fe ey ea a Ni * OA \W A % PIBLD-DATARALISTS eS fe AV 2 \ Oy 3% 78 OF aN Op * Vfransactions % Ro. * 24. x OFTAWA, CADADA. Citizen Printing and Publishing Company, ["\etcalfe SI. 1335, t ‘/ ) %& ia 4 Ny ~ — om a bay 4 A eee e —d — x : — Se Oe ; ' a ea F Rec ieee —— ao ve A . - = . \ ay * i S > } eran on Ory s — _ a; 7 ‘ — — - ¥ = = % eat eS ‘ ee a 7 7 —— ~~ A=) ee, Soe Gal ss pS Wd A . “ ‘ - / Li : y * . As eS er rl civ tne, pee : -. ; ae - sy, “4 re ay fee ; K sai cs ~s . rae ay ty ae ia cca eka ic ea Si a ae ER iced a RE im SR aig ena EB Reyes ian esenrensecinee oie Sm re ee t a) v od ‘ 1 E » - Nee; ets > ? 4 3 oon , 0.4 pet 4 ~ ~ ; ‘ ¥ 74) 72s ae bak 4 + APR 10. 1917 1882. 1883. OTTAWA -FIELDe NATURALISTS’ CLUB. TRANSACTIONS NO. 4. CONTENTS. PAGE PETS Um Clie OL ICONS I SSL- 83) tvalale/sler erers ete eee Norsec ack oe-5, elk o Sisis class suatecdlererh syethen elem nee Rueeyd 2 HIS Ola stand IMesCOMIMIGLCESaaecte clei ac ccletleiesise. | cae miad ses cieless ce: spieh cupem oe sadembemmes 2 EERO le COLLERPONGIN le MOM DOTS eek me setince as eGs neko ee ene ae abn cae te Reo ee eee 2 ILRI GEE AIGA WETS. 35 on qeukone Oh p00 Gd sCO0b UU Sonne MOR ome tee ate Senn nennectnoorbocracur 3 AMINA HE DOKiROMLNONCOUTICII mesa ae nsc © leg ilerciciccsie' so eiele.cleiacdece cecuee sve. Snavasetebsteraaretets 5 WUReAsuTen sebalance Shee tasers Ne acse Sada oa D7 as well as some others, when mortally wounded, will, sometimes, dive and seize a weed to which it may be found—providing the water is not too deep —firmly clinging after death. The female wood duck, shortly after hatching out her young, conveys them from her high nest to the ground or water, as the case may be, by seizing them with her bill. When surprised and alarmed the young ones hide and remain in con- cealment until the danger is over, which they are made aware of by the voice of the parent bird calling them together. In the moulting season the male bird loses his fine variegated tuft; but he may still be distin- guished from the female by the white and rose colours of his bill, as well as by the well defined outlines of the rich and brilliant hues peculiar to his bead and sides. When caught young, this beautiful duck is easily tamed, and becomes quite familiar with the person by whom it is usually fed. I kept one that I had slightly wounded for two years, during all of which time it remained in all the gorgeous beauty of full plumage. It subsisted chiefly upon Indian corn, of which it seemed very fond. The habitat of the wood duck may be said to cover all parts of Canada and the United States. No one of the wild fowl family is better known to sportsmen. In addition to the great beauty of its plumage, its flesh is fully equal in flavour and delicacy to to that of the black duck or the mallard. The wood duck flies, particularly down the wind, with great swiftness, and the sportsman, who, under such conditions can knock over one with each barrel, going at the rate of eighty miles an hour, has no reason to complain of the quality of his gun, or the straightness of the eye that looks over the barrels. The specific name of the wood duck is sponsa, a bride. Why ‘given it is hard to tell, unless its gorgeous plumage may be considered symbolical of the spousal array of some fair one decked out in the glory of her wedding garments. Next in order comes the green winged teal, so called from the large beauty spot on each wing. The green winged teal (Querquedula carolinensis) makes its appearance in this part of Canada in small numbers, early in the month of April. The male bird is beautifully marked, the head being of a glossy reddish chestnut, with a broad band of silky green running from the eye backwards to the nape, edged above and below by a fine line of brownish white. The female is destitute of this ornamental plumage, being simply a little 58 grey bird with dark round spots on the breast. Both male and female have a large green speculum on the wings, from which the name is derived. The flight of these birds is exceedingly rapid and irregular, and their mode of alighting sudden and abrupt. They are very easily — approached and do not exhibit so much alarm at the proximity of man as many of the larger species. Their note is a hoarse quack, which, however, is seldom heard except when they are suddenly alarmed and put to flight. It is very doubtful whether they breed in this part of Canada. It is certain, however, as far as my experience can determine, that young broods are never seen here. The green winged teal resorts chiefly to inundated lands in the spring, and to shallows near shores and adjacent to rapids in the autumn. ‘They