PIBLD. DASGRA RALISTS

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VOLUME II, No. 1.

POPPI PS PL LIF IP LIFILLII III

OTTAWA, EADARA.
(OF rlizen Pr iniing and Publi shi se0r0g Company, Petealfe Ot.
188%.

41883. 1884.

OTTAWA

FrELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB.

TRANSACTIONS NO: 5.

VOL ie NO. I.

GOIN TaN aS:

PaGe
rset Officers: 1883284) Sa). fccscveie « cia) svorejalesssrasarerereieseres vad ASS ara Seislaing siserstee scr manele
List of Standing WOMIMUtCESaa tee rat lat neta csie one arnt ee mae Se SAE 2
aTStOLe COTFESPONCINE MOCMPELSK.s se siecle cwiisiec.selevwiele sve clesaicijnsrceiwncls cine = Sayan slon an’ 2
PITH GLO LIVIN DOTS saree ceialers olan ateve a1 cs ao Ne rasicve ajo. vie opel erscsicelal Sein 8/didlavaieGreie Obie oale oe eae ne 3
PAM Ti DIREC POLL Oe COUN Cll sx, score acamsateyarcloiavarertrele Givinreiecraveiaieieraveeae at qavecoisiannls: e ere rere ore taiaievorele sions 5
PRE DATUUO TSS VALE TELON Uae cinore ssotere sictes ciate ictal aia cuclOstonie sisi o/s re.s euiaie alael@arnievs aawiais siclecinelnatas Greiner 7
LTA gn swustOLe ONATONS aN CLIX CHANEES so |e siessciesaicies dee, sicccierersll cettaineeecmreleieacs a
WOMBLE CTO cre ctacioten cocceete wis sie eel aherort meaning aatre, wave ecaliravars: Gueveits. vase: -oiteyatornr eiaiw ole a: aueture eve phate creielerane 9
Repcriote Delegate townoyal Society Of Canadair. ccaccsec sic) ovis) cieiitiens melee nmonene 12
Inaugural Address of the President SWAN ercc UGE On DOR meric ae H, Beaumont Small 15
WNotesionithe®: Hora Ottawaensis. 2... cc sncses0scncdes fate alas nei dais vajeraereieveisle James Fletcher 29
On the Sand Plains of the Upper Ottawa.......... duo Neielvig, is Boiswlalevelas ine ae eltiniee es E. Odlum 38
histof Ottawa Hossils, with introduction. ..00.....000. vescrsseces eras -Henry M. Ami 54
Edible and Poisonous Fung Mies scarecetens Ole. syaroraiaustslaiivare bravest vers slerosi 6 she a Oe geo J. Macoun 62
List of Ottawa Caleanteni: WILLING TO OULG CLOW eleieicvs sisrersictejefe celslcle clelefevelele W.H. Harrington 67
WSELC LOTT ae cyetois ountialoes Gesicievs Memon oath mec lensewaces . Z B. Tyrrell a
On the Occurrence of Phosphate in Nature. poecn
The Deer of the Ottawa Valley.......... F P. Lett 101
IREPOLUO fst NS (x COLOLTCAIOE EHUIVGIT tiacels eioreiae sioiweievelcoters ah on Oe ni niaieloleye nl efehave) dovere's everace ainiele cielaeiorernere 118
Reportiosathopso tanicalwb ran Cha tmy fare 1a avectoielacrs « toresc eloisite is cera rererelataielorciauw ulefetesimacime ci eteiiers 122
Note on Doassansia oceulta........... ; .W. G. Farlow 127
IREpOnuO Lito CONCHOLOSICAl Bb raANGlia cartels slslolin iacovssslarviown d\etsietelersters ie avein sloise aie hokeic olen oslo 130
HReROTE OlKUN CEH NEGMOLOLICallebs PATI Clit. saya zraveavaporerayerst avai eis a c1sinjfe ceo eke abe cvereve eaves eVezelfesBve Seaselsjesla.sierere 134°
Reportot the Omibhological Branly vatesosmaevecisesis cose chleneee, = Mintiemecielerc sale Gieveriesietave 141
HVSTHON ACLU e210 Ol OR OBESTAT lie svete-s e. eare(svereterse cleo sss athe cieleveiale aievave cree ovevere weirs miauerelonreteriereiare 148

OTTAWA, CANADA.
CITIZEN PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, 3I METCALFE STREET,

1884

Patron :
HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE,
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

President :
H. BEAUMONT SMALL, M.D.

Vice-Presidents :
ist.—R. B. WHYTE, | 2nd.—PROF. J. MACOUN.

Secretary:
W. H. HARRINGTON.

Crensurer :
WM. P. ANDERSON.

Vibravian :
HENRY M. AMI.

Conunittec :
J. FLETCHER, | }.. B. PYRRELE; | W. L.. S€GRie

Standing Committees of Council ;

Publishing.—W™m. P. ANDERSON, W. H. HARRINGTON, J. FLETCHER.
Excursions.-—R. B. WHyTtEe, H. M. Ami, W. L. Scort.
Soirees.—Pror. J. Macoun, J. FLETCHER, J. B. TYRRELL.

Corresponding Members :
Pin, A. J., AoA.,, Cite, CPR. Port Magy Ee}
SAUNDERS, Pror. Wm., 7. 2.S.C., President Entomological Society of
Ontario, London, Ont.
Epwarps, HEnry, 185 East 116th Street, New York.
ANDERSON, Rev, Duncan, JZ 4., Spruce Cliff, Levis, Que,

PS Or Vil MBE.

Adams, F. D., B.A. Se. Cuzner, W. J.

Allan, W. A.

Ami... M., BUA. Davy, R. A., GE.

Anderson, W. P., C.£. Dawson, G. M., D.S., Assoc. R.S.M.,
Anderson, Mrs. W. P. LEGS. He tC.

Armstrong, John R. Devlin, KR. J.

Armstrong, Rev. Wm. J.A. Dickenson, E. A.

Dimock, W. D., B.A.
Balland, .Rev J. B., O.M1., DD. Dixon, F. A.

Baptie, Geo., U.A., M.D. Donaldson, B.
Barlow, A. E.
Bate, H. Gerald. Ewart, D.
Bell, E. B.
Bennetts, F. K. Faribault, E. R.
Billings, B. Ferrier, W. £.
Billings, W. R. Fleming, Sandford, C.Z., C.I.G.,
Boardman, Wm. F. WV Le ia SAO
Boulton, J. G., Staf-Com. R.N. Fletcher, James.
Bourinot, Ji. G., £.LS.C. Fletcher, Mrs. J.
Bowman, Amos, Fortescue, L.
Bradley, Inglis W. Fortescue, Mrs. L.
Bristow, A. A. Fuller, Thos., 2.C.A.
Bristow, Mrs. A. A.
Broadbent, Raiph L. Garvock, W. B.
Brough, Jas. 8. Geddes, Alfred.
Brumell, H. Pareth. Gemmill, J. A.
Burgess, T. J. W., .D., (London, Giroux, N. J.

Ont). ~ . Grant, Miss Isabel L.
Butterworth, C. A. Grant, J. AS aD. WR. Ss,

TGS, LAB S.C.

Campbell, Wm. Grant, Miss Jessie.
Casey, Maurice W. Grant, Miss Mary.
Castleman, J. 8., (Casselman). Greene, G. M.
Chamberlin, Mrs. B. Griffin, W. H.
Chisholm, A. Grignard, A.
Chrysler, F. H., B.A.
Coleman, L. H. Hale, J.
Coté, P. M. Hardie, John.
Cousens, W. C., U.D. Hardie, T. Melville.

Craig, Wm., (Russell). Harmon, Miss A. Maria.
a 3

Harrington, W. H.
Harrington, Mrs. W. H.
Harris, W. Dale.
Harrison, Edward.
Hodgins, John.

Johnson, Geo.
Johnson, E. V., C.£.
Kearns, J. C.

Keeiey, D. H.
Kilgannon, A. P., C.£.

Lamvart, //on. O. H.
Lampey, Wm. G.
Lutchford, F.R., B.A.
Lee, Miss K. G.
LeSueur, W’. D., B-A.,
LeSueur, Mrs. W. D.
Lett, Vi. P-
Lindsay, A.
Loux, Wm., .Wv.D. (Russell).
Lowe, John.
MacCraken, John I., 5.A.
McConnell, R. G., B.A. Se.
McGill, A., B.A. Se.
MacLaughlin, T. J.
McLaughlin, 8.
McLean, J. D.
McMillan, John, J/.A.
Macoun, John, J. 4A.,
Tf RS.C.
Macoun, J. M.
Martin, E. D.
Matheson, D.
May, George.

Nicholson, M. Vernon.

Odlum, E., 4/.4., (Pembroke).
Oxley, James M., LL.B.

Parris, Miss Oriana.
Parris, Wm.

Perley, Henry F., C.Z
Poirier, P. 8.

vee Saye re

+

Rauscher, Rudolf.
Richard, Louis N., B.A. Se. ©

Sawyer, D. J. B.

Scott, Miss Lilian.

Scott, R. D’Arcy.

Scott, Wm.

Scott, W..L.

Selwyn, A. R.
RSG.

Shaw, James F.

Short, John.

Small, H. Beaumont, 1/.D.

Small, H. B.

Smith, Henry R.

Smith, W. H.

Sowter, E. T. W.

Steers, C. J.

Stewart, J. C.

Summerby, Wm. J., 1/.A.(Russell).

Symes, Miss E.

Symes, P. B., A.K.C.

C., LL.D., FR

Thorburn, John, ¥.A., LL.D.
Tomlinson, J., CZ.
Tyrrell, J. B., B.A., 2.GS.

Verner, J. W. D.

Watters, Henry.

Watts,:d. W. Hook Gcm.

Warwick, F. W. (Buckingham).

White, Geo. R.

W hite, Lieut-Col. Wm.

Whiteaves, J. F., F.G.S., FRSC.

Whyte, Miss Isabella.

Whyte, J. G.

Whyte, R. B.

Whyte, Mrs. R. B.

Wicksteed, R. J., B.C.L., LL.D.,.

Willimott, Chas. W.

Wood, H. 0O., P.L.S. (Billings
Bridge).

Wright’ Geo. C. (Hull).

Wright, W. R.

Young, Jomes.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL,

To the Members of the Ottawa Pield-Naturalists’ Club:

In presenting a report on the work of the Club during the year
just closed, the Councii can claim that a large amount of valuable work
has been accomplished. Through an oversight in last year’s report no
mention was made of the Botanical Class which’ had been conducted
during the winter (1882-83) by the President, Mr. James Fletcher.
The class was continued in the field during the past collecting season
with great success, and has added much botanical strength to the Club.
Four regular excursions of the Club were held during the summer. The
first was on the 26th May to Kingsmere, a favourite resort of the
members. The second was to Casselman on 23rd June, and was
perhaps the best excursion yet hell by the Club. The third was a very
pleasant trip to Buckingham on 2nd August, while the fourth,
through the kindness of Capt. Goulet, of Aylmer, who placed a steam-
boat at the disposal of the Club, was to the beautiful Chats Falls on
12th September. In addition, many sub-excursions were held by the
different branches on Saturday afternoons, which aided largely in inves-
tigating the natural history of the localities visited. Seven soirées
were held during the winter, at which valuable papers aud reports were
presented, and at which the attendance was very satisfactory. A
synopsis of the discussions has been prepared with a view to publication
in the ‘fransactions. Classes have been conducted by Prof. Macoun
and Mr. Fletcher, in Ornithology and Botany respectively, which will
undoubtedly add to the future working strength of the Club. For the
prizes announced by the Council for the best collection made during the
year in each branch there were no competitors except in Botany, for
which the prize—a copy of Gray’s manual-- has been awarded to Miss
Isabel L. Grant, as recommended in the report of the leaders of the
branch. For the prize offered by the President, Dr. Smull, there were

no competitors. The Librarian reporis that a large number of

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exchanges have been received, and that 71 copies of Transactions have
been distributed to various societies and correspondents of the Club.
Owing to a series of unavoidable delays, the Transactions (No. 4) for
1882-83 were not published as early as would have been desirable, but
arrangements have been made with a view to, prevent a repetition of
such delays in publication. To improve the standing: of the Club and
to enable it to apply to the Ontario Government for a grant to assist 16
in carrying on its work, it was found necessary to have it incorporated,
and the requisite papers were accordingly prepared and registered by
Messrs. Scott, MacTavish & MacCraken, who very generously declined to
accept any fee from the Club therefor. A petition for a grant was also
prepared and forwarded to the Minister of Edneation. Under the con-
ditions of incorporation, it becomes necessary to make an amendment
to one of the rules, and it is proposed at the same time to make such
other amendments as may be deemed advisable in order to secure the
most satisfactory management of the Club. Thirty-nine new members
were elected during the year, and the present membership is 128, as
compared with 108 reported last year. The Rev. Duncan Anderson,
M.A., of Spruce Cliff, Levis, Que., a prominent Ornithologist, was
elected a corresponding member. The Treasurer’s balance sheet shows
that there are no claims outstanding against the Club. ‘The reduction
in the balance reported is due partly to an increase in several items of
expenditure, and partly to a decrease in the amount of back fees
received, and in the sale of Transactions. Nineteen meetings of the
Jouncil were held during the year, at which there was an average two-
thirds attendance of the members, notwithstanding the absence of
several of them from the city during the summer. In conclusion, the
Council has much pleasure in informing you that His Excellency the
Marquis of Lansdowne has graciously consented to become Patron of
the Club in the place of our late Governor General the Marquis of

Lorne.
W. H. HARRINGTON,

, Secretary.
Orrawa, 18th March, 1884.

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Rea SU RHA shot ACT EMR NUT

Of Receipts and Expenditure for 1883-84.

RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE.

Balance from 1882-83... $ 40 31 Stationery, Printing, etc. $ 25 76
Membership Fees....... 109 00 Excursion Expenses..... 23 58
Excursion Receipts..... 24 20 Soirée dO“ Gcea TIGS5
Soirée Gl “Hobo 6 10 Cost of Transactions No.4 116 25
Sales of Transactions... 10. 25 Balance on hand....... 12 32
$189 86 $189 86

WM. P. ANDERSON,
18th March, 1884. Treasurer.

LIBRARIAN’S LIST OF DONATIONS AND EXCHANGES.

New Brunswick Natural History Society:—*“ Bulletin.” No. 2.

Massachusetts Horticultural Society:—“ Transactions,” 1883. Part I.
“ Schedule of Prizes,” 1884.

Montreal Natural History Society: —“ Canadian Naturalist.” Vol. X,
Nos. 7and 8. ‘“ Canadian Record.” Vol. I, No. 1.

Buffalo Naturalists’ Field Club:—*“ Bulletin.” Nes. 3, 4 and 5.

Boston Zodlogical Society: —‘ Quarterly Journal.” Vol. IL, Nos. 2, 3
and 4. Vol. III, No. 1.

Cambridge Entomological Club:—“ Psyche.” Vol. IIT, Nos. 101-2.
Vol. IV, Nos. 105-116.

Joseph M. Wade:—“ Ornithologist and Odlogist.” Vol. VII, Nos.
13-24. Vol. VIII, Nos. 1-12.

John B. Smith:—“ N. A. Heliothine.”

8
American Museum of Natural History:—“ 14th Annual Report.”
“ Bulletin.” No. 4.
Henry Edwards:—*“ Papilio.” Vol. III, Nos. 3-10.
Canadian Institute:—‘“ Proceedings.” Vol. [, No. 4, 5.
College of Ottawa:—* Prospectus and Course of Studies, 1£83-4.”
Joseph F. James:—‘‘ Revision of the Genus Clematis of the U.S.”

Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists’ Field Club:—‘* Trans-
actions.” Vol. III. Part 7. ;

Physikalisch-Okonomischen Gessellschaft, Kénigsberg. Schriften der—
1882.

Prof. J. Macoun:—“ Catalogue ot Canadian Plants.”: Part I.

Academy of Natural Sciences, California:—‘ Constitution and By-laws.”
« Proceedings.” Vols.. V,"V EL, and Part) of Vola Vit

George Dimock:—“ Minutes of Meetings of Cambridge Entomological
Club, 1883.” “ Microscopy and Histology.”

G. E. Davenport:-— Catalogue of the Davenport Herbarium.” ‘“ Sup-
plement to ditto.” “ Distribution of Ferns in U.S.A.”

R. H. Ward:—* Report on Micrometry.”

Toronto Natural History Society:—“‘ Check and Label Lists of Insects
of Canada.”

United States Geological Survey:—“ Second Annual Report,” 1880-81.
“ Hayden’s Geographical and Geological Surveys of the Territories,”
Parts | and 2 (1878). “Maps for ditto.” ‘ Monograph, No. 2,
Tertiary History of the Grand Canyon District, Dutton.” “Atlas
for ditto.” ‘ Bulletin.” No. 1.

Lamteth Field Club:-—“ Report,” 1882.

American Association for the Advancement of Science:—‘ Proceedings
Montreal Meeting,” 1882.

James Fletcher:—‘ Reports of Ontario Fruitgrowers’ Association,” 188]
and 1882.

Torrey Botanical Club:—“ Bulletin.” Vol. XI, Nos. 1 and 2.

J. A. Lintner:—“ First Annual Report of the State Entomologist of
New York State.”

CO Net a Ut TON.

(Adopted at a Special General Meeting held 28th March, 1884.)

1. Name and Object.—This Club shall be called the Ottawa Field
Naturalists’ Club, and its object shall be the study of the Natural
History of this Locality.

2. Officers.—The Officers of the Club shall consist of a President,
first and second Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Libra-

rian, who, together with three other members of the Club, shall form a
Council, all of whom shall be elected annually, and shall be eligible for
re-election, and who shall have the management of all the business of
the Club. In the event of any vacancy occurring in the’ Council during
the year the same may be filled by the election of a successor at any of
its reguar meetings.

3. Auditors.—There shall be two Auditors, elected annually, to
examine the Treasurer’s accounts for the following year and report
thereon at the next annual meeting.

4. President and Vice-Presidents.—The President shall direct all
the business of the Club, and preside at all meetings of the Club
and Council; his duties, in the event of his absence, devolving on the

Vice-Presidents in their order.

5. Secretary.—The Secretary shall give previous notice to each
member of the Club of every meeting of the Club, and to each member
of the Council of every meeting of the Council; shall make and keep
a true record of the Proceedings of all Meetings of the Club and of the
Council; have custody of the Constitution, By-laws, and Records of the
Club, and conduct its general correspondence.

6. Treasurer.—The Treasurer shall be charged with the collection
and custody of the funds of the Club, and keep a regular account
thereof, which shall always be open to the inspection of the Council.
He shall also submit at each annual meeting a statement showing the

financial condition of the Club.
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7. Librarian.—tThe Librarian shall have charge of all publications
of the Club, and shall distribute the same under the direction of the
Council. He shall also have the custody of all books and papers
belonging to the Club, and shall supervise their circulation among the
members.

8. Council.—The Council shall, as business may require, meet from
time to time at the call of the President, or of any two officers; shall
control all matters affecting the welfare of the Club, subject to this
Constitution; shall have full control of the funds of the Club, and shall
report its proceedings to the members at the Annual Meeting.

9. Annual Meeting—The Annual Meeting of the Club shall be
held on the Third Tuesday in March, at which, in addition to other
business, the Annual Report of the Council shall be read, and the
Council and Auditors for the following year elected, by ballot after
nomination, by a majority of the members present.

10. Special Meetings.—A Special General Meeting of the Club
may be called by the Council; and shall be called on requisition of not
less than ten members, specifying the business they wish brought before
the meeting. The Council shall call the meeting within fourteen days
from the receipt of the requisition, giving one week’s notice. No other
business shall be transacted than that mentioned in the notice.

11. Conduct of Meetings.—The presence of ten members shall be
required to constitute any general meeting of the Club, and of three
members to constitute a meeting of the Council. All meetings shall
be conducted under such by-laws and rules of procedure as may from
time to time be adopted.

12. Proceedings.—Excursions in summer, and Evening Meetings
and Classes of Instruction in winter, shall be held, and the Transactions of
the Club shall be periodically published; all arrangements for which
shall be made by the Council.

13. Members.—Any lady or gentleman desiring to join the Club
shall send a written application, signed by the applicant and endorsed
by the recommendation of two members, to the Secretary, and if
approved shall be elected at the next meeting of the Council. Members
desiring to leave the Club must previously settle all dues and signify
their intention in writing to the Secretary.

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14. Corresponding Members.—The Council shall have the power
of electing Corresponding Members, who shall be persons not residing
in Ottawa or its immediate vicinity, but who may be desirous of promot-
ing the objects of the Club. Corresponding Members shall not be
required to pay membership fees.

15. Annual Fee._-The annual membership fee shall be one dollar,.
payable in advance, due on the third Tuesday in March, and no
member in arrears shall be entitled to any of the privileges of the Club.
New members to pay the fee for the current year upon election. The
payment of the annual fee to entitle a member to receive a copy of the
Transactions, as published, and to admission to the Club Soirées,
without further charge.

16. Amendments.—This Constitution may not be changed or
amended except by a special meeting of the Club called for that purpose,
and by a two-third vote of the members present.

REPORT TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA.
(Read at the Second General Meeting, May, 1883.)

In the rules adopted at the organization of the Club which I have
the hcnour to represent, its object is thus briefly stated: “to study the
Natural History of this locality.” During the four years of its existence,
a strictly local character has been maintained, and to this we ascribe
whatever success the Club bas attained. The general management is
under the control of the usual officers, elected annually, but the
scientific work is directed by “ Leaders” selected by the Council. The
«luties of these “‘ Leaders” are:—To render any assistance in their power
to members engaged in collecting and studying in their respective
branches; to bring together for mutual aid and encouragement the
members interested in the same subject;. to organize and direct work-
ing parties; to keep notes of work done, and to report to the Council
at the close of the season.

_ We are divided into six sections: —Geology—including Palon-
tology; Mineralogy and Lithology; Botany; Entomology; Conchology;
Ornithology ; General Zodlogy.

During the summer our work is entirely in the field. Once a
month an excursion is held to some point ten or twelve miles distant,
which is well attended, not only by members, but also by their friends.
‘On the first and third Saturdays of each month, afternoon expeditions
are taken by members of each branch, under the direction of the
Leaders. In addition, throughout the whole season individual work is

prosecuted with much zeal and assiduity.

In the winter, evening meetings are held once a month. Papers,
bearing on the work done during the summer, are read and discussed;
collections and specimens are exhibited, and the reports of the Leaders
are received. Classes have been conducted for beginners in Botany and ~
Entomology, and it is intended to form others as they may be found
wequisite in any branch. Prizes are given by the Club for the best
collection in each branch. The President also offers a prize for the best

record of original work.
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‘That the advantages of the-Club may not be confined to the mem-
‘bers, nor the results of our labours be lost to the future, Transactions
are published annually. They contain the President’s address; the
Secretary’s report; reports of progress in the sections; lists of objects
collected and the papers read at the winter meetings. Perhaps the
most valuable are the lists. Those of plants, insects, birds, fishes and
shells are already very complete. Each year they are added to and new
‘ones commenced. The papers are altogether upon local subjects, and
partake both of scientific and economic interest. A few titles will convey
an idea of their character:—Geology of the Ottawa Paleozoic Basin,
by Dr. Selwyn; Cystidean Life, by Dr. Grant; Laurentian Rocks, by
Mr. Adams; Asbestos, by Mr. Anderson; and Coleoptera, injurious
to our Pines, by Mr. Harrington.

The Museum which we aid our sister society, the Literary and
Scientific, in maintaining, also partakes of our exclusive character,
‘consisting entirely of collections made in this vicinity. In a few years
we hope to have a museum in which the whole natural resources of

this district may be easily studied.

Our steady growth and extending influence are very gratifying.
Our Club is under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency the
Governor-General, and the roll shows gome 120 members; among them
being the names of no less than eight Fellows of your Honourable Society.
Letters seeking information are continually received, not only from
residents of this neighbourhood, but also from more distant towns.
Our “ Transactions” and our system have been most. favourably com-
mented upon by the leading scientific journals of America, England
and Europe; and the continued energy of our members leads us to hope
that the vigour of our future will be as marked as that of our past.

H BEAUMONT SMALL, M.D.,
Delegate.

—*

>
¢

—_f st

4%

ik 4

PRESIDENT’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

H. Beaumont Smart, M.D.

(DELIVERED 6TH DECEMBER, 1883.)
Members of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is with feelings of pleasure mingled with fear that I find myself
in the position to welcome you upon this the fifth year of our Club’s
history. To feel that I have been considered worthy of occupying the
position of President is an undoubted pleasure; yet there is ever the
fear that the honour entrusted to me is greater than I have the power
tO maintain. Your confidence, I can assure you, has been appreciated;
and, in addition to what my actions may imply, I will simply ask you to
accept my most hearty thanks for placing me in this honourable position.
From its beginning the Club has ever had my co-operation and good
wishes; its welfare I have ever striven to promote. The incursions
into the realms of Dame Nature, and the friendly intercourse with
fellow members have always proved a source of pleasure and relaxation
from other more serious duties of everyday life.

The acceptance of the office was not without deep consideration on
my part. I felt its importance—was aware of the duties it would
require—knew that much time would have to be devoted to its work—
and weighing all these things carefully, I accepted it, trusting to your
forbearance, determining to fulfil all its obligations to the utmost of
my ability. Perhaps that which lent greatest weight to my decision
was the friendly relations existing with all my confréres in the Council,
upon whom I felt I could rely for every aid to make my term easy and

successful.

Of the many difficulties that must of necessity be met, one in
particular will ever overshadow all my eftorts. I refer to the brilliant
career of my predecessor in office, for a more untiring, energetic officer,
‘or a more successful period in the history of any club, could not be

wished for. Previous to 1879 Natural History in Ottawa ran at
Lars

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random. Such societies as had been formed were devoted to science in
general; very little work of any local value had been handed down to
us; no effort had been made to study the resources of this neighbour~
hood; there had been no practical working parties, no co-operation of
forces; each student followed his own bent, and in many cases trod an
unencouraged and unsympathetic path. Seeing whata field there was to.
work, and knowing how much could be accomplished by united efforts,
our worthy ex-President conceived the idea of the Club; his energy
carried it into effect, and his contagious zeal and activity have main-~
tained its successful career. During one year as Vice-President, and three
successive years aS President, the bulk of the labour fell on his shoulders,
not only the arduous duties of .managing, but also the more valuable
work of directing the various branches of natural history, for
there is hardly a branch in which there is not some student who can
trace a fondness for nature to his assistance and enthusiasm. The
result of his efforts is such as he can look at with pride, and were nothing
further accomplished he has done enough to have his name for ever
associated with the development of our local natural resources. To
those who remember the condition of the study of natural science
before the formation of this Club, its present popularity and
progress tell of a very material change. Workers are now united and”
their efforts systematized. . Numbers have been induced to enter upon
the study, some of whom form our most active members. Branches
hitherto unnoticed now possess energetic searchers.

Our Transactions are very creditable. They place on record much
local information, valuable not only to us as residents, but to all others,
more especially those who may reside here in the future. ‘The geology
and stratigraphy are very clearly explained, many minerals of economic
value are described, the lists of plants, birds, fishes and shells are ot
incalculable value; each year they are added to and perfected, new ones
commenced, and before another four years shall have passed, the
resources of this district will be so thoroughly known that we shall be
sighing for fresh fields to explore and conquer. Already longing eyes
are being cast upon surrounding regions. Our limits will soon become
a question requiring deep consideration, but I can see that our domain
will eventually comprise all that natural basin drained by the Ottawa

17

River ; our chief care being not to extend it too rapidly, but only as.
each foot of ground is worked. Our published lists must continue to.
comprise only such objects as may be obtained in a day’s outing ; or
when they are from any greater distance the locality must be specially
named.

With such a record for the Club, what wonder that I fear the difti-
culty of maintaining its good name and aiding in its bright future.
The vista presented to our view is unlimited, for not only is the per-
fecting of our neighbourhood before us, but a national work has been
begun—could our example but start similar clubs in other districts, their
work when added to ours would complete a system unequalled for
simplicity and completeness. The scheme is quite feasible. Already
several clubs have written for our rules and have commenced a system
of field-work. There are naturalists in every district, to start whose
energies some central force only is required. Could our national centre
of Natural History but see its way clear to assume this duty, the most
favourable results would inevitably follow.

During the period that has elapsed since I entered into office
much work has-been accomplished. The summer has come and gone,
during which season the Club has exhibited great activity. This is
really the most important period of our year, and the field-work that
by which we inust hope to maintain our reputation. To its attractions
we owe the favour in which the Clubis held, and the popularity it has
gained, and by it we must strive to retain the interest of the members.
During the present year the Council has giveu special attention to such
work. In the intervals between the regular excursions—in addition to
the frequent afternoon and early morning outings—sub-execursions were
held every second Saturday afternoon. he leaders received the names
of those who wished to accompany the parties and notified each one of
the spot to be visited. _ When the locality was favourable two or more
divisions would unite. | The progress in some branches has been very
pleasing, encouraging the leaders to continue such outings another
season, with hopes of still greater success. The regular excursions
were also as numerous as in previous years. - It was feared that the
sub-excursions would detract from the success of these larger gatherings,
but the results show that our fears were not realized. The opening of

.

18

the Canada Atlantic Railway has brought new districts within our
limits. All who visited Casselman must have been charmed with it as
a favourable locality for all departments of natural history. The vast
expanse of primeval forest, too soon to be invaded by the lumberman’s
axe, affords an opportunity of studying nature that must be seized by
our botanists. Late in the season Capt. Goulet, of Aylmer, conveyed
the Club in one of his steamers to the “‘ Chats” rapids, affording a most
enjoyable excursion, and the members who took advantage of his kind-
ness, have, I am happy to announce, presented him with a valuable
binocular glass as a mark of their appreciation.

