tells of the spectacle described by a western
rancher who saw a prong-horn attacked b}- two eagles. It was
a brave contest, the animal rearing on his hind legs and striking
like a goat with his horns and hoofs. Curiosity is so strong in
these animals that it makes them an easy pre)'. When suddenly
startled they make several leaps, high from the ground, then
stop and stare wildly. They are easily shot theit. Often a band
will run a few hundred yards, wheel about and stare vacantlv,
and return almost to their starting point. This "circling" habit
enables the unscrupulous hunter to slaughter a whole herd,
indeed a hunter has been known to shoot a wagon load of them
before the remnant of the herd fled away. When once started
in full cry they veritably fly, apparently scarcely touching the
ground; but they are soon exhausted and a horse has no diffi-
culty in keeping up with them if the chase is prolonged. A
bright cloth waved on a stick wiU cause a herd to approach a
partly hidden hunter. The older larger animals are the most
inquisitive, and the hunter can make sure of the finest prong-
horns. Curious, nervous, swift in flight, they have the reputa-
tion of being pluckv when cornered and make a gallant and
dangerous fight. When leisurely trotting along at their leisure,
as I saw them from the end of a Pullman car, nothing could be
more easy, elegant, and confident. I have only once tasted
prong-horn or antelope steak, and I found it juicy, fine-grained
and of exceedingly good flavour.

Why is it that this lovely and scientifically interesting
native animal is allowed to be exterminated' Its numbers on
our prairie are few compared with the large bands of twenty
years ago. Unlike the buffalo, as settlement proceeds, it need
not become extinct if protection is afforded and our praine

46 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

settlers educated to care for, and not destroy, this almost unique
creature. The vast herds of buffalo had to go, the huge savage
bovine defied the settler; but this swift and timid animal would
keep out on the lonely waste far from danger, and would sur^•ive,
( were anything done to prevent merciless slaughter.

Antilocapra amencana, Ord., is dissociated in every way from
the typical antelopes of the old world and is neither a deer, a goat,
a sheep, nor an ox. One American author says, "It is like an
island in a vast sea, unrelated," though it would be more true
to say that it is a connecting link related to many diverse
branches of the Ruminantia. Its horns are hollow like the
Bovidas, but deciduous like the Cervidae; yet it has the gall-
bladder which no deer possesses. Scent glands which antelopes
and deer -exhibit , the prong-horn lacks, nor has it the tear sinus,
nor the posterior hoof or "deer claw." Mr. Roosevelt charac-
terizes it as "the extraordinary prong-buck, the only hollow-
horned ruminant which sheds its horns annually" — and it is the
sole species in the family Antilocapridae, a family all by itself.
It combines features of the deer, antelope, goat and sheep, and
can be compared only to the giraft'e in this respect as occupying
an isolated zoological position amongst the Ungulates.

In confinement it makes a great pet, but rarely lives long
and, until June, 1903, none had been known to have been
born in captivitv. It is difficult, if not impossible, to domesticate
completely and, since it was first scientifically described in 1855,
and its peculiar features studied in a captive specimen in the
Zoological Gardens, London, its numbers have continued to
decrease so that it bids fair to soon become one of the rarest of
our interesting larger native mammals.

AVINTER BIRDS AT POINT PELEE.
Bv W. E. Sauxders, London, Ont.

The most southerly piece of land in Canada is the south
end of Point Pelee, the latitude being about 41' 55°, while
London is almost exactly 43' and Ottawa about 45' 25°. It
will readily be seen that there is sufficient \-ariance between
these places to make a radical difference in the winter bird
population and it was, therefore, with niuch interest that Mr.
J. S. Wallace and I undertook this year a couple of journeys
to determine what the winter population of the Point actually
was.

In the midst of a mild season it happened tlvat the two
closing days of January and the Ist of February produced the

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 47

most severe weather that had been seen at Point Pelee durincr
the whole winter, so that, as far as enjoyment was concerned,
it could not be called first class, but for the real purpose we had
in mind, namely, to find out just what birds stayed at the Point
through the winter, it was perhaps ideal. If the birds have the
power of foretelling weather and desired to miss the most
strenuous spells, they certainly would have been absent from
the Point at this time. The two closing days of January were
one continuous blizzard, and yet, in the midst of weather of this
character, the Carolina Wrens were still to be heard singing.
Cardinals ought to be fair winter singers, but the weather over-
came their spirits. They and the Carolinas are usually to be
found even in summer, in that part of the Point which we call
"The Jungle," composed of a tangle of grape vines with shrubbery
in a rather open forest growth, and here were grouped most of
the birds that we saw, and a queer group it was. Bluebirds and
Robins, Carolina Wrens and Cardinals, Redpolls and Goldfinches,
Evening Grosbeaks and Cedar birds, with three Bohemian
Waxwings, all living under practically the same conditions,
although at varying heights from the ground. In the list which
is appended, everything which we expected we might find is
not included, and on the contrary, of those which we found we
are inclined to think are not regular winter residents. For
instance, our one Brown Thrasher and Chipping Sparrow,
although in good condition physically were probably left behind
through some unusual, and perhaps individual cause. , The lone
Cowbird was not in good health and doubtless felt unable to
make the crossing.

It would seem, however, that the Hermit Thrushes,
Chewinks, Vesper and White-throated Sparrows, Bluebirds,
Robins and Flickers must be regular winter residents. It chanced
that we saw onlv one Song Sparrow on two separate days, but
it is hardly to be doubted that further exploration of the thickets
would have resulted in the discovery of more.

In the following Hst the numbers noted are those taken from
the days of greatest abundance. As we were working the same
ground every day it would be manifestly unfair to consider that
we saw different birds each day, but the probability is that we
saw rather more than the numbers given.

Bluebird 40 Redpoll 50

Robin 15 Purple Finch 60

Hermit Thrush 5 W. W. Crossbill 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet . . 40 Evening Grosbeak 3

Brown Creeper 15 Cedar Bird 15

Carolina Wren 11 Bohemian Waxwing "i

48 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

White-breasted Nuthatch. 3 Flicker 8

Brown Thrasher 1 Downy Woodpecker 10

Cardinal 8 Dove 1

Chewink 5 Crow 1

Cowbird 1 Blue Jay 5

Junco 25 Prairie Horned Lark 1

Snowflake 50 Marsh Hawk 3

Vesper Sparrow 4 Cooper's Hawk 10

Song Sparrow 1 Red-shouldered Hawk.. . . ]

Tree Sparrow 100 Bald Eagle 3

Chipping Sparrow. 1 Long-tailed Duck 500

White-throated Sparrow. . 0 Am. Merganser 10

Goldfinch 30 Golden Eye Duck 1

Pine Finch 10 Herring Gull 25

Our next visit to the Point was on March 14, 15 and 16,
by which time a large number of changes had taken place. We
arrived late in the afternoon of the 13th and the next morning
our ears were greeted by songs of the Robin, Song Sparrow and
Cardinal, and the call of the Chewink. Before the day had fully
dawned we were on our way to the end of the Point to see, if
possible, the northern migrations in the very act of arrival from
the south. On our way down the Carolina Wrens were added
to the above-named chorus and numbers of other birds were
heard, particularly Bluebirds and Crows. At the end of the
Point we found we were doomed to disappointment as we saw
nothing whatever arrive from the south. To our surpirse we
saw a small number of English Sparrows' migrating south and
this experience was repeated in the days following, but northern
migration of the same species was also noted on the latter days.
A short distance away from the end of the Point we saw a large
flock of Cedar Waxwings which we judged were just arriving,
and on the 15th a flock of Cowbirds in the same condition, but
both of these were flying vigorously and might have rested near
the end of the Point.

Two curious facts were noted, first, three Shore Larks came
from near the end of the Point and flew north-east across
the Lake, only a few feet above the water. They disappeared
in the distance still holding the same direction. The other occur-
rence was that of a small flock of about nine Crossbills which
flew almost directly east up the Lake. We watched them
also until they had disappeared, still holding their course.

The jungle chorus on this trip was something to be re-
membered. The birds seemed to congregate in the same locality
as that in which we found them six weeks before but their
numbers were very much increased and the later date brought

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 49

them into a much more musical frame of mind. The group
found on this trip consisted of about 20 or 30 each of Redwings
and Rusty Blackbirds, 50 Purple Finches, 100 Tree Sparrows,
5 White-throats and 50 Redpolls, with an occasional Carolina
Wren. All of these were singing nicely, though of course they
had not yet their full spring voices. Added to these were others,
such as Juncos, Bluebirds, Waxwings and Goldfinches, which
were not as yet singing at all but the melody produced by all
these sweet voices was exceedingly agreeable to our ears, eager
as we were for bird music. Each day this group of birds was to
be found in the same spot which was evidently the song centre
for the whole Point.

On our former trip we saw four Vesper Sparrows and toward
the end of February Messrs. Taverner and Swales also saw four
of these, but on the present occasion only one was noted. This,
however, is sufficient to show that this species does winter in
Canada, although in small numbers.

With the thawing of the ice in the marsh the muskrat
trapping had begun and the ducks were returning. Black Ducks
were in the majority but Redheads, Ruddys and Buffles were
also there, and on the open Lake the two large Mergansers and
the Golden Eye, nearly 200 altogether were seen.

The Bohemian Waxwings of our former trip were gone and
we saw no Grosbeaks either, but winter had left one representa-
tiA^e behind in the person of a Snowflake. We had not a very
good view of this bird but it appeared to be acquiring the black
spring plumage.

The last birds which we added to our list were the Kildeer
and Bronzed Grackle, only 7 of the latter. At London one is
puzzled to know which Blackbird arrives first and my own idea
has been that the Bronzed is ahead of the others, but our ex-
perience at Pelee seems to point to the Redwing and Rusty as
the earlier species, with the Cowbird next, followed closely_ by
the Bronzed, of which there had been no noteworthy arrival
up to March 15th. Of course the relative date of arrival in other
years might vary from that of 1909, but certainly Point Pelee
seems to be the' place where migrations can be studied under
advantages which cannot be obtained elsewhere.

One exceedingly striking point noted during last autumn,
and this spring so far, has been the entire absence of any migra-
tory movement on the part of the Chicadee. One bird, I think,
comprises the whole number seen in about eighteen days'
observation during the period mentioned, showing that this
bird sometimes, at least, is practically resident.

The following list comprises as nearly as possible the birds
seen on the three days of this latter trip: —

50

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[June

Bluebird 300

Robin 100

Hemiit Thrush 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet. . 75

Brown Creeper 2

Carolina Wren 10

White-breasted Nuthatch. 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch. . . 1

Cardinal 15

Chewink 10

Cowbird 150

Bronzed Grackle 7

Red-winged Blackbird. ... 150

Rustv Blackbird 75

Meadow Lark 2 5

Junco 50

Snowflake 1

Vesper Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 100

Tree Sparrow 150

White-throated Sparrow. . 5

Goldfinch 30

Purple Finch. , 50

Red Cross Bill 13

Redpoll 100

Cedar Bird 100

Flicker 5

Downy Woodpecker 4

Crow.'. 400

Blue Jay 5

Prairie Horned Lark 15

Marsh Hawk 4

Great Horned Owl 1

Bald Eagle 1

Kildeer Plover 2

Red-head Duck 40

Buffle-head Duck 12

Black Duck 150

Golden Eve Duck 7

Blue BiUDuck 8

Ruddy Duck 2

Am. Merganser 150

Red-breasted Merganser. . 150

Ring Billed Gull 10

Herring Gull 50

MEETINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH.

December 17th, 1908. Meeting held at the residence of
Mr. W. H. Harrington. Present: Messrs. Halkett, Groh, Baldwin,
Gibson, Young, Wilson, Eifrig, MacLaughlin, Harrington (in the
chair), and Master G. Eifrig.

On opening the meeting the Chairman referred to the great
loss which the Entomological Branch, in the death of Dr. James
Fletcher, had sustained. He spoke of his remarkable knowledge
of all things concerning insects, and how much he would be missed
by all the members of the Branch, by all of whom he was much
loved. The December numbers of the Canadian Entomologist,
Entomological News, Le Naturalist Canadien, and the Journal
of Economic Entomology, all of which had full obituary notices,
were shown by Mr. Harrington, and read by those present. The
Chairman also referred to the death of Dr. William Ashmead,
of the United States National Museum, and showed his photo-
graph. Dr. Ashmead was one of the leading scientific entomo-
logists of North America, being the highest authority on the
large order, the Hymenoptera. Mr. Harrington also showed
Fascicule No. 62 of Genera Insectorum, on the subfamily

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 51

Pimplinffi. This was much admired by all present. He also
placed on view several cases containing his collection of local
species. These were of much interest.

Mr. Groh exhibited a box containing about eight species of
plant lice illustrating the differences in size, wing venation and
general structure. Mr. Groh reported that he had given special
attention to the collection of plant lice during late summer and
autumn and had found these insects on about 70 different plants.

Mr. Baldwin exhibited some lepidoptera, in all 20 specimens.
These were all of local species which had been collected during the
past summer. Some fine specimens were noticed of Oligia
festivoides, Melalopha apicalis and Azelina ancetaria.

Mr. Young exhibited some living chrysalids of one of the
Orange-tips, (Anihocharis). These are curious objects with their
conspicuous keel-shaped projection. The specimens were collect-
ed by Mr. Young at Departure Bay, B.C. He also showed some
parasitized larvae, and living pupae of a species of Aids, a geo-
metrid moth. A general discussion followed on the pupation of
the Rhopalocera.

Mr. Gibson showed a small collection of named Ephemeridae
which had been collected in Manitoba, chiefly at Winnipeg, by
Mr. J. B. Wallis. It was pointed out that good work could be
done in making collections of these insects and in observing their
habits, as little was known concerning the greater number of
Canadian species. A box of Hemiptera taken at Vernon, B.C.,
by Mr. E. P. Venables was examined with interest. Among these
were specimens of Eurygaster carinatus, Carpocoris remotus,
Nysius scolopax and Geocoris uliginosus, var. limbatus.

Rev. G. Eifrig exhibited a small collection of lepidoptera
which he had made in Germany in 1908. Also a few specimens
of the large handsome Mcrphns from Brazil. These were much
admired. A. G.

January 7th, 1909. Held at the residence of Mr. Arthur
Gibson. Present: Messrs. Harrington, Simpson Baldwin, Eifrig
Jr., Groh, Halkett, Metcalfe, Young and Gibson.

Mr. Harrington spoke at some length on the sub-familv Pim-
plinag of the Hymenoptera. He had been re-arranging his local
collection of these insects; and stated that 70 different species
are known to occur at Ottawa. Of these he exhibited 48 species
and gave information concerning many of them. The sub-
family Pimplinffi belongs to the super-family Ichneumoidea, the
members of which have unusually long and slender bodies.
They are decidedly beneficial in nature, preying upon injurious
kinds of insects; they thus render very important service to the
agriculturist.

7'

f'

52 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

Mr. Metcalfe showed Anisota rubicunda, a very beautiful
moth, also specimens of the injurious leaf-hopper, Typhlocyha
rosce. The insects known as leaf-hoppers occur on grasses and
trees and shrubs of all kinds, and many are decidedly destructive.
Mr. Gibson spoke of the injury caused last year in eastern
Ontario to potatoes, beans and other plants by the apple leaf-
hopper, Enipoasca malt.

Mr. Baldwin exhibited specimens of Silvanus SMrinamensis
which had been found in Ottawa on bags of flour. This little
beetle is a well known enemy of stored grain, dried fruits, etc.
He also showed a small general collection of coleoptera, among
which was noticed a specimen of Pityobius anguinus which is
rare at Ottawa.

Mr. Young brought to the meeting a box of micro-lepidoptera
beautifully mounted. Among these were co-types of recently
described new species, viz. : Crambus yotmgelhts, Crambus polingi,
Crambus nevadellus , and Thaumotopsis coloradella.

Mr. Groh showed examples of the Greenhouse White Fly
(Aleyrodes) in the egg, larval and perfect states. He mentioned
that these insects were of considerable economic importance, and
outlined some experiments in destroying them by fumigation
with hydroc3^anic gas, which he had carried on while attending
the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph.

Mr. Halkett spoke of some dipterous larvse which he had
found in the Northwest feeding in the head of a bird. The flies
had been reared but as yet had not been identified.

Mr. Gibson showed a collection of Sesiidae most of which had
recently been named by Mr. W. Beutenmuller, of the American
Museum of Natural History, New York. None of the species
were particularly rare, but the exhibit as a whole was interesting.
These moths resemble rather closely wasps or hornets. The
larvae are borers living in the stems, trunks, roots, or branches
of living trees. A fine pair each of Catocala coccinata, taken at
Winnipeg, Man., by Mr. J. B. Wallis, and Hepialus hyperboreus,
collected at Hymers, Ont., bv Mr. H. Dawson, were also shown.

A. G.

January 28th, 1909. Held at the residence of Mr. W.
Simpson. The members present were: Messrs. Harrington,
Halkett, Metcalfe, Groh, Eifrig Jr , Gibson, Baldwin, Young and
Simpson in the chair. Numerous specimens were exhibited by
the various members in turn, all of which called forth keen
discussion

Mr. Harrington showed a number of flies of the curious
genus Microdon, and read portions of an article on them by
Wheeler in the Journal of the New York Entomological Society.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 53

The larval and pupal stages, which are spent in the nests of ants
have always been a source of perplexity to many collectors, and
even to naturalists of experience, as is evident from the fact that
the>- have been repeatedly named and placed in genera even out-
side of the insect world. They are especially liable to be taken
for snails. The larv^ seem to be tolerated by the ants, and
evidently do them no harm. It is not known with certainty on
what they feed.

Mr. Groh had some cockroaches, with their egg-masses
attached. The eggs of these creatures are all laid at once,
enclosed in a sort of capsule, which is large for the size of the
insect. They are carried about for some time before being
deposited.

The Chairman exhibited several cases of specimens, com-
menting on specimens of particular interest. Among them were
many insects which were examined closelj^

Mr. Metcalfe showed a box of miscellaneous insects, among
which were a species of Machronycus and Stenehnis crenatus.
These are acquatic in their habits, and somewhat snail-like in
motion.

A box of lepidoptera, shown by Mr. Baldwin, included
several species uncommon at Ottawa. Mention may be made of
Euchalcia venusta, E. putnanii, Hyphoraia parthenos, and Haploa
confusa. They were all taken during 1908 at light.

Mr. Young exhibited a small collection of British Columbia
coleoptera, which contained several specimens of the handsome,
large wood-borer, Rosalia funebris.

Mr. Gibson reported that some nests of the dreaded Brown-
tail Moth had been found in shipments of nursery stock imported
into Ontario from France. This necessitated a close inspection
of all such shipments coming into Canada. He showed actual
nests which had been taken from fruit seedling stocks found to
be infested. He also exhibited specimens of the curious little
Bvrrid, Exoma pleuralis, collected at Metlakatla, B.C., by the
Rev. J. H. Keen.

Mr. Halkett read some interesting paragraphs on the dura-
tion of the life of insects from a work entitled "The Prolongation
of Life," by Elie Metchnikoff, sub-Director of the Pasteur
Institute. Paris, France, and also paragraphs from the same
work on "The Social Life of Insects." He also showed a number
of living mites which had been handed to him by Mr. Henry, the
taxidermist, who had found *:hem on canaries.

H. G.

54 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

MEETINGS OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH.

Held at the residence of Mr. D. A. Campbell, 226 Clemow
Avenue, Saturday evening, March 20th, 1909. There were
present in addition to the host, Messrs. Attwood, Whyte, Clarke,
Gibson, Michaud, Bond, and W. T. Macoun.

The subject for the evening's discussion was "The Stems
of Seed Plants." Lantern slides, photographs and drawings of
sections of various stems were used to illustrate the types dis-
cussed. After a reference to the monocotyledon stem, a series
of slides was exhibited showing the various stages leading from
the soft herbaceous stem with relatively small wood bundles
to the woody stem with the wood bundle the major portion of
the stem. These furnished the material for the discussion.
Among the topics dealt with were growth in length and in
diameter, and the elements of the stem which contributed to
this growth, the chief active living portion of the stem being
the cambium, the medullary ray cells, the younger inner bast,
and the young outer wood. The function of each of these parts
of the tree stem was dealt with. The wood cells of the heart
of the tree gave stiffness, the wood cells of the sap wood were
the channels for water from root to leaf, the sieve tubes of the
bast carried food from leaf towards ro6t,the cambium was the
source of new cells added to wood and bast, the medullary rays
served to carrv water and plant food across the stem.

In the discussion on sap flow and ascent of water in the
stem, some of the members were in doubt as to the existence
of such a force as root pressure and some were not prepared to
accept the proposition that living plant cells have the power
to select certain substances from the soil. It seems necessary
to assume a root pressure to account for the ascent of water
in a glass tube tied tightly a few inches above the soil to the
cut end of a stem.

In reference to selective absorption it was pointed out that
two trees may grow in the same soil and one may contain more
ash than the other. Barley and red clover in flower grown in the
same soil have about the same total ash or mineral matter, yet
the clover contains over five times as much lime as the barley
and the barley about eighteen times as much silica as the
clover.

Reference was made to a recent explanation of the ascent
of water in trees of great height. This explanation will be con- -
sidered more fully at some future time. It was generally con-
sidered that the known forces seem inadequate to fully account
for the phenomenon. ^- T:ii-^*^

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 55

Held at the home of Mr. R. B. Whyte, Saturday, April 3rd,
1909. Present; Prof. John Macoun, Messrs. Whyte, Attwood,'
Clarke, Bond, Cameron, Campbell, W. T. Macoun, Groh, and
Newman. As per previous arrangement, Mr. L. H. Newman
acted as Chairman and opened the discussion on the following
subject: "Certain Biological Principles and their Relation to
Plant Improvement." The speaker outlined some of the prin-
ciple theories respecting the methods of organic evolution and
made some deduction from the behavior of plants in Nature
which he considered to be suggestive of how plants growing
under domestication might be improved. A most interesting
discussion followed the presentation of this subject and many
important observations were submitted as contributions to our
knowledge of the various factors and circumstances which have
a bearing upon the development and improvement of our
domestic plants.

At the request of the Associate Editor of the Club in Botany
the Chairman agreed to prepare his remarks in the form of a
special article to appear in The Ottawa Naturalist at an
earlv date.

L. H. N.

OUR FIRST EXCURSION OF THE SEASON OF 1909.

The excursion of the Ottawa Field-Naturalist's Club, on
the afternoon of the 24th of April, was not much favored by the
weather. Although there was no rain, the sun even shining over-
head in all its brightness, yet the thermometer hovered between
3 5 and 40°, which, together with a cold, fitful wind, made people
shiver. In spite of that, about forty members and friends of the
Club assembled at the Experimental Farm at 2.30 in the after-
noon. This is not only one of the main show and beauty spots
of the Capital, but also a ready source of interest and informa-
tion to nature lovers.

Under the leadership of Dr. W. Saunders, Mr. F. T. Shutt,
and Mr. W. T. Macoun, the big barn with its up-to-date ma-
chinery and agricultural implements was first inspected, and
then the different breeds of fine cattle in the basement. The
arrangement here is, as is to be expected, a model one. The
different kinds of farm animals are certainly well worth seeing.

Next, the beds of fine crocuses in bloom near Dr. Saunders'
residence were admired. Thence we wended our way into the
Arboretum, where Mr. Macoun gave much in.struction on native
and exotic species of trees, especially conifers and shrubs, and
pointed out differences between closely allied species. A tinge
of sadness was also interspersed in his remarks, when he pointed

56 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

out the trees planted twenty years ago by our late friend, Dr.
Fletcher, as well as young trees sent last fall by him from British
Columbia, namely, of Larix occidentalis. Last year at about the
same time he had been with us going over the same places and
speaking in his usual kindly, animated way. Let us, who knew
him, never forget him, and emulate his noble example.

Birds were conspicuous by their absence, which in view of
the cold wind was not to be wondered at. In general, the first
migrants with the exception of the Crow and Prairie Horned
Lark were one to two weeks later than usual this spring. Birds
like the Junco, Robin, Bluebird, Red-winged and Bronze Black-
birds and the Song Sparrow did not come this year until the
first week in April, instead of March 21st to 23rd. However, a
few Robins and Song Sparrows were seen and heard, and while
we were in the Arboretum a Flicker was loudly calling and
hammering. Beside these only a small flock of Golden-crowned
Kinglets and one Brown Creeper were seen. Had there been no
wind a great many more species would undoubetdly have been
observed.

Humor was also not entirely lacking. While all were in-
specting a queer-looking bush, with branches recurved to the
ground, Picea excelsa inverta, it was found that a hare, our vary-
ing species, Lepus americanus , had made its home under it.
With admirable generalship, Mr. MacMurray, of the farm staff,
had the little tree or bush surrounded by the younger element
of the party, in order to catch the rabbit, as it was termed,
although we have no rabbit here. However, the frightened
animal broke through the cordon and, pursued by Mr. MacMurray
with flying coat-tails, made good his escape. To duly impress
the difference between hare and rabbit for future occasions,
our indefatigable President, Mr. Attwood, quickly drew up this
set of differences: —

The Hare. The Rabbit.

Ears longer than head. Ears equal in length to head.

Lives above ground. Lives in burrows.

Young born with eyes open. Young born with eyes closed.

Solitary. Gregarious.

Hind legs longer than head. Hind legs not longer than head.

Fur turning white in winter. Fur not turning white.

It w^as interesting to note the zigzag course of the hare's
flight, which proved rather puzzling for Mr. MacMurray and the
two dogs accompanying him.

At the close of our walk short addresses were made by Mr.
McNeill on the weather which, by reason of the poor brand he
had supplied for the day, caused more hilarity or resentment
than would otherwise have been the case. He, however, made

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 57

a strong plea that the members should use the barometer and
weather charts to better advantage. Mr. Halkett, our expert
in herpetology and "frogology," made some general remarks,
not pertaining to his branch, since batrachians, etc., and insects,'
were absent on account of the cold weather. Only in one pool
of the swamp below St. Louis' Dam a vigorous chorus of frogs
could be heard, and not one in the other pools. Beside these
two gentlemen Messrs. Macoun, Attwood and the undersigned
spoke brieflv. G. EI FRIG.

COUNCIL MEETINGS.

The first meeting of the Council for the year 1909-1910
was held in the Carnegie Library on March 23rd.

Members present: Messrs. A. E. Attwood, A. Halkett, C. H.
Young, A. G. Kingston, A. McNeill, L. H. Newman, and T. E.
Clarke; Miss F. Burt, Miss B. Gilbertson, and Miss M. McK.
Scott.

Ordinarv members elected:

Miss C. P. Grenfell, B.A., Ottawa.

Miss Frances Moule, B.A., Ottawa.

At this meeting standing committees and leaders for the
excursions were appointed. The name of the Publishing Com-
mittee was changed to Publications Committee, and the duties
of the committee were enlarged to include all business relating
to exchanges. The following motion was carried: That for
the ensuing year it be the duty of the Chairman of the Excursion
Committee, after an excursion is held, to have a report of the
same sent to the Editor of the Ottawa Naturalist for publica-
tion; and similarh' that it be the duty of the Chairman of the
Soirees Committee to have reports of the soirees sent to the
Editor.

Mr. L. J. Burpee, Librarian of the Carnegie Library,
appeared before the Council at the request of the Library
Committee. He extended to the Club the privilege of placing
its important exchanges on file in the Carnegie Library, and he
submitted a list of scientific periodicals not now received by
either the Club or the Carnegie Library, with the proposal that
the Club might secure a number of these in exchange for the
Ottawa Naturalist.

April 29. — Members present: Mr. A. E. Attwood, Rev. C.
G. Eifrig, Messrs. A. Halkett,' J. W. Gibson, A. McNeill, L. H.
Newman, and T. E. Clarke; Miss F. Burt, Miss B. Gilbertson. and
Miss M. McK. Scott.

Ordinarv members elected:

58 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

Mr. Wm. Smeaton, B.A., Ottawa.

Mr. A. D. Watson, Ottawa.

Miss A. J. Wilson, Ottawa.

Mr. A. Effingham Fleck, Vancouver, B.C.

The President suggested the formation of branches or small
affiliated clubs in places near Ottawa such as Carp and Stitts-
ville. These branches would carry on local field work and could
be visited each year by the Club at some time when a joint field
day could be held. The Council approved of the plan and ap-
pointed Mr. J. W. Gibson to make preliminary arrangements
for the organization of such a branch at Carp.

T. E. C.

NOTES.

DioscoREA viLLOSA. — On page 184, Vol. XXII. of The
Ottawa Naturalist, Mr. W. A. Dent describes a delightful
retreat for the nature lover where Lake Huron has gradually
narrowed into the St. Clair River.

Referring to the rarity of the slender twiner found there
popularly known as the Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) he invites
reports of its distribution. It is not rare in wooded flats along
the Thames River westward from London. There is a fine patch
of it in a thicket by the bank of the River within the city limits.

J. Dearness, London, Ont.

Snake Behavior. — The observation which follows seems
worthy of presentation, if not as an unusual occurrence, yet as
one which may be new to many. My own opinion is that it
might be less unusual than it probably is, if the reception almost
invariably accorded to members of the snake fraternity did not
render it next to impossible.

One morning last April, while strolling among the ruins of
an old building, I came upon a large garter snake, which was
making strenuous efforts to get out of my way. As soon as I
noticed it I stopped short, only a couple of feet away, and was
rather surprised to see it do the same. Evidently it was aiming
to avoid detection until I should pass on. With the object of
seeing what would follow, I waited motionless, and for a whole
minute or more nothing took place. Finally it began to venture
on escape, and in the most cautious way drew itself forward a
trifle, so slight as almost to escape notice. After another wait a
slightly bolder hitch forward was made. This procedure was
repeated many times with increasing confidence and more sub-
stantial progress each time, until it had got about four feet
away from me, when it glided quietly off among the weeds.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 59

I was sufficiently interested by what I had seen to wonder
if the snake would repeat its successful ruse; and so I overtook
it once more at a little distance, stopping when within a foot or
two of it. It stopped as before, drawing back its head, and
throwing its body into considerable curves. What followed
was substantially the same as I have already described, but was
if anything even more cautious, and longer in accomplishment.
The markings of the snake were admirably suited for harmoniz-
ing with its surroundings and in doubling from side to side, the
body's motion did not greatly break the homogeneity with the
waving grass. The creature's self-possession and apparent con-
fidence in its tactics, impressed one particularly, whenever the
peculiarity of its mode of travel compelled it to direct its head
almost squarely toward the quarter from which it sought to
escape. Needless to sa^^ its well-earned liberty was gladly
granted; and, I suppose, if it succeeds in running the gauntlet
of human persecution until a like occasion again presents itself,
it will all the more instinctively rely on what has once proved
safe wood-craft, and if the next intruder also witnesses the little
drama of which he is the cause, will furnish him with another
instance of the marvels of animal sagacity.

Herbert Groh, Ottawa.

BiRxO Notes. — In the Montreal Witness of February 13th,
1909, a note reporting the appearance of a solitary robin in
the vicinity of Montreal, called forth another from Ottawa.
Quoting from the Ottawa Journal this correspondent says, that
small flocks of robins have been frequently seen at Ottawa
during the winter, f This is so unusual that we should be
pleased to learn something more about these wintering robins;
particularly as to their feeding habits and whether they were
immature birds or not.

Pine Grosbeaks and Redpolls have been unusually common
here this winter, the Grosbeaks feeding on seeds of Mountain
Ash and apple trees. Prairie Horned Larks were first noticed
on the 28th of February, when I saw^ four birds; a week later
saw six, apparently mated.

On February 21st, my attention was attracted by the grat-
ing notes of a Northern Shrike. It was unusually tame, pennit-
ting a near approach to its perch in an apple tree, though becom-
ing very nervous and excited, whilst emitting a series of cries,
one of them a good imitation of an alarmed Catbird and yet
another reminding me of the Blue Jay's cry. At intervals it
also indulged in its customary warble, suggesting that of the
Purple Finch. The body of a Redpoll impaled on a twig of the

tSee also Ottawa Naturalist, March 190Q, p. ?65.— Ed.

60 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

apple tree explained the cause of all this ontcry. The head of the
Redpoll was almost completely eaten away, pointing to a fact
which I have noticed with the Migrant Shrike, namely, that
the head contains what is to them the greatest delicacy. In
fact although I have often come across the larder of the Migrant
Shrike and occasionally that of the Northern, usually in the
shape of small birds or mice, I have always found the body
fairly intact, while the head would be missing. Evidently, they
do not suffer for want of food. We remained for several minutes
in the vicinity and during that time the Shrike kept up its
imitating notes, perhaps thinking to frighten us awa}^ from its
booty. L. McI. Terrill, Westmount, Que.

Intimacy with Nature. — There are some men to whom
intimacy with Nature in her obvious aspects and forms appears
to be an inheritance; they are born into it, and are never con-
scious of the hour from which it dates. Their eyes see the world
about them with a clearness and accuracy of observation which
turns their hours of play into unconscious study of science.
Flowers, trees, shrubs, birds and animals seem akin to them,
and are recognized at first sight, and put into proper place and
order. Other men, failing of this birth-gift and missing the
training of the senses in childhood,' must slowly and of set pur-
pose piece out a defective power of observation by habits formed
in maturity. This introductory relationship with Nature is a
source of inexhaustible delight and enrichment ; to establish it
ought to be as much a part of every education as the teaching of
the rudiments of formal knowledge ; and it ought to be as great a
reproach to a man not to be able to read the open pages of the
world about him as not to be able to read the open page of the
book before him. It is a matter of instinct with a few; it may
be a matter of education with all. Even those who are born
with the eyes and ears of naturalists must reinforce their
native aptitude by training.

The man who goes into the woods, and by self-forgetfulness
becomes a part of the woods, is aware not onl}-" of a freshening
of his nature and a deepening of his thought, but also of a re-
velation of a knowledge through closer fellowship with the order
and beauty which enfold them. There enters into his mind, in
such moods, something more enduring than the scene about
him, something to which a poet will give expression in verses
which are not only touched with the beauty beyond that of
words, but in which that beauty becomes the symbol of truth.
The man Vn^Iio lacks the gift of expression will not write the
-vierse, but he will see the beauty and be enriched by the truth.
^\ Hamilton Wright Mabie, in Nature and Culture.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, JULY, 1909 No. 4

ALGONKIN AND HURON OCCUPATION OF
THE OTTAWA VALLEY.

By T. W. E. Sowter, Ottawa.

To the student of Indian archaeology, the great highway of
the Ottawa wall always be a subject of absorbing interest. As
yet, it is almost a virgin field of inquir}^ as far as any systematic
effort has been made to exploit it. As yet, there are vast stores
of information, along this old waterway, which await the magic
touch of scientific investigation, to be turned into romance
chapters of Canadian history. Sooner, or later, we must appre-
ciate these potential opportunities for the collection of data
that may solve mam- important ethnic problems, which have
been transmitted to us from the dim twilight of prehistoric times
and are, as yet, only presented to us in the will-o'-the-wispish
light of tradition. The OttaAva River may yet furnish us with
clues to the elucidation of much that is problematical in regard
to areas of occupation, migrations and dispersions of some of
our great native races, who were leading actors in many of the
tragic wilderness dramas, that were played out in Canada before
and after European contact.

The early Jesuit missionaries have left us, in their Relations
a priceless record of Algonkin and Huron sociology, as well as
an invaluable basis for the study of such of the Indian tribes of
Canada as came within the sphere of their activities, As those
gentle and lovable pioneers of the Cross were among the first
Europeans to come in contact with these red children of the
forest, they enjoyed exceptional opportunities for observing
their habits of thought and action, ere their primitive folk-lore
and traditions had been modified by the cradle stories of the
pale-faces.

We are told by Parkman, one of the most trustworthy
historians of modern times, that "By far the most close and
accurate observers of Indian superstition were the French and
Italian Jesuits of the first half of the seventeenth century. Their

62 The Ottawa Naturalist. U'^^Y

opportunities were unrivalled; and they used them in a spirit of
faithful inquiry, accumulating facts, and leaving theory to their
successors." It is for this reason that the Jesuit Relations
should be regarded as the groundwork of Indian archaeology,
as far as Canada is concerned. They were written by men of
absolute integrity, who have given us as much of the life history
of the individual, the clan and the tribe, as came under their
observation; or as they were able to obtain from the most trust-
worthy sources. They describe the Indian, as the}'" found him,
embowered in the seclusion of his native forests; surrounded
by innumerable okies or manitous, both benevolent and malig-
nant, to whom he appealed for aid in the hour of his need, or
propitiated with sacrifices; venerating, with a sentiment akin
to worship, such animal ancestors as happened to be the proto-
types of his various clans; adhering to mythologies that agreed
fairly well in essentials though somewhat loosely defined in
matters of detail; believing, in his Nature-M-orship. in the soul
or spirit of the lake, the river and the cataract ; but without any
vestige of belief in that personification of benificence called "The
Great Spirit" who was presented to him afterwards by the mis-
sionaries, as the archetype of mankind, and recommended to
him as the Supreme Being whom he should worship.

That the Jesuit record has been dictated by a spirit of
truthfulness, is apparent from its impartial treatment of Indian
tradition and worship; for, while some writers have endeavored
to interpret Indian mythology in such a manner as to make it
confonn to the bias of preconceived theories, these worthy
apostles of the Cross have given us the simple truth without
•embellishments. Examples of this kind may be found in
Ragueneau's Relation, of 1648, in which he refers to the Hurons
as having received from their ancestors no knowledge of God;
■and in the denial of AUouez, in his Relation of 1667, that any
such knowledge existed among the tribes of Lake Superior. It
is not probable that these men would have failed to recognize
any such belief had the case been otherwise. Thus, these subtle
reasoners, and past-masters in theological disquisition, were
unable to discover, in such manitous as Manabozho, or the Great
White Hare of the Algonkins, or, in Rawen Niyoh, the great oki
of the Huron-Iroquois, beings analogous to the white man's God.

Now, the writer is convinced that this field of archaeological
Inquiry should be entered, with the assistance of the "open se-
same" of the historical record; and that, by following up the
clues, transmitted to us by the Jesuits and other contemporary
writers, we should devote our attention to such portions of this
field as are most likely to yield the best results, under careful
and methodical cultivation.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 63

The great stream, which forms the main boundary between
the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, was called in early times
the River of the Ottawas; but, it might have been named, also,
the River of the Hurons. Owing to its geographical position, it
offered the advantages of a direct and convenient highwav be-
tween the French settlements on the St. Lawrence and the Indian
tribes of the Great Lakes. This river, especially in the seventeenth
century, was traversed by Algonkins and Hurons, Frenchmen
and priests, following, either along its shores or at its distant
terminals, their varied pursuits of explorers, fur-traders, scalp-
hunters or ministers of the gospel. vSometimes, huge fleets of
canoes, bearing red embassies from the west, or white punitive
expeditions from the east, consignments of furs to the St. Law-
rence trading posts, or native supplies for the winter hunt, black
robed Jesuits with donnes or artisans for their western missions,
passed up or down this great highway; while, at other times,
fugitive parties, both white and red, crept along the shadow of
its shores to avoid some scalping-party of the ubiquitous and
dreaded Iroquois.

We are thus indebted to historical testimom^ for much of our
knowledge of what took place on the Ottawa, since the beginning
of the French regime. We should now endeavor to amplify this
knowledge, by the accumulation of such data as may be derived
from the domain of archaeology. The prospects in this direction,
though somewhat dubious at first sight, are much impro^'ed
upon closer acquaintance.

It is no great tax upon our ingenuity to discover traces of
the presence of French and Indians on the Ottawa, in bygone
times. The Indian dictum that, "water leaves no trail," applies,
only to the deeper parts of the stream; for the writer,' has in his
collection, stone tomahawks of native manufacture, together
with trade bullets, which were taken from the shallow shore-
water of this river. It is, however, in the ancient camping
grounds, which dot the shores of the Ottawa at frequent intervals,
that we should search for traces of early human occupation. As
the recovery of the loose leaves, which have been lost out of
some old story book, is necessary to complete the tale; so is the
interpretation of the sign language of these camp-sites, a requisite
for the recovery of many lost or unwritten pages of our historical
manuscript.

Great care should be taken in the examination of these
places. The ground should be all gone over on the hands and
knees, as, with his nose to the ground, so to speak, one is not
liable to overlook anything of importance. As he is about to
turn up a chapter on the social and domestic life of a native
community, he should observe the topographical features of the

64 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

site and the position it occupies relative to the main river,
whether situated on its margin or at any considerable distance
away from its shores; and also, its proximity to smaller streams
that might have been navigated by canoes before the deforest-
ation of the district. He should first of all examine the surface
before disturbing it; after which he may search out the secrets
concealed in the ashes of dead camp fires, by passing the ashes
through a sieve, so as to retain such works of art as might, other-
wise, pass unnoticed. Every work of art, or portion thereof,
should be studied with great care, even to apparently insignifi-
cant fragments. The composition of pottery should be noted and
efforts made to discover if its ingredients are obtainable in the
vicinitv. All forms of arrow-heads should be noted, as well
as the color and character of the flint, or other material, from
which they have been fabricated, and, if possible, the source
from which this material has been derived should be ascertained.
Arrow-heads, that appear to be of foreign make, as differing from
the prevailing forms, should be noted for future reference and
comparison. Search should also be made amidst the usual
litter of the flint workshops, in the locaHty, for evidences of
domestic manufacture, such as pieces of raw material, flakings
or heads that have been spoilt in the making and discarded by
the ancient workmen. This flint refuse is found in greatest
abundance about the bases of large boulders, which appear to
have been utilized- by the prehistoric artificers, as convenient
work-benches in their primitive industries. Articles of European
workmanship, which are too apt to be considered as of little
consequence, should be searched for with the greatest diligence,
making due allowance of course, for the difference in relative
values between such finds as the rude pistol flint of the ancient
hunter, and the metal cap or stopper from the pocket pistol of
the well equipped modern fisherman. A sharp lookout should
also be kept for implements of slate, especially such as are
fabricated from the Huronian variety; and, as a last but most
important recommendation, the location of the camp site should
be kept a secret from relic hunters, until its examination has
been completed.

C. C. James, in his Downfall of the Huron Nation, says that
"The history and downfall of the Hurons may be studied in
three sources. 1st. The traditions of the Indians themselves.
2nd. The letters of the Jesuit Fathers, the written records
commonly called The Jesuit Relations. 3rd. Modern archaeo-
logical research and ethnological investigation. These three
contributers to a common story are widely different in method,
and when they verify one another we are bound to accept the
conclusions as facts of history." It may be said also that the

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 65

same sources of information are available in studying the question
of Algonkin and Huron occupation of the Ottawa Valley. We
have already considered the value of the Jesuit writings, let us
now examine some of the traditions of the Indians themselves.

Life on the old Ottawa, during the greater part of the seven-
teenth century, was always strenuous and frequently dangerous.
On this rugged old trade route, during the French regime, the
fur-traders from the interior, both white and red, experienced
many vicissitudes while conveying the products of the chase to
the trading posts on the St. Lawrence. Shadowy traditions of
those days of racial attrition, have been transmitted from father
to son, from the old coureurs de bois and their Indian confreres,
to their half-breed descendants of the present dav. These
traditions account for the human bones washed out some vears
ago at the foot of the old Indian portage at the Chats, and those
that are scattered in great profusion at Big Sand Point, lower
down the river ; also, for quite a number of brass kettles found at
one time near the mouth of Constance Creek, for the Indian
burials on Aylmer Island, as well as for the presence of arrow-
heads, stone celts, flint knives and other native implements in
the gravel beds at the foot of the Chaudiere, and, without pausing
to consider whether these relics of a departed people are not the
ordinary litter of Indian camp-sites, or the disinterred bones
from Indian burial places, tradition, as usual, takes charge of
them as the ominous tokens of a period of violence.

At Big Sand Point there is a sand mound or hillock, fringed
with scrubby trees, which has the uncanny reputation of having
been once the home of a family of Wendigoes. These Wendigoes,
as is usual with this species of manitou, were a source of constant
annoyance to the native dwellers on the shores of Lake Deschenes
but more particularly to an Algonkin camp on Sand Ba>', quite
close to the headquarters of these malignant spirits. The old
man, who possessed the gigantic proportions of his class, was
frequently seen wading about in the waters of the bay, when on
foraging expeditions after Indian children of whose flesh, it is
said, he and his family were particularly fond. The family
consisted of the father, the mother and one son. The bravest
Indian warriors had, on several occasions, ambushed and shot
at the old man and woman without injuring either of them, but,
by means of sorcerv, they succeeded in kidnapping the boy,
when his parents were away from home. Holding the young
hopeful as a hostage, they managed to dictate terms to his father
and mother and finally got rid of the whole family.

The writer heard this story one night while camping at the
Chats and, though far from believing than any sane Indian of
the old school would have laid violent hands on even a young

66 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

Wendigo, he is quite satisfied that, had one of those legendery
monsters of the American wilderness loomed suddenly out of
the dark shadows of the forest and approached the camp fire,
the poor half-breed, who was "spinning the yarn" would have
immediately taken to his canoe and left the Wendigo in undis--
puted possession of the island.

As it is around this same sand mound, the old Wendigo
homestead at Big Sand Point, that the scattered bones, already
alluded to, are found, it seems strange that the story tellers
do not represent them as the remains of the cannibal feasts of its
former occupants. These evidences of mortality, however, are
accounted for in another tradition, that tells of a war-party of
Iroquois who, having taken possession of and intrenched or
barricaded the old Wendigo mound, defended themselves to the
death against a force of French and Indians, who surprised them
in a night-attack and butchered them to a man.

This story seems to carry us back to that period of conflict
which was inaugurated by the onslaught of the Iroquois upon the
Huron towns, which was continued with unparalled ferocity
and terminated only by the merciless destruction of a once
powerful nation and the final dispersion of its fugitive remnants,
together with such bands of Algonkins as happened to come
within the scope of that campaign of extermination. It is
supposed that our tradition has reference to one of the many
scenes of bloodshed which reddened the frontiers of Canada,
while the Confederates were thtis making elbow-room for them-
selves on this continent, and were putting the finishing touches
on the tribes to the north of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence.
At this time all the carrying-places, on our great highway, were
dangerous, for war-parties of the fierce invaders held the savage
passes of the Ottawa, hovering like malignant okies amidst the
spray of wild cataracts and foaming torrents, where they levied
toll with the tomahawk and harvested with the scalping-knife
the fatal souvenirs of conquest.

Sand Bay, at the outlet of Constance Creek, in the township
of Torbolton, Carleton Co., Ont., is a deep indentation of the
southern shore line of the Ottawa, extending inland about a
mile. The entrance, or river front of the bay, is terminated on
the west by Big Sand Point, and on the east by Pointe h. la
Bataille, the two points being about a mile apart. The latter
is now shown on the maps as Lapotties Point, a name of recent
origin and doubtless conferred upon it by some ox-witted yokel,
who thought it should bear the name of its latest occupant,
rather than that which probably commemorated some tragic
incident of a bygone age. The French Canadian river-men,

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 67

however, with much better taste, still retain the name by which
it was known to the old voyageurs.

A great many years ago, so the story goes, a party of French
fur-traders, together with a number of friendly Indians, possibly
Algonkin and Huron allies, went into camp one evening at Pointe
a la Bataille. Fires were lighted, kettles were slung and all
preparations made to pass the night in peace and quietness.
Soon, however, the lights from other camp fires began to glimmer
through the foliage on the opposite shore of the bay, and a
reconnaisance presently revealed a large war-party of Iroquois
in a barricaded encampment on the Wendigo Mound at Big
Sand Point. Well skilled as they were in all the artifices of
forest warfare, the French and their Indian companions were
satisfied that something would happen before morning. It was
inevitable that the coming night would be crowded with such
stirring incidents as would leaA^e nothing to be desired, in the
way of excitement. There la}^ the Iroquois camp, with its fierce
denizens crouched like wolves in their lair, though buried in the
heart of the enemy's country, yet self-reliant in the pride of
warlike achievements, whose military strategy had rendered
them invulnerable as the gloom of the oncoming thxmdercloud,
and as inexorable as the fate of the forest monarch that is blasted
by a stroke of its lightning.

Now, the golden rule on the Indian frontier in those strenuous
times, was to deal with your neighbor as you might be pretty
sure he would deal wjth you, if he got the chance. Of course
it was customary, among the Indians to heap coals of fire on the
head of an enemy, but as it was the usual practice, before putting
on the coals, to bind the enemy to some immovable object, such
as a tree or a stout picket, so that he was unable to shake them
off, the custom was not productive of much brotherly love.
Moreover, when the success of peace overtures could be assured
onlv to the party that could bring the greater number of muskets
into the negotiations, it will be readily understood why the
French, who were in the minority, did not enter into diplomatic
relations with the enemy. On the contrary, it was resolved to
fight, as soon as the opposing camp was in repose, and attempt a
decisive blow from a quarter whence it would be least expected,
thus forestalling an attack upon themselves, which might come
at any time before the dawn. The French and their allies knew
verv well that if their plans miscarried and the attack failed,
the'penaltv would be death to most of their party, and that,
in the event of capture, they would receive as fiery and painful
an introduction to the world of shadows as the leisure or limited
means of their captors might warrant.

Towards midnight, the attacking party left Pomte a In

68 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

Bataille and proceeded stealthily southward, in their canoes,
along the eastern rim of Sand Bay. crossed the outlet of Constance
Creek and landing on the western shore of the bay advanced
towards Big Sand Point through the pine forest that clothed,
as it does to-day, the intervening sand hills. This long detour,
of about two miles, was no doubt a necessity, as, on still nights,
the most trifling sounds, especially such as might have been
produced by paddles accidently touching the sides of canoes,
are echoed to considerable distances in this locality.

The advance of the expedition was the development of
Indian strategy, for, by getting behind the enemy, it enabled
the French and their allies to rush his barricades and strike him
in the back, while his sentinels and outliers were guarding
against any danger that might approach from the river front.

The attack was entirely successful, for it descended upon
and enveloped the sleeping camp like a hideous nightmare.
Many of the Iroquois died in their sleep, while the rest of the
party perished to a man, in the wild confu,sion of a midnight
massacre.

Such is the popular tradition of the great fight at the
Wendigo Mound at Big Sand Point, and the bones that are
found in the drifting sands at that place, are said to be the re-
mains of friend and foe who fell in that isolated and unrecorded
struggle.

Let us now descend the river, as far as the Chaudiere, and
we find ourselves once again in the moccasin prints of the Iroquois ;
for those tireless scalp himters were quite at home on the Ottawa,
as well as on its northern tributaries. War expeditions of the
Confederates frequently combined business with recrea,tion.
Thev would leave their homes on the Mohawk or adjacent lakes
and strike the trail to Canada by way of the Rideau Valley,
hunt along that route until the spring thaws set in, and manage
to reach the Ottawa in time for the opening of navigation. Then
they loitered about the passes of the Chaudiere and waited, like
Wilkins Macawber, for something to turn up.

While waiting thus for their prey to break cover, from up
or down the river, they devoted their spare time to various
occupations. To the oki, whose thunderous voice was heard in
the roar of the fahs, they made sacrifices of tobacco; while the
Mohawks and Onondagas each gave a name to that cauldron
of seething water which is known to us as The Big Kettle. The
Mohawks called it Tsitkanajoh, or the Floating Kettle, while
the Onondagas named it Katsidagweh niyoh or Chief Council
Fire. It is possible that our Big Kettle may be a modified or
corrupted translation of the Mohawk term.

(To be continued) .

I

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 69

WHAT IS A "SPECIES"?

By F. H. Wolley-Dod, Millarville, Alta.

There is perhaps no word in the English language of which
the true meaning, as applied to living organisms, has been dis-
cussed at greater length than the word "species." Strictly-
speaking, of course, the word is a latin one, which has become
anglicized under what we believe to be its original form, or at
any rate as the Romans used it in the time of Julius Caesar, and
Ave shall find the same meaning given whether we look it up in
an English or a Latin Dictionary, viz., "a sort", or "kind", "an
aggregate of individuals". As a matter of fact the wholly un-
scientific man, "the man in the street" rarely uses the word at
all. He doesn't understand its meaning. "A kind", or "sort"
is expressive enough for him, and anyone can understand what
that means. But for the naturalist the third meaning here given,
"an aggregate of individuals" is the one which better expresses
his meaning when he talks of a "species".

So long as we do not think too much about it that meaning
is "good enough, that is to say we use it to mean an individual
kind, an aggregate of individuals, as entirely distinct from another
individual kind or aggregate of individuals. He would be an
argumentative man indeed who would dispute the fact that an
oak was quite a distinct kind of tree from a fir, or that a pheasant
was quite a distinct bird from a duck, or, amongst animals,
a fox distinct from a bear. And most people will be quite willing
to admit that there are different kinds, or more technically,
"species", of oaks, firs, pheasants, ducks, foxes, and bears. That is
to say that there are certain aggregates of individuals or "species"
of each of the above named things that are more or less easily
to be distinguished from other aggregates of individuals of the
same class. That these kinds are to be distinguished each by
certain characters of colour, form, habit, etc., not possessed by
the other kinds is impHed by the use of the word "species".
NaturaHsts may tell us, for instance, that the grizzly bear is
quite distinct from the brown bear by the colour of its fur, the
shape of its head, the comparative size or shape of certain bones
in the body or limbs, habits of feeding, etc. Or botanists, that a
certain species of oak is distinguished from another by the shape
of its leaves or acorns, or the exact wav in which they grow from
the twigs, by the form of growth, or shape of the tree itself, by
the colour or texture of its wood, and in each case that these
characters are not possessed by any other species. But why
these kinds should -be considered separate because they differ
in these parts, or what degree of difference is necessary before

70 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

two kinds or aggregates of individuals may be spoken of as
distinct species, is involved in the title of this paper, "What is
a species"?

The query is not an easy one to answer where very similar
forms, and, in many instances, even where totally dissimilar
forms are concerned. For it must be understood from the first
that dissimilarity of form does not necessarily indicate distinct-
ness of species in the broadest sense of the word. The late
Charles Darwin wrote volumes dealing in one way or another
with the subject. From his point of view, about the best defini-
tion that can be given a species is "an aggregate of individuals
capable of producing, under natural conditions, progeny of their
own form, through successive generations". That is the most
exclusive sense in which the term can be used. But it is obvious
that the difficulty of discussing how far that ability exists, or
whether it exists at all, in a very large proportion of the multitu-
dinous forms of organic life, has given rise to much of the past or
existing controversy of the relationship of forms or kinds. The
power of reproduction exists in very many instances between
allied kinds generally admitted to be distinct species; generally
speaking the more closely allied two species are, the more fre-
quently will crosses between them be found in localities where
the two live together. But amongst animals, with few ex-
ceptions,the reproductive power in such cases is not transmitted
to the offspring. In other words, true hybrids, i.e., the progeny
of crosses between different but allied kinds, are themselves
infertile, or sterile, or. in the case of the few exceptions, they
become sterile in the subsequent generation. This does not
apply in the same way to plants, in which the means of perpetu-
ation are very different, hybrids much more frequently fertile,
and species still harder to define.

It happens that while some species are confined to very
small areas, called "local species", others exist all over a con-
tinent, and are called "generally distributed" species.

Now, supposing it were possible to apply this reproductive
test to all the various forms in different groups throughout, say,
North America, it would be found that in some cases one species
existed in much the same form wherever it was found, that is,
that different individuals in the same district showed little or
no variation one from the other, and that an individual or
specimen from a district, say, on the east coast, differed in no
essential characters from one from the west coast. Such is
called a constant or non-variable species. In other species,
individuals or "specimens" may be found var3nng much from
others in the same locality, it may be in colour, size, relative
dimensions of different parts, etc. Specimens so differing are

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 71

called varieties of the species, which is then called a variable
species. "Specimen" is the word naturalists use to indicate a
single individual or example of a species. The reasons why one
species should be variable and another constant, or one very
local and another widely distributed, are very obscure and
intricate, and must be sought for amongst hereditary tendencies
of bygone ages. They cannot be dealt with in the present paper,
which treats of facts rather than causes.

It will often be found, if we trace a "generally distributed"
species throughout the various districts where it occurs, that
some of the specimens from one locality differ slightly in certain
points or characters from others from a neighboring district.
The lower down in the scale of life we look for illustrations of
this the more easily we shall find them. It is less noticable in the
higher than in the lower forms of animal life. It is found to some
extent in birds, still more in insects, and in plants more than in
either. Some specimens will be found exactly alike from the two
districts, others will differ considerably. They are obviously still
the same species, but present what is called local variations, or
varieties. Follow the species up into a third district, and perhaps
a greater number of specimens will be found which diff'er more or
less from those in the first. Follow it up further, comparing
numbers of specimens throughout various districts right across
the continent. The difference between individuals in different
districts will probably be found to vary not nearly so much
according to the actual distance of the localities apart, as to the
difference between the geological and climatic conditions. These
conditions diff'er enormously, say, on the Altantic and Pacific
coasts. But as it is not possible to draw, so to speak, any actual
fine or lines of distinction between those different conditions
anywhere in that area, nor even to follow through any gradual
regularity of change from one to the other, so, in the case of our
widely distributed but variable species, we shall find neither any
sudden change of variation or form, nor any gradual regularity
of change. And though we may be able to find no district in
which the varietal forms diff'er entirely from those on all the rest
of the continent, those from the most climatically or geologically
dissimilar districts will probably be found the least Hke each
other, and may even be entirely different in appearance. In
other words, the species exists in the different localities as a
different "local race," the diff'erence varying probably according
to the diff'erence of conditions under which it has to exist. "We
may have every reason to assume a distinct blood relationship
between the various forms. Are we then to call the extremes
different "species"? "Would they, if brought together under
perfectly natural conditions, perpetuate the race, or mixture of

72 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

races, ad injinitwml It must not be lost sight of that perfectly
natural conditions are necessarily the only ones under which the
test of specific relationship is a fair one, as it is well known
amongst naturalists that domestication or confinement entirely
alters the reproductive abilities even of a large number of the
higher animals. This is a fact quite apart from the one that
most of the various forms, strains, or "breeds" of our domestic
animals, birds, or plants are not "species" at all in the scientific
sense, but rather variations specialised b}^ man's careful selection.
Under complete domestication specific identity soon becoines
entirely lost. . -. ; . .::i-^ -M

In the foregoing illustration^-, of^ extreme ^geographical or
climatic varieties or local races, it;has been assumed that it has
been possible to trace relationship i clearly, through from one
extreme to the other. When such relationship exists it seems
to suggest that the aggregate of all these varying forms should
constitute the species. Yet the extremes cannot possibly meet
under natural conditions, so that that test cannot be made. Are
the extremes to be considered different species? ■■;!