do not dive when feeding ; but when wounded are almost equal to the .loon or the golden eye under water. The blue winged teal (Querquedula discors) is seldom seen in this neighbourhood until late in the season. It arrives about the 15th September, and then, as a rule, only in limited numbers. An old male bird of this species is nearly as large as a wood duck, although much shorter in the body and neck. They are commonly seen in flocks of from eight to twelve feeding on low marshy ground and along the shores of streams. In exceptional seasons, I have seen flocks of blue winged teal containing upwards of two hundred. This occurred on the River Goodwood one afternoon late in September, abont fourteen years ago. They did not all get away; for, during part of the day, I killed fifty ducks, and paddled my own canoe in a stiff breeze into the bargain. The flight of the blue winged teal is very rapid, like that of the pigeon ; and when about to alight they drop down suddenly like a snipe or a woodcock. Asa rare delicacy the flesh of this bird is unsur- passed, if it is equalled, by any bird of the duck family. In habit, the ~~ _ blue winged teal is identical with the black duck, the wood duck, and . the green winged variety, in diving only in sport and when wounded. These birds may frequently be seen in company with the black duéks. I remember having on one occasion knocked down two black ducks and three blue winged teal at one discharge. On several other occasions I have killed a mallard, a black duck, and a wood duck at a single shot. If not much disturbed, the blue winged teal is comparatively easy of — approach ; consequently it falls an easy prey to the gun of the sports- = 59 man. The male and female differ but little in plumage—both being of a light grey colour above, and mottled with dark specks underneath, The wings are marked with a large patch of light blue, from which feature it gets its name. in shape and general contour it is precisely similar to the black duck, and in habits much the same, both delighting to feed along muddy shores. These birds are very numerous in Mani- toba and the North-West, where very few of our black ducks are to be met, although mallards are extremely abundant. Like the green wing the blue wing has a harsh discordant voice, hence its Jatin designation, discors. Next to the eider duck perhaps the blue winged teal may be said to fly with greater velocity than any other. Going down the wind, it sometimes puzzles the quickest hand to get the muzzle in the right place. I have seen one of these birds killed dead—and that is a sporting phrase—fall and strike the water twenty yards beyond a perpendicular descent. Like the black duck, the wood duck, the mallard, and the green winged, the blue wing is fond of sitting on logs or on shore in some secluded spot in the heat of thé day, at which time it is uch more difficult to approach than when found feeding or listlessly sitting on the water. Next in order, or perhaps among the first that ought to have been mentioned in the list of non-divers, is the pintail (Dafila acuta), the most elegantly formed and most graceful of all ducks. The male pintail is a beautiful bird. Its colour is a variegated grey on the back and sides, belly white, head a vich brown with a white line on each side, commencing at the back of the neck and widening with a graceful curve into the white plumage of the breast. The pure whiteness of the belly terminates against a black velvety bar undernéath the root of the tail. The beauty spot on the wing is black, striped ~ with fine lines of white formed of loose crest-like feathers. The female is simply a sober grey colour, of a much more beautiful hue, however, than that of the female mallard. These elegant birds are rare visitors here, being only occasionally seen in spring during high floods, and in the fall. Their habits are similar to what I have already mentioned as the characteristics of the non-diving varieties. I may mention here that, three years ago, I shot a magnificent specimen of the male pintail, at the mouth of Brigham’s Creek, which I have had stuffed and set up, and which, for style and beauty, it would be difficult to surpass. The — 60 redhead (Fuligula ferina americana) is a rare visitant on the Ottawa in the spring. They are, however, to be found in considerable numbers. about Black Bay, near the mouth of the North Nation River, in the fall. ‘The body of the male bird is of a blueish-grey colour, the head red, the breast and the lower part of the neck black. The plumage of the female—as is generally the case amongst birds—is much less attractive than that of the male. The