In the month of May the meeting of the Royal Society brought
many eminent naturalists to our city. It is to be regretted that the -
Club did not in some way publicly 1eceive them, so as to enable the
members to become acquainted with its savants. Another year
it is hoped steps will be taken to remedy this oversight. As you are
aware the Council of that Society, in order to inform themselves upon
the condition of science and literature in the country, invited repre-
sentatives of leading societies to be present at their meeting, and report
upon their individaal work. The courteous manner in which the
representatives of societies were received and the privileges extended to
us made the meeting one continuous source of pleasure. When the
reports were read I felt proud of the Club I represented, as no other
showed such practical work and usefulness as our own, while the
many complimentary remarks received afterwards gave evidence that
our system had attracted attention. The papers read were of no interest
t> us as a local Club, they dwelt upon, science in general. Several
papers were read by members of our Club, but as they were also
Fellows of the Society we received no credit for them. Shonld any
‘other members at future meetings wish to present papers, they may do
so through their representative, and they will certainly be received with
the attention they deserve.

The removal of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society to thei”
new and more suitable quarters was seized upon as an opportunity to

‘secure a permanent place of meeting. As that Society had decided to
remodel their museum, continuing one of a local character only, and as
it was necessary for us to possess a permanent collection of specimens, —

a) i eed

19

rather than form a second and what would have been a rival one, we
offered to supply theirs, in consideration of permanent rooms. The
conditions are the same as formerly, but as more attention is now to be
devoted to the museum, our members will be expected to contribute
more freely. The curator will inform us what the museum possesses,
donations may then be sent to the Council, who will see that the gift is
properly credited. Let us be free and liberal, keeping the Society in
our debt ; they have always acted in a friendly manner; let all our
endeavours be to continue the amicable relations that should ever
exist.

Our winter soirées will continue as in the past. The programme
prepared presents many features which must prove attractive. The
papers of Dr. Dawson and Professor Macoun upon subjects regarding
which they are so eminent authorities, will be highly instructive. The
paper by Mr. Odlum, one of our new members, residing in Pembroke,
is a new feature. This talented gentleman has kindly consented to
visit us for the purpose of reading his paper and being present at one of
our meetings. I would remind you that in addition to the published
subjects there will always be room for notes and communications from
the members. It is net necessary that they should be of marked
scientific value; some uncommon visit of a bird or insect, or an unusual
growth of a plant will prove of interest, and anything that causes

discussion will be of value. Should information be required on any
point, queries will not be out of order. The result of the summer's
collecting may be exhibited that we may learn what others are doing or
what the Club possesses. Hach one should feel that the success of the
evening in part depends on himself. The aim of all should be to make
it as interesting and as profitable as possible, so that we may have, not
one long formal] lecture, but short papers followed by discussions of an
informal character, becoming even conversational. This year we intend
to take notes of the discussion, and embody in the Transactions such
remarks as are of a local character bearing upon the subject.

The usual prizes are offered to the members for competition.
The Club prize remains unchanged; that given by the President embraces
a wider field than hitherto, for confining it to additions to published lists
was not productive of such good results as was expected, and it is

b

20

now open to papers on original work in any department. This, it is
hoped, will cause some to exercise their power of observation and impel
them to advance in the domain of original research——that only true
means of making science progressive.

There is one point I would ask you to think over before the
annual meeting, that is the name of the Club, which, I think, should
be changed, so that it will read the Ottawa Naturalists’ Field Club,
instead of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club. The change of a name
is a serious matter always. Here it can hardly be called a change,
rather an alteration, and in my opinion a correction.

It affords me much pleasure to be able to announce that His
Excellency the Marquess of Lansdowne has graciously consented to
become the patron of the Club, and I can only hope that our work may
prove as interesting to him as it did to his predecessor, the Marquess of
Lorne, who always spoke in the kindest manner of our efforts.

To a person following the study of natural history, nothing is more
essential than a knowledge of the system by which the members of that
vast kingdom are classified. | Without this a very important purpose
of a name is lost. A name is not simply for the purpose of saving a
description when we wish to indicate an object, but it is also intended
to intimate the group to which it belongs, and its position or rank in
the natural series. ‘The former is of course of primary importance,
but the latter is the deeper and more scientific meaning, the inability
to apply which constitutes the difference between the ordinary observer
or collector and the naturalist. |

A person about to travel to a strange country looks on the map to
find the position of the spot he is about to visit, notes what other places
there are in the neighbourhood and their relative distances. So upon
entering the domain of nature should one glance over the map of that
country. He should search for his special province and compare it with
others, that he may learn its relative position and extent. He should
make himself acquainted with its boundaries, and should become
familiar with the bordering districts. Should this information be
wanting, one of the greatest sources of gratification is lost. In an
ordinary ramble innumerable interesting objects are passed by and not

noticed. The characters which rank one object above another are not
known. Relations and analogies of the greatest importance fail to
attract attention, nor does he recognize a part in its many modifications.
Upon entering a museum such knowledge is again requisite to appre-
ciate what is gathered there. We can only pity the person who wonders
why bats are not with birds, or why snakes, eels and worms are in
different cases.

Throughout nature there are certain principles or relations which,
when searched for, furnish the only true guides, and very tew observa-
tions of these show that nature has undoubtedly followed a certain
plan in producing organized beings. As these beings are scattered all
over the globe, inhabiting different elements, this plan is considerably
altered and disfigured by modifying influences. The aim is to discover
this plan, to trace it through intricate paths, to recognize it in various
disguises, and when fully worked out, to draw the lines of demarcation
which serve to divide and sub-divide such groups as may be formed.
To accomplish this end, the affinities which one object bears towards
another must be closely studied. In the animal kingdom those of real
importance are found in the internal vital structures, where we must
search for the resemblances of a permanent character. A single organ
or set of organs maybe selected and followed through its many stages,
but the greatest precision is obtained when the organism is considered
in the totality of its parts. The external markings though not to be
depended upon for permanent characters are fonnd to be of value in
determining the minor differences. and forming the lesser divisions.
However, as the same influences that modify externally affect the
internal arrangement to some extent, these more crude characters
serve to point out the path we wish to follow.

Such principles may be discovered in a!l systems having any
claim to be natural, their correctness depending on the closeness with
which the guide has been followed. In the system of Aristotle, formed
more than two thousand years ago, we find the first evidences of a
natural classification. He studied closely the circulation, and separated
all animal life into two groups, corresponding to our vertebrates and
invertebrates. One he formed of all those animals possessing red blood,
in the other he placed all with a colourless fluid. His further divisions

22

were into those living on the earth, in the water, and in the air, A
fourth group comprised all lower forms under the name of vermes.
With no previous researches to guide him, and but limited material to
study from, he produced this accurate division which all subsequent
investigations have only confirmed. For two thousand years this
system was accepted. Upto the time of Linnzus, no other successful
attempt was made, naturalists devoting their energies to discovering
and naming species. Linnzeus seeing the correctnesss of the principle’
adopted, did not form a new scheme, but extended his researches and
made a further division into classes. (Addendum A.)

It is not for the system that we are indebted to Linneus, but for
the firm foundation upon which he placed the science of natural history.
He it was who permaneatly formed the divisions of class, order, family,
genus, species, and perhaps his most valuable legacy was the method of
giving double names, based on the generic and specific characters—a
boon few properly realize. His system was published in 1759, and for
the next sixty years naturalists devoted themselves to correcting and
improving upon it. The beginning of our century saw a marked advance.
The Linnzan system was then discarded and that which forms the
foundation of all present systems was adopted. In 1819 Cuvier gave
to the world the result of his labours, which has continued with slight
modification to the present day. I place with it that taught by
Principal Dawson, he being our leading Canadian authority, and his
system being a fair example of the many in vogue at the present day.
(Addenda B. & C.)

Cuvier has selected the nervous structures as the means of deter-
mining his groups, at the same time giving due weight to the changes in
the other vital organs. At one end he separates all possessing a brain
and spinal cord extending throughout the body, and an internal skeleton,
from which they derive the name vertebrata. At the other end he
makes a group of all not formed on the bilateral plan, the parts radiat-
ing {rom a common centre, hence their name radiata. The remainder
is divided into mollusca and articulata. In the former the nerve centres
are scattered irregularly throughout their structure, all being connected
with two chief centres situated over the throat. In the other group the
nerve centres are arranged as a double chain extending the length of the

Stalin) #9

23

body, a set being placed in each articulation or ring. The nervous
system is not wholly considered. In the vertebrates a perfect system of
respiration and circulation, the complicated digestive process, together
with the number of special senses, are all distinctive characters which
leave no doubt about placing this group at the head of the list. Of the
relative position of the next two groups Cuvier was uncertain. They
were not placed one after another, but side by side, the mollusks having
a slight precedence. This he allowed, as in them he considered the
circulation in closed vessels was more pertectly performed, respiration
approached nearer the higher type, and the digestive organs were nearly
as complex as in the vertebrates. The articulates he thought iower, as
modifications in the vital processes became evident, respiration was not
performed by a single organ, but by a series of chambers scattered
throughout the body, and circulation and digestion were also performed
on a more simple plan. Modern observers however have altered this,
placing the articulates decidedly in front. Their external skeletons—
the bilateral symmetry of all parts—the distinct members for locomo-
tion, and the superior power of directing their movements, place them
in a higher scale. The mollusks, on the other hand, although having
greater developments of some structures, are otherwise more lowly
constituted, their irregularity of structure and want of symmetry
causing them to approach the radiates. The last group was easily
placed at the foot of the link. Their want of special sense, their
simplicity of structure and function, make it difficult to distinguish
many of them from the vegetable kingdom. In the formation of classes
the same general characters rule, whilst in addition certain characteristics
of the group are considered. With the vertebrates, although the
various functions are studied, the classes are really formed on the same
plan as in the Linnean system. The articulate classes depend on external
characters chiefly. The arachnids are highest as they have pulmonary
respiration; and are furnished with eight legs. Insects have head, thorax
and abdomen, legs six in numver. Crustaceans have their bodies
divided into thorax and abdomen, and legs more numerous. Annulata
are composed of numerous rings, legs rudimentary and no proper
division into head, thorax or abdomen. ‘The cephalopods are the
highest of their group, having many resemblances not only to the

24

articulates but also to the vertebrates. The next two classes are accord-
ing to their shells. The last class consists of those constructed
internally on the plan of the mollusks, but externally resembling the
lower group. The radiate classes extend from the well known star
fishes to the simple celled infusoria.

In deciding the scale of the natural series a certain method has
always presented itself, that is, to select a certain point as a standard,
compare the objects we wish to rank, and when compared, that which
most nearly approaches the standard has precedence. In selecting the
standard, that end of the scale is most naturally chosen which is the
perfection of all types. Thus, throughout the whole animal kingdom,
when we speak of a thing being highly or lowly developed, we refer to
it as approaching near to or departing from the likeness of man in the
construction of its parts.

Up to the time of Cuvier the idea was to form one continuous line
from the highest to the lowest form of animal life. Cuvier renounced
this plan, placing many of his sub-kingdoms and classes on almost equal
footing. He, however, failed to explain the discrepancies or elucidate
the plan of his series. This want of regularity has always perplexed
classifiers who have followed the Cuvierian school. Macleay, a Scotch
naturalist, attempted to arrange all in groups represented by circles,
the series being continuous where the circles came in contact. The
whole difficulty is due to their observation not being based upon proper
theories, These systems have been formed on certain characters, with-
out first discovering why these characters were present or ascertaining
by what theory they could be explained. They failed to recognize the
import of their facts and vontinued their investigations in the wrong
direction.

At the same time that Cuvier was constructing his animal
kingdom, and probably from the same influences that caused him to
look deeper than his predecessors, others also commenced to investigate
the subject, and although no system was evolved, the principles upon
which we must build a system purely natural were discovered. All
other systems were formed by studying the characteristics of the
natural groups, and then bringing together all to which they could be
applied. This method studies nature as a whole, from the most lowly

FY we

25

formed to its highest type, and then draws the lines of demarcation,
separating group from group. Adult forms are not alone considered.
Tt follows the development of each object from its earliest condition,
also enlists into its service many extinct forms, and by this means a
purely natural system is created, the series being traced from the lowest
to the highest creation. I have made a rough outline of the system of
Haeckel, based on this method, which is given that you may obtain an
insight. In these methods many points require to he proven, many
obscurities to be cleared up. There is much work to be done, work
which must advance slowly, but as the greater number of leading
naturalists are following this plan, we can look forward to possessing, In
due time, a perfect system.

Of the further division into orders, families, genera and species, the
two latter are the most important, as from them the name of the object
is derived. The species is the ore of real value, as it is the unit of our
systems. When among several individuals we find a peculiarity of
form or external marking—tangible and constant—we recognize it as a
specific difference, and give it a name according to some peculiar mark-
ing it possesses. When among several with such specific differences
there is a general resemblance in internal structure, and often to a great
extent in external characters, we recognize a natural group and name it
agenus. The families and orders are very unsatisfactory, the terms
giving no idea of their value. Their distinctions are some general
external character which indicates a peculiarity of interna! structure.
Mammal orders are according to the hoof and teeth, birds according as
they are made for swimming, wading, perching, etc. ; insects according
to the character and number of their wings. It is in these lesser
divisions that we find the great differences of the many systems. Each
specialist generally works independently of those in other branches; one
gives a value to his divisions that another does not recognize, reducing
orders and making families more numerous or increasing the number of
orders and lessening the families. This constructing upon individual
authority is very detrimental to the progress of science, as is also the
custom of giving names by the same primitive plan. There is hardly
an object that has not two or more names, and in indicating it, it is not

enough to give a single authority, but it is becoming necessary to give

26

he authority for both the generic and specific names. Another diffi-
culty that is increasing te an alarming extent is that of the numerous
varieties that are being recognized ; so plentiful are they, that a triple
name is now becoming as common as a double one.

However, as every evil works its own cure, so from this state we
may hope to derive a more simple science, where one name only wili be
recognized and no authority required-——a custom now being advocated
by many American naturalists.

Hitherto the feeble state of natural history has compelled Cana-
dian naturalists to cling to the skirts of our friends in the United
States, depending solely on them as our authorities. But now with
our rapid advance we require a national authority upon such matters,
and it is pleasing to know that in the Geological and Natural History
Survey, we have our wants supplied. — During the past year, under its
authority, has been issued the first part of a catalogue of Canadian plants
prepared by Prof. Macoun, which must become our recognized authority.
No doubt the energetic director, Doctor Selwyn, will, as researches
under his direction are extended, use all endeavours to continue the
publication of such aids to enquirers in all other branches of natural
history.

In offering you these few remarks, my object has been
to point out how very important, and what a_ source of
gratification must be a knowledge of this nature. If I
have impressed you with its value, a little study on your
part will soon familiarize you with the subject. Could more of our
beginners see it in this light, we should have fewer back-sliders and a
host of earnest and energetic workers. In this age it is becoming
fashionable to be versed in science, and numbers rush wildly after
nature and think they understand what is seen. But they soon tire
and wonder where the attraction lies. Others energetically learn
names and make collections, but they also tire and gradually lose
interest. Would they but master these principles and learn
to read the book of nature, its illustrations would afford them
unthought-of attractions, and ever present something new. ,

I would advise all who begin the study to learn the principles of
nature, and I promise as their reward a rich treat—a life-long pleasure.

s
©

27

Nothing is so requisite to the busy mind as relaxation, and how can it
be better obtained than by retiring to her solitudes and making com-

parison of all the grand and beautiful things that nature has given us.

Mr. W. P. Anperson asked whether any analogy could be traced
between the classifications of the animal and vegetable kingdoms.

The PresipEnT said he thought not, as the classifications were

formed quite independently of one another.

Pror, Joun Macoun was of opinion that there might be, for in
plants, as in animals, there were four principal types: the thallophytes
corresponding to the radiates; the acrogens and endogens to the
mollusea and articulata, and the exogens to the vertebrata. To make
the analogy still more marked he compared the gymnosperms, the

lowest form of exogens, with the marsupials and monotremes, the

lowest forms of mammalia.

ADDENDA.

A.—LINNZUS.

Diviston A.—Heart of 4 cavities,—2 ventricles, 2
warm and red.

auricles,—blood

Viviparous—Mammalia. Class I

Oviparous— A ves « 1a
Division B.—Heart of 2 cavities,—blood red and cold.

Having lungs—Amphibia. cee LTR

Having gills— Pisces. eS SEV,
Division C.—Heart of 1 cavity,—blood white and cold.

Having antenne,

Undergoing transformation,—Jnsecta. “ Vv

Having tentacula,

No transfermation,—Vermes. cer SV

B.—Dawson.

VERTEBRATA.

Mammalia— Mammals.
Aves —Birds.
Reptilia—Reptiles.
Pisces— Fishes.
ARTICULATA.

Arachnida—Spiders and Mites.

Tnsecta—Insects.
Crustacea—Lobsters, ete.
Annulata— Worms. .

Mo .uusca.
Cephalopoda— Cuttle-fish.
Gasteropoda—Univalve Shells,
Lamellibranchiata—Bivalves.
Heterobranchiata—Tunicates.

RADIATA.

Echinodermata—S tar-fishes.

Anthozoa—Coral animals.
Acalephze—Jelly-fish.

Protozoa—Animalculz, Sponges.

VERTEBRATA.

Mammalia.

Aves.

Reptilia.

Pisces.
Mo.uusca.

Cephalopoda.
Pteropoda.
Gasteropoda.
Acephala.
Brachiopoda.
Cirrhopoda.

9

“a

8

C.—CuVIER.

ARTICULATA.

Annelida.
Crustacea.
Arachnida.
Insecta.

RaDIATA.

Echinodermata.
Entozoa.
Acalephe.
Polypi.
Infusoria.

D.—ArtTerR HAECKEL.

MoneEra.

Ne

& eS

$ “2

= e

o a

pe ? é

Infusoria, ete.

GASTRA@A.

(Primitive intestinal cavity.)

*SUI[MBID

ACGLOMI.

(Bloodless Worms.)

Ca@LoMATI.

(Worms with blood.)

Stil

Sponge, Acalephe.

Protozoa E

Zoophyta 2

Vermes 3

Mollusea 4

Echinodermata 5

Arthropoda 6
Vertebrata 7

— } |

29

NOTES ON THE FLORA OTTAWAENSIS, WITH SPECIAL.
REFERENCE TO THE INTRODUCED PLANTS.

JAMES FLETCHER.

Read 20th December, 1883.

My object in preparing these notes for the Club is chiefly to explain
certain points in the flora Ottawaensis which might possibly be
misleading to non-resident botanists.

In the drawing up of this list which was published in the first part.
of the Transactions there were one or two important omissions. The
first of these was that there was no mention made of the limits of the
locality in which the plants were collected. There is, no doubt, much
room for difference of opinion as to what the limits of ‘this locality ’”
should be, and it is possible that for useful work it would be better
not to tie down all the branches to the same area; for instance, the
extent of country which it is necessary for the Geologist to examine is
far greater than that required by the Botanist, in forming a general
idea of the Geology or Botany of a district, and the same may %e said
of the Ornithologist and Entomologist. It is not for me to make any
Suggestions here as to what should be the limits of any branch; nor is
this a convenient time to discuss such a subject; but I will merely state.
that ‘“ this locality,” as far as the compilation of the list of plants was
concerned, has up to this time been understood to mean a distance of
about 12 miles in any direction from the city, that is, about the dis-
tance a collector could travel on foot, when collecting, and return in one
day. The extreme limits in different directions have included the
country lying between Meech’s Lake, in the Chelsea Mountains, on one
side and the Mer Bleue on the other. Down the Ottawa river, East Tem-
pleton and Green’s Creek have been included, and, up the river, Britannia.
and the islands above Aylmer. There is still a large amount of work to
be done in working up the country comprised within these limits.
Several districts have not been worked at all and others only visited
occasionally.

Now, with regard to the list itself. A bare list of names gives no.
idea at all of the prevalence of any species in a locality, and this is one
of the most important points the Botanist wants to know. Certain
plants which are very common in some localities may be very rare here-

30

and vice versa. Then again plants natives of this country, but not
indigenous in this locality, occasionally get introduced either by accident
or are originally brought here as ornamental plants. These should in
some way be indicated as such, or students examining the lists will be
deceived. We have now published four parts of Transactions, in all of
which there are lists of plants; but only in the last has any of the
above necessary information been given. I hope at some future day
the Club may publish a full synoptical list of the plants of this locality,
giving a short account of each in the same manner that Prof. Fowler
did of the plants cf New Brunswick; but in the meantime it has
appeared to me that by clearing up the ground as far as we have gone,
and drawing attention to some of the most interesting species mentioned
in the list, useful work might be done, and that ismy excuse for reading
to you to-night what may be to many an uninteresting and dry paper.

First of all, I regret to say there are one or two names which have
been placed on the list by mistake, of these mention must be made of
Amelanchier alnifolia, Aster longifolius, A nove-anglie, Vaccinium
vacillans, Sporobolus heterolepis, and also Lychnis diurna—for Lychnis
vespertina.

There are also one or two concerning which some doubt exists.
Anemone multifida, D.C. A single specimen of this plant was given
to me by Dr. Small, in 1877, without any data. He told me after-
wards that he believed it had been found near the Ritle Range; but as
it has never been re-discovered since, the record is not certain. T7ri-
JSolium agrarium, L. This name is considered by European botanists
to he asynonym of 7’. procumbens, Li. var. My reason for saying there
is some doubt about this species is that, although Prof. Macoun only
mentions two forms in his new catalogue, we have in Canada apparently
three distinct forms, one like each of the European varieties, and this
much more robust, erect and conspicuous species, of which I have
found specimens two feet in height. It is not common, but has been
found several times. However, it always has the appearance of an
introduced plant, and it is just possible that the change in habit may
be due to climate and soil.

Polygonum dumetorum, LiHer. Froma very careful examination
of the descriptions of P. dumetorum as well as of a large series of

ol

specimens from different localities, I cannot satisfy myself that we
have the type here, or even in Canada, at all. The variety scandens,
Gray, has twice been found in this locality and is a much handsomer
plant.

nothera chrysantha, Mx. I notice that Professor Macoun has
included both this and @. pumila, L. in his catalogue. I have always
been under the impression that these two were only varietal forms of

one species dependent on the locality where they grew; pumila is found

in wet spots by the sides of rivers or in low fields, chrysantha on

gravelly banks and in drier places. During the past summer I havehad
in flower in my garden a few specimens which varied so much in appear-
ance although grown from seed taken from the same plant but which
were placed under different circumstances, that I have not yet altered
my opinion. If they really be distinct chrysantha must be added to
the Flora Ottawaensis.

The study of the introduced plants of any locality has many very
attractive features; there are so many fields for speculation, and yet, at
the same time, with a little study, such a large proportion of the theories
can be tested. ‘“ Introduced plants” as understood in the compilation
of the Flora Ottawaensis, meant those plants which, when accidentally
introduced, were able to survive and mature their seeds sufficiently for
these seeds to again grow and complete their cycle of existence. Of
course all conspicuous and showy garden flowers which are commonly
cultivated for ornament, but which occasionally occur as garden escapes,
were omitted. It is not always easy to determine when a plant should
be included in snch a list and when not, for it must be borne in mind
that by far the larger number of garden flowers are not wild flowers
improved by cultivation and so changed in appearance, but wild flowers
from other parts of the world only slightly, if at all, altered by climate
or the habitat they are placed in. ‘There are a great many of our
common wild flowers which are grown with the greatest care in Europe,
as for instance the lovely little Anemone Heputica which is the first
to remind us of the return of spring, or the deliciously scented May-
flower (Lpigwa repens) which under the name of Trailing Arbutus is a
favourite green-house plant, also the gorgeous Ladies’ Slippers (Cypri-
pedium) with many others of the curious orchid family ; and even here,

32

we ourselves grow in our gardens plants from other parts of the
Dominion, as the beautiful British Columbian shrubs, the flowering
currant (Ribes Sanguinea) and Syringa, (Philadelphus Lewisii). These
lovely shrubs, which are among the most conspicuous objects of our
gardens, are found on every hillside west of the Cascades in British
Columbia. From the same province, but considerably rarer, are two or
three species of Rhododendron. These conspicuous plants, however, do
not give the Botanist trouble, because their very beauty draws sufficient
attention to them for their whole history to be known—the difficulty is
with the inconspicuous plants, such as creep in uninvited and unawares
among other seeds ; in fact what we call weeds. But what is a weed?
“The dictionaries tell us,” says Dr. Gray (Am. Jl. Se. 3 8. xviii, p.
161), ‘‘any useless or troublesome plant.” “ Every plant which grows in
a field, other than that of which the seed has been (intentionally) sown,”
says the Penny Cyclopedia. The Treasury of Botany defines it “any
plant which obtrusively occupies cultivated or dressed ground to the
exclusion or injury of some particular crop intended to be grown.
Thus even the most useful plants may become weeds if they appear out
of their proper place. The term is sometimes applied to any insigni-
ficant-iooking or unprofitable plants which grow profusely in a state of
nature and also to any noxious or useless plant.” Dr. Gray’s own
definition is ‘plants which tend to take prevalent possession of soil
used for man’s purposes irrespective of his will.” Of course in our list
of introduced plants those species are omitted which occupy ground in
-a state of nature, but which also as weeds conspicuously intrude into culti-
vated fields, as Hrigeron Canadense and Ambrosia artemisicfolia perhaps
the most weedy looking plants we have. Some plants as Trifolium repens
‘the white or Dutch clover, are truly useful when grown as crops, but
‘a great nuisance when they occur as weeds. Here, as in most of the
other parts of settled North America, a large proportion, in fact nearly
all, of the aggressive weeds are immigrants from Europe, and it may not
‘be amiss to consider shortly the reason of this, for it is rather remark-
able that it should be the case. It is strange, too, that some which are
“a great nuisance. here as weeds, in their own country are not at all
plentiful, and the converse of this is also true; some species which in
Europe are most irrepressible are here hardly able to secure a foothold,

33

but unluckily these are comparatively few, and it is a notable fact that,
although so many species of our common aggressive weeds have come to
us from Europe, very few from this side have held their own in the old
world. A partial reason for this may be that up to this time much
more seed has been brought here from Europe for farms and gardens
than has been sent back from this side. Dr. Gray’s theory, however,
is probably the correct one, and it accounts for the large proportion of the
European introduced plants becoming so objectionable here. He points
out that, up to a quite recent date, our whole country was covered with
forests, and consequently all the indigenous plants would be forest
plants. It is apparent, therefore, that for this reason they would be
unsuited to live in the open spaces when cleared. On the other hand
the hardy European ragamuffins used to pick up a scanty living among
flag-stones and upon rubbish heaps, would grow apace when introduced
into our rich virgin soil, where there were no rivals to oppose them;
thus it is merely a phase of the old story—the survival of the fittest.
Of course this argument would also apply to seeds accidentally taken to
Europe; they would be unable to survive without the constant supply
of moisture in the atmosphere which, through many generations, they
had been used to in their native forest. This leads us to another theory
viz. : that one so ably advocated before the Royal Society of Canada,
by Prof. Macoun, to the effect that the humidity of the atmosphere is
the chief element which affects the distribution of the different species
of plants. Prof. Claypole (Rep. 3, Mont. Hort. Soc.) argues very
elaborately, and possibly with some reason, that the types of vegetation
in Europe are of a more plastic nature than those of this continent, from
having had, during a long period, to live under very varying circum-
stances, and to adapt themselves to many different changes of habitat.
In support of this theory he points out that the fossil Floras of Europe
and the American of to-day, are very closely allied. He cites some very
remarkable instances of Tertiary and Miocene plants, almost identical
with existing American forms, and infers that the type of vegetation
which we have here now, once existed in Europe as well; but froma
lack of plasticity failed to survive. This theory may be partially true,
but I think that the humidity of the atmosphere, namely the nature of
the habitat, is the chief cause. If it were not she habitat which chiefly

34

affected the existence of introduced plants in any locality, one would
suppose that it was due to some quality peculiar or characteristic
of the seeds themselves; and this would be, possibly, the line of
thought which the mind would naturally at first entertain. Upon
examination, however, we are almost startled to find that all the
wonderful appendages and beautiful contrivances_for the distribution
of seeds, such as the copious pappus of the Composite, the silk of
the Epilobium and Asclepias, the spinous, and hooked seeds of the
Borraginacez, the attractive esculent fruits and mucilaginous cover-
ings of some seeds as well as the buoyant qualities of the seeds and
seedpods of certain plants, have little or no effect on the general question
at large of the distribution of genera and species of plants over the
surface of the globe. It is not so much a question of getting a seed to
a certain locality, but of its survival when brought tkere.
DeCandolle has worked out this idea in a masterly manner, in his
**Geographie Botanique,” and shows from statistics that the inherent
qualities of seeds and their receptacles only apply for their distribution
in the localities or countries where the plants are indigenous. He
draws attention te the fact that many of the plants which apparently
have the most perfect contrivances for their transmission from one place
to another have an exceedingly limited range, while others with no
such appendages are much more widely distributed.

The following lists give all the introduced plants which up to the
present time have been found in this locality. Iam of opinion that
the divisions proposed will be found convenient for the botanical student.
List No. 1, Aggressive Weeds, gives the names of all those plants which
are so well established as to require constant attention on the part of
the husbandman to keep them in check. It will be noticed that some
of the names are in italics, this is meant to denote that, although the
plant is introduced, it is probable that it also existed here before
that time as an indigenous plant. No. 2 embraces those plants,
which, having been introduced, are gradually spreading over the
locality, but are not yet sufficiently numerous to have become aggres-
sive weeds. Of these the two Erodiums and Datura Tatula are
interesting examples which were first grown here as Botanical specimens
in 1881, but are now to be found in waste places all over the city.

—

9
59)

No. 3 comprises those species, which, although well established and
possibly spreading in a certain locality, are not able to spread far
from that spot. Good examples of this class are found in Rosa
micrantha, Onopordon Acanthium and Daphne Mezereum, which occur
in single localities where there are plants, which are doubtless many
years old, but which do not spread by their seeds any distance. No. 4
is made up of those plants which grow for a short time and then
suddenly disappear altogether. Most of these have been introduced
with seed, or have escaped from gardens; and many of them too have
doubtless been introduced from Europe in seed imported as food for
caged birds.

In this list the most interesting plants are Solanwm rostratum
and Hordeum jubatum, the former being a Colorado plant, and the
latter a North Western, and both far out of their proper range.
They are generally to be found in some of the streets of the city
every year; but never regularly nor in the same place every year.

1. AGGRESSIVE WEEDS. Plantago major, L.
Verbascum Thapsus, L.
Tinaria vulgaris, Miller.
Nepeta Cataria, L.
Calamintha Clinopodium, Benth.
Galeopsis Tetrahit, L.
LLeonurus Cardiaca, L.