There can be little doubt, if Darwin's theory ^,be admitted,
that it is through the formation and subsequent isolation of such
local races that distinct species have been formed through
courses of millions of years. Isolation, whether of climatic
changes such as the glacial epoch, or by the formation of con-
tinents, inundations by sea, upheavals of mountains, etc., effect-
ually prevented the mingling of many races ages ago. which may
subsequently have become modified in different ways, and so
become quite distinct species from our point of viev/, or non-
variable species may have become so divided, and the isolated
portions of them have remained similar or nearly similar to our
eyes. Through countless ages they have lost their blood-relation-
ship, and yet they look alike. Are they to be considered distinct
species? These things we can only judge for ourselves from
close observation and much study in each particular instance.

Not only do multitudinous forms occur, perhaps side by side
so enormously variable within certain limits, or so exactly like
forms of another supposed species found in one-locatily, and like
forms of others elsewhere, that without the actual reproductive
test we can merely draw deductions from close observation;
but probably no two men who have given much thought to the
subject have exactly the same idea as to what degrees of difference
are necessary, or what exact distance of relationship must exist
before two forms can have a right to be called different species.
It is unquestionable that many species do exist which show no
very close relationship to any others wherever they occur. But
a very large number, more particularly amongst insects and

1909]

The Ottawa Naturalist.

73

plants, are to be found under such a variety of forms, that
division into "species," as naturaHsts'lgenerally/use the word,
is ahnost a matter of degree.'*^ ,5f "^

Even Darwin^ who paid at least j^as]much|attention-^to the
subject as any man^has ever done, was unable to lay downjany
hard and fast rules as to where a line, so;to speak, was_jto be
drawn between one species and another, -"lit will usually be
found that the larger the area from which a student has made
his studies of the subject, the wider his views as to what "aggre-
gate of individtials " should be taken to constitute a species. The
collector in a small district has a much better chance of judging
whether two similar forms in that locality are really one or two
biological species than the one who merely examines material
collected by another. It is impossible to do more than merely
introduce this very old and extremely complex subject in the
space here available.

THE FLETCHER MEMORIAL FUND.

The following is a list of the subscribers to the above fund,
with the amounts subscribed set opposite each name. The
Committee feels that there must still be a goodly number of
friends of the late Dr. Fletcher who desire to contribute some-
thing towards the proposed memorial, before the list is finally
closed. Of the proposed forms of memorial, as stated in the
circular sent out bv the Committee, the one referring to the
erection of a Drinking Fountain at the Central Experimental
Farm has proved to be the most popular. Before the Committee,
however, can definitely decide, it is necessary to make a further
appeal to those who wish to subscribe something, but who have
not as yet notified the Secretar^^-Treasurer of the Committee,
Mr. Arthur Gibson, Experimental Farm, Ottawa. Any therefore
who desire to do so, will help very much in this work of the Club,
by attending to this matter at their early convenience.

Hon. Sydney Fisher, Ottawa. $100 .00
Dr. & Mrs. H. M. .Vmi,

Ottawa 50.00

Hon. Sir F. W. Borden.

Ottawa 25.00

D. Rrainerd. Montreal 25.00

Dr. T. |. W. Burgess, Mon-
treal 25.00

Rev. Prof. Bethune, Guelph.. 25 .00

AV. H. Harrington, Ottawa.. . 25 .00

H. H. Lvman, Montreal 25 .00

, Dr. W. Saunders, Ottawa.

25.00

(). P. Schreiber, Ottawa $25 .00

R. B. Whvte, Ottawa 25 .00

T.N. Will'ing, Regina. Sask . . 2 5 . 00
Dr. J. W. Robertson, Mac-

donald College, Que 25 .00

Bi.shop of Ottawa & Mrs.

Hamilton, Ottawa 20.00

Prof. F. D. Adams, Montreal. 1 5 . 00

Prof. A. Baker, Toronto 1 5 . 00

Dr. R. Bell. Ottawa ' ^ ""

Lt.-Col. W. P. Anderson,

Ottawa 10. UU

74

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[July

C. B. Alladice, Montreal 10.00

R. W. Brock, Ottawa 10.00

Rev. G. Bryce, Winnipeg. ... 10 . 00
Dr. W. Barnes, Decatur, 111 . . 10.00
Miss M. E. Blatchford, Cam-
bridge, Mass 10.00

E. R. Cameron, Ottawa 10.00

R. H. Campbell, Ottawa ' 1 0 . 00

Norman Criddle, Treesbank,

Man 10.00

G. H. Clark, Ottawa 10.00

N. H. Cowdry, Waterford,

.^Ont 10.00

Geo. Y. Chown, Kingston,

«40nt 10.00

Col. G. T. Denison, Toronto.. 10.00

W. T. Ellis, Ottawa 10.00

Sir Sandford Fleming,, Ot-
tawa 10.00

Arthur Gibson, Ottawa 10.00

Andrew Halkett, Ottawa. ... 10 . 00

T. D. Jarvis, Guelph, Ont... . 10.00

W. D. Kearfott, New York. . 10.00

Hon . O . H . Lambart , Ottawa 1 0 . 00

L. M. Lambe, Ottawa 10.00

F. J. A. Morris, Port Hope.

Ont 10.00

A. H. Mackay, Indian Head,

Sask 10.00

J. A. Ruddick, Ottawa 10.00

Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Spring-
Rice, Pense, Sask 10.00

Frank T. Shutt, Ottawa 10 .00

Dr. S. H. Scudder, Cam-
bridge, Mass 10.00

W. J. Topley, Ottawa 10.00

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, Ottawa. 10 . 00
Ottawa University, Ottawa. . 10 . 00
Montreal Branch of the En-
tomological Society of On-
tario, Montreal 10.00

L. M. Fortier & family,

Ottawa 8.00

W. Simpson, Ottawa 8.00

J. R. Anderson, Victoria,

B.C 5.00

Mr. A. & Miss Alexander,

Hamilton, Ont 5 .00

E. H. B., Ottawa 5.00

M. R. Baker, Ottawa 5 .00

Dr. H. T. Barnes, Montreal. . 5 .00
A. H. Bush, Vancouver, B.C. 5.00
Mrs. W. A. Burman, Winni-
peg 5 . 00

Walter Burman, Winnipeg. . 5 .00

L. J. Burpee, Ottawa 5.00

T. E. Clarke, Ottawa 5 .00

Prof. J. H. Comstock, Ithaca,

N.Y 5.00

M . F. Connor, Ottawa 5 . 00

Prof. J. Craig, Ithaca, N.Y.. . 5 .00

Miss E. E. Curry, Ottawa. ... 5 . 00

Rev. Prof. W. Clark, Toronto 5 . 00

J. W. Cockle, Kaslo, B.C 5 .00

Dr. S. E. Dawson, Ottawa.... 5.00
F. H. Wolley-Dod, Millar-

ville, Alta 5.00

J. D. Evans, Trenton, Ont.. . 5.00

J. H. Fleming, Toronto 5 .00

Hon. Chas. Fitzpatrick,

Ottawa 5 . 00

J. H. Grisdale, Ottawa 5 .00

Dr. G. P. Girdwood, Mon-
treal 5.00

Dr. W. L. Goodwin, Kings-
ton 5.00

C. E. Grant, Orillia, Ont 5 . 00

L. Gerin, Ottawa 5 . 00

J. A. Guignard, Lausanne,

Switzerland 5 .00

Lt.-Col. Ed. Harrison, Ot-
tawa 5.00

Dr.G. U.Hay.St.John.N.B. 5.00
Rev. V. A. Huard, Quebec,

Que 5.00

Jos. Keele, Ottawa 5 .00

J.C.Kearns, Ottawa 5.00

Rev. J. H. Keen, Metlakatla,

B.C 5.00

Hon. W. L. Mackenzie King,

Ottawa 5 . 00

Dr. Allan Kinghorn, Liver-
pool, Eng 5 00

E. E. Lemieux, Ottawa 5 .00

Prof. W. Lochhead, Mac-

donald College, Que 5 .00

Dr. W. D. LeSueur, Ottawa.. 5 .00

J. M. Macoun, Ottawa 5 .00

Prof. John Macoun, Ottawa. . 5 . 00

W. T. Macoun, Ottawa 5.00

J.I. MacCracken , Ottawa ... 5.00

W. Mclnnis, Ottawa 5 . 00

Dr. A. H. Mackay, Halifax,

N.S 5.00

A. McNeill, Ottawa 5 .00

James Murray, Brandon,

Man 5.00

Geo. Murray, Montreal 5 .00

C. W. Nash, Toronto 5 .00

L. H. Newman, Ottawa 5 .00

W. S.Odell, Ottawa 5.00

R.M. Palmer, Victoria, B.C.. 5.00

B. Spring- Rice, Pense, Sask.. 5 .00

1909]

The Ottawa Naturalist.

75

Dr. S. B. Sinclair, Macdonald

College, Que 5.00

Dr. H. B. Small, Ottawa 5.00

P. B. Symes, Ottawa 5 .00

Dr. J. B. Smith, New Bruns-
wick, N.J 5.00

D. C. Scott, Ottawa 5.00

R. F. Stupart, Toronto 5 .00

N. B. Sanson, Banff, Alta.. . . 5.00

John Smith, Ottawa 5 . 00

Prof. F. Sherman, Raleigh,

N.C., U.S 5.00

E. J. Zavitz,Guelph, Ont.. . . 5.00
Lt.-Col. W. White, Ottawa . . 5 . 00
J. B. Wallis, Winnipeg, Man . 5 . 00
Dr. E. M. Walker, Toronto . . 5 . 00
Prof. H. F. Wickham, Iowa

City, Iowa 5.00

Tom Wilson, Vancouver,

B.C 5.00

Prof. F. L. Washburn, St.

Anthony Park, Minn 5 00

A. E. Attwood, Ottawa 3.00

E. Criddle, Treesbank, Man.. 3 .00
R. H. Carter, Fort Qu'Ap-

pelle, Sask 3,00

Rev. G. Eifrig, Ottawa 3 .00

J. W. Gibson, Ottawa 3 . 00

A. G. Gilbert. Ottawa 3 .00

Jas. MacDunnough. Berlin,

Germany 3 . 00

John Reade, Montreal 3 . 00

Mrs. M. P. Mcllhinney,

Ottawa 2 50

H. A. & Master Allen D.

Harvey, Ottawa 2.10

Miss A. M. Bishop, Ottawa.. . 2,00
Paul A. Cobbald, Hailey-

bury, Ont 2 00

J. G. Campbell, Madoc, Ont.. 2 . 00
Percy Criddle, Treesbank,

Man 2.00

Stuart Criddle, Treesbank,

Man 2.00

H. W. Charlton, Ottawa 2.00

L. Caesar, Guelph, Ont 2 .00

G. Chagnon, Montreal 2 .00

A. T. Charron, Ottawa 2 .00

W. B. Dawson, Ottawa 2.00

Prof. J. Fowler, Kingston,

Ont 2.00

A Friend, Ottawa 2 .00

A. A. Girault, Centralia, 111 . . 2.00

Miss M. L. Grist, Ottawa 2 .00

Dr. O. Klotz, Ottawa 2 .00

J. Labarthe.Trail, B.C 2.00

A. D. MacGillivray, Ithaca,

N.Y 2.00

W. H. T. Megill, Ottawa 2 00

Prof. S. B. McCready,

Guelph, Ont 2 00

D. H. Nelles, Ottawa 2.00

C. P. Newman, Lachine, Que. 2 . 00
Dr. W. W. Newcombe, De-
troit, Mich 2.00

Jos. Perrin, Halifax 2 00

Prof. C. V. Piper, Washing-
ton, D.C 2 .00

M, L. Rush, Ottawa 2 00

W. A. Riley, Ithaca, N.Y 2.00

B.J. Reynolds, Indian Head,

Sask 2 . 00

W. E. Saunders, London,

Ont 2.00

Miss McKay Scott, Ottawa . . 2 . 00
W.J. Summerby, Richmond,

Que ' 2.00

Mrs. L. L. Sutton, Ottawa. . . 2 .00

D. L. Van Dine, Dallas, Tex.. 2.00
Harry Vane, Treesbank,

'Man 2.00

J. B. Williams, Toronto 2 .00

Dr. J. F. White, Ottawa 2 . 00

C. Weld, Farmers' Advocate,

Winnipeg, Man 2 .00

W. Ayers, Stock-ton, Man.. . . 1.00

W. Bond, Ottawa 1 .00

Prof. W. E. Britton, New

Haven, Conn 1 .00

Miss A. F. Braun, Cincinnati,

Ohio 1.00

Miss M. Brown, Halifax, N.S. 1 .00

A. M.Campbell, Ottawa 1.00

G. P. Clinton, New Haven,

Conn 1 .00

A. Cooper, Treesbank, Man. . 1 .00

C. R. Crosby, Ithaca, N.Y. . . 1 . 00

Miss F. Davidson, Ottawa. . 1 00

E. H. Dewart, Stockton,

Man 1.00

W. Dewart, Stockton, Man . . 1 . 00

E. D. Eddv, Ottawa 1 .00

H.Groh, Ottawa 1.00

Miss G. Harmcr, Entwhistle,

Alta 1.00

F. C. Hennessey, Ottawa. .. . 1.00
Miss I. Hargrave, Toronto. . . 1 .00
Prof. L. R. Jones, Burling-
ton, Vt 1.00

F. D. Jacobs. Winnipeg,

Man .^ 1.00

Miss K. Lee, Clinton, N.Y ... 1 . 00

W. Milne, Ottawa 100

76 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

Harold U. Morris, Ottawa. . . 1 .00 H. S. Saunders, Toronto, ... 1 00

G. Michaud, Ottawa 1 .00 A. G. Spencer, Ottawa 1 . 00

G. F. Matthews, St. John, E. P. Venables, Vernon, B.C 1 00

N.B 1 .00 C. Vane, Treesbank. Man. . 1 00

Miss I. Ritchie, Ottawa 1 . 00 E. Vane, Treesbank, Man . 1 . 00

T. G. Raynor, Ottawa 1.00 Also a number of smaller sub-
Miss Ruby M. Rothwell, scriptions for amounts less

Ottawa 1 . 00 thnn onc> dollar.

MEETINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH.

Held at the home of Mr. J. W. Baldwin, March 11, 1909;
present Messrs. Metcalfe, Binney, Groh, Young, Eifrig, Gibson
and Baldwin.

Mr. Metcalfe exhibited some interesting specimens of
Hemiptera. He called attention especially to some species
of Ranatra, viz., R. quadridentata, R. kirkadyi and R. ftisca.
These are narrow, long-legged water bugs which he had collected
during the past season at Pickerel Point on the Ottawa River.
Cyrtolohus grisetts from oak and Cligenes mmuhis were included
in the box, both of which species were new records for the Ottawa
district.

Mr. Groh spoke of some galls which he had found on Willow
on Parliament Hill, and which were the work of Rhabdophaga
triticoides. The gall is known as the Willow Bud Gall. The
bud scales become elongated, the larva living within a cavity
in the interior.

Mr. Young showed a box of lepidoptera which he had just
received from Dr. Barnes, of Decatur, III. These were all
rarities, mostly from Arizona. Among the specimens were some
of the interesting genus Schinia.

Mr. Gibson read an account of an interesting occurrence of
Telephorid larvae at Charlottetown, P.E.I. Specimens had
been received for identification from Mr. Lawrence W. Watson,
which had been found alive in considerable numbers in February
on ice and snow. These larvae are known as "snow worms".
The species was probably Telephorus bilineatus.

Mr. Baldwin exhibited some cases from his collection of
lepidoptera, calling attention to some of the more interesting
specimens which he had collected during 1908. He gave an
account of some of the catches which he had made on certain
evenings when collecting at the Electric Railway power station
near Britannia. The brilliant lights at this station are certainly
very attractive to night flying insects. The writer has visited
the station on several occasions and each time came away with
his poison bottles and pinning boxes well filled. During the

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 77

past season we found the lamellicorn beetle, Ligyrus relictus,
quite abundantly on several evenings. This beetle which is
a close relative of the common May Beetle, or so-called June Bug,
has not in the past been at all common in the Ottawa district.

A. G.

The ineeting of the Branch at the residence of Mr. Arthur
Gibson on the 25th March, was very informal in nature. Those
present were Messrs. Halkett, Metcalfe, Groh, Baldwin and
Gibson.

Owing to the few exhibits which were made the discussions
were of a very general nature. Mr. Metcalfe showed a box of
Psyllidae, some of which had recently been named by Mr.
Schwar/,, of Washington, through the courtesy of Dr. L. 0.
Howard. These little insects have not received very much study
in North America as yet. They are known popularly as "jump-
ing plant lice" from their active habits, although they resemble
much more closely a miniattire Cicada.

The work of the Birch Skeletonizer, Bucculatrix canaden-
sisella, was exhibited by Mr. Groh, along with specimens of the
beautiful little moth. Some years this insect does much harm
to the foliage of birch trees. It has been found commonly in
the Ottawa District.

Some parasitized chrysalids of Papilio turnus and Hyperch-
iria io, were shown by Mr. Baldwin. The parasites were probably
Tachina flies.

Mr. Gibson exhibited a large potato shaped gall on Rubus
Hutkanus, which had been received from Mr. J. R. Anderson, of
Victoria, B.C. Specimens of the hymenopterous gall maker,
doubtless one of the Cynipidae, were also shown. These had
emerged indoors during March. A series of the noctuids,
Graphiphora praeses and Stretchia norntalis, also from British
Columbia, was exhibited. Sir George Hampson's Vol. VII, of the
catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalasnai in the British Museum
was laid on the table with the accompanying plates, and was
examined with much interest by those present These volumes
are of the greatest value to lepidopterists the world over.

A. G.

Dr. E. L. Greene, of the United States National Museum.
Washington, D.C., who has been studying plants of the genus
Thalictrum in western Ontario, was in Ottawa for a day, or
two, last month.

78 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

EXCURSIONS.

The excursions arranged for May 1st and 8th were cancelled,
the former because on the day before a great mass of sleet and
snow had fallen, which made woods and roads impassible, the
latter because of much rainfall up to the day before. However,
that Saturday turned out to be fine, thus again upsetting all
preconceived plans and well meant intentions.

Britannia.

On May ISth the excursion to Britannia was held. It was
a lovely day, perhaps the first all-round satisfactory one up till
then of the season.

About 40 or 50 members of the Club assembled at the park,
where Vice-president Halkett gave out the shibboleth for the
day. The botanists under the leadership of Dr. Blackadar,^
turned to the left to Graham's woods, a good spot for the first
wild spring flowers. The zoologists with Mr. Halkett as leader,
the geologists under Mr. Wilson and the ornithologists with the
undersigned, went to the right into the tamaracs and gravel pit,
the ornithologists going farthest afield, beyond the Richmond
Road.

After two hours the party assembled again at the starting
point. Dr. Blackadar showed specimens of many of the plants
that had been found, and spoke at length on the flowers of the
trees, especially the poplars, maples, elms, birches and alders.
Mr. Wilson, for the geologists exhibited a piece of conglomerate,
the process of whose forming could be seen bodily in the exposed
lower strata of the adjoining gravel-pit. The undersigned spoke
on the birds observed during the short perambulation, which
numbered 40 species, as follows: 4 Kingbirds, 1 Least Flycatcher,

1 Crested Flycatcher, 1 Phoebe, 3-4 Meadowlarks, 2 Redwinged
Blackbirds, 4-5 Bronzed Grackles, Crows (one nest), 2 Baltimore
Orioles, many Robins, 4-5 Veeries, 4 Bluebirds, many Song,
White-Crowned, Clipping and Vesper Sparrows, all in song,

2 Juncos, 2 Rose^breasted Grosbeaks and Goldfinches; Chimney
Swifts, and even Kingfishers were common, about 8-10 of the
latter being seen or heard, (in the gravel-pit several nesting
tunnels); Tree, Barn and Bank Swallows (already making nest-
ing holes), 5-6 Flickers, 1 Sapsucker, 2 Downy Woodpeckers,
2 Yellow Warblers, 3-4 Black and White Creeping Warblers, 2
Black-breasted Green, 2 Myrtle, 1 Parula, 1 Palm Warbler, 1
Yellowthroat and 1 Water-thrush; 4-5 House Wrens and 2
Brown-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Spotted Sand Pipers, and 2
Greater Yellow Legs.

Mr. Halkett exhibited quite a collection of batrachians,

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 79

mostly leopard frogs, as well as many invertebrates, crustaceans,
spiders and worms. Altogether it was a delightful and instructive
outing. G. EiFRiG,

Beaver Meadow, Hull.

The third outing took place in the afternoon of May 22nd
to Beaver Meadow, Hull, perhaps the most profitable field for
the Club's out-door work. Owing to fear of the high water then
raging in the Ottawa River, which had already flooded a short
stretch of the Aylmer Road at the end of Hull, or for some other
reason, there was only a small attendance in spite of the fine
weather. About 15 persons took part, including only two
ladies. For this reason the party did not divide itself up, but
stayed together and went out along the west bank of the meadow
to the quarry and then crossed on logs, etc., over to the east bank,
returning on it. The west bank is perhaps the most prolific place
near Ottawa for the botanist, rare plants like the showy orchis
(Orchis spectahilis) being found there, as well as other kinds of
commoner ones in profusion. The ferns fairly revel there, the
daint}^ maiden hair, and the two oak ferns occurring in great
clumps. The east bank, again, is a splendid locality for col-
umbine {Aquilegia Canadensis), Habenaria hyperborea, and
the only place in the vicinity of Ottawa where the Red or Wood
Lily (Lilhtm philadelphicum) may be found. Many water and
swamp plants also abound. Mr. A. H. W. Cleave, Superintendent
of the Royal Mint, who has since been added to the membership
roll of the Club, exhibited a great amount of small and semi-
microscopic life-forms, which he with an ingenious contrivance
fished out of the stagnant waters along the way. Besides larvae
of mosquitoes, dragon flies and mayflies he showed specimens of
Daphnia and Cypris.

Although the day was fine and the migration of birds at its
height, they were not as plentiful as was to be expected, only
27 species being noted. These were: several Chimney Swifts,
1-2 Nighthawks, 1 Phoebe, 1 Crested Flycatcher, 5-6 Bronzed
Grackles, 1 Flicker, 10-15 White-throated Sparrows, and many
Song and several Clipping Sparrows, the Tree. Bank and Barn
Swallows, 1 Blue-headed Vireo; the following warblers, Bay
breasted, Nashville, Myrtle, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Black and
White- Creeping, Blackthroated Green, the Ovenbird, Redstart,
Yellowthroat, the House, Winter and Short-billed Marsh Wrens,
manv Robins, several Bluebirds and Veeries or Wilson's Thrushes,
2-3 Catbirds and 1 Killdeer. The habitant living at the entrance
to the lane into the meadow had a queer cage-bird, caught that
day, in the shape of a Sora Rail {Sora Carolinana). A nest of the
Re'd-shouldered Hawk, about 35 feet up in an elm tree was in-

80 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

spected by Mr. Groh, who proved the best climber, and found it
to contain two eggs. The female only left the nest, noiselessly,
when the climber was half-way up. The nest was about two
feet in diameter, the inner cup about 8 inches, lined with pine
twigs, stripes of birch and soft inner bark and down of the bird
itself. They use the same nest over and over again, but each
year decorate it with green branches of pine, whereby it can be
seen at once from below whether it is a used hawk's nest or not.

Insects were beginning to appear in numbers but nothing
of special rarity was met with during the afternoon. Mr. Arthur .
Gibson noted a few nests of the American Tent Caterpillar.
These were just beginning to assume a conspicuous size. A few
speciinens of the small early spring blue butterfly were seen,
and one or two of the Pure White. Some beetles and other
insects were collected by the entomologists present from under
the bark, etc., and a small collection of spiders was made.

G. ElFRIG.

Chelsea, Que.

The general excursion to Chelsea was held on Saturday,
June 5th.

Owing to the uncertain state of the weather, the attendance
was not as large as usual. However, despite the clouds and
humiditv, among those present were Mr. Attwood, Rev. Mr.
Eifrig, Mr. W. J. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Putman, Mr. Mc-
Gillivray, Mr. R. H. Campbell, Miss Christie, Mr. Shannon, Miss
Matthews, Mr. H. S. Winchester, together with a number of
Normal lady students in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Brown.

On reaching ChelSea the members were divided into groups.
Mr. Wilson led the geological branch, while Mr. Attwood and
Mr. Eifrig jointly took charge of the botanists and ornithologists.
After making a tour through the woods, visiting Gilmour Island
and rapids, the second party moved along the west bank of the
Gatineau River, till the old boom house was reached, ascended
the hill, recrossed into the woods and finally reached the railway,
near the Chelsea summit, after gathering flowers and studying
the birds, under direction of the leaders, as thev passed along.

The geological party examined the rock cuttings along
the railroad. A good exposure of garnetiferous gneiss is seen
a short distance north of Chelsea Station. The foliation is
well shown, the rock being smoothed and polished by ice
action. The striae run nearly, south at this point. Resting
on the gneiss there is a good section of the pleistocene deposits.
Boulder clay with striated boulders lies directly on the rock, next
there is a mass of Leda clay and on top of this the Saxicava sand.
These deposits vary from almost nothing to twenty or thirty feet

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 81

in thickness. Specimens of Saxicava rugosa and Macoma
Balihica were found in the clay and sand on Saturday, and on
former visits a few specimens of Leda (Portlandica) Arctica and
Balanus crenaius were collected. These four species live only
in salt water and their presence proves that these deposits were
laid down in the sea or on its shore, and therefore the relative
height of the land at Chelsea has changed at least four hundred
feet since their deposition.

On returning to the station, Mr. Attwood called on Mr. R. H.
Campbell, who addressed the gathering, giving much useful
information regarding tree plantation and the need of better
preservation of certain coniferous trees whose reproduction is
slow owing to the seeds requiring two or three years to mature.
He also drew attention to the wonderful attraction exercised by
the sun upon the leaves, and to the fact, that when the leaves of a
tree happen to be small, there is always a greater number of
them to make up the requisite leaf surface.

Mr. Eifrig followed, speaking on the migration of birds and
their habits. He stated that they were moved by two impulses,
food supply and the propagation of their species, that the latter
was the stronger, leading many of them to the far north, where
they were reared, from regions as far south as Bolivia and Peru.
Referring to the comparatively few birds seen during the after-
noon, he attributed it to two reasons, viz., the nesting season
and the depressing" state of the weather, which alwavs exerts a
quieting effect upon birds whose organisms are delicately balanced.
However, the following birds were seen: — Chimaey Swift, King
Bird, Alder Flycatcher, Meadowlark, Blackbird, House Wren,
Goldfinches, Junco, Bank and Barn Swallows, Ovenbird, Black-
throated Blue Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Chickadee, Black-
throated Warbler, many Song, White-throated and Clipping
Sparrows, Blackpoll and Chestnut-sided Warblers, and the
Vesper Sparrow, who sang his loud and musical song as the train
started for Ottawa, thus concluding one of the most enjoyable
revels that the writer has ever had with Dame Nature.

E. C. W.

i Carp, Ont.

The excursion to Carp on May 29th was not so largely
attended as was expected owing to the uncertainty of the weather,
and vet there was a goodly number on board when the train left
the Central Station at 11 .50 a.m. On arriving at Carp the party
proceeded to the school house and was received there by the
teaching staff, who did all in their power to make the afternoon
an agreeable and profitable one. The school building is a fine
one, and stands on an eminence which commands a splendid

32 The Ottawa Naturalist. <{July

view of the surrounding country. The outlook from the windows
should often give fresh inspiration to both teachers and pupils,
when their tasks threaten to become wearisome. The gardens
which are a part of the Carp school, showed no signs of life as
yet, but were only waiting for the advancing season to complete
the work of the youthful horticulturists.

Inside the building were many evidences that the study of
nature was not neglected. Among other things were noticed
a display of colored prints of birds, and an arrangement of glass,
in which the development of butterflies and moths, from their
earlier stages could be conveniently observed.

After those who had not had luncheon had satisfied the
inner man from their own baskets in the school rooms, or had
availed themselves of the resources of the village, the party
proceeded to a grove that was not far distant, and there separated
under the different leaders. The geological division climbed the
Laurentian rocks, a rather trying exertion in the hot sun, but
there were clusters of fresh green ferns growing in the crevices of
the rocks, and other beauties to cheer them on their way, and,
at the top, the surprise of green pools of water with the little
sweet-scented white violets growing on their margins well repaid
even those who were quite ignorant of matters scientific for
their labors. It is true these same charming pools produced
numerous mosquitoes, an evil which, there being no remedy for
it, each of the excursionists endured with all the patience he or
she could command.

In the course of the afternoon the uncertain weather changed
to the certainty of a brief thunder storm, which was not an
altogether uninteresting episode, although it curtailed the ex-
plorations of the more timorous spirits. The addresses, when
the party reassembled, were given in front of the school house,
and afterwards hot tea was served in the building.

After a few remarks by the President, Mr. Attwood, Mr.
T. E. Clarke was first called on to speak of the botanical specimens
collected. The botanical field at Carp, while not extensive is
quite varied. Close to the village, as above mentioned, there is
a grove where the typical plants of rich woodlands are to be
found. To the left is a low flat, through which the Carp river
flows, while at some distance to the right are two rocky ridges,
more or less wooded. Of the rarer plants collected. Poly gal a
paucifolia was found in the open woods on the sandy hill just
beyond the school garden, and Trillium erythrocarpum on lower
ground. The Blood-root, Sanguinaria canadensis was observed
in flower in great numbers. Unfortunately the rain prevented
an examination of the ridges, where some- interesting
were obtained on the occasion of a former excursion. ,■- vv

LIBIIAR

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 83

Miss Norton of the Carp High School, in a few well chosen
words spoke of the pleasure derived from the visit of the Ottawa
Field-Naturalists' Club. As a member of the Committee chosen
to consider the formation of a branch of the club at Carp, she
felt sure that such an organization would be a help to those
engaged in teaching, and a pleasure to all who would join with
the club in such a work.

Mr. Arthur Gibson spoke briefly of some of the insects which
had been observed during the afternoon. Mosquitoes were out
in full force and the relation of these pests to malaria and some
other diseases was mentioned. A few nests of the American
Tent Caterpillar had been observed, as well as a few of the early
butterflies, such as the Spring Blue, the Clouded Sulphur, the
Small White Cabbage and the little black Skipper. Specimens
of the White Grub were shown and information asked as to its
economic importance. This well known insect, the larva of the
May beetle, or June Bug, annually does serious damage to the
roots of grasses and other plants.

Mr. W. J. Wilson spoke of the geological formations in the
vicinity of Carp and exhibited samples of mica, hornblends,
feldspar, magnetite and apatite, and explained briefly some of
their physical properties. The most interesting was a specimen
of apatite in which the crystals were considerably curved, owing
to long continued, steady pressure. Similar crystals were noted
by Dr. Ami at a former visit of the Club to this place. Evidence
that the land had been under the sea at a comparativelv recent
date, geologically speaking, is found in the fact that the sand and
gravel abound in marine shells, specimens of which were shown.
These forms live in the ocean at the present time.

Mr. F. T. Shutt congratulated the people of Carp on the
fact that they were about to form a branch of the Field-Natura-
lists' Club and said it would be the aim of the Club to give all
possible assistance.

Rev. Mr. Eifrig spoke of the birds the ornithological party
had seen, viz.. Flycatchers, 2 Phoebes, 6 Kingbirds, 3 Pewees,

1 Crested Flycatcher, 5 Chebecs, Blackbirds, etc., 10 Bronzed
Grackles, 10 Meadowlarks, 8 Bobolinks, 4 Red-winged Blackbirds

2 Baltimore Orioles, Crows, Woodpeckers, 1 Flicker, Sparrows:
2 White-throated Sparrows, many Clipping, 4 Vesper, many Song,
5 Savanna, a flock of about 20 Goldfinches, English Sparrows,
(many nests with 4-6 eggs in a barn). Swallows: 6 Purple
Martens, 10-20 Barn Swallows, (1 nest with 7 eggs, 2 with 2 eggs),
many Bank Swallows, Warblers, 6 Yellow, 4 Black and White,
2 Blackpoll, 2 Chestnutsided, 1 Blackthroated Blue, 4 Yellow-
throats, Thrushes, many Robins (nest with 3 young), 8 Blue-
birds, Wrens, etc., 5 House Wrens, 1 Winter Wren, 1 Brown

84 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

Thrasher, all singing beautifully, besides 2 Spotted Sandpipers,
1 Kingfisher, many Chimney Swifts, 1 Humming Bird, 4 Redeyed
Vireos, I Killdeer, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 Nighthawks.
Total, 41 species. In closing he exhibited a number of birds'
eggs which had been collected by a young lady of Carp.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, of the Ottawa Normal School, and Mr.
G. A. Moore, Principal of the Carp High School, briefly addressed
the gathering.

Between some of the addresses, Mr. T. A. Brown and the
Normal vStudents furnished some excellent music.

The evening after the rain, was indescribably lovely and
must have brought a ."suspension of disgust" to use a Bryonic
phrase, to any world-weary individuals of the party, if such there
were, and none could leave so restful a scene without regret.

E. McQ.

CROSSBILLS NESTING IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO.

By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.

A nest of Crossbills, species unknown, was found last April
by Mr. Harold J. Clark in a small woods about two miles east of
London. On April 28th the nest was taken. It contained three
eggs, with a bluish-white ground, sparingly streaked and spotted
with black and brown. The nest was placed in a maple tree
against the trunk, 45 feet from the ground, and was composed
mainly of bark strips with additions of grasses and twigs and
was lined with fine bark strips. The nest contained also, the
egg of a Cow Bird which shows that the latter species does not
intend to lose any opportunity for reproduction, this being a
very early date for Cow Bird's eggs to be fovmd.

This forms the first stated record of Crossbills nesting in
lower Ontario and it is to be regretted that the nest was not
seen in situ by someone who could have identified the species
before the eggs were taken. It is likely, however, that the nest
belonged to the American Crossbill, as no white wing-bars were
noticed and this species has been moderately common during
parts of the past winter.

Some years ago, I received a report of the occurrence of
White Winged Crossbills in spotted plumage, young birds of
course, which were taken near London, in April or May, and
had doubtless been raised in the vicinity, but the specimens had
been lost when I heard of it and no re-occurrence of the event
had been suspected until the present year. As the Crossbills
belong to the most erratic group of sparrows, as regards nesting
habits, we need not be surprised if such occasional records are
made.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIIl. OTTAWA, AUGUST, 1909 No. 5

CERTAIN BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND THEIR PRAC-
TICAL APPLICATION IN THE IMPROVEMENT
OF THE FIELD CROPS OF CANADA.

By L. H. Newman, B.S.A., Secretary, Canadian
Seed Growers' Association, Ottawa.

To learn what is true in order to do what is right is the summing
up of the whole duty of man. — T. H. Huxley.

Modern science has done much to awaken a greater interest
in the improvement of the lot of man by giving us a better
understanding of life processes. A more comprehensive know-
ledge of the laws w^hich determine our well-being in the physical
world has resulted in the control of many dread diseases. A
greater knowledge of the interaction of, and the relation between,
hereditary forces and environment places within the reach of
man a remarkable power in guiding and controlling the creative
forces of nature. This last makes possible the betterment of the
condition of man through the improvement of his food.

The world's supply of food to-day is directly dependent upon
one great kingdom — ^the vegetable kingdom. At first man de-
pended for his liveHhood upon the chase and the fruits, seeds and
herbs which nature provided. This source, however, soon requir-
ed to be supplemented so that we find even our primitive races
resorting to the raising of crops as a means of sustenance. The
native forms of plant-life which were utilized soon responded to
the hand of man, and from this early beginning dates the im-
provement of plants.

The great complexity and diversity in the forms of vegetation
which clothe the surface of the earth has long been a question
to haunt the mind of the scientist and the philosopher. That
new species were constantly being produced in nature was a
recognized fact as long ago as before the birth of Christ, but the
exact manner in which these were brought into existence has
long remained obscure and puzzling.

86 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

For many years our leading naturalists and biologists have
been engaged in investigating these problems and in classifying
their observations under natural and well defined laws. It is
only within recent years, however, that the student of natural
progression has been able to deduce from his observations and
study any suggestion as to how plants under domestication might
be "bred up" by the applications of principles common to all
living phenomena.

HISTORY OF THE PROGRESS OF THE IDEA OF SPECIES FORMATION.

In order that we may clearly understand the possibilities
of the artificial interference in plant life as a means of evolving
improved races and strains, and that we may see how far such
work is based on scientific and, therefore, sound principles, we
shall examine briefly some of the various theories and ideas
which have been advanced respecting the manner in which our
present species, varieties and strains have come into existence.

We find that the idea of organic progression or evolution
had its birth among the early Greeks, its renaissance among the
early natural philosophers beginning with Bacon and extending
to the time of Herder (1744-1803) and that these men in turn
served to inspire further investigation and study by Buffon,
Erasmus Darwin and Goethe, all of whom are considered as
contemporaries of Darwin, the first real propounder of evolution.

Evolution, as a natural explanation of the origin of the
higher forms of life, developed from the mythological teachings
of the earlv Greeks into the general conception of Aristotle
(384-322 B!C.) who, over 2,200 years ago, believed that higher
forms of life originated or were developed from lower forms in
some mysterious way. Development or the gradual perfection
in the structure of an organism was Aristotle's main thesis and
constituted the principle thotight in his natural philosophy.
He was also a strong believer in the law of adaptation and in
atavism. The principle of Syngenesis was recognized long before
Aristotle's time by Empedocles, who may be said to be the father
of evolution. Empedocles conceived the idea of "The survival
of the fittest" six centuries before Christ.

Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) established the distinction between
natural and supernatural causation, and gathered arguments
from his predecessors to support the principle of natural law.

The idea of the changing rather than of the fixed order of
things had its origin among the Greeks in Heraclitus (505-475
B.C.)

For many centuries all study was subject to the approval of
the church so that from the time when Christian doctrines shook
off Aristotelianism or the scientific reading of the Bible until

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 87

Suarez' time in the middle of the 16th century no progress was
made in the evolution idea.

In the latter part of the seventeenth centurv and in the
early part of the eighteenth there were three main classes of
writers, viz.: — The Naturalists, the Speculative Evolutionists
and the Natural Philosophers. To the latter class belong such
eminent writers as Bacon, Descartes, Leibnitz and, belonging to
the German School, Kant, Herder, Lessing and Schelling.

Bacon (1561-1626) was the most active of the early writers
in pointing out the evidences of the mutability of species and in
attempting to show the bearing which variation has upon organic
progression. There was also shown at this time the analogy
between artificial selection and natural selection. It is interesting
to know that at this early period (beginning of 17th centurv)
mutability of species was recognized and looked upon as a live
question.

SCIEXTISTS OF THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES.

In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, we find
many writers of note propounding theories as to the manner in
which species have originated. De Maillet (1656-1738) tried to
show the influence exerted by habit and environment in inducing
changes in the nature and form of a plant, but, unfortunately
he went to extremes by claiming that modifications acquired
during a single life were transmitted in toto.

Maupertuis (1698-1759) advanced a theroy of generation
resembling closeh'that of Darwin, and which anticipated to some
extent the modern idea as to the causes of fortuitous variations.

Linnaeus, a Swede, (1707-1778) the great father of botany,
marked the beginning of zoology and botany as now understood.
The binary system of nomenclature proposed in his great work
Systema Naturae enabled him to show the relation of animals and
plants to each other. At first, Linnaeus looked upon species as
having been created directly by the Creator and he believed in
the absolute fixity of species. Later, however, he was compelled
to alter his views somewhat owing to the multiplication of species
which he observed everywhere in nature. We therefore see in
the revision of Systema Naturae, which he made in 1760, a
pronounced change, the mutability of species being more clearly
recognized.

Buffon (1707-1788) took more radical views re the mut-
ability of species than did Linnaeus, and laid the foundation of
modern evolution in zoology and botany. He w^as the first to
point out clearly the relationship between mutability of species
and environment. He is thus the first to indicate some of the
causes of mutabilitv.

88 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802), grandfather of Chas. Darwin,
was one of the poets of the evolution idea. Like some of the
early Greek writers he believed in the doctrine of spontaneous
generation, but in the lower forms of life only. In the chapter on
Generation in his "Zoonomia" (1794) he takes little account of
the laws of heredity, but believes that b}' the addition of parts
resulting from changes of environment exciting the "living
filament" into action, new characters are acquired and these are
capable of being transmitted. This theory it will be seen an-
ticipated that of Lamarck.

THE LAMARCKIAN THEORY.

Lamarck -(1744-1829) was the real founder of the modern
theory of descent and is the most noted scientist and writer
between the time of Aristotle and that of Chas. Darwin. Labor-
ing under discouraging conditions and receiving nothing but
disdain by the majority of his contemporaries he succeeded
nevertheless in contributing much to natural science. In his
"Philosophic Zoologique" ' (1809) he expresses certain views
which correspond closely with those held by E. Darwin and
expressed by him in his Zoonomia. The main theory which
Lamarck advanced and which is now known as the Lamarckian
theory in contradistinction to the Darwinian theory, claims that
evolution takes place through the inheritance of characters
acquired during the lives of individuals so that in time new
species may be created. The endeavour to satisfy certain wants
brings about certain modifications which are inherited in part at
least. This theory made no great impression at the time although
it has been revived within recent times by a school known as the
Neo-Lamarckians to which school Herbert Spencer and other
prominent scientists belong. While the theory seems to explain
many of the facts of inheritance yet it fails to show a case wherein
a single acquired character has been permanently transmitted.
As an instance we have the continued docking of horses and lambs,
yet there is no case on record of one of these animals being born
without a tail.

Goethe (1749-1832), the great poet of evolution, developed
the "unity of type" idea in 1796. This led him to explain the
existence of vestigial structures which constitutes one of the
strongest evidences of evolution.

Bory de St. Vincent (1780-1846) beheved that species are
formed spontaneously and that this process goes on more rapidly
in countries of comparatively modern formation. His idea was
that the existence of a long series of ancestors tends to fix the
type.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 89

Isidore St. Hilaire, (1805-1861) son of Geoflfroy St. Hilaire,
advanced the theory that species were limited in their mutabiHty.
He claimed that new characters may be produced as a result of
two forces:

(1) The modifying influence of new surroundings,

(2) The conserving influences of heredity.

Dr. W. C. Wells in 1813 was the first to apply the principle
of "The survival of the fittest." He based his theory on the
observation that no two individvials are alike and that those
which are best fitted to withstand the exigencies of a particular
country or locality are most likely to survive. In 1831 Patrick
Matthews applied a similar view in a book on naval timber.

THE darwinian THEORY.

It remained with Chas. Darwin (1809-1882), to bring
out a well rounded theory attempting to explain the origin
of species and varieties. His great work under this name was
inspired by an essay by Malthus on "Population" written in
1798. After many years of most thorough work in which he
collected an immense amount of evidence he crystallized his
views on the subject into a theory known as the "Theory of
Natural Selection." In a word this theory implies that favorable
variations are preserved while the injurious or inferior variations
are rejected. That is to say that in the struggle for existence
onlv the strongest individuals survive while the weaker succumb
to the various active forces of nature. This principle assumes that
constant variation is going on within the race and that by the
gradual accumulation of slight favorable variations new species
are formed. Darwin based his theory of natural selection largely
upon the results realized by man in artificially selecting from his
flocks and herds. He recognized that variation might be induced
as follows: (1) By environment. (2) By the use or disuse of
parts. (3) By certain inherent forces causing definite variation.
(4) By the tendency of variations to become co-related. (5) By re-
version. (6) By telegony. Two main classes of variation were
recognized, viz. : fluctuating variation and discontinuous varia-
tion. Darwin believed that fluctuating variations had been
utilized most bv the breeder although it is difficult to distinguish
between the two. According to Quetelet, Galton and others,
these fluctuating variations are grouped around a "mean" in
such a way that approximately half are below the mean and half
above.

Wagner claims that variation, isolation or selection, and
heredity constitute the tripod of organic evolution. In other
words, plants are constantly changing in character, and, since
like tends to beget like" in plants just as in animals, the isolation

90 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

or selection from year to year of the most desirable individuals
results in a gradual improvement in the race until certain liinits
have been reached.

While natural selection is, without doubt, a. potent factor in
the developing or creating of new species in nature, and while its
action there may suggest the value of artificial selettion as a
means of improving domestic types, yet, it fails to account fully
for the existence of our present species. This assertion is based
on the following facts: (1) Natural selection is based upon
variations which it cannot explain. (2) Certain of these varia-
tions cannot have been of any possible use to the individual and,
hence, cannot have operated in its evolution. (3) Life, according
to certain authorities has not been possible on the earth for a
sufficient length of time to allow the development of all of our
present species, had these been developed as slowly as w^ould
be required by the action of natural selection. (4) The numerous
transitional links between species, which would of necessity
exist had evolution come about as gradually as would be required
by the natural selection of the "fittest," are not found.

We must, therefore, look to some internal factor upon which
to base the laws governing the origin of species. Darwin himself
recognized the insufficiencv of his theory at a later date, and
attempted to supplement it with his theory of "Pangenesis,"
but failed to contribute much toward the elucidation of the
problem.

ATTEMPTS TO FIND INTERNAL CAUSES OF VARIATION.

Passing on from the time of Darwin we find the leading
investigators searching for an internal force to explain the origin
of variation. The German botanist Nageli was the first to at-
tempt to find within the organism itself a force which might
account for the appearance of strange characters in the ofl^spring.
He assumed the existence within the organism of a tendencv
toward progression or perfect development and believed that in
accordance with this tendencv organisms are continually varying
so as to rise in the scale of nature. He failed, however, in explain-
ing the origin of this internal force, so contributed little toward
our better understanding of the question involved.

Another theory is advanced by Mivart to the effect that
species have arisen suddenly and not by slow modifications hence
the theory of ' ' extraordinary births. ' ' An instance of the applica-
tion of this theory is found in connection with an experiment
conducted by Dr. Godron, of Nancy, with Datura Tatula, (Purple
Thorn Apple) , the seed capsules of which plant are normally
covered with spines. Seeds of this plant were sown and produced
plants among which was found a plant whose seed capsules were

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 91

smooth. The seeds of this were preserved and again sown with
the result that ah the plants coming from them showed the same
pecuharity. Each successive progeny from this seed showed the
same characteristics as long as the experiment was conducted.
When the smooth variation was crossed with the original forms
true hybrids were produced which, in the second generation,
reverted to the original type.

We probably have many so-called rare species at the present
time which have been created in a like manner. Mivart believes
that all species arise in this way. He claimed to be able to
recognize an internal law presiding over the action of every part
of every indi\-idual and of every organism as a unit. His theory
is a sort of a compromise between evolution and special creation.
While it has many things in its favor and while many of the
objections which apply to the theory of natural selection do not
apply in this case, yet it will not account for all of the facts of
nattire, and can only be considered to constitute one of the pos-
sible factors in organic evolution.

weismannian theory, or neo-darwinism.

In 1883, Weismann, a German Naturalist, undertook to
show how' acquired characters cannot be transmitted and how
permanent variations can originate. He outlined the develop-
ment of the individual from the single cell, the fertilized egg,
showing how the cell divides and how, while those cells which go
to build up the different parts of the body become differentiated,
other cells, the reproductive or germ cells, remain constant.
Continuing he attempted to show that the property of being able
to transmit definite characters to the oft'spring is peculiar only
to the germ cell, hence permanent variations must emanate
from this cell. Since environment can effect the body or soma
cells and not the germ cell, it is clear, according to Weismann,
that acquired characters cannot be permanently transmitted.
At the same time it is reasonable to believe that the temporary
"fattening" or "starving" of the germ cell due to the favorable
or unfavorable environment of the individual which bears it
would be noticeable for one or tv/o generations as indeed seems
to be the case.

Galton in his book on " Nattiral Inheritance" disparages the
idea that progression can take place only by the accumulation of
minute variations, and characterizes such an inference as falla-
cious.

Bateson, in his "Material for the Study of Variation" refers
to the two possible wavs in wdiich variations may arise and points
out the principle objections to the claims made for fluctuating
variations while at the same time he collates many facts respect-
ing the importance of discontinuous variations.

{To be continued)

92 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

ALGONKIN AND HURON OCCUPATION OF
THE OTTAWA VALLEY.

By T. W. E. vSowter, Ottawa.

(Continued from page 68)

Iroquois tradition assigns to Squaw Bay, called also Cache
Bay, at Tetreauville, the reputation of having been one of the
favorite lurking places of these war-parties. It must have been
in those days, an ideal spot for an ambush or concealed camp, as
it occupied, for the purposes of river piracy, as unique a position
on the old trade route, as does one of our present day toll-gates,
for controlling the traffic on a turnpike road. There is no doubt
of the place having been used as an Indian camping ground, at
least in prehistoric times, as the shores of the bay are littered
in all directions with fragments and flakes of worked flint. This
is an instance in which tradition is corroborated, to some extent,
by archaeology.

It is also said that Brigham's Creek, called also Brewery
Creek, a narrow channel of the Ottawa, was the old Indian
portage route for overcoming the rapids of the Chaudiere. It
may be seen by glancing at a map of the city of Hull, that parties
of Algonkins or Hurons, as the case may have been, upon emerg-
ing on the main river at the head of this portage, were liable at
any time to receive a warm welcome from some surprise-party of
Iroquois visitors at the Squaw Bay camping ground. If descend-
ing the rapids of the Little Chaudiere, they faced a far worse
predicament, as, unable to escape or defend themselves in the
swift current, they would have been caught, like passing flies
that are blown into a spider's web.

It is said that Indian cunning was at length successful in
evolving a plan to outwit the military strategy of the Iroquois.
As the old portage route had become dangerous it was resolved
to have an alternative one. In ascending the Ottawa, this new
portage started from the western shore of Brigham's Creek at a
point now oc'cupied bv the International Cement Works. It
continued thence in a westerly direction, skirting the foot of the
moun+ain and passed down Breckenridge's Creek to the outlet of
that stream into Lake Deschenes. It was rather a long portage
of about a dozen miles, but the Algonkin and Huron had learned
in the school of bitter experience, that, in their case, the longest
way round was the shortest way home. An aged squaw, who
lived in Aylmer many years ago, spoke of a similar forest trail
that extended, in the early da3^s, from a point on the Gatineau

I

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII.

This figure represents a clay vessel, which was found by Mr. James
Lusk, on his farm, Lot 20, Range XI., Township of Eardley, Wright
Co., Que. It was purchased from Mr. Lusk in the year 1903, and is
now in the Archaeological Section of the Geological Museum at Ottawa,
where it is indexed as No. 3282A. The vessel is 11 inches in height and
33 inches in circumference.

(The photograph, from which this reproduction was made, was
kindly furnished by the Geological Survey Department.)

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 93

near the site of Chelsea, thence by way of Kingsmere to a point
on Lake Deschenes, now occupied by the town of Aylmer.

Reference has already been made to Indian camping
grounds, which dot the shores of the Ottawa at frequent intervals.
Let us see what can be made out of them, by a close examination
of the relics they have yielded. The writer is convinced that
these camp sites are of Algonkin origin, and that they bear
evidences of casual contact, if not of more prolonged social
intercourse with the Hurons. That is to say, that it looks as if
the Hurons had been friendly visitors, who had spent much of
their time in these Algonkin camps. These camp sites seem to
have been selected with a view to observation, defence or escape
in cases of sudden attack. The Hurons built their villages at
some distance from the water highways, so as to escape obser-
vation by inquisitive tourists, who might wish to attack them.
They also selected their village sites where the land, within a
convenient distance, was suitable for agriculture. The high-
ways of communication used by these village communities, were
the innumerable forest trails, which traversed the Huron country
in all directions. On the other hand, the Algonkins of the
Ottawa have left traces of their camps along the edges of the
river, on points of land which afford a good view up or down
stream. They have been called canoe Indians and were at
home on the water. As they were much more expert in the
management of their birchen vessels than the Iroquoian races,
they were in a position, on the shores of the river, to escape by
water from a too powerful enemy approaching by land, or they
could retire to the forest if an overwhelming fleet appeared in
the offing.

These camp sites are strewn with fragments of blackish flint,
evidently procured from the Trenton limestone at the Chaudifere,
where it is found in great abundan:e, especially along Brigham's
Creek, the old Indian portage route. Arrow-heads, fabricated
from these fragments, are also found on these Algonkin camp
sites. Rut there is also found an arrow-head of a different
pattern, that is made from flint that has a lighter color and a
broader and cleaner conchoidal fracture than the Algonkm
forms. These arrow-heads bear a striking resemblance, in every
respect, to those from the Huron country in western Ontario, and
there are no flakings of this latter flint to show that they were
fabricated in these Algonkin workshops. This seems to be
negative evidence that they were not made on the Ottawa, but
may have been brought there by Huron visitors. It is not. of
course, conclusive evidence of Huron occupation, but rather of
Huron contact, more or less prolonged. A long knife of Huronian

94 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

slate, discovered on the Ottawa, by George Burland, with a
broken gorget and a crescent shaped woman's knife, each of
Huronian slate, found on the Bonnechere by Edward Moore, of
Douglas, Ont., seem to be additional evidence of the presence of
Hurons in the Ottawa Valley.

There are two other camp sites, however, that differ essenti-
ally from the foregoing and are without doubt distinctly Huron.
The former of these was discovered by R. H. Haycock, of
Ottawa, and the latter by Dr. H. M. Ami, of the Geological
Survey.

In the fall of 1859 and the spring of 1860, the late Edward
Haycock built a residence in the city of Hull, on the point now
occupied by Gilmour's Mill. While making excavations for the
foundation of a summer house, the workmen laid bare several
ash-beds, at a depth of from two to three feet below the surface.
Among other things, these beds contained fragments of Indian
pottery in great abundance.^ Mr. R. H. Haycock examined
them closely and reports them as having been of a dark brown
color, decorated with incised lines, notches and indentations.
According to Mr. Haycock's description, this pottery, both
in composition and decoration, was similar to that unearthed
from old ash-beds in the Huron country, in Ontario.

One may observe, on approaching Hull by the Alexandra
bridge, an extensive cut bank of sand and gravel, between the
E. B. Eddy Co.'s sulphide mill and the end of the bridge, and
between Laurier Ave., and the river. This is the place from
which the late Edward Haycock procured sand for building
purposes on the Eastern and Western Blocks of the Depart-
mental buildings, at Ottawa. During the excavation of this
bank, a great many Indian reHcs were discovered, such as
womens' knives, arrow-heads, tomahawks and pottery, but no
description of this pottery is obtainable. Here, according to
white and red tradition, many bloody encounters took place
between parties ascending or descending the river.

In the archaeological department of the Geological Museum
at Ottawa, there is a large array of pottery fragments collected
by Dr. H. M. Ami, some years ago, from an old ash-bed at
Casselman, Ont. In the same cases, are specimens of Huron
pottery from village sites in western Ontario, and, in comparing
the two collections one is quite satisfied that both are products

*"In some places rude pottery is found at a considerable depth, from
different causes. Tn fire-places this may come from the practice of
placing the fire in excavations in the ground" Earthenware of the New
York Aborigines. William M. Beauchamp, Bulletin, New York State
Museum, Vol. 5. No. 22, p. 80.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 95

of the same school of ceramic art. The ash-bed was large and
deep and Dr. Ami is of the opinion that it had been used as a
fire-place for a considerable length of time. There is no doubt
that Dr. Ami's discovery is of the highest importance in establish-
ing proofs of Huron occupation of the Ottawa valley.

There are, also, in the Museum, two perfect specimens of
Indian pottery from lot 20, range 11, Eardley township, Wright
Co. , Que. They were procured from James Lusk, who discovered
them on his farm, where they had been washed out of the banks
of a small creek during a freshet. They are suberb examples
of aboriginal art, and it is difficult to understand how they
could have been brought to such symmetrical proportions without
the use of a lathe. Compared with similar vessels figured in the
Ontario Archaeological Reports, it seems impossible to doubt
that the}^ are of Huron origin. These vessels are similar in
pattern and have been fabricated from the same clayey com-
position, with the same band, decorated with characteristic
incised lines, about the top, and a wave-like edge on the summit
of the rim, as are found in some of the Huron forms. As to
whether the spot where this pottery was found is an ancient
village site, will be an interesting subject for future investigation.