red head and the silky black band around the breast are wanting in the female. The redhead is a large heavy duck, and is considered excellent for the table. Large flocks of these birds frequent Chesapeake Bay, in the United States, where they watch the canvas-backs when the latter are diving for the wild celery. After a long dive, the instant the canvas-backs emerge, the redheads rush at them and rob them of the fruits of their labour. The canvas-back eats the root only ,of the valisneria, while his plunderer—pirate as he is—devours both the roots and the leaves of the plant. Like the canvas-back, the redhead will eat little of any- thing else while it can get the wild celery, which causes the flesh of the latter almost to rival in delicacy of flavour the former celebrated bird. The sheldrake, goosander or water-pheasant (Mergus merganser) is the largest and heaviest of the mergansers to be met with here. The male of the largest size frequently reaches the weight of five pounds. In spring, when the plumage of all wild ducks is most beautiful, the male of this species is black on the back, breast and belly a rich cream colour, head and neck a dark glossy green. The bill is long, narrow, strongly serrated, with a crimson line running from the base to the point on each side. The female is much less gorgeously arrayed. She is of an uniform light slate colour on the back, white belly, and rusty coloured red head, slightly tufted. In the fall the male bird appears in the less attractive livery of his mate. These birds make their appearance here early in the spring in the first open water, and remain until the ice warns them to depart. Many, however, remain all winter, and may be seen with the golden-eyes in rapids and at the foot of waterfalls. Next to the loon, or the red-throated diver, the sheldrake takes the front rank in capacity for speed and endurance under water. The sheldrake sutsists upon fish, consequently its flesh has a fishy flavour, which requires some knowledge of cookery to overcome. I have seen twelve 61 or fourteen of these birds diving in a sort of semicircle towards a small bay or indentation of the shore. As they approached they made quite a noise by fluttering while on the surface of the water. They were driving before them a shoal of small fish. When they got the fish crowded together in the little inlet, they plunged down amongst them, and the slaughter began. I shot one of the largest of the birds ; and when brought to land by my dog, I noticed a sucker about six inches long in his throat ; I took him by the legs and gave him a smart snapping shake, and out came the sucker accompanied by five or six minnows about four inches in length. I continued the shaking process, and finally managed to bring to light no fewer than sixty-eight of the smaller fishes in addition to the sucker. Mr. J. T. Coleman, the city taxidermist, has informed me that he once captured a sheldrake which appeared to be in a dying condition, and found that the bird had swallowed a large mudpout, the lateral horns of which had pierced the skin on each side of the gullet and disabled him. I kept a sheldrake an entire summer, and after he had devoured, as closely as I could calculate, nearly 4,000 small fish, chub, rock bass, black bass, perch and sunfish, he dived out of existence in the attempt to bolt a rock bass as large as my hand. These facts go to illustrate the extreme voracity of this king of the mergansers. The merganser is a fearless bird, seldom turning out of his line of flight to avoid man, and, compared with other ducks, somewhat slow on the wing. The sheldrakes breed on the tributaries of the Ottawa River in considerable numbers. Like wood ducks they build their nests in hollow trees, although they are never seen perched on trees like the former. The young broods may be seen following the mother in the month of June. When pursued they dive and make for land, where they hide in the brush ; whence they emerge again at the call of the parent bird. In contradistinction to the habits of the non-divers, the mergansers, excepting under the circumstances [ have mentioned, never take refuge on land. The young sheldrakes, when well grown into the flapper transition, will skim over the top of the water at the rate of twelve miles an hour, rapids and chutes being but trifling obstacles in their way. The red-breasted merganser ( MJergus serrator) is a very rare stranger on the Ottawa or any of its tributaries. It is a much smaller bird than the sheldrake. The male bird is black on the back and wings, with a red breast and 62 part of the neck and head black, the latter being crowned with