Lithospermum officinale, I.
Echinospermum Lappula, Lehm.

Ranunculus acris, b.
Sisymbrium officinale, Scop.
Brassica Sinapistrum, Boiss.
Capsella Bursa-pastoris, Moench.
Stellaria media, Smith.
Silene noctiflora, L.
Cerastium viscosum, L.

e vulgatum, L.

Portulaca oleracea, L.
Hypericum perforatum, L.
Malva rotundifolia, L.
Trifolium pratense, L.

KS repens, L.
Medicago lupulina, L.
Anthemis Cotula, D. C.
Achillea millefolinm, L.

Leucanthemum vulgare, Lam.

—Gnaphalium uliginosum, L.

Cirsium arvense, Scop.

‘s lanceolatum, Scop.
Lappa officinalis, All.
Cichorium Intybus, L.
Taraxacum Dens-Leonis, Desf.
Sonchus oleraceus, L.

Por oaspery, Vill:

C

Cynoglossum officinale, L.
Solanum nigrum, L.
Chenopodium album, L.
ie hybridum, L.
Amarantus retroflexus, L.
ae albus, L.
Polygonum aviculare, L.
as Persicaria, L.
g Convolvulus, L.
ees Hydropiper, L.
Rumex Acetosella, L.
/ Serispus,, oll,
Cannabis sativa, L,
Poa compressa, L.
“pratensis, L..
Festuca ovina, L.
Triticum repens, L.

36

Panicum glabrum, Gaudin.
a Crus-Galli, DL.
Setaria glauca, Beauv.
“« viridis, Beauv.
9

a.

WELL ESTABLISHED AND SPREAD-
ING.

Ranunculus repens, L.
Thlaspi arvense, L.
Nasturtium officinale, R. Br.
i. amphibium, Rh. Br.
Barbaraca vulgaris, R. Br.
Silene inflata, Smith.
Lychnis Githago, Lam.
Saponaria officinalis, L.
Arenaria serpyllifolia, L.
Malva moschata, L.
Linum usitatissimum, L.
Erodium cicutarium, L’ Her.
< moschatum.
Trifolium hybridum, L.
Melilotus alba, Lam.
es officinalis, Willd.
Vicia Cracca, L.
Pirus aucuparia.
Potentilla argentea, L.
Sedum acre, L.
Conium maculatum, L.
Pastinaci sativa, L.
Galium verum, L.
Kchinocystis lobata, T. and G. (not
indig. here).
Toula Helenium, L.
Artemisia vulgaris, L.
is biennis, Willd. (aot indig.
here).
Eampsana communis, L.
Sonchus arvensis, L.
Veronica arvensis, L.
Mentha piperita, L.
Eechium vulgare, L.
Solanum Dulecamara, L.
Nicandra physaloides, Gzertin.
Datura Stramonium, L.
- “Patula, di,
Chenopodium urbicum, L.
Rumex obtusifolius, L.

Fagopyrum esculentum, Moench.
Euphorbia Helioscopia, L.
Phleum pratense, L.
Poa annua, L.
Bromus racemosus, L.
‘* secalinus, L.
Triticum caninum, L.
Panicum sanguinale, L.
Phalaris Canariensis, L.

3. WELL ESTABLISHED BUT NOT
SPREADING.
Berberis vulgaris, L.
Chelidonium majus, L,
Nasturtium Armoracia, Fries.
Brassica Napi.
ee alba.
campestris, L.
Raphanus raphanistram, L.
Silene armeria, L.
Lychnis vespertina, Smith.
Saponaria Vaccaria, L.
Malva crispa, L.
Trifolium arvense, L.
“¢ _ procumbens, L.
Robinia Pseudacacia, L.
“¢ viscosa, Vent.
Vicia sativa, L.
Negundo aceroides, Moench. (not
indig. here).
Rosa micrantha, Smith.
Sedum Telephium, L.
Sherardia arvensis.
Sicyos angulatus, L. (not indig. here).
Daucus carota, L.
Helianthus tuberosus, L.
. annuus, L.
Rudbeckia hirta, L. (not indig. here).
Tanacetum vulgare, L.
Artemisia absinthium, L.
Onopordom Acanthium, L.
Tragopogon pratensis, L.
Campanula rapunculoides.
Plantago lanceolata, L.
st media, J.
Verbascum Blattaria, L.
Veronica agrestis, L.

“

Mentha viridis, L.
Hyssopus officinalis, L.
Nepeta Glechoma, Benth.
Sympbytum officinalis, L,
Lycopsis, arvensis, L.
Convolvulus arvensis, L.
Hyoscyamus niger, L.
Nicotiana rustica, L.
Chenopodium Botrys, L.

eS ain brosioides, L.

Daphre Mezereum.
Euphorbia Cyparissias, L,

Humulus Lupulus, L. (not indig.

here).
Salix fragilis, L.
Populus alba, L.

“< dilatata, Ait.
Asparagus officinalis, L.
Dactylis glomerata, L.
Eragrostis pozoides, Beauy.
Festuca elatior, L.

“pratensis, L.
Lolium perenne, L.
Setaria Italica, Kunth.

4, UNCERTAIN TENURE.
Papaver somniferum, L.

6 Rhoeas, L.
Lepidium sativum, L.
Brassica nigra, Koch.
Camelina sativa, Crantz.

OF

Spergula arvensis, L.

Malva sylvestris, LL.
Abutilon Avicennae, Gaertn.
Hibiscus Trionum, L.

Vicia hirsuta, Koch.

“* tetrasperma, Loisel.
Anvium petroselinum, L.
Carum Carui, L.
Coriandrum sativum, L.
Bupleurum rotundifolium, L.
Ambrosia trifida (not indig. here).
Senecio vulgaris, L.
Centaurea Cyanus, L.
Tragopogon porrifolius, L.
Lysimachia nummularia, L.
Anagallis arvensis, L.
Satureia hortensis, L.
Calamintha nepeta, Link.
Lithospermum arvense, L.
Lamium amplexicaule, L.
Asperugo procumbens, L.
Solanum rostratum, Dunal.
Physalis Peruviana, L.

es Philadelphica, Lam.

cs pubescens, L.
Blitum Bonus-Henricus, Reich.
Polygonum orientale, L.
Fagopyrum Tartaricum.
Urtica dioica, L.
Hordeum jubatum, L. (not indig.

here).

38

THE SAND PLAINS AND CHANGES OF WATER-LEVEL
OF THE UPPER OTTAWA.

E. Opium, M.A. (PEMBROKE).

——

Read 7th January, 1884. :

By the Upper Ottawa, in this paper, is meant that portion of it
which extends from the head of Coulonge Lake, a little below the
lower end of Allumette Island, to the entrance of Deep River, about
seven miles above the head of the same island. This takes in a stretch
of nearly forty miles, following the coast line. Enough, indeed, for one
attempt—too much to be very minutely handled.

By a word picture we shall hurriedly outline the position and
nature of this portion of the Ottawa Valley.

a. The town of Pembroke is situated on the south side of the
Upper Allumette Lake, and about twenty miles from each end of this
section, This town furnishes a good point of reference.

6. The Allumette extends throughout a great part of the locality
under examination. :

ce. The Culbute flows on the north between Allumette Island and
the Quebec shore.

d. The Upper and Lower Allumette lakes separate Allumette
Island from Ontario on the south.

e. At the head of the island, westward about eight miles from
Pembroke, are the Narrows, where the water flows in a swift current.

7, Eastward from Pembroke, about four miles, are three rapids
almost parallel, and unnavigable. These are the Allumette, Lost
Chenal and Beckett’s. The last is farthest south, the first farthest
north, and the Lost Chenal in the centre.

g- Morrison’s Island lies between the two first mentioned, and
Beckett’s Island between the two last.

h. At the lower end of the Allumette are Paquette’s Rapids, a series
of swift, but not very dangerous, currents extending about four miles from
Westmeath Village to the head of Coulonge Lake. From the foot of these
rapids, the Ottawa, grand, placid and majestic, glides along, joined by
the Culbute, into which the Black River enters from Quebec, a couple
of miles from its mouth.

39

The beautiful Coulonge Lake lies spread out eastward from this
point and is the eastern limit of our subject of study.

Turning our attention to the western limit, we may safely say
that the scenery among the islands of the Paquette’s, up the Culbute,
around the Lost Chenal, through the Allumette lakes, Allumette Bay
with its many islands, the Sturgeon Lake and entrance to Deep River,
is as fine and enchanting as any to be seen in Canada east of the
Rocky Mountains. Dr. Perkins, of Boston, accompanied the writer
last summer in circumnavigating the Allumette, and passed through a
large part of the district mentioned. This gentleman pronounced it as
* grand and beautiful” as anything he had seen in Europe; and he had
at that time travelled over most of the Continent. It has been the
privilege of the writer to travel over and around our large lakes,
through the prairies of the Northwest, the Thousand Islands of the St.
Lawrence, the ten thousand islands of Lake Huron, to the head
waters of the Ottawa, through the States of Michigan, Minnesota,
Dakota and New York, over every tributary on the north shore of the
mighty St. Lawrence from the head of Lake Superior to Montreal city ;
and, in all these glory-containing regions, the scenery of the Upper
Ottawa is not surpassed and seldom equalled.

To locate more accurately we may notice that this district lies
along latitude 45° 50’, longitude 76° 40’ to 77° 40’, Pembroke being
77° 10’. Height of the Upper Allumette above the sea level 400 feet.
The Meteorological Station of Pembroke, under the charge of Mr. A.
Thompson, is 423 feet above the sea level.

For the most part the important sand plains lie on the south side
of the Ottawa. The ancient Laurentians skirt the north side of the
river, scarcely retreating over a mile at any place. We may ‘contrast
the coast lines of the two provinces as follows: Ontario lies compara-
tively low, undulating, and quite unpretentious ; but is well supported
by ranges of hills farther south. Quebec, on the north, presents a
rugged, massive, broken and barren appearance.

w. On the Ontario side, the Chalk River sand plain begins a little

above Chalk River Station, twenty miles west of Pembroke, which
town it almost reaches. There are a few broken range interruptions
towards the lower end of this plain. These interruptions harmonize in

40

position with the rapids, and are parts of natural barriers between a
higher level westward and a lower level eastward. At places may be
noticed sand ridges. These lie between ancient mouths of rivers, some
of which remain to this day, as the Indian, Muskrat, and Petawawa,
while others are quite extinct. Following these sand ridges mentioned,
or in the direction of the diverging rivers, we invariably come
gradually to higher ridges of native rock. The Chalk River Plain
wants only the grass to give us a beautiful and extensive tract of
prairie land, but as it is wretchedly barren sand, nothing will grow on
it to any extent except ferns, small pines and blueberries, the latter in
great abundance.

b. Eastward from Pembroke the sand stretches struggle with the
rising and rocky bases of distant hills which skirt the Ottawa from
Westmeath in the direction of Renfrew town. At last the old hills
with their stores of marble get the upper hand, and the sand tracts are
terminated for a time.

c. Back from the Ottawa and between Pembroke and Renfrew
there is another factor to be taken into consideration. This stretch of
nearly forty miles, ‘extending beyond our present limits, is variegated
with sand, clay and irregular hills of rock. One low and very even
clay bed contains over 1,000 acres of good and well cultivated land.
Before passing to the Qnebec side of the river a few facts may be
given which will afterwards form a groundwork of some explanatery
remarks.

There are many small patches of sand varying from say ten acres
to a few square yards. Most of these are easily understood. ‘The
operations which are forming the smaller are going on in the presence
of the observer. The larger accumulations are met with suddenly after
passing ridges of rock in the direction of the running water, while they
gradually disappear as-we approach the next range. Wherever there
is a small sand patch there is an old but weather-worn ridge of rock
close at hand. Nearly always the order is this: Hard massive rock,
next large angular boulders of the same, then rolling stones, after
which come pebbles, then coarse, followed by fine, sand. The first is
always np stream, while the others range in regular order, ending with
fine sand farthest down the current. Where there are clay beds mixed

4|

with sand the rock ridges are generally farther away, and show a vari-
ation in their composition. Speaking carefully we may say that “clay
is a soft earth which is plastic and may be moulded with the hands,
consisting of alumina, to which it owes its plasticity, and also silica
with water.” Putting it chemically we get alumina (Oy, Al,Q) silica
(Si O.) and water (H,'O).

Tt results from the slow disintegration of one of the constituents of
granite rocks, and when chemically pure is called alumina. The
farther from the source of formation the purer is the clay, the nearer to
its source the more sand is mixed up with ir.

Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron and other ingredients are often
present. The oxide of iron is a very common and abundant factor
along the Ottawa Valley.

By careful examination the basins of ancient rivers can be easily
followed, with their rapids and stretches of calm water. Even the
small bays of olden times may be noted. The kinds, quaiities and
layers of sand must be our guide, always aided, of course, by the con-
figuration of the immediate locality. Having referred to the qualities
of sand and clay we shall now specify.

So far as soils are concerned they may be said to come from two
kinds of rock, granite and trap. Granites consist of quartz, feldspar and
mica, the Jatter generally an insignificant factor. Quartz is flint, or the
silica of the chemist. When the granite hills and ridges are washed
down by water the ccarse quartz sand lies along the sides and at the
immediate base of the hills, while the feldspar is ground to a fine
tenacious clay an‘ is carried forward into the valleys. Hence the soil
in the flats of granite districts consists of a cold, stiff, wet and impervi-
ous clay which needs much manure, draining and labour to make it pro-
ductive. The hillsides are almost useless, as they consist nearly
altogether of quartz grit. Such are the Quebec slopes of the district
we are now studying, but their valleys are too narrow, cramped and
water hedged to give sufticient space for the sifting out of the feldspar
from the quartz silt. Hence these narrow -valleys are formed of
ground-down feldspar and the finer quartz sand, the coarser being left
along the mountain sides and close to their bases. It is on this
accouné that the French hubitants rejoice in their moderately fertile

42

fields. -In some places the writer has noticed solid bodies of feldspathic
clay, but always at a distance from the rock ranges. ‘This clay is
‘known to many under the appellation of pipeclay, and is finer in tex-
ture and more coherent than marl.

Trap rocks on the other hand, consist of feldspar and hornblende.
From this we see that f Idspar is common to both granite and trap.
Out of 100 parts of feldspar there are 65 parts of silica, 18 of alumina
and 17 of potash and soda; while of 100 parts of hornblende there are
42 parts of silica, 14 of alumina, 12 of lime, 14 of magnesia, 14 of
oxide of iron. A granite soil in addition to the silicious sand consists
chiefly of silica, alumina and potash, derived from the feldspar. A
trap soil, in addition to the silica, alumina and potash of the feldspar
contains also much lime, magnesia and iron oxide, derived from its
hornblende. Hence as a hornblende soil, or more comprehensively a
trap soil, contains more of the inorganic substances most important to
plant composition, it is more valuable because more productive than
granite soil.

There are a few fine stretches of the former, but many of the
latter, along the Upper Ottawa. Using this method of comparison, we
must conclude that the Upper Ottawa region will never be a first class
farming country ; at the very best it can only expect to be considered.
middling.

But we must return to our line of general observation. Large
tracts containing thousands of acres, like the Uhalk River Plain, are
difficult to explain. ~ The student must: travel to the mountains miles
away, and take in the different ranges, their bearings and the various
streams and rivers which have operated during the long ages of the
past. In fact it is necessary to make out the differences of water level
over vast areas and the causes of the changes in the water line.

It is remarkable to see how the terraced work of Morrison's Island
fits into the lower system of terraces at the mouth of Black River,
where it enters the Calbute.. These points are about ten miles apart.
The broad Chalk River Plain corresponds in its two levels with the
two definitely marked steppes standing out on the Laurentians near the
. head of Coulonge Lake. These two points are at least thirty miles
apart. They appear to have been formed during the same water level.

43

At one time, and probably within a thousand years, there was a
grand and mighty lake in whose depths were hidden all the Chalk
River Plain, the Pembroke district, Allumette Island, and thousands
of the arable acres between Renfrew and Pembroke.

There were in fact two distinct periods, one of which represented
a lake 200 feet deeper than the Upper Allumette, and the other 100
feet deeper. In passing down the Culbute, or emerging from among
the islands of the Paquette’s, the terraced ranges which remain as
marks of old water levels show themselves quite prominently, and add
much to the beauty, splendour and majesty of the scenery.

In tracing the various systems of change in the water coast. line,
the interest becomes intense as it is discovered, without doubt, thit at
one time there was a vast body of fresh water lying over the present
Ottawa River, and extending in length over a hundred miles and in
width from ten to thirty.

In climbing many old weather beaten and water washed rock
ranges one can see clearly the holes, cauldrons and water scored channels
of bygone days. At the head of Allumette Bay, into which an ancient
river emptied, there are many markings left as guides for the future
generations.

To aid the sceptic, who is naturally hard to convince, in under-
standing that the writer is not simply drawing on bis imagination
concerning this ancient lake with its far-reaching systems of rivers,
most of which are now either wholly dried up or turned into other
outlets than the Ottawa River; we shall ask him to add 200 or even
300 feet to the depth of water already indicated. In such case he will
have before his vision a body of water as large or larger than Lake
Superior itself.

During the summer of 1876 A. P. Coleman, Ph. D., at present
Professor of Geology and Natural History in Victoria University,
B. E. McKenzie, B.A., M.D., of Riverside, Toronto, F. Munson, B.Sc.,
and the wricer had the pleasure of exploring the whole valley from
Ottawa City to the head waters of the Ottawa River.

At the head of Lake Temiscamingue we noticed a magnificent
range of fossiliferous limestone. - It app2ared to be perched on the top
of the granite rock ; but part of it reached into the waters of the lake

44

and was lost to view. We climbed-to its top, 200 feet or more from
the water level, and examined it very carefully. Jn richest profusion
and in every direction fossils of many kinds were lying. Of course
this alone proves the presence cf un inland sea, or a continental ocean.
But the point of present interest is the fact that in every direction the
operations of water may be noticed. Now if there were grinding,
wearing and boring operations of water, we conclude that these took
place under the action of rushing rivers.

To anyone who has a knowledge of the configuration of the
Ottawa Valley the above mentioned fact is enough to prove the
presence of a vast inlanl sea which has passed through all the neces-
sary changes in the direction of diminution and contraction in order to.
leave us our present beautiful river with its islands, lakes, rapids, nar~
rows and variegated coastings. |

On the Quebec side of the river there are several. interesting
patches of sand ranging from 50 to 300 acres in extent, and many
smaller, The most important are at Fort William, the Chapeau and
Lynch’s Bay. With these may be included the lower half of Allumette
Island. No observer need look long for the cause of these sand beds.
Every step of the formation, which is still going on in some parts, may
be seen at any time that the snow is off the ground. At one time
there were small rivers at many of these places, which were among the
ancient feeders of the great lake system of the Ottawa Valley. These.
are forever gone from the face of the earth.

The Chapeau district is important from the fact that there are two
distinct and prominent water lines. One of these corresponds with the
second steppe at the head of the Coulonge Lake, and also witi the
Chalk River Plain, which is the largest within the forty miles under
consideration.

The ‘average height of the lower of these two near Chapeau is.
about 20 feet, and of the upper about 120. Through the upper and
almost on a level with the lower, a large creek or small river meanders.
from among the Laurentians, and quietly loses itself in the gently flow-
ing Culbute.

The lower part of Allumette Island is a solid mass of sand, an‘l is.
on the same general plain as the lower range at the Chapeau.

45

About four-fifths of the whole surface of the island and fully three~
fourths of its entire length were formed by sand washed down from the
mountains of Quebec, as were also many of the sand patches on the
Ontario side.

Let us now look into the causes of these formations and changes.
It may seem almost superfluous to make any special and minute refer-
ences to the origin of these or any sand_plains. But it will be of help
to some if a few of the particulars are given.

Sand is finely ground rock. Mountain ranges are constantly worn
down by the action of heat, frost, wind and rains of the ever-varying
seasons.

Tt is instructive to watch closely all these agents as they do their
work. Any day in the year, any hour in the day, the student may
examine and learn much. ‘To quote from notes of a trip through the
mountains last July will aid us in this connection.

“ We left our camp near the Chapeau, walked along the sand,
among the beautiful pines on the lower level a little way back from the
Culbute, and ascended the first height of 120 feet. The view thus
gained was fine, and a very pleasing foretaste of what was to foliow.
Directing our steps towards the mountains about three miles distant,
we crossed a beautiful river with wonderful embankments of sand over
100 feet high. Here we sat, observed and wondered. During perfect
calmness of the air the sand kept sliding down in ten thousand almost
inperceptible streams, and was hurried along by the swift waters of the
river. This sand is forming a bed near and beyond the mouth of the
river.

** At one place in this plateau valley there is a washout close to
the point of observation. By a rough but. sufficiently careful method
of calculation we concluded that from 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 cubic
feet of sand had been washed away from one small field. Rain begins
to fall. The ascent is begun in earnest. The top of the highest peak
must be reached. More than an nour is spent in climbing from crag to
crag. At length we look down hundreds of feet below us on clouds
and rainstorm.

‘‘To stand on the Laurentians during a July rainstorm, and to
tuke in all the strange and hazy grandeur, is one of the richest

46

treats of a lifetime. The heavens are cleared in patches, the sun
shines through the rifts, the rain falls, and rainbow-tinted glory
decorates the heavens. ‘The sight is truly grand.

“Tn ascending these mountains we started from their resting places
large and small stones, which rolled down hundreds of feet. Boulders
when displaced bounded forth with tremendous force and crashed
through the trees below with irresistible violence.

“Streams caused by the falling rain were hastening down the
precipices and gorges, carrying with them myriads of shining sand
grains. These if examined under the microscope would be found to be
granules of mica, quartz, feldspar and hornblende. On the very sum-
mit could be seen the simplest formation of these streams. Many
almosi invisible streams, each formed by a few drops of rain, were
uniting and forming minute currents of water following the inclines
and slightest indentations of the rocks. On careful examination fine
grains of sand could be detected even in the spreading-out rain drops
and on the bare head of the hardest and smoothest gneiss rock. In
descending we reached the converging points of the sthaller streams,
and finally the home of the torrents furiously leaping through the deep
gorges, and issuing with terrific force to join ‘the brimming river.’
Here we noticed something more than sand. Pebbles and small sized
Stones were violently borne along and deposited in the less rapid
water. ‘These are covered by the sand and soon lost to sight, but aid
in filling up the valley.

“Tn sunshine and calm we ascended the same peaks the next day.
Along the top, at the very summit, we looked carefully to see .if any
sand grains were left. To our great astonishment, in every direction,
we found sand in quantities varying from a cubic foot to a single grain.

“Our curiosity being aroused, we examined not only the top of the
bare peak, but the tops of loose boulders, and even the upper edges of
small sized stones, Strange but true, this next day after a drenching
rainstorm, which finished up not suddenly but very gradually, and in
the warm month of July, grains of sand were lying loose on every .
spot which was examined.

“ Another similar rainstorm would wash these grains away, and

their places in turn would be occupied at once by other sparkling
points.

47

“On further observation we discovered a constant movement of
exceedingly fine sand dust caused by the gentlest zephyrs. While
descending we noticed several places where the sand was actually trick-
ling down the crevices. Streams of sand, varying and spasmodically
fluctuating, were constantly lessening the mass above and filling the
hollows below.

“‘ So far we have said but little concerning the cause of sand forma-
tion or rather rock wearing during summer weather. At any time
during the warm summer months fine sand dust may be discerned even
on clean-looking boulders by means of a small magnifier.

“The weather-beaten exterior of all rocks is more or less cracked
and granulated. Numberless fine cracks ramify in all possible direc-
tions. Many of these are invisible to the naked eye. When the rain
falls the water saturates the surface. After a little while the tempera-
ture rises. The expansion of the moisture in the cracks pries off many
small grains of sand. In fact we are safe in saying that during the
months of warm weather the contraction of the rock surface in the
night, and the expansion consequent upon the heat of the following
day, without any reference to dampness, wears away the rocks con-
stantly.”

When we remember that this section of the valley under consider-
ation belongs to the oldest of all geological periods our interest must
increase. Geologists have marked out over thirty geological divisions.
Here, however, there is one, the oldest, the Archean, of which Dana
says: ‘ There was first an age or division of time when there was no
life on the globe ; or if any existed this was true only in the later part
of the age, and the life was probably of the very simplest kinds. The
Arcuzean stands apart as preparatory to the age of invertebrates.”
Now in saying that this district belongs to only one geological period
we do not mean that there has been no change during the many ages of
the past. But we do mean that the rocks are Archean with a base
surrounding of their own refuse and ruins. Some would prefer to say
that the first and last geological periods meet in this valley. Here the
Aozoic stanas out in majestic sublimity, looking down upon the only
child of its many years, ‘This could be called the Quaternary period,
and, Minerva-like, came from the head rather than the loins of its pro-

4

(o2)

genitor. Siace the latter is nothing but the ground grit of the former,
it is immaterial whether we say there is a blending of two periods, or
the full age and chronicled history of the Archean alone. This history
may be epitomized as follows :

a. The earth’s foundation rocks were formed during the first geo-
logical period.

b. In many parts of the world the earth building went forward.

c. Various courses of material, called stratifications, have been
deposited upon these foundation stones.

d. Many parts of the old formation rock were never utilized for
building purposes ; as the Laurentians of the Ottawa District.

e. As they were not built upon they were left unprotected.

f. The warring elements during many cycles of time have con-
‘tinued to grind these foundation stones to powder, which still lies at
their base in the form of sand plains.

Passing forward to another part of this subject, we acknowledge
frankly that there are serious difficulties staring us in the face. The
changes of the water level are necessarily linked with the different
sand plains. It is absolutely essential to have different kinds of
measurements for our work, such as present water depths, mountain
heights and water levels as compared with the sea. The length and
breadth of rivers, lakes and plains are also needed.

Anyone knows that the acquisition of all these and many other
measurements involve much labour, time and expense. Few earnest
students of nature are blessel with all the requisites for accurate
observation concerning much of vast importance. Besides, the time
marks of the Ottawa Valley are very indistinct. Their language is
scarcely known as yet, and is hard to master. One kind of measure-
ment alone is left us, and that may give us some help whea acquired
and used. This is space and lineal measurement. We venture to
express an ardent wish that before many years have passed away a
tabulated list of careful observations and measurements may be obtain-
able. In this connection we deem it quite in place to suggest that
the Government establish a meteorological station at the Chapeau, and
also at DesJoachims. We think, moreover, that the weather gaugers at
these stations should be required to give extensive and accurate lists of
actual measurements of heights and distances.

49

In this paper it has been already assumed that at one time there
was an extensive inland lake, which has gradually lessened till a few
small lakes and river stretches alone remain. The cause of the diminu-
tion is easily seen. The water has worn down the channels at what
were formerly rapids. When vast quantities of water rush annually
over rock surfaces the river beds must be lowered. Observation will
show that the rapids of the Upper Ottawa are natural barriers hetween
an upper and a lower water level, and between the rapids there are
even lakes or large river expansions. Witha given quantity of water,
a constant unit of time, and a homogeneous hardness of rock, the rate
of lowering of channel must be regular unless the seasons, rains and
freshets vary greatly. Even if all these were constant and regular at
present, we would be unable to locate the time in the past when the
mountains were 100 feet higher, or when any given river channel was
20 feet higher than now.

By an examination of the rocks we can easily perceive that the
hardness varies. For example, the rock beds at the Narrows, a few
miles west of Pembroke, are very hard, say seven degrees out of a pos-
sible ten. But the channel rocks of the Allumette Rapids at the
opposite end of the lake from the Narrows, are only five degrees of
hardness. These rocks are a fine sandstone compacted with a bluish or
brown clay. The corroding action of the water tells readily upon the
clay, and thus the sand grit is washed from the surface.

What do we learn from this simple fact? This : The space between
the two rapids must be gradually drained of its water by the greater
corrosion of the lower rapids. This means that the present Upper
Allumette Lake is drying up, or draining off through the Allumette
Rapids becoming lower.

This in turn means that the now navigable “ Narrows” will in
‘time become too steep and shallow for steamboats to pass. But the
now unnavigable Allumette Rapids by that time will be navigable.
These are changes going forward to-day, an1 will be facts of the future.

Again let us compare four parallel rapids, the Allumette, the Lost
Chenal, Beckett’s Chenal and the “ High Water Portage,” an old chan_
nel of the river, but now completely dry even during high water. The
vocks of these four channels are all of different degrees of hardness.

50

The “ High Water Portage” rocks are the hardest, Beckett’s Chenal
next, then the Lost Chenal, and lastly the Allumette.

After examining these different channels, their positions, their
volumes of water and the whole basin, we find that the volumes of
water vary in inverse order, beginning with the Allumette, the largest ;
which means that the oldest channel has least water (it has none now),
while over the soft bed of the youngest the bulk of the Ottawa
rushes with a constantly increasing effect.

My attention was attracted to the ‘‘ High Water Portage” by the
bare and dry water-eaten rocks. The channel is as easily traced as if
carrying water. The rocks are extremely hard. Beckett's Chenal
shows a softening in its bed, but the Lost Chenal is more marked in
this respect: clayey sandstone beginning to show itself. But when
the Allumette bed is examined the conclusion must be that this chan-
nel is destined to carry all the water of the Ottawa alone. Then there
will be three old and dry channels. This is an inevitable result unless
the present soft Allumette channel bed is thinly built upon a hard and
more enduring foundation. By this particular comparison and con-
clusion we are now prepared to rise to a higher plane of study. In
such a system of scattering mountains as the Laurentians there are and
have been many rivers. These rivers have had many mountain
barriers to overcome. They have passed over the lower parts, and cut
their way through the softer ridges. At one time in the past a river
has rushed wildly along through a rugged and adamantine channel.
Now in the later ages of the world the same river lashes itself into fury
as it passes through a channel 100 feet below.

Some beautiful and clearly outlined old channels of the Ottawa
are easily seen not far below Aylmer.