Let us now consider another phase of the question of Huron
occupation, that seems to be more conclusive even than the
discovery of ash-beds or pottery, the evidences of ossuarial
burial. The graves of a nation are indexes of its intellectual
development, from the rude cairn of the wandering savage to
the Taj Mahal of the imperial ruler. Could we have mingled in
the activities of palaeocosmic man, and witnessed the rite of
sepulture by which the Old Man of Cro-Magnon was laid to rest
in his cave-sepulchre on the Vez^re, in the Dordogne Valley, then,
the last rites about the grave of that post-glacial patriarch might
have yielded us a store of knowledge that would have been in-
valuable to us in studying the savage culture of ancient Europe,
such as the rude efforts of primitive man to interpret natural
phenomena or to recognize in the variant manifestations of
natural forces the evidences of divine anger or approbation. So,
also, if we could have witnessed the burial rites of the Huron
nation, in what was called the Feast of the Dead, they would
have proved most instructive. They might have cleared up
much that is obscure in regard to the ultimate destiny and re-
lationship of the two souls, the one that took flight to the land of
spirits, at the hour of death, and the other that awaited the
final interment, before taking its departure. They might ha\-e
given us an insight into the philosophy of Indian burials, which
would have explained the presence or absence of warlike or
domestic implements in Huron ossuaries. But, fortunately for

96 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

archaeology, the Jesuits and other contemporary writers have
told us much that is invaluable concerning this important
festival.

Reverence for their dead was a marked characteristic of the
Huron people, a sentiment that was common among all the red
races. It is doubtful if those refinements of Christian feeling
that find expression in the mortuary rites of our civilized white
races, are one whit more profound than those outpourings of
sorrow, which were lavished by the Hurons upon the remains
of their departed relatives, at their periodical Feasts of the Dead.

When the early settlers, in western Ontario, were clearing
up their lands, they were frequently puzzled at the discovery
of large pits filled with human bones, together with warlike and
domestic implements and articles of personal adornment, all
crowded together in these communal sepulchres. These bone-
pits or ossuaries were at first attributed to burials for the disposal
of the slain after great battles, or of those who had perished
during epidemics of disease. Their true origin, however, was
established beyond conjecture by the Jesuit Relations.

Par km an, in the Jesuits in North America, has given us
graphic details of what the Hurons considered their most solemn
and important ceremonial. It was witnessed by Brebeuf at
Ossossan^, in the summer of 1636, and a report of it embodied
in his Relation of the same year. The following brief description
of the solemnity, compiled from the works of these writers, may
answer our purpose, without going into details.

Every ten years, or so, each of the four nations of the Huron
confederacy held a Feast of the Dead. The time and place, at
which the feast should be held, was decided by the chiefs of the
nation, in solemn council. All preliminary arrangements having
been made, the dead of the past decade were collected from far
and near and conveyed to the common rendezvous. Previously
however, the corpses which had, as usual, been placed on scaffolds
or, more rarely, in the earth, for the time being, were removed
from their temporary resting places and prepared V>y loving
relatives for the final rite of sepulture. The bones of such as
were reduced to skeletons were tied up in bundles like faggots,
wrapped in skins and clothed with pendant robes of costly furs.
The bodies of the more recent dead were allowed to remain entire
and were clothed also in furs. Then these ghastly bundles of
mortality were hung on the cross-poles, which later on sustained
the corn harvest, of the principal long-house in the village, and,
while the mourners partook of a funeral feast, the chiefs dis-
coursed upon the public or domestic virtues of the deceased. Then
commenced the wierd funeral march along the woodland paths

I

190Q] The Ottawa Naturalist. 97

throvigh the gloomy pine forests of old Huronia, the mourners
tittering, at intervals, dismal wailing cries, supposed to resemble
those of disembodied spirits wending their way to the land of
souls, and thought to have a soothing effect on the consciousness
still residing in the bundles of bones, which each man carried.

The Jesuits had been invited, by the chiefs of the Nation of
the Bear, to come to Ossossane and witness the rite. This great
town of the Hurons lay some distance back from the eastern
margin of Nottawassaga Bay, in the midst of a pine forest. What
a sight it must have been to those Europeans, as, one after
another, the weird funeral corteges, converging from the various
towns of the Bear, issued from the surrounding forest.

During the delay, in awaiting the complete assemblage of the
nation's dead, the squaws ladled out food for the inevitable
feast, while the younger members of both sexes contended for
prizes, donated bv mourners in honor of departed relatives.
So great was the assemblage that the houses were crowded to
suft'ocation and large numbers had to camp out, in the adjacent
forest. The bundles of dead were hung from the cross-poles in
the houses, and in the one where the Jesuits were housed up-
wards of one hundred packages of mortalit}' decorated the
interior of the building. The Jesuits passed the night in one
of these places, and endured the ordeal with Christian fortitude.

Finally, the signal was given, by the chiefs, for the con-
summation of the concluding rite. The packages ~'of dead were
opened and tears and lamentations lavished upon their contents.
Brebeuf refers to one woman in particular, whose ecstasies of
grief, over the bones of her father and children, were pathetic
in the extreme. She combed her father's hair, and fondled his
bones as if thev had been alive. She made bracelets of beads
for the arms of her children, and bathed their bones with her
tears. It was the same divine Hght of motherhood, which thus
irradiated the savage dens of the Hurons, as that which shines
in the eyes of the Christian mother, as she weeps over the cold
form of one whose brows have been sealed with the sign of the
Cross.

The various processions now re-formed and proceeded to a
spot in the forest, where a clearing of several acres had been
made. In the centre of this open space a huge pit had been
dug, ten feet in depth and thirtv feet in diameter. Around this
pit a rude scaffold had been 'erected, very high and strong.
Above this scaffold rose a number of upright poles with others
crossed between, upon which to hang the funeral g^*"*^ 'nd
remains of the dead.

The different groups of mourners were assigned places
around the edge of the clearing. The funeral gifts were now

98 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

displayed, among them being many robes of the richest fur that
had been prepared, years before, in anticipation of this ceremony.
The kettles were then slung and feasting went on until the
middle of the afternoon, when the bundles of bones were again
taken up. Then, at a signal from the chiefs, the crowd rushed
forward from all sides, like warriors at the storming of a palisaded
town, climbed, by means of rude ladders, to the scaffolding and
hung their dead, together with the funeral gifts, to the cross-
poles. Then they retired and the chiefs, from the scaffolding,
made speeches to the people, praising the dead and extolling the
gifts given in their honor.

During this speech making, the vast grave was being lined
throughout with robes of beaver skin, with three copper kettles
in the centre. The Ijodies, which had been left whole, were then
cast into the pit amidst great confusion and excitement, and,
as darkness was now coming on, the ceremony was adjourned
until the next day, the assemblage remaining about the great
watch-fires, which blazed about the edge of the clearing.

Just before daylight, the Jesuits, who had retired to the
village, were aroused by an uproar fit to wake the dead. Guided
by the noise, they hastened back to the clearing where they
beheld a spectacle that surpassed anything they had ever wit-
nessed. Brebeuf says that nothing had ever figured to him
better the confusion among the damned. One of the bundles
of bones had fallen from the poles into the pit and precipitated the
conclusion of the rite. Huge fires which blazed about the clearing
lit up a fearful scene. On and about the scaffold, wild forms, howling
like demons, hurled the packages of bones into the pit, where a
number of others moved about amidst the ghastly shower and
with long poles arranged the bones in their places. Then the
pit was covered with logs and earth and the ceremony concluded
with a funeral chant that resembled the wail of a legion of lost
spirits. It was the death song of a lost people, the knell of a
passing race.

One can imagine, as a spectator of this weird scene, the
stalwart form of Brebeuf, towering in the majesty of his fore-
doomed martyrdom, and glorious in the might of that indom-
itable courage that triumphed, in the hour of his death, oyer
the ingenuity of his tormentors, evolving in his mind such subtle
arguments as might subordinate to higher ideals the rude Nature-
worship of Huronian clanship, and win to the service of his
Master these hordes of heathendom.

Residents of the Capital will be surprised to learn that a
Htiron Feast of the Dead, similar to the one already described,
was once held in Ottawa, on the spot that now occupies the
north-west angle formed by the intersection of Wellington and

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 99

Bay Streets. This is no fiction, but a fact, supported by the
most trustworthy evidence. The proof is contained in an article
in the Canadian Journal, Vol. 1, 1852-1853, bv the late Dr.
Edward Van Courtland, which describes an Indian burying
ground and its contents discovered at Bytown (Ottawa) in 1843.

Dr. Van Courtland states that in 1843 some workmen, who
were digging sand for mortar for the old suspension bridge,
unearthed a large quantity of human bones. He immediately
hurried to the spot and found that the contents of an Indian
burying ground were being uncovered. The doctor continues: —
"N- thing p.^ssibly cotdd have been more happily chosen for
sepulture than the spot in question, situated on a projecting
point of land directly in rear of the encampment, at a carrying-
place and about half a mile below the mighty cataract of the
Chaudiere, it at once demonstrated a fact handed down to us by
tradition, that the aborigines were in the habit v;hen they
could, of burving their dead near running waters. The verv
oldest settlers, including the Patriarch of the Ottawa, the late
Philemon Wright, and who had located nearbv some thirty years
before^ had never heard of this being a bur3dng place, although
Indians existedin considerable numbers about the locality when he
dwelt in the forest; added to the fact that a htige pine tree grow-
ing directlv over one of the graves, was conclusive evidence of
its being used as a place of sepulture long ere the white man m
his progressive march had desolated the hearths of the untutored
savage." After two days digging the results were as follows:

"One very large, apparently common grave, containing the
vestiges of about twenty bodies, of various ages, a goodly share
of them being children, together with portions of the remains of
two dogs' heads ;the confused state in which the bones were found
showed that no care whatever had been taken in burying the
original owners, and a question presented itself as to whether
they might not have all been thrown indiscriminately into one
pit at the same time, having fallen victims to some epidemic, or
beneath the hands of some other hostile tribe; nothing however,
could be detected on the skulls, to indicate that they fell by the
tomahawk, but save sundry long bones, a few pelvi, and six
perfect skulls the remainder crumbled into dust on exposure to
the air, in every instance the bones were deeply colored from
Red Hematite which the aborigines used in painting, or rather in
bedaubing their bodies, falling in the form of a deposit on them
when the flesh had become corrupted. The material appears
to have been very lavishly applied from the fact of the sand

-Philemon Wright, with 25 followers, arrive 1 at the site nl" the pre-
sent City of Hull on the 7th of March, 180Tr.

100 The Ottawa Naturali-st. [August

which filled the crania being entirely colored by it. A few im-
plements and weapons of the very rudest description were dis-
covered, to wit; — 1st, a piece of gneiss about two feet long,
tapering, and evidently intended as a sort of war-club; it is in
size and shape not unlike a policeman's staff. 2nd, a stone
gouge, very rudely constructed of fossiliferous limestone; it is
about ten inches long, and contains a fossil leptina on one of its
edges ; it is used, I lately learned from an Indian chief, for skinning
the beaver. 3rd. a stone hatchet of the same material. 4th,
a sandstone boulder weighing about four pounds; it was found
lying on the sternum of a chief of gigantic stature, who was
buried apart from the others, and who had been walled round
with great care. The boulder in question is completely circular
and much in the shape of a large-ship biscuit before it is stamped
or placed in the oven, its use was, after being sewed in a skin
bag, to serve as a corselet and protect the wearer against the
arrows of an adversar}' . In every instance the teeth were perfect
and not one unsound one was to be detected, at the same time
they were all well worn down by trituration, it being a well
known fact that in Council the Indians are in the habit of using
their lower jaw like a ruminating animal, which fully accounts
for the pecularity. There were no arrowheads or other weapons
discovered."

It will be seen, from the foregoing, that the worthy doctor
had unearthed a small Huron ossuary, similar in its general
features to the much larger one at Ossossan^, and if the doctor's
description is compared with reports on communal graves, in
western Ontario, bv such eminent archaeologists as Dr. David
Boyle, curator of the Provincial Musetim at Toronto, A. F. Hunter,
George E. Laidlaw and others, one must be convinced that the
Wellington Street ossuary was of Huron origin. When the
doctor raises the question as to whether the bodies had not all
been "thrown indiscriminatel}' into one pit at the same time"
he suggests a mode of sepulture that was actually observed by
Brebeuf at the Huron Feast of the Dead at Ossossane.

Another small ossuary was uncovered some years ago, on
Aylmer Island, when the foundation for the new lighthouse was
being excavated. The writer was not present at the exhumation
of its contents, but the light-keeper, Mr. Frank Boucher, informed
him that the skeletons were all piled together, indiscriminately. •
It is difficult to estimate the number of bodies interred in this
grave, but it yielded about a wagon load of bones. A number
of single graves have also been found at this spot, and these,
together with the ossuary would seem to prove that Algonkin
and Huron occupied this part of the Ottawa Valley.,|drrf|i^'|£K^
this island in common as a place of sepulture. ,^rSj^^ _ -C*^ vNi

^^

RViS

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist 101

Embowered in the solemn grandeur of a mighty forest of
gloom}- pine, old Lac Chaudiere — our Lake Deschenes— was a
fitting theatre for that weird ceremonial, the Huron Feast of the
Dead. Resting on the old Algonkin camping ground at Pointe
aux Pins — now the Queen's Park — some roving coureur de bois
might have seen this great sheet of water fading away into the
vast green ocean of foliage to the south, and witnessed from his
point of vantage the uncanny incidents of the savage drama.
From various points on the lake he might have seen, converging
on the island, great war canoes, freighted with the living and
the dead, the sad remnants of a passing race. He might have
heard the long drawn out waiHng cries of the living, as they
floated in unison across the water, outrivalling the call of the
loon or the dismal and prolonged howl of the wolf, as they echoed
through the arches of the forest, and as the island rose before
his vision, tenanted with its grotesque assemblage of dusky forms,
engaged in the final rite of sepulture-, he might have mvised upon
the mutability of human life, in its application to the red denizens
of the wilderness, whether in the dissolution of a clan, a tribe
or a nation.

We have now reviewed three distinct sets of evidence,
which \'erify one another and sustain, collectively, the hypothesis
of Huron occupation of the Ottawa Valley. We have Huron
arrowheads and slate implements on Algonkin cainping grounds,
we have Huron pottery from ash-beds that smouldered, possibly,
in Huron long-houses, for considerable periods of time, and lastly,
we have ossuaries or com.munal graves, a mode of sepulture
characteristic of the Huron people, and one which would indicate
a permanent and somewhat lengthened period of occupation.

Of course, it will be urged that no l)and of Hurons would
have built a village so near the river as the site of the old ash-beds
at Gilmour's Mill, in Hull, but, as the Algonkins lived, sometimes,
in the Huron country and adopted, to some extent, the customs
of their confederates, might not the Hurons, if they came to
live with the Algonkins on the Ottawa, have followed the usage
of the latter in the selection of their dwelling places.

The evidence, so far obtained, seems to have given us fairly
conclusive proofs of Huron occupation of the Ottawa Valley,
and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of one of the
great native races of Canada, but, as yet, we have no data that
gives us a clue to the time of this period of occupation. Our two
ossuaries, already referred to, yielded nothing that could be traced
to the white trader; yet this is not negative evidence that the
interments were made before European contact. The Wellington
Street ossuary held quite a number of implements, while that on
Avlmer Island had none. As Dr. David Boyle remarks: "The

102 The Ottawa Naturalist [August

truth is we are yet in the dark regarding the philosoph}^ of
aboriginal burials, and, perhaps will ever remain so." So that
in the absence of evidence we can indulge only in conjecture.

It will be remembered that, after the four nations of the
Huron Confederacy went down in red ruin beneath the merciless
tomahawks of the Iroquois, theconquerors turned their victorious
arms against the Neutrals or Attiwanderons ; stormed and took
their palisaded towns, together with hundreds of prisoners,
whom they burnt or adopted, and left a trail of fire and blood
along the northern shores of Lake Erie . Then they wheeled in
their tracks and rushed, like a pack of famished wolves, upon
the Eries or. Cats, a kindred tribe to the south of Lake Erie,
whom they destroyed utterly in one of the fiercest Indian battles
recorded in history. Meanwhile, on the eastern frontiers of the
Iroquois Confederacy, the Mohawks were at war with their
Algonkin neighbors, the Mohicans, and with their own Iroquoian
kinsmen, the Andastes or Conestogas. During a decade of conflict
with these opposing forces, a series of bloody reverses had hum-
bled the Mohawk arrogance, when the other four nations of the
Iroquois league took up the strife, in the Andaste war. For
fifteen years the Iroquois' war-parties traversed the forests
towards the Susquehanna before the heroic Andastes were
wasted away by the attrition of superior numbers and finally
overcome by the Senecas, about the year 1675. Thus, in a
period of twenty-five years, from the downfall of the Hurons to
the conquest of the Andastes, the Iroquois had triumphed over
all the neighboring nations and peace reigned, for a time, over
the blood stained wilderness. But, during all these wars, the
Confederates were able to send war-parties on the trail to Canada,
that kept New France in a turmoil, by cutting off her outposts
and wasting her outlying settlements. It is not likely, however,
that any of these expeditions went out of their way to attack
Algonkin or Huron stragglers on the Ottawa, and these fugitive
bands may have remained unmolested for a few years, until
their final destruction or dispersion could be made an incident
in some more important enterprise of the Iroquois.

Let us now return to the Hurons. In the year 1650, after a
terrible winter made horrible by famine, death and the Iroquois,
the Jesuits abandoned their last mission fort of Ste. Marie on
Ahoendoe — St. Joseph's or Christian Island — and led some three
hundred of these unfortunate people to Quebec, by way of the
Ottawa. A much larger number, however, who were left behind,
were forced by the Iroquois to abandon their fort and retire to
Manitoulin Island and the northern forests. But the Iroquois
were on their trail; so, finally, loading their canoes, about four

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist

103

I

I

hundred of them took the route of the Ottawa to join their
kindred who had preceded them. Other scattered bands follow-
ed, from time to time, of which we appear to have no definite
record. By this time the wdiole Ottawa River had been swept bv
the tornado of Iroquois ferocity and its shores had become a
solitude.

Now for our conjecture. Cases are not infrequent in which
Indian communities have been forced to abandon their homes,
through stress of war, but have again returned to them after
some years, when the war cloud had given place to the sunlight
of peace. Doubtless, in their wanderings on the northern
tributaries of the Ottawa, Algonkin and Huron had alike eaten
the bread of adversity and drunk the water of affliction and were
ready for any asylum that would afford them a brief period of
rest. Now, while the time of the Iroquois was fully occupied
in the terrible wars already enumerated, may it not have been
possible that some of the fugitive remnants of the Hurons, on
their way to Quebec, stopped and settled on the Ottawa, to-
gether with similar bands of Algonkins, who had returned to
their old camping grounds?

A serious objection, of course, to the theory of Huron occup-
ation of the Ottawa Valley, in the latter half of the seventeenth
century, is the presence of Huron pottery in the ash-beds at Hull
and Casselman, as the Indians are supposed to have discarded
their native earthenware for the brass or copper kettles of the
v/hite trader, soon after the advent of Europeans, still, how-
ever, it should be borne in mind that the craggan, (see
Annual Archaeological Report 1906 ("Toronto 1907) pp. 16-18),
an earthen vessel of domestic manufacture, made from unrefined
clay and similar in design and finish to the very crudest forms
of our Indian pottery, was made and used imtil quite recently —
if it is not used, even, to-day — in the kitchens of several of the
Scottish Islands, and that these vessels were preferred, for many
purposes, to the more costlv and highlv finished j)roducts of
modern ceramic art. These craggans were made by housewives
to serve, among others, the purposes of drinking vessels and pots
for boiling; so that if such prehistoric pottery could have survived
among the Scottish Islanders, to a time within the memory
of the living in competition with domestic innovations
of centuries of civilization, whv should not the Hurons
of the Ottawa have retained, for a few years at least,
the earthenware of their ancestors, under somewhat similar
conditions? Finallv, William M. Beauchamp'' refers to a

"Earthenware of the New York Aborigines. Bulletin of the New
York State Museum, Vol. S, No. 22, October, 1898, p 80.

104 The Ottawa Naturalist [August

similar survival of the use of pottery, among the Iroquois, as
follows: "Refuse heaps, by village sites, usually contain a great
deal of earthenware, out of which fine or curious fragments are
often taken, and these occur also in the ash beds of the old fire-
places. This is so on some quite recent sites, for while the richer
Iroquois obtained brass kettles quickly from the whites, their
poorer friends continued the primitive art till the beginning of
the 18th century at least." Another statement by the
same writer, is important, as it would exclude the probability
of our pottery being referable to the Algonkins. He writes,
in the Bulletin referred to, at page 76, as follows: "In fact,
the Canadian Indians do not appear to have used earthenware
in early days, with the exception of the allied Hurons and Petuns,
the Neutrals and the Iroquois of the St. Lawrence, all of these

being of one family The nomadic tribes, however,

preferred vessels of bark, easily carried but not easily broken.
In these they heated water with hot stones, as the Iroquois mav
sometimes have done."

The above theory, as to the time of Huron occupation, is
only a suggestion, unsupported at present by sufficient evidence
to prove it. It may turn out, eventually, that the fireplaces of
this vanished race grew cold, on the Ottawa, in the dim twilight
of a more remote antiquity. Is it possible that, before the
coming of the white man, the old Wyandots or Tionnontates, in
the course of their traditionary wanderings, so admirably describ-
ed by William E. Connelley, may have remained for a time on
the Ottawa, and left us only their ashbedsand ossuaries to puzzle
over? f\'

Another question also suggests itself. Where did the Hurons
go to after leaving the Ottawa? They appear and disappear on
the stage of tribal activities, either standing boldly forth in some
historic incident, or dimly silhouetted by the light of tradition,
on the dark back-ground of prehistoric time. Did they migrate,
finally, to join their kindred in their distant resting places?
Did they fade away, by adoption, into other tribes? Or, were
they absorbed by the red cloud of massacre, to disappear forever
in the darksome shadow of the illimitable wilderness?

' Note on Megorismus fletcheri. — In August, 1908, the
Destructive Pea Aphis was present in large numbers in the
Ottawa district, field and sweet peas in'gardens being severely
injured. From collected material a number of parasites were
reared by me, one kind of which proved to be a new species of
hymenoptera This was recently described by Mr. J. C.
Crawford* as MegorismMs fletcheri. The parasitized plant lice
were conspicuous on sweet peas in my garden. — Arthur Gibson.

♦Canadian Entomologist, March, 1909. £\£m^

;1

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIIl. OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER, 1909 No. 6

CERTAIN BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES AND THEIR PRAC-
. TICAL APPLICATION IN THE IMPROVEMENT
OF THE FIELD CROPS OF CANADA.

By L. H. Newman, B.S.A., Secretary, Canadian
Seed Growers' Association, Ottawa.

(Continued from page 91)

THE MUTATION THEORY.

From the evidence brought forth in connection with the
theories held by biologists since Darwin's time, it is apparent that
the efficacy of natural selection and of the use of fluctuating
variations in explaining the facts of evolution, have been steadily
losing ground. On the other hand there has been a gradual
tendency to regard the part played by "discontinuous" varia-
tions or "mutations" as being of more importance in this con-
nection. The supporters of the latter idea have received much
encouragement from the work of DeVries of Amsterdam, which
work with that of Mendel has served to place the problems of
heredity in an entirely new light. The law of Mendel respecting
the transmission of characters when two plants are crossed is
a large subject in itself and shall not be discussed now. Suffice
it to say that the hybridization of varieties as effected in the
light of this law is probably the most potent means of producing
new varieties that is now within the reach of the expert breeder.
The work of DeVries is worthy of special consideration since his
discoveries may be said to have marked a new epoch in the long
line of investigations of the factors in evolution.

DeVries' idea is that plants and animals are made up of
"distinct units" which correspond to atoms in chemistry. By
crossing one individual with another the units involved may be
combined but never split, just as combinations may be made in
chemistry. Transitional forms do not exist between the elements
themselves, which assumption goes to support the theory of

106 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

descent rather than that of transmution as appHed by Darwin
and his followers. According to this theory it is possible for new
forms to arise suddenly without passing through a transitional
stage. The theory of DeVries has the support of certain evidence
deduced from results gained from experiments with (Enothera
Lamarckiana. At least 50,000 plants were cultivated by
DeVries in his garden for a number of generations, and out of this
number about 800 were found to possess characters distinct from
those peculiar to the parent forms. These new fonns, moreover,
proved to be constant b}^ breeding true in succeeding generations.
The occurrence of these forms under domestication may account
for the numerous "elementary species" that are found in nature.

The theory of DeVries is not new. We have noticed how
the idea of the creating of new species by the sudden variation
of organisms prevailed among some writers of a comparatively
early period. In 1864 Von Kolliker, convinced of the weakness
of the natural selection theory, promulgated the theory that new
and distinct species are born suddenly by leaps. In 1899,
Korschinsky, a Russian botanist, as the result of certain observa-
tions and study, formulated the mutation theorv. The publica-
tion in 1901 by DeVries of his first book on "Die Mutations-
theorie" was the first public recognition of importance which
this theory received. DeVries' theory is alternative with
that of Darwin's as regards the formation of new species, but
as regards the general course of evolution and the great principles
which govern it the mutation theory is not in contradiction to the
descent theory through natural selection, but is rather supple-
mentary to it.

After considering the main principles which are associated
with the various theories we have outlined we are forced to make
the following conclusions, viz. : —

(1) That no two plants are exactly alike.

(2) That while "like begets like" in the main yet there is
a constant and continual variation going on within the species.

(3) That some of these variations are fluctuating and un-
stable while others are discontinuous and determinate.

(4) That artificial selection of desirable fluctuating varia-
tions ma}'^ raise the standard above the average of the race at
least, although the limitations of this method of selection are
recognized.

(5) That the artificial selection of discontinuous variations
may result in the developement of superior new strains.

(6) That a combination of desirable characters through
hybridization may result in the creation of hybrids possessed of
special merit.

1909] The Ottawa Natukalist. 107

With these conclusions in mind it is a comparatively simple
matter to draw up a plan whereby man may systematically and
scientifically utilize the forces of nature to his own advantage.
The systematic selection of what we are now pleased to call
fluctuating variations in field crops with a view to preventing
deterioration is a very ancient practise. The idea of actually
improving our crops is, how^ever, of comparatively recent origin.
Once improvement was considered possible several systems were
devised. The Germans followed Darwin's enunciation that im-
provement w^as a gradual process resulting in the accumulation
of slight favorable variations, hence, we have "The German
system of plant improvement." We have a concrete example
of the improvement that may be effected by this system in the
famous Schlanstedt rye originated or developed by Rimpau.
This system is practised largely in Canada at the present time by
members of the Canadian Seed Growers' Association.

' Le Couteur, an Englishman who worked during the begin-
ning of the 19th century is said to be the first to apply the principle
of selection to the improvement of cereals by selecting elementary
types from the growing crop. One of his most noted selections
is the Bellevue de Talavera wheat which originated from a single
plant selected from the regular field. This was apparently a
mutation as it continues to breed true and to show very slight
deviation.

Patrick Sherrift", another Englishman, working about the
middle of the 19th century produced the Mungoswell's wheat
after making many attempts to isolate superior plants. This
wheat is still said to be popular in certain parts of Great Britain.

In 1857, F. T. Hallett, of Brighton, England, began a line
of work from another point of view. He believed that each plant
had one best head and that each head had one best kernel. By
making repeated selections through several generations the yield
was materially increased when suddenly the maximum seemed to
be reached and further improvement ceased.

During the last 20 years Dr. Nilsson, of Svalof, Sweden, has
been engaged in the breeding and improving of cereals and has
secured some remarkable results. At first Nilsson practised the
selection of such apparent fluctuating variations as appeared in
the field sown in the ordinary way. He found, however, that
his results by this method were not very satisfactory, so he
changed his system and adopted the plan of selecting and
propagating individual plants and, by a process of elimination,
finally isolating those which were most desirable. This system
enabled him to discover and take advantage of some of the
, mutations which might appear from time to time, and at the

108 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

same time to choose a pure, superior elementary type as the
foundation for a better strain, beUeving as he does with DeVries
that our ordinary strains are composed ol what the latter calls
"a motley mixture of types."

This idea seems to have taken root in the minds of the major-
ity of our scientific breeders of to-day who recognize, in the
various methods they have adopted, the underlying principles
which have been so ably demonstrated by these men. At the
same time there is undoubtedly a very practical advantage in
following the simpler practice of selecting fluctuating variations,
a practice which the ordinary farmer can easily follow on his own
farm.

THE CANADIAN SEED GROWERS' ASSOCIATION AND ITS WORK.

Realizing the great national importance of the use of
"better-bred" seed on the farms of Canada as a whole, and
recognizing the fact that much might and should be done by way
of producing such seed on the individual farms throughout the
country, the promoters of this work, notably Dr. Jas. W. Robert-
son, took certain steps which led up to the organization of the
Canadian Seed Growers' Association as a means of encouraging
its advancement.

The basic principle upon which the work of the Association
is founded is that the artificial selection of the best seed from the
best plants year after year without interruption is likely to
result in a definite improvement within the ordinary strain,
although the limitations of this method of selection as a means
of improvement are recognized.

As to the exact course which is followed by each member of
the Association who desires to improve any one or more of his
crops through giving special attention to the matter of "breeding"
in his seed this in brief is as follows: The grower first decides
upon the variety which is likely to do best on his farm. This is
done by testing two or three leading varieties in plots under
similar conditions for the first year. The next step is to prepare
a special area of land of about one-quarter acre in size and to sow
thereon a good clean sample of seed of the chosen variety. When
the crop on this plot becomes thoroughly ripe the grower goes
through the plot with a basket or sack, picking here a head and
there a head, his choice being based upon the vigor and general
type, first of the mother plant and secondly of the head which it
bears. Enough seed is secured by the selection of these specially
desirable heads each year to give a sufficient quantity of seed
to sow another plot the following year while the remainder of the
plot is harvested in the usual way and the seed used for the main
crop.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 109

The above practise is, in essence, the selecting of fluctuating
variations which, if continued, results in raising the "mean" of
the ordinary strain to a higher plain. Some authorities such as
Johannsen, Pearson and DeVries contend that the selecting of
fluctuating characters can do little by way of improving the race.
They admit, in part at least, that the average or "mean" of the
race or strain may be raised by this means, but claim that once
selection ceases the erst-while improved strain will return to its
original condition. Of this contention Plate says: "This theory
is based on forms which have been highly modified within a few
years, so that there has not been a sufficient time to modify the
original hereditary tendency established by centuries. Many
facts indicate that the intensity of heredit}^ depends upon the
number of generations during which selection has been practised.
Long inherited characters are difficult to eradicate; recent ones
easy. Many gradually selected races of doves are now almost
entirely constant. A race developed artificially by slow, per-
sistent selection for a great number of years would show the same
relative fixity of types as do our natural species." The results
realized thus far by the Association through this method of
selection strongly show that a definite improvement has been
made in the original strain. This improvement has taken the
form of increased yields, better quality, greater uniformity and
purity, greater vigor and greater ability to resist disease. Though
it may be necessary to continue the selection from year to year
in order to maintain the standard yet such seems to be justified
by the results accruing therefrom.

In the past certain specially progressive and observant
growers have found heads of grain in their fields which were so
distinctly different from any others that they kept them separate
and sowed the seed secured therefrom in their garden with the
result that in many cases new varieties have been developed.
These strange plants were undoubtedly mutations. As examples
of these we have the Dawson's Golden Chaft" wheat, Goldthorpe
barley and many other well known varieties. This is a line of
work which should be encouraged as much as possible.

Other members of the Association have found time to follow
the more complicated system of selecting and propagating
individual plants separately, and by a process of elimination
finally isolating pure so-called "elementary" types. This latter
method which is based on the DeVriesian theory, is probably
the quickest and safest to follow, but on account of the amount
of careful work and detail which is involved it is not a system
which the Association is strongly recommending at present for
the average farmer in the improvement of his smaller grain crops.

110 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

In the case of corn and potatoes, however, this method is being
followed with most gratifying success.

This article is designed to correlate the practical and the
scientific side of plant improvement. Once the creation and
development of forms of plant life become associated with recog-
nized laws and principles, the prosaic element quickly disappears
and we regard these things in an entirely new light. Then it is
that real progress is possible. The associating of natural law
with the every-day industry of crop raising is the primary aim
of the Canadian Seed Growers' Association.

FIELD NOTES OF CANADIAN BOTANY. I.
By Edward L. Greene.

Twenty years ago I had botanized a little in the beautiful
woodland wilderness that then lay within an hour's walk of
Victoria, Vancouver Island; also at several points on the
British Columbian mainland, and even on the prairies of
Manitoba. Never, however, until this season of 1909, had I
done any field work in any part of the Dominion lying eastward
of the Great Lakes.

Such readers of the Ottawa Naturalist as may have
noted my rather numerous botanical papers published herein
during at least a dozen years past, and may have observed that
these contributions were all made upon specimens communicated
to me by mail, supplemented by the field notes of those who
had sent them — such readers will easily imagine that I would be
likely to enter upon field studies of Ontario vegetation myself
with keenest interest, not to say with some enthusiasm.

It was a little before the middle of June that from Port
Huron, Michigan, I crossed into Ontario. Certain critical obser-
vations on the surpassingly rich flora of the Port Huron district —
where my herborizings were greatly helped and furthered by
Mr. Charles K. Dodge, the resident botanist — had induced me
to make my first halt within Ontario at a distance of only some
fifty miles to the eastward of Port Huron and Sarnia. At Sarnia,
just on the Canadian border, Mr. Dodge had done much field
work, and, as he informed me, he had once had the happiness
of conducting to its richest botanical garden spots, the veteran
Professor John Macoun. I sought, as I always prefer to do,
newer ground, and had fixed upon Strathroy in Middlesex as a
first stopping place; this without having taken counsel of any
one except the maker of my pocket map of Ontario, and partly
because I had never heard that any one had botanized there.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. Ill

However, Strathroy was indicated as one of the small towns,
and from such, good botanizing is apt to be found at the end of
very short walks. Also, according to the map a river — the
Sydenham— seemed to course near this town; an augury of
more diversity in the flora and silva than strictly prairie or
mere upland districts are favored with.

Landing at the railway station of this pleasant village a
half-hour before noon of June 12th, less than two hours later,
portfolio in hand, I walked forth on my first herborizing stroll
in Ontario. Having reached within a few minutes the further-
most and half meadowy outskirts of the town, I beheld close at
hand a depression in the open landscape, out of the midst of
which arose the familiar narrowly cone-shaped heads of larches
and arbor vitae. No prospect could have pleased me more; and
within a very few minutes I was in the midst of this tamarack
marsh. The arboreal vegetation of this I found to be quite
different from that of such tamarack swamps of southern
Wisconsin as I had been familiar with long years ago. There the
larches had been the only trees, and these so closely set as to
form a thicket hard to penetrate. Here there was no density
of arboreal growth. The larches stood somewhat apart from one
another, and there was arbor vitae freely interspersed; and there
was no dearth of deciduous trees, red maple, ash, basswood and
some others; but these small for their kind and slender; and
the habitat of them all was subaquatic; for everywhere one
had to pick his way along tufts of sedge, and the superficial roots
of trees, to avoid sinking over shoe in water.

Between the dry bank that encircles the swamp and its
wooded portion one crosses in most places a narrow belt or rim
of Carices without shrubs or even much other herbaceous vege-
tation; usually more or less of marsh marigold and skunk
cabbage. Here the ground is firmer and less aqueous.

Another treeless and shrubless portion of the tract is
central, and consists of a somewhat sinuously outlined shallow
pond, occupied mostly by yellow pond lilies, the muddy shore of
it beset with Calla palustris, this not yet in flower in the middle
of June.

Bounded on the outside by the narrow rim of the caricetum,
and within by the considerable expanse of the calla-nymphaea
pond, the main body of the marsh, where grow the hydrophile
trees already listed, is the really paradisiacal part of it, as viewed
by the botanical eye; for here, the woods being quite open, the
open spaces are filled with a rich diversity of herbaceous plants,

112 The Ottawa Naturalist. . [Sept.

Geum rivale, Spathyema jfetidum and Caltha parnassifolia* in
a particularly tall and robust form being among the largest.
In one place only I saw a colony of Smilacina trifolia, this just
past flowering; and there were observed several groups of
Clintonia borealis, some of the plants still in flower ; but Uni-
folium canadense was almost everywhere, as also Trientalis
americana. Naumburgia thyrsi fora was frequent, also larger
than I am used to seeing it, but Comarum palustre was not seen,
neither Menyanihes. No cranberry was seen, or any orchids
whatsoever. In these particulars this Ontario larch swamp was
in marked contrast with those I had become acquainted with in
regions lying to the westward of Lake Michigan.

On my first entrance to the swamp I was delighted by the
sight of a large decaying stump beautifully mantled with
Limicea borealis in full bloom. I did not again meet with the
plant in this bog, or even in the Strathroy district anywhere.

On account of my deep interest in northern violets I re-
gretted the lateness of my arrival in western Ontario, for I
knew that by the middle of June all the earher species would have
passed their season of petaliferous flowering. In the caricetum
border of this marsh I observed what seemed to be V. cucullata,
growing as usual among the tufts of hydrophile sedges, but no
flowers were seen. It was quite too late for them. At this
moment, however, and scarcely two rods away, though now
hidden from view by the trees and shrubbery intervening, there
was blooming beautifully and almost copiously my V. priono-
sepala, as I shortly discovered. Within this sparsely wooded
and bushy portion of the marsh all sorts of very wet spaces not
occupied bv larger herbaceous plants were quite filled with the
combination of a small galium, a slender stellaria, and this
particular violet, and there was no other violet associated with
it. This was the first time I had seen the species growing; at
least the first time since my publication of it. I had described
it from very excellent herbarium specimens, supplemented by
full, intelligible and most satisfactory notes, all supplied by
valued correspondents.! As I now revert to my original
account of this fine species, it is something of a gratification to
read how perfectly, even if mainly by the light of the mere dried
specimens, I had divined the nature of this plant's habita.t as
compared with that of V. cucullata. The plants of V. priono-

*During some years past I have been convinced that we have no Caltha palustris in
North America; and that our plant is specifically distinct from the European type of the
genus was seen by Rafinesque more than a hundred years since. It was in 1807 that he
published our plant as C. parnassifolia, indicating, among other characters the important
one of its elliptic sepals. Those of the Old World plant are broadly round-obvate.

tViOLA PRIONOSEPALA, Greene, Pittonia, V. 99 (1902).

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 113

sepala grow singly as I had said, never like the other in tufts;
and it would be difficult to name another acaulescent purple
violet the leaves of- which are so far from being describable as
cucullate. Their almost absolute flatness contrasts strongly
with the constantly involute foliage of the other. Not one of the
marks at first attributed to V. prionosepala seems thus far to
fail ; but not until I had seen the two flourishing in their native
haunts, and on the same acre of wild land, did I apprehend the
matter of the difference in their respective times of flowering.

At one or two points in this Strathroy swamp I observed
colonies of V . hlanda. Over and above these two I saw here
no other stemless violets.

THE PRAIRIE WARBLER (DENDROICA DISCOLOR) IN
NORTHERN ONTARIO AND OTHER NOTES.

By G. Eifrig, Ottawa.

On May 11th of this year the writer found a specimen of
the Prairie Warbler on the edge of Lake Dore, near Eganville,
Renfrew County. This is a distinctly southern form, whose
metropoHs is, say in the latitude of the State of Maryland. The
northernmost points at which it has been taken so far are at
Mt. Forest, WelHngton County — and that once only, if I mistake
not — and at Toronto, twice. ' So its finding in Renfrew County
means quite an extension northward of its hitherto known
range. Its occurrence there proved all the more remarkable,
since it was a single female seen and taken, whereas in nearly all
species of birds, if the two sexes do not migrate together, it is
alwavs the males that arrive first. Besides, the weather before
the nth had been so uninviting, cold and rainy — the ther-
mometer stood at 35°-45° for more than a week previously, with
the exception of two warmer days— that there were very few
of even the hardy northern warblers to be seen, only one Myrtle
Warbler and one Black and White Creeping Warbler being seen
in a stay of hours at the edge of the lake and in the vicmity.
Furthermore, whereas in its true home it is a bird that confines
itself strictlv to warm, dry hillsides and similar dry localities,
this one was laboriously clambering about in the alder bushes at
the water's edge, sometimes over the water. The bird was taken
and is now in the writer's collection.

The occurrence of this southern species so far north seems
to lend weight to a theory the writer has held for several years
past, viz., that there is a distinct movement northward dis-
cernible on the part of the birds. Thus, the Chewmk (/ iptlo

114 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

erythrophthalmus) , otherwise almost unknown at Ottawa, has
been seen and taken here for two or three years past, even at
Buckingham, Quebec. This spring, already, it has been noted
twice on Parliament Hill and at Marshall's Bay near Arnprior.
Likewise the Mourning Dove (Zenaidura macroura) seemingly is
forging northward, as it has been seen the past three summers
at Shirley's Bay, near Ottawa. And it is interesting to note
how the Carolina Wren (ThryothorMS ludovicianus) is becoming
commoner all the time in southern Ontario and advancing a
little further northward each year. If this apparent tendency
in birds is a fact and will remain and increase in strength, it is
certainly a state of things much to be wished for by all nature-
lovers in this vicinity.

It may be of interest to ornithologists generally, that the
flock of Evening Grosbeaks (Hesperiphona vespertina), which
took up their abode in Ottawa, February 7th (see Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. xxii, p. 263), and were not seen after the
end of March, were rediscovered by Mr. H. Groh in swampy
woods at the end of the dump, Patterson's Creek, on April 29th,
and the next day made their appearance again at the home of
Mr. Odell, corner Cartier and Somerset Streets, who had re-
ported them first and on whose trees they stayed the greater
part of the time during their first stay in the city. And then
they remained in the Patterson Creek woods in ever diminish-
ing number until May ISth, when the last two were seen by Mr.
Groh. That is a remarkably long stay for this bird, which,
when it comes southward into civilization at all, usually departs
again to its northern haunts in March. It may also be added
here, what had been forgotten in the article in the March number,
that already in November an Evening Grosbeak had been seen
and taken by Mr. Wm. McComber, of Bouchette, in the Gatineau
Valley, Quebec, who upon being asked for more information,
wrote that the specimen had been alone, seemed dazed and lost
and did not feed while under observation, a fact borne out by
the stomach examination made by the writer.

Last spring was an unusually backward one hereabouts.
March, April and the first part of May were unusually cold and
wet. There were few nights in April without frost. As might
be expected the birds were also late in their coming. The first
migrants that come in a wave about March 21st to 27th, like
the Song Sparrow, Junco, Redwings, Bronzed Grackles, Robins
and Bluebirds, were, as a wave, more than a week late. And
this lateness kept on during April. Some species, however, do
not let any cold, etc., bring them out of their usual time, like
the Crow and Killdeer, the former of which were even earlier

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 115

this year than in others. Of course, when anything like the
usual amount of warmth comes, the lateness of arrival stops
with most species, some even coming earlier than their usual
average time, and several interesting anomalies are thus pro-
duced. This year, the Blackpoll Warbler {D. striata) and the
Baybreasted Warbler, {D. castanea) as a wave, apparently keep
up the late setting in of the first migrants, for the former have
so far not been observed by the writer and the latter only in a
few stray individuals.

There was also an unusual abundance of Redpolls (Acanthis
linaria) here last spring, a condition reported also from many
places in the New England and Middle Atlantic States. They
were more common here than other seasons throughout the
winter, but in April they appeared in veritable clouds. On
April 15th, the writer saw two to three large flocks near the
Rifle Range, and on the same day an immense flock covered as
it were a large part of Rideauville, individuals being seen on
every branch and twig of every tree for quite a distance. And
strange to say, these flocks at this time were flying south. On
April 27th, Mr. Bedard, the Rifle Range Keeper, saw a flock he
estimated at 2,000. And these large flocks were coming and
going up to May 6th.

Ottawa, 26th Mav, 1909.

A REMARKABLE MIGRATION OF YELLOW-BELLIED

SAPSUCKERS.
By a. B. Klugh, Kingston, Ont.

On the morning of April 17th, 1909, the city of Kingston,
Ontario, was alive with Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

From my study window I saw some twenty of them on the
trees at the lodge of the park and on going out to investigate
I found from one to four on nearly every tree. As a conserva-
tive estimate I placed the number of birds in the park at three
hundred.

In the grounds of Queen's University I found the same
conditions prevailing.

Mr. Edwin Beaupre informed me that the birds were
abundant in Princess Street (the main thoroughfare of Kingston)
on the telegraph poles and woodwork of the doors and windows
of the stores.

Mr. C. L. Hays of the Queen's University NaturaHst's Club
told me that every tree along University Avenue had at least
one bird on it and that on one tree he counted seven.

116 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

Mr. R. F. Kelso, another member of the Club, said that
every tree along Johnston Street had its Sapsucker, and from
various sources I learned that the birds were equally abundant
all over the city. The great majority of the birds were males,
though here and there a female was to be seen.

A very conservative estimate of the number of Yellow-
belHed Sapsuckers in the city would be five thousand; in fact
Mr. Beaupre believes that there were far more than this present
on the morning of April 17th.

For the next few days the Sapsuckers were stih very common
in the city, and were still so when I left on April 22nd. After
this they decreased rapidly in numbers as my father wrote me
a few days later and said that only a few were then to be seen.

The Sapsuckers were very busy on the maple trees (mostly
Acer saccharinum) , and in many cases trees which I examined
had rings of holes completely round them, but the holes were
not close enough together to "girdle" the trees.

The probable cause of this immense wave of Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers striking Kingston Hes in the strong gale from the
north which was blowing on the night of April 16th, the birds
apparently dropping as soon as they had crossed the lake.

THE RAPID EXTERMINATION OF THE BALD EAGLE.
By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.

There has been a good deal of discussion during the past
decade or two concerning the usefulness or otherwise of the
various species of birds of prey. As regards the diurnal birds
of prey, debate has usually ended in a favorable verdict towards
all those that spend the summer in Ontario, with the exception
of two species. With reference to this small number which has
fallen under the ban, I must say that my faith in the wisdom
of the Creator in placing such birds on the earth is too strong
to be shaken by any evidence that may be produced to show
that somebody has lost a few dollars by these birds in any
particular year. However that may be, the subject of this
article has never, I think, been condemned as injurious. His
daily fare is gleaned mostly from the edges of the large waters,
and while his scavenging habits cannot be held up for admira-
tion, yet a substantial plea may be made for the protection of
the Bald Eagle on the ground of the added picturesqueness
which he gives to the landscape. It is to be deplored that
every large bird is a mark for the wanton gunner, and under
this head I am sorry to say most of our sportsmen fall, when

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 117

judged on the basis of the needless slaughter of large birds for
which they have no use.

Of course, the Eagle is wary. Were it not so he would
long since have become extinct as far as Ontario is concerned,
but even with all his craft, the bird is far less numerous to-day
than twenty years ago and is yearly suffering a steady diminu-
tion in numbers. He is usually to be seen along the larger
bodies of water, and there is no wild thing in which as much
interest is taken by the tourist on the steamers, or persons
along the lake shore, than the presence of this great bird.
"There is an Eagle" is an exclamation that instantly draws
the attention of every person within hearing, during travel by
boat in the summer, and everyone enjoys seeing these great
birds wing their easy way. How splendid it would be if legis-
lation could be enacted giving protection which would eventu-
ally restore this species to something hke its former numbers.
In years gone by every lake of more than a few acres had its
pair of nesting Eagles and along the big lakes every few miles
would disclose a nest. Within the writer's recollection, in fact
within fifteen years, there was along the north shore of Lake
Erie a nest more frequently than every ten miles.

Most hunters and farmers regard big things solely as some-
thing to be shot and consequently the Eagle is growing scarcer
and scarcer with each succeeding year.

It seems necessary for every nature lover to take this mat-
ter to heart and to make it his personal business to propagate
the idea of protection for large birds.

BOOK REVIEW.

Our Insect Friends .and Enemies— The Relation of Insects
to man, to other animals, to one another, and to plants, witla
a chapter on the War Against Insects. By John B. Smith. Sc.D.
Philadelphia and London, J. B. Lippincott Company. 1909.
This splendid work of 314 pp., bv the above recognized authority,
is a very welcome addition to the literature of Entomology.
Dr. Smith has divided the book into 12 chapters, viz. : (I) Insects
in their Relation to the Animal Kingdom ; (II) Insects m their
Relation to Plants as Benefactors; (III) Insects m their Relation
to Plants as Destroyers; (IV) Insects in their Relation to each
other; (V) Insects in their Relation to the Animals that feed on
them ; (VI) Insects in their Relation to Weather and Diseases
that affect them; (VII) Insects in their Relation to other
Animals; (VIII) Insects in their Relation to Man as Benefactors;

118 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

(IX) Insects in their Relation to Man, as Carriers of Diseases;

(X) Insects in their Relation to the Household; (XI) Insects in
their Relation to the Farmer and Fruit Grower; (XII) The War
on Insects.

From the above titles it will be seen that the work is of a
very wide nature. It is impossible in the space here available to
refer at any length to any portions of the book. It is one which
will be found of much value, not only to the student of insects,
but to anyone who is at all interested in the lower forms of
animals. Chapter IX on Insects as Carriers of Diseases, will
be found of special interest just now, in view of the wide-spread
investigations which are being held in this direction. The whole
work is full of information and will doubtless have a very wide
sale. It is illustrated by many figures in the text, and at the
beginning there is a full-paged coloured plate of some of the
commoner insects which are troublesome in houses. The work
is well printed, and we congratulate the author on this latest
of his many publications. A. G.

OBITUARY NOTICE. /

J. F. Whiteaves, LL.D., F.G.S., F.R.S.C.

■3

It is difficult to realize that the distinguished Palaeontologist
of the Geological Survey, Joseph Frederick Whiteaves, has
passed from amongst us ! By his death, which occurred on
Sunday, the 8th of August, after an illness of some months'
duration, the Geological Survey has lost one of the ablest of
its members, and Canada one of her best known workers in
geological science.

Dr. Whiteaves was born in Oxford, England, in 1835, and
first came to this country in 1861 on a short visit. The follow-
ing year he again crossed the Atlantic, this time to remain in
Canada, taking up his residence in Montreal. Here he was for
twelve years officially connected with the Montreal Natural
History Society as its recording secretary and scientific curator
of its museum.

In 1876 he was appointed to the staff of the Geological
Survey as Palaeontologist in succession to the late Mr. E. Bill-
ings, the first palaeontologist to the Survey. How wise a selec-
tion this was, after years amply proved. He was made one of
the Assistant Directors in 1877, and Zoologist in 1883.

As a boy he attended private schools in Oxford and London,
and early developed a liking for natural science. Following the
bent of his inclinations he studied the fauna and flora of Ox-

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 119

fordshire and became deeply interested in the geology of the
neighbourhood of Oxford. At this time he took advantage of
lectures to advanced students delivered by eminent professors
of the day in the university of his native town.

At the age of twenty-two his first paper "On the Land and
Fresh Water Mollusca inhabiting the neighbourhood of Ox-
ford," was published by the Ashmolean Society, of which
society he was shortly after made an honorary member. In
1859 he was elected a Fellow of the Geological Societv of
London. Two years later, as the result of his study of fossils
of his own collecting, during a period of several years, near
Oxford, he published two palaeontological papers, one "On the
Invertebrate Fauna of the Lower Oolites," the other on the
fossils of the Coralline Oolites. These contributions established
his reputation as a palaeontologist, and served as an index to
what might be expected of him in the future.

Coming to Canada and residing in Montreal he continued
zoological and palaeontological studies in a vastly enlarged field.
Between the years 1863 and 1875 whilst connected with the
Natural History Society of Montreal, besides publishing papers
on the fossils of the formations of the island of Montreal and
vicinity, he was the author of a number of valuable reports on
the results of deep-sea dredging operations conducted by him,
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the cost of which were defrayed
by the Dominion Government.

It was, however, when he was appointed Palaeontologist
to the Geological Survey, in 1876, that his mental energy and
natural aptitude for palaeontological research found full scope.
He then had ample opportunity to prove himself a most worthy
successor to the distinguished scientist who preceded him in
office. That this opportunity was fully utilized is proved by
the long list of his official reports, and papers, contributed to
scientific journals, during the last thirty-three years of his
career. His volume of "Contributions to Canadian Palaeon-
tology," his monumental works on the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic
Fossils of Canada, and his splendid descriptions of the fossil
fishes of Quebec and New Brunswick would alone have earned
for him a world-wide reputation as a careful observer, a close
reasoner, and a lucid writer. Space admits only of a brief
reference to the pubHshed results of his studies of the recent
marine invertebrata of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the
Dominion. The wide scope of his palaeontological and zoological
writings can be fuUv realized only after reading through a list
of his many publications. These number nearly one hundred

120 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Sept.

and fifty, in which over four hundred and fifty genera, species,
and varieties are described as new to science.

The benefit resulting from the appHcation of his palaeonto-
logical knowledge to the solving of geological problems in this
country cannot be overestimated. His untiring industry, backed
by a clear perception and thorough grasp of the essentials of
palaeontology in its relation to geology, has given us enduring
results which will carry his name down to posterity inseparably
linked with those of Logan, Selwyn, Dawson, George Dawson
and Billings. His scientific reputation was world-wide.

Dr. Whiteaves was one of the original Fellows of the Royal
Society of Canada. He was also a Fellow of the Geological
Society of London, an honorary member of the Yorkshire
Philosophical Society, England, a member of the Manitoba
Historical and Scientific Society, of the Montreal Natural
History Society, and of the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science. In 1900, the honorary degree of LL.D.
was conferred on him by McGill University, and in 1907 he was
awarded the "Lyell Medal" by the Geological Society of London

He was a member of the Church of England and was twice
married. He leaves a widow, a son and two daughters, resident
in Ottawa.

Of a generous and kindly disposition and always ready to
impart information when his aid was invoked. Dr. Whiteaves
was an ideal type of a man imbued with the professional spirit,
striving for the best results, not satisfied with half measure, and
ever urged on by the love of his work. With a keen sense of
humour, well versed in literature, and an ardent admirer of all
that is best in art, his companionship was sought after and
much appreciated by all who were fortunate enough to be
brought into contact with him. His life was indeed an example
of intellectual culture founded on a sound moral basis.

His death is a national loss; the Geological Survey of
Canada in particular will feel the adverse effect of his removal;
his name will ever remain emblematic of all that is honourable,
true and upright in a man.

L. M. L. •

Annual Subscriptions. Members of the Club who have
not paid their fee for the year 1909-1910 are particularly re^A^jlC
quested to send the same to the Treasurer at an early date. /^S)^ —

r««^

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST"^*

VOL. XXIIl. OTTAWA, OCTOBER, 1909 No. 7

NOTES FROM THE HERBARIUM OF THE GEOLOGICAL

SURVEY OF CANADA.

By James M. Macoun.

Arabis Whitedii, Piper, Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, xxviii: 39.

Near Sidle3^ west of Midway, B.C., 1905. Herb. No. 70,820.
(W. Spreadhorough). New to Canada. Only flowering specimens
were collected and these in general appearance resemble
Lesquerella rather than Arahis. Determined by Dr. Greene.

Lepidium campestre, (L.) R. Br.

Becoming common in Eastern Canada, especially in Ontario.
Collected at Lower Montague, Prince Edward Island, by Mr.
Geo. A. Amear.

Spir^a pyramidata, Greene, Pittonia II: 221.

S. DoMglasii, var. Nobleana, Can. Rec. Sci., 1895, p. 3.

The plant which was referred above by the writer to
S. ponglasii, var. Nobleana, proves to be S. pyramidyfa. It was
collected at Sicamous, B.C., by Prof. Macoun. A single bush
over five feet high of what is doubtfully referred here was found
growing along the trail near Lake House, Skagit River, B.C., by
J. M. Macoun, June 27, 1905, No. 69,957. The flowers were too
immature for definite determination, but unless a hybrid between
5. lucida and 5. Menziesii, both of which grew near, it is probably
this species. Spreadhorough in 1906 found a bush in flower at
4,500 ft. ah. near Chilliwack Lake, B.C., No. 72,872, and again
with 5. lucida and 5. Menziesii which makes it more probable
that this white-flowered bush is a hybrid.

Spir^a densiflora, Nutt.; Torr. & Gray. Fl. I: 414.

S. betul-i'folia var. rosea, Gray.

5. arbuscula, Greene.

Recorded from the Selkirk Mts., B.C., by manv collectors.
Not rare in the Chilliwack Valley, B.C., between 4,000 and 6,000

122 • The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct.

feet altitude, Nos. 34,822, 34,823; abundant at 5,000 feet
altitude on one mountain near the second summit west of Skagit
River, B.C., No. 69,949. Not seen elsewhere in the Skagit
Valley. (/. M. Macoun.)

Spir^a Douglasii, Hook.

Abundant at Chilliwack, B.C., No. 34,819, and Sumas Lake,
B.C., No. 34,820. (/. M. Macoun.) Not before recorded from
the B. C. mainland.