a jet black crest of fine hair-like feathers. The female is of a brownish dark slate colour on the back, belly white, head light brown, and is much smaller than the male. The food, habits, ete., of this bird are identical with those ef the sheldrake. The hooded merganser (Jergus cucullatus ) makes its appearance here about the first of April, or as soon as it can find open water along the shores to feed in. This bird is considerably less in size than the red-breasted variety. The male bird is one of the most beautiful of ducks. The back is black, sides elegantly variegated, belly white, neck and head jet black. The head is adorned with a stately crest of white, semi-cireular in form, bordered by a well defined band of black. This magnificent crest can be raised or lowered at pleasure. The female is more plainly attired, being merely of a dark brown on the back, with white belly and a dusky coloured crest of hair-like feathers. Unlike the other mergansers this bird has a yellow eye, and the wing speculum is white. The hooded, or crested merganser as I should prefer calling this beautiful bird, is an expert diver, but instead of fish it feeds on insects, larvee and, probably, wild rice. Its flesh is not fishy in taste, still it is not equal to that of the better classes of the non-divers. These birds breed here. When not feeding they - swim close together, and fly also in a’compact manner. Their favourite feeding places are along shores under overhanging bushes, The golden- ‘eye (Clangula glacium), deriving its name from the loud whistling sound made by its wings when flying, belongs to the sub-family Juliguline or sea ducks. The golden-eye is widely distributed over every quarter of the globe. It is well known in the Arctic, as well as the » Antarctic Ocean. The clear whistle of its wings can be heard by the Icelander as well as by the Patagonian—by tbe borderer of Cape Clear and the climber of the cliffs of the Orkneys—by the Esquimaux of Hudson’s Bay and the dweller on the shores of the Gulf of Mexieco—by the British Columbian and the New Zealander. Wherever open water along a coast can be found, the golden-eye, at some season of the year, makes its home. No aquatic bird is more generally known to sportsmen and ornithologists than the golden-eye. The golden-eye is a bold and strong diver, feeding frequently in water twenty feet deep. Many of them remain in this part of Canada all winter, frequenting rapid open 63 water wherever they can find it. They feed on aquatic insects, larve and wild rice; and doubtless make considerable havoc amongst the spawn of fish. Although much shorter in the body, specimens may sometimes be found almost as heavy as a black duck. The flesh is destitute of the fishy flavour peculiar to the sheldrakes ; still it is much inferior in this respect to any of the non-livers. These birds are exceedingly wary and hard to get at. The run-at-the-dive dodge is the best mode to approach them. JI am not aware of their breeding here. The male golden-eye—only to be found in full plumage in the spring— is beautifully white underneath, with black wings and white beauty spot. The head is dark green with a small white spot on each side at the root of the bill) The female is bluish black on the back, white belly and head of dark dusky brown. The buftle-head (Clangula albeola) is the smallest of the divers. The male is elegantly marked. The belly is dusky white, quite silky in appearance. The wings and back are black. The head is purplish green, with a large white spot on each side. The legs and feet are of a delicate flesh-colour. The female is simply black and white with small white spots on the head. These elegant little ducks are excellent eating. They are so fat that in the United States they are called “ butter balls.” The buftle-head is a good diver. Like the bluebill, it prefers broad open water to creeks or small streams. The American widgeon ( Mareca americana ) is a handsome bird of the non-diving variety. It is slightly larger than the wood duck. The male bird has elegant plumage of a creamy red colour on the sides and front of the breast. The belly is white, and from a white spot on the top of the head it gets the name of “ baldpate.” The female is grey on the back, sides and breast of a reddish hue, and belly white. They are rare here in spring, and not at al] numerous in the fall. I saw a very fine specimen which was shot by Mr. Whitcher at Lochaber Bay last fall. The flesh is highly esteemed. The greater bluebill ( Puligula marila) and the lesser bluebill (Puligula affinis) ave both to be met with in considerable numbers on the Ottawa in the fall, although