The Paquette’s Rapids at the head of the Coulonge Lake are com- ;
posed of harder rock than the bed of the Allumette. The result will
be that the Upper and Lower Allumette lakes will eventually form one
navigable stretch, limited at the western extremity by the ‘“‘ Narrows,”
and at the eastern by the Paquette’s,

At one time the ridges back from Westmeath connected with the
ranges on the Quebec side of the river. Over these ridges the mighty
Ottawa River Lake hurled itself into a vast abyss of seething waters at

51

least 200 feet below. From this fact, and also from many observations
at scores of points westward along both shores and for hundreds of
miles up the river we have concluded that there was once a mighty and
expansive inland lake of fresh water, as previously stated.

In the interests of science and natural history this and other
science associations should memorialize the Government to aid im
accumulating vast stores of facts and observations. The present
meteorological system is good, but needs extending and perfecting.
More work needs to be performed. Not only should the general
geology of Canada be studied on an extensive plan, but the tem
thousand points of minutest details should be secured and placed within

the reach of the earnest students of nature.

Mr. Wo. P. Anperson said he had, during the previous summer,
seen the district described in Mr. Odlum’s paper, and was then greatly
impressed by its beautiful scenery and geological interest, and could now
bear testimony to the fidclity of Mr. Odlum’s graphic descriptions. He
enlarged upon the nature of the sand flats at the mouth of the
Petewawa and in the vicinity of Fort William, and described the
granitic islands at the Narrows. He did not consider the evidence
adduced by Mr. Odlum in favour of a much higher level of water by
any means conclusive, as it was well known that changes of level were
of constant occurrence, particularly near volcanic centres, which made
it quite probable that the fossiliferous beds alladed to had been deposited
at a much lower level, and raised when the Laurentians were subject te
seismic disturbances; just as similar action was, even in the present
day, insuring our planet against the fatal dead level so feared by Me.
Odlum.

He had also proved, by personal observation and measurements
upon the sand hills of the Assiniboine Valley, that under certair
conditions, the wind was so directed into currents by the inequalities of
the ground as to actually drift sand up hill, and deposit it on the
very tops of certain hills where different currents met and counteracted

{

F

3
~

oS

each other, so thatit was unsafe to infer that the tops of present sand
hills had at some past time been beneath the surface of the waters.*

Pror. Macoun drew attention to the effect of sand plains upon
temperature and rain fall. He had frequently noticed on the great
plains of the Northwest that clouds in passing over tracts destitute of
vegetation, and consequently radiating much heat -were rendered
invisible and dispersed, but when carried over wooded regions, again
appeared and were frequently precipitated in refreshing rains.

Dr. May (Ontario Education Department) congratulated the
anembers on the activity of the Club. He corroborated the statements
of Prof. Macoun, and made special reference to the injury co. tinually
being done to the country by the reckless deyastation of the forests,
which ‘were now known to be s) necessary in equalizing the water
supply.

Dr. R. J. Wicksteep stated that his own observations sustained
the theory advanced by Mr. Odlum as to the extent of the country
oace covered by the Ottawa River, or rather by the chain of lakes or
expansions, at one time connected by that river. In October last, while
on a lecturing tour in aid of church missions, he had spent some days
in that district. The line of travel from Westmeath to Rockingham
does not deviate much from a due southwest course, or one at right
angles to that of the present Ottawa River. The distance between these
points is, as the crow flies, about 40 miles, but by the stage route 65
miles. At Westmeath, on the Lower Allumette Lake, (an expansion
of the River Ottawa) there lies to the west, the large Allumette Island,
(evidently an ancient sand bar or shoal) dividing the river into two
parts. To the north, and distant about six miles is seen the high
(Quebec shore of the 1iver. From Westmeath to Beachburg, seven
miles, the soil is light sand, deposited by the mighty river once flowing

* Mr. Anderson appears inclined to think that his reference to “the Sand
Hills of the Assiniboine Valley” is suffi ient to throw some doubt on my explana-
tion concerning the sand formations. Having travelled on foot over the
Assiniboine sand hills, as well as the Ottawa plains, I may state there is a
marked difference. Any person who wishes to examine closely will find that the
Assiniboine hills are free of stone, boulders and drif*, whereas the Ottawa sand
plains are well dotted with all these, showing remains of pine roots, knots and
branches, cedars and various other remnants of floated matter. But when hills of

sand are formed by wind currents, boulders and other heavy material will be
absent. (Note by Mr, Odlum.)

53

there. From Beachburg to Cobden, nine miles, the road descends into
an old lake bottom, the lake represented by Musk Rat Lake, stiff clay
soil and banks-proclaiming this fact. The land rises abruptly from the
lake to Cobden, and the soil becomes sandy again; but whtn about one
mile from Cobden, the road dips again and proceeds on corduroy over
clay lands and marsh bottoms, for about three miles. The line of road
then commences to rise, and thence to Eganville and beyond to Rock-
ingham the ascent is quick,and the country rugged, the habitat of those
giants of the forest, the white pine and hemlock trees. His impression
was that in very ancient times a mighty stream rushed over the country
extending from the present Quebec shore of the Ottawa River to the
neighbourhood of Eganville; and that the sand was deposited behind
ripple bars formed by rocky prominences. The mud or silt was the
deposite of two sluggish lake-like streams, now almost dried up and
runniug no longer; the one represented by the Musk Rat Lake and
River, and the other indicated by the Osceola River, running about
three miles to the southwest of Musk Rat Lake.

Mr. W. H. Harrineton having travelled up the Ottawa as far
as Deux Rivieres, and through the district described by Mr. Odlum was
able to bear testimony to the very abundant evidences of former high
water levels, as evidenced by the sand plains so well described and by
the unmistakeably water.worn and sculptured rocks seen on all the
portages, and along the banks of the river. In the water-scored rock
bottoms of old rapids are frequently found conspicuous cylindrical holes,
varying greatly in depth and diameter, which are undoubtedly due to
ancient powerful currents, and which are popularly known as pot holes.
These abound in the vicinity of Ottawa, at varying distances from the
river, and at different elevations above its present level; sometimes.
forming natural wells of which settlers have availed themselves. At
Deux Rivieres is shown a notable one called ‘“Noah’s Churn” which is
situated many feet above the river, in the rocks on the upper side of the
“Devil’s Portage.” Although very symmetrical in shape, it is not of
unusual size, being only about three and one-half feet in diameter and
some eight or ten feet deep, the exact depth not being determinable on
account of the hole being partially filled with earth. The name

D4

indicates that local tradition does not in this instance sustain the view
expressed by Mr. Odlam,-that these high-water levels may have existed
only a thousand years ago.

LIST OF FOSSILS FROM OTTAWA AND VICINITY.

Henry M. Amt, B.A., Seconp AssIsTANT PALHONTOLOGIST TO THE
GEOLOGICAL SuRVEY OF CANADA.

Read 7th January, 1884.

INTRODUCTION.

In order to bring together in as systematic and compact -a form as
possible the numerous species representing the fauna of the Paleozoic
and other rocks about Ottawa—heretofore scattered in the various
paleontological publications of the Geological Survey of Canada, and
chiefly from the pen of the late Mr. E. Billings—it has been deemed
advisable to catalogue the same.

The list is a purely local one, and is intended merely as a basis for
future operations in this locality.

Valuable assistance was obtained from the elaborate collections
made by officers of the survey during years past, especially those of the
late Messrs. E. Billings and James Richardson. Only those species
which are of local interest appear in the list. The number of these
has been considerably increased by the subsequent researches of Messrs.
T. C. Weston, Walter R. Billings and A. H. Foord, F.G.8., as also by
the evidence obtained after five seasons’ collecting in this locality by the

“writer.

The species are classed under the respective formations to which
they belong.

It has been deemed neither requisite nor even advisable to refer
the species and genera to sub-orders and families, seeing that at present
so much diversity of opinion exists on the subject. Only the class
under which the generic and specific names appear is mentioned, and
will, no doubt, prove quite sufficient for all purposes.

5d

There are included in the list 253 species as representing the fossil
fauna and flora of our rocks. This number will evidently be swollen
considerably by subsequent researches, as the measures are highly
fossiliferous and the exposures extremely numerous.

Some species described and recorded by Billings and others, have
been excluded from the list because the types are lost or misplaced —
these it would be well to bear in mind as desiderata.

Several new species of Paleozoic Polyzoa, recently described by
Mr. A. H. Foord, and published by the Geological Survey, are incor-
porated in the list.

The valuable catalogue of Paleozoic Fossils by Mr. S. A. Miller,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been used to advantage.

CAMBRO-SILURIAN SYSTEM.

CHAZY FORMATION.

PROTOZOA.

Stromatocerium rugosum, Hall.
Pouyzoa.

Prasopora Selwyni, Nicholson.
BRACHIOPODA.

Lingula Belli, Billings.

Orthis imperator, Billings.
Rhynchonella plena, Hall.
LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. :

Cyrtodonta breviuscula, Billings.
GASTROPODA.
Pleurotomaria pauper, Billings.
ANNELIDA.
Serpulites dissolutus, Billings, or a very closely allied
species.
CRUSTACEA.

Isotelus canalis, Conrad.
Leperditia Canadensis var. nana, Jones.

56

BIRD’S EYE AND BLACK RIVER FORMATION

Protozoa.

Receptaculites occidentalis, Salter.

Stromatocerium rugosum, Hall.
PoLypl.

Columnaria Halli, Nicholson.

Streptelasma profundum, Hall.

Tetradium fibratum, Safford.
BRACHIOPODA.

Rhynchonella increbescens, Hall.

Streptorhynchus filitextus, Hall.
LAMELLIBRANCHIATA,

Cyrtodonta subtruncata, Hall.
GASTROPODA.

Pleurotomaria subconica, Hall. :
CEPHALOPODA.

Cyrtoceras falx, Billings.
Ry sinuatum, Billings.
ee vagans, Billings.
Gonioceras anceps, Hall.
Oncoceras constrictum, Hall.
Orthoceras (Ormoceras) Bigsbyi, Stokes.

ef bilineatum, Hall.
& decrescens, Billings.
ig rapax, Billings.
CRUSTACEA.
Illzenas Conradi, Billings.
rs ovatus, Billings.
x Trentonensis, Emmons.

Leperditia gracilis? Jones.
TRENTON FORMATION.
PLANT#&!
Buthotrephis gracilis, Hall.

Palzophycus obscurus, Billings.
Licrophycus minor, Billings.

a Ottawaensis, Billings.
eS succulens, Hall.
PROTOZOA.

Astylospongia parvula, Billings.

Pasceolus globosus, Billings.

Receptaculites lowensis, Billings.
a occidentalis, Salter.

t
bo |

—)

Po.yret.

Diplograptus amplexicaulis? Hall.
Paleophyllum divaricans, Nicholson.
Petraia Ottawaensis, Billings.
Protarea vetusta, Hall.
Streptelasma corniculum, Hall.

CRINOIDEA.
Archeocrinus lacunosus, Billings.
cs marginatus, Billings.
es microbasalis, Billings.
pyriformis, Billings.
Calceocrinus articulosus, Billings sp.
ee inzequalis, Billings sp.
Cleiocrinus magnificus, billings.
a regius, Billings.
Dendrocrinus gregarius, Billings.
oe humilis, Billings.
ee proboscidiatus, Billings.
es rusticus, Billings.
uC sinilis, Billings.
Glyptocrinus decadactylus, Hall.
oe parvus, Hall.
6 quinquepartitus, Billings.
sf ramulosus, Billings.
Heterocrinus Canadensis, Billings.
Ss tenuis, Billings.
Hybocrinus conicus, Billings.
se tumidus, Billings.

Tocrinus subcrassus, Meek and Worthen.
Lecanocrinus elegans, Billings.

cL levis, Billings.
Paleocrinus angulatus, Billings. |

a pulchellus, Bi'lings.

es rhombiferus, Billings.

Porocrinus conicus, Billings.
Reteocrinus stellaris, Billings.

CyYSTOIDEA.

Amygdalocystites florealis, Billings.
at ‘var. levis, W. R. Billings.
me radiatus, Billings.
ue tenuisiriatus, Billings.

Ateleocyst'tes Huxleyi, Billings.

Comarocystites punctatus, Billings.

Glyptocystites multiporus, Billings.

Lichenocrinus crateriformis, Hall.

58

Pleurocystites elegans, Billings.

se filitextus, Billings.
iS robustus, Billings.
“é squamosus, Billings.

ASTEROID.
Agelacrinites Billingsi, Chapman.
sf Dicksoni, Billings.
Cyclocystoides Halli, Billings.
Edrioaster Bigsbyi, Billings.
Palasterina stellata, Billings.
Petraster rigidus, Billings.
Stenaster pulchellus, Billings.
bie Salteri, Billings.
Teeniaster cylindricus, Billings.
POLYZOA.
Amplexopora discoidea, James sp.
Arthroclema pulchellum, Billings.
Batostoma Ottawaense, Foord.
Constellaria antheloidea, Hall.

vi florida var. plana, Ulrich.

oe ypa regularis, Foord.
Witicicat Nicholson.

Heterotrypa solitaria, Ulrich.

Homotrypa similis, Foord.

Monotrypella Trentonensis, Nicholson.

Monticulipora Billingsi, Foord.

“ parasitica, Ulrich.
Ue Westoni, Foord.
Prasopora affinis, Foord.
=f oculata, Foord.
oa Selwyni, Nicholson.
Ptilodictya falciformis, Nicholson.
* maculata, Ulrich.
= pavonia, d’Orbigny.

Retepora Trentonensis, Hall.
Spatiopora areolata, Foord.
Stictopora acuta, Hall.

paupera, Ulrich.
Tetradium? Peachii, var, Canadense,

Buiesineohe:

Camerella hemiplicata, Hall.
bi! bisuleata, Emmons.
Discina Circe, Billings.
Lepteena sericea, Sowerby.
Lingula Philomela, Billings.

Foord.

59

‘Orthis Iphigenia, Billings.

“« — Merope, Billings.

‘¢ subquadrata, Hall.

‘¢ — testudinaria, Dalman.

“« tricenaria, Conrad.
Platystrophia biforata, Schlotheim, var. lynx,
Rhynchonellaincrebescens, Hal.

y recnrvirostra, Hall.

Orthisina Verneuili, Eichwald.
Streptorhynchus filitextus, Hall.

ys planumbonus,, Hall.
-Strophomena alternata, Conrad.
ts deltoidea, Conrad.
et recta, Conrad.
a Thalia, Billings.

Trematis Ottawaensis, Billings.
LAMELLIBRANCHIATA.

Ambonychia amygdalina, Billings.

Ctenodonta gibbosa, Hall.

Ss levata, Hall.
a ge nasuta, Hall.
Modiolopsis carinata, Billings.
= Gesneri, Billings.
Pterinea Trentonensis, Conrad.
PTEROPODA.
Conularia Trentonensis, Hall.
GASTROPODA.
Bellerophon bilobatus, Sowerby.
“ sulcatinus, Emmons,

Cyclonema Montrealense, Billings.
Ecculiomphalus Trentonensis, Conrad.
Murchisonia bellicincta, Hall.

& gracilis, Hall.

ee Milleri, Hall.
Ophileta Ottawaensis, Billings.
Pleurotomaria Daphne, Billings.
Subulites Richardsoni, Billings.

me subfusiformis, Billings.
Trochonema umbilicatum, Hall.

CEPHALOPODA.

Endoceras proteiforme, Hall.
Orthoceras amplicameratum, Hall.

“s Ottawaense, Billings.
es Python, Billings.
xe vulgatum, Billings.

as Xiphias, Billings.

Kichwall.

60

ANNELIDA.

Conchicholites flexuosus, Hall.
Serpulites dissolutus, Billings.

CRUSTACEA.

Asaphus megistos, Locke.

«« platycephalus, Stokes.
Bronteus lunatus, Billings.
Calymene senaria, Conrad.
Cheirurus pleurexanthemus, Green.
Dalmanites Achates, Billings.

es Bebryx, Billings.

callicephalus, Green.
Encrinurus vigilans, Hall.
Harpes Dentoni, Billings.

‘* Ottawaensis, Billings.
Illenus Americanus, Billings.

ee Milleri, Billings.

UTICA FORMATION.
Hypbrozoa.

Didymograptus annectans, Walcott sp.

sy flaccidus, Hall.
Diplograptus mucronatus? Hall.

a pristis? Hisinger.

es quadrimucronatus, Hall.
Sagenella ambigua, Walcott.

PoLyzoa.
Stictopora acuta, Hall.
BRACHIOPODA.

Leptzena sericea, Sowerby.
Leptobolus insignis, Hall.

“ occidentalis?, Hall.
Lingula Daphne, Billings.

«¢ obtusa, Hall.

* Progne, Billings.

‘¢ quadrata, Eichwald.
Orthis testudinaria, Dalman.
Schizocrania filosa, Hall.
Siphonotreta Scotica, Davidson.
Strophomena alternata, Conrad.
Zygospira Headi, Billings.

LAMELLIBRANCHIATA,

Lyrodesma pulchellum, Hall.
Modiolopsis modiolaris, Hall.

61

Orthodesma parallelum, Hall.
Pterinea insueta, Conrad.
. Trentonensis, Conrad.

PTEROPODA.

Conularia Hudsonia, Emmons.
as Trentonensis, Hall.

GASTROPODA.

Bellerophon bilobatus, Sowerby.
Murchisonia Milleri, Hall.
Pleurotomaria subconica, Hall.
Trocholites ammonius, Conrad.

CEPHALOPODA.

Endoceras proteiforme, Hall.

eS ‘ var. tenuistriatum, Hall.
Orthoceras amplicameratum, Hall.

<¢ coralliferum, Hall.

= lamellosum, Hall.

ANNELIDA.
Serpulites dissolutus, Billings.
CRUSTACEA.

Asaphus Canadensis, Chapman.

oS platycephalus, Stokes.
Calymene senaria, Conrad.
Cheirurus pleurexanthemus, Green.
Triarthrus Becki, Green.

<¢ glaber, Billings.

eh spinosus, Billings.
Leperditia cylindrica, Hall.

2 @ She — seks wea Ate nya
LEDA CLAY AND SAXICAVA SAND
PLANTA.

Fucus sp.

Populus balsamifera, Linnzeus.
’ Potamogeton sp.

Potentilla Canadensis, Linnzeus.

LAMELLIBRANCHIATA.

Macoma fragilis, Fabricius.
Mytilus edulis, Linneeus.
Portlandia arctica, Gray.
Saxicava rugosa, Linnezeus.

62

PIScEs.

Cyclopterus lumpus, Linneeus.
Mallotus villosus, Cuvier.

CETACEA.
Phoca Greenlandieca:

ALLUVIUM (sHELL-MARL DEPOSIT.)

GASTROPODA.

Amnicola porata, Say.
Conulus fulvus, Draparnaud.
Hyalina arborea, Say.

“ indentata, Say.
Limnza desidiosa? Say.

“« galbana, Binney.

“« stagnalis, Linneus.
Mesodon albolabris, Say.

«+o war. dentifera, Binney.

S Sayul, Binney.
Patula alternata, Say.
Physa heterostropha, Say.
Planorbis bicarinatus, Say.

a campanulatus, Say.

o parvus, Say.
Valvata tricarinata, Say.

EDIBLE AND POISONOUS FUNGI.

Pror. JoHN Macoun, M.A., F.L.S., F.R.8.C., Boranist. TO THE
GEOLOGICAL AND Naturat History SurVEY OF CANADA.

Read 31st January 1884.

The title of my paper needs but little explanation, as I only apply
it to those fungi which by common consent are admitted to be edible
or suspicious or poisonous. These may be found in abundance in our
woods and fields, or by our roadsides at various times during the
summer.

I may say with truth that Canadian fungi are almost unknown as
regards their numbers, their value as food or their injurious effects on
the human system. It is therefore with some diflidence that I
approach a subject which to me is less familiar than any other branch of

63

the vegetable kingdom, and which possibly to you may have no interest
whatever. For myself, I entered on their study at the suggestion of
my chief, Dr. Selwyn, Director of the Geological and Natural History
Survey, and now, when I stand only at the portal of the vast unex-
plored region beyond, I ask your attention to a few of the facts already
gleaned, and hope they may not be altogether without interest, and
even profit.

At present the greater number of systematic botanists recognize
five great divisions or classes in the vegetable kingdom, of which the
fifth or lowest is named thallogens or thallophytes, because organisms
of this class instead of growing upright expand into a thallus consist-
ing of parenchyma alone, and never exhibiting a marked distinction
into root, stem and foliage. All plants of this class are flowerless.
This class includes five orders, Viz. :

LICHENS.

Funai.

ALGH.

DEsMIDIACE#, single cells of a green colour, found in fresh water.

DraTromMace&, single cells of brown colour, and having silicious
cell walls, found in sea and fresh water.

The plants in the first order, lichens, are never aquatic, but grow
on bark of trees, earth or rock, and draw their nourishment from the
air. Fungi, on the other hand, are parasitic, and live by appropriating
the juices of living plants to their own use or the organized matter of
dead and decaying animal or vegetable. Algze are almost strictly aquatic,
the greater number of them being seaweeds. You will note that these
three orders, although quite closely related, are kept apart by their
special modes of obtaining nourishment, and that the fungi always use
prepared food even if by so doing they destroy that which man has
laid up for himself. Those species which produce rust, smut, mildew
and many other plant diseases are parasitic and prey exclusively on
living plants, while mushrooms (agarics) and puff-balls live on dead

and decaying matter.

As the purpose of this paper is not to give the classifications of
the order, I sball pass at once to the section named the Agaricini, as it

64

is to this division that the greater number of the toadstools and mush-
rooms of our woods and fields belong, and to these J will at once direct
your attention.

We mentioned that fungi had no flowers, and in this division as
well as in all others they begin by the production of filamentous threads
or attenuated cells which appear like the roots of the fungus which
afterwards appears. These threads are called the mycelium, and are
the true vegetation of the fungi. What are denominated fungi are
therefore the fruit and not the whole plant, as many believe. Agarics
or mushrooms are merely rounded tubercles which are formed on the
mycelium below the surface. Some of these rapidly enlarge, burst
through an outer covering (called the volva or wrapper), which is left
at the base, thrust out a stalk or stipe bearing at its top a rounded
body—the pileus, or cap. Underneath this cap are the lamelle or gills
that occupy the whole lower surface, and which consist of a series of
plates which bear over their whole surface naked sporules, which on
examination under a microscope will be found grouped in fours.

The drawing before you is that of the Fly Amanita (Amanita
muscaria), one of the most beautiful and widely distributed as well as
most dangerous and highly organized of our agarics. This species is
commonly found in the depths of the forest, generally under firs or
‘pines, and in the months of June and July is a very conspicuous object
in the northern woods. Last June it was a lovely sight in the woods
of Nova Scotia near Annapolis. The specimen before you, with many
others, was obtained in Rideau Hail woods by Mrs. Chamberlin, In
the North of England and Scottish Highlands it is a most lovely object
in the dark fir woods, and its crimson pileus when lighted up by a sun-
beam falling aslant through the thick foliage is a sight never to be
forgotten.

In Northeastern Asia this species is a favourite drug to produce
intoxication amongst the Russians and natives of Kamtschatka. The
fungi are collected in the hottest month and hung up to dry. When
taken to produce intoxication small pieces are rolled up and swallowed
without chewing.

Our next drawing is that of the edible mushroom (Agaricus
campestris), which is so well known that its praises need not be

ts

65

recited. There are numerous varieties of it in fields and gardens and
‘along our roadsides, but were its value as au article of food better
known it would be extensively cultivated and largely take the place of
meat on our tables, as it contains nearly as much nutrition, pound for
pound, as our best beefsteak. At present only a few of its forms are
gathered, and large quantities go to decay through ignorance of their

value.

The next figure is a life-like representation of the tall cylindrical
agaric (Coprinus comatus), which is another common and esculent
species. In the latter part of last September this species was a very
prominent object on many lawns in the western part of the city, grow-
ing in groups or singly, and often throwing up stems nearly a foot
high. No one seemed to touch it, and bushels of them went to waste
for want of collectors, This species is highly nutritions and quite as
palatable as the mushroom, and is apparently better suited for catsup,
as it contains a great deal of juice, and if allowed to become old soon
melts away. In passing to decay, like all the genus (coprinus), it dis-
solves into a black fluid. Rhind says: ‘If this be collected and boiled
with a little water, and a few cloves added to prevent it getting mouldy
in keeping, and passed through a filter, it furnishes an excellent bistre
for painting.” *

Numerous other species of agarics might be cited and dwelt upon,
but time will not permit of anything but a passing notice, which I can
best do by explaining these beautiful drawings furnished by “ our

artist,” whom I am happy to see amongst us to-night.

(A collection of water colour paintings by Mrs. Chamberlin was
here exhibited.)

Another section of this vast family is represented by the morel
(Morchella esculenta), which differs from the agaric in having, in com-
mon with all the lower forms of fungi, their whole interior, tuough
often of a very large size, filled with a multitude of asci (elongated
sacs), enclosing single or double sporules such as are found in lichens.
This fact has caused some late writers to claim a closer connection be-
tween fungi and lichens than I am able with my limited knowledge to

perceive.

66

Our representative of the morel is before you, but those that are
acquainted with the true species will observe that this form has an
undulated, irregular, gvrose pileus, while the true species has an ovate
pileus with firm ribs surrounding deep pits. In colour this species is
browner, and as an article of food not so pleasant to the taste. This
form is named Gyromitra esculenta, or the edible gyromitra, while the
morel is named Morchella eseulenta, arly in spring this species may
be found in some profusion in most woods in the vicinity of the city,
and was particularly abundant in the woods at the back of Rideau
Hall last May and June. Besides these, I have gathered two species
ot helvella at Belleville, both of which are esculent. Closely related
to these are the truffle family, which are of such economic importance
in the South of Europe, but of which we have no representatives.

There is still another section which claims more than a passing
notice. I mean the puff-balls. These forms, which are included in the
genus lycoperdon, are, according to Professor Peck, all esculent when
gathered young and cooked before the spores turn yellow. One species,
Lycoperdon giganteum, grows to an enormous size, and specimens are on
record which were over three feet in diameter. Professor Peck men-
tions one that was a little over eight feet in cireumference and weighed
47 lbs. He says it looked at a distance like a small boulder, and would
make a meal for a good sized family. One writer recommends that
when one of these large ones is found only a part of it should be taken
—enough for a meal—and another part next day, and so on. In this.
way one of them might serve a family for a week. It is said that
when the growirg plant is wounded the wounds heal and are filled up
with new tissue.

Another species, the cup-shaped puff-ball, is very abundant on our
‘western prairies, forming great rings with the edible mushroom. In
summer of 1879, wken exploring on the piains northwest of Qn’Ap-
pelle, we came upon multitudes of this species, ranging in size from a
man’s fist to his head, and the same species was gathered in thousands
north of the Cyprus Hills and west of Strong Current Creek. Mush-
rooms being in myriads, we did not eat many messes-of puff-balls, for
when a man ate a mallard and about half a peck of mushrooms at a
sitting he had quite sufficient for one meal. * * rr: * f

67

Mr. FiuercHer was surprised to hear that the fly agaric, as figured
before the meeting, was identical with the European species, which,
instead of having the pileus of a yellowish brown colour, has one of a
most intense scarlet. He mentioned as a curious fact that in Italy,
where fungi form a large portion of the food, the State Inspector of
Fungi condemns the Agaricus campestris as unwholesome on account of
the large number of edible species superior to it.

Mrs. Trarit, of Lakefield, Ont., so long known in Canada as a
writer on natural history, expressed her pleasure at having had an
opportunity of attending the meeting, and had collected in Central

Ontario many of the species depicted in the plates shown.

LIST OF OTTAWA COLEOPTERA.

W. Hacue Harrineron.

Read 14th February, 1884.

INTRODUCTION.

Having by request of the Council prepared for publication a list of
Ottawa Coleoptera, it is almost imperative that it should be introduced
by a brief paper, showing under what conditions it appears. Although
it should only be considered as preparatory to a more extended and
perfect list, to be issued wlen a fuller knowledge of our fauna has
been gained, it will serve as a basis on which to build in the future,
and may, I hope, be found not without a present value. The difficulties
enccuntercd in its preparation have been great, but the result brings
with it a reward in that much necessary work has now been completed
and that future progress will he the more readily made.

-The classification followed in the list is that of Drs. LeConte and
Horn, published last year by the Smithsonian Institute, and the
arrangement of the families therefore differs from that of other Cana-
dian lists. Under this classification the coleoptera of North America,

are divided into eighty-three families, of which we have represented so
e

68

far sixty-seven. The number of named species in my list is 926,*
but more than 200 species are yet undetermined, so that the total num-
ber of species which have been taken is about 1,150.

Every possible precaution has been taken to guard against errors
such as have unfortunately greatly lessened the value of some recent
Canadian lists. A large proportion of my elateridz, buprestide,
cerambycide and chrysomelide were named for me by the late Dr.
LeConte, and I am indebted to Mr. John B. Smitht for abundant help
in the determination of species in other families. Without the assist-
ance so generously given by these gentlemen it would indeed have
been impossible for me yet to prepare my list.

The principal value of a local list, other than as a mere catalogue
of a collection, is due to the information it affords as to the gecgraphical
distribution of species. The consideration of this question must, how-
ever, be postponed until it has received the careful attention it so
richly deserves. Meanwhile I have made a rough general comparison
of our fauna with such lists as I have in my possession, with a view to
finding which groups are most fully, or most meagrely represented, and
of gaining an idea as to the total number of species likely to occur

here.

Six lists have been used in this comparison. First, a list pub-

lished by Mr. Pettit (Can. Ent., vols. II and II[), of 1,143 species
taken at Grimsby, Ont. Second, a list by Messrs. Reinecke and Zesch
of about 1,400 species captured in the vicinity of Buffalo. Third, a list
published by Mr. Couper (Can. Sport. and Nat.) of 1,012 species recorded
from the Province of Quebec. Fourth, a list by Messrs. Hubvard and
Schwarz of 1,246 species recorded from the Lake Superior region.
Fifth, a list by the same authors of 1,787 from the lower peninsula of
Michigan. Sixth, one by Mr. Schwarz of 1,457 species captured in
Florida. The three last were published in Vol. X VII of the Proceedings
of the American Philosophical Society, and were very kindly sent to
me by Dr. LeConte only a few weeks before his lamented death.

All these lists contain more species than that which I have pre-
pared, but the reason in each case is not difficult to determine. Com-

* Increased by further determinations to 1,003.
} Now a corresponding member of the Club.