Petasites dentata, Blankinship, Mon. Agr. Coll. Sci. Stu. I: 64.
■ P. sagittata, Macoun, Cat. Can. PI. I: 260 in part.
Long separated from P. sagittata in our herbarium but with-
out a name. The shape of the leaf is intermediate between those
of P. palmata and P. sagittata. Pursh described the radical
leaves of P. sagittata as being "oblongis acutis sagittatis in-
tegerimus, lobis obtusis." The specimens he saw were from
Hudson Bay. Gray in order to include western specimens
changed the description of the leaves to "deltoid-oblong to
reniform-hastate, from acute to rounded-obtuse, repand-
dentate." A common species throughout the prairie region
extending west at least to the Rocky Mountains. In British
Columbia it is replaced by P. speciosa. Dr. Greene, {Leaflets
p. 180), described a plant collected by Prof. Macoun at Emerson,
Man., in 1880, (Herb. No. 72375), calling it P. vitijolia. The
configuration of the leaf is quite unlike that of any of the speci-
mens referred to P. dentata.

Vernonia corymbosa, Schweinitz.

Damp prairies, near Morris, Man., Aug. 8th, 1906, No.
23,104. {John Macoun.) Not before recorded from Canada.
Vernonias are abundant in southwestern Ontario and from that
region we have specimens which have been referred to V. gigantea,
V. fasictdata and V. Drumniondii and what appear to be typical
plants of all three are in our herbarium, but other specimens
cannot certainly be determined so that they cannot yet be
recorded.

DISCOURSES UPON THE LEPIDOPTERA.
I. VARIATION.

By. F H. Wolley-Dod, Millarville, Alta.

In Europe, more particularly in the British Isles, species of
lepidoptera are less frequently confused, and variation far better
understood, than on the North American continent. Many of

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 123

the reasons for this are obvious. Collecting dates back to much
earlier times, and a very large proportion of existing species have
been repeatedly bred. Not only is the population far greater
than in this country, but the proportion of collectors amongst
them is greater also. The latter fact is perhaps due to hobbies
being more encouraged, and more people having leisure and
opportunities for their pursuit. Access to the best named
collections is easier, and there are far more well illustrated books
on the subject. From all this it follows that there is a wider
interest taken in the study of lepidoptera by those who have a
taste for the science, and there is less diversity of opinion as to
correct names. On this continent the scarcity of illustrated
literature, and difficulty of getting any expert opinion at all,
owing to the distances which specimens have to be sent, at con-
siderable risk and trouble, is in itself some deterrent to the few
interested, not to mention the time which must elapse before
receiving any opinions at all, the difference of opinion received
from different quarters, or at different times frbta the same
quarter — it may be even on the same specimen— besides the toll
sometimes levied for opinion given, all tend in some degree to
discourage the hobby.

The variation in some well known European species of
lepidoptera has, by careful breeding from known parents, been
proved to be enormous. Some closely allied species which may
perhaps be almost exactly alike, show certain slight points of
difference which neither ever exceed. In other instances, the
prevailing forms of two species may be entirely dissimilar, yet
one or both may ordinarily develop varieties looking, to the
untrained e}^, not only exactly like the other, but like several
other usuall}' quite dissimilar species. In a country like England
it is rarely that a specimen is found which cannot be recognized
by an expert as a known form of some species, notwithstanding
its greater resemblance in very many points to other species.
It sometimes happens that a species does not possess any
characters, whether of color, individual markings, or even shape
of wing, which do not vary to apparently well within the limits
to which other species extend. Particularly is this the case in
the genus Euxoa, or Paragrotis, as some authors call it. In
general, however, such species have, to those familiar with them,
something by which the relationship, may be correctly discerned,
it may be either by a character, or combination of characters,
or by the general appearance so confusingly like, yet, in some
indefinable way, as a whole, disassociable with, another species.
Yet occasionally specimens occur which puzzle even those who
know the species best.

A special study is made by many European collectors of
local variation. Some species seem to appear in the same form
wherever they exist, scarcely varying at all in any essential

124 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct.

characters, either in any one locaHty, or differing in one locaHty
from another. Such are called constant species. Others may
be very constant in any one locality, yet appear in more or less
modified forms in different localities, according to geographical,
geological, or climatic conditions. Others may be constant in
one locality, but show considerable range of variation in another;
or may vary to a greater or less degree towards a certain form in
one place, and towards quite a different form in another. But
few that vary at all in any locality, vary to the same degree,
or within the same limits wherever they occur. In short, whilst
some species do not vary to any extent anywhere, others seem,
as it were, to lend themselves enormously to local variation.
In some instances dift'erence of food-plant is accountable in a
great measure for variation in size and color, and it has been
observed that the fact of a larva confining itself to different food-
plants in different parts of the country does not necessarily
indicate different species. Breeding, and careful records of early
stages, have often resulted in a distinct specific relationship
having been traced through between forms presenting somewhat
striking differences in dift'erent habitats, which might otherwise
easily have passed as distinct species. The expression "specific
relationship" must not be taken to mean positive "specific
identity," as the legitimate use of that expression will depend on
the concise meaning attached to the word "species," briefly
discussed in a previous paper.

Some species have seasonal varieties, that is, they pass
through their entire metamorphoses more than once a year, and
the different breeds assume different characters, according to the
season or length of time spent in larval and pupal stages. Others
show dimorphic variation, sometimes in one sex, sometimes in
both. That is to say, two different forms, suggesting two species,
can be bred from the same batch of eggs, even without any
actually intermediate form appearing at all. And this may
occur regularly in some localities, never in others. In both the
foregoing instances, as in many others, unfamiHarit}^ with the
species concerned has resulted in the separation of what are
merely varieties into species. In some years too, a species shows
a stronger tendency to a certain form of variation than in others.

A species varying differently, or appearing under a modified
form, in different localities, is said to exist in those localities in
the form of a "local race," which is sometimes referred to, with
doubtful justice, as an "incipient species." It is questionable
whether a truly distinct species can ever be evolved whilst
direct specific relationship can be maintained by interbreeding,
on what may be called, for convenience, the confines of their
range, or where the races meet. Complete isolation from blood
relationship for a lengthy period under special conditions, is
probably necessary before a race can be said to begin to exist

1909]

The Ottawa Naturalist.

125

under a truly specialized form, i.e., pass from an incipient species
to a ''subspecies" and finally to a true "species" in its most
exclusive sense.

BIRDS OF STONY PLAIN, ALBERTA.
By Sidney S. S. Stansell.

Name of Bird

Blue Jay

Canada Jay

Hudsonian Chickadee

Chickadee

Western Great Horned Owl. . .
Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker

Gray-crowned Leucosticte

Snow Bunting

Pine Grosbeak

Redpoll

White-winged Crossbill

Northern Hairy Woodpecker. .
Northern Downy Woodpecker,

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Rough-legged Hawk

Canada Ruffed Grouse

Saw-whet Owl

Cedar Waxwing

Mountain Bluebird

Raven

Goshawk

Canada Goose

Mallard

Tree Sparjow

Golden Eagle

Robin

Junco (J. hyemalis')

Redwinged Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

Bohemian Waxwing

Pintail

Song Sparrow

Lesser Scaup Duck

Ring-necked Duck

Killdeer.^

Green- winged Teal

Wilson's Snipe

Yellowlegs

Sparrow Hawk

Spotted Sandpiper

American Goldeneye

Tree Swallow

Bufflehead

Wilson's Thrush

I oon

Western Red-tailed Hawk.. . .

Northern Flicker

Phoebe

Northern Shrike

Marsh Hawk

Richardson's Merlin

Holboell's Grebe

Western Vesper Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Bronzed Grackle

English Sparrow

House Wren

Brewers Blackbird

Clay-colored Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Catbird

American Merganser

When First Seen

Does it

Breed

1908

1907

Jan. 1

Apr.

12
1

yes

?

Apr.

1

yes

.. ..

June

19

no

Apr.

1

..

July

30

yes

>.

May

26

"

** **

"

26

*'

Apr. 6

Apr.

1

;:

June

11

"

6

May

26

*'

6

Mar.

31

" 13

Apr.

18

yes

" 13

no

" 13

May

10

yes

" 14

Apr.

28

no

" 14

1

yes

" 15

Mav

10

" 16

'*

10

**

" 16

*'

10

"

■' 16

*'

10

*'

" 18

June

1

"

" 19

Apt.

28

'*

■' 19

May

20

*'

" 19

lune

4

?

" 19

May

26

?

" 19

* '

26

yes

" 19

June

14

" 22

May

10

**

" 22

"

10

'*

" 22

"

26

'*

" 22

'*

26

'*

" 24

(4

" 24

May

26

"

" 25
" 28

•*

May

26

'*

Mav 1

"

26

**

]

June

14

"

1

Mav

26

**

1

"

26

*'

1

1

yes

1 June

8

IjMav

10

yes

41

6

Mav

26

*'

" 11

*'

26

'•

11

*'

" 11

Mav

26

i(

" 11

June

14

'*

" 11

1

" 11

no

11

yes

11

Remarks

Quite common.

Our most abundant Jay.

Probably breeds.

Very common.

A great many.

Common in early winter.

Abundant winter resident.

Abundant winter resident.

Common in early winter.

Common during early winter.

Common.

Quite Common.

These first 16 species are our
common winter residents.

One specimen taken.

Quite common.

Common in settled parts.

But one seen.

Not as common as formerly.

Quite a common migrant.

Nest in upland, away from water.

Common in spring and fall.

Several.

Very abundant.

Very abundant.

Quite common.

Most common blackbird.

Qiiite common.

Quite common.

Very numerous.

Not common.

Seen but once.

Quite common.

Quite common.

Nest with 4 eggs, May 24. 1908.

Quite common.

Quite common.

Quite common.

Very rare.

Quite common.

Quite common.

Probably the western form.

Quite common.

But few seen.

Very common.

Very few.

Seen but once.

Seen but once.

Very common.

Very common.

Very common.

Quite common.

Common in towns only.

Very numerous.

Common at Edmonton ; rare here.

Quite c mmon.

Several in spring and fall.

V^ery rare.

Seen but once.

126

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[Oct.

Name of Bird

Purple Finch

Philadelphia Vireo.
Fox Sparrow

Greater Yellowlegs. . .
Western Meadowlark.

Eared Grebe

Pipit

Yellow Warbler

Chipping Sparrow.. . .

Sora Rail

Solitary Sandpiper. . .

Ovenbird .

Least Flycatcher

Bittern

Gray Ruffed Grouse

Redstart

Cowbird

Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Olive-backed Thrush. . . .
Grinnell's Waterthrush. .

Redeyed Vireo

Savanna Sparrow

Louisiana Tanager

Cliff Swallow

Nelson's Sparrow

Canvas back

Pied-billed Grebe

Coot .•

Wilson's Phalarope

Barn Swallow

Little Brown Crane

When First Seen
1908 1907

May

Western Grebe

Kingbird

Virginia Rail

Broad -winged Hawk

Evening Grosbeak

Nighthawk

Western Warbling Vireo.

Black Tern

Northern Yellow-throat..

Baltimore Oriole

Macgillivray's Warbler.. .

Bonaparte's Gull

Redbreasted Nuthatch...
Pine Siskin . . .'

Bartramian Sandpiper. . .

Kingfisher

Humming Bird, sp. ?

Crow

Gray Gyrfalcon

American Hawk Owl. . , .

Cooper's Hawk

Wood Pewee

Myrtle 'Warbler

Gray-cheeked Thrush... .

Goldfinch

Black-poll Warbler

Magnolia Warbler.

Horned Grebe

Arctic Tern

Golden-crowned Kinglet .

June

July

Aug.

11
11
11

12
12

12
12
12
12
12
12

14

14
14
15
IS
IS
17
18
18
18
18
18
18
20
20
20
20
20
20
20

24
24
24
27
27
27
27
30
30
31
4
IS
17
17

10
10

S

May 20

■' 26

' 10

' 26

June 1 1
Mav 26

May 30
' 26
" 26
' 30

Mav 30
"■ 26

June 3
June 14

June 19

Mav 26

May

June
May
June
May

June 19
■' 14

May

July
Apr.

Mav

June

Does it
Breed

Yes

no
ves

?
ves

no
yes

yes

ves
?

yes
ves

Remarks

sparrow

Quite common.

Very rare.

Our most beautiful

songster.
Quite common.
Very common.
Very scarce.
A migrant only.
Quite common.
Very rare here.
Quite common.
Nest with 3 young in old Robin's

nest.
About 40 to the square mile in

the woods.
Our most common Flycatclier.
Quite common.
But one seen.
Quite common.
Very numerous.
Very nvimerous.
Our most common Tlirush.
Common in spring.
Our most common Vireo.
Quite common.
Found nest in 1907.
Very numerous.
Seen but once.
Seen but once.
Seen but once.

Breeds within a few miles (>f here.
Seen but once.
Quite common.
Seen quite often, but breeding

doubtful.
Seen but once.
Very common.
Not very common.
Quite common.
Found nest: quite common.
Very common.
Set of eggs taken.
Very abundant.
Quite common.

Common in more settled parts.
Not very common.
Seen but once.
Saw but 3 during summer.
Probably nests here: are here all

summer.
Saw but one pair.
Seen but once.
Seen but once.
Rare.
Rare.
Common.
Rare.
Common.
Common.
Seen but once.
Common.
Common.
Common .
Common.
Common.
One pair nesting.

This i,s a valuable avifaunal list, from a region from which lists are
lew and far between. That some species, given as common winter

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 127

residents are given so late for 1907 is owing to the fact that Mr. Stansell
only arrived at Stony Plain about April 1st of that year. And if some
birds marked as common have onty been seen late in the year for the
first time, that is no doubt due to the little leisure time that Mr. Stansell
has from his work. That section is no doubt an interesting one from an
ornithological point of view, as witness the breeding there of the
Bohemian Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak, etc., and it is to be hoped that
Mr. Stansell will hereafter regularly send in bird news to the Naturalist
and thus further elucidate the conditions of bird-life there. A number
of the species enumerated in this list will eventuall}'^, no doubt, prove to
be the western subspecies of the ones named, and perhaps Bonaparte's
Gull will turn out to be Franklin's Gull.

G. E.

THE SO-CALLED WHITE WILD OATS AND WHAT

THEY ARE.
By Norman Criddle, Treesbank, Man.

There has been considerable apprehension among farmers
within recent years, through the discovery of white oats which
resemble in their nature, or seed form, the wild species Avena
jatiia. These oats were first brought into prominence some two
or three years ago by the different agricultural institutions of
the country whose experts found it advisable, pending investi-
gation, to class them as "wild oats" when judging grain for
seed purposes, and to condemn the sample in which they were
found. As this type of oats has become better known, and
carefully looked for, examples have been found in nearly every
variety "of cultivated oats, and, as a matter of fact, there are
- probably very few that are entirely free from them, either black
or white.

As the problem of what these oats were and how they were
going to affect the interests of grain growers became a prominent
one economically, and as it also became an interesting subject
botanicallv, I devoted some time to it during the last three
years with the result that I am now in a position to throw some
light upon the question.

One of the first things that attracts attention to these
so-called "white wild oats" is their close resemblance, in the
seed form, to the variety from which they were selected. There
is, however, one striking difference, namely, in every case the
supposed wild oat, or as I shall term it in future, the sport, is
always awned with a strong twisted black and white awn, and

*This does not refer to albino wild oats which can a' ways be recog-
nized by their close resemblance to the black ones.

128 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct.

it has also the horse-shoe shaped base so characteristic of
A. fatua. Thus it resembles in colour, shape and size the variety
from which it originated and in other respects the wild species,
excepting that the basal hairs are absent or nearly so.

The growing plant is also an exact counterpart of its
parent. Those selected from "Banner" oats have the spreading
head, while the "Storm King" sports are side oats and show
the strong stems and massive grains of that variety so that
they could not be separated by the plants if it were not for the
long awns sticking out of the head. I have not been able to
examine manv different kinds of oats but what I have gone
over carefully — "Banner," "New Market," "Abundance,"
"Storm King" and "Bumper King" — have all contained some
proportion of sports, "New Market" and "Storm King" showing
the most.

It is interesting to note that these sports breed true to
type apparently without exception, and further that absolutely
pure seed is always Hable to produce them, the parent from
which they spring being eavsily recognizable in the offspring.
There is one other feature of importance from an agricultural
point of view, namely the retarded germination so characteristic
of .4. fatua is not a character of these sports, the germination
being so far as experiments have shown in exactly the same
proportion as the parent variety, so that the apprehension that
they might become a bad weed seems to be groundless. Whether
they will prove troublesome on account of their awns remains to
be seen, but the chances are against this being the case, as sports
have probably occurred for ages past in oats but have been over-
looked.

It is difficult to arrive at a satisfactory theory as to the
cause of these sports; but, granting that the original type, from
which cultivated oats were first selected, was heavily awned
and had the basal characters of Avena fatua, we might surmise
that thev are retrogressions in the features noted to the original
progenitors of present day oats.

It seems strange, however, that this probable form of
atavism should be active in all, or nearly all, breeds of oats and
that both types — A saliva and .4. orieninlis — should be equally
active in producing sports.

I have not attempted to go into the matter of the true
nature or cause of what I have termed sports in this paper, as
to whether they have relation to the De Vries mutations, or
whether any other facts or hypotheses are able to explain them.
This is outside my province and may be safely left to men more
capable of looking into such matters.

I

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 129

"SNOW-WORMS."
By Arthur Gibson.

An interesting occurrence of these so-called worms was
brought to the writer's attention in February last. Mr. Lawrence
W. Watson, of Charlottetown, P.E.I., sent to me some living
specimens of coleopterous larvae, with the statement that they
were abundant in a field which was covered with ice of several
inches thickness. In a second letter dated March 5th, Mr.
Watson says: "I am now able to give you further particulars
concerning the larvae of which I wrote to you a short time ago.
The first lot of specimens were collected on February 14th.
February 11th, and 12th were fine, cold days. On February
13th we had a thaw followed by cold, and strong wind. February
14th was very cold. The second appearance w^as on Februar}^
23rd. On the 20th there was rain, but frost at night; 21st and
22nd were fine, cold daA^s. On the 23rd it was cold and there
were some snow flurries. Upon this occasion the larvae were
not so numerous. On the former appearance there were about
two or three to the square foot of ground; upon the second
occasion the}^ were more scattered. To-day they are very
numerous and occur more in bunches. March 2nd was mild
with snow at night. The 3rd was fairly mild; yesterday we had
a "silver thaw." To-day it is mild. In every case the larvae
were found in fields and 50 or 100 yards from trees. They were
not seen on bare ground, always on ice or snow of a depth of
two to six inches. To-day they are very active on snow."

Some of the larvae sent bv Mr. Watson were fon\'arded to
Dr. L. O. Howard, thfe United States Entomologist, at Wash-
ington, D.C. As Dr. Howard's letter in reply gives much interest-
ing information I quote it in full: —

"The larvae sent by vou with your letter of February' 26th,
and which were found alive on ice at Charlottetown, Prince
Edward Island, are what are known as 'snow-worms.' These
are the larvae of the Lampvrid (Telephorid) genus Telephorus,
commonly called soldier beetles. They hibernate in the ground
among the roots of grasses and when, in wintertime, a peculiar
combination of climatic conditions prevails — melting snow, the
ground soaked with water, the temperature above freezing
point— the larvae appear above ground, often in enormous
numbers of specimens, and crawl about on the surface of the
snow. Such climatic conditions, however, do not occur every
vear, and consequently the interesting phenomenon of seeing
multitudes of snow- worms is by no means a common one.
However, single specimens of Telephorus larvae may be seen
everv vear on the surface of snow.

130 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct.

"The snow-worm in the vicinity of Washington and at
Detroit, Mich., is the larva of Telephorus hilineatus which is also
a common species throughout Canada. You will find figures
of both larva and imago of this species in Riley's Fourth Missouri
Report, page 29. The genus Telephorus contains many closely
allied species and it is possible that some of them may have the
same habit as T. bilineatus."

Occurrences of Telephorid larvae on snow, similar to the
above, have occasionally been recorded in the United States.
Dr. Lintner, the late State Entomologist of New York, in his
Eighth Report (1891) refers to a remarkable appearance of the
larvae of Telephorus which were thought to be the species
bilineatiis. In this instance the larvae occurred at Center, N.Y.,
in millions about February 10th during a rain. The snow was
literally alive and black with the "worms," for a distance of
about half a mile long and about twelve rods wide, while beyond
this strip the larvae were abundant in every direction, but to a
less extent. They were active on the snow for a few days. In
the article on these insects Dr. Lintner says: "The explanation
of the larvae appearing on the .snow would be, that they were
drawn from the ground by the (warm ?) rain, and with the change
of rain into snow, they continued, with its increasing depth to
mount to the surface, as other larvae have been known to do."

Telephorus hilineatus is a common northern species, and it
is most probable that the larvae which were noticed on Prince
Edward Island were of this species. The larva of T. bilineatus
is of a rich velvety-brown colotir; the body is narrowed at each
end, and the segments are distinctly divided. The late Dr.
Riley in the report referred to above, by Dr. Howard, treats of
this insect as an enemy of the Codhng Moth, one of the worst
pests of the apple grower. It is also a well known enemy "of
the larvae of the Plum Curculio, when these enter the ground to
pupate."

The Telephorids belong to the family Lampyridae, known
popularly as the fire flies which are familiar to almost everyone.
Kehogg, in "American Insects," writes of the Lampyridae as
follows: "The light-giving organ is usually situated just inside
of the ventral wall of the last segment of the abdomen, and
consists of a special mass of adipose tissue richly supplied with
air-tubes (tracheae) and nerves. From a stimulus conveyed by
these special nerves oxygen brought by the network of tracheae
is released to unite with some substance of the adipose tissut--, a
slow combustion thus taking place. To this the light is due, and
the relation of the intensitv or amount of light to the amount of
matter used up to produce it is the mo.st nearly perfect known
o physicists."

1909j The Ottawa Naturalist. 131

THE TRAGIC SIDE OF BIRD LIFE.
By H. Groh, Ottawa.

Poetry and song are full of the idealization of bird life; but
even bird life has its stern realities. The following notes are
gleaned from my field journal for the nesting months of Mav and
June, and include all the nests which came under my observation
during that time, in one small swamp within the city limits.
Their significance, as bearing upon the small tendency toward
increase of our native songsters, is sufficiently apparent without
comment.

May 18. Black and White Warbler nest-building. Carry-
ing dead grass into a hole at base of a rotten stump.

Mav 20. Robin's nest with eggs, in crotch of a tree in full
view of public road.

May 24. Robin's nest empty.

May 25. Black and White Warbler's nestcontains first egg.
Mav 26. Song Sparrow's nest with five eggs.
May 28. Song Sparrow's nest disturbed and eggs gone.
May 31. White -throated Sparrow's nest, containing four
eggs, one of them a Cow'bird's.

June 2. Nest of Wilson's Thrush containing three eggs.
June 2. Black and White Warbler's nest has now five
eggs. By some accident the rotten side of the stump had got
crushed down in such a way as to block the entrance to the
nest, so that vesterdav morning the bird was unable to enter.
Cleaned it awav, and find this morning that she has returned.

. June 3. Nest of Wilson's Thrush torn from its place on a
grassv mound, and eggs gone.

June 7. Black and White'' Warbler's^'nest found to have
been torn out, and eggs missing.

June 7. The White-throated Sparrow has hatched the
Cowbirds' and one of its own three eggs. The other two remain
in the nest, apparently worthless. The Cowbird distinctly the
larger nestling.

June 12. Cowbird in White-throated Sparrow's nest _ has
so monopolized the attention of its foster parents, that it is
now fullv again as large as their rightful nestling.

June 19. White-throated Sparrow's nest deserted, but
after' a minute or tw^o the parent birds appeared in the trees
above the nest, and by their chirping showed signs of concern.
No sign of either voung bird.

This last entrv completes the history^of the nests discovered
in this sv/amo, with the single exception of one belonging to a
pair of crows, whose voung on June 12 had so far escaped the
fate of the other birds, as to be tr^nng their powers of flight.

132 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct.

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF DURHAM, ONT.
By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.

The following observations were made during a brief visit
at Durham, covering the 20th to the 22nd of June, 1909, during
which time I stayed with Mr. William Mountain, who lives two
miles south of the village, and from whom I received valuable
information regarding some of the species. Interesting memo-
randa were also received from Mr. Chris. Firth, who resides
about two miles east of Durham, where he has lived for a number
of years.

Durham lies about 28 miles south of the Georgian Bay and
about 40 miles east of Lake Huron. The latitude of Durham is
about 44°-25' , and the elevation is 1,500 feet, or about 900 feet
above the lake. The tree growth consists largely of hardwoods,
such as maple, elm, oak, and beech, while the conifers are chiefly
balsam, cedar, and hemlock.

From a visit of such short duration it would be impossible
to give a list of the birds of the vicinity, so I will limit my notes
to those that are deemed of special interest : —

Bob White; formerly rare, but now extinct; the last one
was seen about 10 years ago.

Dove; rare, only one seen.

Goshawk; prior to 20 years ago this bird bred in the country
immediately around Durham, but was not known to do so at
present by my informants.

Black-billed Cuckoo; moderately common, but the Yellow
billed has not yet appeared. In 1900 I saw two near Wiarton,
but in my previous journeys into the North Bruce Peninsula, it
was not observed.

Red-headed Woodpecker; rare.

Bob-o-link; rather rare.

Meadowlark; common.

Cowbird; rather rare.

The total number of the various sparrows observed is as
follows, arranged in order of abundance: —

Vesper 130 Savannah 21

Chipping 80 Swamp 18

Song 75 Junco 18

Goldfinch 38 Chewink 12

Indigo 38 Purple Finch 8

White-throated 36 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. . 4

Mr. Firth told us that the Chewink had arrived about 1905.
but was not observed previously. I saw two of these birds

1909J The Ottawa Naturalist. 133

near Wiarton in 1888, one in 1889, and noted it on four successive
days in 1900 all over the base of the Peninsula.

The Tree Swallow is surprisingly rare, only one specimen
having been seen. The diminution in the number of this species
in Western Ontario is very striking, not a single pair having
been observed during the nesting seasons of 1908 or 1909 near
London. In the Peninsula they were abundant in '87, '88,
and '89, but in 1900 most days revealed onlv two birds.

Rough-winged Swallow; we were surprised to find two
pairs of these birds nesting in a cut bank in the village of Durham.

A single Warbling Vireo was noted in the village, but no
Yellow-throats or Blue-heads were seen.

The following warblers were noted in the numbers given,
the order being that of abundance as before: —

Black-throated Green. ... 25 Chestnut-sided 7

Black and White 18 Ovenbird 7

Yellow 14 Redstart 7

Canada 13 Blackburnian 5

Water Thrush 11 Mourning 5

Black-throated Blue 10 Nashville 5

Maryland Yellow-throat. . 7

Brown Thrasher, of which two or three specimens were seen
and heard, was said by Mr. Firth to be a new arrival, never
having been observed before the present year, although I have
noted it in small numbers, spread well over the Bruce Peninsula
where the elevation is about 600 feet.

The common Thrush was the Veery, but we heard also two
Hermits and a single Wood Thrush. The Alder, Olive-sided
and Least Flycatchers were all rare. Crested, Wood Pewee and
Kingbird being the common ones.

PERSONAL.

Members of the Club and friends of the late Dr. Fletcher
will be interested to know^ that the Division of Entomology and
Botany of the Dominion Experimental Farms, over whicl) he
was for so many years the head, has now been separated into
two distinct Divisions, viz., the Division of Entomology and the
Division of Botanv. The position of Entomologist has been
given to Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, and that of Botanist to Mr. H.
T. Gussow, F.R.M.S. Both of these gentlemen have now arrived
at Ottawa and are at present busily engaged in connection with
the work of their respective Divisions. Dr. Hewitt was formerly
Lecturer in Economic Zoology, University of Manchester,
Manchester, England, and Mr. Gussow, Assistant to Dr. William

13 4 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct

Carruthers, the eminent British botanist. We are very glad
indeed to welcome both of the above gentlemen to Ottawa.
The Ottawa Field-NaturaHsts' Club will doubtless receive much
benefit from their presence.

In the removal of the Rev. G. Eifrig from Ottawa to
Addison, 111., the Club has lost from the ranks of its active
members a most valued officer and leader. From almost the
first day he came Mr. Eifrig took a deep interest in the work of
the Club. As an ornithologist of recognized standing, he was
a welcome addition to our Society, and during his stay with us
he did splendid work in encouraging the study of local birds.
His papers in the Ottawa Naturalist have given much
pleasure to our readers and we shall certainly miss his kindly
face and interesting talks at our excursions in the field, and at
our meetings during the winter months. He has been a faithful
member of the Council of the Club, being at the present time
the 2nd Vice-President and Chairman of the Excursions Com-
mittee. As a true and enthusiastic student of bird- life his de-
parture will be keenly felt by many members who followed him
at our outings. Mr. Eifrig left Ottawa on September 27th to take
up his new work at the College of the Lutheran Church at
Addison, 111. As Professor of Ecclesiastical and Secular History,
his best thoughts will be directed along Hnes of favourite studies.
It is also probable that he will teach Natural History. The
Addison College is the principal one of its kind of the Lutheran
Church in the United States. We extend to Mr. Eifrig our con-
gratulations on this further recognition of his ability, and at
the same time wish him continued success and happiness in his
new field of labor. We hope to publish in our pages many more
of his interesting papers.

BOOK REVIEW.

Hygiene for Young People. — A Reader for Pupils in Form
III of the Public Schools. By Professor A. P. Knight,
M.A., M.D., Queen's University, Kingston. 8vo., pp. 211.
Toronto: Thel:opp-Clark Co.

It was a happy suggestion which prompted the gifted
Professor of Physiology in Queen's University, Kingston, Dr.
A. P. Knight, to prepare the handsome elementary guide to
health, "Hygiene for Young People," just issued in Toronto,
under the recommendation of the Ontario Minister of Educa-
tion. It is published as a reader for Public School use and for
School Libraries, and no book could be more admirably adapted
for both purposes. As a Birthday of Christmas Gift-book it
would be valued by any thoughtful boy or girl. A more attrac-
tive and fascinating little work could not be imagined, and it is

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 135

popular, wonderfully clear, and thoroughly scientiiic, in its
treatment of matters of daily life, regarding which far too much
ignorance prevails. A life-like portrait of the immortal Apostle
of Health, Louis Pasteur, forms the frontispiece, while the text
is illustrated by sixty-six original drawings and half-tones. The
pleasing cover, the paper, the clear large type, and the whole
get-up of the book reflect the greatest credit on the author and
publisher.

The author's former "Introductory Physiology and Hy-
giene" has proved its usefulness as a teacher's manual, and the
present work was written at the suggestion of a former active
member of the Ottawa Field- Naturalist's Club, Inspector R. H.
Cowley, and of Inspector W. I. Chisholm. Professor Knight has
long been recognized as a leading educationist and few of our
Canadian scientific men have had his lengthy and rare experience
in the work of instruction. Hygiene, like Political Economy, is
too often regarded as a dismal science, a science of "Don'ts," as
testified by health notices in every street and tram-car. To
make the subject attractive to young people is a difficult task,
but Professor Knight has achieved it with marked success.
More readable pages could not be written than those on Sunlight,
Bathing, the Eyes, Digestion, Exercise, Disease, and Clothing.
Any boy or girl will be the better for reading this bright little
manual Much of the sickness, which afflicts our children, is
due to ignorance, not only on the part of the sufferersbuton the
part of parents. Yet, even the most devoted parents cannot
watch their offspring all the time. How valuable then to interest
the young in the subject of health, treated so ably in this book!
The lessons here taught will become second-nature in the child
who will avoid dangers to health as naturally as he will avoid
a deep hole in the side-walk. Tennyson's sad lines: —
"How dwarf'd a growth of cold and night.
How blanch'd with darkness must I grow."
find effective antidote in Professor Knight's chapter II where
the pale face, the stunted growth and the weak frame, charac-
teristic of unnatural conditions, especially city overcrowding,
are described, and the causes and the remedies clearly enunciated.

Fresh air, cleanliness, tobacco, alcohol, are all amply treated
by the author, with convincing reasonableness. The important
chapters, XIII and XIV, treat of the blood and circulation. It
is curious that more than a quarter of the blood in the human
body is contained in the liver, while through the brain and
muscles there circulate five or six parts, by weight, of the total
amount, the bones receiving only 2^ per cent, and the skm
barely 1 per cent. To the blood is due, as Professor Knight
points out, the "pinkish or reddish colour of the skin," and the
fine ruddy cheeks of Canadian girls, as compared with their pale
cousins in New York or Boston, are partly to be explained

136 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct.

by our colder air. Red corpuscles are more numerous in the
blood in a colder environment, and people who live in the
country have more red corpuscles than those living in towns.
The number of these minute red particles in our blood is sur-
prising. There are between three and a half to five millions of
them in a man 20 or 30 years of age. Fishes, such as trout and
cod, have not half that number, and the "cold-blooded" sharks
are said to have not more than 140,000 to 230,000 in their vascular
system. In these days of "suffragette" assertions and claims,
man can boast, on scientific grounds, the superior richness of his
blood! Man's blood has 12 to 20 per cent, more solid matter
than woman's; but woman's blood is always found to be brighter
in colour, hence the more attractive complexion when unim-
proved by alleged artificial aids! Of course the white corpuscles
of the blood cannot be ignored, though they are not one-seventh
in number, there being 2,284 white to 11,306 red corpuscles in
human blood. But Professor Knight has no space for curious
details such as these; his object is more direct and practical,
and his wise words on "How to breathe, "on foul air in the house
(p. 44), care of the hands (p. 60), care of the teeth (p. 76), ears
and earache (p. 84), eyesight (p. 92), round shoulders (p. 100),
and clothing (p. 105) are perfectly admirable. Food and milk
form a special chapter, XVI, but one cannot look at a single
page of this bright readable work without having the attention
at once enchained. Exercise, clothing, and sleeping ("sleep on
the right side," says the author), and other vitally interesting
and valuable matters are explained in the clearest, simplest and
most accurate language. Nothing could be more instructive
than the strange experiment by Dr. Hodge of Clark University,
U.S.A., with- four puppies, and Bum's conversion from habits
of intoxication, and Nig's devotion to the whiskey flask, are
interesting and pathetic in the extreme. Consumption is amply
dealt with in chapter XXV, and indeed all phases of a healthy
life and avoidance of common ills are clearly and concisely
treated in this splendid little work, in which we have not found
a single misprint or typographical error. The only suggestion
which a critic might make would be the addition of an explana-
tion that whereas arteries carry arterial blood and veins carry
venous blood, as stated on page 97, the reverse is the case in the
lungs, in which the pulmonary arteries carry venous blood and
the veins carry from the lungs bright, arterial blood.

Thirty years ago a clever English lady, Mrs. Catherine M.
Buckton, the first lady ever elected to a School Board, wrote a
small handbook entitled "Health in the House," and it was
such a success that edition after edition was exhausted in a few
years. May Professor Knight's valuable book as rapidly secure
a wide circulation and succe5«k'e/«.^ ^editions be called for by
the Canadian public ! /\0^1r^^ "X E.E. Prince.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, NOVEMBER, 1909 No. 8

NEW CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADIAN BRYOLOGY.

By N. Conr. Kindberg,Ph.D., Upsala, Sweden.

The collector of the specimens is Professor John Macoun, M.A.,
F.R.S.C, etc., if no other is indicated.

L Alsia californica (Hook et Arn.) Sull.

Vancouver Island 1908, (also by Dr. Jal. Roll (1888).

2. Climacium dendroides (L.) Web. et Mohr * Kindbergii

(Ren. et Card.) Grout.
Brighton, October, 1888.

3. Calliergon subturgescens.

Allied to the last. Resembles C. iurgescens (T. Jensen) in
its jiilaceous stem, and C. scorpioides in its dark brownish
color.

Leaves large, broadly oval obtusate obtuse and entire, not
decurrent, very densely crowded; only some branch-leaves
curved; alar cells large and well-defined, other cells narrow
linear; costa generally indistinct. ' Perichetial leaves long-acumi-
nate subulate and entire. Capsule not large; pedicel about 3
cm. long. Tufts about 10 cm. high. Stem weak. Monoecious.

In a pool at Laggan at 5,200 feet altitude, Rockv Mountains,
Alta., July 25th, 1904. No. 45.

4. Calliergon subsarmentosum.

Stem pinnate, brown below the middle. Leaves golden
glossy, not reddish and not distinctly decurrent, long- lanceolate
and obtuse; alar cells very large and hyaline, reaching to the
costa; other cells linear; costa pale vanishing below (but near)
the apex. Branch leaves very small. Capsules not seen. Habit
of C. giganteum. Allied to C. sarmentosum.

In wet earth, Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island, B.C.,
June 18th, 1908.

138 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov.

5. Calliergon lonchopus.

Allied to C. niolle, Dicks. Leaves large, suboval obtusate,
often apiculate, denticulate above, not curved, more or less
densely crowded; alar cells small and well-defined, other cells
narrow linear; costa long and double. Perichetial leaves acute,
very short-acuminate, generally entire; costa double very long.
Capsule not large, pedicel 3 . 5 cm. long. Tufts green, decolorate
below, about 10 cm. high. Stem wxak, dioecious? (Male flowers
not seen).

In allied European 'species the pedicel is only 8-10, rarelv
12-15 mm. long.

On Sulphur Mountain at Banff, Alta. , September, 1904.
Nos. 351 and 355.

6. PlAGIOTHECIUM UNDULATUM * P. SUBNECKEROIDEUM.

Differs in the leaves being less crowded, rather distant, and
long-decurrent (as in P. neckeroideum) ; also leaves obtusate,
mostly obtuse. Capsules not seen. In P. undulatuni and
neckeroideum the leaves are acuminate or at least acute.

On earth, Newcastle Island, Departure Bay, Vancouver
Island, B.C., July 10th, 1908. Coll. John Macoun.

7. Camptothecium nitens var. microtheca, Kindb. n. var.

Capsule small. Perichetial leaves hyaline, not filiform-
pointed. Stem not or (rarely) sparingly tomentose. Resembles
the arctic form "atrichum, Kindb." in not often having a
tomentose stem.

Collected in a bog along Hunker Creek, near Dawson,
Yukon, July 27th, 1902. No. 267.

8. Camptothecium nitens var. leucobasis, Kindb. n. var.

Upper leaves green, lower decolorate (dusk}-) ; basal, also
the alar cells hyaline. Stem not tomentose.

Collected in a bog bv Hunker Creek, near Daw^son, Yukon,
July, 1902. No. 349.

9. IsoTHECiUM aggregatum (Mitten) Kindb.

specimens probably belonging to this species, insufficiently
described by Lesq. and James, were found near New West-
minster, B.C., by Mr. Albert Hill in 1903 and 1904, com. by
Messrs. Brotherus and Cufino. This species differs from the
others named by me "Myura," in long-decurrent leaves.

10. Eurhynchium glaciale (Bryol. eur.) Kindb., var.

angustifolium, new variety.
Leaves narrower, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate: costa
short. Otherwise not differing. Pedicels faintly rough.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 139

Fruiting on stones in a brook at Laggan, eastern slope of
Rocky Mountains, Alta. Altitude 5,200 feet. June 27th, 1904.
No. 152 in part.

11. EURHYNCHIUM GLACIALE * INFRAALPINUM.

Differs. All leaves serrate, less crowded and longer-
decurrent. Stem-leaves longer-costate. Perichetial leax'es
defiexed. Pedicel of capsule very rough. Leaves small. Capsule
not seen.

Cape Breton Island, at the base of trees, 1898.

12. EURHYNCHIUM TRACHYPODIUM (FUNCK.) KiNDB.

Collected on rocks on Yoho Pass, western slope of Rocky
Mountains, B.C. Altitude 5,500 feet. September 2nd, 1904.
No. 230.

13. Brachythecium pseudo-chloropterum.

Leaves long-decurrent, recurved below to the middle,
serrulate all around, nearly gradually tapering from a subovate
base to a rather longish acumen, not or indistinctly striate,
nearly crowded not mamillose at the back, suberect when drv;
cells small, nearly all rhombic-rhomboidal (as in Amblystegium) ;
alar cells large, short subrectangular-quadrate finally rufesceui;
costa subpercurrent or sometimes short-excurrent. Tufts loose,
decolorate with green branch-tips. Stem sparingly branching,
6-8 cm. high, radiculose at the base, beset below with minute
leaves. Dioecious. Capsules not seen.

Resembles in habit Eurhynchium chloropterum, C. M.'and
Kindb., also in the serrulate and punctulate, not large leaves.
It has rather the characters of Brachythecmm than Eurhynchium,
but definite limits between these "genera" are not existing.

In wet ground in the valley of Pipestone Creek, eastern
slope of Rocky Mountains, Alta.,' July 8th, 1904, altitude 6,000
feet. No. 74.'

14. Brachythecium rivulare (Bryol. eur.), * B.

colpophylloides.

Differs from this species in the leaves being narrower and
their acumen longer and abruptly tapering to a short tAvisted
point. Capsules and pedicels not seen. It is therefore doubtful
that it belongs to B. rivulare; but the areolation of the leaves
is the same.

On earth in the Yoho Vallev, west slope of Rocky Mountains,
B.C., altitude 7,000 feet, September 6th, 1904. No. 293.

15. Brachythecium cirrhosum (Schwaegr) Schimper.

Collected on Southampton Island, Hudson Bay. August
15th, 1904, by Commander A. P. Low. No. 360.

140 The Ottawa Naturalist. - [Nov.

16. Hypnum (Campylium) obsoletinerve.

Leaves very small (as in H. Halleri) and crowded, falcate
but not circinnate, neither striate nor recurved, entire, not de-
current; insertion often yellowish; cells small and narrow.
Stem-leaves from ovate-oblong; base abruptl}^ tapering to a
shorter acumen; nearly all cells narrow, the angular sometimes
suboblong, but special alar cells not defined; costa simple, short
and mostly obsolete. Branch-leaves smaller with subovate base,
nerveless; all cells narrow. Perichetial leaves hyaline, simply
but very faintly costate. Tufts dense and not glossy, brownish
below, green above. Stem thin, irregularly divided. Dioecious.
Capsules not seen.

Resembles in habit Hypnum depressulum, C. Muell.

On earth in swampy soil at Laggan, Alta., altitude 5,500
feet, June 28th, 1904. No. 163.

17. Hypnum Kneiffii, Schimper, *. micropterum.

Leaves short-decurrent with a few dilated cells below the
insertion, alar cells small or indistinct; other cells narrow
linear. Habit of H. vernicosum. Otherwise as H. Kneiffii.
Capsules not seen.

On wet earth, Yoho Valley, west slope of Rocky Mountains,
B.C., September, 3rd, 1904. No. 296.

18. PsiLOPiLUM tschutschicum (C. M.) Kindb.

Capsule narrow subcylindric and slightly curved, finally
blackish, longer than in Psilopilum IcevigaHim (Wahlenb.)
Limpr. Peristome finally fuscescent. Spores 0, 020-0, 025 mm.
Basal leaf-cells very large.

A common species on clay banks of Hunker and Bonanza
Creeks, in July, 1902. In fine fruit late in July on Hunker
Creek, Yukon.

19. Polytrichum apiculatum.

Differs from our allied species in the minutely apiculate lid
of the capsule. Leaves rigid, short-acuminate acute, nearly plane
below the middle; apical cells of lamellae papillate, awn red and
rough, Perichetial leaves hyaline; costa brown. Capsule narrow
4-angled with distinct apophysis; pedicel 3-5 cm. long. Stem
simple, scarcely 1 cm. high.

Along Molar Creek, eastern slope of Rocky Mountains, Alta.,
altitude 6,500 feet, July 8th, 1904. No. 96.

20. Fissidens osmundoides, var. obliquus.

Capsule asymmetric; pedicel 6-8 mm. Leaves generally
opaque. Stem without rhizoids.

Growing on old stumps and earth and roots where floods

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 141

occur in spring. On old stumps at Sicamous, B.C., July 3rd,
1889. Placed under F. osmundoides in Part VI. On dead cedar
roots Island Lake and on earth at White Trout Lake, Algonquin
Park, July, 1900; on roots and earth by Lake Deschenes, above
Britannia, October 27th, 1900. These specimens were named
F. Garberi in Part VII, p. 204. On an old stump at Hull, Que.,
October 27th, 1907.

21. FissiDENS BusHii, Card, et Ther.

Owen Sound, Ont., 6th Sept., 1890. New to Canada.

22. FiSSIDENS RUFULUS, LiNDB.

On rocks b}' a small waterfall in a brook near the Biological
Station, Departure Bay, Vancouver Island, Juh^ 3rd, 1908.
New to Canada.

23. FiSSIDENS (Conomitrium) Julianus (Savi), var. ameri-

CANUS.

Leaves tapering to an acute, often subulate acumen.
Ontario, Hastings Co., Canadian Musci, n. 54 ("Conomi-
trium Hallianum," not so, named by me).

24. Tetraplodon urceolatus (Brid.) Bruch. & Schimp.

* t. submnioides, new subspecies.

Capsule small rufescent, scarcely reaching above the tufts;
its neck scarcely longer; annulus none; pedicel thick yellowish,
about 6-8 mm. long, not exserted. Leaves entire oval-oblong,
often long-acuminate; costa strong, excurrent in a long point;
as in T. mnioides. Tufts somewhat lax.

In the true European T. urceolatus the leaves are oval and
obtusate, abruptly narrowed to a shortish point; costa not
distinctly percurrent, capsule blackish-brown; pedicel nearly in
its whole length exserted above the very compact tufts.

Although the habit of the present plant is very much
different from European specimens, the characters are scarcely
sufficient to distinguish it as a proper species. It needs also
further observation.

Collected in Labrador in 1891 by the late Rev. A. C.
Waghorne.

25. Tetraplodon mnioides (L. fil.) Br. & Sch * Breweri

(Hedw.)

It seems to be a subspecies of T. mnioides; its leaves are
narrower with a very long-excurrent costa. The tufts are not
always "loose" (Limpr.)

Collected on Hunker Creek, Yukon (No. 141), barren and
loosely tufted; also (No. 143) fruiting and densely tufted; both
in July, 1902. Coll. John Macoun.

142 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov.

26. Tetraplodon mnioides * Breweri, var. brevicollis,

Differs in the capsule (as in T. urceolatus [Brid.] Br. & Sch.)
not being shorter than the neck.

Collected on Bonanza Creek, Yukon, July 18th, 1902.
Coll. John Macoun. No. 144b (?)

27. DiCRANUM SUBSCOPARIUM.

Agrees with D. scoparium in its leaves being canaliculate
and broadly acuminate, thin cells narrow with large pores, costa
not excurrent, perichetial leaves short -arist ate, capsule curved;
differs in having a sulcata capsule, also in its leaves being more
strongly dentate; costa not distinctly bilamellate.

The leaves are undulate, nitid, golden yellow or bright green
and nearly straight.

On earth in woods at Laggan, Rocky Mountains, Alta., at
an altitude of 5,200 feet, June 28th, 1904. Nos. 55 and 181.

28. DiCRANUM STENODICTYON, KiNDB.

Collected on Bonanza Creek, Yukon, 'l902. The habit of
these specimens does not differ from that of the other species of
Dicranum, as stated in the first description.

29. DiCRANUM PERICH^TIALE, KiNDB.

British Columbia. J. M. Macoun.

30. DiCRANOWEISIA RoELLII, KiNDB., VAR. ATERRIMA.

Differs in the tufts being black when dry, as in D. crispula
var. airata.

On rocks, 7,000 feet altitude, at Lake O'Hara, Rocky
Mountains, B.C., August 9th, 1904.

31. SeLIGERIA SUBCAMPYLOPODA, new VARIETY.

Leaves entire subUnear, mostly long and acute; costa
generally percurrent, rarely short-excurrent. Perichetial leaves
obtuse, very much broader and shorter. Capsule (generally
broadly) piriform; pedicel long, arcuate when moist. Tufts
dense, about 0.5 cm. high. •

On rocks at the head of Lake Louise, altitude 6,000 feet,
Rocky Mountains, Alta., September 13th, 1904. No. 7.

32. Grimmia elatior, Bruch. * rufescens.

Agrees with G. elatior in the leaves and their costa being
papillose, nearly all the leaf-cells (except the lower basal)
sinuous; leaves large, nearly appressed when dry.

Differs in leaves being rufescent, often recurved all around,
with longer and more numerous papillae, and a short, strongly
dentate-papillose hairpoint.

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 143

It is possible that the capsules, when such are found, can
give better characters.

Collected on the shore of Baffin Land, west of Greenland,
August 18th, 1904, by Commander A. P. Low. No. 329.

33. Grimmia grandis.

Leaves smooth, carinate and ovate-lanceolate acuminate
acute, wholly recurved at one side, neither crisped nor appressed
when dry; the lower very small; cells not sinuous, nearly all
short subquadrate, the alar short-rectangular, costa smo6th;
hairpoint faintly rough often longish. Tufts loose, in the upper
part green, fuscescent below. Stem to 5 cm. high, much
branching, naked below. Capsules and flowers not seen.

Differs from G. elaiior in the leaves being smooth, etc. ; in
G. elata, Kindb., resembling in habit, lower leaf-cells are very
long and linear.

On rocks at the head of Lake Louise, eastern slope of Rocky
Mountains, Alta., altitude 6,000 feet, September 13th, 1904.
No. 17.

34. Grimmia (Pseudo-Racomitrium) elata.

Leaves quite smooth (not papillose as in G. elaiior), ovate
lanceolate acuminate-acute, carinate, recurved below to the
middle on both sides, neither appressed nor crisped when dry;
upper cells quadrate not sinuous, middle suboblong faintly (or
not) sinuous, basal long-rectangular, alar wider but generally
short-rectangular and often hyaline in several rows ; costa smooth ;
hair-point long and denticulate. Capsule (old) oblong, not or
scarcely exserted. Dioecious. Plants robust, 3 cm. high loosely
tufted (but cohering), brownish with green branch-tips. Habit of
Grimmia elatior.

On rocks along Hunker Creek. Yukon, July 26th, 1902.
No.*108.

35. Grimmia ovat^formis.

Agrees with G. ovata, Weber & Mohr. Tufts low and com-
pact; .capsule small and smooth with straight pedicel; leaves
recurved, not large, nearly appressed when dry, the upper narrow
with long hairpoint.

Differs in nearly all leaf-cells very sinuous, the alar long-
rectangular; calvptra cucullate; dioecious.

G. attenuata, C. M. & Kindb., resembles it in leaf-cells, but
differs in having larger leaves and also looser and higher tufts.

On rocks at the head of Lake Louise, eastern slope of Rocky
Mountains, Alta., altitude 6,000 feet, September 13th. 1904.
No. 19.

(To be continued)

144 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov.

DISCOURSES UPON THE LEPIDOPTERA.
II. FAMILIARITY WITH LOCAL FORMS.

By F. H. Wolly-Dod, Millarville, Alta.

Errors in naming, omitting such as are the result of care-
lessness, are principally due, as the late Dr. Johnson would
bluntly have expressed it, to "sheer ignorance." To put it
more mildly and explicitly, they are the result of unfamiUarity
with species.

On the North American continent, very few species of
lepidoptera have ever been carefully bred from known parents.
Consequently, reliance has had to be made for separation of
species upon close observation of the insects in the perfect or
winged state, — the imagines, that being the correct plural of the
word imago. It goes without saying that considerable experience
is absolutely necessary before deductions of any value can be
drawn from appearances. A good foundation of experience is
having bred sundry very variable species from the egg, and
observed first hand the possibilities and limits of variation in
different genera. For not only different species, but, in a general
sense, different genera also, vary in dift'erent ways. For instance,
quite a distinct phase of variation may be expected in a
Mamestra, from that prevailing in a Cucullia; and an Euxoa is
apt to varv to an infinitely greater degree than say , an Acronycta.
Next in value of experience gained by breeding, is a study of
long series of known variable species from known localities.

Now, the value of deductions drawn from such a source,
depends, of course, very largely upon the conception, or "eye"
of the person making the observations. For even with the same
amount of experience and material for deductions, some people
are known to possess a much better eye for associations than
others. It is not a question of keenness of vision, but a fact that
some are better able to take in and make due allowances for
the general impression conveyed from colour, etc., without being
misled by resemblances. The idea is perhaps poorly expressed,
but it is undeniable that though "an eye for a species" can be
cultivated, it cannot be acquired where it does not naturally
exist. The late Mr. A. R. Grote, when it is considered what scant
material he had from which to make deductions on North
American forms, must be admitted to have had an excellent
eye for a species. The same cannot, unfortunately, be said of
Mr. Francis Walker, curator of the British Museum of Natural
History in the fifties and sixties. Nor can the two men be com-
pared in the amount of care they took in comparison.

But to return to the basis for deductions. Observations of

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 145

the insects in a state of nature, living, in their environment,
their manner and hours of flight, their preference for certain
foods, their attitude when at rest, and, by no means least in
importance, their dates of appearance, are all valuable points
to be observed and noted in the forming of specific associations.
Long series should be studied, and, bearing all the above points in
view, the variation noted, every capture of each successive season
examined for fresh phases of variation and specimens sought
for at all time to fill in apparent gaps in the varietal gradient.
Aim should also be made, not only at uniting dissimilar, but divid-
ing similar forms. For, as already pointed out, neither does
dissimilarity always indicate distinctness, nor resemblance uniting
of species. Though the most expert will not always succeed in
thus successfully associating every specimen that comes to hand,
it is astonishing how familiar one having a good eye may become
in time with the general facies of different but confusinglv
variable species. It may happen that he has grouped several
forms as probable varieties for years. i\t last, either by accident,
by personal observation, or by having differences pointed out bv
another person, characters considered specific are noticed,
separation of the series made, and though difficulties may occur
for a while, in course of time, with more familiarity with the
distinguishing points and extent of variation in the different
series, the differences may seem so obvious to his eye that he
will wonder how he could ever have confused them. This may
truly be called becoming familiar with a species in one locality.
Yet an attempt to point out differences in two very similar
forms — or they may be very dissimilar to his own eye, — ^to
another man, however good a judgment or wide an experience
he may possess, in such a way as to equally convince him of
two species, especially by the submission to him of a few odd
specimens only, may fail completely, owing to the lack in that
other man of familiarity with the species, or with its form in
that locality at anv rate. The eye of the latter man is not ac-
customed to the slight, and possibly to the former, indefinable
differences, which to him may seem, if noticeable at all, varietal.
Too much reliance should not be placed upon the opinion
given upon local forms by experts not actually familiar with
the form in that particular locality. "Professor Brown called a
specimen I sent him by this name, and he has a wide experience,
and is generally accepted as the leading authoritA" on this group.'.
Precisely! But unfortunatelv Prof. Brown does not happen to
be familiar with the form as it occurs in that locality, and is
uqite likely to have been misled into entirely wrong associations
by the specimen, or it may have been the few odd specimens
submitted to him. Dr. Jones is after all just as much of a

146 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov.

specialist in that particular family, and he called the same
thing by quite a different name last year. In fact, Mr. Robinson,
who was here only last week, gave the species yet a third name,
claiming, from information based on careful notes and personal
inspection of the type of that species, that the form was perfectly
typical. By-the-way, that same Mr. Robinson wrote a day or
two later cancelling his self-chosen name, and saying that he
had this time found the real thing in another collection! The
truth is that, like Prof. Brown, neither Dr. Jones or Mr. Robin-
son, however wide experience, good eye, or knowledge of types
they may possess, are not, nay cannot be, familiar with that
particular species, or at any rate in that particular locality,
and, assuming that they have taken the trouble to examine the
thing closely, have been misled by general resemblances, or
have entirely different conceptions of the probable range of
variation in that district. You, the collector on the spot, have
the best chance of associating or separating allied forms occurring
in your own district, and if Messrs. Brown, Jones or Robinson
have given you the same name to what you feel convinced are
different species, or vice versa, it lies with you, if. you will, to
assist them, by a few notes or otherwise, into seeing the error
of their ways. Recollect, however, that until things have 1 een
bred and carefulty studied in different stages in different districts
and probably even then, differences of opinion are sure to occur
in some cases, particularly as, of many species, it is impossible
to exactly match in every particular, two specimens in several
hundred.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HERBARIUM OF THE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

By James M. Macoun.

Calochortus Lyallii, Baker.

This beautiful little species was found growing in abundance
on an open hilltop at an altitude of 3,500 ft. near the Similkameen
River, B.C., June 14th, 1905. No. 70,212. (/. M. Macoun).
New to Canada.

Sph^ralcea munroana, (Dougl.) Spach. ' 't:

Malvastrum Munroanum, Macoun, Cat. Can. PI. I: 87.

Prof. Macoun wrote 27 years ago: "To be looked for along
the southern boundary of British Columbia." This beautiful .^
plant may have been found by other collectors, but it has not ;;-
been reported to us from Canada. It grows in immense clumps >

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 147

about half a mile west of Osoyoos Lake, B.C., where it was col-
lected by the writer, June 17th, 1905. Herb. No. 73,168. Its
brick-red flowers are quite unlike those of any other Canadian
plant, except Malvastruni coccineum, in color.

Pyrola elliptica, Nutt.

IShuswap Lake, B.C. No. 15,792. 1889. {John Macoun).
Kanaka Creek, Port Heney, B.C. (.4. /. Hill). Chilliwack
River, B.C. No. 72,458. {W . Spreadborough). Not recorded
in Canada west of the Selkirk Mts. Apparently a rare species in
British Columbia as it was not found by the writer during five
l^ seasons' work in that province.

Vaccinium Alask^nsis, Howell.

Along the Hope trail near Lake House, Skagit River, one
bush was found in 1905. Herb. No. 72,467. (/. M. Macomi).
Not uncommon near Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, in 1909.
(Macoun and Fraser). Resembling V. ovalifolium, but well
characterized by its black fruit on erect pedicels.