very few of either kind are to be seen in that river or its tributaries in the spring. Both varieties are short and thick-bodied, white bellied in part, dark brown on the back and breast. They may easily be distinguished by the blue colour of their bills. They are expert divers, and feed on 64 the valisneria, when they can get it. They are also very fond of the. larvee of the dragon-fly, to be found in great abundance at the bottom of streams near shore. The bluebills, like the canvas-backs, are only superior to the better classes of the non-divers when they can obtain the wild celery. They are also fond of wild rice, amongst the stalks of which they may be seen constantly diving late in the fall. The “ ea-ca-wee” (Harelda glacialis) or “old wife,” is a diver which comes from the north in the spring, passing down the Ottawa when the water is at its greatest height, resting here and there for a day, and following the flood down to the Gulf, or perhaps to the open sea. This bird gets its strange name from the notes of its voice. Its cackling may be heard quite a distance off. I have seen them frequently, but have never had an opportunity of examining a specimen. ‘There are other ducks which occasionally visit the Ottawa river, the habits of which I have not yet had an opportunity to observe. % * * * * ik * REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE SEASON OF 1882. To the Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club : The leaders of the Geological Branch of the Club beg to report that although no regular sub-excursions of the Club in this branch were held, still small working parties made constant investigations into, the numer- ous palaeozoic exposures in the neighbouring districts. Notes on the most interesting sections and measures were taken, which, when the long needed accurate topographical map of the district is prepared, may prove of no little value in determining the relative ages and exact distribution of the various formations met. The following brief notes of observations made are now submitted as likely to prove of more immediate interest : Tue Cuazy Formation.—I. Quite an extensive patch of this for- mation was examined at the Club’s second excursion to the Des Chénes Rapids, three miles below Aylmer, P.Q. These measures consist of 65 light yellowish-grey sandstones, underlaid by dark bluish green aren- aceous shales of a rather brittle nature. The rapids here doubtless owe their origin to these softer shales, which have been denuded and washed down the river. A few fossils were found in a stratum of rock which was ferruginous. The beds are almost horizontal, dipping very slightly to the west, and extend quite a distance west, south and east of this exposure, being well exposed at Aylmer and Britannia, as well as at Skead’s Mill, where there is a quarry of building stone from which many of the finest edifices in Ottawa hive been partially or wholly built. II. Another interesting exposure of this formation, doubtless con- nected with that just described, occurs on the south-western shore of McKay’s Lake, New Edinburgh, the strata here being but little superior stratigraphically to those at Des Chénes. This is brought to sight by an extensive fault running in an easterly direction across the measures of the Cambro-Silurian formations here, and referred to in the Geology of Canada, 1863, a downthrow on the north side of the fault being clearly shown. Altogether, the beds form a thickness of some 20 feet, and appear quite destitute of fossils ; the upper measures consist of a very brittle series of greenish-grey argillaceous shales which cleave at all angles and disintegrate to some extent. This exposure is part of one of two anticlinals, the other being at Hog’s Back, in Nepean, Ont., while in the synclinal basin between them are comprised the Black River, Trenton and Utica formations, together with the Pliocene and drift deposits. Ill. The summit of the anticlinal at Hog’s Back, Nepean, has been denuded and broken, a fault of several feet—again a downthrow on the north-eastern side of the fault—occupying the place where the rocks were rent. Here the sandstones predominate, and but very few shales occur. The hard quartzose beds pass from areno-argillaceous shales to caleareous sandstones, whilst the latter are immediately overlaid by limestones holding numerous fossil organisms. A band of the most argillaceous sandy beds yielded great numbers of the typical species Lingula Belli, (Billings), also an abundance of a lamellibranchiate mollusca, which may prove very interesting to palaeontologists, as 66 these bivalves are exceedingly rare throughout this formaton. In last year’s report this exposure was erroneously referred to the calciferous formation. THE Trenton Formation.