69

mencing with the Quebec list, it must be remembered that it is for the
whole Province, and that it includes all species recorded therefrom.
Nominally it contains 1,012 species, but many of the names are merely
synonyms for, or varieties of, other species. The Lake Superior and
Michigan lists include all species then known from these extensive dis-
tricts, while that of Florida deals with a very large and varied country
having a particularly rich flora and fauna. The only really local lists
are those of Grimsby and Buffalo. I do not know how long Mr. Pettit
collected at the former place, but from the extent of his list and from
his reputation as a coleopterist it is probable that he was working for
many years. The Buffalo list is the result, as stated by the authors, of
the labour of seventeen years, during which period all their leisure
hours were exclusively devoted to the accumulation and study of the
_ Species occurring in their vicinity.

Our Ottawa coleoptera have (with the exception of a few species
secured at Club excursions) been collected within a radius of ten or
twelve miles, and nearly all the species have been taken since the for-
mation of the Club, or within the past six years. I am indebted to
Mr. James Fletcher for a number of species, and to Mr. A. W. Hanham,
a former member, for several, while a few specimens have been received

from other members.

The few families to which special attention has been given in col-
lecting are found by comparison with the above lists to be very well
represented, but in many families the number of species is very small.
Carabide, for instance, are represented in the Grimsby list by 156
species, Lake Superior 202, Michigan 204 and Buffalo 186, while we
have as yet only 114. Again, the water-beetles—dytiscide, gyrinide
and hydrophilide—are: Grimsby 80 species, Lake Superior 119,
Michigan 104, Buffalo 77 and Ottawa only 65. As water beetles are
apparently as numerous in these latitudes as. they are farther south
(the Florida list gives only 60 or 65 species), we should have very
many more species on our list. If 119 species occur at Lake Superior,
the fauna of which most closely resembles ours, there seems to be no
reason why our list should rot contain at least 100, when our rivers,

lakes and other waters are examined with any degree of care.

70

Many other large groups have also been almost entirely neglected,
and will yield, when properly investigated, many additional species. If
there were a few more collectors the different localities could be
properly examined, and the list of Ottawa species carried within a year
or two to probably fifteen hundred, and eventually to fully two
thousand.

Until more of my species are determined it would be almost
useless to make any general comparison of our fauna with that of other
districts, but I have tabulated three families in which the species are
fully determined, with the following results. Of elateride we have
more species than are enumerated in any of the previously mentioned
lists, with the exception of the Quebec one, which has an equal number,
viz., 89. The others have respectively, Grimsby 77, Lake Superior 82,
Michigan 80, Buffalo 74, and Florida 52. Of the latter species only
nine, or seventeen per cent., have occurred here. Three of these ( Alaus
occulatus, A. myops and Melanotus communis) are common to all the
lists, while one (fornax badius) is unrecorded in any of the others.
Of Grimsby species we have 51, Lake Superior 51, Michigan 48,
Buffalo 48, and Quebec 58, or sixty-five per cent. That our fauna is
essentially a northern one is shown not only by the absence of the
Florida species, but from the fact that of 40 species contained in a list
of Green Mountain coleoptera (R. Hayward and H. Savage, Quart.
Journal Boston Zodlogical Soc.) we have 29, cr seventy-five per cent.

In buprestidz the species enumerated are as follows: Ottawa 37,
Grimsby 35, Lake Superior 30, Michigan (which alone exceeds Ottawa)
38, Quebec 28, Buffalo 34, and Florida 29. From the Green Moun:
tains seven species are given, of which we have all. Of the species
from the former localities we have from sixty to sixty-five per cent., ex-
cept of the Florida species, only seven of which, or about twenty-four
per cent., occur here. Of these seven species two are the common
injurious insects known as the apple tree borer (Chrysobothris femorata) |
and the raspberry borer (Agrilus ruficollis ).

Of cerambycidz there are in the Ottawa list 106 species, Grimsby
103, Lake Superior 78, Michigan 86, Buffalo 138, Quebee 111, and
Florida 76. We have 60 per cent. of Buffalo species, 63 per cent. of
Grimsby, 65 per cent. of Quebec, 68 per cent. of Michigan, and 73 per

—

“i

cent. of Lake Superior, but only 13 per cent. or ten species of the
Florida list. Of 32 Green Mountain species we have 24, or seventy-
five per cent. Only two species are common to all the lists, viz.,
A ylotrechus colonus and Urographis fasciatus.

Adding together the three families we have just considered, the
totals are: Ottawa 231 species, Florida 157, Lake Superior 190,
Michigan 204, Grimsby 215, Quebec 228, and Buffalo 246, or fifteen
more than Ottawa. This comparison clearly shows that, were all the
other families fully worked up, our collections would be very largely
increased.

Although my list contains many species not previously recorded
from Canada, it is yet doubtful whether any species new to science
have been captured. When Dr. LeConte was here last summer he
took home with him a box of rare species and afterward sent mea
partial list in which three new speciest were indicated. Unfortunately
these species, as well as the unnamed remainder, have been probably
sorted into his vast collections, and are thas lost to us, although luckily
not lost to science.

There are many rare and interesting species worthy of special
mention, but for want of time such consideration must be deferred.

Species, one hundred and ten in number, marked with an asterisk

(*), have apparently not been previously included in lists of Canadian
coleoptera.

OTTAWA COLEOPTERA.

ee - Gytc .
CICINDELIDE, Calosoma frigidum, Kirby.
Cicindela longilabris, Say. calidum, Fabr.
x . . . sim
' 6-guttata, Fab. ElaphrusClairvillei, Kirby.
purpurea, Oliv. cicatricosus, Lec.
var. limbalis, K1. ruscarius, Say.
vulgaris, Say. Blethisa quadricollis, Hald.
12-guttata, De}. Dyschirius nigripes, Lec.
repanda, Dej. globulosus, Say.
hispidus, Lec.*
CARABID. ay
Omophron americanum, De). Clivina americana, De).
Cychrus Lecontei, De). Nomius pygmeus, De}.

- + Dr. Horn has since determined one of these to be Malachius Ulkei, Horn.

Bembidium inzequale, Say.
nitidum, Kirby.
americanum, Dej.
nigrum, Say.
planum, Hald.
bimaculatum, Kirby.
rupestre, De}.
dorsale, Say.
intermedius, Kirby.
pictum, Lec.
4-maculatum, Linn.
several unnamed species.

Tachys flavicauda, Say.
nanus, Gyll.
incurvus, Say.
sp.

Patrobus longicornis, Say.

Pterostichus adoxus, Say.
dilligendus Chd.*
coracinus Newm.
stygicus, Say.
lucublandus, Say.
luctuosus, De}.
corvinus, Dej.
mutus, Say.
orinomum, Leach.
erythopus, De}.
femoralis, Kirby.
mandibulazis, Kirby.

Lophoglossus serutator, Lec.

Amara avida, Say.
exarata, Dej.*
angustata, Say. ‘
impuncticolis, Say.
polita, Lec.*
obesa, Say.

Diplochila impressicollis, Dej.

Badister notatus, Hald.
pulchellus, Lee.

Calathus gregarius, Say.
impunctata, Say.

Platynus sinuatus, De}.
extensicollis, Say.
decorus, Say.
anchomenoides, Rand.
melanarius, Dej.
propinquus, Gemm.,*

~)
bo

cupripennis, Say.
var. nitidulum, De}.
excavatus, Dej.
picticornis, Newm.
ruficornis, Lec.
lutulentus, Lec.
8-punctatus, Fabr.
placidus, Say.
obsoletus, Say.
quadripunctatus, Dej.
Olisthopus micans, Lec.
Anchus pusillus, Lee.
Lebia grandis, Hentz.
tricolor, Say.
viridis, Say.
pumila, Dej.
ornata, Say.
furcata, Lec.
Metabletus americanus, Dej.
Callida punctata, Lec.
Cymindis pilosa, Say.
borealis, Lec.*
Brachynus americanus, Lec.
perplexus, Dej.
medius, Harris.
alternans, De}.
fumans, Fabr.
Chleenius tomentosus, Say.
niger, Rand.
impunctifrons, Say.
tricolor, Dej,
solitarius, Say.
sericeus, Forst.
Anomoglossus emarginatus, Say.
Brachylobus lithophilus, Say.
Agonoderus pallipes, Fabr.
partiarius, Say.
Harpalus erraticus, Say.
viridizneus, Beauy.
caliginosus, Fabr.
pennsylvanicus, De}.
herbivagus, Say.
laticeps, Lec.
basilaris, Kirby.
Stenolophus conjunctus, Say,
dissimilis, Dej.
ochropezus, Say.

carus, Lec.
Bradycellus vulpeculus, Say.
ruprestris, Say.
Anisodactylus rusticus, De).
nigrita, Dej.
discoideus, De}.
baltimorensis, Say.
(Xestonotus) lugubris, De).
(Amphasia) interstitialis, Say.
(Spongopus) verticalis, Lec.

HALIPLID&.

Haliplus triopsis, Say.
ruficollis, Dej.
Cnemidotus 12-punctatus, Say.

DLDYtTIScID®.

Laccophilus maculosus, Germ,
Hydroporus, inequalis, Fabr.
hybridus, Aubé.*
affinis, Say.
rotundatus, Lec.
consimilis, Lec.
spurius, Lec.
modestus, Aubé
dichrous, Mels.*
americanus, Aubé?*
signatus, Mannh.
tristis, Payk.
notabilis, Sharp.*
sp. near persimilis, Cr.
three unnamed species.
Coptotomus interrogatus, Fabr.
ybiosoma bifarius, Kirby.
Agabus, sp.
aeneolus, Cr.
stagninus, Say.
punctulatus, Aubé,
Rhantus binotatus, Harris.
Colymbetes sculptilis, Harris.
longulus, Lec.
Dytiscus Harrisii, Kirby.
fasciventris, Say.
Cordieri, Aubé.
Acilius fraternus, Harris.

-

GYRINID&.

Dineutes assimilis, Aubé.
Gyrinus borealis, Aube.
two unnamed species.

HYDROPHILD#.

Helophorus lacustris, Lec.
obscurus, Lec. vai.*
lineatus, Say.
tuberculatus, Gyll.

Hydrochus rufipes, Mels.*

Hydraena pennsylvanica, Kiesw.

Hydiophilus glaber, Hb.

Ochthebius sp.

Hydrocharis obtusatus, Say.

Berosus striatus, Say.

Philhydrus cinctus, Say.
diffusus, Lec.
perplexus, Lee.
sp.

Hydrocombus lacustris, Lec.
rotundatus, Say.

Hydrobius fuscipes, Linn.
feminalis, Lec.*
subcupreus, Say.

Cercyon preetextatum, Say.
pygmeeum, II1.*
unipunctatum, Linn.
several unnamed species.

Cryptopleurum vagans, Lec.

SILPHIDA.

Necrophorus pustulata, Hersch.
orbicollis, Say.
tomentosa, Web.

Silpha surinawensis, Fab.
lapponica, Hb.
noveboracensis, Forst,
ineequalis, Fab.
americana, Linn.

Choleva terminans, Lec.

Prionocheeta opaca, Lec.

Hydnobius, substriatus, Lec.*

Anisotoma punctostriatus, Kirby.

Liodes globosa, Lec.
geminata, Horn.*
sp.
Agathidium oniscoides, Beauv.
revolvens, Lec.
sp.
ScyDM£NIDA.

Scydmeenus fossiger, Lec.
basilis, Lee.
fatuus, Lec.
n. sp.

PSELAPHID®.

Ctenistes piceus, Lec.

Tyrus humeralis, Aubé.

.Pselaphus Erichsonii, Lec.

Tychus longipalpus, Lec.

Bryaxis conjuncta, Lee.
Brendelii, Horn.*
puncticollis, Lee.*
propingua, Lee.
rubicunda, Aubé.
tomentosa, Lec.*

Decarthron abnorme, Lec.
formiceti, Lec.

Batrisus globosus, Lec.

STAPHYLINIDA.

Falagria venustula, Er.

Homaualota lividipennis, Mann.
sp.

Tachyusa, species unnamed.

Aleochara lata, Grav.

“

gracilicornis, Fauvel, MSS. *

Oxypoda tenebrosa, Fauvel.
sp.
Gyrophena corruscula, Er.*
Quedius molochinus, Gray.
sp.
Listotrophus cingulatus, Grav.
Creophilus maxillosus, Linn.
Staphilinus vulpiaus, Nordm.
cinnamopterus Grav.
violaceus, Grav.
cxesareus, Cederh.

74

Ocypus ater, Grav.
Philonthus cyanipennis, Fabr.
aeneus, Rossi.
niger, Mels.*
debilis, Grav.
palliatus, Grav.
micans, Grav.
brunneus, Grav.
leetulus, Say.*
agilis (?)*
quadricollis, Fauvel MSS.
varicolor, Boh.
Xantholinus cephalus, Say.
hamatus, Say.
Diochus Schaumii, Kraatz.
Dianous ccerulescens, Gyll.*
Stenus juno, Fabr.
flavicornis, Er.
several unnamed species.
Euestethus americanus, Er.
Cryptobium bicolor, Grav.
pallipes, Grav.
Lathrobium grande, Lee.
eollare, Er.
rubripenne, Fauvel.*
Stilicus sp.
Lithocaris confluens, Say.
Peederus littorarius, Er.
Sunius longiusculus, Mann.
Tachinus luridus, Er.
flavipennis, Dej.
Tachyporus jocosus, Say.
brunneus, Fabr.
Erchomus ventriculus, Er.
Conosoma crassum, Gray.
basale, Er.
Bolitobius niger, Grav.
cinctus Grav.
intrusus, Horn.
sp.
Bryoporus rufescens, Lee.
cribratus Fauvel.*
Mycetoporus lepidus, Grav.*
americanus, Er.
Oxyporus rufipennis, Lec.
femoralis, Grav.
Bledius semiferrugineus, Lee.

Trogophlens nitellus, Fauvel.*
Geodromicus nigrita, Mull.*
Homalium sp.

Anthobium sp.

Micropeptus tesserula, Curt.

TRICHOPTERYGID.

Ptenidium evanescens, Msh.*
Nephanes Jeviusculus, Matth.*
Trichopteryx sp.

SCAPHIDIID®.

Scaphidium 4-guttatum, Say.
Scaphisoma convexum, Say.
Taxidium gammaroides, Jee.

PHALACRIDA.

Phalacrus politus, Mels.

Olibrus consimilis, Msh.
sp.

CoRYLOPHID.

Sacium lugubre, Lec.
sp.
Corylophus marginicollis, Lec.

CoccINELLID&.

Megilla maculata, DeG.
Hippodamia 5-signata, Kirby.
convergens, Gueér.
13-punctata, Linn.
parenthesis, Say.
Coccinella trifasciata, Linn.
9-notata, Herbst.
5-notata, Kirby.
monticola, Muls.
sanguinea, Linn.
Adalia frigida, Schn.
vipunctata, Linn.
Harmonia picta, Rand.
Anatis 15-punctata, Oliv.
Psyllobora 20-maculata, Say.
Chilocorus bivulnerus, Muls.

(i
Brachyacantha ursina, Fabr.
var. 10-pustulata, Mels.
Hyperaspis signata, Oliv.
proba, Say.
bigeminata, Rand.*
undulata, Say.
Scymnus fraternus, Lec. ?*
he morrhous, Lec.
punctatus, Mels.
sp.

ENDOMYCHID.

Lycoperdina ferruginea, Lec.

Mycetina perpulchra, Newm.
vittata, Fabr.

Endomychus biguttatus, Say.

EROTYLID®.

Languria gracilis, Newm, var.
Dacne 4-maculata, Say.
Megalodacne heros, Say.
Mycotretus pulchra, Say.
sanguinipennis, Say.
Triplax thoracica, Say.

CoLYDIID.

Synchita fuliginosa, Mels.
Cicones marginalis, Mels.
Ditoma quadriguttata, Say.
Cerylon castaneum, Say.
Philothermus glabriculus, Lec.

CucusID.

Silvanus planatus, Germ.
bidentatus, Fabr.
Catogenus rufus, Fabr.
Cucujus clavipes, Fabr.
Pediacus fuseus, Er.
Lezmophleus bigattatus, Say.
conyexulus, Lec.*
Dendrophagus glaber, Lec.
Brontes dubius, Fabr.

CRYPTOPHAGID.

Telmatophilus americanus, Lec.

Antherophagus ochraceus, Lec.
convexulus, Lec.

Paramecosoma serrata, Gyll.

Cryptophagus, sp.

Atomaria ephippiata, Zimm.
several unnamed species.

MYcETOPHAGID2.

Mycetophagus punctatus, Say.
flexuosus, Say.
bipustulatus, Mels.
pluripunctatus, Lec.
obsoletus Mels.
sp.

Triphyllus humeralis, Kirby.

Litargus tetraspilotus,. Lec.

Typhcea fumata, Linn.

DERMESTID®.

Byturus unicolor, Say.
Dermestes nubilus, Say.
lardarius, Linn.
bicolor, Fabr.*
Attagenus megatoma, Fabr.
Anthrenus varius, Fabr.
muszeorum, Linn.
Cryptorhopalum ruficorne.*
Orphilus ater, Er.
glabratus, Er.* var.

HISTERID&.

Hister Harrisii, Kirby.
interruptus, Beauv. |
abbreviatus, Fabr.
defectus, Lec.*
16-striatus, Say.
americanus, Payk.
exaratus, Lec.*
carolinus, Payk.
Lecontei, Mars.
parallelus, Say.
coarctatus, Lee.

76

cylindricus, Payk.

sp.
Saprinus fraternus, Say.
Teretrius americanus, Lee..

NITIDULID#.

Brachypterus urtice, Fabr.
Carpophilus niger, Say.
brachypterus, Say.
Colastus truncatus, Rand.
Epurea estiva, Linn.
rufa, Say.
truncatella, Mann.
sp.
Nitidula bipustulata, Fabr.
rufipes, Linn.
ziczac, Say.
Phenolia grossa, Fabr.
Omosita colon, Linn.
Tps fasciatus, Oliv.
var. 4-signatus, Say.
sanguinolentus, Oliv.
confluens, Say.
vittata, Say.
Rhizophagus remotus, Lec.

TROGOSITID.

Trogosita mauritanica, Linn.
dubia, Horn.
sp.
Peltis ferruginea, Linn.
Calitys scabra, Thunb.
Grynocharis 4-lineata, Mels.
Thymalus fulgidus, Er.

LATHRIDIID.

Stephostethus liratus, Lec.

Lathridius, species unnamed.

Corticaria pumilus, Mels.
species unnamed.

BYRRHID®.

Clytilus varius, Fabr.
Byrrhus americanus, Lec.

Pettitii, Horn.
Syncalypta echinata, Lec.*
Limnichus punctatus, Lec.

PARNIDA.

Psephenus Lecontei, Hald.
Stenelmis vittipennis, Zimm.*

HETEROCERID.

Heterocerus mollinus, Kies.
two unnamed species.

DASCYLLIDE.

Ectopria nervosa, Mels. var.
thoracica, Zieg).
Prionocyphon discoideus, Say.
Scirtes orbiculatus, Fabr.*
tibialis, Guér.
Cyphon collaris, Guér.*
ruficollis, Say.
variabilis, Thunb.
obscurus, Guér.

ELATERID®.

Tharops obliquus, Say.

Deltometopus amoenicornus, Say.
Dromeeolus cylindricollis, Say.

Fornax badius, Mels.*
Hornii, Bv.*
orchesides, Newm.
Microrhagus imperfectus, Lec.
pectinatus, Lec.
triangularis, Say.
Hypoceelus frontosus, Say.*
Epiphanis cornutus, Esch.
Sarpedon scabrosus, By.*
Adolocera avita, Say.
aurorata, Say.
obtecta, Say.
brevicornis, Lec.
Alans occulatus, Linn.
myops, Fabr.
Cardiophorus amictus, Mels.

17

convexulus, Lee.
Cryptobypnus abbreviatus, Say

pectoralis, Say.
Elater nigricollis, Germ.

linteus, Say.

discoideus, Fabr.

semicinctus, Rand.

vitiosus, Lec.

apicatus, Say.

luctuosus, Lec.

impolitus, Mels.

nigricans, Germ.

var. pedalis, Germ.

var. fuscatus, Mels.

nigrinus, Payk.*

pullus, Germ.

mixtus, Hbst.

miniipennis, Lec.

sanguinipennis, Germ.

rubicus, Say.

obliquus, Say.

protervus, Lec.
Drasterivs dorsalis, Say.
Megapenthes stigmosus, Lee.
Ludius abruptus, Say.
Agriotes mancus, Say.

fucosus, Lec. .

stabilis, Lec.

limosus, Lec.

oblongicollis, Mels.*
Dolopius lateralis, Esch.
Betarmon bigeminatus, Rand.
Melanotus decumanus, Er.

scrobicollis, Lec. ?

fissilis, Say.

communis, Gyll.

parumpunctatus, Mels.
Limonius confusus, Lec.

aeger, Lec.*

sp.

aurifer, Lee.
Campylus denticornis, Kirby.
Pityobius anguinus, Lec.
Athous Brightwelli, Kirby.

acanthus, Say.

cucullatus, Say.

rufifrons, Rand.

discalceatus, Lec.
Sericosomus fusiformis, Lec.
incongruus, Lec.
viridanus, Say.
Corymbites virens, Schr.
vernalis, Hentz.
tesselatus, Linn.
resplendens, Esch.
cylindriformis, Hbst.
spinosus, Lec.
tarsalis, Mels.
sulcicollis, Say.
fallax, Say.*
medianus, Germ.
sulcatus (1)
triundulatus, Rand.
hamatus, Say.
hieroglyphicus, Say.
cruciatus, Linn.
aeripennis, Kirby.
splendens, Ziegl.
inflatus, Say.
Oxygonus obesus, Say.
Asaphes memnonius, Hbst.
var. brevicollis, Lec.
decoloratus, Say, var.
aereus, Mels.

THROSCIDA.

Throscus constrictor, Say.
alienus, Bonv.

BuPRESTID.

Chaleophora virginiensis, Dr.
liberta, Germ.
fortis, Lec.

Dicerca prolongata, Lee.
divaricata, Say. a
lurida, Fabr.
tenebrosa, Kirby.
chrysea, Mels.
lugubris, Lee.

Poecilonota cyanipes, Say.

Buprestis fasciata, Fabr.
var. sexplagiata, Lec.

78

consularis, Gory.
maculiventris, Say.
striata, Fabr.
Melanophila longipes, Say.
fulvoguttata, Harris.
Anthaxia viridicornis, Say.
viridifrons, Gory.
inornata, Rand.
Chrysobothris femorata, Fabr.
trinervia, Kirby.
dentipes, Germ.
pusilla, Lap.*
floricola, Gory.*
sexsignata, Say.
Harrisii, Hentz.
Agrilus ruficollis, Fabr.
fulgens, Lec.
otiosus, Say.
bilineatus, Web.
interruptus, Lec.
torpidus, Lec.
politus, Say.
egenus, (Gory.
putillus, Say.*
sp.* (a)
Brachys erosa, Mels.

LAMPYRID.

Calopteron reticulatum, Fabr. .

var. apicale, Lec.
Celetes basalis, Lec.
Lopheros fraternus, Rand.
Eros thoracicus, Rand.
coccinatus, Say.
humeralis, Fabr.
Plateros modestus, Say.
caniculatus, Say.
Calochromus perfacetus, Say.
Lucidota atra, Fakr.
Ellychnia corrusca, Fabr.
Pyropyga nigricans, Say.
Pyractomena borealis, Rand.
Photinus ardens, Lec.

(a) Unknown to Dr. LeConte and not in

Dr. Horn’s collection.

. Photuris peunsylvanica, DeG.
Podabrus nothoides, Lec. (?)*
tiicostatus, Say.
rugosulus, Lec.
diadema, Fabr.
modestus, Say.
punctatus, Lec.
Telephorus carolinus, Fabr.
scitulus, Say.
rotundicollis, Say.
tuberculatus, Lec.
_bilineatus, Say.
Silis percomis, Say.
Malthinus occipitalis, Lec. var.

difficilis, Lec.
MALACHIDA.

Collops vittatus, Say.
tricolor, Say.

Malachius Ulkei, Horn.*

Anthocomus Erichsoni, Lec.
flavilabris, Say ?

Attalus morulus, Lec.

CLERID.

Cymatodera inornata, Say.
Trichodes Nuttali, Kirby.
Clerus nigripes, Say.
thoracicus, Oliv.
Thanasimus trifasciatus, Say.
dubius, Fabr.
var. rubriventris, Lec.
Thaneroclerus sanguineus, Say.
Hydnocera humeralis, Say.
var. difficilis, Lec.
pallipennis, Say.
verticalis, Say.
Chariessa pilosa, Forst.
Laricobius rubidns, Lec.
Corynetes violaceus, Linn.

PriniID#.

Ptinus fur, Linn.
Eucrada humeralis, Mels.

19

Oligomerus sericans, Mels.
Hadrobregmus carinatus, Say.
foveatus, Kirby.
Anobium notatum, Say.
Trypopitys sericeus, Say.
Xyletinus fucatus, Lec.
Hemiptychus punctatus, Lec.*
Ceenocara oculata, Say.
Ptilinus thoracicus, Rand.
Endecatomus rugosus, Rand.
Bostrychus bicornis, Web.
Dinoderus porcatus, Lec.
substriatus, Payk.
punctatus, Say.*

CuPESID&.
Cupes concolor, Westw.
CIOID#.

Rhipidandrus parodoxus, Beauv.
Cis, species unnamed.

SPHINDID#.
Sphindus americanus, Say.
LUCANID.

Dorcus parallelus, Lee.

Platycerus quercus, Weber.
depressus, Lec.

Ceruchus piceus, Weber.

ScARABZIDA.

Onthophagus Hecate, Panz.
Atenius gracilis, Mels.
Dialytes striatulus, Say.
Aphodius fossor, Linn.
hyperboreus, Lec.*
fimetarius, Linn.
granarius, inn.
ruricola, Mels.
vittatus, Say.
inquinatus, Fabr.

bicolor, Say.
‘Odontaeus cornigerus, Mels.
Geotrupes Egeriei, Germ.
Blackburnii, Fabr.
Trox porcatus, Say.
aequalis, Say.
scaber, Linn.
Hoplia trifasciata, Say.
Dichelonycha elongatula, Sch6n,
subvittata, Lec.
testacea, Kirby.
canadensis, Horn. (?)
albicollis, Burm.
Serica sericea, I].
vespertina, Schon.
Diplotaxis sordida, Say.
tristis, Kirby.
Lachnosterna fusca, Fréhl.
two unnamed species.
Ligyrus relictus, Say.
Xyloryctes satyrus, Fabr.
Osmoderma eremicola, Knoch.
seabra, Beauv.
Trichins affinis, Gory.

SPONDYLID®.
Parandra brunnea, Fabr.

CERAMBYCID#.
Orthosoma brunneum, Forst.
Tragasoma Harrisii, Lec.

Asemum moestum, Hald.
‘Criocephalus agrestis, Kirby.

Tetropium cinnamopterum, Kirby.

Gonocallus collaris, Kirby.
Dularius brevilineus, Say.
Hylotrupes ligneus, Fab.
Phymatodes dimidiatus, Kirby.
thoracicus, Muls.*
Merium proteus, Kirby.
Callidium janthinum, Lec.
antennatum, Newm.
aereum, Newm.*
Elaphidion villosum, Fabr.
parallelum, Newm.

80

incertum, Newm.

Obrium rubrum, Newm.

Callimoxys sanguinicoliis, Oliv.

Molorchus bimaculatus, Say.

Purpuricenis humeralis, Fabr.

Cyllene robiniae, Forst.

Plagionotus speciosus, Say.

Calloides nobilis, Harr.

Arhopalus fulminans, Fabr.

Xylotrechus colonus, Fab.
sagittatus, Germ.
undulatus, Say.

Neoclytus capraea, Say.
muricatulus, Kirby.
erythocephalus, Fabr.

Clytanthus ruricola, Oliv.

Microclytus gazellula, Hald.*

Cyrtophorus verrucosus, Oliv.

Euderces picipes, Fabr.

Atimia confusa, Say.

Desmocerus palliatus, Forst.

Rhagium lineatum, Oliv.

Centrodera decolorata, Harr.

Toxotus Schaumii, Lec.
vitsiger, Rand.

Pachyta monticola, Rand.

Anthophilax attenuatus, Hald.

Acmaeops proteus, Kirby.
pratensis, Laich.

Gaurotes cyanipennis, Say.

Bellamira scalaris, Say.

Typocerus velutinus, Oliv.

Leptura plebeja, Rand.
subhamata, Rand.
abdominalis, Hald. (?)* (b)
capitata, Newm.
zebra, Oliv.
saucia, Lec.*
sphaericollis, Say.
6-maculata, Lec.
nigrella, Say.
canadensis, Oliv.
chrysocoma, Kirby.
proxima, Say.

(b) Specimen retained by Dr. LeConte

as “doubtful.”

vittata, Oliv.
mutabilis, Newm.
pubera, Say.
Psenocerus supernotatus, Say.
Monohammus maculosus, Hald.*
scutellatus, Say.
confusor, Kirby.
marmoratus, Rand.
Dorcaschema nigrum, Say.
Goes pulverulentus, Hald.*
occulatus, Lec.
Acanthoderes decipiens, Hald.
Leptostylus aculifer, Say.
parvus, Lec.*
commixtus, Hald.
macula, Say.
Liopus variegatus, Hald.
alpha, Say.
punctatus, Hald.*
cinereus, Lec.
Lepturges symmetricus, Hald.
signatus, Lec.
querci, Fitch.
facetus, Say.
Hyperplatys aspersus, Say.
maculatus, Hald.
Urographis fasciatus, DeG.
Acanthocinus obsoletus, Oliv.
Hoplosia nubila, Lec.
Pogonocherus penicellatus, Lec.
mixtus, Hald.
Hupogonius tomentosus, Hald.
vestitus, Say.
subarmatus, Lec.
Saperda calcarata, Say.
mutica, Say.*
candida, Fabr.
vestita, Say.
discoidea, Fabr.
tridentata, Oliv.
lateralis, Fabr.
moesta, Lec.
concolor, Lec.
Oberea amabilis, Hald.
bimaculata, Oliv.