Hydrophyllum albifrons. Heller.

H. occidentale, var. Fendleri, Macoun, Cat. Can. PI. V: 343.
A not uncommon species in the Coast Range at an altitude

tof 4,000-5,000 ft. Our specimens are from Spence Bridge, B.C.
Herb. No. 16,241; Chilliwack Lake, B.C., Herb. No. 54,325;
Skagit River, B.C., Herb. No. 76.745. (/. M. Macoun).
Pedicularis Grcenlandica. Retz. var. suRRECTA,(Benth.) Piper.
Easily distinguished from P . Grcenlandica by its long coiled
beaks. Though its distribution is given by Piper "British
Columbia and Saskatchewan to California and New Mexico,"
none of our specimens east of British Columbia seem to be this
variety. It is represented in the herbarium of the Geological
Survev bv specimens from Tulameen River, B.C. Herb. No.
17,646. [Dawson). Chilliwack Lake, B.C., alt. 5,000 ft. Herb.
No. 54,489. (/. M. Macoun). Chilliwack Lake, B.C., alt. 5,500
ft. Herb. No. 76,773. (W. Spreadborough).

Penstemon Richardsonii, Dougl.

A few leaves of this species were collected along the
Similkameen River, B.C., June 9th, 1905. Herb. No. 76,763.
(/. M. Macoun). Not before recorded from Canada.

Penstemon priunosus, Dougl.

Dry ground, Similkameen River, B.C. Herb. No. 76.815.
(/. M. Macoun). Not before recorded from Canada.

Penstemon pinetorum. Piper.

P. ovatus, Macoun, Cat. Can. PI. 11, p. 355.

148 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov.

Elk River, Rocky Mountains. Herb. No. 17,723. {G. M.
Dawson). Only known Canadian station.

Penstemon ovatus, Dougl.

A common plant in the valleys of the Chilliwack and
Skagit Rivers in 1901 and 1905. Herb. Nos. 76,812-813-814.
(J. M. Macoun). Previous Canadian records go to other species.

Orthocarpus pusillus, Benth.

Douglas, B.C., April 29th, 1906. Herb. No. 76,832.
(W . Spreadhorough). Not before recorded from British Columbia
mainland.

Plantago elongata, Pursh.

P. pusilla, Macoun, Cat. Can. PL Vol. I: p. 394.

Mr. E. L. Morris in a recent revision of the Plantago section
to which this species belongs has shown that all Canadian speci-
mens are P. elongata. Known in Canada only from the drier
parts of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Grindelia perennis, a. Nels.

G. squarrosa of Canadian botanists, in part.

From Manitoba to Alberta and northward to the Peace
River. Our specimens of G. squarrosa, from which G. perennisis
separated by its narrow, almost entire leaves, are all from
Manitoba or southern Saskatchewan.

Myosotis laxa, Lehm.

M. palustris, Macoun, Cat. Can. PI. Vol. I: p. 340 in part.

Piper in his Flora of the State of Washington credits this
species to Oregon and Washington, but it is remarkable that a
plant so common on the Pacific coast should have for so long
remain unrecorded. No British Columbia records have been
made. Our specimens are from: Ladner's Landing, Eraser
River, B.C., No. 17,136. (Jas. Fletcher). New Westminster,
B.C., No. 692, and Lulu Island, Eraser River, B.C., No. 17,135.
(John Macoun). Lake House, Skagit River, B.C., No. 76,760.
(/. M. Macoun). Chilliwack River, B.C., No. 76,759, and
Douglas, B.C., on the coast, No. 76,758. (Wm. Spreadhorough).
Prof. Macoun also reports having found this plant on both the
east and west coasts of Vancouver Island.

Abronia^umbellata, Lam.

Abundant along the sea-shore at Pachena Bay, west coast
of Vancouver Island. Collected Sept. 10th, 1909, by Mr. George
Eraser. This is the first Canadian record for this species, the
specimens collected by Dr. Eletcher and recorded, Macoun. Cat.
Can. PI. Vol. I: p. 395, as A. umhellata being the next species.

1909]

The Ottawa Naturalist.

149

Abronia latifolia, Esch.

Found by many collectors in the vicinity of Victoria,
Vancouver Island. Very fine specimens of this species were
collected on the west coast of Vancouver Island at Long Beach,
north of Ucluelet by Mr. Wm. Spreadborough in 1909. Roots
were found which in their dried state are three inches in
diameter, they were nearly six inches in diameter when
collected.

BIRD MIGRATION, 1908.

Observations Made on Sable Island, Nova Scotia.

By R. S. Bouteillier.

When first
seen.

Semipalmated Plover April 17

Robin " 20

White-throated Sparrow " 22

Tern " 25

Piping Plover May 10

Least Sandpiper " 14

Roseate Tern " 14

Swallow " 14

Martin " 14

House Sparrow " 21

Phalerope ^ " 22

Black-throated Green Warbler.. . " 25

Black-polled Warbler " 25

Maryland Yellow-throat " 25

Blackbird June 2

Greater Yellowleg July 8

Pectoral Sandpiper " 22

White-rumped Sandpiper " 24

Black-belHed Plover Aug. 16

Golden Plover " 20

Yellow-rumped Warbler " 15

Black-throated Blue Warbler. ... " 16

Least Tern " 16

Blue-winged Teal " 19

Pine Grosbeak " 19

Sora Rail " 19

Pipet " 19

Blackbird " 19

Number
seen.
2 or 3.
about 12.
several,
several.
2.
2.
2.

a few.
a few.
2.

about 20.
1.
1.
1.
1.
2.
1.

30.
3.

several.
2 or 3.
1.

several.
2. .
1.
1.

several.
1.

150

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[Nov,

Nuthatch Aug.

House Wren "

Pied-billed Grebe Oct.

American Bittern "

Snow Bunting "

Black and White Warbler : . "

Flicker "

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker "

Fox Sparrow "

American Hawk Owl

Wilson's Thrush

Great Blue Heron "

American Goldeneye "

Ring-billed Gull Nov.

Northern Shrike "

Brant "

Baldpate "

Bufflehead "

Scoup Duck Dec.

Snowv Owl "

19 1.

19 1.

4 1.

4 1.

4 several.

4 1.

8 1.

9 1.

9 several.

9 1.

22 in numbers.

28 1.

28 several.

3 1.

4 1.
7 1.
7 4.

7 several.

1 in numbers.

15 2.

ANT ROADS.

By Charles Macnamara, Arnprior, Ont.

Ant roads are probably not uncommon in this country, but
as they are generally hidden by the grass, and sometimes run
underground for considerable distances, they are not often notic-
ed except by those looking expressly for them. Tropical insects,
we are told, build paths six inches wide on which a man can
easily walk. Our native ants cannot boast of any such elaborate
works as these, but they nevertheless construct what are doubt-
less for them very important highways.

The prime object of the roads is to make some food supply
easily accessible, generally to reach some shrub or tree infested
by aphides, of whose sweet excretion the ants are very fond.
Such are the objective points of a couple of these roads in the
vicinity of Arnprior, built by an ant which Mr. Arthur Gibson
tells me is the Campanotus pennsylvanicus . The roads, which
are situated in a level open field edged by small pines and spruce,
look like tiny well-worn paths. They are about three-eighths
of an inch wide, and are sunken about half an inch into the soil.
One is some 85 ft. and the other about 1 10 ft. long, and they run
parallel to each other about 140 ft. apart. There are numerous

1909J The Ottawa Naturalist. 151

small "jogs" and turns in them, and they cannot be said to be
the shortest distance between two points, but their general
direction is straight enough from the nests to the aphis colonies.
They are quite smooth and free from blades of grass or other
obstructions, but they are not very easy to trace as the long grass
conceals them, and occasionally they disappear entirely in a
tunnel a few inches long. In fine weather traffic on them is \ery
active, and numerous parties of workers are continually running
to and fro.

Before I regretfully tore one up in tracing it to the nest,
thirteen feet of the longer road mentioned above was entirely
subterranean, being tunnelled at a depth of about an inch under
the sod . My brutal devastation of their work at first caused
great excitement among the ants, but before I had left the ravag-
ed scene, the workers had begun repairs in the most philosophic
manner, and w^hen I revisited the spot a week or two later, the
road was all clear and smooth' again. Indeed, their determination
to "keep the line clear" seems to be as strong as it is in the most
zealous railway superintendent. When traffic is brisk, a pinch
of earth placed across the road as a barrier creates a great com-
motion. There is a tumultuous running back and forth and a
climbing over the barrier and around it. But presently a single
worker, who has recovered her equinamity sooner than the rest,
is seen dislodging particles of the encumbering earth with her
jaws and depositing them in the grass at the edge of the road.
After a little she is joined by others, and in a comparatively short
space of time the obstruction is removed and the road is clear
again. Any cricket or grasshopper that blunders on to the
highway is promptly attacked and quietly driven off by the
menacing jaws of the ants.

THE NITROGEN COMPOUNDS IN RAIN AND SNOW.

Our readers inay remember that we presented in the issue
for October 1908, an account of the interesting work carried on
by the Chemical Division of the Dominion Experimental Farms
in the determination of the fertilizing value of rain and snow.
It was there stated that from the analysis of each fall of rain
and snow it had been calculated that during the year ending
February, 1908, 4.323 lbs. of nitrogen had been furnished to
the soil per acre, and of this approximately 75 per cent, had been
present in rain and 25 per cent, in the snow.

152

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[Nov.

Reference to the data obtained for the year ending February
28th, 1909, shows that in certain important respects the results
differ markedly from those of the preceding year. Thus, the
amount of nitrogen (present as free ammonia, albuminoid ammonia
and nitrates) washed out of the atmosphere and furnished to
the soil per acre, during the twelve months, was 8.364 lbs. —
practically twice the quantity reported the year 1907-08. An
examination of the monthly precipitations shows that the rain
for September, October and November was unusually rich in
ammonia. The explanation of this extraordinary abnormal
richness of the rain last autumn may be given in the words of
the Chief Chemist, Mr. Frank T. Shutt, M.A. : "A very severe
drought prevailed during August, September and the first three
weeks in October, 1908, the rainfall being considerably below
the average for these months. This excessive dryness of the
weather allowed the bush fires, which are not unusual at this
time of the year, to spread and gain very considerable headway.
Fires were common, not only in the district known as the
Ottawa Valley, but also over large territories in Ontario and
Quebec and the northern part of New York State. These fires
raged almost continually, the rainfalls being very light for many
weeks, so that for two months, more or less, the atmosphere
was heavily charged with smoke. Hundreds of acres of forest
were burnt and thousands of dollars worth of timber destroyed.
So dense was the smoke at times that for several days together
at Ottawa it was difficult to see clearly for many yards, and the
irritation to the eyes and mucous membrane of the nose and
throat was excessive. Not until the heav}' rain of the 24th and
25th of October was the atmosphere again cleared. This smoke
naturally contained large proportions of ammonia as a product of
combustion and hence the scanty precipitations that occurred
during these weeks were exceptionally rich in that constituent.
To this cause then we attribute the exceptional and phenomen-
ally high results recorded for the year." H^

The detailed discussion of the results, appearing in the
forthcoming report of the Chemist, will, we are assured, bring
out several other interesting points regrading the amount and
composition of the year's rain and snow.

NEW MEMBERS.

The following gentlemen have recently been elected ordin-
ary members of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club: Mr. Chas.
H. Bennett, Ottawa; Mr. W. H. Bell, Nepigon, Ont.; Prof. S.
Blair, Macdonald College, Quebec; Mr. L. B. Brown, Toronto;
Mr. H. C. Duff, Norwood, Ont.; Mr. H. T. Gussow, Ottawa;
Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, Ottawa; Dr. Julius Klotz, Lanark, Ont.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

VOL. XXIII. PLATE III

IF. A. Parks, del.

Periglyptocrikus priscus Billings sp.

Viewed in the direction of the left

postero-hiteral ray.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, DECEMBER, 1909 No. 9

NOTE ON THE ORNAMENTATION OF PERIGLYPTO-

CRINUS PRISCUS.

By William A. Parks, Ph.D., Associate Professor of
Geology, University of Toronto.

With One Plate, No. III.

This beautiful species was described by Billings in Decade
IV of Canadian Organic Remains as Glyptocrinus priscus.
Wachsmuth and Springer in their classical work "The Crinoidea
Camerata of North America," establish a new genus, Pcriglypto-
criniis, for the reception of those forms, otherwise like Glypto-
crinus, but in which the arms are biserial instead of uniserial as
in all members of the latter genus: the present species evidently
belongs to the new genus.

Billings' description, while quite accurate except for the
statement that the plates of the cup are smooth, does not enter
into the detail necessary for the identification of species of
Glyptocrinus and its allies. The original figures also are small,
indistinct and destitute of the beautiful ornamentation charac-
teristic of the species.

The description given by Wachsmuth and Springer* is
couched in the terminology adopted by those authors and is
quite adequate for the identification of the species; the profuse
ornamentation is however not mentioned nor does it appear in
the single figure which accompanies the text. The reason for this
omission lies in the fact that the type specimen from which both
Billings and Wachsmuth and Springer derived their figures is a
young and undeveloped example. The fortunate discovery of
two larger and more mature forms, which I cannot but believe
belong to this species, justifies some further remarks, particularly
with regard to the ornamentation of the plates of the cup.

Judging from the figures of both authors, the size of the
type'specimen is about 13 mm. from the base to the point of

*The Crinoidea C.-amerata of North A.menca p; 278

154 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

contact of the first pinnules of adjoining arms, and about the
same distance measured transversely at the point of origin of
these pinnules. The larger of my specimens measures 30 mm.
and 15 mm. in these two directions respectively. It is therefore
apparent that the mature cup is more elongate than the un
developed form.

In these specimens, the arrangement of the plates, the
character of the posterior interray, the peculiar manner of
origin of the first and second pinnulas and the biserial arms with
their three-jointed plumes conform exactly to the description
given by the authors cited. A further account of the anatomy
of the form is therefore quite unnecessary.

With regard to the ornamentation, Billings states that "A
strong, rounded carina, or ridge, runs up each of the primary
rays, and, dividing into two on the centre of the third plate,
sends a branch up each of the secondary rays to the base of the
fingers; the carinse are also divided on each of the basal plates,
and coalesce into one on the centres of the first primary radial
plates; in the azygos interradius a sixth rib ascends to the top
of the cup, dividing the space into two parts about equal; it
bifurcates below on the centre of the large azygos, one branch
proceeding to the centre of the two contiguous first primary
radial plates." Billings further states that, with the exception
of these carinae, the plates are smooth. The description given of
the ornamentation by Wachsmuth and Springer is as follows:
"A small species. Dorsal cup obconical with slightly convex
sides ; section across the costals sharply pentagonal, owing to the
conspicuous radial ridges, which pass from the arms down to the
centre of the radials, where they divide and are continued to the
basals. The ridges, which are rounded, grow narrower towards
the middle of the plates, widening at their margins. Surface,
except along the ridges, covered with numerous small pustules
without definite arrangement."

All the above features are exhibited by the present speci-
mens, but in addition, each plate of the cup, with the exception
of a iew of the higher brachials and interbrachials, is provided
with prominent ridges radiating from the centre to the sides of
the plate, where each is continuous with the corresponding ridge
of the adjoining plate. In the case of the basals, the radials, the
first brachials and the first interbrachials, these ridges coalesce
at the centres of the plates, are remarkably lineal in character
and are continuous across the sutures: higher up they become
more and more petaloid in character. On the outer sides of the
main carinae, where they pass from the radials to the basals after
bifurcation, lie secondary parallel ridges, which do not, however,
reach the centres of the plates. Somewhat irregularly, similar

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist 155

secondary ridges appear across the sutures between adjacent
radials and also between the radials and the first interbrachials.
The parts of the plates, not occupied by the radial carinae or the
above-mentioned ridges, are covered by a delicate granulation.
The prominence of these ornamental elevations and their unusu-
ally lineal character give the impression of a polygon surrounding
each radial, with its angles connected to the centre of that plate
like the spokes of a wheel. Less pronounced ploygons also appear
around each plate of the third circlet, but higher up the cup,
this impression is lost on account of the increasing irregularity
of the plates and the more pronounced petaloid character of the
ridges.

The beauty of the organism is further increased bv the
peculiar manner of origin of the first and second pinnulas. The
radial plates bifurcate on the second primibrach (prim axil,
second costal) and a row of non-stellate but granulated plates
lies between the two divisions of the ray. The prominent carinae
are continued up the secundibrachs (distichals) into the arms.
From each of the second secundibrach«, lateral branches of the
carinae pass outwards and upwards into the notch between the
arms of contiguous rays. Wachsmuth and Springer interpret
these lateral extensions of the carinse as pinnulae: they appear
however to be an integral part of the plates over which they pass
and may be considered as the carinae of tertibrachs (palmars), the
continuation of which into arms has not been completed. This
explanation seems reasonable in view of the fact that twenty
is the normal number of arms in the Glyptocrinidcs. Following
Wachsmuth and Springer, however, the third secundibrach
(distichal) is without a plume but from the fourth, a strong
pinnule passes inwards and upwards to becom.e confluent with
its mate in the depression between the two arms of the same
rav. It is this peculiar arrangement of the lower pinnulo- which
induces me to believe that my specimens belong to Billings'
species. Were it not for this agreement in a unique feature, the
difference in ornamentation and in the general shape of the cup
might be considered sufficient ground for the establishment of a
new species.

Periglyptocrinus priscus, as emended above, is a fairly large
and unmistakable species and is the mo.st beautiful form among
the many Crinoids from the Trenton Formation in Ontario.

Horizon — Trenton. ^^

Location — Balsam Lake, Ontario.

Collector — Mr. Joseph Townsend.

Specimen Number — 649 T. University of Toronto Museum.

156 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK MIGRATION.
By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.

Point Pelee is a place of surprises. One never knows what
to expect, but can always feel sure that there will be something
doing in the bird line, and frequently that something is of un-
expected and absorbing interest.

My visit of September 18th, 19th and 20th happened to be
just the very time to see the celebrated Sharp-shinned Hawk
migration from its inception, and thereby to realize more easily
the effect it has on other bird life. When we arrived on the 17th,
we were told that the hawk flight was not "on" and on the next
morning, we found that this was quite true. There were, of
course, a few hawks drifting down from the north and crossing
the lake, as there always are in fall but there were not a very
great many, while on the other hand there were large numbers
of small birds. We recorded, that day, 68 species of birds, of
which four were hawks, and among these were 100 Sharp-
shins, which always comprise the bulk of the early flight. Other
birds were there in numbers; for instance, we recorded 300
Waxwings, 150 White-throated Sparrows, 100 Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, 80 Flickers and 50 Olive-backed Thrushes.

The wind, that night, was strong from the west and the
temperature rather high. The next morning, we found the hawks
very much augmented in numbers, recording six species, in the
following numbers, 250 Sharp-shins, 10 Marsh, 10 Cooper's, 2
Pigeon, 1 Duck, and 1 Osprey. The results of the presence of
so many »Sharp-shins was strikingly visible among the small
birds, reminding us forcibly of the old automobile joke, which
stated that the quick were those that got out of the way of the
automobile, and the dead were those that did not. Some of the
birds were apparently wise and got out of the wa}-.

Although the Ruby-crowned inigration was just beginning,
we saw none after the first day. The White-throated Sparrows
dropped from 150 to 20, and the Olive-backed Thrush, which
divides with the Cuckoo the doubtful honor of being the
favorite food of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, also dropped to 20,
and there was a similar diminution in the numbers of almost
every species, while the total number of species observed, which
was 68 on the first day, was 31 on the second day.

On the third day the conditions became extreme. I was in
the observatory from 6 until nearly 10. The Hawk flight began
about 6.15 and was unabated when I left. The rate of flight can
be imagined by the fact, that when I undertook to count 100
passing me, the task occupied only eleven minutes. A few of

»

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 157

these were returning, probably one dozen out of 100, this would
leave 75 which crossed the lake in 1 1 minutes, which is at the rate
of about 400 per hour. They did not fly in these numbers at all
times of the morning, but so far as we were able to judge, the
flight continued all day and we recorded 900 Sharp-shinned
Hawks, 50 Marsh Hawks, 10 Cooper's Hawks, 3 Duck Hawks,
and 1 Fish Hawk. The total number of species seen besides
these 6 Hawks was only 13, and of small birds that might be
^ considered legitimate prey for the hawk, we saw only 50 speci-
mens divided among eight species, so it will be seen that almos.
every species vanished completely. The supposition is th t
birds which lived in the upper branches were all eaten, but t .
fact that we kicked out of the bushes occasional White-throat-,
etc., goes to show that ground-loving and shrub-loving birds
concealed themselves with tolerable efficacy. A pair of wrens
scolded me from a clump of juniper, but would not leave their
shelter, although I was within 5 or 6 feet of them. Two or three
White-throats, which flew out of another juniper clump at ihy
approach, immediately concealed themselves elsewhere and
when, after watching them for a little while, I moved again,
another one jumped out of the clump within 5 feet of me.

It is hard to say just where these hawks passed the night,
but certainly as they went down in the morning, they looked
hungry; all of them apparently were hunting for breakfast, and
it was not until nearly 10, that a few of them appeared with a
visible crop, showing that they had fed. They stooped at one
another often and occasionally one would be seen in hot pursuit
of some small bird, but in every case the latter escaped. Many
of the hawks came through the woods and down the trail at a
distance of only a few feet from the ground, hoping no doubt to
surprise their prey.

In the few hawks taken, we identified the remains of the
Wood Pewee, White-throated Sparrow and Olive-backed Thrush.
Nearly all of the feathered clusters seen on the ground, where the
meal had taken place, consisted of the remains of the Thrush.

Even mid-winter showed no such lack of birds, as these
two hawk-ridden days. The flight had been delayed beyond its
usual time and doubtless this contributed to a congestion of
hawks, and the fact that such a large percentage of them crossed
the water at once, leads one to suppose that their domination will
be short this vear. Certainlv they will not stay where food is not
reasonably plentiful, when 'by crossing the lake and spreading
over the country they will be" able to get their meals with much
greater regularity than bv staying on Point Pelee.

At one time I chanced to be watching a hawk, which was
about 200 vards awav, when, apparently sighting a small bird m

158 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

a bush within 25 feet of where I stood, he set his wings and dived
with great rapidity almost straight for me. When he came
within 50 yards, his feet, which had been kept close up, were
brought forward and extended all ready for business, but just
before he reached the bush they were partially withdrawn and
the little bird, which had moved, escaped.

It seemed strange to move around through the cedars and
deciduous woods at Point Pelee and have no birds within sight,
except hawks. Some species had apparently learned their lesson
especially well, as for instance, the Carolina Wren and the
Cardinal, both of which are common throughout the year at
Point Pelee. Of the former, two of us recorded four specimens
on the first day, but the latter was not observed at all, although
it must have been there in considerable numbers.

It was decidedly interesting to watch the few Pigeon
Hawks which were noted, their graceful swallow-like flight con-
trasting strongly with the alternate flapping and sailing of the
Sharp-shinned. One of the former which we saw flying along
with the others, surpassed them considerably in speed and was
apparently playing with them as he came, darting first at one
and then another, but only in play, as his food consisted of
smaller species, which are doubtless more pleasing to his palate.
On several occasions I, as well as others, have seen this bird
chase its prey over the water, and on this trip Mr. Norman
Wood, of Ann Arbor, noted the same thing occurring at the end
of the Point. Later in the day I saw a Pigeon Hawk come in
from the lake on the east side. I watched him as he crossed the
field and lit on one of the upper dead limbs of a big tree, which
was fully one-quarter of a mile away. After marking the spot
carefully I inade a circuit and on arriving, found him eating a
bird, which doubtless he had caught over the water. He paid
little attention to me and I was readily able to come within range
behind some trees and secure him. Soon after I had located his
perch and started to hunt him, I saw another specimen return-
ing from the lake, but was unable to see where it went to. These
occurrences lend colour to the idea that it is customary with this
species to take its prey over the water when opportunity favours
this course.

The following is the full list of birds noted on the three days
of the trip : —

September 18th 19th 20th

Olive-backed Thrush 50 20 4

Wilson's Thrush 2 1 ....

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 100 ... ....

Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 ... ....

1909J

The Ottawa Naturalist.

159

White-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

House Wren

CaroUna Wren

Thrasher

Catbird

Pipit

Redstart

Oven-bird

Black-throated Blue Warbler. .

Black-poll Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Blue-headed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Migrant Shrike

Cedar Bird

Eave Swallow

Red-breasted Grosbeak

Towhee

Lincoln's Sparrow .•

Song Sparrow

Junco

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Gold Finch

Bronzed Grackle

Red-winged Blackbird

Cow-bird

Bobolink

Crow

Least Flycatcher

Wood Pewee

Humming Bird

Swift

Whip-poor-will

Flicker

Down}-- Woodpecker

King Fisher

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sparrow Hawk

Pigeon Hawk

2
8

20
4

15
5
1

35
4
2

10
3

r

2

300

5

5

10

150

2

8

20

300

300

200

20

2

4

20

4

3

80

1

2

100

1

1

4

12

5
1

3

10

20

1

30

15

1

5

10

1

2

250

30
!,000

25

1
,900

160

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[Dec.

Marsh Hawk 8

Duck Hawk

Fish Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk 1

Cooper's Hawk 8

Dove

Bald Eagle

Semipalmated Plover 1

Spotted Sandpiper 1

Sanderling 2

Semipalmated Sandpiper 1

Least Sandpiper 1

Snipe 1

King Rail 1

Bittern

Least Bittern 1

Great Blue Heron 2

Wood Duck 30

Blue-winged Teal 35

Green- winged Teal 5

Black Duck

Herring Gull 100

Ring-billed Gull 400

Bonaparte's Gull - 1

Coot 1

Florida Gallinule. . . 8

10

50

3

. - . .

10

10

1

, ,

1

1

15
100
100

1

3

50
50

RARE BIRDS AT POINT PELEE.

By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.

The visit of the enthusia.sts to Point Pelee, beginning
October 1st, proved no exception to the rule that the Point
always has something of extraordinary interest for the bird man.

This time we discovered Henslow's Sparrow in migration
and it certainly gave one a feeling of satisfaction to go to a
certain field selected because of its fitness, for this sparrow at
this time, and then after a short time, to find and secure it.
We got altogether three, and those who are acquainted with this
bird in its autumn plumage, will realize its beauty. The species
of the genus Ammodramus, perhaps without exception, make
it a rule to spend the winter in their highest plumage, and when
they reach the breeding grounds in spring, not having molted
since the previous autumn, they are in worn plumage, so that
the autumn and mid-winter specimens which I have taken of

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 161

Henslow's, Sharp-tailed and Grasshopper, are the highest
plumaged specimens that I have.

I would not like to injure the reputation of the members of
the camp as wing shots by stating that we fired many times to get
these three Henslow's, but certainly we used more than three
cartridges. I think they are the most difficult shooting that I
know. Getting up at one's feet with an exceptionally jerky
flight, they travel, perhaps 20, perhaps 100 yards, before dropping
into the grass, but there is no moment of that exposure that
they are not difficult to hit. The novice in wing shooting got two
in two shots, the rest of us got one in all the rest of the shots,
which were a good many.

One of the rarest hawks in our collections is the Duck Hawk.
Sometimes at the Point we have the pleasure of seeing one of
these perhaps the best flyers of all the North American Fal-
conidae, but we have never taken one at the Point. On Sunday
morning I was early at the observatory tower and was delighted
to see within 100 yards, on top of the life saving building, a
Duck Hawk in young plumage. There he sat and waited.
Within 30 yards of me came a bright plumaged Cape May
Warbler, into a red cedar, so when the next man arrived I had
the pleasure of offering him, for choice of seeing, first the Cape
May Warbler and then the Duck Hawk; he naturallv chose the
Hawk, and I promptly produced it and then followed* the
Warbler. When Tavern er arrived, he announced that he was
going to photograph the Hawk, and left for that purpose. _ We
arranged a code of signals by which we could inform him if the
Hawk v.-as becoming nervous and likely to fly, but we had no
opportunity of using them, and on the photographer's return,
his remark was, "Well, some hawks are the limit." It turned
out that he had been able to walk in full view, as close to the
hawk as the slope of the roof would allow, perhaps 20 yards,
and there set up his camera, but in order to get a good photo-
graph he wanted the hawk to look at him and it was necessary
to throw his handkerchief in the air to attract its attention.
Later on we were informed that one of the boys nearby had
been throwing stones at a hawk on top of this same building
and had not been able to scare it away. Duck Hawks are
certainlv not given to this kind of behaviour.

The Cardinals had not recovered from their hawk scare,
and only two were heard and none seen by the members of the
partv. Bird feathers were numerous and varied. At one place
we found the fresh remains of tv/o Thrashprs, and besides
numerous Thrushes we saw feathers of the Phoebe, Whip-poor-
will, White-throated Sparrow, Sora Rail and others

For a Ion? time we had been observing flocks of Bonaparte s

162 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

Gulls. Occasionally these would fly past us, within close range,
but it remained for this trip to disclose to us, that, sometimes
at least, these flocks consist in quite large proportions of Caspian
Tern, and I selected one from the flock in which this was first
noted, but it dropped too far out in the cold water and the wind
drifted it beyond my swimming powers. These birds will be
looked for later on, as they have been observed in only small
numbers before. On this trip there was only the one occasion
when they came near shore and at all other times the beautiful
evolutions of the gulls were carried on at considerable distances.
Nearly every person has seen flocks of Blackbirds and perhaps
Waders, which when passing within view, are apt to dart down
at an abrupt angle and then shoot up again, but the Bonaparte's
Gull not only does this, but reverses the process as well. While
watching a flock skimming over the surface of the water, there
could be seen, one, at a time, of these beautiful birds, leaving
the flock and shooting upwards for perhaps 20 vards, at an in-
credibly rapid rate and then dropping down to join the others.
The effect of these gyrations is very beautiful indeed; and only
a few times have I seen anything resembling the beautiful
curving flight which this bird used when a high flying flock
desires to come to the surface of the water. They always make
me think of falling leaves. Swallows are the only other birds
that I have often seen performing in this way.

The Carolina Wrens which were observed on only one day
on our last trip, were again in evidence,. and several were heard
singing each day. Tree Swallows were seen in considerable
numbers on the 1st and 2nd of October. They were living out
over the marsh where probably they roosted as well. A very
few Barn Swallows were also noted, but the date was very late
for them.

The nights were warm until that of the 5th, v/hen the
theraiometer dropped to 42. The effect was instantaneous, and
the next morning a large number of Blackbirds were added to
the daily bill, but their flight finished early in the morning and
it happened that this particular morning was the only one, on
which we made a late arrival at the end of the Point, owing to
dissipation on the previous evening. The said dissipation con-
sisting of cartridge loading and bird skinning, which are perhaps
different from the ordinary method of burning midnight oil.

Short-eared Owls were a feature of the trip, and were seen
in moderate numbers almost everV^ dav near the end of the Point.
Two notable Waders were seen, 3 Golden Plovers and one White-
rumped Sandpiper. A single Connecticut Warbler was taken
on October 2nd, but warblers in general were in small numbers
and their flight had evidentlv passed.

.:.^^

1909J The Ottawa Naturalist. 16,3

BOTANICAL EXCURSIONS.

German Field Methods.
By John Craig, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

There are few places in central Etirope where the student
can spend a more agreeable summer than in the pleasant city
of Freibourg, in the famous Black Forest region of southwestern
Germany. In this city is located the University of Freibourg,
noted for its strong medical staff, and to the average American
naturalist remembered as the institution with which Weismann,
the eminent zoologist and student of evolution, has long been
connected.

It was my privilege a year ago to attend several of Dr.
Weismann's lectures, and it may interest readers of The
Naturalist to hear some of the personal features of these
events. It is quite the custom in Germany for the chief or head
of a department to give an elementary course, and this is the
case with Professor Weismann. The number of advanced
students seem.ed to be comparatively small. The course which
attracted the mass of students was an elementary and general
course in zoology, differing in no special respect from such out-
lines as are ava'lalle in the best text books of the present day;
but it was exceedingly popular and the great attraction was the
man, the lecturer, and many students with whom I talked told
me that their main reason for coming to Freibourg was the fact
that they would have the privilege of studying under Weismann.
Another reason possibly for the head of a department giving
elementary courses may be due to the fact that the German
professor's salary derived from the university itself is not large,
but each full professor has the privilege of charging a fee to all
students taking lis lectures and these fees constitute the large
share of his revenue, therefore it is not surprising that the ele-
mentary courses should be elected bv the full professor who is
permitted to charge a fee.

It is interesting to note the manner in which the work is
given and lectures conducted. Weismann is now well advanced
in years a man between seventy-five and eighty , tall, of dignified,
cultured presence white hair and beard. He wears very heavy
lens glasses, owing to weakened and waning vision . The lecture
period is forty-five minutes in length and begins fifteen minutes
after the hour, at which time the professor enters the class, and
in the case of Weismann was always greeted with applause by
his waiting students who had previously secured seats in the
larqe auditorium The lecturer immediatelv advanced to a

164 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

comfortable arm chair in front of a small desk, seated himself,
and began a hasty revievv? of the gromid covered by the previous
lecture. The review occupied about five minutes, when he
plunged into new matter and continued talking with a fair degree
of rapidity to the close of the hour. Professor Weismann is
always accompanied by an intelligent attendant, who brought
forward such charts and models as were necessary to illustrate
the lecture. Many of these are employed. In fact the wall behind
the lecturer was always covered with charts which could be
drawn down or rolled up at will, in addition to coloured diagrams
on the blackboard. One of the features of Weismann's lectures
was the facility with which he could use coloured chalks in
sketching organs and special features to be illustrated. He in
common with other lecturers in this school always employed
chalk of a definite colour to illustrate given tissues or organs.
A system of this kind adds very considerably to the clarity of
the lecture. Dr. Weismann used no notes in lecturing. At the
close of the hour he immediately retired to his private room. It
is considered a very special privilege on the part of the student
to be able to approach the professor and discuss any point
covered in the hour's lecture. Although long past the seventy-
year mile post Weisinann is still lecturing daily at twelve, in-
cluding Saturday.

Among the pleasant experiences during my stay at Freibourg
were attendance and participation in several botanical excur-
sions, of which there are a number every week, there being
one every Saturday and usually one on Sunday. The number
of students attending these excursions varied from twentv-five
to forty. Usually several women were members of the party
A fee is charged for the privilege of attending them, in the same
way that a fee is charged for laboratory facilities.

The ordinary plan was to take a certain train out of town
for a given distance into the country, the details and a map of
the route having been previously posted in the laboratory and
lecture rooms of the botanical department. One of the assistants
usually acted as business manager of the party, purchasing
tickets and apportioning the expenses among those attending.
On arriving at the starting point for field work the party im-
mediately struck out into the country at a smart pace. It must
be borne in mind that botanical students (or field-naturalists)
are not given the freedom of the countryside in the same
generous way in Germany that obtains in Canada and the United
States. Parties are not allov/ed to tramp at will over meadow
or even through pasture lands. If such liberties are attempted
they are likely to come into sharp conflict with the owner of the
land. There are certain crown properties, however, in which

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 165

they may roam for purposes of study. The line of march then
is usually confined to the country roads, choosing the byways
more than the highways. The party tramps along, looking here
and there for interesting plants in bloom, when suddenly a
whistle is blown which is the signal for a halt. The professor
is seen standing a little in advance of the party, holding up a
plant for general inspection. The students cluster around and
the professor asks questions. First, what is the plant; second,
where does it belong, what are its peculiarities of structure,
what are its uses, adaptations, etc. Sometimes the answers
come in chorus, and again there is silence or a solo! Usually at
the close of the study of the individual plant some additional
remarks are offered by the professor and the march is then
resumed. These stops occur at frequent intervals. At each time
students are expected to note the names of plants discovered
and suppleinent the information given by other informati(m to
be secured from the manuals. Frequently plants are brought in
from the side lines by students themselves.

The situation of Freibourg, lying as it does near the Rhine
Valley on the one hand and at the gateway of the most attractive
and interesting part of the Black Forest Mountains on the other,
makes it possible to vary the character of the flora to be studied
from day to day by simply changing the route. Thus the
mountain flora may be studied on one excursion and the low-
land area with a different flora explored the next time, or it is
even possible in an extended walk to include both upland and
lowland.

Germans, like Englishmen, are good walkers. The "week
end" tramps with rucksack on back are very much in vogue in
Germany, and the mountain paths in this particular region are
freely patronized during the summer by cheerful pedestrians.
This kind of exercise makes for the development of an essential
quality in a naturalist, namely the ability to walk. In these
field excursions I discovered that the leader usually set a lively
pace. One of the last excursions I had the privilege of attending
occurred on the 12th of July, 1908, and I found on returning
home and comparing the route with the map that we covered
about ten miles in a little over three hours. I found also the
following list of plants were collected and many of them dis-
cussed. The list is uninteresting in itself, but simply shows the
flowering plants which happened to attract our attention in this
short ramble among the hills of the Schwarzwald in the first half
of July.

Achillea multiflorum, Alnus glutinosa, Asplenium_ rigida,
Andromeda polifolia, Betula verrucosa, Blitum capitatum,
Calluna vulgaris, Campanula lata, Campanula patula, Cardamine

166 The Ottawa IsIaturalist. [Dec.

sylvatica, Carex pauciflora, Centaurea nigra, Centaurea Jacea,
Chaerophyllum hirsutum, Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, Coma-
rum palustre, Cynosurus crispus, Dactyb's glomerata, Digitalis
ambigua, Drosera rotundifolia, Epilobium angustifoUum, Epi-
lobium montana, Equisetum arvense, GaHum Mollugo, Genista
sagittaHs, Geranium columbinum, Geum rivale, Heracleum sp-?,
Hieracium murorum, Hieracium viticella, Holcus lanatus,
Lathy rus pratensis, Lycopodium vStelago, Lysimachia vulgaris,
Mimulus sp-?, Pinus montana, Pinus uncinata, Polygonum per-
tola, Prenanthes purpurea, .Ranunculus Flammula, Ranunculus
repens, Sambucus racemosa, Scabiosa arvensis, Scrophularia
ambrosia, Senecio Fuchsii, Silene ruprestris, Spiraea Aruncus,
Spiraea Ulmaria, Stachys sylvatica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria
nemorum, Trifolium aureum, Trifolium sp-?, Valeriana officinalis,
Veronica officinalis, Vicia Cracca, Vicia sepium. Viola tricolor.

To many people an agreeable feature of travel in the country
places in Europe lies in the fact that the pedestrian is never far
away from a source of good beer and rarely distant from an eating
house! It is unnecessary to descant upon the quality of the
beer which is available in that region, nor would 1 say anything
which would have a tendency to generate a thirst on the part
of my readers by extolling the merits of this native beer. The
beer is good, it is readily available, and it is drunk in a civilized
manner, sitting at tables, and accompanied with pretzels or good
rye bread and cheese. In the little German gasthaus one does
not need to invade a stifling, heavily curtained bar room and
range along side the counter as certain of the lower animals place
themselves in front of a trough, but one may sit under the shade
of a tree in the garden or on the veranda while partaking of
refreshment.

This merely leads me to say that the botanical excursion
invariably includes a gasthaus in its tour. In fact it usually
closes the afternoon's program at such a place, with the Herr
professor presiding at an impromptu supper surrounded by his
group of students, all in excellent good humor. I am not com-
mending this as a desirable innovation, but merely commenting
on the eating and drinking habits in Germany as contrasted with
our habits in this country. No doubt too much beer is drunk;
but it is probable that beer is safer than Vvhiskey. Besides this,
there is no treating. Everyone pavs for his own drinks.

In general this type of excursion and the stimulation which
it brings tends to develop naturalists. It is fair I think to say
that our training in this country aims on the other hand to
develop a much narrower man, the specialist. We are in need
at the present time of a larger number of men who are not
narrow specialists, rather naturalists of the so-called older school,

1909J Tiiii Ottawa Naturalist. 167

men whose sympathies in the field of natural history are not
restricted or confined to a single branch, but who have an
interest in the entire range of plant and animal life and who, for
this reason, are able to see correlations in a much broader way
than the person whose visjon is limited to and focused upon a
comparatively small group.

I ought to testify to the earnestness of the students who
participate in these excursions, and also to tht; courtesy of the
instructing staflf. I observed no suggestion of exclusiveness,
nothing but generous cordiality. The memory is very pleasiait.

THE FLETCHER MEMORIAL FUND.

At the meeting of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club held
in the Assembly Hall of the Normal School on November 9;ii,
the Fletcher Memorial Committee reported that they had n t :.
with a warm response from members of the Club and friends < f
the late Dr. Fletcher, when the matter of the proposed memoi'al
had been brought before them. Already between $1,400 and
$1,500 had been subscribed but the Committee required about
$1,800 for the project in view and asked that those who had
not yet subscribed to the fund, but who intended to do so,
would immediately communicate with the Treasurer (Mr. Arthur
Gibson) or other member of the Committee. There had not
been, nor would there be, any personal canvass; it was the
desire of the Club that spontaneity should characterize every
donation to the fund

The Committee reported that by far the larger number of
subscribers had favored the suggestion put forward at tl.e
meeting of the Club in December last, that the memorial shou'd
take the form of a fountain erected on the grounds of ^ the Ex-
perimental Farm, Ottawa* the scene of Dr. Fletcher's labcrs
during the last twentv vears of his life and where he had done
so much, officiallv and unofficiallv, in assisting the farmer and
fruit grower in their efforts to resist the attack of insect ard
fungous enemies, and in encouraging _ the study of Natural
History throughout the Dominion.

At the conclusion of the report it was moved by Mr. Frank
T. Shutt and seconded bv Dr. William Saunders, and unani-
mously carried, "that the tribute about to be made to tl e
memory of the late Dr. Fletcher, take the form of a drmkmg
fountain consisting of a granite shaft with bronze medallion.)
inscription, etc., to be erected at the Experimental Farnv
Ottawa, and that the Committee are hereby empowered to make
all necessarv arrangements for carrving out the work.

^ F. T. S.

168 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

TENT-BUILDING HABITS OF ANTS.

By C. Gordon Hewitt, D.Sc.
(Dominion Entomologist, Ottawa).

The short and interesting article in the November number
of The Ottawa Naturalist on "Ant Roads," by Mr. Charles
Macnamara, induced me to believe that an account of some
further habits of ants might be of interest, and this is my
apology for giving a resume of some observations which my
friend. Dr. Marie Stopes made during a recent sojourn in Japan,
and an account of which she published with my collaboration
in the "Memoirs of the Manchester Library and Philosophical
Society,'' Vol. Si, {Memoir No. 20, 1909), under the title "On
the Tent-building Habits of the Ant, Lasius niger, Linn., in
Japan."

La-nus niger is the common brown or black garden ant and
has a world-wide distribution. It usually constructs under-
ground galleries and passages, and frequently keeps or cultivates
aphides for the sake of the "honey-dew" which is an excretory
product of the alimentary canal and is much sought after by the
ants for food. It is not, as is frequently supposed, secreted by
the small horn-like posterior appendages of the ants known as
the svphons. The ants, as it has been stated, sometimes take
the aphid eggs into their nests to protect them from the frost.
L. niger, to mv mind, is rather like man in the development
of its agricultural methods. In some regions they are in these
respects less advanced than in other places. Some are mere
savages and leave their "cows," the aphides, out in the open to
take care of themselves, others take great pains to keep their
live-stock under such conditions as to be free from all danger
and to ensure a maximum amount of "honey dew" production —
they are the up-to-date farmers, so to speak. I do not intend to
enter the arena of the vexed question of whether these actions are
due to intelligence or instinct on the part of the ants : that is not
my object. I am simply giving facts; let those who will analyse
the motive power of these activities.

So that we find that whereas certain ants are content to
wander along their well-worn paths to the pasture fields where
their aphid stock is herded, others more advanced in their
agricultural development make shelters or "tents," as they
have been called, for their insect herds; we have called them
"cow-sheds."

As early as 1810 Huber described these structures which
L. niger w^as accustomed to make. He found small spherical

1909] The Ottawa Naturalist 169

tents on the Spurge. They were of the "carton" t\'pe. con-
structed of finely triturated wood and in these shelters the ants
kept the plant -lice; they were thus protected from their
enemies and also from the rain and strong sunlight. Forel, who
has added so much to our knowledge of the lives of these insects,
has described a number of different kinds of "cow-sheds" which
several European species of Lasius constructed. A certain
species, L. brunneus, constructs shelters made of detritus, that
is, minute inorganic or mineral particles such as sand, etc., over
large bark aphides. Certain species of Myrmica make earthen
cells to enclose the aphides and these chambers communicate
with the rest by means of covered galleries. Our greatest
American authority on ants, Prof. W. M. Wheeler, informed
me, when I was studying these interesting habits, that Lasius
niger and its American varieties are in the habit of constructing
shelters over plant-lice and mealy bugs, and he refers to this
habit in his interesting paper on the habits of the tent-building
ant, Cremaiogaster lineolata. Say. (in Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat.
Hist., Vol. 22, 1906). The common American varietv, L. niger
var. americana, occasionally builds detritus tents around the
stems of plants.

The Japanese colonies of Lasius niger which Dr. Stopes
discovered seemed to have reached the highest stage of agri-
cultural development; even the ants seemed to be imbued with
the Japanese spirit of progress! She discovered tents on the
evergreen oak. Ilex integra, of a cylindrical shape, encircling the
terminal portions of shoots arising from the stumps of a stem
that had been cut down. These tents were of the detritus type
and made of minute grains of black sand mixed with white
fragments of broken shell — the trees were growing near the sea
at Havama. The whole twig, with the exceptions of the tips
of the leaves, was enclosed in the detritus tent through which
ran galleries swarming with ants. But these particular ants were
not -content to construct "cow-sheds" merely, but for their own
comfort had built of the same detritus covered galleries which
wound round the trunk of the tree and communicated with the
nests which were underground, so that they could reach the
"cow-sheds" in all weather. Other shelters which may have
been the initial stages of the larger tents, were made by the ants
by biting the undersides of the midribs of the leaves. This
•caused the leaves to become inrolled with their uppersides out-
wards and the spaces thus formed by the inrolling was filled with
detritus to form chambers.

Ants appear to construct the two types of tents — the
carton type made of fibrous material of a vegetable nature, and
the detritus type made of inorganic material: both kinds of

170 . The Ottawa Naturalist. [Dec.

material may be used by the same species to construct their
"cow-sheds" or tents.

As we concluded in our memoir, "There is no doubt that
this habit of building detritus and carton tents has developed
for no other purpose than that of protecting the various species
of aphides which are kept by the ants for the sake of their
honey -like secretions. By the construction of such "cow-sheds"
the aphides are able to continue sucking the juices of the plant
and at the same time they are not only protected from their
enemies, but also from alien ants. The protection from cold is
also important, as Brandes (in 'Die Blattlaus und der Honigbau,'
Zeitschrift f. Natur wiss, vol. 66, 1894), has found that aphides
are most active during the warmer part of the day, so that in
keeping these warm the ants v/ould also be obtaining a large
supply of the secretion from them. In addition to these explana-
tions of the tent -building habits of ants, Wheeler also suggests
that the tents may be to prevent the escape of the aphides to
other plants or other parts of the same plant.

"The evolution of the forms of the tents which are found
in the different genera of tent-building ants may have started
with the small earthen cell covering a few aphides; this may
have been constructed either on the stem or by filling the space
formed by the inrolling of certain of the leaves. Further en-
largement and elaboration would lead to the formation of a
spherical or cylindrical tent having the stem as axis, and finally,
to secure for themiselves the greatest comfort and convenience,
the ants would connect these tents either with the earth or with
their subterranean nests by means of covered passages."

This great adaptability to its environment, the usage of the
means at hand and variability of constructive power in a single
species of insect such as Lasius niger, is of very great interest to
the entomologist who becomes so accustomed to the fact of a
certain species of insect making nests or structures of a particular
and more or less fixed type, such as we find in the other social
and solitary hymenoptera as the bees and wasps, and also in
other orders of insects.

BOOK REVIEW.

Farm Weeds of Canada. — Bv George H. Clark, B.S.A., and
James Fletcher, LL.D.. F.R.S.C, F.L.S., with illustrations
bv Norman, Griddle: Second Edition. Revised and En-

i909] The Ottawa Naturalist. 171

larged by George H. Clark. For sale, by single copies onlv, at
the office of the Superintendent of Stationery Government
Printing Bureau, Ottawa. Price $1.00.

We were particularly pleased to receive recently the second
edition of this most useful publication. There are a number of
splendid new features which are at once seen in a hasty glance
through the book. In the first place it is of a more convenient
size and the Table of Contents at the beginning is a useful addi-
tion. The general make up of the work is an improvement on the
first edition, the type is better and the arrangement of the
subject matter all that could be desired. Twenty full page addi-
tional coloured plates are included, the work of Mr. Criddle. As
Mr. Clark says, considerable re-arrangement of the matter was
made necessary in this second edition in order that the various
plant families, genera and species might be adjusted to conform
with the recommendations of the International Botanical
Congress at Vienna and now generally adopted by botanists.
In revising the descriptions of plants and seeds technical terms
have been avoided wherever possible. Many most interesting
quotations apropos of the subject are used throughout the book
to complete pages. In the Preface it is stated that "Farm Weeds
of Canada was one of the last of the many contributions to
agriculture from the late Dr. James Fletcher. It is desired that this
second edition of the book will further perpetuate to his memory
that large measure of appreciation of his unselfish personality
and zeal for useful service which he so richly deserved." This
new edition of Farm Weeds is a particularly valuable work and
is without doubt one of the best, if not the best. Government
publication which has yet appeared in any countr}-. The
Dominion Department of Agriculture is fully alive to the enorm-
ous annual losses caused in Canada by Weeds. The first edition
of Farm Weeds was eagerly sought after by farmers and others
throughout Canada, and has already been of inestimable value
to the country. The second edition revised and enlarged will
doubtless too soon be exhausted. The nominal price fixed for
its sale will restrict its distribution to those who will preserve
and make good use of it. The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club is
specially interested in this book, in that Mr. George H. Clark.
Seed Commissioner of the federal Department of Agriculture,
and Mr. Norman Criddle who made the drawings, are both
members. Other members of the Club too, who assisted and
whose names we notice in the Preface are Mr. George Michaud,
Prof. John Macoun. Mr. T. G. Raynor, Mr. J. H. Grisdale. Mr.
T N Willing, and Mr James Murrav.

A G.

72 The Ottawa Naturalist [Dec.

THE OTTAVVx\ FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB.
LECTURE PROGRAMME

1909 - 1910.

(All lectures will commence at 8 o'clock sharp.)

November 9th, 1909, (Tuesday) — "Home Birds andWanderers,"
Mr. W. E. Saunders London, Ont. (Normal School).

December 14th, 1909, (Tuesday) — 8 p.m. — Exhibition of bio-
logical AND GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS. MicrOSCOpCS Will be

supplied for the examination of microscopic specimens.

9 p.m. — Short addresses by Dr. J. F. White, Mr. J. W.

Gibson, Mr. A. Halkett and others. (Normal School).

January 4th, 1910, (Tuesday) — "Instinct and Education," The
President. (Carnegie Library).

January 18th, 1910, (Tuesday)— "Life," Mr. A. H. W. Cleave,
F.R.M.S., Ottawa. (Normal School).

February 1st, 1910, (Tuesday) — "House Flies and their Re-
lation TO Public Health," Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, Ento-
mologist, C. E. Farm, Ottawa. (Normal School).

February 15th, 1910, (Tuesday) — "The Flora and Fauna of
THE West Coast of Vancouver Island," Prof. John
Macoun, Ottawa. (Carnegie Library).

February 25th, 1910, (Friday) — (Joint Lecture series) — "Bac-
teria in Relation to Plant Life," Prof. F. C. Harrison,
Macdonald College. Que. (Normal School).

March 8th, 1910, (Tuesday)— "A Plant Doctor and His
Work," Mr. H. T. Gussow. F R M S., Botanist, C.E. Farm,
Ottawa. (Normal School).

March 15th— ANNUAL MEETING. Including Receipt of
Annual Report, Election of Officers, Presentation of Re-
vised Constitution and By-laws. A full attendance of
members is requested. (Carnegie Library).

President: A. E. Attwood, M.A.
Treasurer: Arthur Gibson. Secretary: T. E. Clarke, B.A.

f^^.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, JANUARY. IQIO No. 10

i

SOME OF THE BEST NATIVE PLANTS FOR
CULTIVATION.

By W. T. Macoun,

Horticulturist and Curator of the Arboretum and Botanic
Garden, Central Experimental Farm. Ottawa.

There are in Canada about 4,000 species of flowering plants,
and 76 species of ferns. In the Province of Ontario alone there
are nearlv 2,000 species of flowering plants, and 46 species of
ferns. This flora stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
from latitude 49° to as far north in the Arctic regions as the
Canadian territory extends. Over this wide area there are many
variations in climate, each great climatic region being again
subdivided into habitats, wdiere the different species are found.
Some species have a very wide range, extending from the Atlantic
to the Pacific and from the 49th parallel to the Arctic circle,
while others, such as the Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifcra.
American Crab Apple, Pyrus coronaria, Common Papaw, Asimina
triloba, Flowering Dogw'ood, Cormis florida, \'irginian Cowslip,
Mertensia puhnonariodes, and other plants I might mention are
confined to very limited districts in south-western Ontario.
though having considerable range south in the United States.

There is no difference of opinion among lovers of plants as
to the l)eauty of the Canadian flora. The great variety, the
charming forms, the lovely colours, and the blending of the
whole when under natural conditions give us innumerable and
varied pictures of which we may well feel proud.

There is a growing sentiment in .Canada in favour of Can-
adian things. We are becoming more proud of our country-
everv year. We are looking for an individuality which will
stand for Canada, and one of the best ways we can impress our
individualitv on the people of other countries and our own is
to make Canadian trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants a
prominent feature of our landscapes. We have too often in the

174 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan.

past planted our parks and public grounds with plants which
were native of other countries when we might have made them
beautiful with our own.

Every city should have a by-law regulating the planting
of avenue and shade trees along the streets of the city, and while,
in all cases, it might not be desirable to confine the planting to
native species, yet everything possible should be done to en-
courage the planting of them. The merits of the different species
should be brought prominently before our people. A proposed
by-law of this kind is before the Ottawa City Council now.

Let us now look at the material there is to draw upon,
beginning with the trees, shrubs and vines which are, perhaps,
our most effective plants.

The Norway Maple, Acer platauoides, is a good shade tree,
but it is not as desirable for street planting as the Hard Maple,
Acer saccharum. The chief drawbacks to the Norway Maple, as
I have observed it, are that it forms too low a head and if
pruned up does not look well. This tree is being planted in
greater numbers every 3^ear, chiefly due, in my judgment, to the
fact that it grows rapidly in the nursery, and hence is a more
profitable tree to grow. But let us stick to our Hard Maple, the
best maple l)y all odds. It grows to a great height and size and
its brilliant colouring in autumn gives Canadian cities an in-
dividualit3\

As the Hard Maple is the best maple to plant, so is our
American Elm, Ulnius americaua, the best elm. The rapid
growth of this tree in most soils, the great height to which it
grows, and its graceful form, make it one of the most desirable
trees for street planting. Moreover, it lends itself to high prun-
ing, which is so necessary in our cities, where there is such a
mass of wires. The higher the American Elm is pruned the
better it looks when the tree is large, and this is a very import-
ant matter. In some places two species of European elms have
been planted instead of the American. This is a great mistake
as they are inferior trees to our own and e\'ervthing possible
should be done to confine the planting to the American Elm.

With the Hard Maple and American Elm conceded to be
the two best trees for .street planting, there are few other trees
which need to be considered, as they should constitute by far
the .greater part of the planting. But for variety, a few other
desirable species may be used. Why the Red Oak, 'Onerc us rubra,
has not been more planted as a street tree is a mvstery to me.
It is a most beautiful tree, the fastest growing of the oaks, and
as rapid a grower, I believe, as the Hard Maple. Its leaves,
which are usually highly coloured, remain on the tree until
wmter and give a colour to the streets long after the leaves of

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 175

most other trees have fallen. Pin Oak, Quercus palusiris, is also
another fine species, but a slower grower, but its finely cut leaves
give quite a characteristic feature to an avenue of this species.
It is, however, much tenderer than the Red Oak and should
onlv be planted in the milder parts of Ontario.

Other good native trees for street planting for some sections
of the countrv are the Silver and Red Maples for wet ground,
the Svcamore or Buttonwood for south-western Ontario.

For park purposes there are so many good native trees that
one would have to name almost all of them, but a few of the
best deciduous trees are those previously mentioned for streets
and the Basswood, Beech, Yellow Birch, Canoe Birch, Mountain
Ash, White Ash, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Cork Elm, Hickory,
Scarlet Haw, Cockspur Haw, Honey Locust, and Tulip Tree and
Sassafras (for western Ontario).

Canada is rich in evergreens and why the Scotch Pine,
Austrian Pine, and Norway Spruce are used to the almost ex-
clusion of our native pines and spruces can only be explained by
the apparent preference for something exotic.

The Scotch Pine, Pinus sylvestris, cannot be compared in
beauty with our White Pine, Pinus Sirobus, which is the most
beautiful pine that grows. The Scotch Pine is stiff er in habit
to begin with and soon becomes scraggy and unsightly, while
the beaut V of the White Pine increases as it grows older if
given plentv of room so that it may hold its branches to the
ground.