—A fine section of the lower measures of this formation was observed and paced. It was some sixteen hundred feet in length, situated on the western extension of the Canadian Pacific Railway, a short distance from the Union Station, where a denuded anticlinal is exhibited. The dips in different parts of the section were ascertained and noted, as also the strike and the fossils cbserved. The dips were found to vary from 8° to 48° on the eastern side of the section. . Tue Utica Formation.—On the right bank of the Rideau River, opposite the Rifle Range, an exposure of this formation, worthy of note on account of its lithological character, was cbserved. Besides the ordinary bituminous shales there occur, interstratified in a section some 12 feet in thickness, ten or more bands of impure limestone, in some parts assum- ing a nodular character, in others very compact, varying from 2 or 3 to 10 inches in thickness. These hold a large number of fossils, as a rule very different from those in the overlying and underlying shales. Whilst the shales hold numerous specimens of Asaphus Canadensis (Chapman), associated with Zriarthrus Becki (Green) and orthids, the bands of limestone teem with Conularia Tren- tonensis, Zygospira Headi? (Bill), Calymene senaria (Conrad), and other forms of life. It was in one of these bands of impure limestone, or one belonging to this series that Siphonotreta Scoticw (Davidson), a prettily fringed Brachiopod, was found by Mr. J. W. H. Watts, R.C.A., . ‘its occurrence for the first time on this continent having but recently been made known to science by Mr. J. F. Whiteaves in a paper read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science in August 1882. The whole respectfully submitted, ‘ (Signed) WM. P. ANDERSON, HH. oS AME H. WATTERS. 19th Janvary, 1883. 67 | REPORT OF THE PALZONTOLOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE SEASON OF 1882. To the Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club : The first excursion of the Club last season to the Laurentian Moun- tains at Chelsea of course afforded no opportunities for collecting fossils. At the DesChénes Rapids, where the second excursion was held, the sandstones of the Chazy formation proved very unfossiliferous, but by careful search Mr. H. M. Amidetected some specimens of Orthis imperator, Billings, and of the characteristic Khynchonella plena, Hall. The visit to Brigham’s quarries, at Hull, on the 21st October, was made too late in the day, and too late in the season, to permit of full justice being done to this long known and favorite locality for collectors. These quarries are remarkable for the number and variety of the fossils found in them, on the weathered surfaces of slabs of Trenton limestone, and are specially rich in crinoids and monticuliporids. Stems of Glyptucrinus more than eight feet in length were observed in one part of the quarry, and fine examples of Glyptocrinus ramulosus, Billings, showing the heads and pinnule in a fine state of preservation, were also collected. Among other choice specimens obtained by members of the Club was a slab, showing a good example of the head and column of Dendaocrinus acutidactylus, Billings, surrounded by young Glyptocrini, both in an excellent state of preservation. The following is a list of the species collected on this particular occasion : Protozoa. Stromatocerium rugosum, Hall. CrinoipEA. Glyptocrinus ramulosus, Billings, and G. decadactylus, Hall; Dendrocrinus acutidactylus, Billings; Heterocrinus sub- crassus, Meek & Worthen. Poryzoa. Arthoclema pulchellum, Billings ; Stictopora acuta, Hall, and Ptilodictya falciformis, Nicholson ; Prasopora Selwynti, Nicholson ; Monotrypella Trentonensis, Nicholson. Bracutopopa. Rhynchonella capax, Conrad, var. increbescens, Hall, and R. recurvirostra, Hall; Orthis testudinaria, Dalman ; Strophomena alternata, Conrad ; Streptorhynchus filitextus, Hall ; Leptzena sericea, Sowerby. LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. Ctenodonta nasuta, Hall. 6 68 PreROPODA, Conularia Trentonensis, Hall. GasteRoPoDA. Murchisonia gracilis, Hall. CrPpHALOPODA. Endoceras proteiforme, Hall. ANNELIDA. Serpulites dissolutus, Billings. CRUSTACEA. Encrinurus vigilans, Hall. Last summer Messrs. W. R. Billings and H. M. Ami paid special attention to collecting the Monticuliporide of the Black River and Trenton limestones of the neighborhood of Ottawa, and succeeded in. finding six species that had not previously been recorded as occurring in Canada, and