Tetraopes tetraophthalmus, Forst.

81
CHRYSOMELID&.

Donacia lucida, Lac.
proxima, Kirby.
subtilis, Kunze.
var. fulgens, Lec.
pubescens, Lec.*
emarginata, Kirby.
cuprea, Kirby, var.
auryfera, Lec.
jucunda, Lec.*
flavipes, Kirby.
acqualis, Kirby.
sp.
Heemonia nigricornis, Kirby.
Orsodacna Childreni, Kirby.
Zeugophora abnormis, Lec.*
Syneta ferruginea, Germ.
Lema trilineata, Oliv.
Anomeea laticlavia, Forst.
Chlamys plicata, Fabr. var.
polycocca, Lec.

Cryptocephalus mammifer, Newm.

var. sellatus, Suffr.
var. pretiosus, Mels.
var. luteipennis, Mels.
badius, Suffr.*
4-aculatus, Say.
Schreibersii, Suffr.
Pachybrachys viduatus, Fab,
femoratus, Oliv.*
tridens, Mels.
litigiosus, Suffr. var.
Diachus auratus, Fabr.
catarius, Suffr.
Monachus saponatus, Fabr.
Xanthonia 10-notata, Say.
villosula, Mels.
Adoxis vitis, Linn,
Glyptoscelis pubescens, Fabr.
Chrysochus auratus, Fabr.
Tymnes tricolor, Fab.
Paria aterrima, Oliy.
6-notata, Say.
var. 4-notata, Say.
Graphops pubescens, Mels.
Colaspis puncticollis, Say.

Prasocuris Phellandru, Il.
varipes, Lee.

Doryphora clivicollis, Kirby.
10-lineata, Say.

Chrysomela elegans, Oliv.
multiguttis, Stal.
var. labyrinthica, Lee.
philadelphica, Linn.
var. spiree, Say.
multipunctata, Say.
var. Bigsbyana, Kirby.

Plagiodera lapponica, Linn.
viridis, Meis.

Phylicdecta vulgatissima, Sinn.

Phylobrotica decorata, Say.
discoidea, Fabr.

Diabrotica 12-punctata, Fabr.
vittata, Fabr.

Trirhabda canadensis, Kirby.

Galeruca 6-vittata, Lec.*
rufosanguinea, Say.
decora, Say.
sp. near decora.
sagittarie, Kirby.

Oedionychis vians, Ill.
quercus, Fabr.

Disonycha limbicollis, Lec.
alternata, Il.
caroliniana, Fabr.*
glabrata, Fabr.
triangularis, Say.
collaris, Fabr.

Haltica bimarginata, Say.
chalybea, Iil.
ignita, Ill.

Crepidodera helxines, Linn.
cucumeris, Harr.

Orthaltica copalina, Fabr.

Systena hudsonias, Forst.
frontalis, Fabr.
marginalis, Il.

Longitarsus testaceus, Lec.
sp.

Phyllotreta vittata, Fabr.

Dibolia aerea, Mels.

Psyllhiodes punctulata, Mels.

Odontota rubra, Web.

nervosa, Panz.
sp. (1)
Chelymorpha argus, Licht.
Coptocycla aurichalcea, Fabr. _
guttata, Oliv.

BRUCHID.

Bruchus pisi, Linn.
cruentatus, Horn.*
sp.

'TENEBRIONID A.

Phellopsis obcordata, Kirby.
Nyctobates pennsylvanica, DeG.
Ipthimus opacus, Lec.
serratus, Mann.
Upis ceramboides, Linn.
Haplandrus concolor, Lee.
Xylopinus saperdioides, Oliv.
Tenebrio molitor, Linn.
tenebrioides, Beauv.
castaneus, Knoch. (?)
Blapstinus interruptus, Say.
Tribolium ferrugineum, Fabr.
madens, Charp.

Paratenetus punctatus, Sol.

two unnanied species.
Diaperis hydni, Fabr. -
Hoplocephala bicornis, Oliv.
Platydema excavatum, Say.
flavipes, Fabr. '
americanum, Lap.
Scaphidema aeneolum, Lec.
Hypophloeus parallelus, Mels,
Boletotherus bifureus, Fabr..
Boletophagus corticola, Say.
depressus, Rand.
Strongylium terminatum.*

CISTELID.

Allecula nigrans, Mels.

Hymenorus pilosus, Mels.
niger, Mels.

Cistela brevis, Say.

nts

sericea, Say.
Isomira 4-striata, Coup.
Mycetochares bicolor, Coup.

binotata, Say.

three unnamed species.
Capnochroa fuliginosa, Mels.
Androchirus fuscipes, Mels.

LAGRIID#&.
Arthomacra aenea, Say.
MELANDRYID.

Tetratoma truncorum, Lec.

Penthe obliquata, Fabr.
pimelia, Fabr.

Synchroa punctata, Newm.

Melandrya striata, Say.

Emmesa labiata, Say.

Phryganophilus collaris, Lec.

Xylita laevigata, Hellen.

Zilora hispida, Lec.

Enchodes sericea, Hald.

Serropalpus striatus, Hellen.

Hypulus simulator, Newm.
n. sp.

Scotochroa basalis, Lec.*

Dircea liturata, Lec.

Symphora flavicollis, Hald-
rugosa, Hald.

Eustrophus bicolor, Fab.
bifasciatus, Say.
tomentosus, Say.
sp.

Hallomenus scapularis, Mels.

Orchesia castanea, Mels.
gracilis, Mels.

Canifa pallipes, Mels.

Stenotrachelus arctatus, Say.

Mycterus scaber, Hald.

PYTHIDA.

Crymodes discicollis, Lec.
Boros unicolor, Say.
Pytho niger, Kirby.

8

83

americanus, Kirby.
Salpingus virescens, Lec.
Sp.
OEDEMERID®.

Ditylus cceruleus, Rand.
Asclera ruficollis, Say.
.puncticollis, Say.

CEPHALOIDA.

Cephaloon lepturides.

MOoORDELLID&.

Anaspis flavipennis, Hald.
rufa, Say.

Tomoxia bidenta, Say.

Mordella borealis, Lec.
melaena, Lec.
scutellaris, Fabr.
marginata, Mels.
irrorata, Lec.*

Mordellistena trifasciata, Say.

limbalis, Mels.
scapularis, Say.
aspersa, Mels.*
comata, Lec.*
pectoralis, Lec.*
fuscipennis, Mels.
ambusta, Lee var.*

ANTHICID.

Corphyra Newmani, Lec.
lugubris, Say.
fulvipes, Newm.
terminalis, Say.*
Notoxus anchora, Hentz.
sp.
Xylophilus fasciatus, Mels.
basalis, Lee.
two unnamed species.
Anthicus formicarius, Laf.
fulvipes, Laf.*
cinctus, Say.*
thoracicus Laf.*
two unnamed species.

PyRocHROID.

Pyrochroa flabellata, Fabr.
femoralis, Lee.

Schizotus cervicalis, Newm.

Dendroides canadensis, Latr.
concolor, Newm.

MELOID.
Meloe angusticollis, Say.
americanus, Leach.
n. sp.2
Macrobasis unicolor, Kirby.
RAIPIPHORID#.
Pelecotoma flavipes, Mels.
RHINOMACERID#.
Rhinonacer pilosus, Lec.

RHYNCHITID&.

Rhynchites cyanellus, Lec.
zratus, Say.*

. ATTELABID.
Attelabus rhois, Boh.
OTIORHYNCHID#.

Phyxelis rigidus, Say.
Otiorhynchus ligneus, Oliv.
Scythropus elegans, Coup.

CURCULIONID&.

Sitones flavescens, Marsh.
Trichalophus alternatus, Say.

Ithycerus noveboracensis, Forst.

Apion herculaneum, Smith.*
Walshii Smith.*
segnipes, Say.*
several unnamed species.

Phytonomus nigrirostris, Fabr.

(0/6)

1

Listronotus caudatus, Say.
Maerops solutus, Boh.

several unnamed species.
Pissodes strobi, Peck.

affinis, Rand.
Hylobius pales, Hbst.

var. stupidus, Boh.
Dorytomus mucidus, Say.

longulus, Lec.*
Grypidius equiseti, Fabr.*
Procas picipes, Steph.*
Tanysphyrus, lemne, Fabr.
Anchodemus angustatus, Lec.*
Otidocephalus Chevrolatii, Horn.*
Magdalis barbita, Say.

olyra, Hbst.

inconspicua, Horn.

armicollis, Say.
Anthonomus quadrigibbus, Say.

signatus, Say.

rubidus, Say.

sues Lec.

musculus, Say.

sp. near disjunctus, Lec.
Orchestes niger, Horn. *

subhirtus, Horn.*
Elleschus ephippiata, Say.

bipunctatus, Linn.*
Gymnetron teter, Fabr.
Conotrachelus nenuphar, Hbst.

posticatus, Boh.
Pseudomus truncatus, Lec.*
Tyloderma zereum, Say.
Cryptorhynchus obliquefasciatus,

Boh.

Acoptus suturalis, Lec.*
Mononychus vulpeculus, Fabr.
Ceutorhynchus dicipiens, Lec.*
Coelogaster cretura, Hbst.
Madarus undulatus, Say.
Stethobaris tubulatus, Say.*
Balaninus rectus, Say.

nasicus, Say.

BRENTHIDA.

Eupsalis minuta, Drury.

CALANDRID&.

Spenophorus pertinax, Oliv.
sculptilis, Uhler.

Dryopthorus corticalis, Say.

Cossonus platalea, Say.

Rhyncholus oregonensis, Horn.*

Stenoscelis brevis, Boh.

+

ScOLYTID.

Pityophthorus materiarius, Fitch.
puberulus, Lec.
sparsus, Lec. *

Xyloterus retusus, Lec.

bivittatus, Hb.
Xyleborus czelatus, Eich.
Tomicus calligraphus, Germ.
pini, Say.
Hylesinus opaculus, Lec.
Phlceosinus dentatus, Say.
Dendroctonus terebrans, Oliv.
Hylastes cavernosus, Zimm.
Hylurgops, pinifex, Fitch.

ANTHRIBIDA.

Allandrus bifasciatus, Lec.
Hormiscus saltator, Lec.
Authribus cornutus, Say.
Cratoparis lunatus, Fabr.

Famiuies, 67; Genera, 524; Species, 1,003.

86
SUCTORIA.

J. B. Tyrreti, B.A., F.G.S., of THE GroLtocicaL AND NATURAL
History SuRVEY OF CANADA.

Read 14th February, 1884.

It would be almost a truism to say that we are indebted to Lin-
neus for first giving the fleas a systematic position in the animal
_kingdom. He ranked them under the genus pulex, and placed this
genus, along with many other dissimilar ones it is true, in the order
aptera, an order under the class insecta. Lamarck also placed them
under the same order, and it was left for Latreille in 1805 A.D. to
separate them under the name suctoria, though he afterwards aban-
doned it and adopted the name siphonaptera for these insects. In 1826
Kirby and Spence used the name aphan‘ptera for the same group,
which is that ordinarily used in English books on entomology. In
1844 Gervais described all the species then known of the genus pulex,
in a work by Walkeraer and Gervais on ‘“ Aptera,” a work which is
still the principal book of reference on all the so-called apterous insects.
In 1867 Landois gave us a careful description of the anatomy of the
dog-flea (Pulex canis). and in 1880 O. Taschenberg in an exhaustive
paper redescribed all the species that were then known, and after a
careful examination of those found on a number of different animals
considered that, with the exception of ten described species which he
had not seen, all could be referred to 24 species grouped under five
genera.

The insect itself, as most of you are aware, is of a dark brown
colour and from 7, to 4 in. in length, according to the species to which
it belongs ; is strongly compressed laterally, and possessed ot powerful
legs adapted for leaping. The head is relatively small, usually rounded
on the upper side, and in most species more or less evenly curved from the
neck to the point of insertion of the oral appencages. The hinder border
of the head projects in two wing-like chitinous processes, which are
inserted between the wings of the thorax, while at the same time the
hinder border of the head overlaps the front of the thorax in its whole
extent. This is noticeable, as it is very different from the arrangement

87

in the diptera, with which the fleas are usually allied. ‘The head is
divided into two nearly equal parts by the antennary groove, in front
of which are placed the eyes (when these are present) and the oral
appendages. The eyes are simple, and normally appear as dark brown
or black spots close to the antennary groove and towards the lower side
of the head. On the side of the head are seen several chitinous hairs,
which from their position and size in different species form useful specific
characters. These are used in assisting the insect to obtain a strong
hold on the skin of its host.

The oral appendages are adapted for suction and consist of a pair
of free plates and a tube made up of five separate pieces.

The free plates are the maxillae, and are usually triangular in
outline and of a dark chitinous colour. Each maxilla bears at its base
a four-jointed palps, the joints of which are of different lengths in the
different species, and are partly covered with fine hairs. These are the
organs which were hy old observers taken for the antenne.

The peculiar sucking tube is formed from the lower lip or labium,

the mandibles and an impair piercing tube or lingua.

The labium is impair at its base, then bifurcates, dividing into two
four-jointed palps, each of which is hollowed out on the inner side. On
the upper side this palp is thick, but it thins out and becomes mem-
braneous on the lower side, being in shape somewhat like the blade of
a hollow ground razor. 'Chese two half tubes lie together and enclose
the mandibles and the lingua.

The paired mandibles are long, narrow, longitudinally ribbed, and
are also deeply excavated along the inner side, while the borers, except
at the base, are strongly serrated, the teeth becoming more prominent
towards the outer end.

In the tube formed by the mandibles, which are generally pressed
close together, lies the suctorial organ, or lingua, in the form ofa flattened
needle, coarsely serrated on the upper border and traversed by a narrow
canal, along which runs a very slender trachea or air-tube. At its
hinder end it enlarges into a rounded sac before opening into the
oesophagus. This organ is considered by some as representing the
apper lip or labrum, but, on account of its mode of insertion rather

88

than from any developmental relations, we have considered it,’on the
authority of many entomologists, as homologous to the lingua in other
insects. "i

After thus considering the oral sppendages at considerable length
for so short a paper, as they are the parts which render the order most
annoying, if not to ourselves at all events to our domestic favourites,
we must hasten on to describe some of the other parts in the anatomy
of these insects. |

The antennz are hidden in the grooves which run obliquely back-
wards and downwards across the head, and it is but seldom, and then
only in a few species, that we see them carried erect. Behind the
groove on each side a row of small hairs is usually present. The
antenna itself is composed of three segments, the third being divided
by a number of transverse membraneous joints by means of which it
can be lengthened and shortened at the pleasure of the insect. On the
back of this segment can be seen in some species a number of small
sacs which are probably auditory. Towards its base it contracts con-
siderably to the point where it articulates with the second segment.
A row of strong bristles is often present around the anterior end of this
latter, standing like guards around the terminal segment.

The thorax is small and composed of three separate segments pro-
tected by a chitinous covering, each composed of a dorsal piece or
notum, and two lateral pieces or pleurae, which latter are largely
developed at the expense of the sternum. The pleurae are more or less
freely joined to the notum, the anterior ones being thrown forward
almost under the head. On the posterior borders of the pleurae of the
two hinder segments of the thorax small scales are present, which by
some entomologists are considered as rudimentary wings, though by
others this homology is denied. The pronotum on its hinder border is
often provided with a collar of bristles which from their different size
and number serve as good characters for distinguishing the species.

The legs, which are attached to the pleurae of the three thoracic
segments, are large, increasing in size from the first to the third pair,
and adapted for leaping. The whole leg is, like the rest of the body,
laterally compressed, and consists of five joints, viz., the very large
coxa, the trochanter, the femur, the tibia, and the tarsus or foot, which

89

in its turn-is divided into five joints and ‘terminated by two strong
claws. The relative length of these tarsal joints is usually used asa
distinctive specific character.

The abdomen constitutes the largest part of the body, and is made
up of nine segments, the greater number of which are covered by
dorsal and ventral chitinous plates, which overlap those of the segment
in front. The first segment, however, has a dorsal plate only ; the
second to the seventh are normally formed. The eighth segment has a
somewhat peculiar shape, and differs in the two sexes. In the female
the dorsal plate is largely developed at the expense of the ventral, the
latter being very much reduced ; while in the male the ventral plate is
about equal in size to the dorsal. The pygidium or ninth and last
segment, which is the smallest of all, is situated in a depression
in the eighth, and is composed of three pieces, a dorsal and two
ventrals. The former is oval in shape and surrounded by a chitinous
ring which encloses 25-28 areoles, each of which bears in its centre a
small stiff bristle. In the male this segment is thrown very much
farther up on the dorsal surface than in the female.

Respiration is carried on through a system of trachez, which, open
on the surface of the body in ten pairs of stigmata, two on each of the
thoracic rings and the seven anterior segments of the abdomen.

The alimentary canal is composed of a short~ straight oesophagus
opening into a cylindrical stomach, from which the food passes by a
short intestine to the anus, situate below the ninth abdominal segment.
Two salivary glands open by a single duct into the oesophagus, and
four glands, which probably serve the purpose of a liver, open into the
lower end of the stomach.

The eggs of the flea are small white oval bodies, which, when
newly laid, on account of their viscous exterior, adhere to anything
with which they may come in contact.

The larva is footless and made up of thirteen nearly equal
segments, the anterior of which, the head, is hard, chitinous, and bears
the antenne and oral appendages, though eyes are absent. The oral
appendages are composed of a pair of conical toothed mandibles, a pair
of chitinous maxillae, with a two-jointed palp attached on each side,
and an upper and lower lip. A small provisional organ, like that on the

90

bill of a chick, is also present, as a chitinous knob on the dorsal
surface, for the purpose of breaking the shell of the egg. The second
to the eleventh segments are each provided with a pair of lateral
stigmata. The thirteenth segment is provided posteriorly with two
strong spines, which are the principal organs of locomotion. The larva,
after leading a very active life for a short time, spins a cocoon about it
and passes into the pupa state. In this state of development the struc-
ture of the body corresponds to that of the adult insect, all the organs of
manducation and locomotion being present. After remaining in the
pupa state for about thirty days the insect emerges as the perfect imago.

Having taken more time than I had originally intended in
describing the anatomy of these interesting parasites, a mere mention
of afew of the more common and characteristic species must suftice.

Pulex (Sarcopsylla ) penetrans.—the Chicoe or Jigger—is found in
tropical countries. The female bores into the feet and ankles of men,
and many of the domestic animals, and, the abdomen being distended
as the ova undergo development, swells up to about the size of a pea,
causing often very severe inflammation.

Pulex irritans is the flea usually found in filthy dwellings, the
larva being in the dust and dirt on and around the floors. It is
distinguished from others ordinarily met with by having no colity of
bristles around the neck. ;

Pulex canis is found on dogs, cats., ete. It has a prominent collar
around its neck and a row of bristles along the under side of the head.

Pulex fasciatus is found on the rat, mouse, etc. It has a row of
bristles around the neck, but none on the lower side of the head.

Pulex ( Typhlopsylla ) assimilis is found on the mole, shrew, eéte.,
and has been found by Mr. J. F, Whiteaves, of this city, on the chip-
munk, Zamias striatus. The body is long and thin, the eyes are rudi-
mentary, and there is a row of eighteen bristles around the neck.

3)

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF PHOSPHATES IN NATURE

GrEorcE M. Dawson, D.S., F.G.S., Assoc. R.S.M., Erc., Assistant
DirEcTOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Read 28th February, 1884.

In proposing to review, in soshorta paper, as this must necessarily
be, a subject so extensive as that indicated by the title, a difficult task
has been undertaken, and I cannot hope to do more than touch upon its
main points.

In the first place it may be proper to enquire why phosphate
materials are now so much sought for as fertilizers.

It has been said laconically that ‘Phosphorus is life,” but this
like most bold generalizations is but a partial, and’ even misleading
statement of the fact. Certain it is, however, that this element,
variously combined, is present in all living tissues, whether vegetable or
animal, and though in small quantity only, is absolutely essential to
these tissues, and, therefore, to the manifestation of life. | Animals,
depending ultimately for their subsistence on plants, derive from these
their supplies of phosphorus, together with the other substances
necessary for their nutrition. Unlike the animal, the plant is capable
of living, ultimately, on inorganic substances, and while deriving a large
part of its food from the air, is absolutely dependent on the soil for
those incombustible constituents which, when the plant is burnt,
remain as ash. Without these the growth of the plant is impossible,
and it is therefore necessary to ensure a sufficient supply of them in the
soil. Phosphorus, in a state of combination, is one of these, and that
to which I wish particularly to refer.

In following this substance from the soil to the plant, from the
plant to the animal, and from the ,animal again to the soil, we find a
system of circulation, which, under certain conditions, might go on
indefinitely. In a state of nature, this cycle is generally complete, but it
is interfered with and broken by the present organization of humanity,
and more particularly by those arrangements which have resulted in
the massing of population in large towns. - In these it is found neces-
sary to remove the effete and excrementitious matters by a system of

92

sewage, which results in draining the phosphates, and other substances:
valuable from an agricultural point of view, into the sea, where they
may be considered as absolutely lost. Victor Hugo, in a well known
passage, contrasts the wealth to be seen rolling through the streets of
Paris to that which is silently but steadily flowing away by the sewers
beneath, which he maintains is greater. Be this as it may, in this
particular case there is a continuous process on a large scale in action,
by which the land is deprived of its phosphates, and particularly in a
country like this, which exports great quantities of food material, with
their contained phosphates, to be consumed abroad.

Some years ago (1869) Mr. Gordon Brown calculated the amount
of phosphorus actually contained in the grains annually shipped
from the port cf Montreal, estimating it for this purpose in the
form of phosphoric acid. Wheat contains about 58, (eight tenths)
per cent. of phosphoric acid, or about 16 pounds to each ton, and
as the total shipments of wheat amounted to 292,534 tons, the
quantity of phosphoric acid sent away in it equalled 2,340 tons.
Taking the average quantity of this substance contained in good soils,
he found that this meant the total exhaustion to a depth of 12 inches—
in so far as phosphates are concerned—of 70,320 acres, and would
require the use of 5,850 tons of apatite of good quality as manure to
maintain the fertility of the fields. Adding to this the amount of
phosphoric acid contained in other grains exported he found the total
loss in the year to be 2,574 tons of phosphoric acid, representing a
value of over $500,000.

With such statistics in evidence it will not be necessary to enlarge
further on the necessity of discovering a source of supply of phosphates
for our fiélds, and for this we must have recourse to some specially
concentrated natural deposits. _ What therefore is the nature of these,
how have they been formed, and where do they occur?

In answering these questions, it must be remembered that soils
have been produced by the decay and disintegration of rocks, and have
derived their contained phosphates from the rocky crust of the earth.
Good soils contain say about 52, (two-tenths) per cent. of phosphoric acid,
and on analysing rocks chemically or microscopically we find phosphates—
generally calcic phosphate—present in them in similar small proportions,

93

In some crystalline rocks we find apatite, or crystalline calcic phosphate
so abundant that it can easily be recognized under the microscope. It
is needless to say, however, that the percentage of phosphate present
in ordinary rock masses is quite too small to suit them to be used as
fertilizers for exhausted soils. We must have recourse to some richer
sources of supply, and the concentration of phosphates in nature is
generally found to have been brought about by organic agency. Of
these concentrated deposits of phosphatic matter we may first glance at
those known as Guanos. These are essentially composed of excrements
of sea birds. Extensive accumulations of this character can occur
only in dry climates, for though formed wherever sea birds congregate
in great numbers, the rainfall is usually sufticient to remove them
before they reach important dimensions.

Guanos are naturally divided into two classes, though between the
extremes of these there are many intermediate varieties. These
classes have been named respectively nitrogenous and _ phosphatic
Those of the first class occur in exceptionally dry climates, such as are
found on the coast and adjacent islands of Peru, Bolivia and Chili,
where rain seldom or never falls. In these the nitrogenous constituents
of the organic matter—converted by decomposition into ammonia
salts—remain as a part of the mass. In phosphate guanos, on the
contrary, the rainfall has been sufficient to remove the whole or nearly
the whole of the very soluble ammonia salts, while not enough to wash
away the phosphatic material. Guanos of this class are of common
occurrence in the West Indian islands, and in some of these in which
the subjacent coral rock is penetrated by caverns, only such parts of the
phosphatic accumulations are preserved as have been washed into these
subterranean hollows through fissures, or have penetrated to them in
solution through the porous coral rock.

In the Ardennes region of the south of France, phosphatic deposits
occur which, in my opinion, are very similar in origin to those just
alluded to. These, however, are very much older and in fact include
fossils of Tertiary age, and so far as known, none of modern forms..
They fill irregular cavernous fissures which traverse the surface of
plateaus composed of Jurassic limestone, and it would appear that the
higher parts of these plateaus have at one time formed an archipel-

94

ago of bird-frequented islands in a Tertiary Sea. The phosphate or
phosphorite from these deposits is known commercially as Bordeaux
phosphate—from its port of shipment—and though very irregular in its
occurrence, is largely worked and exported.

Phosphatic deposits like these, however, directly referable to
surface accumulations by sea birds, are as a rule quite modern. With
rare local exceptions any which may have been found in the earlier
geological p2riods have been washed away and lost; the very process of
submersion, necessary as a preliminary step to the preservation by
burial in the strata, causing their dissipation.

Most of the truly fossil phosphates found in connection with the
older rocks have been formed in a quite different manner. To under-
stand this we may examine first such modern deposits as the “Mussel
Muds” of Prince Edward Island. These are accumulations produced
in shallow tidal estuaries where great numbers of molluscs and other
marine organisms are going to decay, so rich in phosphates and organic
matter as to be of great value locally as a manure. Deposits more or
less closely resembling these are found in many parts of the modern
sea bottom and along the coast, and where just such deposits have
been buried deeply, and included in some of the older formations, they
produce what are known as “Coprolite beds.” This term, however, it
must be explained, is in general very loosely applied. It should be
restricted to the fossil excrements of various animals, which are
occasionally found in the rocks, and often in such beds as those just
referred to, but seldom even then constitute more than a small part of
the phosphatic matter, most of which usually occurs as concretions or
nodules. These have resulted from that slow process of drawing
together of like particles in the mass, which is usually designated
concretionary action, but is not in all cases fully understood. A frag-
ment Of shell, or bone, or a tooth frequently serves as the nucleus of
‘such a concretion, and when the material is abundant such concretions
frequently coalesce and form almost continuous layers. The so-called
coprolite beds of Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and other localities in

England, and those of Carolina, in the Southern States, are of this
mature.

The last named deposit dates no farther back than the Tertiary,

95

and consists of a layer, usually from six to fifteen inches in thickness
charged with nodules of calcic phosphate and containing also bones,
teeth and shells, the pores of which have been more or less completely
filled with the same material. This deposit lies at no great depth below
the surface, and is still nearly horizontal. In some places it is below
high-water mark, and large quantities of the phosphatic nodules are
obtained by dredging in some of the estuaries and channels which
penetrate the low alluvial country. Where the nolule-bed occurs above
the sea level it is worked by a system of trenching, the finer material
being washed away on gratings, and the nodules then dried—generally
by artificial heat—before being sent to the mill.

A long way farther back in time are the ‘Coprolite” beds of the
south of England, which date in fact from the Cretaceous period.
Where this deposit occurs at an inconsiderable depth below the surface,
it is worked by a system of trenching similar to that empioyed in
Carolina, the soil being carefully put to one side and subsequently
restored, and the land again brought under tillage. As the deposits are
thin, it does not pay to follow them to any great depth, but some years
ago the annual product was as much as 25,000 tons.

These can be considered only as instances of the mode of occur-
rence of phosphatic materials in the geological series. | Deposits more
or less closely analogous to those described and sufficiently rich to work
are found in a number of other localities, which we have not now time
to consider, ‘There is reason to believe that phosphatic or “coprolitic’’
nodular deposits have been found wherever the local conditions were
favourable and large quantities of animal matter were in process of
accumulation and decay, throughout the entire geological series. Going
a great way back in geological history, we find instances of this in Canada
in parts of the Chazy subdivision of the Silurian, in the graptolitic
shales ot the Quebec group, and even in the Cambrian rocks of St.
John. It is true that none of these deposits are of importance from
an economic point of view; for instances of workable deposits in these
paleozoic rocks we must turn elsewhere. They are merely mentioned
here for the purpose of connecting the occurrence of naturally concen-
trated phosphatic materials as found in the newer rocks, with the

deposits of the same material found in the oldest known rocks—those
of the Laurentian period.

96

In the Laurentian rocks—which are those characterizing the great
-country to the north of the Ottawa, and elsewhere very largely developed
in Canada—we have a great volume ot sediments, deposited in an
ocean of vast antiquity, the earliest in fact of which we find any traces: -
These sediments which, no doubt, originaily resembled in their main
features those of later ages, have since been so completely metamorphosed
that their materials have entered into new combinations among them-
selves and become entirely crystalline. While, therefore, still consisting
of the materials originally deposited, they resemble them as little in
appearance as do the crude ingredients of glass the finished product.
There can, however, be no doubt of the original sedimentary origin of
these Laurentian rocks, the change from muds and sands—and I would
_ also include contemporaneous volcanic materials—to wholly crystalline
rocks such as these, is seen in less metamorphosed formations in various
parts of the earth’s crust, and has been traced in all its stages. If,
therefore, ordinary limestones were originally present in these old rocks,
-we would expect them now to have assumed a wholly crystalline
character, and to appear as marbles. Contained beds of a peaty or coaly
nature might be expected to pass into crystalline carbon or graphite,
and pbosphatic nodular or coprolitic layers could appear only as
crystalline calcic phosphate or apatite. As a matter of fact we find
all three of these substances in the Lanrentian, and though the proof
may not be absolute that their origin and appearance -was at first the
same as that of analogous materials in the newer rocks, the evidence is
all in that direction.

The main facts in regard to the mode of occurrence of these
deposits of apatite in Canada, so far as cur knowledge goes, must be very
briefly presented. Some of the beds in the Laurentian series are found
to be comparatively rich in apatite, crystals and crystalline masses of
this mineral being scattered through them. This is the case in some of
the marbles, occasionally in the iron ores, and also particularly in
connection’ with the pyroxenic rocks. In addition to these, in which
the apatite may be considered as generally distributed, certain layers,
apparently of the character of beds, occur, consisting of nearly pure
apatite, or containing so large a proportion of the mineral as to pay for
working. Still further, we find distinct veins and fissures which have

Bi

been filled with apatite by processes of segregationin which the mineral
is found either nearly pure, or, more frequently, mingled with crystals
of other substances.