The Austrian Pine, Pinus Laricio nigricans, is a fine tree,
but it also has a stiff er outline than our Red Pine, with which
it mav be fairlv compared. We usually think of Red Pine, Pinus
resinosa, as it'is seen in the woods, a tall tree with a clean trunk
and apparently a few leaves at the top, but well grown speci-
mens of Red Pine branching to the ground are most attractive.

The Norway Spruce, Picea excelsa. is a beautiful tree when
young, being a rapid grower and very graceful, but for perma-
nent effect it cannot be compared with our native White Spruce.
Picea alba, particularly those wnth a bluish tinge, as anyone who
has seen a well-grown specimen of White Spruce sixty or seventy
feet high will bear me out. The Colorado or Rocky Mountain
Blue Spruce, Picea pungens As a close competitor of the White
Spruce and the best specimens are bluer in colour and it is un-
doul)tedlv one of the best spruces to plant, but it is a very stiff
tree and it is not a favotirite with many people on that account.
Moreover, it is expensive, which makes it more or less ])rohibitive.
B. The Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, is a very graceful tree.

B' and while a rather slow grower there is no other tree which
■k does well in eastern Canada that looks anvthing like it. For

I

176 The Ottawa Naturalist [Jan.

park effect and for blending with other trees it is one of the
most desirable. From British Columbia we have the Douglas
Fir, Bull Pine, and Englemann's Spruce, all fine trees and
doing well in eastern Canada. The best Englemann Spruce re-
seinbles ver}- much the Colorado Blue Spruce, but is more graceful.

Among the most ornamental Canadian shrubs I mention
the Viburnums, of which there are eight good species which
succeed under cultivation. Perhaps the best of these is the
High-bush Cranberry, Viburnum Opulus, which is ornamental
both in summer and winter, the brightly coloured fruit being
very attractive. Our wild roses are very useful, among the best
being Rosa lucida, the glossy leaves of which make this yery
ornamental even when out of flower. Two of the best species
of Mock Orange are natives of British Columbia, namely, Phila-
delphus Gordonianns and Philadelphiis Lezvisii. Flowering Dog-
wood is a verv effective shrul) in spring in Western Ontario,
while the Amelanchiers make masses of white in the early spring.
For autumn effects the Aromatic and Stag-horn vSumachs can-
not be beaten.

Among the hedge plants there is no evergreen so satis-
factory as the native American Arbor Vitse or Cedar. Rarely
injured bv insects or diseases, standing pruning well and need-
ing comparatively little pruning, it is undoubtedly the best.
It is not so rapid a grower as the Norway Spruce, which is
sometimes used for hedge purposes, l)ut is more permanent and
takes up less room. The White Pine is also proving an excellent
hedge plant at the Experimental Farm. The Hemlock makes
a very fine hedge if rapid growth is not desired, being compact ^i^'
and of a pleasing shade of green.

While few of our deciduous plants are used for hedge
purposes we see no reason why some of them should not be used
with good effect. The native beech is doing well as a hedge '.■
plant at Ottawa and there is no good reason wdiy it should not ^i.
become as popular in this country as the European Beech is in
England. The Moosewood, Dire a palusiris, should make a
splendid hedge plant with its soft, light green leaves. The
Scarlet Hawthorn should make a desirable one, and where a
hedge for holding back stock is required the Honey Locust is
one of the best plants to use in the warmer parts of Ontario.
This is taking the place of the Osage Orange in those districts
where the latter succeeds. There are other shrubs with attrac-
tive foliage, such as the Viburnums and Hamamelis which should
do well as hedges.

Among the climbing hardy plants we have three native
woody species which can scarcely be excelled. These are the
Virginian Creeper, the Wild Clematis or Virgin's Bower, and the

a

1

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 177

Climl)ing Bitter Sweet, and to these might be added for some
purposes the Wild Frost Grape.

For beauty of autumn colouring the Virginian Creeper stands
alone among climbing plants. Where leaf-hoppers are troublesome
its attractiveness is marred during the latter part of summer bv
the withering of the leaves. There is, however, a self-fastening
variet\' brought into notice by the Experimental Farm, which
is now l»ecoming quite cominon about Ottawa. This does not
need support but climbs walls by means of its discs and tendrils
almost as well as the Ampelopsis Veitchii The foliage of this
varietv is somewhat downy and the insects seem to be repelled
bv the hairs, at any rate they trouble it very little.

The Virgin's Bower or Wild Clematis is a verv rapid grower,
has clean fohage which is very seldom affected by insects, and
bears a profusion of small white flowers in sum.mer. This, and
the Eviropean Traveller's Jov, Clematis Vitalha, v/hich is much
like ours, if planted alternately v.ill give a continuity of bloom
from earlv summer almost until Clematis paniculata is in Ijloom.

The Climbing Bittersweet, Celastrus scaudens, should be
more planted than it is as it has a \-ery clean, attractive foliage
and the orange and scarlet fruit in autumn and early winter
lengthens its season of usefulness verv m_uch. In parks or large
grounds this can be used verv effectively.

One might write much more about the beauties and ad-
vantages of our trees and shrubs. Something must, however, be
said about the best native herbaceous plants.

It has often been remarked, especially by those coming
from other countries, how few species of Canadian wild flowers
are fotmd growing along the roadsides or borders of cultivated
fields in eastern Ontario. If we take out the Golden-rods and
Asters there are few prominent plants left. But one might say:
"There is the Canada Thistle; that surely is common enough!"
But the Canada Thistle is a European plant and we should protest
against its being called under that name. Furthermore, prac-
ticalh' all our bad weeds are European plants. The reason why
so few attractive Canadian v,'ild flowers are found along our
roadsides and in our uncultivated ground is that most of our
best wild flowers are woodland species and when the woods
disappear they disappear with them. To retain and make use
of the many beautiful woodland species we must preserve the
woods or make for them in our parks and gardens conditions
approaching those thev get in their native wdlds. But for-
tunately, there are a number of beautiful flowers, among the
best in fact that are available anywhere, which will succeed
under cultivation without anv very special selection of situation
or soil, and first among these I mention Trillinm grandiflonim

178 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan.

There is no other white flowered perennial of its season of bloom
which approaches it for beauty. It has a comparatively long
season of bloom for a spring flower, quickly becomes established
and multiplies rapidly. A ckimp of about three roots planted
ten years ago, now produces more than fifty flowers annually,
most of very large size. These could be used with splendid
effect in parks or private grounds if massed.

The Virginian Cowslip, Mertensia ptdmouarioiies, or, as it
used to be called, Mertensia virginica, is another spring flowering
herbaceous perennial which should have a place in every garden.
The flowers which open at Ottawa during the second week of
May are of a lovely shade of pale blue and when in biid are pink
at the base. This plant soon withers after blooming and by
earlv summer is not seen above ground.

Another charming wild plant which does well under culti-
\-ation is the Wild Sweet William or Blue Phlox, Phlox dwancata.
This blooms at Ottawa from the middle of May to June 10th,
and is one of the most admired plants at that time. The flowers
varv from soft tints of lilac to mauve, and a white variety is
found in western Ontario which is very beautiful.

A dwarf phlox native of south-western Ontario is the Moss
Pink, Phlox subulata, blooming early in spring and particularly
useful for rockeries. It can be had now in many varieties.

Although some of the best of the later blooming Columbines
are not natives of Canada, yet two of the best early species are
Aqiiilegia canadensis, and -4. r(9(:(:me"a, which, if not so common,
would be more appreciated.

Among the first flowers to open after the snow goes is the
Prairie Anemone or Prairie Crocus, Anemone patens, var.
Nuttalliana. This is common in the prairie provinces. It is
very showy, even in small clumps, but if massed would be very
effective in earlv spring and be a contrast to the early flowering
bulbs, which are in bloom at the same time.

One of the showiest native plants we have and particularly
attractive on account of its odd but pleasing colour, is the
Butterfly Weed or Pleurisy Root, Asclepias tuherosa. The
flowers are a bright orange and the plant remains in bloom from
early in July to earlv in August.

The Oswego Tea or Bee Balm, Monarda didyma, is a native { ',
which is considerablv used in planting in the United States and y';
could be used much more in Canada with good effect. The plant :*
being from three to four feet high and the flowers being bright M
crimson or scarlet, it is a striking object wherever planted. It ■'^
blooms from early in Julv to September. While mentioning t.:
scarlet flowers one must not forget the Cardinal Flower, Lobelia

s-

I

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 179

cardinalis. which does very weU in a moist ])lace in the herbaceous
border.

There are many species of herbaceous Spiraeas growing at
the Central Experimental Farm, but there are none of them as
handsome or as effective as the Goat's Beard, Spircea Aruncus, a
native of British Columbia. It grows 4^ feet high and from
early in June to early in July it is a mass of large, plume-like
panicles of creamv white flowers.

Among lilies, what is more effecti\'e than our native Lilmm
SHperbum, attaining a height of 4j to 7 feet at Ottawa?

Of hardv native orchids of great beauty which do well under
cultivation with special preparation of soil and partial shade,
may be mentioned Cypripedium spectahile, Cypripedhim puhescens,
and C. parviflorum. One of our lovers of wild plants at Ottawa
has also been very successful with C. acaule. Orchis spectabilis
and Habenaria psycodes can also be cultivated.

Other well known native wild flowers which are very
desirable and do well under cultivation are Coreopsis lanceolata,
Gaillardia arisiata, Polemoniums of several species, Violets of
several species. Anemone canadensis, Papaver nudicaide, Ctmi-
cijuga racemosa, Thalictrnm pnrpurascens, Dicentra eximia,
Echinacea purptirea. Hepatica acniiloba and triloba, Sanguinaria
canadensis, Enpatorimn ageratoides. Aster novce-anglue , and
j^- other species, SoUdago canadensis , and many other beautiful
plants from the Avester-n proA'itices..

Nor must we close without reference to the ferns, of which
b.. we have so many beautiful species that may be readily cultivated.
" Among the best are: —

1. Maidenhair Fern, Adianliini pedatum.

2. Male Shield Fern, Aspidimn Filix-mas.

3. Marginal Shield or Evergreen Wood Fern, Aspidium

marginale.

4. Spinulose Wood Fern, Aspidiuyn spinnlosmn.

5. Narrovr -leaved Spleenwort, Asplenium angustifolium.

6. Ostrich Feather Fern, Onoclea Strnthiopteris.

7. Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis.

S. Cinnamon Fern, Osmnnda cinnamomea.

9. Roval Fern, Osmnnda regalis.

10. Fragile Bladder Fern. Cystopteris fragilis.

1 1 . Bulblet Bladder Fern, Cystopteris bulbifera.

12. Ladv Fern, AspJcninm Filixfemina.

180 The Ottawa Natuf^alist. [Jan.

NEW CONTRIBUTIOiXS TO CANADIAN BRYOLOGY.

By N. Conr. Kindberg, Ph.D., Upsal.v, Sweden.

(Continued from page 143).

36. Grimmia (Schistidium) diversifolia.

Leaves large, channelled or concave, diversiform ; the lower
broader, subovate obtuse and muticous; the upper broadly
ovate-lanceolate, obtusate or short-acuminate, recurved all
around, muticous or rarel}' with a short and broad hairpoint:
cells not sinuous. Perichetial leaves larger. Capsule immersed ;
peristome orange, brittle. Stem 2-?> cm. high. Tufts blackish-
brown.

On rocks in Pipestone Pass, eastern slope of Rockv
Mountains, Alta., altitude 7,300 feet. July 5th, 1904. No. 119a.

37. Grimmia Hartmaxi Sch.
Gaspe-, 1907.

i'6. Grimmia papillinervis.

Capsule smooth oval; teeth nearly entire, reddish-yellow or
yellowish; stomata not distinct; pedicel exserted, curved when
moist. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, broadlv acuminate subacute,
carinate, slightly or not recurved, sometimes papillose at borders,
not large, faintly appressed when dry; cells quadrate, not
sinuous; the upper somewhat sm.all and chlorophyllose, the
lower larger, nearly uniform and hyaline; hairpoint long, denti-
culate or nearly siriooth; costa papillose. Monoecious (sub-
paroecious). Tufts pulvinate, densely cohering, about 1 cm.
high dark or glaucous green when dry. Lid and calyptra not
seen.

British Columbia, Skagit summit. J. M. Macoun, 1905.

39. Grimmia ha.ml:losa, Lssy.

Vancouver Island, Nanaimo Biological Station. June, 1908.
New to Canada.

40. Grimmia cogxata. Card, et Ther.

Alberta. Lake Louise, alt. 6,000 ft. 13th Sept., 1904.
New to Canada.

4L Grim.mia subpapillinervis.

Agrees with G. papillinervis. Leaves v/ith not sinuous cells,
the upper cells subquadrate; costa papillose. Differs from it.
Leaves longer, long-subulate; lower cells rectangular, the alar
more distinct; hair-point smooth. Capsule oblong-cyhndric.

1910J T-HE Ottawa Naturalist. 181

Differs also from G. alpestris in the longer leaves and the curved
pedicel of capsule, etc.; from G. subsulcata in the longer, not
striate leaves.

British Columbia 1908. A. Brinkman.

42. Grimmia Stirtoni, Schimper; Braithwaite.

Capsule oval, smooth; pedicel straight, slightly exserted
above the (with ver}^ long and rough hair-point furnished)
perichetial leaves. Hitherto found onlv in sterile state.

Vancouver Island, Mount Benson, 1893.

43. fxRIMMIA SERRATA.

Differs from the resembling G. robustijolia. Capsule oblong,
distinctly costate. Leaves serrate above; upper cells not
sinuous. Tufts green.

British Columbia, Rossland, 15th Aug., 1902. J. M. Macoim.

44. Racomitrium depressum, Lesq., var. nigricans

Tufts blackish when dry; leaves sometimes furnished with
a hairpoint.

The sterile specimens agree with the description in Manual
of Mosses of North i\merica by Lesquereux and James; the true
R. depressum is found in Yosemite Valley, but I have not -^oen
authentic specimens. Perhaps the capsule is different

Collected on Southampton Island, near Fuller-' u, north-
west of Hudson Bay, by Commander A P Low in 1904, also
at Whale River, Labrador, in 1896.

45. Scouleria Muelleri, Kindb.

Dift'ers from 5. aaiiatica in its leaves being broader at the
middle; inner basal cells very numerous. These characters are
sufficient to make a proper species when, they are constant and
easih' observed.

Collected on a rock in the Klondike River near Dawson,
Yukon, August 8th, 1902. No. 295.

46. Barbula subcylindrica. Broth.

Vancouver Island 1908 and 1909, also fruiting. New lo
Canada. Pedicel twice longer and neither curved nor exserted.

47. Barbula andre^oides.

Leaves small and short, broadly ovate and subcochle-
ariform, obtusate, mostlv obtuse, more or less refiexed , distinctly
papillose, appressed when drv, straight suberect and rufescent
when moist; cells small subquadrate; costa percurrent red-
lirown. Perichetial leaves broadlv ovate-lanceolate acummatr

182 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan.

acute; costa long-excurrent. Tufts blackish-brown when dry,
dense, 2-3 cm. high. Stem capillary. Dioecious. Capsules not
seen.

On rocks, summit of McArthur Pass, western slope of Rocky
Mountains, B.C.. altitude 7,500 feet, August 10th, 1904.
No. 241.

48. Barbula subandre^.oides.

Resembles B. andreceoides in the stem being often proliferous
with long shoots, also in perichetial leaves and in habit.

Differs from it: Leaves longer, generally subovate-oblong
short-acuminate and not reflexed. Tufts pu]vinate,^about 1 cm.
high.

On rocks, near Twin Falls, Yoho Valley, western slope of
Rockv Mountains, B.C., altitude 6,800 feet, September 6th,
1904."

49. Barbula inclinata (Hedw. fil.) Schwaeor.

On damp rocks at Laggan, eastern slope of Rockv Mountains,
altitude 5,200 ft., June 26th, 1904. No. Ib^. New to Canada.

50. DiDYMODOx brachydoxtius (bruch) Wils.

(Trichostoman mutabile Notaris).
British Columbia, fruiting : A. Brinkman, 1908.

51. EXCALYPTA ALASKANA, KiNDB.

"E. faviseta," Kindb. in letter to Macoun, 1890.

Leaves recurved, not limbate obtuse or subobtuse. Capsule
taintly sulcate when dry; pedicel soon red; calyptra not fringed.

Collected on rocks at Sicamous, B.C., July 3rd, 1889, on the
Yoho Pass, B.C., September 2nd, 1904; also at Laggan, Alta.,
June 27th, 1904. •

52. Meesra Macounh.

Syncecious. Leaves decurrent, from a dilated base taper-
ing to a gradually attenuate, acute, entire or near the apex
sparingly dentate acumen ; the upper reflexed at the borders and
with an excurrent costa; basal cells larger than the upper ones.
Pedicel of capsule to 7 cm. long.

M. longiseta differs in the leaves not being reflexed and. with
an abbreviate costa. In M. Albertinii the leaves are entire, their
l")asal cells small; the pedicel of the capsule is not so long.

In a small log at Laggan, eastern slope of Rock\'. M-ount;iins,
Alta., altitude 5,500 feet, July 2Sth, 1904. No. 37'.

53. Mielichhoferia recurvifolia.

Leaves small and smooth, broadlv ovate, obtusate or very
shortly acuminate, slightly denticulate above, often recurved

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 183

on the borders, appressed when dry; nearly all cells quadrate;
costa percurrent. Tufts compact, decolorate with green branch-
tips, about 3 cm. high, in the lower part filled by earth. Cap-
sules and flowers not seen.

On earth by Lake Agnes above Lake Louise, eastern slope
of Rockv Mountains, altitude 7,500 feet, September 14th, 1004
No. 34. '

54. Philonotis microcarpa.

Allied to Philonotis marchica, agreeing in the leaves being
uniform, small and serrate, also in the stem being high and not
thick; differs in the leaves being sometimes reflexed at the
borders, the inner perichetial long, reaching far above the
vaginula, broad and acute with a not percurrent costa; capsule
very small.

The tufts are tomentose, about 6 cm. high; lid of capsule
conic; pedicel capillary, 2, 2.5 cm. long. Male plants not seen.

In other allied species {Ph. Macounii et al) tufts are very
much lower, the stems thinner and subcapillary .

Bogs along Pipestone Creek, eastern slope of Rockv
Mountians, altitude 6,000 feet, July 8th, 1904. No. 75.

55. Philonotis fontana (L.) Brid., var. microthamnia,

KiNDB. New variety.

Tufts dense, nearly wholly tomentose. Shoots of male
plants very slender, 1-1.5 cm. long; barren branches shorter;
stem capillary. Leaves small recurved acuminate acute, spread-
ing or falcate with double mamillse; the upper longish with
long-excurrent costa; the lower shorter with shorter costa. All
perigonial leaves obtuse; costa faint or obsolete.

Collected in a peat bog along Hunker Creek, Yukon, Julv,
1902. No. 152.

56. Funaria microstoma Bryol. eur.
Vancouver Island, 1908. New to Canada.

57. Physcomitrium microcarpum.

Leaves entire, limbate by one yellow cell-row, ovate-oblong
short-acuminate, not recurved; the upper with short-excurrent
costa. Capsule small ; lid convex; spores rough; pedicel pale,
finally pale-reddish.
Brit. Columbia. A. Brinkman, 1908. New to Canada.

58. Mnium Seligeri, Juratzka & Milde.

On rocks near Fort Albanv, west coast of James Bay,
Hudson Bay, Augvxst 9th, 1904.' Coll. Mr. W. Spreadborough.

184 The Ottawa Naturalist. IJan.

No. 369. On rocks and earth at Ottawa, October 10th, 1905.
New to Canada.

59. Mnium medium Br. eur. * boreale, Kindb.

Near Fort Albany, James Bay, Hudson Bay, August 9th,
1904. Coll. W. Spreadborough.

New to Canada. Also found in Illinois by C. F. Baker.

60. Mnium Blyttii Br. eur., var. microphyllum, Kindb-

new variety.

Leaves smaller, obtusate (not acuminate), generally obtuse
and elliptic, rarely with a very short point; only shoot-leaves
green, the others purplish-red.

In bogs along Hunker Creek, Yukon. Not unc.mmon.
Collected in July, 1902. Nos. 218, 219, 21,3 in part.

61. Mnium Macounii.

Agrees with M. riparium. Mitt., in the leaves of the barren
stems being loosely disposed and crisped when dry.

Differs in leaves being very much smaller, nearly always
simply dentate (or entire at least below the iniddle), very rarely
doubly dentate; nearly all cells of the same size (not smaller
towards the margins), also (and principally) in the short costa.

Leaves generally obtusate (short-pointed or acute), more
or less (or not) decurrent; the lower leaves smaller and broadly
oval often reddish; the upper generally oval (or rarely oblong);
all with a border of 2-3 rows of narrow and often finally red
cells; costa finallv red, not dentate, abbreviate, generally ceasing
far belovv^ the apex. Stem purplish. Tufts large, very radiculose
at the base, dense, 1 cm. high or lower. Dioecious. Capsules
not seen.

In peat bogs along Bonanza and Hunker Creeks, Yu on,
July. 1902. Nos. 212, 233b.

62. Bryum cyclophylloides.

Differs from B. cydophyllum (Schw.) Br. eur.

Upper leaves more concave, crowded (and green), the lower
rufescent; cells somewhat larger, the alar rufous; costa per-
current, often red. Capsules not seen

In a small pool by Pipestone Creek, eastern slope of Rocky
Mountains, altitude 6,500 feet July 6th, 1904. No. 84.

63. Bryum pendulum (Hornsch.) Schimper., * Nanum.
Differs in capsule being minute, pedicel less than 1 cm. long,

stem very short with gemmiform shoots.

On Cape Henrietta Maria, west side of James Bay, Hudson
Bay, August 9th, 1904. Coll. Wm. Spreadborough. 'No. 364. ^Uii

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 1S5

64. Bryum pendulum * longipes.

Differs in its narrow capsule with a mamillate lid, costa of
leaves short-excurrent.

On earth at Laggan, eastern slope of Rockv Mountains,
altitude 5,200 feet, June 26th, 1904. No. 132.

65. Bryum subpercurrentinerve.

Leaves crowded, concave, not decurrent, diversiform, entire,
not large, twisted when dry; cells dilated subrhombic; costa red.
Older leaves with red insertion. Upper stem-leaves oval-oblong
subacute, mostly limbate and reflexed; costa percurrent or
rarelv short-excurrent. Shoot-leaves and lower stem-leaves oval,
not distinctly limbate, slightly or not reflexed, very obtuse,
arrounded at the apex; costa not percurrent. Capsules not
seen; pedicel capillary, 1.5 to 2 cm. long. Dioecious. Tufts
dense, green above, 2-3 cm. high.

Very peculiar in the round-obtuse shoot-leaves with their
abbreviate costa.

Bogs along Pipestone Creek, eastern slope of Rocky
Mountains, altitude 6,000 feet, July 8th, 1904. No. 89.

66. Bryum (B. parvulum Ivindb in Revue Bryolgique)

Macounii (New name).

Capsule suboval, not constricted, brown and pendent, small,
neck longish; lid large convex mamillate, red and nitid; teeth
brown; endostomial segments entire, pale; cilia wanting;
pedicel 1 cm. long; spores about 0.03 mm. Leaves small and
short, ovate-oblong, short-acuminate acute, recurved and entire,
more or less limbate; insertion red; cells rhombic; costa red,
percurrent. Tufts low and compact; stems subgemmiform.
Svnoecious. Habit of Bryum archangelicum; it differs in monoecious
inflorescence, costa of leaves excurrent, etc. B. lacustre differs
in the small lid of the capsule, endostomial segments fenestrate,
narrower leaf-cells, loose tufts, etc.

On wet earth and rocks at Gaspe Basin, Oaspe County, Que..
August, 1907. Coll. John Macoun.

67. Bryum (Webera vel Pohlia) obtusatum.

Leaves small and distant but neither decurrent nor reflexed,
ovate-oblong or ovate, obtusate, generally obtuse; distinctly
denticulate to the middle; cells somewhat wide; costa abbrevi-
ate. Lower leaves shorter, round-obtuse, sometimes faintly rose-
red. Perichetial leaves suboblong shortish, not acuminate,
generallv obtuse, rarely subacute. Stem red. Shoots long with
capillary stem and short, much distant and patent leaves. Tufts
7 cm. high. Dioecious. Capsule not seen.

186

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[Jan.

In the railway ditch at Hector, western slope of Rocky
Mountains, B.C., altitude 5,200 feet, August 4th, 1904.
No. 265a.

68. Bryum alpiniforme, Kindb.

Cat. Can. Plants, p. 271.

Hitherto found only in a sterile state. Capsule sometimes
asymmetric; cilia appendiculate; spores 0.01 mm. Stem 4-5
cm. high.

In the railway ditch at Hector, with the preceding species,
on same date. No. 274 in part.

69. Bryum subobtusifolium, C. Mueller, musci

tschuchtschici.

Differs from B. ohtusijolium, Lindb, leaves less loosely
disposed, shorter-decurrent and often limbate. Sterile. The
tufts are 7 cm. high.

On Southampton Island, Hudson Bay, August 9th, 1904
Coll. Commander A. P. Low. No. 33 7. New to America.

70. Bryum (Webera) subcucullatum, C. M. & Kindb.

Cat. Can. Plants, p. 113.

It seems to be a good species, when the inflorescence is
paroecious. It was regarded by me (in Eur. and N. Amer.
Brvineae) as a subspecies of B. conimntatum.

Collected on the "Saddle" above Lake Louise, eastern slope
of Rockv xMountains, altitude 7,300 feet, July 20th, 1904.
No. 77.

71. Bryum aurimontanum.

Nearly allied to Bryum arcticum in peristome, spores and
synoecious inflorescence.

Differs from it: Leaves shorter, subovate, dentate near
apex, yellowish (not red-) limbate; capsule less narrowed to the
mouth.

On earth at Dawson City, Yukon, July 14th, 1902. No. 163.

72. Bryum submicans.

Allied to Bryum arcticum\ but capsules are less narrowed to
the mouth; leaves yellowish-limbate.

Differs from Bryum micans, Limpr. Capsule longer, oval-
oblong (not subglobose). Leaves longer, broadly (not narrowly)
limbate, the upper with long-excurrent costa. Pedicel of
capsule longer, 3-4 cm.

Inflorescence and spores as in B. micans and not B. arcticum,.

In peat bogs along Bonanza Creek, Yukon, July 18th, 1902.
Coll. John Macoun. No. 173 in part.

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 187

73. Bryum subneodamense.

Differs from Bryum neodamense Itz. Leaves very much
smaller and broader, suborbicular, not or slightlv decurrent-
limb of only 2-3 cell-rows. Capsule not seen. Habit of Mmum
hymeno phylloides . "It is not identical with Bryum suborbictdare .
Philib." Brotherus has written so to me.

Borders of Bonanza Creek, Yukon, July 18th, 1902. No.
211a. Coll. John Macoun.

74. Bryum pallescens, var. grande.

Leaves narrowly lanceolate long-acuminate entire. Pedicel

of capsule S-6 cm. long. Spores verv small, 0.01 mm. Synoecious.

On rocks at Goldstream, Vancouver Island, June 8th. 1908.

75. Bryum Lowii.

Synoecious. Leaves small, red, round-oval obtuse (or the
uppermost subacute), entire and not limbate, not (or only the
uppermost) refiexed at borders, somewhat loosely disposed,
slightly or not decurrent ; insertion pale ; cells subrhombic ;
costa red abbreviate. Ripe capsules not seen, pedicel capillar3^
1 cm. long. Tufts dense, 1-2 cm. high. Probably allied to
B. erythrophyllum Kindb.

Hudson Bav, Southampton Island: Commander A. P.
Low, 1904.

76. Bryum julaceum.

Fruiting stem gemmiform ; shoots julaceous or gemmiform.
Capsule brown, oblong, not large: neck short; lid large convex
mamillate: cilia appendiculate; spores about 0, 01 m.m.:
pedicel 2-3 cm. long. Leaves reflexed but not limbate, ovate-
oblong entire, more or less actiminate; insertion red: cells small
rhomboidal: costa long-excurrent, denticulate above, finally
red. Tufts low and dense. Dioecious. Allied to Bryum
Kunzei, Hornsch.

British Columbia, Pipestone Pass. 7,400 ft. Alt. 1904.

77. Bryum neodamense, Itzigs.
Ottawa, 1907. New to Canada.

78. Bryum glaciale.

Polygamous or monoecious. Capsule small brown, oblong
strangulate; neck short; lid conic mamillate; teeth yellowish;
cilia appendiculate; spores about 0, 01 m.m.; pedicel 1 cm.
long. Leaves small and generally flat (rarely recurved) at
borders, crowded and not decurrent, ovate or ovate-oblong
acute, entire and not distinetlv limbate; insertion red: cells

188 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan.

short, somewhat wide; costa of stem-leaves long-excurrent but
of shoot-leaves mostly short-excurrent. Tufts dense, green
above, 2-3 cm. high. Stem radiculose, neither julaceous nor
gemmiform. Allied to B. ccespiticium, L.

British Columbia, Skagit Summit, about 6,000 ft. Alt. J.
M. Macoun, 1905.

79. Bryum intermedium (Ludw.) Brid. subsp. ovatifolium.

Capsule not curved; cilia long-appendiculate ; spores 0,
025 m.m. Leaves generally ovate or ovate-oblong, those of the
shoots decurrent; costa of lower leaves not excurrent.

British Columbia, Pipestone Creek, 6,500 f. a. s., 1904.

80. Bryum nano-c^spiticium.

Synoecious. Stem very short with gemmiform shoots.
Leaves subovate acute, neither decurrent nor recurved, narrowly
limbate, red at base; costa short-excurrent. Capsule brownish;
teeth yellow with red base; cilia appendiculate ; spores about
0, 01 m.m.; pedicel 3 cm. long.

Yukon district. Hunker Creek, 1902.

81. Bryum brachyneuron, Kindb.

British Columbia, Ucluelet, 1909. New to Canada.

82. Bryum drepanocarpum, Philib.

• Scarcely distinct from B. meeseoides. New to Canada.
British "Columbia, Ucluelet, 1909.

83. Bryum camptocarpum, Cardot et Theriot.

Differs from B. ■yneeseoides in inonoecious inflorescence.
Newfoundland. A. C. Waghorne.

ADDENDUM.

84. Anacolia Baueri (Hampe), Paris.

CPhilonotis leiophylla, Kindb., in Canadian Musci).

(Bartramia Menziesii Turn.; Sulb^-ants Icones), found only
in California, differs principally in the not-excurrent costa of
the leaves. All specimens, related to it in Catal. of Canad.
Musci, are belonging to .4. Baueri.

85. Camptothecium megaptilum Sulliv.

Vancouver Island, 1908. New to Canada.

86. Isothecium Howei, Kindb. f^ /^

Vancouver Island, 1908. New to Canada.

*7* VI

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 189

87. Oligotrichum hercyxicum (Rhrh.) Lam.

British Columbia, 1908: Brinkman.

88. Brachythecium velutinum, Br. eur. subsp. curviram-

EUM.

Leaves smaller, sometimes recurved below; cells generally
wider, lanceolate, the alar well-distinct; costa longer, ceasing
in the acumen. Perichetial leaves faintly denticulate. Branches
subjulaceous, often curved. Capsule smaller than in the
common form.

Quebec, 1905.

89. Brachythecium (sect. Rutabula) laxirete.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate acuminate, not plicate, long-de-
current, not or only at the base recurved, nearly appressed when
drv; alar cells quadrate numerous, not large; other cells lanceo-
late; costa mostlv short, rarely percurrent. vStem-leaves short-
acuminate, nearlv entire; branch-leaves long-acuminate with
subulate or filiform point, nearly entire below, serrate above.
Tufts not glossy. Stem irregularly divided. Monoecious.
Capsule unknown.

Differs from B. mtahulum in smaller, nearly appressed
leaves, those of the branches longer-acuminate, wider leaf-cells,
etc. Approved bv Dr. Brotherus.

British Cokimbia; Brinkman, 1908.

90. Brachythecium papillipes.

Monoecious. Capsule small, cilia appendiculate; annulus
not seen; pedicel minutely papillose nearly in its whole length,
2 cm. long. Leaves somewhat large, ovate-lanceolate acuminate,
often with long filiform point, long-decurrent, not auricled,
recurved below at one side, not plicate, entire below, slightly
denticulate above; alar cells rectangular, not large, other cells
linear; costa vanishing below the acumen, generally reaching
to §.

B. nihabundum differs: Leaves longer, longer-acummate.
short-decurrent, distinctly denticulate at the acumen; alar ccHs
not well-defined; costa vanishing in acumen.

British Columbia, 190S; Mr. A. Brinkman

91. Hypnum (Drepanocladus) Jamesii-Macoi'mi.

("Hypnum conflatum subenerve" Kiivlb. in letter to
Prof. J. Macoun).

Leaves small ovate-oblong, more or less abruptly tapermg
to a subfiliform, often curved point, entire and decurrent, neither
striate nor recurved; insertion pale; alar cells large hyaline

190 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan.

and well-defined; other cells narrow, very small; costa thin,
mostly indistinct, sometimes ceasing below or near the iniddle.

Dioecious. Stem irregularly divided, not creeping; para-
phyllia none. Capsules unknown.

Differs from the resembling H. KneiEii in small leaf-cells
and indistinct or short and faint costa. Now approved by Mr.
Renauld.

Alaska, St. Paul's Island. J. M. Macoun, 1892, No. 113;
Ottawa, 28th September, 1907, No. 268. New to Canada.

92. Orthotrichum affine, Schrad., subsp. subrivale.

Capsule and pedicel exserted. Leaves short-acuminate
acute (not subulate).

Quebec, 1905, No. 69.

93. Bartramia circinnulata, C. M. et Kindb.

Capsule long-pedicellate, as in B. pomiformis .
Vancouver Island, 1908.

94. BrYUM HYDROPHILUM, KiNDB.

Leaves of fruiting stem narrowly recur^-ed in the lower
part. Cilia of the endostome appendiculate. Spores small,
about 0. 01 m.m. Dioecious. Allied to B. ventricosum.

Vancouver Island, fruiting, 1908.

95. EURHYNCHIUM RUSCIFORME (WeIS) MiLDE, VAR. OBTUSUM.

Leaves generally obtuse, often arrounded at the apex.
Capsules not seen.

Vancouver Island, 1908.

96. Calliergon trifarium (Web. et Mohr), subsp.

apiculatum.

Stem much divided; branches curved; leaves short-api-
culate, not arrounded at apex, less strongly appressed. Capsules
unknown.

Vancouver Island 1908.

97. Isothecium myuroides, Kindb.

("Isothecium aplocladum, Mitt.:" Kindb., Eur. and N.
Amer. Bryineo).

Leaves shorter than in /. tnyosur aides; cells often oblong.
It is several times found, also 1908, in Vancouver Island.

98. Weisia Wolfii, Lesq. et James.

("W. mucronata Br. eur. :" C. Mueller).

1910] Tna Ottawa Naturalist. 191

Peculiar in the large spores.

British Columbia, Ucluelet, 4th June, 1909, No. 143;
Quebec, Hull, September 26th, 1907. No. 214; Ottawa, October
iUh, 1900, No. 890.

99. Hypopterygium canadense, Kindb.
British Columbia, Ucluelet, 1909.

100. Hypnum callichroum, Brid.

Labrador, 1892 and 1894; Rev. A. C. Waghorne. New to
Canada.

101. Bryum hamicuspis, Kindb., Hedwigia, 1903.

Agrees with B. pallescens: Leaves ovate-lanceolate, long-
attenuate, broadly limbate, recurved all around, not decurrent;
insertion deep-red. Capsule somewhat narrow, strangulate, not
pendent; lid large convex; teeth pale; cilia appendiculate.
Tuft dense.

Differs from it: Leaves more distinctly denticulate; costa
short-excurrent to a curved, not long point. Capsule brown
with a short neck. Spores 0, 01 m.m. Dioecious.

Ontario, Cape Vincent, Kingston: Prof. Fowler, 1881.

102. Bryum columbico-c^spiticium, Kindb., Hedwigia, I.e.
Differs from B. coespiticimn: Capsule longer, subcylindric ;

pedicel often very (5-8 cm.) long and geniculate. Synoecious.
Costa of leaves mostlv short-excurrent.

British Columbia, Revelstoke. 1890, Vancouver Island.
Comox. 1887, No. 92.

103. Didymodon Dieckii, Broth.
Vancouver Island, 1909.

104. Thamnium pseudo-neckeroides, Kindb.,

Hedwigia, 1902, p. 219.

(Hypnum alleghaniense, Canad. Musci, No. 102).

It is more allied to T. Leibergii, Britton, than to T. alle-
ghaniense, Bryol. eur. ; but is perhaps only a subspecies. It
differs indeed: nearly all leaves ovate-oblong with a subulate
acumen. Stem sometimes with paraphyllia; branches after
complamte. Dioecious.

Ottawa, Owen Sound and Cape Breton. British Columbia,
Ucluelet, 1909.

Obs. The species, subspecies and varieties, not marked
with the name of the author, are already by myself described as
nctv in the Journal "Revue Brvologique," the vears 1904-1909.

192 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan.

A GANNET NEAR OTTAWA.

A very beautiful specimen of a juvenal of the Gannet, or
Solan Goose {Sula bassana, Boie.) was shot, October 14th, at
Shirley's Bay, seven miles above Britannia by Mr. J. H. Slack,
90 Elm St., Ottawa. When Mr. Slack first saw the bird it was
apparently feeding about 300 yards from the shore and while he
was endeavoring to decide how best to reach it with a rifle shot
the bird rose and flew straight towards him. Fortunately Mr.
Slack had a shot-gun with him and with that the bird was killed.
It was secured for the Geological Survey Museum and is a
valuable addition to the bird collection. The Solan Goose breeds
abundantly in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and has been taken a
few times on Lake Ontario, but this is the first record of its
occurrence near Ottawa.

J. M. M.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE HERBARIUM OF THE

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

By James M. Macoun.

Phegopteris Robertianum, (Hoff^m.) A. Br.

P. Dryopteris var. Rohertianiim (Hoffm.), Macoun Cat. Can.
PI. II.: 270.

On rocks, Hunker Creek, Yukon, No. 78, 293; four miles
up Klondike River, Yukon, No. 78, 292. {John Macoun).

Sporobolus uniflorus, (Muhl.) Scribn. and Merr.

On rocks at Petawawa Falls, Algonquin Park, Ont., July
23rd, .1900, Herb. No. 21,915. {John Macoun). Not before
recorded from Canada.

Eleocharis nitida, Fernald.

In a swamp at Parker's, nine miles from Ouyon, Que. No.
61,199. Only known station. This species and K. Macounii,
collected by Mr. J. M. Macoun near North Wakefield, Que., are
both described in the new edition of Gray's Manual and should be
looked for in other localities bv Ottawa collectors.

Carex cephaloidea, Boott.

The only Canadian locality from which we have recorded
this species is London, Ont. Later records are: Gait, Ont., No.
78,035 {W. Herriot); Hull, Que., No. 61,146: near Wakefield,
Que., No. 78,179, and Tilsonburg, Ont.. No. 33,732. {John
Macoun).

1^10] The Ottawa Naturalist. 193

Salix texkra, Anders.

This species was described from specimens collected by
Lyall at 7.000 feet altitude on the International boundary in
1860 and was not collected in Canada again until found bv the
writer in 1905, probably on the same mountain on which Lyall
hrst saw it. Second summit west of Skagit River, altitude 6,500
feet. No. 73,674.

Abkoxia umbellata. Lane.

The record made for this species on page 148 of The
Ottawa Naturalist should have been credited to Mr. James
Fraser instead of Mr. George Fraser.

Ranunculus Lobbii, A. Grav.

Abundant in Lost Lake near Victoria, Vancouver Island,
Herb. No. 77,391. May 11th, 1908, in fine fruit. {John Macoun).
Not before recorded north of Oregon.

Cakile edentula, (Bigel.) Hook.

C. Americana, Nutt.: Macoun, Cat. Can. PI. I: 58.

Abundant at Long Beach, 20 miles north of Ucleulet, west
coast of Vancouver Island, B.C., Augvist 7th, 1909. Herb. No.
78,288. {John Macoun). Not recorded in Canada west of Lake
vSuperior nor on the Pacific Coast north of California.

Alth.-ea officinalis, L.

Brother Victorin of Longueuil College reports this species
to be very common in pastures at Oka, Que. We have no other
record of its occurrence in Canada.

Bartonia Virgixica, (L.) B S p.

The cnlv .specimens we have of this beautiful species were
collected by Dr. Chas. A. Hamilton in pastures on both sides of
the Feauxbourg Road iust south of Mahone Bay, N.S. Dr.
Hamilton reports it as growing quite plentifully over 30 or 40
acres of pasture. The soil was thin and peaty but not swampy.
The plants associated with it were Pteris aquilina, Mynca
asplenfolia, GauUheria prociinibens, etc. Herb. No. 78,291.

Amsinckia lycopsoides, Lehm.

Douglas, B.C. No. 76,744. {Wm. Sprcadboroiigh). Common
in suitable localities on Vancouver Island but not before re-
corded from mainland of British Columbia.

COLEOSANTHUS OBLONGIFOLIUS, (Nutt.)

Brickellia oblongijolia, Macoun, Cat. Can. Pl. I: 207.

This plant, which is hardly distinguishable from C. linif alius,
was collected by Lvall "on mountain slopes along the southern
boundarv of British Columbia" but not again until it was found
bv the M-riter in the Skagit Vallev, B.C., in 1908, Herb. N'..

194 The Ottawa Naturalist. (Jan.

76,863, probably near where Lyall found it, as he travelled along
the same trail.

Antennaria neodioica. Greene var. Gaspensis, Fernald.

Ottawa Naturalist XIX: p. 156.

When this plant was described by Mr. Fernald it was known
from the Bay of Chaleurs and the upper part of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. Specimens collected by Prof. Macoun at Jupiter
River, Anticosti, August 20th, 1883, No. 70,448, have recently
been determined as this varietv bv Mr. Fernald.

BIRDS OBSERVED AT COBOCONK, ONT.

By J. A. MiTNRo, Toronto.

May 22nd, 23rd and 24th of 1909 were spent by the
writer in the vicinitv of Coboconk, Victoria County, and the
following notes were made on the birds of the district : —

Observations were confined to a tract of about 400 acres,
the greater part of which is covered with original forest, maple,
elm, Initternut, birch and a few hemlock, spruce and balsam.
The second growth is chiefly oak, black ash, iron wood, birch
and poplar. Between the wooded portion of the farm and the
lake there are 60 acres of cleared ground, on which the stumps
of the old pine forest, cut 40 years ago, are still standing. Some
of these fire blackened stubs are ten to fifteen feet high and
afford excellent nesting places for Robins, Bluebirds and
Bronzed Grackles. Within the last few years a number of the
stumps have been removed and piled at the edge of the clearing.
The deep cavities between the roots were used as nesting sites
by Robins and Song Sparrows.
Spotted Sandpiper — Two seen.
Ruffed Grouse — Slightlv on the increase ; one nest containing ten

eggs was found within 500 yards of the farm house.
Sparrow Hawk — One seen.
Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker — One seen.
Red-headed Woodpecker-^One seen.

Northern Flicker — Common ; one pair nesting in a hemlock stub.
Whip-poor-will — Common.
Nighthawk — Common.
Kingbird — Common; they frequently build on top of the pine

stumps near the water.
Crested Flycatcher — Common.
Phoebe — Common.

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 195

Olive-sided Flycatcher — Two seen, one of which was collected.

Wood Peewee — Two seen.

Least Flycatcher — Very common.

Blue Jay — Common.

American Crow — Five seen.

Co wbird — Common .

Meadowlark — Common.

Bronzed Grackle — Very common ; two nests each containini^ five
eggs were found. The first was a bulky nest, made of roots,
weed stalks, cedar bark and dry grass, lined with fine roots
and wiry grass. The botto-n was reinforced with clay. It
was placed in a depression at the top of a fifteen foot pine
stub. The second nest consistcfi of a few pieces of dry grass
and twigs, lining the bottom of a deserted woodpecker's
liole, twelve feet from the ground in a pine stub.

American Crossbill — One pair seen.

American Goldfinch — Common.

Vesper Sparraw — Common.

White-throated Sparrow — Common.

Chipping Sparrow — Common; one empty nest found.

Slate-colored Junco — Six seen ; one nest containing 3 eggs was
found.

Song Sparrow — Common; one nest, built between the roots of
an overturned pine stump and containing four eggs. One
nest, five feet from the ground in a birch and containing 4
eggs.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak — Common.

Cliff Swallow — Common.

Barn Swallow — Common.

Tree Swallow — Common ; in this locality the}- invariably select

for nesting sites the cavities in the manv stumps which stand

in the water close to shore.
Cedar Waxwing — Common.
Red-eyed Vireo — Common.
Black and White Warbler — Three seen.
Black-throated Blue Warbler — Five seen.
Myrtle Warbler — Four seen.
Magnolia Warbler — Common.
Chestnut-sided Warbler — Ver}^ common.
Blackburnian Warbler — Two seen.
Black-throated Green Warbler — One seen.
American Redstart — Two seen.
Catbird — Common.
Brown Thrasher — Common: one nest containinu 4 eggs w a>

found.

SOIREES.

The first lecture of the winter series was held on Tuesday.
November the 9th, 1909, the lecturer of the evening being our
esteemed member, Mr. W. E. Saunders of London, Ont. "Home
Birds and Wanderers" was the subject chosen by the speaker,
and it proved a most interesting one to the large audience which
filled the Assembly Hall of the Normal School. Mr. Saunders
spoke in a delightfully interesting manner, and illustrated many
of his remarks with the calls and songs of the birds he loved
and described. Preserved specimem^of rtO-anv of the birds
referred to were exhibited. ^^^TO'

<*

196 The Ott.a.w.\ N.\tur.\list. [Jax.

House Wren — Common ; a pair were nesting in a cavity in the
top rail of a snake fence.

Chickadee — Common.

Wilson's Thrush — Common.

Olive-backed Thrush — One seen.

Hermit Thrush — Common. M

American Robin — Seven nests were found within the radius of "

400 vards: one in a small spruce, one in a white pine, two ■!■{

oh the tops of pine stumps and three between the roots of ^

upturned pine stumps. ^^

Bluebird — Common; one nest containing 6 eggs, in a wood- ^

pecker's hole, 20 feet from the ground in a hemlock stub.

FLETCHER MEMORIAL FUND.

The Committee in charge of this Fund recently met in the
Carnegie Library, and a further circular was drafted to be sent
to mem.bers of the Club and friends of the late Dr. Fletcher who
had subscribed to the Fund but had not remitted to the
Secretarv-Treasurer, (Mr. Arthur Gibson, Central Experimental
Farm) the amount of their subscription. Another circular was
also prepared, to be miailed to those who had received the first
circular, but who had net responded. Both of these circulars
were sent out in December, and the Committee are so far much
gratified at the results. There still, however, are many mem-
bers of the Club, v/hom the Committee feel sure desire to con-
tribute, and these and others who have not as yet sent in their
subscription to the Secretary-Treasurer, are requested to attend
to this matter as soon as possible, in order that the Committee 5

may make final arrangements for the work m connection Vv^ith
the Memorial, which, as our readers are aware, is to take the
form of a drinking fountain at the Central Experimental Farm.

*,;

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, FEBRUARY, 1910 No. 11

EVERYDAY ORNITHOLOGY.

By Normax Criddle, Treesbank, Man.

The following notes are made up simply of observations
recorded in my note book at Aweme, Man., supplemented with
additional remarks to make the whole appear less disjointed
and more complete in detail. They are mere extracts' from a
mass of material covering a period of four years, commencing in
1906. They are given in the original form, not only because
that saves labor, but chiefly because it gives them the appear-
ance of having been made in the field, which is indeed the case.

1906.

January 10. — It seems remarkable that |5artridges (Ruffed
Grouse) should have a preference for certain clumps of trees
upon which they make their evening meal by eating the buds,
but such is the case. Not only do they return to the same locality
week after week throughout the winter months, but the same
clumps seem to be selected year after year.

About one hundred yards from the farm buildings there
is a bluff which contains a few hundred trees, all aspens of
medium size, with smaller ones and hazel brush beneath.
The larger trees are those selected, and every evening shortly
after sunset five or six partridges appear, sometimes flying from
a considerable distance. About the same number turned up
last year, and also the previous winter. That they are gradually
stripping the trees of their buds and consequently preventing
the grov/th of leaves there is no doubt, but fortunately they
confine themselves largely to those buds that in the course of
time would produce catkins, so that the injury is not as great as
might be suspected, though it is very evident when the leaves
appear. During the day these birds content themselves with
eating hazel catkins, rose-berries and such other fruits as appear
above the snow. Consequently aspens and other poplars only
suffer once in 24 hours.

198 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb. .|.

February 19. — About a week ago we found a Redpoll W

unable to fly though in apparently excellent condition. It was '■;■

taken into the house and ate well for two days, at the end of ',•;;

which period it died. I found another to-day that went off in m

the same way. Both of these were in dull plumage. "

March 4. — Another Redpoll was discovered dead this ^*

morning, a male, in perfect plumage. This had been observed ';;.

to be weakening for some days past, though like the others it M
fed to within a short time of its death. An examination showed Ifc
it to be rather thin, but the cause of death appeared to have ^

been due to a large clot of blood on the back portion of its skull.
These birds all died slowly, and when found were in a sitting ^
position, as if thev had gone to sleep and so died.

Redpolls have been very plentiful throughout the winter,
and as the snow was deep were attracted in large numbers to
seeds placed for their use, and consisting chieflv of lambs-
quarters, with a small quantity of wild buckwheat mixed in.
Is it this abundance of food without the customary exercise in
procuring it that has been responsible for this mortality by a form
o6 apoplexy'

March 17. — Watched a full plumaged Redpoll courting a
female. She sat quietly on a bough some 20 feet from the ground -^

while he displaying his bright colours to full advantage remained ^i
almost stationary before her by means of a rapid movement of ■■^,
his wings. While thus occupied he indulged in incessant song of
a decidedly more variable nature than is usually heard at this
time of the year. After continuing this arduous love-making for
some twenty seconds he flew to a neighbouring tree where he H

was quickly joined by his lady love, and eventually they flew
off in company apparently mutually satisfied.

These birds are supposed to leave us in summer time to
breed farther north, and according to Macoun's Catalogue their
nests have been found in some numbers both in Labrador and
Hudson's Bay during May and June. Now, as they seldom all
leave us before the middle of May, and as both males and females
were observed in the hills among spruce woods on June 11th,
1909, there seems to be reasonable grounds for suspecting them
of breeding in the province.

May 10. — On a newly ploughed field that had not been under
cultivation for two years, White Grubs (Lachnosterna sp.) were
very plentiful, but everyone exposed by the plough was eagerly
picked up l)y crows, a large number of which were breeding close
at hand. A rough estimate places the number of larvae eaten at
fully 2,000 to the acre, but the full number consumed probably
far exceeds that amount.

•».-

1910| The Ottawa Naturalisi. 199

May U. — Among the male birds that habitually feed the
females while they are nesting, Crows and Chickadees are notable
examples. The former does so throughout the brooding period,
and it is a strange fact that the hen bird reverts to that method
of calling for food so characteristic of the young, with the same
excitement and fluttering of wings vrhen food is brought within
viev/. The Chickadee goes still further and feeds his mate with
nice juicy caterpillars weeks before she commences to lay. He,
also, like the Crow, takes an active share in nest building.
Blue Jays likev/ise become very polite to the females by procuring
food before and when she is brooding. They make an extremel}'
affectionate couple at this time of year and can constantly be
heard talking softly together. I believe there are few, if any,
Canadian birds that have such a complete code of signals.

May 30. — The Redbacked Cutworm is doing an immense
amount of damage to growing grain, and our friends the Crows
are once more at work for their own benefit and incidentally ours.
From 18 to 32 v/ere counted together at different times to-day
on an infested field, and close inspection shows where they have
dug the Cutworms out, while watching detects many a beak full
being taken to the nests.

Crows have by no means a good reputation, especially in
corn belts, or among sportsmen, who accuse them of much
damage to winged game through eating eggs and young, but the
injury is much exaggerated. We are apt to overlook the good
deeds, as the picking up of small objects, such as noxious insects;
whereas, to see a Crow fly off v.nth a young bird is much more
likely to attract attention, espec lally if the parents are attempt-
ing some sort of defence. As to the destruction of eggs of Grouse
by Crov.'s, these birds are so admirably suited in colour fo-
concealment that it is onlv on very rare occasions, provided the
birds are not otherwise disturbed, that their nests are discovereo.

July 14. — Found the nest of an Ovenbird in woods near
some large aspens. It was of a dome shape, rather elliptical in
outline, and so remarkably well const rudcd outside with dead
leaves and grass, that it would almost surely have passed for a
slight rise in the ground had I not flushed the bird. Inside the
nest were four voung, .surrounded by a lining of fine grass and
horsehair.

July 15.— Several Crows have been found dead recently,
apparentlv in good condition. They seem to have died suddenly.
sometimes while flying, but I could discover no cause for this.
If the death role has been as high in other parts, many thousands
must have perished.

July 27.— Three more Crows found dead, two full grown

200 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb

young and an adult. A 3-oung bird fuUy^fledged was also dis-
covered in a weak condition, though nothing could V:e fovmd to
account for its skiggishness.

1907.

February 6. — A small band of Chickadees have been with
us since the winter commenced, feeding upon pieces of suet
placed for their convenience. Recently this has become scarce
and the Chickadees are now subsisting to quite a large extent on
waste oats. These they carry to the sunny side of a log building
and holding the oat with one foot extract the kernel from the
husk with their beak. This is quite a new departure for
Chickadees.

April 28. — Found two Western-horned Owls in possession
of a nest built by a pair of Goshawks last year. There were two
or three voung of different ages in the nest and an old bird made
several queer noises at me, one of which resembled the barking
of a dog. There was a recently killed field mouse at the bottom
of the tree.

Ma.y 26. — Examined around the Owl's nest mentioned i/:

al)o\e and found several pellets, which were made up chiefly of
the hair of mice and rabbits, with the broken bones of those
mammals and one bird bone.

July 26. — There are two Ravens a few miles northwest of
here which have discovered a voung calf and dog recently
deceased. This is the first occasion that Ravens have been ob-
served at Aweme in summer time and might lead one to .suspect
them of breeding in the neighbourhood.

August 11. — Visited the nest of a Vesper Sparrow to see
what effect the heavv rain had had upon the young. Found one
stretched out very, much overcome, but later in the morning
both were perfectly well. They are almost fully fledged.

November 16. — I have for the last week been cutting down
trees close to a Chickadee's sleeping place, a hole some 18 feet
from the ground in an old tree, evidently the work of a Wood-
pecker. The Chickadee appears regularly and enters its home at
about ten minutes after sunset, there being a slight variation,
according to the brightness of the evening. At first the stump
was surrounded by trees, but though these have now all been cut
aAvay and the only branch upon which the bird perched before
entering its nest broken, it entered its hole as usual after showing
but momentary surprise at the change. This Chickadee is often
accompanied by others, but they have separate homes and soon
vanish to meet together again next morning.

I^IO] The Ottawa Naturalist. 201

1908.

March 10. — Two White-throated Sparrows have managed
to survive the winter and are now quite active. The only
shelter they had was a wood pile at night and round about the
farm yard during the day. They suffered but little, excepting
during the most severe weather, showing that it is more a question
of food than cold that is responsible for the southward migration.
Doves, Blackbirds, Juncoes and Robins have also been known
to come through the winter when provided with sufficient food.

November 6. — -There are an exceptional number of Canada
Javs about this autumn, and fanners south of here, who have
been killing cattle for beef, say that these birds at once attack
the carcasses, damaging them for the market. They are also
at times a perfect nuisance to trappers by stealing the bait from
traps. Meat, skins, bread, potato peelings, grain and indeed
anything else that can be eaten, is carried off. In fact, when
these birds once discover something palatable, it is practically
impossible to make them leave 'the vicinity.

1909.

January 12. — During an exceptionalh^ cold spell, a Northern
Shrike has made its headquarters here, and subsists very largely
upon House Sparrows rendered sluggish by the cold. At least
a dozen of these birds have been taken, and also some Chickadees,
that habitually come up to partake of suet. The Shrike seems
to -withstand the cold easily and has been seen to carry off
Sparrows without much difficulty.

January 24. — The little group, of birds that come up daily
to eat of the fat, now consists of Northern Hairy Woodpeckers,
Blue and Canada Jays and Chickadees. The Canada Jays have
also been seen to eat a few asparagus berries, but not with
particular relish.

February 9. — Discoverd a Goshawk with a Ruffed Grouse
which he had just captured and eaten a small hole in its side.
The unfortunate bird was still living, though mortally wounded,
and seemed to have lost much blood. From the fact that there
was no sign of this on the snow, I am strongly of the opinion that
the hawk drank it from the hole in the partridge's side._ As there
was no hope for its recover}^ I ended its further suffering. This
Goshawk has been about for some wrecks past and during that
time has caused the death of numerous grouse and some rabbits.

These hawks are undoubtedlv the most destructive to
grouse of all the haw^ks found in Manitoba. They are not only
more numerous than other injurious species, but they seem to
have a decided preference for feathered game. On the other

4<

202 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb. ^

hand it should not be forgotten that they compensate to some
extent, at least, by destroying bush rabbits, and therefore, while
the sportsman would assuredly look upon them as an enemy,
the fruit grower, and those having an interest in forestry, might
well class them equally as a useful ally.