four that are new to science. The six new to Canada are as follows : Ptilodictya pavonia, D’Orbigry. Ptilodictya maculata, Ulrich. Stictopora paupera, Ulrich. Monticulipora parasitica, Ulrich. Amplexopora discoidea, Nicholson (Sp.) Heterotrypa solitaria, Ulrich. The four new to science have recently been described by Mr. A. H. Foord, in one of the publications of the ‘ Geological and Natural His- tory Survey of Canada,” as Monticulipora Billingsi, Prasopora oculata, Batostoma Ottawaense and Spatiopora areolota. During the season of 1882, also, Mr. W. R. Billings has made the following additions to the Fauna of the Trenton limestone near Ottawa City. CELENTERATA. Paleophyllum divaricans, Nicholson. CRINOIDEA. Glyptocrinus decadactylus, Hall. Glyptocrinus parvus, Hall. Heterocrinus subcrassus, Meek & Worthen. ANNELIDA. Conchicholites flexuosus, Hall. From the Chazy formation at the Hog’s Back, Messrs. Billings and Ami have obtained an interesting series of fossils, but these specimens have not yet been studied nor the species identified. Mr. E. T. W. Sowter reports the discovery of considerable areas of Black River limestone, containing well preserved and characteristic fossils, between Aylmer and the mountains to the north, also to the N. W. of Aylmer, in a tract of country previously laid down on the maps as exclusively occupied by the Chazy formation. i oe 69 Finally, specimens of a rare spinose brachiopod, belonging to the genus Siphonotreta of De Verneuil (a genus not known to occur in North America), and referable to a Scotch species, the S. Scotica of Davidson, have been collected by Mr. J. W. H. Watts, in the Utica Slate for- mation near Cumming’s Bridge. A paper descriptive of these speci- mens was read before the Geological Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at its last meeting in Montreal. J. F. WHITEAVES. W. R. BILLINGS. 16th February, 1883. REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH FOR THE SEASON OF 1882. To the Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club : During the season just concluded, the Botanic section has con- tinued the system inaugurated during the previous year: imparting information, bringing together those interested in the work, forming sub-excursions and working parties, being the chief duties your com- mittee has kept in view. The work in this branch has progressed steadily. Our knowledge of the ‘ Flora’ of this district has been increased by the discovery of new specimens and finding new localities for old ones, but none of the systematic observations commenced are sufficiently complete to add to this report. A pleasing feature has been the frequency with which information has been sought by members, not only by those who are actually engaged in collecting and preserving specimens, but also by those whose duties will not permit them to devote much time to the study of natural history. Several additions have been made to the working members, many being beginners. Professor Macoun, hitherto one of our corres- ponding members, has removed to this city and entered into active membership. His botanical knowledge and extensive collection will be welcomed by this branch, while his well-known energy cannot but add 70 to the success of the Club. The presence in this city, for some weeks, of Professor Fowler, of Queen’s University, Kingston, was a source of much pleasure and profit to our botanists. The prizes offered by the President have not received the attention they deserved. For the best collection of local plants, only one of the many beginners has persevered in preparing a collection for competition ; but this one, numbering 257 specimens, has been so correctly prepared that it is well worthy of the prize, and we have much pleasure in recommending Mr. T. J. MacLaughlin for that honor. For the greatest number of additions to our published list we are of opinion that no prize should be awarded. A few have competed, but the Presi- dent—although not a competitor—has added more than five times as many as all others. The number‘of new plants this year is 24, a very satisfactory result when we remember that this is the fourth yeur since the ‘“‘ Flora Otawa- ensis” was published. In the list this year, you will find the name of the discoverer added to each plant, so that anyone desiring duplicates may know to whom he should apply. For the first time, we notice with pleasure the name of a lady who has added to our list of new plants ; it is to be hoped that during the coming year others will follow this example and some of them succeed in carrying off prizes. It is greatly regretted that the Club excursions have not