Though the exportation of these Canadian deposits may, [ believe,
be considered as still in its infancy, it has already assumed considerable
proportions. Quoting from an interesting paper read a few days ago
by Dr. Sterry Hunt, before the American Institute of Mining
Engineers, we find that the amount shipped from Montreal, in 1883, was
17,840 tons, of which a portion was delivered in Hamburg and
Steckholm, but the greater part went to British ports. Of this amount
15,000 tons were from Quebec, the remainder from Ontario. It is
estimated, according to Dr. Hunt, that the shipments during the present
year will amount to 24,000 tons.

Besides the very wide spread of these apatite deposits and their
great economic importance, one of the most striking facts so far
developed is their great irregularity. Taking into consideration the
extremely disturbed character of the Laurentian rocks, this is easily
understood. Layers and veins which may, before the great folding and
kneading together of these rocks, have possessed considerable regularity
and uniformity, have been, as a consequence of the excessive distur-
bance, folded and dislocated in every sense, leading to the production of
large pockets and irregular masses of apatite which may now be
connected only by narrow and twisted seams, or may occupy what
appear to be completely isolated positions.

This being the case, it may be asked : can a Geological Survey do’
anything to aid in the discovery of apatite and the development of this
mining industry? Fortunately we are not quite without a clue in the
matter. It has already been discovered (largely by Mr. Vennor’s work)
that certain broad zones of the Laurentian series, (in part already
traced out and mapped,) contain most of the workable deposits of
apatite, while extensive intervening belts of country show comparatively
little apatite and offer little encouragement to the miner. These zones
are pretty clearly recognizable by their composition and character, and
though much has already been done in the matter of defining them,
much more yet remains to do. They can, it would appear, be mapped

down with a degree of certainty nearly as great as regions capable of

98

yielding good lumber, or lands suitable for farming can be defined by
explorations with these particular ends in view. The further question
involved in the utilization and working of special local deposits is also-
one requiring sagacity and special knowledge, but cannot be considered
as within the province of a public survey. Like the enquiry as to how
given tree will afford, or how best to lay
out a certain plot of a couple of hundred acres for farming purposes,

many feet of sawn lumber a

this remains to be determined by the person who wishes to utilize these
for his own pecuniary benefit.

Mr. J. Fraser Torrance being called upon, at the suggestion of

the lecturer, explained that the heaviest deposits of phosphate in the
County of Ottawa lie along the valley of the Cievres. As you move
either eastwards or westwards from tkis river, the deposits usually
become more and more intermixed with calcite, until they finally cease
to be profitably workable. The methods of mining employed ave of the
rudest and most elementary kind. The only hoisting and pumping
machinery employed (with very rare exceptions) is a tub on the end of
a rope swung over the pit by a derrick worked with one horse. The pits
are almost all quite as wide at the mouth as below and are well calcu-
lated to collect all the surface water, snow, etc. The managers have
evidently adopted the maxim of Louis XV: “ After me the deluge.”
Deeper sinking will be attended with great difficulty on account of the
quantity of water collected in these shallow pits.

Almost all of the pits visited by him were neither veins nor beds,
but irregular segregations from the surrounding rock. In. most cases
it was hard to tell where to draw the line between the ore and the waste
rock.

One reason why so little apatite was converted into superphosphate
in Canada hé believed to be the reckless manner in which the materials
were mixed and branded in former days by the company at Brockville.
The farmers had no guarantee that any two barrels of the same brand
would be of even approximately equal value for their lands. He hoped
these errors had all been corrected since his visit to Brockville years
ago. The Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph is doing good
service in convincing farmers of the practical value of such fertilizers.

99

Although we exported 19,000 tons of apatite last year, almost
every ton of it was shipped to Great Britain and Europe. The quantity
sent to the United States was trifling. This was the more remarkable
as a large amount of American capital is invested in our Canadian
apatite deposits. From the statistics supplied to him by Mr. Nimmo
at Washington, it appeared that in the year ending 30th June, 1883,
the United States imported 49,381 tons of crude phosphate, valued at
$429,391; 39,119 tons of Kainit, valued at $246,231, and 7,666 tons
of superphosphate, valued at $120,576. Of this quantity, 1,262 tons of
crude phosphate and all the superphosphate came from Britain. It.
thus seems reasonable to infer that some of our Canadian apatite was
merely reshipped to the United States from Great Britain without any
fresh treatment there, while a much larger quantity was first converted
into superphosphate there and shipped in that form to the United
States. ;

The only explanation of this anomaly seemed to be that it was a
fresh proof of the conservative nature of trade. ‘The American dealers
were in the habit of importing from Britain long before our Canadian
deposits of apatite were opened. When these were first opened it was
done by men more familiar with the English market than the American.
It was less “ bother” to ship from Montreal to the Mersey or to Bristol,
than to load barges there for New York. After the trade was once
established no determined effurt seems to have been. made to direct it
into fresh channels. |

It was worth while to notice also in this connection that, although
plumbago to the value of $361,949 was imported into the United States:
last year, not ore pound of it came from Canada. The lack of skill or
reckless folly of our miners in shipping inferior stuff to gain a temporary
profit has given Canadian plumbago a bal name that it may be almost
impossible to overcome. Mr. Hoffmann’s admirable report showed that
it was really quite as good as that from Ceylon.

Mr. F. D. Apams stated that in the Transactions of the Geological
Society of Stockholm for April, 1883, H. Sjogren had given a very
interesting account of the apatite deposits at Oedegarden in Bamle,
Norway. At this one locality alone, in 1882, between 700 and 800
men were employed in mining the apatite, and about 15,000 tons were:

g :

100

raised. The rocks of the district are quartzites overlain by mica-schists,
hornblende schists, gabhos and dipyr-diorites, which pass into one
another. The apatite veins occur only in the gabho and dipyr-diorite,
or in the immediate vicinity of these rocks, which, although contem-
poraneous with the other schists, are considered to have probably had
an eruptive origin. He believed the apatite to have been derived from
the gabho and dipyr-diorite, and deposited by water in clefts caused by
the contraction of the rock on“cooling. The apatite- deposits of
Norway and Canada being so like one another in many respects, it
might be supposed that when such a constant relation between the
apatite and gabho was found to exist in the former country, a similar
relation would obtain in the latter, but this was apparently not the case.
The dipyr-diorite had, however, lately been recognized by him among a
collection of rock fragments, from the vicinity of Arnprior, sent to the
Survey for examination, and a description of it would shortly be
published.

101

THE DEER OF THE OTTAWA VALLEY.

ENWeden J boyd,

Read 13th M arch, 1884.

The moose (Alce Americanus, Jardine, considered by many naturalists
to be identical with Alce malchis, Linnzeus, of the old world) or American
elk, is the largest of all deer now existing in the world, although much
inferior in size to the ancient Irish elk, which must have been an animal
of gigantic proportions, if we are to judge by the size and weight of the
ponderous antlers occasionally found in the bogs of Ireland many feet
beneath the surface. Some specimens of these great horns have been
exhumed, with a spread of twelve feet, which will give some idea of the
magnitude of the animal which carried them. The American moose,
according to the conclusions of all scientific naturalists, is a true elk,
identical with the ancient Irish elk, the Scandinavian and the Asiatic elk.
A moose of the largest size, when fat, will weigh upwards of fifteen
hundred pounds. <A _ bull moose of this description is as tall as the
largest horse. The body and neck, for so tall an animal, are short and
stout, the neck so much so that the animal cannot touch the ground
with his lips, without kneeling. The neck is covered with a thick mass _
of coarse bristly hair, rising on the crest into a stiff mane, which, when
the animal is irritated, stands on end like the mane of a lion, and im-
parts to the infuriated beast a frightful and most formidable aspect.
The legs are long and bony, and, although ungainly in appearance, are
are as clean cut and compact as the limbs of a racer. The head is
enormously large, and altogether deficient in the fine points of grace and
beauty peculiar to nearly all the other branches of the deer family. The
fleshy part of the upper jaw terminates in a long flexible upper lip with
prehensile -powers, used by the animal for the purpose of catching the
twigs and branches on which it feeds. The nostrils are long and wide,
and the eyes are somewhat small in proportion to the bulky head. The
hoofs are large and shaped like those of the common deer. The colour
of the hair in the summer coat is nearly black, particularly about the
head, back and belly. At this season the hair is short and glossy. In

winter the animal is covered with iong coarse hair of a brittle nature,

102

and the colour is lighter in hue, a sort of greyish brown tinge prevailing
on the sides, with the belly of a somewhat lighter colour. A tuft of hair
nearly one foot long hangs under the jaws of the young moose. ‘“ Moose”
is an Indian name derived from the Algonquin word moussee, the eater.
I quote the following description from Billings in the ‘Canadian
Naturalist and Geologist ” :—

“The gigantic horns of the moose are well known in almost
every town in Europe and America where there is a museum. It is
difficult to believe that these enormous solid appendages are the growth of
a single season, and yet the fact is too well established to admit
of a doubt. Only the males are provided with them, and no
matter how large they may be, they grow to their full size in twelve or
fourteen weeks. On the young moose one year old they are merely
short knobs ; they increase in size after each annual shedding, and after
the fourth year become palmated, and may be termed full grown about
the fifth year. The palms are, in the widest part, on a moderate sized
male, about eleven inches wide, the space between the roots, six or
seven inches. A very large pair measures over five feet between the
tips, and will weigh 60 or 70 pounds. They begin to sprout in April
and fall off in February. It is said that their growth is complete in
August, when the velvet peels off, and they are then white, but after-
wards become brown or yellow. From one to three points, or short
prongs, are added to the palms each year, so that the age of the animal
is not indicated by the number of these prongs as is generally supposed.
In fighting with each other, they use both horns and feet ; but in con-
tending with dogs, only the latter, with which they strike tremendous
blows. Their pace is a long swinging trot, which they can keep up for
several hours in succession.” A wounded moose is a very dangerous
antagonist to approach unprepared. By an eye witness I was told of
a case in point. A shantyman, on the Black River, at some place above
Pembroke, ran out in sight of a number of his comrades close to the
shanty, with a single barrelled muzzle-loader, and fired at and severely
wounded a large bull moose. Seeing the animal wounded, he ran up to
him with an empty gun, when the moose rushed at him, knocked him
down with a blow from one of his front feet, and before his friends could
effectually interfere, the furious animal trampled and pounded the

103

unfortunate man to death: I have heard also of instances where
hunters have been treed by wounded moose ; and of one incident where
a hunter escaped by dodging around a large tree until he got a second
charge into his gun to administer the quietus. To shoot a moose in
December or in the middle of January, when he strides proudly along
beneath the weight and dignity of his lordly crown, and when he is fat
and heavy, is something of which a sportsman may well feel proud ; but
to slaughter the unfortunate animals in the latter end of February or
March, when the females are heavy with young and the males are
hornless and lean, is a species of assassin work which ought to be
summarily put down by the strong arm of the law, if men are not
ashamed of such culpable and inhuman butchery. The moose, which at
one time was found in abundance in all the northeastern States of
America, at present holds, says Parker Gilmore, ‘a short leased
existence in the northern portions of the State of Maine.” They are
also in decreasing numbers to be met with in Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, and in various parts of the North-West. Although
diminishing every year, they are comparatively plentiful far back on
the north side of the Ottawa River throughout its entire length, and in
some localities far west on its southern side. In the country lying to the
south of James’ Bay and stretching westward to Lake Winnipeg, this
giant deer can be found in greater abundance than in any other portion
of the American continent. Moose are also found in considerable
abundance in the country bordering on the St. Lawrence below Quebec,
particularly in the Labrador region. Audubon says the moose grows to
the height of twenty hands. Others say that they grow even much
taller than that. The moose of Labrador are much smaller than those
of the State of Maine, or Canada proper, owing, doubtless, to the severe
winter and sparse vegetation of the former locality. The moose when
captured young is easily domesticated and grows quite tame and docile ;
but the restraints of civilization do not seem to agree with him, and after a
few years’ confinement he pines away and dies. In a park of sufficient size,
well supplied with hardwood bush and swamp, and well watered,
donbtless the animal would thrive. In a state of domestication the
moose has been trained to harness, but does not like it, yet when it pleases
him to stretch out into a trot he is exceedingly fleet. I have frequently

104

seen the young bull moose, one of the two owned by our late Governor-
General, the Marquis of Lorne, harnessed to a carriage ; but, although
“he could be induced to step out into a pretty decent trot by a little
forcible persuasion with the whip, he did not take kinly to the slavery
and sometimes used to lie down with his neck at full stretch, to show
his repugnance to the idea of being turned into a horse, a transformation
scarcely possible in an animal so much resembling a gigantic ass. The
male and female moose to which I have referred, have been taken to
the Highlands of Scotland by Lord Lorne, but Iam sorry to hear that the
bull has died in his new home. No member of the deer family makes finer
venison than does the moose. The flesh, notwithstanding its being
somewhat coarse in grain, is juicy and tender, and has a rich gamey
flavour ; and the fat, which is abundant when the animal is in good
condition, is beautifully clear and white. A delicacy, which only the
moose hunter can enjoy, is the marrow from the shank bones cooked
immediately after the animal has been killed. I shall finish my
description of the moose with the following quotation from Parker
Gilmore :—

“The Virginian deer, the fallow deer, the wapiti, and the red deer,
are to me perfect in shape, graceful in their movements and ornamental
to the landscape ; but the moose, on the other hand, with his short, thick
neck, asinine head, protruding eyes, heavy, broad ears, tremendous
antlers, long, awkward, powerful legs and disproportionate withers,
looking even higher than they are, from the mane that surmounts them,
can never be considered by an impartial judge but an awkward and
clumsy brute. Of all the ruminants of the American continent, the
moose is the tallest. I doubt not that a stall-fed ox can be made to
weigh as heavy, but not to attain the stature ; and on this continent, as
well as others, it is really a duty that the legislatures of the various
states and provinces owe to the country at large to pass and enforce
such laws as will prevent his annihilation.”

In any section of the country in which the Virginian deer abound,
moose are seldom present. It is said, and I believe truly, that the
moose, large and powerful as he is, is unable to withstand the lithe and
vigourous attack of the active and sharp horned buck of the smaller
species. In the fall of the year, under the natural impulses incidental to

105

the season, desperate battles take place between the males. These
conflicts, however, do not as often terminate fatally as the struggles
between the males of the smaller species, the broad, blunt horns of the
great elk not being so well adapted to the purpose of inflicting dangerous
wounds as the sharp-pointed antlers of the former.

The woodland caribou, (Rangifer caribou Aud. and Bach.) or
reindeer, inhabits Labrador and northern Canada, and thence may be
found south to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, the
northern part of the State of Maine and Lower Canada, on both sides of
the St. Lawrence ; thence westerly in the country north ef Quebec to
the rear of Lake Superior. It never migrates towards the north, but
makes its migration in a southerly direction.

The following is the description given of this deer by Audubon:
“Larger and less graceful than the comnion American deer, body short and
heavy, neck stout, hoofs thin and flattened, broad and spreading, excavated
or concave beneath, accessory hoofs large and thin, legs short, no
glandular opening, and scarcely a perceptible inner tuft on the hind legs,
- nose somewhat like that of a cow, but fully covered with soft hairs of a
somewhat moderate length, no beard, but on the under side of the neck
a line of hairs about four inches in length, hanging down in a longi-
tudinal direction, ears small, blunt and oval, thickly covered with hair
on both surfaces. Horns one foot three and a half inches in height,
slender, one with two and the other with one prong, prongs about five
inches long, hair soft and woolly underneath the longer hairs, like those
of the antelope, crimped or waved, and about one to one and a half
inches long. At the roots the hairs are whitish, then become brownish
grey and at the tops are light dun-grey, whiter on the neck than else-
where, nose, ears and outer surface of legs brownish, a slight shade of
the same tinge behind the forelegs, hoofs black, and throat dull white, a
faint whitish patch on the side of the shoulders, forehead a brownish
white, tail white with a shade of brown at the root and on the
whole upper surface, outside of legs brown, a band of white around all
the legs, adjoining the hoofs, and extending to the small secondary hoofs,
horns yellowish brown, worn white in places.” This description is all
very well, and in the main points correct. The rather arbitrary
dimensions given of the horns are scarcely borne out, or corroborated

106

by the practical naturalist known as the hunter. The horns measured
by Audubon for this description were very likely those of a female,
which are much smaller than the antlers of the male. Here, before you,
are two sets of horns of the woodland caribou, both of which came from
the vicinity of the Kakabonga Lake, above the Desert, on the Gatineau
River. They are singularly dissimilar in appearance ; and, from the
size, I judge that both belong to male heads. I saw a pair of caribou
horns some years ago in the possession of Mr. Hiram Robinson of this
city, which were very much larger, more massive and wide spreading,
and had many more and Jonger prongs than either of these. The height
of a full grown woodland caribou is about four and a half feet, and
its weight about three hundred and fifty pounds. Large bucks are
occasionally met with nearly four hundred pounds in weight. The food
of the caribou consists of mosses, lichens and creeping plants found in
the swamps in summer, and in search of which, and certain grasses, it
paws up the snow with its broad hoofs in winter. The flesh when fat is
most delicious, but when lean it is dry and insipid. The skin when tanned,
is made into moccasins, and in the raw state is used in the manufacture
of snowshoes. It is fine, thin, tough and durable. The caribou is the
fleetest of American deer. Jn galloping he makes most extraordinary
bounds. As a trotter, the slow-going 2.15 horses attempting to compete
with him would be simply nowhere. Like his useful congener—some
authorities believe them to be of the same species—the reindeer of
Northern Europe, the caribou is possessed of great powers of endurance,
often escaping from the Indian hunters, after the fatigue and starvation
inseparable from four or five days of a continued following-up hunt,
When the hunted animal gets upon glare ice, over which he can trot at
a rate double that of the fleetest skater, the hunter is obliged to give up
the chase. The caribou is a shy and exceedingly wary animal, and,
most difficult to still-hunt ; neither can he be successfully hunted in deep
snow, he being enabled to go over its surface upon his broad, flat hoofs
like a hare. So far as I have been able to learn, it is only time lost
to hunt the caribou with dogs. The hounds might follow the scent, but
they would scarcely ever be in at the death, as it isa pretty well known
fact that dogs cannot drive them to water. They are, however,
successfully still-hunted by Indians, and also by white hunters skilled

107

in the craft. Large numbers of them are sometimes slaughtered when
discovered swimming across a lake or river in their migrations. I
have heard of a camp of Indians killing fourteen in a few minutes as
they were crossing the River des Liévres. The caribou is still to be
found in considerable numbers on the last named river as close as sixty
or seventy miles from its confluence with the Ottawa; also on the
Gatineau River above the Desert, and in more limited numbers above
Pembroke, in the neighbourhood of Black River, and on the shores of
Lake Nipissing. They are also plentiful on both sides of the St.
Lawrence, beyond Riviére du Loup, below Quebec, and are quite
abundant on the northern shores of Lake Superior. While we have no
historical record of the woodland caribou ever having been found in
any considerable numbers on the south shore of the Ottawa, I think
there can be little doubt of its having been quite plentiful in the past on
the north side of the stream within a few miles of its banks. Strayed
members of the family have been, to my own knowledge, seen on the
south side of the Ottawa, one having been killed at L’Orignal about
twenty-five years ago. In such cases they had evidently strayed from
the north side, which has always been their natural habitat. The
caribou migrates in herds of from ten; to one, two, and four hundred ;
and it is a notable fact that a concealed hunter, with the wind in
his favour, if he does not show himself, has ammunition enough, a
' good rifle, and is the right man in the place, can slaughter
a whole herd. Under ordinary conditions, the caribou is the most
difficult to approach of all deer, but when accidentally encountered,
under circumstances such as I have mentioned, the animals seem to be
completely panic stricken and unable to make any attempt to escape.
The wapiti (Cervus canadensis Erxleben) is not only the most
noble specimen of the genus in America, but by far the most beautiful
and stately animal of the deer tribe in the world. No animal known
to naturalists carries such a majestic and symmetrical set of horns. In
this feature the wapiti far surpasses the great Sambur of India, and the
red stag of the British Islands. A large male will weigh between eight

hundred and one thousand pounds; the female, when full grown and
fat, weighing upwards of seven hundred pounds. The form of this
noble animal is exceedingly compact, strongly built and graceful ; the

108

only apparent drawback to its perfect beauty being the disproportionate
shortness of the tail. A large stag wapiti stands seventeen hands high,
equal to the height of a large horse. The colour is yellowish brown?
verging towards a dark glossy brown about the kead and shoulders,
belly brown, and a yellowish-white patch on each hind quarter. The
horas, however, constitute the greatest point of beauty in the Wapiti.
Antlers have been frequently met with measuring upwards of six feet
from the burr, around the beam, to the highest point, ornamented with
four formidable brow antlers, two over each eye, each eighteen, and
sometimes twenty-four inches long, curved upward and elegantly
tapering and smooth at the points. The other prongs or tines range
from-one foot to eighteen inches in length and are nicely graduated to
fine points, as if they had been artificially tapered and polished. The
horns shoot upward with a graceful and commanding sweep, and are
remarkable for the almost uniform regularity of their growth. The
largest stag of the Scottish Highlands would appear but a mere fawn
standing beside a peerlessly crowned full grown stag of Canada. The
monarch of the Highland glens seldom reaches more than four hundred
and twenty-five pounds in weight, while his giant American congener
turns the scale at more than double that weight. The wapiti—long
misnamed an elk

was formerly quite numerous in the Ottawa Valley.
In contradistinction, to the caribou and the moose, he was found more
generally—though not exclusively—on the southern shore of the river.
One hundred years ago, these anima!s were still present in considerable
numbers in the County of Carleton, the hard-wood forests of which

were their favourite haunts. ‘The horns of the Wapiti are still quite

frequently turned up by the plough in the vicinity of the City of Ottawa.
I have, when a boy, often found them. in the woods around the Village
of Richmond, lying upon the surface of the ground, in such a fair state

of preservation as to clearly indicate that: not very long before those

majestic animals must have been natives of our immediate neighbour-

hood. This specimen of a wapiti horn, which I now show you, was -

found near Eastman’s Springs, in the Township of Gloucester ; and,
about eight years ago, a much larger and more perfect fragment was
found on the farm of Mr. Robert J. Hinton, within two miles of the
city limits. Both of these specimens, and others which I have seen, by

109

their size, indicate that the wapiti of this part of Canada reached the
largest size attained by the species. Many naturalists imagine that the
last occurrence of the wapiti in this neighbourhood dates back to a
period comparatively remote. This, however, is not the case, as facts,
more conclusive than even the finding of their horns, can be adduced in
proof of those animals having been numerous here less than one hundred
years ago. Mr. Rice Honeywell, one of the earliest settlers in this
region, positively affirms that within the last seventy years, he has seen
the wapiti both alive and dead on the old Thompson farm, within four
miles of the City of Ottawa. Mr. Honeywell knows well the difference
between a wapiti and a moose, as he frequently saw many of the latter
in the same locality. This brings the period of the existence of the
Wapiti in this locality closer than has been generally supposed. The
wapiti can be “still hunted ” successfully, being less vigilant and much
more easily approached than any other variety of deer. In the North-
West the Indians ride in amongst them, keeping well down on the
necks of their horses, and thus frequently succeed in killing a herd of
eight or ten in a few minutes. A wounded wapiti is a dangerous
animal to approach unprepared, as many a hunter has found out to his
cost.

The cutting down of the forests, the progress of settlement and the
resistless march of civilization have driven these noble animals out of
their old haunts. The race in this neighbourhood was by no means.
exterminated, for there were then but few hunters, and the appliances
of slaughter were of ‘a much more primitive description than the arms
of precision of the present day. Rifles in Canada were unknown in the
days of the wapiti, and the weapons of the Algonquin, the Troquois and
the Abenakis were then the bow and arrow. Like the Indian himself,
with his war-paint and scalping knife, the wapiti, before the aggressive
strokes of the axe, has had to travel towards the setting sun, and’he is
now only to be found in Canada, in any great numbers, in the country
around the north and south forks of the Saskatchewan. Parker
Gilmore, a famous sportsman, and a naturalist of no mean order, says:
*T do not think, from the information I have been able to obtain from
searching old authorities who have written on the fauna of North
America, that the range of the wapiti ever extended eastward to the

110

Atlantic seaboard; but that their habitat commenced with the prairie
country, say Illinois or Indiana. However, these States have long
ceased to know them ; for, like other large game, they have rapidly
retired before the tide of immigration. The upper waters of the
Missouri and the plains around the forks of the North and South
Saskatchewan, are where, at present, this mammoth stag will be found
most abundant.” The stag of Canada, like the caribou, is essentially
gregarious, the herds frequently numbering hundreds. Those truly
grand animals, year after year, are growing scarcer. The skin-hunter
and the repeating rifle are doing their deadly work amongst them ; and
the time will shortly arrive, if legislatures in Canada and the United
States do not forthwith grasp the required work of protection with a
Strong and relentless hand, when this stately ornament of forest and
prairie shall have left his last shed antlers to tell the people of no distant
day of the folly and improvidence which deprive them of a woodland
glory of which any country ought to be proud.

The virginian, or red deer (Cariacus virginianus, (Bodd.) Gray), our
_ common species, is one of the most graceful and beautiful of deer.
Generally speaking the males only have horns. I have seen, however,
within the last three years, two does brought to the Ottawa market
each of which had horns somewhat resembling the antlers of a spike-
horned deer, and although the time was late in the season the velvet
still remained on the horns. These ave the only instances in which I have
noticed horns on the female of this species. In form the virginian is
the most elegant of all the North American deer. The following correct
description is from Billings’ “Canadian Naturalist and Geologist” :—
“Tt has a long, tapering, pointed head and large lustrous blueish black
eyes. The legs are slender and well formed, and in proportion to their
size possessed of prodigious muscular strength, while the body is
moderately stout and flexible. The horns are not large, but they are
well armed with strong and sharp spikes. They are, near the base, bent
backwards and in the upper part turned forward. They are usually
cylindrical, but they are also sometimes met with a good deal palmated.
They vary much in size and shape in different individuals. The prongs
are round, conical, sharp and directed upwards. Situated partly on the
inside of each horn near the base there is a short brow antler on most

111

of the specimens. A large pair of horns weighs about six pounds, but
there are few over four or five pounds in weight.” ‘The colour of this
animal varies with the seasons ; in the autumn and winter it is blueish
gray ; in the spring reddish, becoming blueish in the fall. Beneath the
chin, throat, belly, inner side of legs and under side of tail white. The
fawns are at first red, and spotted with white along the sides. In the
autumn of the first year they lose the white spots, and thereafter are
the colour of the old ones. The hair is flattened and angular, that upon
the under side of the tail long and white. The average length of this
species is, from the nose to the root of the tail, five feet four inches,
length of the tail without the hairs, six or seven inches, with the hairs
upwards of one foot. The females bring forth in May or June, one or
two, rarely three at a birth.”