February 12. — There was a Richardson's Owl in the straw-
shed this morning. Later in the day we tried to feed it with raw
meat, but our efforts were unavailable, though it allowed a very
close approach, and in fact sat among the meat.

February 19. — Several Eagles, both Golden and Bald-, are
living upon rabbits along the Souris River. They are seen
almost daily and undoubtedly do much good by destroying a
pest which has no competitor among mammals injurious to
trees. Further up the river both species breed, according to
Mr. W. D. Black, of Margaret, Man., who says they are not
uncommon in that neighbourhood.

It is indeed unfortunate that these fine birds, together wnth
several large hawks and owls, should be continually shot. Many
people seem to think they have done something exceptionally
meritorious when they relate the destruction of one of these
useful birds. But, it is time such deeds were painted in their true
colour, otherwise extermination will follow ignorance and the
country will suffer from the increase of numerous rodents such
as mice, rats, rabbits, etc., which in the past have been kept
within reasonable bounds.

February 20. — The Richardson's Owl mentioned above has
twice been up since that date. This morning it was found, as
usual, in the straw shed, and, ar is customary with these birds,
allowed me to approach within a tew feet. Later on I discovered
it with a house mouse in its claws, which it ate and then disap-
peared into the woods to sleep.

March 18. — The Canada Jays are now very much together.
They are apparently in search of a nesting site and go about very
quietly. Sometimes one, presumably the male, sings softly from
some low bush, and when they become separated both utter loud
cries.

March 30. — The Northern Shrike that has been about here
throughout the winter was shot to-day. It has on more than
one occasion made itself obnoxious by killing Chickadees, Red-
polls, and other small birds. As these had been specially
attracted by food, it was impossible to stand by and watch their
destruction; and so, after much threatening, the shrike has met
the fate he meted out for so many others.

The economic value of these birds is questionable, for though
they destroy many mice and House Sparrows, they are most

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 203

plentiful during the migration of small liirds, particularly
Tree Sparrows and Juncoes, upon which rliey prey with much
persistency. They should not be confused, however, with the
White-rumped Shrike, which takes their place during the
summer months. These latter birds are probably much more
useful, as their food is made up largely of grasshoppers.

April 18. — Examined pellets of a Western-horned Owl of
last summer and found them to contain fur of a striped gopher
(unusual food), rabbit and mouse hair, and also broken bones
of several small mammals.

June 10. — Saw a ma l- Marsh Hawk capture a Cowbird.
He appeared suddenly o\er some bushes and made his capture
almost before the small bird was aware of his presence.

Only a farmer can fully appreciate Cowbirds. You must be
following the plough or tending cattle to note the habits which
can be observed nowhere else. They will be seen at one time
running about on the back of a cow, catching flies; at another,
being shoved out of the way by the nozzel of a feeding horse.
A small band are nearly always in attendance of the ploughman
picking up noxious larvae, such as White Grubs, etc., and when
they become less hungry they content themselves with pinching
the heads of large grubs, only eating the smaller. It is interesting
to watch them running along with their beaks pointing upwards
making a careful scrutiny above for a possible hawk. To see
the males, v/hich greatly predominate, showing off and being
chased by the females; to sit still and have full grown young
walk over one and fearlessly take food offered, besides many
other little acts,tendsto make us forget the habits of parasitism
for which they are condemned, for with all their faults they still
do much good; and, for the old-fashioned naturalist, who cares
less for the dollars and cents, and more for Nature, because it is
Nature, the Cowbird, when properly known, will always be
looked upon with warm regard.

June 11.— Noticed several Red Crossbills in the spruce
woods feeding on old cones on the tops of the trees, which
indicates that perhaps they breed here.

Tune 18.— A nest of a Red-tailed Hawk examined to-day.
contained three young that could almost fly. and a striped
gopher.

June 24. — Found the nest of a Swainson's Hawk m an
aspen tree. There were three young in it about two weeks old.
also three striped gophers and a Meadow Lark.

I have examined numerous nests of these hawks at cifferent
times, and when there were voung present, have never failed to
find gophers also, showing that the nestlings are supplied with

204 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb.

all they require. To find dead birds in the nest is quite an ex-
ception.

Owls also keep their larders well stocked with fresh meat,
and it is by no means an uncommon thing to find several un-
touched mice in nests containing young of Long-eared Owls.
I have twice found those rodents present a day previous to the
first egg-hatching, but whether these were for the expected
young, or had merely been supplied by the male for his mate's
use, I am unable to tell.

August 5. — I have Vjeen taking special observation of
House Sparrows feeding their young within the last two weeks, '*
and find that the food consists largely of grasshoppers, which at .^^|
present are more plentiful than usual. Both parents go out in
search of these insects, sometimes as far as half a mile away.

November 12. — About thirty House Sparrows arrived from
the north this morning and left in a southerlv direction before 'Jv

'^to

evening.

MEETINGS OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH.

On the evening of November 13th, the first meeting of
the Botanical Branch for the season was held at the residence
of Mr. G. H. Clark. The following members were in attendance:
Messrs. J. Macoun, R. B. Whvte, W. T. Macoun, T. E. Clarke,
D. A. Campbell, G. H. Clark,' L. H. Newman, A. E. Attwood,
H. Groh, Geo. Michaud, Dr. Blackader, T. H. Binnie, W. H.
Harrington and E. D. Eddy.

Mr. J. W. Gibson was the leader for the evening and chose
as the topic for discussion "The adaptation of plants to their
environment as shown by their internal structure." The different
evidences of adaptation in the plant tissues were demonstrated
by means of microscopes and a carefully selected collection of
microscopic sHdes, some of which had been loaned for the occasion
by Prof. W. T. McClement and his assistant, Mr. A. B. Klugh,
of Queen's University.

The leader introduced the subject by first pointing out the

y<'.

4

November 20. — A Northern Shrike has been up several
times recently and at present is devoting its attention to captur-
ing Juncoes. The House Sparrows have grown wise and as a
rule are much too quick having learned that safety lies in rapid
entrance into a building. The smaller birds are not so sagacious
and attempt to escape by flying upwards, which almost invariably '^}
proves fatal, as the shrike follows like a bloodhound, and by
sheer persistency more than rapidity of flight, accomplishes its
ob j ect .

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 205

main problems that confront the student of plant ecology and
also the practical value of the study over and above its mere
scientific interest. He then proceeded to demonstrate the fact
that the minute structure of the internal parts of plants may
reveal an adaptation to their environment no less marked than
does their external form or habit of growth. The ability of
plants to meet the exigencies of a new environment by a modifica-
tion of their internal structure was clearh^ shown as in the case
of Ranunculus aquatilis and Proserpinaca palustris (Mermaid
Weed) which were grown in air, although habitually they are
aquatic. The difference in internal structure of leaves grown in
bright sunlight and in shade was also demonstrated.

The question as to whether or not living plants absorb
moisture otherwise than by their roots gave rise to some dis-
cussion on account of a divergence of views held by the different
members of the Club. The discussion will probably be resumed
at some future date when more experimental evidence will be
presented. The value of dew to growing plants and the effect on
transpiration of relative humidity of atmosphere were also dis-
cussed at some length. The view presented by the leader that
excepting in the case of a few epiphytic plants which have
specialized organs for the absorption of water, dew is only in-
directly beneficial to plants i.e. in so far as it depresses trans-
piration, was challenged and rather discredited.

It was also pointed out that the main causes of internal
modification of plant tisssues were variations in the intensity of
light and heat and also in available water supply. Of these
three important ecological factors the last mentioned was con-
sidered most important, although a few of the members held the
view that variations in heat are of even greater importance in
modifying plant structures. The main characteristics of three
great classes of plants were pointed out and discussed, viz.:
Mesophytes, or the normal plants of a locality not given to
extremes or excesses; Hydrophytes, or those plants that are
surrounded by excess of moisture and have to provide against
"drowning" by the development of an abundance of aeration
tissue; Xerophytes, which endure great privation from lack of
moisture and excess of heat, and which therefore must adapt
themselves to such conditions by developing an abundance of
cells for storing up water, by throwing out protective coverings
and by lessening transpiration through sunken and ]-irotected
stomata.

Several miscellaneous slides were also exhibited illustrating
Halophytes (plants belonging to saline or alkah lands), Isophytes
(plants whose leaves are the same on both sides)^, Carnivorous
and parasitic plants. J- '^^ ■ ^-

•■^■'

206 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb.

The second meeting of the Botanical Branch was held at
the home of Mr. R. B. Whyte on Saturday evening, November
27th, 1909 There were present, in addition to the Chairman,
Messrs. Geo. H. Clark, Groh, Michaud, Blackader, Attwood,
Newman, Campbell, Prof. J. Macoun, W. T. Macoun.

There was no special subject for discussion, the arrange-
ment being that each person present was to say something
about what he had been doing during the summer. The dis-
cussion, however, proved so interesting that few men had an
opportunity of telling of their work. Mr. Whyte told of what he
was doing in raising seedling gooseberries. His object was to
obtain a variety that would be as good, or better in quality, than
any other, and which would be hardy and free from mildew.
He showed specimens of a fine large seedling of the English
gooseberry which he said was of very good quality. A discussion
arose as ' to Mr. Whyte's methods, some claiming that there
would be no marked increase in hardiness without the introduc-
tion of blood of a hardier gooseberry. The reason why the
English gooseberries are susceptible to mildew in this country
was thought by some of those present to be due to the fact that
the English gooseberry was a native of a moist climate and when
grown where the conditions were drier the leaves and fruit were
affected by the mildew, as occasionally occurs in the drier parts
of England. This brought out the interesting fact that some
species of mildew thrive best in dry air, while some do best under
moist conditions, as do the higher plan's.

Mr. Michaud gave an interesting account of his work in the
testing of vegetable seeds during the past summer. He found
that, on the whole, seeds germinated better in diffused light
than in total darkness. For instance, lettuce seed germinated
better on the surface of blotting paper than between folds of
this paper. The fact was brought out that in Nature most seeds ^

germinate on the surface of the ground. As, however, it is
impossible to control the conditions of moisture in the growing
of crops outside it is necessary to plant the seeds in order to
ensure their receiving sufficient moisture to germinate.

After Mr. Michaud had told of his germinating tests there
was considerable discussion on the growth of plants and as to
what proportion of the growth took place at night. One member
claimed that there was more growth at night than in the day- M

time, but the general opinion was that this was not so. Growth 5,

takes place in darkness as well as in light, but elaboration of
plant food takes place only in light. For instance, a potato
may grow in a dark cellar by using up the food in the tubers t'

which has been previously elaborated in the light.

:iW

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 207

Mr. Groh told of his study of the local hawthorns during
the past summer. He examined fifty trees in different localities
and collected flowering specimens of them, and later in the season
obtained fruit as well. He found a marked difference in the
number of stamens, styles and colour of the anthers of the flowers,
and the number of flowers to a corj^mb, on different trees. The
specimens, together with those collected by Prof. Macoun, have
been sent to a specialist on Crataegus. Prof. Macoun stated that
when collecting in western Ontario some years ago he had
found that there was a month's difference between the time when
the earliest blooming species of Crataegus flowered, and the latest.
At Ottawa he had found in 1903 that the earliest bloomed on
May 21st and the latest on June 3rd. He reported that he had
completed the List of the Ottawa Flora from the lower forms
up to the Caryophyllaceae. — W. T. M.

SOIREES.

The opening soiree of the Club for the season of 1909-10
held on the 14th of December, was of the nature of a con-
versazione. The first hour was devoted to a display of objects
under the microscope and of natural history specimens. After-
wards short addresses were delivered by the President, Mr. A. E.
Attwood, Mr. G. H. Clark and Mr. A. Halkett. Besides these a
short talk, illustrated with lantern slides, showing the develop-
ment and structure of the cell, was given by Mr. A. H. W. Cleave.

Several microscopes were very kindlv loaned for the evening
by Mr. J. W. Gibson, of the Normal 'School. Besides these
Messrs. Cleave and Odell each had their own microscopes present
and showed interesting objects to those attending the meeting.
Mr. W. J. Wilson also took charge of one of the microscopes and
entertained many.

The following exhibits were of much interest :—

Mr. Geo. Michaud, of the Seed Branch of the Department of
Agriculture, showed

1. A set of old coloured plates of plants, taken from a bot-
anical magazine pubHshed in London in the year 1790. These
plates are remarkable from the point of view of the colour, which
is all made by hand. Each plate is accompanied by a botanical
description of the plant. The sets contain three or four plates
with the text and were sold for one shilling each.

2. A set of the lithographic plates of " Farm Weeds," pub-
lished bv the Seed Branch of the Department of Agriculture,
1906 and 1909. These plates, which were painted by Mr. Norman

208 The Ottawa Naturalist. ' [Feb.

Criddle, both from the artistic and botanical point of view,
deserve much praise.

3. One collection of economic seeds and weed seeds, put up
by the Seed Branch, Department of Agriculture, containing the
seeds of the most common forage plants and weeds.

4. One pocket collection, containing seeds of the worst
weeds of the country, all mentioned in the Seed Control Act, 1905.

Several cases containing insects of many kinds were exhibited
by Mr. Arthur Gibson, Mr. C. H. Young, and Mr. J. W. Baldwin.
Those brought by Mr. Gibson were from the collection of the
Division of Entomology at the Central Experimental Farm.
They represented a collection mostly of local butterflies and
hymenopterous insects. Mr. Young's cases contained chiefly
a collection of microlepidoptera taken in the Ottawa District.
These were beautifullv mounted and were much admired.
Mr. Baldwin's specimens were in two oases, one of which con-
tained 92 specimens, representing 60 species of moths collected
at Ottawa. In this case were some rare forms. In the other case
an interesting series of the genus Catocala was shown. Dr. C.
Gordon Hewitt sent in a small but interesting exhibit of
coleoptera and diptera fossilized in gum anime, obtained for
commercial purposes from Zanzibar, from areas where no trees
are now visible. The gum is the product of Trachylobiiim
hornemannianum .

Mr. Young also showed some cases containing a valuable
collection of specially well prepared star fishes and crabs, all of
which had been collected by him in British Columbia during the
past 3^ear.

Mr. H. Groh, Assistant Botanist, Experiinental Farm,
exhibited a number of botanical sheets r^ native parasitic flower-
ing plants which are destitute of greci. foliage. The following
are some of those which were noticed. —

CuscutaEpithymum, Clover dodder; CuscutaGronovit, Love-
vine; Monotropa unifora, Indian Pipe; Monoiropa Hypopitys,
Pine-sap ; Pterospora andromedea. Pine-drops ; Epijagus virginiana,
Beech-drops; Conopholis americana, Squaw-root; Orohanche
uni flora, One-flowered Cancer- root ; Orobanchp jasciculata. Broom-
rape.

Mr. Groh also showed a stem of Juueberry (Amclanchier),
which, according to him, "had been virtually choked to death
by a vine of Climbing Bitter-sweet (Celastrus scandens). The
stem had continued to increase in diameter until the coils of
the vine were almost buried in the wood, but finally last June
the obstruction of the passage of food had become so serious that
the leaves turned yellow and dropped."

■ 1- \i

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 209

A very interesting feature was an exhibit, by Mr. Ernest
LeSueur, of living turtles (some of which were exotic), sala-
manders and tree-toads. There were four of the last mentioned,
and two of them (probably females) took on, early in the evening,
the green colour of the electric-light shade.

Mr. Halkett showed a number of specimens of various fishes
preserved in museum jars. — A. H.

INSTINCT AND EDUCATION.

An abstract of an Address read before the Ottawa Field
Naturalists' Club, Januarv 4th, 1910, by
Mr. A. R.Attwood, M.A.

Foreshadowings of Instinct in its mechanical manifesta-
tions are observable in inorganic nature in the phenomena of
gravitation, magnetism and crvstallization. The movements and
behavior of plants resemble the instinctive actions of animals.
Plants are animate objects, i.e. objects with mind. Heredity, a
distinctive characteristic of instinct, is also a characteristic of
plants Vitality implies mentality.

Reflex action so closely resembles instinctive action that
Herbert Spencer defines instinct as complex reflex action.
Instinct is, however, a broader term as it is observable in the
lowest of animals, v,'hereas reflex action implies a more or less
developed nervous system.

Instinct is racial memory; it is inherited habit; it is com-
plex reflex action; it is capitalized experience. A series: an
action, a repeated action, a habit, an inherited habit or an in-
stinct, an intuition. Instincts are faculties which are innate,
hereditary, semi-automatic and semi-conscious. They attain
results without the necessity of previous individual instruction,
reason, or experience.

There are two classes of instincts: primary or congenital
instincts, and secondary or acquired instincts. The latter are
evolved from the exercise of a rational intelligence. The brain
is the organ of reason. The evolution of instincts was promoted
by the development of a brain in the animal kingdom. Tlie
brain is the school-master in the work of evolving instincts, it is
a short-cutting device for the development of the race.

The progress of the race depends upon the constant accretion
of secondarv instincts. The work of education should be to
develop desirable habits which shall be tran.smitted as instincts
to subsequent generations. We should begin the training of a
child manv generations before he is born.

210 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb

Just as there are vibrations in the solar spectrum below the
visible red rays and above the visible violet rays, there are
evidences of the working of mind outside of the range of con-
sciousness. These extensions of the mental spectrum have been
called the subliminal mind. Is not this subconscious mind
identical with the instinctive mind?

The brain is the organ of the conscious or objective inind.
The instinctive mind has no special organ, but is the federal
head of the aggregated minds of the cells which constitute the
whole organism. The brain, or imperial mind, exerts its influence
on the instinctive or colonial mind by the powder of suggestion.
"Every suggestion is a nascent instinct. Original sin is a kind
of suggestion instilled from childhood and producing real
hereditary sin." — (Guyau).

Conscience is a peculiarly human emotion. It is certain of
action only when it has become instinctive. A gcjod conscience
is the fruit of good seed sown by the rational intelligence in the
soil of the instinctive mind. The voice of conscience is the voice
of our distant progenitors transmitted along the lines of heredity.

Patriotism is an altruistic instinct. Kipling's "Absent-
Minded Beggar" acts, not rationally, but instinctively when he
enlists in defence of the Empire. When a nation finds it necessary
to assert its patriotism by noisy and dangerous demonstrations,
it may be assumed that such patriotism has not yet developed
into an instinct.

The sting of death is withdrawn when it is recognized that
like sleep, it is instinctive. The great majority of deaths are
peaceful because they are instinctive.

What has been called an instinctive aversion to snakes,
seems to be disappearing in the civilized human race in the light
of the fact that most of our snakes are harmless. The rivalry
of the rat for the possession of the earth may in time develop a
similarly strong instinct in the human mind against that animal.

Instinct, Intuition, Omniscience, are words embodying
ideas of the same category. Intuition is a high grade of in-
stinctive human intelligence, the faculty of knowing without the
labor of -inductive reasoning. Genius is habitual intuition. The
genius is "in tune with the Infinite:" his instinc ive n;ind
vibrates in unison with the mind of the Omniscient

Extend instinct, intuition, genius to infinity and we attain ..;^j
omniscience. Divine omniscience and human intni'.i'm are the ■■^'

same in kind, differing onlv in degree, differing as i he Father
differs from the son.

1^10] The Ottawa Naturalist. 211

THE FLETCHER MEMORIAL FUND.

At a meeting of the Fletcher Memorial Committee held on
the 7th February, it was decided to close the subscription list
to the above fimd on the 20th day of March next. The expecta-
tions of the Committee have almost been realized, but before
the list is finally closed, it is hoped that at least another hundred
dollars will be subscribed, so as to bring the total up to Si ,800. This
is the last appeal which the Committee intends to make, and,
therefore, if there are still any members of the Club, or others,
who wish to contribute to the Memorial to be erected at the
Central Experimental Farm, it is important that they should
attend to this matter at once. This will be the first memorial
of its kind in Canada, and the Committee is particularlv anxious
that it shall be worthy of him to whose memory it is to be erected.
This, of course, can best be accomplished with the help of as
many m.embers of the Club, and friends, as can conveniently
subscribe towards the cost of the undertaking. Arthur Gibson,
Secretary-Treasurer of Committee, (Experimental Farm, Ottawa)

NOTES.

Bartonia virginica in Quebec. In Mr. James M. Macoun's
"Contributions" in the January number of The Naturalist,
Bartonia virginica (L) BSP. is recorded from one Canadian
locality, near Mahone Bay N.S. I am glad to be able to add
to this record another from St. Hubert, near Montreal. In 190.^,
shortly before his death. Dr. Fletcher received specimens of
this plant collected by Father Marie- Victorin, in June, July and
August of that year, at the above localitv. They were stated to
be growing in the peat bogs of that place. Herbert Groh.

Bonaparte's Gull. The stomach of a Bonaparte's Gull
taken at Point Pelee about November 25th, 1909, was sent to
Mr. Arthur Gibson, at the Experimental Farm, for the purpose
of having the contents determined. Over fifty noctuid larvae
were found, which Mr. Gibson reports to be of a species of
A gratis, or Hadena.

The use of insects as food for gulls, was referred to by Mr.
Arthur H. Norton, in the October "Auk" when he mentioned the
maggots living in seaweed, used for this purpose, but the cater-
pillars eaten by the Bonaparte's Gull are terrestrial, and were
probably found in some such situation as a Muskrat house,
which consists of decayed vegetable matter, such as rush stems
and grasses. Thev must have been in considerable abundance to
have enabled the gull to find so many of them at one lime.
W. E. Saunders. London, Ont.

212 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Feb.

A RARE WEASEL AT OTTAWA.

By W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.

Exact knowledge regarding weasels is not a part of the
mental equipment of most nature lovers, and the capture of
what was to me a rare specimen, may afford an opportunity for
hanging thereon a few remarks.

It is, of course, well known that the weasel, which in summer
is brown above and yellowish white below, turns pure white in
winter, with the exception of the tip of the tail, which is black at
all seasons. I had long realized that there were two sizes of
weasels which (naturally!) were of two species, but some years
ago when I happened to study them a little I found that all the
large ones were males, and all the small ones were females, and
the authorities state this is the normal condition of affairs in
the common Putorius novehoracensis. There is, however, a small
weasel in old Ontario, and I have been on the lookout to find it
for a long time, but vainly, until November 11th. at Ottawa,
when I shot one on the stone ridge thrown out of the pipe ex-
cavation leading to the Tuberculosis Hospital. I saw before
shooting that this specimen was a small one, and when I found
I had a male, I was delighted, as it could be nothing else than
the long sought Bonaparte's Weasel, Putorius cigonani. When
I fired I was delighted to see him fall right over, apparently dead,
but to make sure I ran the intervening distance and was disgusted
to see a flicker of white disappearing down through the stone pile,
just as I reached him. That, of course, made it necessary that
the stone pile should be removed, which was promptly done, and,
encouraged by an occasional drop of blood, operations proceeded
as far as the ground and then along the T,ile in the direction
indicated, when he was soon found stone iuad.

Doubtless this animal covers the ( ■ niferous parts of Ontario
fairly well, but in my district around London, where the vegeta-
tion is largely deciduous and where balsams are entirely absent,
it is doubtful if there are any of these remaining; certainly I
have never been able to learn of the capture of one of them.

The normal measurement in millimeters of male and female
novehoracensis and the measurement of this specimen of cicognani,
which seems to be normal, are given below:

Length Tail Hind foot

Noveboracensis — Male 418 150 50

Female 298 92 26

Cicognani. . . . ..••^v^^lj^y .-^ . . . . 290 80 35

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

VOL. XXIII. OTTAWA, MARCH, 1910 No. 12

SOME WESTERN SPECIES OF ARNICA.

By Edward L. Greene.

The names and descriptions subjoined are of species of
Arnica, apparently undescribed hitherto. Those placed first in
the series, it will be seen, are from within the Canadian boundary,
while others are from those parts of the Pacific United States
which lie contiguous to Canada. It would not be remarkable if
any of these should by and by be found also in some one part or
another of the extensive and varied Province of British Columbia.

A. sororia. Stem solitary, a foot high or more, erect,
slender, firm, scarcely leafy, the whole plant with a velvety
appearance, but the close pubescence somewhat harsh rather
than soft: even the basal leaves not forming a rosette, but op-
posite, or in threes, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 2A to 3 inches
long, including the petiole, this long or short, both faces some-
what plushv-pubescent, margins obscurely and remotely serrate-
toothed ; proper stem-leaves in 2 remote pairs and much reduced,
entire, sessile; heads mostly 2 or 3 on peduncles 3 to 5 inches
long; involucre broad-campanulate, of 16 to 20 linear-lanceolate
glandular-hirsutulous bracts; ray-corollas deep-yellow, not short,
abruptly 3-toothed at the rounded apex; disk-corollas with
slender glandtilar-hirtellous tube twice as long as the somewhat
clavellate throat; achenes remarkably short, strigose-hispid ;
pappus dull-white, scarcely barbellate.

Cascade, British Cokimlna. 30th June, 1902, J. M. Macoun.
No. 64987 of Canad. Geol. vSurv. Related to A. lonchophylhi.
Greene,which Mr. Macoun sent from the Athabasca River country,
as collected by Mr. Spreadborough in 1898; but this present
species has also certain points of seeming contact with A. pednn-
culafa, Rydb. of Montana; but this last is a stout comparati\-ely
coarse plant, alwavs monocephalous.

A. RUBRiCAULis. Base of stem and its foliage not seen.but
plant large, the stem copiously leafy with an ample and thin
spreading foliage, the internodes dark red-purple and slightly

214 Thk Ottawa Naturalist. [March

clothed with whitish hirsute hairs mostly deflexed; leaves lance-
oblong, 5 to 7 inches long, including the winged petiole, but the
uppermost pairs quite sessile, all very thin, triple-nerved, re-
motely and not prominently dentate, nearly glabrous on both
faces; heads small, many, somewhat pa'nicled and the panicle
leafv-bracted; involucre broadly campanulate, the 16 to 20 bracts
lanceolate, ol)tusish, thin, sparsely hirsute below the middle;
ravs many, narrow and not long; disk-corollas with soft-villous
tube longer than the subcylindric throat ; achenes hirtellous with
short bristlv hairs; pappus brownish, delicate, scaberulous. ^

Trail, British Columbia, J. M. Macoun, 22nd June, 1902; ^
Geol. Surv. No. 64985. A member of the ^4. foliosa group; ■'.
evidentlv verv large. y|

A. STRiCTA. Erect from a horizontal rootstock, nearly 2 feet
high, sparinglv leafv, v/ith a pair of branches from each pair of
cauline leaves, these very erect, pedunculiform, nearly parallel
with the main stem, all glandular-puberulent ; basal leaves few,
cuneate-oblong, obtuse, 4 inches long or more, including the S
indistinctly petiolar base, 3 -nerved, very remotelv or not at all
dentate, the veins and margins scaberulous, otherwise glabrous;
heads 9 to 1 1 each at the end of a long peduncle, those of the
branches surpassing the terminal one; involucre campanulate,
3/^ inch high, of about 12 lanceolate thin glandular, but scarcely
hairy bracts; rays 8 or 10, long, deep-yellow; disk-corollas with
long slender tut)e hirtellous with strongly gland-tipped short
hairs, the throat rather more than half as long and turbinate;
achenes strigose-hispid ; pappus fine, whitish, barbellulate.

British Columbia, along the International boundary,
between the Columbia and Kettle Rivers, J. M. Macoun, 30th
June, 1902. A fine species of that section in which Pursh's
A. fulf^ens is tvpical, all the others of which section are mono-
cephalous, while this new one produces a flowering peduncle
from each leaf-axil, yet in habit the plant is as upright and strict
as a plant can well be that is not simple. The label of my ^
specimen bears No. 64979 of Canad. Geol. Surv.

A. LACTUCiNA. Slender, a foot high or less, the herbage of a
vivid green and almost whollv glabrous; basal leaves not seen,
the cauline is about 2 pairs, sessile and divaricately spreading,
the lower pair either panduriform or else contracted very near
the base to a broad and short winged petiole, the upper pair
often broadest at base and there subhastately dilated; all very
acute at apex, below the middle more or less prominently and
even spinosely toothed; heads small and -subcorymbose. the
involucres campanulate, of about 10 narrow bracts slenderlv
acuminate, not pubescent , but granular-glandular; rays 10 or 12,

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist 215

long and showy, deep yellow; disk-corollas with short villous
tube and much larger subclavate throat; achenes small, black,
glabrous, but with a line of shortly stipitate glands besetting the
4 or 5 prominent angles; pappus short, firm, white, liarbellate-
scabrous.

Plant of the Rocky Mountains northward, in Alberta, the
type in U. S. Herb, from Vermillion Movmtain, near Banif, 24th
July, 1899, W. C. McCalla, the specimens in flower only; but the
account of the achenes and pappus is drawn from specimens in
my own herbarium, also from the vicinitv of Banff, b\- Miss
Edith M. Farr, who gathered them at Mt. Fairview, 18th August,
1905.

A. falconaria. Upright, stout and siii:.ple, 10 to 16 inches
high, rather pale with a minute but sparse viscidulous pubescence,
the stems and petioles somewhat villous; leaves mainh- sub-
cordate-oval, obtusish, irregularly and coarsely dentate, \]4 to
2% inches long, tapering very abruptly to a petiole as long, the
reduced upper cauline pair either spatulate and sessile, or with
short broadly-winged petiole; heads 1 to 3, large, on moderately
long peduncles; involucre campanulate, of about 10 rather broad
elliptic-lanceolate thin sparsely villous bracts; rays, none; disk-
corollas ^vith short villous-hirtellous tube and much longer
narrow funnelform throat, the segments all villous at tip;
achenes slender, sparsely short-setulose and as sparsely beset
with minute sessile glands; pappus white, barbellate.

Falcon Valley, Washington, 27th June, 1892, W. N. Suksdorf ;
type in U. S. Herb, under No. 1617, labelled .4. cordijolia, var.
eradiata,Gva.y; but the plant bears no intimate relation to that
particular species.

A. EvERMANMi. Low, leafy at base, the peduncles several,
mostly subscapiform, the wdiole plant 5 to 7 inches high; leaves
deep green, not thin, ovate-subcordate to ovate-lanceolate with
subtruncate base, about 2 inches long, the petioles about as long,
the single cauline pair as large but spatulate, all acutish, remotel_\-
and saliently dentate, the pubescence very scanty; involucres
turbinate-campanulate, nearly ^ inch high, bracts 9 to 11, thin,
subbiserial, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, viscidly villous; rays
of medium length but very narro^v; disk-corollas with short
thinly setulose tube and longer narrow-funnelform throat :
achenes linear, stirate, minutely short-setulose; pappus white,
barbellate.

Subalpine species of Northern Idaho and adjacent Wash-
ington, found at altitudes of 7,000 to 10,000 feet; the type by
B.' W. Evermann, from shores of Pettit Lake, 13th August, 1895.

i.

216 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

MEETING OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH.

The first of the winter's series of meetings of the Ent*^
mological Branch was held at the residence of Mr. Arthur
Gibson, on the evening of the 10th February. There Vvere
present: Messrs. Harrington, Wilson. Criddle, Baldwin, Young,
Halkett and Nicholls, in addition to the Chairman. >

Mr. Gibson had on exhibition his collection of arctiid motlis /

of the genus A pantesis. He spoke at some length on the different 5

species and varieties represented in the cases and told of his *?

work in studying their life-histories. Specimens of the inflated i

larvae and pupae of many of the species were also shown. The
range of variation in the genus is remarkable, and has been the
cause of much confusion by some of the earlier writers who had
but few specimens to study. The larger number of the specimens
in the cases exhibited had been reared from eggs. At Ottawa
the following species of this genus have been found: virgo,
parlhenice , virguncula, figiirata, ceiia, arge and vittaia. «

Mr. Norman Criddle showed a collection of Tiger Beetles
from Manitoba. Thirteen species were represented m the case,
most of which had been found at Avveme, Man. Mr. Criddle -,.

spoke particularly of the burrov»'ing habits of the larvas and '^^

on the life-histories of the insects in general. He has found 'i%

that in Manitoba some of the species take at least three vears *^

to coiTiplete their life-cvcle, whereas at Chicago, it has been -J'^,

found by Prof. Shelford, that the same species onlv required -^i

two years to complete their growth. The habits of cicindelid f'^-

larvae are exceedinglv interesting. In Manitoba there is much
difference in the depth to which the larva? burrow for hiber-
nation. Some species such as limhata and repanda only go down
to a depth of six or eight inches, while others, as manitoba and
lepida go much deeper; the former sometimes being found six
and a half feet below the surface, and the,.latter six feet.

Mr. A. Nicholls brought two specimens for determination.
These were Thalessa lunator and Corydalis cornuia. Mr. Harring-
ton spoke of the habits of both of these insects. Referring to
the latter species Mr. Gibson mentioned that both he and the
late Dr. Fletcher had found it "at sugar" commonly, some years
ago. It is unusual for a neuropterous insect to be attracted
at night to trees on which "sugar" is put to allure noctuid
moths. Speaking of attracting moths, Mr. Criddle mentioned
that at Aweme the males of the Buck Moth, Hemileuca maia,
var. lucina, can easily be attracted by smoke. In the sand hills
near Aweme, where the moth is usually abundant, both he and
his brothers had frequently made smudges of leaves and grass

(•

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 217

to attract the moths. Almost immediately the males would
appear, some being seen to come from quite a long distance.

Mr. Halkett exhibited a small miscellaneous collection of
insects which he had gathered at random in Nova Scotia during
the past summer. The most interesting species was Hydroecia
yyikacea of which two specimens had been collected. This is an
European insect recently introduced into America, and an
account of which appears in the annual report of the Ento-
mological Society of Ontario for 1908.

Mr. Baldwin showed a box of noctuid moths which he had
collected in 190Q, mostly at the Electric Railway power house
near Britannia. Some rare species were represented, viz.:
Tapinosiola variana, Baileya douhledayi, Mamestra uimbosa and
a species of Sytieda, the first taken in the Ottawa district.

Sir George Hampson's two latest volumes on Lepidoptera
which appeared in 1909, and Dr. J. B. Smith's new book "Our
Insect Friends and Enemies" were shown bv Mr. Gibson, who
also spoke of a paper he was preparing on the Butterflies of the
Toronto District. In this article eightv one species are listed.

A. G.

A SHREW NEW TO NEW BRUNSWICK.

By Wm. H. Moore, Scotch Lake, N.B.

Last autumn a shrew, different from anything hitherto
observed by the writer in this locality, was secured. The
specimen was in a badly damaged condition, having been killed
and mutilated by some farm poultry, but enough of it was left
intact to serve for the identification of the animal, which was
kindly m5.de by Mr. E. A. Preble, of the Biological Survey.
Washington, D.C., who after an examination was assured that
it was Neosorex albiharbis (Cope). The upper parts are blackish;
underparts grayish, with a brownish band across neck and chest.
Tail blackish above and all around near tip; lighter on balance
of under side. Length of body 84 mm. ; tail 75 mm.

In bulletin No. 10 of North America Fauna the range of
this species is given by Dr. C. Hart Merriam "from mountains
of Pennsylvania and New York northward to Labrador." In
the same bulletin Mr. G. S. Miller, Jr., mentions having examined
specimens from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Maine and other states.

Dr. Philip Cox, of the University of New^ Brunswick tells
me that it is a new mammal to record for the province. In other
parts of New Brunswick this species may be tolerably common
or even plentiful, but I cannot think that it is' anything but rare

218 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

here, for no such animal has been noticed, either dead or ahve,
reseinbling this in the last twenty years. Why I say dead or
alive is because dead specimens of our shrews and moles are
often found on our highways.

Other shrews and their relatives that I have taken here
are as follows: —

Common mole, Condylura cristata. Generally distributed,
it§ habitat being chiefly wettish places where it burrows in
search of worms, grubs, etc. Its colour ranges from sootv to
black, according to season. It is larger, being much more stoutly
proportioned, than the shrews. Measurements are about as
follows: body 130 mm.; tail 60 mm.; hind foot 23 mm.

Short -tailed shrew, Blarina hrevicauda. Generally dis-
tributed about damp woods and fields; have secured some in
open fields and in the same runways as used by the common
meadow mouse, or vole. Its colour is ashy, slightly paler below,
varies with the seasons. Measurements are about as follows:
body 90 mm. ; tail 23 mm. ; hind foot 14 mm.

Smoky shrew, Sorex jumeus. This species is without doubt
the most common of the shrews in this locality. It seems to be
found mostly about moist woods and thickets. The general size
here is, body 68 mm.; tail 44 mm.; hind foot 13 mm. Colour
grayish, slightly paler below, lightest on throat; feet and tail
lighter than body, tip of tail darkest.

Little shrew, Sorex personatus. Found about moist woods
and swampy grassy areas. This species very much resembles
5. fumeus but is much smaller; body 50 mm. ; tail 43 mm. ; hind
foot 13 mm.

These constitute the species found at Scotch Lake. There
are two other species found elsewhere in the province, viz. :
5. hoyi taken in northern New Brunswick ; (I think I secured a
specimen near Nictor Lake in Restigouche County, but the skin
was destroyed), and 5. richardsoni reported from along the St.
John River by Dr. Cox.

As mentioned above specimens of moles and shrews are
frequently found dead along roadways. Upon examination I
have always found them to have been killed by some preying
mammal, probably the work of a weasel. The skulls have all
been more or less broken, and at times the skin about the fore
parts punctured or baidlv mutilated. Cats will kill shrews,
probably in mistake for mice, but thev do not eat them as the
shrews have a pungent musky odor obnoxious to carnivorous
mammals.

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 219

MEETING OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH.

The third meeting of the Botanical Branch was hehl on
December 11th, at the residence of Mr. George Michaud. There
were present: Messrs. G. H. Clark, James M. Macoun, Wm. T.
Macoun, A. E. Attwood. H. Groh, R. MacMillan, Norman
Criddle, R. B. White and the Chairman.

The subject for the evening was "The \alue of the seeds
as a means of identifying plants." The seeds were shown bv
Mr. Michaud to be very important in identifying plants on
account of their more constant characters, being less affected bv
environment than are other organs such as leaves, flowers, etc.
A collection of specimens mounted on slides was exhibited
showing the generic characteristics of the most important
families of our wild and cultivated plants in their normal and
different conditions, as found in commercial samples of seed
grain. Special slides showing the following interesting points
were also shown: —

1. Similaritv of the external appearance of seeds of quite
different botanical groups; e.g., SHpa spartea vrs. Erodiumcicu-
tarium, Saponaria officinalis vrs. Astragalus caryocarpus, Sapo-
naria Vaccaria vrs. Brassica Rapa, Cynoglossum officinale vrs.
Ranunculus tnberculatus. Euphorbia Helioscopia vrs. Neslia pani-
culata, Glycyrrhiza lepidoia YTS. Xanthium canadense, and others.

2. Apparent dissimilarity of external characters of seeds
belonging to the same botanical groups; e.g., Corispermum
hyssopifolium vrs. Atriplex patula, Poteniilla monspeliensis vrs.
Rosa acicularis . Agrimonia gryposepalavrs. Geum album, Tnfolium
repens vrs. Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Geranium Bicknellii vrs. Erodmm
cicutarium, Apium graveolens vrs. Washingtonia longistylis vrs.
Heracleum lanatum, Lithospermum arvense vrs. L. officinale, Cyno-
glossum officinale \v&. Myosotis palusiris, Mimulus ringens vrs.
Linaria indgaris, Achillea Millefolium vrs. Bidens frondosa. and
others.

Specimens of dead leafless plants, collected under the snow
at the end of November, which had been identified through
single seeds still found on them, were also shown.

The purity work of the Seed Laboratory was also discussed
and shown to be simply an identification of i)lantsby the seeds
onlv.

Those who were present at this meeting were much interested
in seeing the specimens of seeds of certain species which, without
a magnifving glass or microscope, appeared identical with seeds
of other species, even of other genera, but which on being put
under the glass showed striking differences in the marking of

220 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

the seed coat in the relative roughness or smoothness of it, and
in other characteristics. Those who had previously been
sceptical as to the possibility of identifying sppcies of plants with
certainty from their seeds alone, were convinced before the
meeting was over that this could be done, and that in many
cases when the specimens of dried plants were so bad that it
was impossible to identify them, a single seed would settle the
whole matter. G. M.

THE CORRELATION OF CHARACTERS IN PLANTS AND
ITS ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO THE PLANT

BREEDERS.

(Synopsis of a Talk Given at a Meeting of the Botanical

Branch on the Evening of January 8th by

Mr. L. H. Newman.)

It is a well known fact that certain characters in plants
are more or less closely related and that any modification of
the one is simultq,neously followed by a modification of the
other. Darwin considered the correlation of different parts of
the individual to be an important factor in explaining some of
the laws of variation. This tendency for the development of
certain parts to follow the developement of certain other parts
is of considerable value to the practical plant breeder since
his efforts to effect improvement along certain lines may be
either offset or assisted by the de\'elopment of other charac-
ters elsewhere in response to the disturbance within the organism.
The nature of this bond of correlation is not understood al-
though several have attempted to explain it.

Webber has classified the various forms of correlations
under four heads, viz.: (1) Environmental, (2) Physiological,
(3) Coherital and (4) Morphological.

Environmental correlation implies merelv the response of a
plant to its environment. In other words, .if the soil be poor
there will be a correspondingly poor growth ; increase the
fertility and the plant immediately responds.

De Vreis describes this class of variation as one in which
two characters react similarly to external conditions. Lieben-
berg claims that increase in length of stem is correlated with
increase in strength of stem, length of head, number of spikelets
and total weight of kernel produced.

Grains grown under conditions characterized by a super-
abundance of light, heat, food or moisture produce extra long
heads. In wheat these heads seldom produce more than an

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 221

extra spikelet and sometimes even less, but the distance between
the spikelets is greatly increased while the kernel is Hkely to be
starchy, hence environment vrs. quality of grain. Selecting these
heads is therefore a useless practice and is always discouraged.

Physiological Correlations: — Under this clags of correlations
belong those variations which occur in the functional organs of
the plant. An example of this class is given b}^ certain breeders
who have noticed that excessive leaf development is followed
by a corresponding reduction in the production of seeds.
Potatoes, pease and other crops have also demonstrated that
an excessive growth of vine or stalk is usually associated with
a decreased yield of tubers or seed as the case may be. East
discusses this under the heading of "The interrelation of parts
not homologous," or "The compensation in growth of plants."
This latter law was propounded almost simultaneously many
years ago by G. St. Hilaire and Goethe.

Coherital Correlations: — Under this heading are included
those characters which seem to be inherited as a single unite
character. They are related in such a way that they are
"inherited together," although there is little or no evidence to
show that this relationship is of any functional importance.

Webber cites an interesting case of coherital correlation
which came to his notice in connection with an attempt to cross
Black Mexican and Stowell's Evergreen Sweet corn with a view
to producing a hybrid having the tenderness and sweetness of
the Mexican but with the larger and more suitable ear for cann-
ing purposes peculiar to the Stowells. It was also desired to
produce a hybrid having the light colored kernel of the Stowells
when in the milk stage with a light blue color indicating "some-
thing new" when ripe. In the fourth generation an examination
was made and careful notes taken on the color of the silks,
stamens and glumes of the tassels. In the pure Mexican these
parts are light in color while in the Stowells which produces a
white kernel, these organs vary from dark reddish-purple to
a lighter pink. It will be noted here that, contrary to w-hat
would naturallv be expected, the black kernel produces light
colored reproductive organs while the white kernelled variety
bears organs which are dark in color. We often find the same
peculiarity in wheat.

An examination of the ears produced in the fourth and
fifth generations showed that these related characters still cling
together despite the claims of some authorities, notably,
johannsen, that hybridization breaks correlations— Webber
found that only in about one case out of 50 or 100 was the corre-
lation broken through hybridization.

222 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

This correlation of colors is of value to the breeder as it
enables him to make an examination of organs which are ex-
posed and still growing or in operation and thus to tell what the
color of the kernel will be. If it be desired to produce a hybrid
of a uniform color, say a light blue, the tassels or male organs
might be removed from those plants bearing light green glumes,
stamens and silks before the pollen is shed so that a race of a
pure color might be developed much more quickly.

Norton cites an interesting case of coherital correlation in
oats. In hulled oats the spikelet produces from 1 to 3 flowers
while naked types produce from 3 to 7 flowers. Hybrids of these
two have been effected with a view to increasing the number
of flowers to a spikelet and still retain the hulled character, but
it was found that where as many as four flowers were produced
to a spikelet the kernel was invariably found to be naked.
The difficulty of breaking this correlation has here worked to
the disadvantage of the breeder so it will be seen that these
correlations are not always advantageous. The existence of
these coherital correlations seems to strengthen the theory of
the existence of unit characters in plants which theory is being
accepted by many of our leading biologists and breeders of the
present day. East has recently extended Webber's classifica-
tion and has discussed several groups not included in the above
arrangement. His dissertation on "The interrelation of parts
not homologous" is especially interesting.

Morphological Correlafions :—Vnder this class belong those
cases "where a variation in one character is the primary cause
for the variation in another character." An example of this
class is illustrated in work done b}^ Dr. Hopkins, of Illinois, in
improving certain characters in the corn kernel, notably the
oil and protein content.

The germ of the corn kernel is richest in oil, therefore, the
larger the germ in relation to the rest of the kernel the higher the
oil content; the hard corneous substance of the kernel is richest
in protein, hence the larger the proportion of this substance to
the rest of the kernel the higher the protein content.

At the Nebraska Station, Lyon conducted some tests with a
large number of samples of wheat with a view to determining
the relationship between the per cent, protein and the weight of
kernel. His results indicate that high protein kernels are smaller
and lighter and that plants producing kernels of high protein
content do not produce such high yields as do those producing
kernels lower in protein. This suggests to the breeder the futility
of breeding for high protein and high yields at the same time.
Medium yielding heads are also found to come from highest
yielding plants.

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 223

There is said to be a relationship between the per cent-
hull in oats and the strength of straw. Very thick or very thin
hiilled varieties produce weak straw. For an example we
have the Tartar King and Joanette varieties respectively.
Tartar King variety seems to vary considerably as regards the
manner in which the kernels are developed.

At the Svalof Station, Sweden, some interesting morpho-
logical correlations have beers discovered in barlev. Barley is
normally classified under two main types, viz., the hexastrichum
or six-rowed (including the four-rowed) and the districhum or
two-rowed nodding (nutans) and the two-rowed erect (erect um).
An examination of grains of barley will show that some have
smooth backs while some have indentations on the edges.
Again at the base of the ventral portion of the grain we will find
the plumule, in some cases, made up of comparatively long stiff
hairs, while in other cases it consists of a mass of short curled
hairs. These characters have been found to have a great per-
manency and to correspond to certain physiological characters
such as rate of maturing and brewing qualities. Types of barley
which ripen evenly and have a thick husk with short woolly hairs
at the base of the scales are better brewers than are those not
possessing these characters. These peculiarities of form or
structure are considered very useful by the breeder in enabling
him to isolate superior types much more quickly and with
much less work.

In our own corn improvement work we find many interest-
ing correlations, some of which are of considerable value to the
breeder. During the past summer the writer had occasion to
examine with special care seventy-three special corn plots and
succeeded in gathering considerable important data. Among
our breeders of Dent corn were found some who, in their desire
to develop highly productive types, were selecting large deep
kernelled ears having at least 20 rows of kernels. Such ears,
however, are universally later since depth of kernel and length
of time it requires for an ear of corn to mature are very closely
related. We find another correlation between the size of the
ear and the height at which it is borne on the stalk, the large
late ears being borne higher from the ground than are those
which mature earUer. One breeder planted ears averaging 9^ —
10 inches long bv 9 inches in circumference with the result that
. ears averaging 20-22 rows of kernels were produced and these
' w^ere borne at about 5' from the ground. Still another cor-
relation is found between the character of the dent of corn and
the depth of kernel— the smoother the dent the shallower the
kernel and vice versa. This fact is useful to the breeder ni

224 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

that he can be guided in making his selections by observing
the character of the dent of the kernel.

An examination of the plots just referred to showed that
where the average size of the ear did not exceed 9
inches in length by 7 inches in circumference the larg-
est proportion of good mature ears were found, and
therefore the largest yield was realized. This proves the import-
ance of selecting medium sized ears of good type which will
thoroughly mature before frost. In ordinary fields of corn it is
very common to find a mixture of many different types, some
of which are deep kernelled while others are shallower. In such
cases there is a very conspicuous lack in the uniformity of ma-
turity of the crop, and as a consequence its value is greatly
decreased not only for feeding purposes but more especially for
seed. A sufficient number of cases have been given to indicate
that the correlation of different characters in plants is not only of
scientific interest but is of considerable practical value in reveal-
ing to the breeder certain hidden qualities. Care should be
taken, however, to avoid concluding too hastily that any two
characters are correlated sufficiently to warrant a selection
being made because of its existence. On the other hand, the
general ratio in which each is found in the general population
should decide the issue.

THE PASSEN.GER PIGEON.

By W. Lochhead.

Not many years ago the passenger pigeon was a very
common bird, and great flocks, comprising hundreds of thous-
ands, were often observed during their periods of flight. Its
range extended along eastern North America, as far west as the
Mississippi valley and northward to Hudson Bay. It nested in the
northern portions of its range. Now, however, it is so rare that
there are doubts as to its very existence in America.

The cause of the disappearance of such useful, beautiful,
tender-voiced birds in the course of a single generation is not
far to seek. They were thoughtlessly slaughtered by the
thousands, in order to provide sport and food for a few days.
It is stated by a trustworthy eye-witness that "people would
come from all parts of the country with wagons, axes, beds and
cooking utensils, camping on the ground with their families for
days, Vv'here they could plunder the nests of the roosts, of the
vast army of passenger pigeons." Accordingly, the passenger
pigeon has gone the way of the buffalo which existed once in
countless numbers on the prairies of the West — awful examples

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 225

of the work of destruction of people who had no thought of
to-morrow.

An effort is now being made by persons interested m the
preservation of such a fine bird to save it from utter extinction
if there be any alive. At a recent meeting of the American
Ornithologists' Union the matter was brought up by Prof. C. F.
Hodge, of Clark University. Worcester, Mass., and" as a result
of the discussion that followed Colonel Kuser offered an award
of $300 for the first information of a nesting pair of wild pass-
enger pigeons uiuUstitrbed. Before this award will be paid,
such information exclusive and confidential, must be furnished
as will enable a committee of expert ornithologists to visit the
nest and confirm the finding. If the nest and parent birds are
found undisturbed the award will be promptly paid, through
Prof. Hodge. The object of this generous award is to induce a
search for nesting passenger pigeons throughout the length and
breadth of Canada and the United States; and when thev are
found to organize adequate protective work through legislation
and warden service, so that the birds may be permitted to feed
in absolute safety and be accorded the freedom of the American
continent.

All lovers of birds, it is felt, will join heartily in the plan
proposed for the preservation of this ill-fated pigeon. In order,
however, that a wide-spread interest mav be aroused in the
effort to locate nesting pairs, there should also be local volunteer
awards for the first undisturbed nest in each province; and a
call is here made to our liberal-minded citizens for such local
awards. Teachers throughout Canada should call the attention
of the boys and girls to the plan and ask them to join in the
search. The first nest discovered will draw Colonel Kuser's
award of $300 and the local award as well. That first nest is
likely to be found in Canada.

BOOK REVIEW.

Catalogue of Canadl\n Birds. By John Macoun, Naturalist
to the Geological Survey, Canada, and James M. Macoun,
Assistant Naturalist to the Geological Survey, Canada.
Department of Mines, Geological Survey Branch, Ottawa.
1909.
Bird lovers and Canadians generally will join in felicitations

to Prof. John Macoun and Mr. J. M. Macoun on the successful

completion of their revision of the Catalogue of Canadian Birds.

which is just out, bringing Canadian ornithological records as

nearly as possible up to date.

226 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Prof. Macoun has been fortunate in having tlie assistance
of Mr. J. M. Macoun in these labors, which have produced a
volumn of 761 pages, exceeding its predecessor bv 28 pages, and
appearing in one volume instead of three parts as before.

Five additional species appear in the list, four of them by
the taking of specimens, namely: —

The Fulvous Tree Duck, an old record of which has been
turned up, and in addition, a specimen taken from a flock of
eleven of the same species near New Alberni, Vancouver Island ^
September, 1905.

The Dotterel, taken at King Island, Alaska, July 23, 1897.

The Chuck-Will's- Widow, taken at Point Pelee, May 19,
1906, and one near Picton, N.S., date not given.

The European Linnet, taken at Toronto, January,' 1890, by
Mr. Wm. Loan.

In addition to these, the Green Crested Flycatcher has
been added to the list on a surmise by Mr. J. H. Fleming that
a specimen which he took years ago at Toronto was of this
species; while the surmise is probably correct, the specimen
was never preserved. Since the list was in type, however, there
have been two satisfactory records of the occurrence of this
species in Ontario.

The activities of the closet naturalist are well illustrated
by the addition of twenty, and the elimination of five varieties,
which make a net addition of twenty titles to the present edition,
the contents of the book being enlarged at the same time from
738 to 761 pages. The elimination of the lists of specimens in
the Government Museum also left space for the inclusion of much
new matter. The arrangement of the matter and the type
used, and the proof-reading, are eminenth' satisfactory-, so also
is the index. In these respects there was no fault to find with
the previous editions, but other publications have sometimes
been sadly lacking in this regard. The index is so printed that
one's eye passes very rapidlv over the titles until the item
desired is reached.

In the reception and arrangement of such a vast amount of
material as is here published, it is inevitable that errors should
creep in; but the authors have characteristically preferred to
err on the side of generosity, rather than to exclude entries
which may probably be incorrect. There are, however, items
to which perhaps exception may reasonably be taken, and which
it would appear, ought to be noticed in greater detail, as for
instance the Yellow-green Vireo, which is reported as taken at
Godbout in May, 1883. This species is of only casual occurrence
n North America and the validitv of this record when published

1910] The Ottawa Naturalist. 227

without circumstantial detail is open to question. So rare a
specimen should be located and verified bv the highest
authorities.

The record of the Wilson's Plover is open to similar criticism,
and for a Canadian list it would seem as thoui^di the basis of the
published habitat should l)e stated.

Again with regard to the Black Rail, the three records given
are none of them thoroughly reliable; one was a bird seen in
flight ; another refers to the taking of a number of specimens
in the Dundas Marsh, which ha\'e since proved to be the Virginia
Rail; and the third depends upon the ability of a gentleman,
the honesty of v\'hose intentions is not open to question, but
who may have fallen into the same error as did Mr. Nash re-
garding the Virginia Rail.

The record of the White-winged Black Tern, which is also
a sight record of birds seen on the wing, is another fair mark for
criticism. The fact that Black Terns, as well as other species
of the family, are known to carry over into the second year
parts of the juvenal plumage, and that the bend of the wing
appears white in flight renders sight records of these species
more liable to error than would otherwise be the case.

The authors are to be congratulated on having preferred
the long used English names, instead of following the changes
which the A.O.U. Committee of Revision are attempting to
foist upon the ornithological world. Alterations in scientific
names have been so frequent and widespread that there is a
tendency to cease referring to them, and to use only the English
names which have been so far perfectly stable, bvit when the
Committee endeavors to attach to the English names that
changeableness which ha.'^ so long been characteristic of the
scientific names, it is time for the rank and file of ornithologists
to refuse to follow their lead. The laws which have been made
to govern the application of scientific names, have doubtless
required the making of the changes that have occurred, but
these laws do not govern the English names, nor is it likely that
they will be followed by the bulk of students. Furthermore
manv students will prefer, and will use, the old style of possessive
names for such birds, as Wilson's Thrush. The present catalogue
follows the newly suggested method of omitting the possessive
which would sometimes lead us into serious trouble; for instance,
if a thrush were named for James Brown and the name were
spelt after the newlv suggested manner, it would l)e the "Brown
Thrush," which would certainly lead to confusion.'^W^'"^^^^ ?^

It would appear that in publishing the present edition,
current literature has not been scanned as closelv as it might

228 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

have been in the scrutinizing and addition of records. For
instance, the Prairie Warbler, Carohna Wren and others have
had notable additions to their Canadian status since the last
edition; the Blue-wing Warbler and the Worm-eating Warbler
have been added to the Canadian list, by the taking of specimens,
and were recorded in the Auk for July, 1908; but when such
criticism is offered, one must bear in mind that the list has been
in type for a long time, and it niay not have been possible to
make these additions since it passed out of the authors' hands.
Certainly it is a fact that there is less elasticity in the issuance
of Government publications than is usual in the commercial
world.

It is understood that the authors intend to issue an
addendum to this list in the present year with the idea of making
any corrections and additions that may be necessary to bring
the matter thoroughly up to date. If all bird students will keep
this matter in view while reading the work, and will make
notes on such matters as deserve remarks and later on report
these notes to the authors, they will materially assist the work
of these gentlemen who have done so much for this branch of
natural hist or v.

W. E. S.

The Smoky Shrew. Sorex fumeus, the Smoky Shrew, is a
small animal that is practically unknown from Ontario. Skilled
collectors have taken and recorded a few speciinens to the north
and west of Muskoka, and now I wish to record the only two
specimens that have been taken in the older part of the province.
These were both taken by Mr. John A. Morden, near Hyde Park.
One, a female, was trapped on December 9th, 1907, in a sphagnum
and spruce swamp, 4 miles west of London. Mr. Morden recogniz-
ed the tracks on the snow as being made by an animal new to
him .