been more _ numerous, as this is the most favorable means we possess of bringing together workers and non-workers, and, possibly, of awakening some dormant talent for natural history. Sub-excursions were held frequently throughout the summer ; regular morning expeditions were made, and individual efforts have been prosecuted with so much zeal, that there is no available locality that has not yielded something new. At the excursion to Des Chénes Rapids. Carya alba and Potentilla Canadensis were added to our list. The former—which produces the sweet hickory nut—is of interest, as this is the most northerly and east- erly point where it is recorded as growing. On the sandy islands above Aylmer two grasses were discovered—Andropogon furcatus and Sorghum nutans, also near the same spot Lithospermum hirtum. Tn the ravine near Old Chelsea the walking-fern, Camp- fia tosorus rhizophyllus, was found; hitherto this had only been obtained from the rocky .ridges on the south bank of the Ottawa, below the city. In Hull, near Lake Flora, Muhlenbergia Mexicana and Rhus aromatica were discovered. Near the mouth of the Gatineau River /ris tenaz was gathered. This is a very rare plant, being a native of the Southern States; it has never been previously recorded as growing in Canada, and Gray does not mention it as being found in the northern United States. The neighborhood of Lake Wyndiago has contributed Melampyrum Americanum. In the spring Ranunculus Cymbalaria was found at Thurso growing in lowclay meadows in great profusion. Thisis a curiosity, as its natural habitat is along the sea coast and in the neighborhood of salt springs. A special study of the maritime plants which occur in this locality would form an interesting subject for some of our members. Several have already been observed ; some of you will remember the 7riglochin maritimum vay. elatum found in the Mer Bleue ou one of our excursions. Near Hemlock Lake two rare ferns were discovered, Pellea gracilis and Ophioglossum vulgatum ; here, also, Daphne mezereum was seen growing. This last is not a native of America, but two bushes were found by different members of the club growing wild, one in the woods behind Rideau Hall, and the other in fine fruit among rocks by Hemlock Lake. Some years ago two bushes were found on the top of Mount Royal, Montreal, far from any residence or thoroughfare. The bushes were noticed upon more than one occasion, and to judge from their size and their rootstalks were of great age. At Billing’s Bridge Viola pubescens var. scabrius- cula and Celtis occidentalis_were observed, of the latter only three or four trees grow here, and we are informed by Professor Macoun that with the exception of a grove of six at Belleville, none others are known east of Hamilton. The occurrence of such solitary specimens of full grown trees introduces a subject for speculation. Are they chance introductions, or are they remnants of a previous flora? Dow’s swamp has proved almost an inexhaustible hunting ground. Here was found that great rarity the Ram’s-head orchid Cypripedium Arietinum which was found in great profusion within a limitedarea. In the same place two other rare orchids were found in large numbers Habenaria rotundi- folia and Microstylis monophyllos. It is curious that this last species “I bo should have been found so plentifully this year, while of J. ophioglos- soides, which in previous years had been obtained in large numbers, only one specimen was found. This habit ofappearing in large numbers and then disappearing is peculiar to some families especially Orchids and Aquatics. Good collections were also made of Aspidiwm cristatum var. Clintonianum. In the Rideau Canal Mr. Fletcher found Lemna minor flowering profusely, the first date on which it was noticed was the 5th July. This has not previously been recorded as having been found in flower in Canada. At the same time the form of Potamogeton Vaseyt with emersed leaves was found in fruit; some good specimens were obtained, but a large proportion was found to be infested bya parasitic fungus. A few poor specimens taken from dried plants were sent to Professor Farlow, of Harvard University, who replied concern- ingit: “ The specimens are very interesting. The fungus is something “which I have never. seen before, and which, as far as I can ascertain, is ‘Cas yet undescribed. It is probable that it belongs to the Ustilagineee “but it is possible that it belongs to a new genus.” The study of these parasitic fungi is at the best very difficult, and can only be done satis- factorily from fresh specimens and in larger quantities than were sent to Professor Farlow.