The second one was caught by Mr. Morden's cat and dis-
carded by that animal, as being useless for her piirpose. The
date was April 7th, 1909. and the specimen is a male.

Both individuals are now in the collection of Mr. J. E.
Keays, of this city. He and I have trapped considerably on the
very ground on which Mr. Morden's first specimen was taken.
This locality is the only place where we have been able to find
Synaptomys near London, but we have never succeeded in taking
fume us there, although Sorer personatus is usually found in fair
numbers, and sometimes appears to be quite common, whereas,
through the country generally, it is rare. W. E. Saunders,
London, Ont.

1910]

The Ottawa Naturalist.

229

INDEX

TO THE

OTTAWA NATURALIST, VOL XXllI, 1909-10.

PAGE

Abronia latifolia 149

umbdlata 148, 193

Acanthis linaria 1 1 .'^

Algonkin and Huron occu-
pation of the Ottawa

Valley.. 61, 92

Alsia calif arnica 137

Althcca officinalis 193

Amsinckia lycopsoides 193

Anacolia Baitcri 188

Antelope, Prong-hoi'n 41

Antennaria ncodioica, var.

Gaspcnsis 1 94

Antilocapra americana 41

Ant Roads 15t)

Ants, Tent-building habits

of.. ....... 168

Arabis Whitedii 121

Arnica, some Western species

of 213

Arnica sororia 213

" rubricaulis 213

" stricia 214

lactucina 214

jalconaria 215

Everinannii 215

Attwood, A. E., Abstract of

an address by 209

Bartonia virginica 193, 21 1

Bartramia circinnulata 190

Barbuia inclinata 182

" subandrea'oidcs 182

subcylindrica 181

" andrccuoides 181

Bald Eagle, Rapid extermina-
tion of. 116

Bird Life, Tragic side of 131

Bird Migration, 1908. Sable

Island 149

Birds observed at Coboconk,

Ont 1 94

Birds, rare, at Point Pelee.. . . 160

Bird Notes 59

Birds of Durham, Ont 132

i'a<;b

Birds ot Stony Plain, Alta... . 125

Birds, Winter, at Point Pelee. 46
Biological Princi])lcs and
their practical application
in the improvement of

Field Crops 85, 105

Book Reviews . .31, 117, 134, 170,

225
Botanical Branch, ineetings

of 20, 33, 54, 204,219

Botanical Excursions, Ger-
man Field Methods 163

Botany, Field Notes of Can-
adian 110

Bouteillier, R. S., article by. . 149

Brachythcciunt cirrhosnm. ... 139

laxirctc 189

papilUpes. ... 189
pseiido - chlor-

ppteriim. ... 139

rivularc 1 39

V rl ut in it m.
subsp. cur-

virafneum. . 189

Bryiim alpiniforrnc 186

anninontanitnt 186

brachyncitron 188

cyclophylltndcs 1 84

caniptocarpnm 188

coin nibico- c .vspiticiii m 191

drcpanocarpiim 188

glacial c 187

hydrophiltim 190

hamicttspis 191

intermedium, subsp.

ovatifolinm 188

jiilacciim 187

Lovoii 187

Macoi.nii 185

nano-ccespiticiii n 188

ncodamcnse 187

obtusatunt 185

pallcscens, var. grandc 187

pendulum Xannni. . . . 184

pendulum longipes.. . 185

230 The Ottawa

PAGE

Brv'i:n siibmicans 186

subciiciillatum 186

snbobUtsifoliiim 186

s lib neoda mens e 187

" siibperciirrcntiyierve: . . 185
Bryology, New contributions

to Canadian 137, 180

Burman, Rev. Canon, Obit-
uary notice of 32

Cakile edentiila 193

Calochortus Lyallii 146

Callicrgon Lo'nchopns 138

" sHbsarmcntosunt. . . 13 7

siibtiir^cscens.. A37 . 189
irifariiiin. subsp.

apiciil turn 190

Catalogue of Canadian Birds,

Review of ^25

Climaciiim dendroides 13 7

Cainptotheciuyn n i t c ii s, var.

microthcca.. 138
" n it e n s, var.

leiicobasis . 138

megaptilum.. . 188

Carcx cephaloidea 192

Clarke, T. E., Report of

Council by 7

Council Meeting 57

Report of 7

Coleoptera, Ottawa records.. 31

Co'leosanthiis oblongifolius . . . . 193
Correlation of characters in
])lan s and its economic im-
portance to the plant breeder 2 0

Craig, John, article by 163

CratcBgiis Doiiglasii . . . .^ 19

Crossbills Nesting in South-
ern Ontario 84

Criddle, N., articles bv 23,

127, 197

Dearness, J., note by 58

Dendroica discolor 113

Didymodon brachvdontiiis.. . . 182

Dicckii. . 191

Dicranoweisia Roellii, var.

aterrima 142

Dicranum stenodictyon 142

" subscoparium 142

perichcetialc. ...... 142

Dioscorea villosa 58

Dod-Wolley, F. H., articles

by 69, 122, 144

Eifrig, G., article by 113

EleochAris nitida 192

Encalypta alaskana 182

Naturalist. [March

PAGE

Eurhynchiuni glaciale. var.

angustifolium. 138
glaciale infra-

alpinwm. . . 139
r It s c i f or me,
var. obtusiim. . 190
tr achy podium.. 139
Entomological Branch, meet-
ings of 50, 76, 216

Entomological Branch, Re-
port of, 1908 28

English Sparrow adapting it-
self to new conditions of

life 23

Excursions 55,78

Farm Weeds of Canada, re-
view of 1 70

Fissidens Bushii 141

osm. ndoides var.

obliqnits 140

" rufulus. . 141

" Julianiis, var. aw-

ericantis 141

Fletcher Memorial Fund. . . 15, 40,
73, 167, 196, 211

Forest Reserves 25

Fnnaria microstoma 183

Gannet, near Ottawa 192

Gibson, Arthur, articles by. . . 104,

129

Greene, E. L., articles by 17,

37, 110, 213

Gri mmia cognata 1 80

diversifolia 180

elatior rufescens. . . . 142

elata 143

grandis 143

Hartmani 180

ham-ttlosa 180

ovatceformis 143

papillinervts 180

serrata 181

Stirtoni 181

siibpapillinervis. . . . 180

Grindelia percnnis 148

Groh, Herbert, articles bv.^ . . 58,

' 131, 211

Gull, Bonaparte's. 211

Herbarium of Geological Sur-
vey, Contributions from. . . 121,

146, 192

Hewitt, C. Gordon, article
by 168

Hemiptera, Ottawa records.. 31

1910]

The Ottawa Naturalist.

231

PAGE

Hesperiphona vcspcrtina 114

Hydropkylhitn albifrons 147

Hypoptcrygiii m canadcnse. ... 191
Hygiene for Young People,

review of 134

Hypiiiitn callichroitm 191

Hypnii ni Jayn esii-Macounii . . 189
" Kneifii micro pterum 140

obsoletincrve 140

Hymenoptera, Ottawa rec-
ords 31

Instinct and Education

Insect Friends and Enemies,

Our, review of

Isothecium aggregatum

Howii

" myuroidcs

Kindberg, C. N., article by. . .

Klugh, A. B., article by...

Knechtel, A., Synopsis

lectvtre by

of

209

117
138
188
190
137,
180

11.=;

2 5

Lambe, L. M., Obituary

notice by 118

Lecture Programme, 1909-

1910 172

Lepidoptera, Ottawa records. 30
Lepidoptera, Discourses upon

the 122, 144

Lepidiitui cam ear 121

Lochhead W.. article by 224

Macnamara, Charles, article

by 150

Macoun, John and James M.,
Catalogue of Canadia i

Birds, i^eview of 225

Macoun, James M., articles

by 19, 121, 146, 192

Macoun, W. T., article by. .. . 173

Megorisinus fletcheri 104

Meesea Macoitmi 182

Miclichhoferia recurvtfolia. . . 182

Membersof O.F.N.Clistof.. 3
Mninm Blyltii, var. micro-

phyllum 184

Macoitnii 184

" medium boreale 184

" Seligeri 183

Mole, Common 218

Moore, W. H., article by 217

Munro, J. A., article by 194

Myosotis laxa l-tS

Nature, Intimacy with 60

Native Plants, some of the

best for cultivation 173

Mcosorcx albibarbis ^n

Newman, L. H., article by.85, 105.

Nitrogen Compounds in Rain

and Snow 151

Oats, White Wild, so-called. . 127
Obituary Notice : Rev. Canon

Burman. 32
Dr. J. F.

Whiteaves. 118

Ornithology, Everyday 197

Oligotrichnmhcrcynicum 189

Orthocarpus pusillns 148

sitbriv Ic 190

Passenger Pigeon 224

Parks, W. A., article by 153

P edicularis Graenlandica, var.

siirrccta 147

Penstemon ovatus 148

priitnosus 1^

" pinecornm. 147

Richardsonii 147

Pcriglyptocriniis priscus, or-
namentation of 153

Personal 133

Pctasites dentata 122

Philonotis' fontana, var. mi-

crothamnia 183

nticrocarpa 183

Physcomitniim microcarpiim. 183

Phegoptcris Robertianiim 192

Pipilo erythrophthalmiis 113

Plagiothecium itndnlatitm. . . . 138

Plantago elongato 148

Polytrichiim apiculatum 140

Prairie Warbler 113

Prince, E. E., articles by.. .41 , 134

Psiloptliimtschiitschicum 140

Putoriiis cigonani 212

Pyrola elliptica 147

Racomitrium, depressum. var.

nigricans 181

Ranunculus Lobbii 193

Salix tenera 193

Saunders, W. E., articles by. . 46,
84, 116, 132, 156, 160,211,212,

22s

Scouleria Muelleri 181

Seligeria subcampyloda 142

Shrew, Short-tailed

Smoky 218, 228

232

The Ottawa Naturalist,

[March

Shrew Little... 218

New to New Bruns-
wick 217

Sharp-skinned Hawk Migra-
tion 156

"Snow-worms" ... 129

Snake Behavior 58

Soirees 196,207

Sowter, T. W. E., article by . 6 1 , 92

Sorex fiinifus 228

Spircsa densiflora 121

pyramidata 121

" Donglasii 122

"Species," What is a 69

Sphceralcea mtinroana 146

Stepheoceras Ntcolcnse 23

Stansell, Sidney S. S., article

by 125

Sporobolus iimflorus 192

Telephoriis bihneatus 130

Terrill. L. M., note by 59

Tetraplodon mnioides, var.

brevicollis .... 142
" mnioides Brc-

weri 141

" urccolatus 141

Thalictrum, Canadian species

of 17,37

Thalictru m a I p tn u m, var.

Gaspense 18

Thalictritin a I p i n a m, var.

microspermu m 18
al p i n u w, var.

nesioticiim. ... 19
a I p i n n m, var.

pudicii m 19

" dioicitm 38

" d i o i c u m, var.

Langfordii. ... 40
d i o i c 11 m var.
Hiironense. ... 39
" d i o t c 11 m var.

adiantiniim. . . 39
Thamnium pscudo-necker-

oides 191

Treasurer's Statement 16

Vaccinium alaskccnsis 147

Vernonia corymbosa 122

Wallis, J. B., obituary notice

by 32

Weasel, a Rare, at Ottawa. . . 212

Weista Wolfit 190

Whiteaves, J. F., article by. . 21

obituary notice of 118

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Re-
markable migration of . . . . 115

■^

■ i

APRIL, 1909

VOL. XXIII, No. 1

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists* Club.

JEOitot:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,

OTTAWA.

?l06ociate Bditotd:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

i Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, i?„,, r t7x„„x^ oo ogy. j -^ Q^gg^^^ g^

;| Paleontology. ^^^^ G- ^--^.^.^^^^^ Nature Study.

)iHoN. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.
1 Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

JList of Members -- -3

Report of Council 7

Fletcher Memorial Fund ------- -16

Treasurer's Statement -- -16

Canadian Species of Thalictrum — 1. By Edward L. Greene - 17
t^ote : Crataegus Douglasii, Lindl. ------ 19

Meeting of Botanical Branch -------20

Copbland-Chatterson-Crain Limited

ISSUED APRIL 30, 1909. /"^v Z'^'* ^^^^ i

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63 Sparks St.

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MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395 687 Wellington St.

Lnmnited

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA «■«-

Factory . HULL.

WINNIPEG,

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A. Specialty

Far Quotations
PHONE 8512

Ottawa Sample Room,
Canadian Building:. Phono 4463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage
Solicited

67 Sparks Street
Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

S5, 000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SOI^S, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIANS

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

Fur Department
Phone 4828

76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY&SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street

Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES— Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,
Vertical Filing- and
various Office Devices.

Special Insect Cases
and Natural History
Cabinets made to
order.

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO

SELL EVERYTHING

TheUnitedPliotographJc
Stores, Limited, »=^-"'"'

J street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McEitiinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcal-fe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware. We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty Mfg.O>. 143 sparks st.

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

$25 to $500

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*• else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

/^UR prices for every style of
" Ring are as moderate as is
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 sparks street

GRIP LIMITED

ARTI STS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St., TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN TRAVELLERS'

DRAFTS ^^° CHEQUES

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner
sparks and ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands op Agencies Throughout Canad.\'

WE DEAL WITH OUR AOVERTtSERS

James Hope & Sons ::Sr.Sr Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST /~* /^ A T LOWEST

QUALITY 1. ^\ 7 r\ I ^ PRICE

58 SPARKS ST. Jt Phone 461

I^^ TORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

H Quarter of a gcntury^s

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

Amsrican Eotomological Go.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genmne Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coliections, and cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply Lis» No. 8 and List of Entomolosrical Publications
for sale Just out. Write for it. Insect List No. 6 still in force

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, N.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGlFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

ig6 Sparks Street 1
24 Rideau Street j

OTTAWA

W. B. GRAHAM

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waveriey, OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agem

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

Backache Try musgrove-s k. &^l. specif^ic

Zbt (Ottawa ftelO^'naturaliete' dlub.

patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

Council 1909*1910
president :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

\t)ice«pre0it>ent0 :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xlbrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretarie : Zteaemcv -.

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson, '■

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm).

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss M. M. Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, B.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

Standing (lommitteeB of Council:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss M. M. Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soirits: A. Halkett. L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

leaDers at Bxcureions:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Yoimg, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
Arehctology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

nuditore :

R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyae.

Memb«pship F«« to O.F.N.C, with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1.00 pep annum.

MAY, 1909

VOL. XXm, No. 2

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

:601tor:

ARTHUR GIBSON,
Central Experimental Farm,
OTTAWA.

Associate jEOitocs:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, ^ ^ ^ oo ogy. r ^^ q^^^^^ ^ j^

Palceontology. ^^^- ^- ^'^^oimthology ^"^"''^ •^'"^>'-

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.
Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

A Canadian Stepheoceras. By J. F. Whiteaves. - - - 21

How the English Sparrow is adapting itself to new conditions of

life. By Norman Criddle. 23

The Forest Reserves -- 25

Report of the Entomological Branch, 1908 - - - - 28

Book Review: Annual Report of the Entomological Society of

Ontario for 1908 31

Obituary: The Late Rev. Canon Burman, B.D. - - - 32

Meetings of Botanical Branch - ^^

Canadian Species of Thalictrum— II. By Edward L. Greene. - 37

The Fletcher Memorial Fund.

40

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited

ISSUED MAY 28. 1909. >'q^ XO" ^€\ 'O'

Entered at tK* Ottawa Pott Offict as seeorvd clasa matte*. (Llli^ARY] 31

*^^S

WE DEAL WITH OUR AD\/ERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE"
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merif placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 stores, Ottawa, Canada

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395 687 Wellington St.

LnMnitei

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA A-

Factory . HULL

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A. Specialty

For Quotations
PHONE 3512

Ottawa. Sample Room,
Canadian BuilcJimer. Phono 4463

ROOiNEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage ^7 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Foiirth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SO^S, 1 TO.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIANS

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats

Fur Department
Phone 4828

.Fine Furs

76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada
H. MOONEY & SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street Ottawa

CVT YHIID PDTTMrvC TH iniM TUC HTTAVWA CICT n M ATIID AT ICTC TI ITD

«

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES— Toronto. Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and fSStLS'Hfs?";

various Office Devices. ^;£°.'" """ '°

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO

SELL EVERYTHING

The United Photographic
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Cope!and = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware. We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTE'VIS

PHONE

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

835 ^FFi€E Specialty M f fiCp. 143 sparks

ST.

S25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*■ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

OUR prices for every style of
Ring are as moderate as is
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— EKGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St, TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN TRAVELLERS'

DRAFTS ^^^ CHEQUES

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner

SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands of Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

James Hope & Sons ESer^Sr Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH& Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

Ltd.

LOWEST
PRICE

THE C. C. RAY CO.

QUALITY K^ \J 1\. JL^

58 SPARKS ST. jt Phone 461

B5T0R0HT0 GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

E Quarter of a gcntury's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is ttie best guarantee that you. may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE
1350 and

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

kmum Entoinological Go.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genuine Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiections, and of the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. 8 and List of Eptomological Publinationa
for sale Just out. Write for ;t. Insect List \o. 6 still iu force

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, n.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

io6 Sparks Street "» r^'T"T■A^IrA
24 Rideau Street } O^^TAWA

W. B. GRAHAM

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley, OTTAWA

™ SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

— 2

Backache ^ry musgrove's k.&u specific

^be Ottawa fiel^^'naturali0t6' dinb.

patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OP CANADA.

Council 1909*1910
president :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

ItliceoPreetDentd :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig

Xibrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Qarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson, •

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central ExperimenUl Farm).

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss M. M. Scott.

Mr. J. W Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbert son.

Standing aommittees of Council :

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss M. M. Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soir4es: A. Halkett, L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

Xeadere at JEicursiona:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig,A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
Archaology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantjme.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

Auditors:

R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membepship Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1 .OO pep annum.

THE

JUNE, 1909

VOL. XXm, No. 3

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

JBDltOt:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,

OTTAWA.

Hesociatc JEOitors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, p^,^ ^ „ ^ °° °^'^' J. W. Gibson, M.A.

PalcBontology. ^^^- ^- J)m^-j;jo/o Nature Study.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.

Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

The Prong horn Antelope. By Prof. E. E. Prince. - - - 41

Winter Birds at Point Pelee. By W. E. Saunders. - - - 46

Meetings of the Entomological Branch. - - - - - 50

Meetings of the Botanical Branch. 54

First Excursion of the Season of 1909. - - -^ - - 55

Council Meetings. --------- 57

Notes: Dioscorea villosa; Snake Behavior; Bird Notes; Intimacy

with Nature. -- 58

Copelaxd-Chatterson-Crain Limited
ISSUED JUNE 12, 1909.

'}Mered at the Ottawa Post Office as second clast matter, f "^ /jT'^^^''^^ t^'

/uj / \ c

Iuj I. '\ c

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE''
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395 687 Wellington St.

Lnmnited

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA -"•> WINNIPEG,

Factory

HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quotations
PHONE 3512

Cttavwa Sample Room,
Canadian Building, Pho'^e 44-63

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

67 Sparks Street
Ottawa

Your Patronage
Solicited

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000.000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS. I ID.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIANS

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THER J. DEVLIN CO.

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

76 Sparks St.

Fur Department
Phone 4828

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY & SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street

Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES— Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

TT i.* 1 T^M" 1 Special Insect Cases

Vertical Filing- and and Natural History

r^crL T-x • Cabinets made to

various Office Devices. order.

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO.

SELL EVERYTHING

ThellnitedPhotograpliic
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney. D.D.S.

I09 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of Higli Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FUKNITURE

And OSPER.VIOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware, We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f c-C<>. 143 sparks st.

$25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
•*■ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

/^UR prices for every style of
'-' Ring are as moderate as is
consistent ^vith perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St , TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^„^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner
SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands of Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DKAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

James Hope & Sons

Booksellers, Stationers
Bookbinders, Printers

Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

COAL

58 SPARKS ST.

BEST
QUALITY

LOWEST
PRICE

Jt Phone 461

liL^ORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

E Quarter of a €cmurv*$

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY. Manager

Ottawa Braxch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE
13S0 and

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

American Entomological Co.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genmne Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiectiuni, and ?f the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Sniiplv List No. Sand List of Entomological Pulilicationa
for sale .just out. Write for ■ t. lust-ct List .N'o. t; still in furfe

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
55 Stuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, N.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

'l^l^r^'cf.^^'f 1 OTTAWA
24 Rideau Street j

W. B ORAMAM

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley. OTTAWA

™ SMITH PREMIER

The World's j» Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agem

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS SL - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

T^iiplrarllA Try MUSGROVE'S K. & L. SPECIFIC

J^aCKdCliU -^ SURE CURE 212 BANK STREET, OTTAWA

Zbt Ottawa ]rielt)'''naturali6tr Club*

patron:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

Council 1909*1910-

president :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

\Pice*Pre0tOent6 :

Mr, A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xtbrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: ' Xlreaeurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm).

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

StanOing dommttteee of aouncfl:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett, L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XeaDers at Eicursions:

Geology: H. M. Ami. W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
Archaeology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

HuOitors:
R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membership Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1.00 per annum.

THE

JULY, 1909

VOL. XXIU, No. 4

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

BOftor.-

ARTHUR GIBSON,
Central Experimental Farm,
OTTAWA.

Bssodate EDitors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, ^^^^ P t7,.o.^ °° ^^^' J- W. Gibson, M.A.

Paleontology. ^^'^ ""■ ^''""h^itkology. Nature Study.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.
Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

AJgonkin and Huron Occupation of the Ottawa Valley. By T.

W. E. Sowte r --------- 61

What is a Species? By F. H. Wolley-Dod. . ... 69

Fletcher Memorial Fund ; list of subscribers. - - - - 73

Meetings of the Entomological Branch. - - - - , - 76

Excursions: Britannia; Beaver Meadow; Chelsea; Carp. - - 78

Crossbills Nesting in Southern Ontario. By W. E. Saunders. - 84

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited

ISSUED JULY 10, 1909.

fhUergd at tht Ottawa Post Office as seeoiui claat matter J UJ f I | g P A R Y

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

J-^-t^V lO BOOKSTORE"
157 Bank St. Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your

trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395

687 Wellington St.

Lnmnitedl

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA *"■• WINNIPEG,

Factory

HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quetaitions
PHONE 3512

Ottawra. Sample Room,
Canadian Buildingr. Phone 4463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage ^7 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000.000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Htill.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIANS

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

76 Sparks St.

Fur Department
Phone 4828

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY & SON

General Agents
iti Sparks Street

Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. Ox\T.
BRANCHES— Toronto. Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vprfiral Filincr '>nH Special Insect Cases

VerilCai r Uin^ <ana and Natural History

various Office Devices. ^,der"''' "'^^' '"

BRYSOIN, GRAHAM & CO

SELL EVERYTHING

The United Photographic
Stores, Limited. ^^^'""•'"

I } street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

A\ark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Booi^binders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 WelUngrton St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And 03TERM0QR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO,

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware, We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f oCp- 143 sparks st.

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■^ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

OUR prices for every style of
Ring are as moderate as is
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

S25 to $500

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St., TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner
SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands of Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

James Hope & Sons a:SS,p:'r Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST
QUALITY

LOWEST
PRICE

COAL

58 SPARKS ST. ^ Phone 461

I^^ TORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

1\ Ouarter of a genmry's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

American Efitomological Co.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genmne Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufactiu'ers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Collections, and cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. 8 and List of Entomoloxlcal Publications
for gale Just out. Write for it. InsfCt List No. ti still in force

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, n.y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. iHcGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

106 Sparks street \ rv-r-TATWA
24 Rideau Street / OTTAWA

W. B. GRAHAM,

Groceries and. Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley. OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS SL ■ OTTAWA.

MASSON'S .

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

■R^irk^rhp Try MUSGROVE'S K. & L. SPECIFIC

JJCtl/ACll/llC -^ SURE CURE 212 BANK STREET, OTTAWA

Zbc Ottawa jtelO-'ftotumltste' Club.

patron:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

Council 1909=1910
IPrcstOent :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

\Dices»pcc0iOent0 :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

ILlbrarlan :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

StanOing Committees of Council:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett, L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.
(

Xea&ers at Excurgions:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince. A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
ArchcBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

HuOltors:
R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membee^sWip Fee to O.F.N. C, with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1 .OO pen sinnum.

THE

AUGUST, 1909

VOL. XXin, Ho. 5

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

EOftOt:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,
OTTAWA.

?l00oc(ate JEOItors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, n^,, r o, ^ oo ogy. j^y Qjag^j^ jyj^

Pa,.o„>olo,y^ ■"='■ °- '""'S„,U<,;»g,. Nature S„.dy.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.
Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

Certain Biological Principles and their Practical Application in
the Improvement of the Field Crops of Canada. By L. H.
Newman, B.S.A. - - ------ - 85

Algonkin and Huron Occupation of the Ottawa Valley. By T.

W. E. Sowter - 92

Note on Megorismus fletcheri. By Arthur Gibson - . - 104

Oopeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited

ISSUED AUGUST 2, 1909.
h'nterei tU the Ottawi Post Office as stooiul das$ matter.

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationef and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

J Z^Ja. V 1 ^ BOOKSTORE"
157 Bank St. Phone 732

Any book you see advertised , if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your

trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395

687 Wellington St.

Lnminited

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA ANo WIS^HIPEO,

Factory . HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quotations
PHONE 3512

Ottawa. Sample Room,
Canadian Building:, Photie 4463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage ^^ Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000.000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIANS

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THER J. DEVLIN CO.

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

76 Sparks St.

Fur Department
Phone 4828

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada
H. MOONEY& SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

0
D

(0

Library Bureau of Canada

flEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT
BRANCHES — Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and 'Jd NLa"irHfs?";

various Office Devices. ^;^T' "'"" '°

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO.

SELL EVERYTHING

The United Photographic
Stores, Limited, %??.%r

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. fflcElhinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeiand = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf A\anufacturers

174-178 Wellingrton St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware. We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f gCp- 143 sparks st.

$25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
-*■ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

OUR prices for every style of
Ring are as moderate as is
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St., TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner
SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands op Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTI3BRS

James Hope & Sons

Booksellers, Stationers
Bookbinders, Printers

Sparks St. Ottawa

^

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BBST
QUALITY

LOWBST
PRICE

COAL

58 SPARKS ST. jt Phone 461

I^aORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

J\ Quarter of a Cemury*$

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $6,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager
Ottawa Branch:^
Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

Phone
1350

American Entomalogical Go.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genuine Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiections, and cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. 8 and List of Entomological Publications
for sale justout. Write for t. Insnct List No. U still in torce

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, n.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 » 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

106 Sparks Street 1 rv-r-rATKr*
24 Rideau Street } OTTAWA

W. B. QRAHAM.

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phonb 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor.Waveriey. OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

Backache ^ry -viusgrove-s k.&^i, specific

Zbc ©ttawa JicI^-■Waturali0t0' Club.

patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVBRNOR-GBNBRAL OF CANADA

Council 1909*1910
president :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

\t)ice*predtdentd -.

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xtbrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretari^: ^Treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. ^ Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

Standing Committees or douncll:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young.
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett. L. H. Newman. F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

ILeaOers at Bicursions: ^

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince. A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
ArchcBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill

HuOitors:

R, B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membership Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1 .OO per annum.

SEPTEMBER, 1909

VOL. XXIU, No. 6

fTHE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

EOftor:

ARTflUR GIBSON,
Central Experimental Farm,
OTTAWA.

?l06octatc BDltors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, ^ P l7r,.„To "" °^'^' J- W. Gibson. M.A.

Paleontology. ^^"^ ' "" ' ^''^'Smithology . Nature Study.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.
Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

Certain Biological Principles and their Practical Application in
the Improvement of the Field Crops of Canada. By L. H.

Newman, B.S.A. - - - -.--'- - 105

Field Notes of Canadian Botany. I. By Edward L. Greene. - 110

The Prairie Warbler in Northern Ontario and other Notes. By

G. Eifrig - _ . _ _ - - - -11,^

A Remarkable Migration of Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers. Bv

A. B. Klugh • - - - - - - - - '- 115

The Rapid Extermination of the Bald Eagle. By W. E. Saunders 116

Book Review ---------- 117

Obituary : Joseph Frederick Whiteaves ----- J. 18.

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited /0»^^^";C3i'^0 ^\

ISSUED SEPTEMBER 28. 1909. / Q^

Untertd at the Ottawa Post Office as second claat matter. /Uj/, 10^40^1 ^

t^)>M^Sf

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE''
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 STORES, Ottawa, Canada

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINT&

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395

687 Wellington St.

LQMnHed

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA AND

Factory . HULL,

WINNIPEG,

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quetatiorts
PHONE 3512

Ottawa Sample Room,
CoLnadian Building:, Phone 4-463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

{Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage ^^ ^P^rks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BAIOC OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL

Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIANS

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

Fine Furs

High Grade Hats

Fur'Department ''\
Phone 4828

76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY&SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES — Toronto. Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and fn^dtl/urarHliSo";

various Office Devices. o^rder"''' '"*^' *'

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO.

SELL EVERYTHING

ThellnitedPhotographic
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

I09 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware, We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 4IFFICE Specialty M f o.Cp« 143 sparks st.

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

$25 to $500

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*• else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

/^UR prices for every style o
^ Ring are as moderate as i
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St , TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner

SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands of Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

James Hope & Sons SSSr Sparks St. Ottawa

CO

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST f^ f^ A T LOWEST

QUALITY K^y^JrXJL^ PRICE

58 SPARKS ST. jt Phone 461

I^^ TORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

H Qmvm Of a Ccmurv's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $6,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in

Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE
1350 and

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

knmm Eiitomological Go.

Dealers in

In^^ects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genmne Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufactiirers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coliections, and cf *he

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. 8 ami Listof K[itomoloi.'io.il I'ulilliatiinis
for sale Just out. Write for 't. Insect List .So. 6>.lllliiif«rce

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, n.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

106 Sparks street \ n-rxATxrA
24 Rideau Street / OTTAWA

W. B. GRAHAM,

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley. OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNFiILL, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

0
H

>

l-H

1)

c

X

2

it
ST

p;
0

x^
wo
>

JKs\c\c!\chc^ Try MUSGROVE'S K. & L. SPECIFIC

0<X\tIkCi\flVS ^ SORE CURE 212 BANK STREET. OTTAWA

JLbc (S)ttawa ftelb^Vlaturaliete' Club.

patron:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

Council 1009*1910

prest&ent :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

UJice-prcglDcnts -.

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xibtarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: Creaeurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

StanMng Committees of Council:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soir4es: A. Halkett. L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

Xea&ers at Bxcurstons:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince. A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
ArchcBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

HuOltors :

R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membership Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,'*

$1.00 per annum.

5e 01U poofee C P^

OCTOBER, 1909

VOL. XXm, No. 7

• , ,^. « OTTAWA

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

^

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

«

EOltOt:

ARTHUR GIBSON,
Central Experimental Farm,
OTTAWA.

Hesocfatc EDitors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, p^,^ p t^x^ot.. ^'^ ''^'^' J- W. Gibson. M.A.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.

Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

Notes from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada.

By James M. Macoun - - - - - - - - 121

Discourses upon the Lepidoptera. I. Variation. By F. H. WoUey-

Dod. - * - - - - - 122

Birds of Stony Plain, Alberta. By Sidney S. S. Stansell - - 125

The So-called White Wild Oats and what they are. By Norman

Griddle. ---------- 127

"Snow-worms." By Arthur Gibson ------ 129

The Tragic Side of Bird Life. By H. Groh. - - - - 131

Notes on the Birds of Durham, Ont. By W. E. Saunders - - 132

Personal --- 133

Book Review ___------- 134

Oopeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited

ISSUED OCTOBER 18, 1909. /^ J^ -> m -^\^ V"

Ontered at the Ottawa Poat Office as aeeond class matter, fi^ j lODADVl^

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE''
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395

687 Wellington St.

LnmrnnHed

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA --- WINNIPEG,

Factory

HULL.

StLK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quotations
PHONE 3512

Ottawa Sample Room,
Canadian Building-. Phone 4463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen) '''

Your Patronage ^7 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS. LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIAN

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

Fur Department
Phone 4828 ""'

, ^^ 76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY & SON

General Ag-ents
III Sparks Street Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES — Toronto. Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vprfir;q1 Filincr anH Special Insect Cases

vertical ruing- ana and Natural History

various Office Devices.

Cabinets made to
order.

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO.

«

SELL EVERYTHING

ThellnitedPiiotographiG
Stores, Limited

65 Spa.rks
) Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

I09 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellingrton St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And 03TERM00R MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO,

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware, We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest,

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AKD METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f g-C<>. 143 sparks st.

$25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*• else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

/^UR prices for every style o
" Ring are as moderate as i
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIHKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

..GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St., TORONTO

Dominion Express Company-
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc-

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner
SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands of Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

James Hope & Sons Z:ZiXT Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA
THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST
QUALITY

LOWEST
PRICE

COAL

58 SPARKS ST. ^ Phone 461

I^aORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

n Quarter of a Century's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

American EnlGmological Go.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genuine Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufactvirers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coliections, and cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pms

Supply List No. 8 and List of Etitomolosfical Publlnationa
for iale just out. Write for ,t. lusnct List No. estillinforce

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av.. BROOKLYN, n.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 760 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

106 Sparks Street
24 Rideau Street

OTTAWA

W. B. GRAHAM.

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley. OTTAWA

THE SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAVA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

Backache ^ry musgrove-s k.&.l. specific

^be (Ottawa f ielD^Vlaturaliete' Club.

patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

aouncU 1909*1910
president :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

V)ice*pre0tdentd :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xibrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

Standing Committees of Council:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,

A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soirits: A. Halkett, L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XeaDers at JExcurgions:

Geology: H. M. Ami. W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.

Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig,A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSjieur.
Arehetology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballant3me.
Mtttorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

HuDitors :
R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

MambttPship Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1.00 pep annum.

NOVEMBER, 1909

VOL. XXIII, No. 8

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

EOitot:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,

OTTAWA.

Associate jEOitors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Zoolosv.
Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, t, o t^ ^-^ J. W. Gibson, M.A.

PalccuoHy. ^^"■"■''"''h'nmoloa. NaU,re S„.dy.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W.H.Harrington, A. McNeill, Mrteoro/ogy.

Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

New Contributions to Canadian Bryology. By N. Conr. Kindberg 137

Discourses upon the Lepidoptera. II. Familiarity with Local Forms.

By F. H. Wolley-Dod ------- 144

Contributions from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey. By

James M. Macoun -- " ^^^

Bird Migration, 1908. By R. S. Bouteillier - - - - 149

Ant Roads. By Charles Macnamara ------ 150

The Nitrogen Compounds in Rain and Snow _ . - - 151

<06IC/<^N

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited ''^y^yo*7>sJ^^

ISSUED NOVEMBER 15, 1909. C< '^ •A^-

BM*red at tht Ottawa Post Office as second class matter, jj

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE''
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 396 687 Wellington St.

9

Lnmnitedl

SLEEPING '
BAGS

OTTAWA AND WiNMIPEC,

Factory

HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A S-pecx&.lt-y

For Quotatiorts
PHONE 3612

Cjittawa. Sample Room,
Caina.dia.n Building. Phone 4463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage ^7 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIAN

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

Fur Department"?

Phone 4828 . T. '' J 76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY&SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street Ottawa

r.FT YHTIR FRIPMH^ TO iniM THE nXTAW/A Cirr n W ATTID AIICTQ' TI TTR

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST., OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES — Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and f^d^NLuTarHS:"

various Office Devices. ^rtT" "^^^ ''

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO.

SELL EVERYTHING

TheUnitedPiiotographic
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

I09 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellingfton St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated - - -
CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE
And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO,

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware. We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest,

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Oftlce Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f C-Cp. 143 sparks st.

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

$25 to $500

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*• else, too low a price nieans in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

OUR prices for every style o
Ring are as moderate as i
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St, TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ,^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner

SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

THOus.iiNDS OF Agencies Throughout Can.\da

WE DEAL WITH OUR AOVERTI3ERS

James Hope & Sons B:rS;.p:'r Sparks St. Ottawa

CO
CO
0

CJ

3= =3

H- aa

t— UJ

o t-

S: "

o

CD

-lad

Oh

CO
CO

0

H

<

Q
(f)

J.G.BUTTERWORTH& Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BBST /"^ /^ A T LOWEST

QUALITY VxV-^JrxX-^ PRICE

58 SPARKS ST. j» Phone 461

B5 TORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

E Quarter of a Century's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

Americen EnlDinological Co.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genuine Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiections, ar.d rf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. 8 and Listof Entomoloeical rnibllnations
for sale just out. Write for 4. Insect List No. 6 .itUl in force

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, N.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

io6 Sparks Street 1
24 Rideau Street j

OTTAWA

W. B. QRAHAM,

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley, OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

Backache ^^^y '^'sS?.?^^'^ \flhfrj.^l^l^^

Ebe ©ttawa fiel^^lRaturaliete' Club.

patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

Council 1909*1910

f)ree(Ocnt :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

ItJlcealpresiOentB :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xlbrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary .- treasurer :

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

•Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

«

StanOing Committees ot Council :

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett. L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kings1,on, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XeaOers at Excursions:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig.A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince. A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur-
ArchcBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

RuOitors :

R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membepshlp Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1.00 per annum.

DECEMBER, 1909

VOL. XXin, Ho. 9

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

JEOltor:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,

OTTAWA.

?»00ocfate lEOitors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, p^^ r t^t^^t^ oo ogy. j ^ Qjgg^^^^^

Paleontology. '"'''■''■ """"'o^Molosy. Nature S,uiy.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.
Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

Note on the Ornamentation of Periglyptocrinus priscus. By

William A. Parks. 153

The Sharp-Shinned Hawk Migration. By W. E. Saunders. - 156

Rare Birds at Point Pelee. By W. E. Saunders. - - - 160

Botanical Excursions, (German Field Methods) . By John Craig. 163

The Fletcher Memorial Fund. ------- 167 '

Tent-Building Habits of Ants. By C. Gordon Hewitt. - - 168

Book Review. ---- - 170

Lecture Programme. ___----- 172

'a'

'm^

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited /V^''^ '*• XX

ISSUED DECEMBER 6, 1909. A5^ /^^ '^^Vl^

fvtUered at the Ottawa Post Office as aeoond class matter, j '^ /^ '^h#'^' f\ ^

LI»RARYJ »'

r^V '^'^^ J^

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

o
o

>.

HI (Q
GQ O

Q
UJ

JAMES OGILVY,

(0

o

CM
Ul

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE"
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on mer>it they seek youi*
trade. 4 STORES, Ottawa, Canada

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

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PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

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TAILORS

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Your Patronage 67 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL

Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave,
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
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Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

Fur Department
Phone 4828

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Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY&SON

General Ag-ents
iti Sparks Street Ottawa

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA, ONT.
BRANCHES— Toronto. Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and fn^dtLuTarHS:"

various Office Devices. ortT" "^'^' '°

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO

SELL EVERYTHING

ThellnitedPhotographic
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcal-fe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

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And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware. We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

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FILING

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Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f c>C9» 143 sparks st.

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IN Diamond Rings, as anything
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OUR prices for every style o
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Dominion Express • Company
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Payable all over the World.

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and Cable.

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Corner

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WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

James Hope & Sons

Booksellers, StatioDcrs
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Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
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86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST
QUALITY

LOWEST
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COAL

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CORPORATION.

B Quarter of a Century*$

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from 8500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

American Eiitomological Co.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genume Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiections, ar.d cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. Sand List of Entomological PubUivitions
for sale justout. Write for t. Insect List No. G still in force

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
55 Stuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, N.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Suci;t-ss(jrs to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

MlrcTea'us'retr } °^^^^^

W. B. GRAHAM,

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Wavcrley. OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

Tl;,r.k«r.he Try MUSGROVE'S K.&.L^ SPECIFIC

^be Ottawa fielDo'naturalidte' Club.

patron:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

Council 1909=^1910
preslOent :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

ItJicc^prcslOents:

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xibrarian :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

Secretary: (Treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm).

Mr, Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

Stan&ing CommUtees of Council:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soirees: A. Halkett, L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XeaOers at Bicurslons:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston.

Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig.A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince. A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
ArcJusology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

RuDltors:
R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membership Fee to O.F.N. C, with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1.00 per annum.

JANUARY, 1910

VOL. XXIII, No. 10

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

BOitor:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,

OTTAWA.

Tyesociate TS^ixoxs:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, ^^ ^ ^ Zoology. ^ Qibson. M.A.

Pal.o„.olo,y. R-- G. E--;,,„„,„^^. mn,re Su.dy.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.

Conchology. Entomology.

«

CONTENTS:

t

Some of the Best Native Plants for Cultivation. By W. T.

Macoun. ---------- 173

New Contributions to Canadian Bryology. By N. C. Kindberg,

Upsula, Sweden. -__.---- 180

A Gannet near Ottawa. __- 192

Contributions from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey. By

James M. Macoun. - - - 1^4

Birds observed at Coboconk, Ont. By J. A. Munro. - - - 194

Fletcher Memorial Fund. ^^^

Soirees. ----------- 196

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited ^<^ /rtOiT^S. v

ISSUED JANUARY 27 1910. /^/y^ -%.#-%, Ov i

Enttrtd cU the OUaioa Post Office as second claat matter. j^ 1 1^{ g fl J( a y] !

^

A\4uo5><,C^

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE

BOOKSTORE"

Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 stores, Ottawa, Canada

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395 687 Wellington St.

iMfltted

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA A«D WINNIPEG,

Factory - HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A. Specialty

For Quotations
PHONE 3512

Ottawra. Sample Room,
Oanadian Building-. Phone 4463

ROONEY & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

67 Sparks Street
Ottawa

Your Patronage
Solicited

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Ofifice, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave,
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIAN

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

Fur Department
Phone 4828

76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada
H. MOONEY&SON

General Agents
iti Sparks Street Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

>5
0

D

(0

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST., OTTAWA, ONT.
BRANCHES— Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and fJd^NirarHS";

various Office Devices. ^rtT" ""'^' '"

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO

* SELL EVERYTHING

The United Photographic
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McEIhinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcal-Fe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And 03TER1VI00R MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware, We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f fitO>. us sparks sx.

$25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*■ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

/^UR prices for every style o
^ Ring are as moderate as i
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St., TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc.

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner

SPARKG AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands of Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR AOVERTtSERS,

James Hope & Sons ^ZZ^^' Sparks St. Ottawa

cd

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST /"^ /^ A T LOWEST

QUALITY \^\Jfjri.L^ PRICE

58 SPARKS ST. jt Phone 461

I^aORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

B Ouartcr of a Century's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $500 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

American Eotomological Co.

Dealers in '

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genmne Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Collections, and cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pms

Supply List No. 8 and List of Entomoloarical Publi'-ations
for sale just out. Write for it. Insect List No. 6 still iu force

GEORGE. FRANCK, Manager
55 Stuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, N.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

io6 Sparks street \ n-rTa^x/A
24 Rideau Street / OTTAWA

W. B. GRAHAM,

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phonb 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley, OTTAWA

m SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

Backache Try musgrove's k.&^l. specific

Ilbe ©ttawa jfielb^lRaturalists' Club.

patron:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

Council 1909:= 19 10

preslOent :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

lP(cc»iprest&ent0 :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig

Xtbrarlan :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

ScccetatB: treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Exoerimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. r Mjss McKay Scott.
Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Mis6 F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

StanOlng dommitteeB of dounctl:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett, L. H. Newman. F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XeaDerg at Eicurslons:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A, Johnston.
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke. H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
ArchcBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

HuDttors :
' R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membership Fee to O.F.N. C, with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1 .OO per annum.

FEBRUARY, 1910

VOL. XXIII, No. 11

TH E

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

EOitOt:

ARTHUR GIBSON,
Central Experimental Farm,
OTTAWA.

Tlssoclate jeoitors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Zooloev.
Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, d o t^ ^"^ J. W. Gibson, M.A.

Pal.cn,olo,y. '''''■''■ ^""o%i.Mosy. N.,ure Suuiy.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.

Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

Everyday Ornithology. By Norman Criddle. - - - - 197

Meetings of the Botanical Branch. 204

Soirees. - ---------- 207

Instinct and Education. Synopsis of address by Mr. A. E. Attwood. 209

Fletcher Memorial Fund. - - ■ 211

Notes : Bartonia virginica in Quebec ; Bonaparte's Gull. - - 211

A rare Weasel at Ottawa. By W. E. Saunders. - - - 212

;03i^^^X

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited e^ /O '/\ *tO\

ISSUED FEBRUARY IS, 1910 h . , / I O]

—T^ I L I B R A R Y r

lkU«r«d at the Ottawa Post Office ns second class mattery I *- • I

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

o
o

OE d
O GQ

Q
UJ

JAMES OGILVY,

UJ

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE''
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOH AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395

687 Wellington St.

ILnmnited

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA AND WINf^lPEG,

Factory . HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quotsitiorvs
PHONE 3512

Otfaiva Sample Room,
Cana'iian Buildingr, Phone 4463

ROONEV & COOPER

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage ^7 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000.000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL

Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. RflSFfHHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIAN

Goldsmith's Hall

Otta^wa

THER J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

High Grade Hats Fine Furs

Fur Department
Phone 4828

76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY&SON

General Ag'ents
IT I Sparks Street Ottawa

GET YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA F!Ef D-NATllRAF.lSTS' fLlJR

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OTTAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES— Toronto. Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vertical Filing and fnTN^rarHS:"

various Office Devices. o?deT' """'' '"

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO

SELL EVERYTHING

ThellnitedPhotographic
Stores, Limited, %i^or

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McEIhinney, D.D.S.

109 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

CopeIand = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 VVellinKton St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And OSTERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO.

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware. We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS. ^°^- '^^^^Ihone ^.^"^^^^^ '^'•

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Speci alt y M fG.fQ, m sparks st.

$25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*■ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

/^UR prices for every style o
" Ring are as moderate as i
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS
48-52 Temperance St, TORONTO

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Booksellers, Stationers
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J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
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THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

COAL

58 SPARKS ST.

BBST
QUALITY

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jt Phone 461

B5 TORONTO GENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

}\ Quarter of a Ccntury^s

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from $600 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

American Entomological Co.

Dealers in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the genuine Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufactxirers nf Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiectiuns., and rf *-he

American Entomoiog^ical Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. Sand Listof Entomoli.iTical Publl.-..Tti.>n3
for sale justout. Write for t. Insect List No.6.lillinfor^e

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, N.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKERS

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

106 Sparks street j OTTAWA
24 Rideau Street j

W. B. GRAHAM,

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phonb 1967

395 BANK ST., Cor. Waveriey, OTTAWA

THE SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

166 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS ST. - OTTAWA.

MASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

n
pin

V

Backache ^ry ^yj.%^.?''''^ ^.^L s^^r.^.^oWiS

tTbe Ottawa jriel^-Waturaltsts' Club.

patron:
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

Council 1909*1910
president :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

lDicc»prc6lOent0 :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig

Xibrarian:

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey.

SectctatB: tTrcaeuret:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt. .

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

StanOIng Committees of Council :

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett. L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XeaOers at iBicurslons:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig,A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett. E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur
ArchcBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill

KuOltore :

R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membership Fee to O.F.N. C, with "Ottawa Naturalist, "

$1.00 per annum.

MARCH, 1910

VOL. XXin, No. 12

TLJ p-

OTTAWA
NATURALIST

Published by The Ottawa Field-Naturalists* Club.

BOitor:

ARTHUR GIBSON,

Central Experimental Farm,

OTTAWA.

H660Clate BOttors:

Dr. H. M. Ami, Geology. Prof. E. E. Prince, W. T. Macoun, Botany.

Zooloev.
Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, ^. ^ t7_„_ ^^ J. W. Gibson, M.A.

Paleontology. R^^" G- Ei^Rio, ^ .^^^^^^^_ ^,,„,, study.

Hon. F. R. Latchford, W. H. Harrington, A. McNeill, Meteorology.

Conchology. Entomology.

CONTENTS:

Some Western Species of Arnica. By Edward L. Greene - - 213

Meeting of the Entomological Branch. ----- 216

A Shrew new to New Brunswick. By Wm, H. Moore. - - 217

Meeting of the Botanical Branch. ------ 219

The Correlation of Characters in Plants and its Economic Import-
ance to the Plant Breeders. By L. H. Newman. - - 220

The Passenger Pigeon. By W. Lochhead. ----- 224

Book Review. - - 225

Note : The Smoky Shrew. - - - - - - - 228

Index. 229

Copeland-Chatterson-Crain Limited

ISSUED MARCH 11 1910.

tOnttrtd at th9 OttavHi Poat Office as ateond clat§ matter.

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher
63 Sparks St.

JARVIS'

157 Bank St.

"THE
BOOKSTORE"'
Phone 732

Any book you see advertised, if we have it
not, we will order it for you promptly. We
solicit book business.

"Merit" placed ALLEN & COCHRANE
THE RED CROSS DRUGGISTS at
the head in the drug business of
Ottawa — on merit they seek your
trade. 4 STORES, OTTAWA, CANADA

ASK FOR OUR CELEBRATED

FLOOR AND HOUSE

PAINTS

MADE IN OTTAWA

OTTAWA PAINT WORKS

Phone 395 ^ 687 Wellington St.

LnmnHed.

SLEEPING
BAGS

OTTAWA ANo WINNIPEG,

Factory - HULL.

SILK TENTS

Wholesale Manufacturers
Lumbermen's and Contractors' Supplies,
Outfitting Survey Parties,
Exploration and Outing Parties of any kind,
A Specialty

For Quotations
PHONE 3512

Ottawa. Sample Room,
Canadian Building-, Phone 4463

ROONEY Sl cooper

TAILORS

(Ladies and Gentlemen)

Your Patronage 67 Sparks Street

Solicited Ottawa

THE BANK OF OTTAWA

Capital authorized

" paid up
Rest

$5,000,000
3,000,000
3,000,000

OFFICES IN OTTAWA AND HULL
Head Office, Wellington St.
Bank St. and Gloucester St.
Bank St. and Gladstone Ave
Bank St. and Fourth Ave.
Lloyd St. and Queen St. West
Rideau St.
Somerset St.
Cartier St.
Main St., Hull.
Bridge St., Hull.

SAVINGS BANK DEPARTMENT
Interest at Current Rates.

A. ROSENTHAL & SONS, LTD.

JEWELLERS AND
OPTICIAN

Goldsmith's Hall

Ottawa

THE R.J. DEVLIN CO.

Limited

Fine Furs

High Grade Hats

Fur Department
Phone 4828

76 Sparks St.

INSURE IN

Mutual Life of Canada

H. MOONEY & SON

General Agents
III Sparks Street Ottawa

GET YOURTRIENDS TO JOIN THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB

Library Bureau of Canada

HEAD OFFICE— ISABELLA ST.. OITAWA. ONT.
BRANCHES — Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.

Inventors of the Card System,

Vprtir;^! Filino- anH Special Insect Cases

vertical ruing ana and Natural History

various Office Devices. o^rder''' ""^^^ '"

BRYSON, GRAHAM & CO.

SELL EVERYTHING

ThellnitedPhotographJc
Stores, Limited,

65 Sparks
Street

PHOTO SUPPLIES

Mark G. McElhinney, D.D.S.

I09 Metcalfe St.
OTTAWA

Copeland = Chatterson = Crain, Limited

Printers, Bookbinders and Loose Leaf Manufacturers

174-178 Wellington St., Ottawa

When in want of High Grade Furniture
Call and See Our Stock

AGENTS for the Celebrated

CREX PRAIRIE GRASS FURNITURE

And 03TERMOOR MATTRESSES

STEWART & CO

34 Rideau Street
Just Below the Bridge

HEADQUARTERS

For all lines of Sporting Goods, Cutlery, House and Builders'
Hardware, We are direct importers of all lines carried by
us, and the quality of our goods is the highest.

GRAVES BROS.

COR. SPARKS AND METCALFE STS.
PHONE 177

FILING

SYSTEMS

Office Furniture and Equipment in Wood and Steel.

PHONE 835 Office Specialty M f g.Co. 143 sparks st.

$25 to $500

ENGAGEMENT
RINGS.

TN Diamond Rings, as anything
■*■ else, too low a price means in-
ferior stones and inferior settings.

f\UR prices for every style o
^ Ring are as moderate as i
consistent with perfect stones and
perfect settings.

BIRKS'

57-59 SPARKS STREET

GRIP LIMITED

ARTISTS— DESIGNERS— ENGRAVERS

48-52 Temperance St , TORONTO

Dominion Express Company
Money Orders

FOREIGN ^^^ TRAVELLERS'
DRAFTS CHEQUES

Issued in

Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Francs, Marks, Roubles, etc

Payable all over the World.

Money transferred

by Telegraph

and Cable.

OTTAWA CITY OFFICE

Corner
SPARKS AND ELGIN STS.

Foreign Money
Bought and Sold.

Thousands op Agencies Throughout Canada

WE DEAL WITH OUR ADVERTISERS'

James Hope & Sons

Booksellers, Stationeis
Bookbinders, Printers

Sparks St. Ottawa

J.G.BUTTERWORTH&Co.

ALL-RAIL SCRANTON COAL
HAS NO EQUAL

86 SPARKS STREET, OTTAWA

THE C. C. RAY CO. Ltd.

BEST
QUALITY

COAL

LOWEST
PRICE

58 SPARKS ST. jt Phone 461

HL^ORONTOQENERAL TRUSTS

CORPORATION.

n Quarter of a Century's

Successful administration of ESTATES
ranging in value from S600 to $5,000,000
each, is the best guarantee that you may
confidently name as your EXECUTOR
and TRUSTEE this Corporation

JAMES DAVEY, Manager

Ottawa Branch:

Cor. SPARKS and ELGIN STS.

CHARLES WATT

specialist in
Phone ARTISTIC BRASS HARDWARE

1350 AND

KITCHEN FURNISHINGS

Bank & Somerset Streets

Aoierican Eotomological Co.

Dealbrs in

Insects and Entomological
Supplies

The only makers of the gentune Schmitt
Insect Boxes. Manufacturers of Cabinets and
Cases for Insect Coiiections, and cf the

American Entomological Company
Insect Pins

Supply List No. Sand List of Entomoloirical Publl'^ations
for sale juat out. Write for It. In.sect List No. 6 still in force

GEORGE FRANCK, Manager
SSStuyvesant Av., BROOKLYN, n.Y

GATES & HODGSON,

Successors to

WALKER'S

CONFECTIONERS, &c.
Phone 750 73 SPARKS ST.

R. McGIFFIN

MEN'S FURNISHINGS

Ml!?eaus'tSf } O^^AWA

VV. B. GRAHAM.

Groceries and Dairy Produce

Phone 1967

S95 BANK ST., Cor. Waverley, OTTAWA

ILE SMITH PREMIER

The World's ^ Visible

Best Typewriter Writer

E. R. McNeill, Agent

165 SPARKS ST., OTTAWA

HENRY J. SIMS & Co.

Furriers and Hatters

110-112 SPARKS SL - OTTAWA.

iviASSON'S

SHOES

72 Sparks Street, Ottawa

■RapVapflA Try MUSGROVE'S K. & L. SPECIFIC

Adl/AdV/IiC •' SURE CURE 212 BANK STREET, OTTAWA

Zbc ©ttawa jfielO-'IRaturaliste' dlub.

/ patron:

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL GREY,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA

Counctl 1909*1910
prcslOcnt :

Mr. A. E. Attwood, M.A.

lt)icc»prc0iDent0 :

Mr. A. Halkett. Rev. G. Eifrig.

Xibrarfan :

Mr. C. H. Young, Geological Survey. /

Secretary: ^Treasurer:

Mr. T. E. Clarke, B.A. Mr. Arthur Gibson,

(470 O'Connor Street). (Central Experimental Farm)

Mr. Alex. McNeill. Mr. A. G. Kingston.

Mr. L. H. Newman, B.S.A. Miss McKay Scott.

Mr. J. W. Gibson, M.A. Miss F. M. Burt.

Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A. Miss B. Gilbertson.

StanOing dommltteee ot Council:

Publications: L. H. Newman, Alex McNeill, F. T. Shutt, C. H. Young,
A. Gibson, Miss McKay Scott.

Excursions: G. Eifrig, T. E.. Clarke, A. McNeill, J.W. Gibson, A. G. King-
ston, A. Gibson, Miss B. Gilbertson.

Soiries: A. Halkett. L. H. Newman, F. T. Shutt, A. G. Kingston, J. W.
Gibson, Miss F. M. Burt.

XcaDcra at Excursions:

Geology: H. M. Ami, W. J. Wilson, T. W. E. Sowter, W. A. Johnston
Botany: W. T. Macoun, John Macoun, D. A. Campbell, L. H. Newman,

T. E. Clarke, H. Groh.
Entomology: W. H. Harrington, A. Gibson, C. H. Young, J. W. Baldwin.
Conchology: J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, S. E. O'Brien.
Ornithology: G. Eifrig, A. G. Kingston, H. U. Morris.
Zoology: E. E. Prince, A. Halkett, E. E. Lemieux, E. LeSueur.
ArehoBology: T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantjme.
Meteorology: Otto Klotz, D. A. Campbell, A. McNeill.

HuOitora :
R. B. Whyte. J. Ballantyne.

Membai*shlp Fee to O.F.N.C., with "Ottawa Naturalist,"

$1 >00 pep annum.

MBL WHOl LIBRARY

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