Occasionally specimens of this deer are found of a pure white colour,
with the pink shade in the eye denoting the albino. I have seen two
or three marked with irregular patches of white on various parts of the
body. On one occasion, a few years ago, I shot a fine buck at Hemlock
Lake, in the County of Ottawa, in the skin of which white hairs predo-
minated so much as to give the animal quite a white appearance. A
large doe was brought down by another of the party on the same day
with precisely the same peculiarity. A few years ago Mr. Neil Morrison,
of this city, had a magnificent white buck carrying a fine pair of horns.
As a lusus nature in the animal creation, of extraordinary elegance and
beauty, this lovely specimen was unrivaJled. The pure and uniform
whiteness of his skin was almost beyond belief. This rare and valuable
specimen was caught in deep snow, when almoss three years old, about
thirty miles up the Gatineau River. It afterwards came into the
possession of the Hon. R. W. Scott, who kept it with a number of red_
deer in a park for some time, where it ultimately died. If a deer be
killed in water during the interval of the red coat, say from June until
the middle of August, the carcase will sink to the bottom. At all other
seasons the-dead body will flout. From recent accounts given by
sportsmen in Forest and Stream and in the American Field, we learn
that the largest male of the virginian species has been found to weigh
something over three hundred pounds gross weight ; while in the latter
journal of January 16th, 1884, it is stated by Mr. Cyrus Butler, of

112

Anna, Illinois, that : “ The virginia deer of the Pacific States are smaller
than those of the same latitude in the Central and Eastern States ; and
1 do not think that the deer of Texas will average more than one half
of the weight of the deer of Wisconsin and Michigan. From all 1 can
learn on the subject it seems that the virginian deer of the Western
States are smaller than those of the same latitude in the Eastern States ;
and it is certainly true that the further south we go the smaller we find
the deer.” A beautifully formed -variety of this species is called the
** spike-born.” This lovely animal, although identical in colour and
habits with the branching-horned type of the species, is much rounder,
shorter and thicker in body, and has a more elegantly shaped head.
The true spike-horned deer has straight, sharp antlers, from six inches
to a foot in length, setting backwards like the horns of the African oryx,
which renders him a formidable and generally victorious antagonist in
the periodical combats which take place between the male knights

errant of the deer tribes. These conflicts are often desperate and

protracted. I have seen a space in the woods fully one quarter of an
acre in size, after a light snow in November, all trampled over, the soil
torn up, and small dead trees uprooted in all directions, as the evidences
of one of these fierce battles of chivalry. I was told by a “ still-hunter,”
on the Madawaska River, who killed one hundred and fifty deer in one
season, (how is that compared with the milder and less sanguinary mode
of dog hunting?) that during the same year he came upon two large
bucks in the act of fighting, and getting easily within thirty yards,
killed both. In such conflicts the animals occasionally get their horns
interlocked beyond the power of extrication, and both die of starvation
as arule. I have seen two heads interlocked, facing each other, so
tightly that a strong man could not separate them. Iam indebted to
Mr. James Fletcher for a copy of the London Field, containing the
photograph of a head of the most extraordinarily shaped ‘horns which I
have yet seen. The same paper contains another photograph of
two heads with the horns interlocked together, side by side, while
fighting. They were fastened to each other in such a firm manner that
nothing but the shedding of the horns could have freed them. When
found the prisoners were alive and in good condition. In both cases
the animals were of the virginian species. This beautiful deer is found

si i

«

113

in all parts of the valley of the Ottawa, and between the Ottawa and
St. Lawrence, in such places as the hardwoods and swamps are large
enough to afford them shelter. They roam through the hardwoods and
hemlock ridges in summer ; and establish their yards, if possible, in a
tamaiack swamp in winter. About thirty years ago I saw a deer yard
stretching from Bearbrook away beyond the Castor River, in the Town-
ship of Osgoode. It must have been, at least, four miles square, and
must have contained hundreds of deer. This yard was completely
intersected by paths branching off in every direction, and beaten hard
enough to carry a horse. Deer yards may be found in the same section
of the country still ; but like the red-skinned herds of woodland beauties
which formerly made the wilderness glorious, they have been perceptibly
growing smaller and smaller, and a well beaten deer yard of ten acres
in extent within twelve miles of Ottawa is to-day no mean represen-
tative of the widely trodden haunts of the virginian deer in the near
past. The multiplication of hunters, superinduced by arms of precision,
and the expertness acquired by practice in volunteer companies—but
above all, the lawless assassins who slaughter them, male and female
old and yourg, on the crust during deep snow—have tended, legally
and illegally, to do more than decimate the magnificent denizens of the
forests surrounding the City of Ottawa. The unavoidable clearing
away for. agricultural purposes, and the culpable destruction by bush
fires of the forests in many places, have driven the deer back to more,
distant haunts. The wolf too, although not a bit more sanguinary in
his destructive instincts than the lawless crust hunter, has done his
share in thinning out the deer in the valley of the Ottawa. Still, it is
astonishing to know that, notwithstanding all these adverse influences,
there are yet large numbers of them on both sides of the Ottawa River,
and in the forests bordering upon its many large tributaries. In summer
the virginian deer delights to hang around clearings for the purpose of
feeding on grass, clover, turnips and potatoes. In former times many
of them were killed from scaffolds by night watchers in turnip and
potato fields. I have not time to give a description of the various
modes of deer hunting. As a sportsman, I would scorn to refer ina
descriptive manner to fire hunting or crust hunting. Of the two
legitimate methods, still hunting and hound hunting, I prefer the latter

114

on the runway system, as less destructive and more lively and full of
sport than the former. To me, with the glorious music of the dogs
ringing and re-echoing through the woods, there is more genuine sport
and more true skill required in striking a buck on the “full jump”
with a single bullet than in doing the same thing in any other style.
No hunter with whom I have spoken, nor any book which I have
read, has given me a satisfactory account of what becomes of all the cast
off horns of our common deer. I am aware of their being gnawed and
eaten up by mice and other rodents ; but during the period when the
horns are falling off, from the first to the sixth or seventh of January,
it is a very rare occurrence to find the horn of a deer, and much more
unusual to discover both horns together. Some of the knowing ones
say that the deer buries his horns, others that he drops them in water,
and others still, that the does eat them. No proof has, however, been
adduced that any one of these conjectures is correct. Although it is
a common thing to find the shed antlers of the wapiti on the prairies
and in other places, the whereabouts of the cast off horns of the
virginian deer has not yet been discovered. This is a point in natural
history upon which we still want ligkt. It is a strange and mysterious
provision in the economy of nature that the periodical growth of a deer’s
horns—even the ponderous antlers of the moose or the wapiti—should
involve only an extracrdinary forcing process of little more than four
months. Shortly after the dropping off of the horns the new ones
begin to appear. The growth is slow at first until the setting in of the
warm spring weather, when it is exceedingly rapid. About the middle
of August they are full-grown, when they are covered with a soft,
velvety skin, which the animal gets rid of by rubbing them against
small trees, never against large ones. About the first of October, some-
times earlier in the season, the velvet has disappeared, and the new
antlers may then be seen in all their hardness and beauty. The animal
may then be said to be in his finest condition and at his heaviest weight.
A male Cariacus virginianus is seldom seen on the first day of January
with his horns on, and never that I am aware of, after the fifth of the
same month. It is a well known fact, however, that the moose does
not lose his horns until later in the season. I have seen the head of a
moose killed in January of the present year with horns still oa, and’

115

without any appearance indicating their likelihood to fall off. Here, L
imagine, is the proper place to refer to some strange peculiarities and
diversities in the horns of the common deer. It is difficult to account
for the abnormal growth so frequently visible in the antlers of these
animals. Some naturalists seem to think that such irregularities of
growth have been occasioned by injuries received by the horn when in
its soft and pulpy state. If such were the case, would it not be natural
to conclude that after the deformed member had been shed, the new
horn would assume its natural and normal shape? This cannot be said
to be so. This head which I now show you, as you may observe, is one
of the most singular formation ; and from personal observation, I know
that the splendid animal that carried this strangely abnormal pair of
horns, wore his crown in its present shape year after year. I hada fair
open view of this deer the year before that in which he was killed, near
the spot where he was shot, and I particularly remarked this singular
looking horn growing out on the right side of his head. Here, also, are
two fine heads each with backward lateral prongs of a style seldom seen.
Both have been taken from old and heavy deer. Abnormally shaped
horns, as far as I know, are rarely, perhaps never, seen except in deer
of great size and age. This is my experience. I have frequently seen
very old bucks of the virginian species with immense curved beams
with only one or two blunt and worn looking prongs on either side,
and others of similar size and form with only rudimentary protuberances,
indicating, as it were, where, in the horns of former and more vigourous
years, the prongs that had been accustomed to grow. Although usually
so, it is not always the largest deer which carries the largest horns.
The heaviest and largest deer I ever saw, had the most miserable set of
atienuated antlers I have ever seen on a full grown deer. On the other
hand, one of the heaviest pairs of horns, which have yet come under my
notice, was taken from the head of a buck of not more than one hundred
and fifty pounds weight. This pair which I now show you is perhaps
the largest and most beautiful that any one present has seen. The
animal from which they were taken was shot many years ago on the
Castor River, in the Township of Osgoode. They belong to Mr. W. H.
Baldwin of this city. They are singularly regular in shape, and, at the

same time, strangely irregular and unlike the ordinary antlers of the
h

116

Cariacus virginianus. To a certain extent they are palmated and
evidently grew upon the head of a very old deer, which I have been
told was a complete skeleton, with his teeth nearly all gone, at the time
he was killed. Perhaps some gentleman present may be able to
enlighten us upon the question of abnormal horns. In telling you the
story of what I have learned myself about the deer of the Ottawa
Valley, I have aimed at telling it in a manner likely to iuterest the
greater number. I have endeavoured to avoid abstruse technicalities,
and above all I have unwillingly been compelled to curb my
inclination to tell you the thrilling story of many a glorious run, and
rehearse the tale of many a night of killing happiness around the camp
fire, where battles were fought over again and memory hung around us
the branching antlers of many a woodland king, whose trophied heads
can be found in more than one house of the dearly loved companions
with whom I have so often pitched the tent in the wilderness. If 1
have succeeded in any measure in either instructing or interesting
anyone in this audience, I shall proudly feel that I have not roamed the
woods, stood upon the runway, listened to the deep and matchless music
of the hounds, or drawn the rifle-trigger amid the mighty and sublime
solitudes of nature in vain.

And now my pleasant task is done,

The fruits of many a glorious run!

Still springing ’mid the lambent baze
Which circles round the camp fire’s blaze,
Revealing to fond memory’s eyes

The dear, unrivalled days gone by,

When limbs were lithe and arms were strong,
And life one gladsome burst of song.
Revealing ’mid unfading sheen

“The Runway ” in the forest green—

“ The antlered monarch’s” springing bound,
The matchless music of the hound!

When headlong on the steaming scent,
With instinct true as steel, he went,

The gaze into the spreading track—

The breaking twig, the rifle’s crack,

The quivering limb, the closing eye,

The forest’s dying majesty.

Dr. Baptie said that there had lately been a discussion in Nature
tending to show that the deer ate their shed horns, and later he read
some extracts giving evidence on this point.

Mr. W. L. Scorr stated that the buck which his father had owned
was perfectly white, and after being kept in a park for three or four

V7.

years, died of some throat disease. He had seen heads of caribou at
Mr. Allan Gilmour’s with the horns coming down not only so as to
hide the eyes but even to make furrows in the cheeks. Referring to
the spike-horn deer, he alluded to the similarly antlered oryx of Africa
as the only deer that attempted to resist the onslaught of the lion.

Pror. Macoun said that moose were very plentiful on the Peace
River in 1875, and that 8 lbs. of venison per man per diem was the
ordinary allowance there. He described some experiences at Ste. Anne
des Monts, when he had watched caribou, himself unobserved, and
testified to their intelligence, their dainty habits and the affection shown
between mother and offspring. He disputed Mr. Lett’s distinction
between pot-hunting and legitimate sport as illogical, and condemned
both alike as appertaining to man’s lower nature. He had seen shed
horns of deer marked with the teeth of rodents.

Dr. WICKSTEED enquired how the caribou was able to run on ice
if its hoof was so spread as to enable it to run on light crust, as. that
spreading which was an advantage in the one case would appear to be a
hindrance in the other.

Mr. Lerr explained that the rim of the hoof was sharp and
pointed and cut well into the ice, the hoof being probably gathered

together.

118

REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL SECTION FOR THE
SEASON OF 1883.

To the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club :

GENTLEMEN,—In presenting the third annual report the under-
signed beg leave to state that during the past season a considerable
amount of additional information has been obtained both in the
paleontology and stratigraphy of the rocks, not only from the numerous
immediate exposures within the city limits, but also from those even
in more remote parts.

New localities were visited, where valuable points in stratigraphy
were noted and collections of the organic remains made, giving such
evidence as will greatly assist in ascertaining the true horizon of the
rocks in question.

A goodly number of workers have joined our ranks, and it is
indeed pleasing to note the results already obtained. The zeal and .
earnestness manifested in the numerous “hunts” held were very
encouraging. To summarize the work done in each formation syste-
matically the notes will be given under their proper heads.

PotspAM FORMATION.

The typical exposure of this series of
conglomerates and quartzites, resting unconformably upon the upturned
edges of the Laurentian rocks, was again visited, and that upon the
third of the general excursions of the Club, held at Buckingham, Que.,
the 2nd August, 1883. No definite organic remains were found
other than the evidence obtained on a former occasion, viz., Scolithus
Canadensis ? Billings. One of the leaders addressed the members
present and described the line of outcrop of this formation skirting
along the base of the Laurentides both in Canada and the United
States, in which latter place these are represented by the hilly districts
of the Adirondacks.

Cuazy AND Brack River Formations.—During the season of
1882-83 the lower measures of the Chazy were observed and reported
on as occurring at Pointe des Chéneg, a little below Aylmer, Que. The
same series was further investigated during the past season and new
evidence obtained. Aylmer, Que., and Britannia, on the Ontario shore,

119

are both built on this formation. To the north of Aylmer, overlying
the sandstones, whose thickness is evidently not far from 100 feet, are
to be found beds of a transitional nature. They are only a few feet
thick, very dark in colour, brittle in texture, and apparently unfos-
siliferous, with innumerable joints and cleavage planes running in all
directions. These are immediately followed by beds of compact greyish
limestone holding orthoceratites in abundance, four or five feet above
which other beds hold in great profusion the well known Stromato-
cerium rugosum, Hall—a sponge or sponge-like organism. Regular
colonies of these fossils are to be seen occupying considerable patches in
the fields on the north concession road. These beds have a very slight
inclination to the north, with an almost due east and west strike. Follow-
ing these measures at right angles to the strike numerous Chazy fossils
were collected. That very characteristic band of impure friable lime-
stone holding abundance of Leperditie was found. (See Decade ITI,
Geo]. Surv. Can., page 92.) Then following in a north-easterly
direction, at some 24 miles from Aylmer, numerous species of fossils
characteristic of the Black River formation fauna were obtained. Much
work still remains to be done in this neighbourhood, as the rocks are
highly fossiliferous and the specimens in many instances very well pre-
served. Nineteen species of fossils were collected from these beds.
Much credit falls to Mr. E. T. W. Sowter for the work he has already
accomplished in these interesting exposures.

TreNTON FormMation.—The very numerous and highly fossiliferous
exposures of this formation about Ottawa, from which the late Mr. E.
Billings, the late Dr. Van Cortlandt, and many members of the Field
Naturalists’ Club obtained a splendid series of fossils—a typical col-
lection of which is to be found in the Museum of the Geological and
Natural History Survey—proves still a rich hunting ground for the

palzeontologist.

During the past season a fine exposure was observed within the
Rideau Hall grounds, where an interesting collection ‘of fossils was
made, amongst which were Jocrinus subcrassus, Meek and Worthen ;
Lichenocrinus crateriformis, Hall; a Discina like D. Circe, Billings ;

and about twenty additional species characteristic of Trenton age.

120

Another crinoid locality was found at the vacant lots on Sussex
street below Messrs. Hamilton’s offices, where Heterocrinus Canadensis,
Billings, a form closely related to H. simplex, Hall, was found in
abundance and in a good state of preservation.

Utica Formation.—Additional researches were carried on during
the past season in this formation, but the notes thereon are reserved for
a subsequent report.

Post-Tertrary Deposits—( Marine, Fresh Water and Human
Remains ).—In the Leda clay, Saxicava sand and fresh water marls of
the ccuntry adjoining Ottawa, as well as in the numerous and extensive
deposits of boulder drift, etc., a vast field of special enquiry is open to
the observer. In the Post-Tertiary history of our rocks we have to
hail a new era in its researches. At Casselman, Ont., where the Club
held one of its excursions, numerous archeological specimens were
discovered in the shape of pottery, bones, and other remains. Although
the pottery was broken into bits ranging from half an inch to four
inches in diameter, still the various designs and patterns peculiar to the
tribes of the great Algonquin family, who once inhabitel the eastern
portion of North America, are quite characteristic.

The sherds were found buried, beneath the sod close by a young
hardwood forest on the eastern shore of the South Nation River, at the
foot of a rapid, to a depth ranging from three inches to two feet, mixed
with bones of beaver, bear and deer, remnants of the chase, together
with charcoal and ashes, all plainly indicating the existence of some
ancient village inhabited by a tribe of Indians whose customs and man-
ners were not unlike those who dwelt at Hochelaga at the foot of
Mount Royal when Cartier first landed, some three hundred years ago.
A gouge and an adze had been found some seventeen years previously
by Mr. J.S. Castleman at the same locality, but no more researches had
been carried on since that time in this treasury of archeological
remains until the Club’s excursion there. The pottery remains,
together with the adze, gouge and bones, are at present in the Museum
of the Geological Survey.

Mr. Walter R. Billings notes that during the past season he has
examined the exposures of the Z’renton formation on Division street, in

121

Rochesterville. There he found good examples of fossil sponges, which
at first sight Mr. Whiteaves referred to the genus Calathium. They
require microscopic investigation before they can be referred to their
proper places.

The following species of unusual occurrence in these rocks are
recorded by Mr. Billings: Astylospongia parvula, Billings ; Recepta-
culites occidentalis, Salter; Petraia corniculum, Hall; Pasceolus
globosus, Billings (a smaller variety); Amygdalocystites florealis,
Billings; Agelacrinites vesembling A. Billingsi, Chapman; Glyptocrinus
ornatus, Billings; Archeocrinus, n. sp.; Calceocrinus inequalis, Billings ;
Hybocrinus conicus, Billings; Dendrocrinus proboscidialis, Billings.

HENRY M. AMI.
17th January, 1884.

122

REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH.

To the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club :

The work in this branch has been vigourously prosecuted through-
out the past season, which, contrary to all expectations, was later than
usual. The latter part of April was very cold, with snow on 27th. It
was not until May that any work could be done in the field. Soon
after their election your leaders made preparations for work by organ-
izing working parties and sub-excursions; the result having been an
addition of new species to the Flora Ottawaensis. The botany class
conducted by the ex-President was turned into a summer class. This
new feature proved to be useful, and was the means of inducing several
members to join the Club. It has been continued during the past
winter and has been most successful, the average attendance being
sixteen at each meeting, and the attendance on one occasion reaching to
twenty-eight. Collections were made at all the regular monthly
excursions of the Club. The first one on 26th May to the Chelsea
Mountains enabled the members to add the beautiful and distinct Viola
Selkirkii to their collections. At this time also good specimens of
Triosteum perfoliatum, farex platyphylla, Asplenium Trichomanes and
Camptosorus rhizophyllus were collected, and a few specimens of the
curious lichen Umbilicaria Diilenii were found on the top of King’s
Mountain. Interesting biological specimens of Z'rillium grandiflorum,
showing a transition from the petaloid form to the foliaceous leaves in
the flower, were collected by Mrs. Chamberlin. One specimen had
three white petals with green stripes down the middle, and one of the
petals was developed into a leaf like those of the whorl of leaves
proper. Another had an extra leaf half way up the pedicel and one of
the petals foliaceous. Several specimens of the greenish-yellow variety
of 7. erectum were found at Stewarton in May. It is much to be
regretted, from a botanical standpoint, that Stewart’s bush, at Stew
arton, is being so rapidly cleared. Only six yeais ago this bush was
one of our richest hunting grounds; but now, where it was almost an
impenetrable wood, it is almost cleared of underbrush and the grasses
have formed in many places a sward beneath the trees. This was one
of the localities for Calypso borealis, and also the only near one for

123

Dicksonia punctilobula. The excursion to Casselman was the means of
adding no less than nine species to the flora, some of which deserve
special mention. Hypericum pyramidatum, Plantago Rugellii, Phlow
divaricata, Saururus cernuus and Botrychium lanceolatum were the
best finds. The last named is a rare moonwort and the two preceding
are unexpected discoveries in this part of Canada.

The Mer Bleue has again proved to bea rich locality. Here in the
beginning of July several fine specimens of the beautiful orchid Arvethusa
bulbosa were found. In a patch of fourteen growing together eight had
well developed leaves like Calopogon pulchellus. A vemaikable feature
of all the specimens found on this occasion was their light colour. At
a few yards’ distance they could not be distinguished from Pogonia
ophioglossoides, amongst hundreds of which lovely flowers they grew.
The usaal colour of the arethusa is a much more intense shade of red.
On the same day were collected fine specimens of undoubted Z.
Jjimbriata, and near the railway station Calamagrostis Langsdorfii and
a grand clump of Carex folliculata were discovered. On the Chaudiére
Tslands Prunus pumila was found in flower in June, and in the autumn
Helenium autumnale was plentiful. From Templeton TZhalictrum
purpurascens is reported and from Buckingham Carex Grayii. Several
good carices have been added. The well marked variety dwtifolia of C.
daxiflora was found at Stewarton in company with C. pallescens. C.
sychnocephala, a rare species only previously collected in Canada by
Prof. Macoun, was collected at Billings’ Bridge on the last sub-
excursion of the branch in September; also good specimens of Diervilla
trifida in fruit. At Malloch’s Bay, Gratiola aurea, Ranunculus multi-
jidus, Hippuris vulgaris and Mentha Canadensis var. glabrata were
found. Hull also produced its contributions to the lists. Solidago
neglecta, new, and two fresh localities for Pellwa gracilis and Camp-
tosorus rizophyllus. Physalis grandiflora and Riccia fluitans were
also collected here.

Riccia natans was found at Deschenes and at New Edinburgh.
At Gatineau Point Osmorrhiza longistylis was collected by Miss Isabel -

Grant, and to this lady the committee have very much pleasure in
awarding the botany prize for the year. Her collection is exceedingly
well mounted and preserved, and comprises 185 species. She has suc-

124

ceeded in discovering the type of Solidago cesia, from which we find
that all the records for Canadian localities of this species refer to the
variety axilaris. This, then, is not only new to this locality but to
Canada. Miss Grant also collected a Stellaria, which Prof. Macoun
considers to be graminea, a European species only previously detected
by himself during the past season in the Lower Provinces. Among
rare species already recorded from this locality, but which have been
again collected this year, Typha angustifolia, Vypripedium arietinum,
Cyperus phymatodes and Carex lenticularis may be referred to. The
last named has only been found on the sandy shores of Duck Island
(17th October), where were also found earlie: in the year Carex
squarrosa, C. monile and Juncus filiformis. Nasturtium amphibium is
found in many places round the city in low ground flowering in June.
Asperugo procumbens—several luxuriant specimens of this plant were
collected along the banks of the Canada Atlantic Railway at Mount
Sherwood. é

Amongst aquatics some important observations have been made.
In last year’s report reference was made to a variety of Potamogeton
pusillus which the Rev. Thomas Morong had pronounced as very
similar to the Sicilian variety panormitanus of Bivorni. During the
past season a fuller suite of specimens has been sent to Mr. Morong by
Mz. Fletcher, the finder, and he now writes with regard to them: “TI
‘have carefully compared your plants with those sent meas P. pusillus,
“ [. var. panormitanus, Biv., and can see no essential difference. In
‘‘my specimens the submerged leaves are shorter than in yours ; they
“are not ruddy at all, and none volatile. The description of the
“ variety, however, corresponds. ‘ Leaves longer (than the type), more
‘* «flaccid, the upper flowering ones opposite and spathulate, the whole
“surface of the leaf, with a pretty chain-like areolation surrounded
“near the margin with a ring of denser substance.’ I am sure that
“your plant meets this description, and when compared as to the
“ flowering leaves the specimens agree. I should not, however, regard
“it as a distinct species, since it bears so many of the characteristics of
‘* nusillus. The ruddy tinge and revolute leaves may be owing to the
*‘geason or accidental circumstances ; but I would watch and see if
“ these are permanent characteristics. The detection of this variety in

TOA
120

“your locality is particularly interesting as it has not before been.
“found in America.”

With regard to the parasite fungus infesting the leaves of various
species of potamogeton, Prof. Farlow at special request has kindly pre-
pared a detailed note of the species, which is appended to this report:
This note, coming from such a high authority, is of special value.

Among the latest collections of the year were: Sept. 8, Aster
acuminatus, at Stewarton ; Sept. 23, Lpiphegus Virginiana in flower.
Growing associated with this were found the seed pods of Corallorhiza
multiflora. In a small beech wood near St. Louis Dam. Oct. 20,
Hamamelis Virginica in full flower. All of these, although quite
abundant where they occur, are very local, only a single locality for
each having so far been observed.

On Oct. 27 the bottom of the Rideau Canal, near the Bank Street
Bridge, was found to be covered with enormous quantities of a species
of nostoc. The plants were round like marbles, and of a deep green.
They were generally single; but occasionally double specimens were
found, in which case one was smaller than the other. The size varied
from that of a small pea to one inch in diameter.

In conclusion, the leaders would suggest to the members the
advisability of each one taking up the study of some particular family
of plants and making a specialty of it, and they are convinced that if
this is done valuable results will follow. Prof. Macoun studying the
fungi in this way discovered during last autumn in this locality no less
than eight species new to science.

They would also draw attention to the great advantages which are
to be derived from cultivating plants from the seed and examining
them closely during their different stages of growth. Anyone who has a
garden at all can cultivate a few species, and many can even be grown
in flower-pots in a window. A large number of plants have been
grown during the last three years from seed received from our corres-

ponding members, particularly from Mr. Hill, who is in British
. Columbia, and many rare plants have thus been examined, and have
had paintings made of them by Mrs. Chamberlin. Some which have
thriven particularly well, flowering freely and ripening their seeds are :
From British Columbia, Lewisia rediviva roots received in 1881 bore

126

last season from two to five flowers and ripened seed ; Sedum spathuli-
foliwm increases rapidly and is very hardy ; Helianthus lenticularis
‘grows luxuriantly ; Phacelia Menziesii, Astragalus lotiflorus, Chry-
sops:s hirsuta, Cirsium undulatum, Grindelia speciosa grow luxuriantly
and ripen an abundance of seed. The following have grown well but
have not flowered yet: Pentstemon Lewisii, Eleagnus argentea, Rubus
Nutkanus, Ericoma cuspidata, Fritillaria lanceolata, and F. pudica,
Allium cernuum, Lupinus sericeus. From the North-West: Petalos-
temon violaceus, Lepachys columnaris, Solidago rigida, Monarda fistu-
losa, Bontelona curtipendula. All of these would make valuable
additions to our flower gardens. It is hoped that before long we shall
have Government experimental stations where the suitability of certain
plants to different districts can be tested ; but in the absence of these
the members of this Club can do valuable service for the country by
growing and carefully observing desirable plants. Moreover, many

botanical descriptions of species have been drawn up from dried speci- -

mens alone, and in this way occasional errors have crept in. Now, if
by growing a great many plants we can correct even a single one of
these errors we shall not only do good work for science but thus a last-
ing honour will be conferred on the Club.

J. MACOUN,

R. B. WEYTE,

J. FLETCHER,
3ist January, 1884. Leaders.

FLORA OTTAWAENSIS.

(Additions made in 1883.)

Thalictrum purpurascens, L., L’ Ange Gardien, August,

DSBs: oe AOE Peder DELI dE ie
Nasturtium amphibium, Rochesterville, June, 20....Mr. Fletcher.
‘Viola Selkirkii, Pursh, Chelsea Mountiains,......... Me

* tricolor, L. var. arvensis, Ging, Mount Sherwood,

eb earne AE °F ihe SOG IE, hs Ss a ae
Hypericum pyramidatum, Ait. (leaves) Casselman .. aa
Stellaria sraminea,, Casselman. «5, i. cis)s sie ain te cetas Miss I. Grant.

Prunus pumila, L., Chaudiére Islands, June........ Mr. Fletcher.
Thaspium aureum, Nutt. Casselman..............Miss I. Grant.
Solidago ceesia, L. (type), Billings’ Bridge.......... _

12

~]

Solidago neglecta, Ironsides, July 20.............. Mr. Fletcher.
Rudbeckia laciniata, Casselman. .............0.5-
Campanula dracunculoides, Sparks Street, June..... :
Plantago Rugellii, Casselman ............ Sieescehears as
Linaria vulgaris, Miller, (Peloria state) Stewarton,
August, 1882 Gitlin. chart te Sapa sae meta
Mentha “Canadensis, L. v. glabrata, Gray, Malloch’s
Agee eee) wares aries esc @ Kable fe ies iol TaN ee iy
Hydrophyllum virginicum, L. Casselman. .........Mr. R. B. Whyte.
Phlox divaricata, L., Casselman.....0..60000226 0% Mr. Fletcher.
Saururus cernuus, ie (leaves) Casseiman. : a
Fagopyrum Tar taricum, Metcalfe Street, Ju une 20. 5
-Quercus bicolor, Willd, ‘Ghanem Mite me incoreereuce cane oe
Potamogeton amplifolius, Meech’s Lake...s........ a
is pusillus, L. v. panormitanus, Biv. Rideau
Caral Sune 2 8 is avesens, ce ers: shee: ashe hers es
a lucens, L. v. Minor, pee Meech’s
Lake. sh Ra
Arethusa bulbosa, Te Mer Bleue, July 2... se i
_ Carex laxiflora, v. latifolia, Stewart’s Bush, June 15. ee
es pallescens, Stewart’s Bush, June 15.......... ss
*¢ - sychnocephala, Carey, Billings’ Bridge, Sep-
GOIN DET ae -inttevels < hse iv = WSbeyorige eljsiera stelle &
“ tenuiflora, Wahl., Lake Flora, Hull, June 20.. os
“ folliculata, L., Eastman’s Springs, July 2..... os
SemGruylis buckingham, IUhy 2 Sas .< ues so sess Mr. Ami.

Calamagrostis Langsdorfii, Mer Bleue, July.........Mr. Fletcher.

APPENDIX A.

NOTES ON A-FUNGUS PARASITIC ON SPECIES OF
POTAMOGETON.

W. G. Fartow, Pror. Harvarp UNIVERSITY.

In November, 1882, I received from Mr. J. Fletcher some seeds of
Potamogeton Vaseyi collected in August, 1882, near Ottawa. A.
microscopic examination of the seeds showed them to be filled with a
curious fungus growth, which I thought might probably be placed in
the order Ustilagineae. As the material sent was preserved in alcohol,
it was, of course, impossible to ascertain how the spores of the fungus
germinated, and unfortunately, in the Ustilagineae, it is often necessary
to know the mode of germination before referring a form to its proper

128

genus. The fungus seemed to me to be closely related, at least, to
the genus Sorosporium, and I sent some of Mr. Fletcher's material to
M. Woronine, at that time residing in Paris, and the author of the
valuable paper on the development of Ustilagineae which had appeared
a few months before. M. Woronine replied that he did not himself
recognize the parasite, but on showing it to Dr. Maxime Corun, of the
Jardin des Plantes, he recognized it as closely related to a form growing
on Alisma Plantago which he had made the type of a new genus
Doassansia. In a letter Dr. Corun, supposing that the fungus had
been collected by me, stated that he had named the species Doassansia
Furlowii, and, as his paper in which the species was mentioned had
already gone to press, my letter stating that the fungus had been found
by Mr. Fletcher, and not by myself, was received when it was too late
to change the name.

Dr. Corun’s paper appeared in the Annalls des Sciences, 6 Série,
Tome 15, bearing the date June, 1883, but the paper was not received
in this country until several weeks later. The description of our plant
is there given as follows: “D. Farlowii sp. nov., sorts ovalibus com-
pressis numerosis, ovarium Potamogetonis cujusdum totum oceupans ;
sporae. Le diamétre des sores oscille pour le diamétre longitudinal
entre O™™, 2 et O™™, 18; pour le diamétre transversal, entre O™, 18
etO™", 14. The diamétre des spores, non mires, parait étre de O™, 02.”
Prof. DeBary, to whom M. Woronine communicated preparations of the
American fungus recognized it as the same as that described and figured
in Hoffmann’s Icones analytical fungorum, p. 69, Tab. 16 f. 3 as
Sclerotium occultum found in the fruit of Potamogeton lucens and
P. natans.

Before the receipt of Dr. Corun’s paper, I gave a short account of.
the fungus in the Botanical Gazette, of August, 1883, which it may be
well to quote in this connection. ‘The fruit of the Potamogeton was
swollen, and a section showed globular masses scattered through the
substance of the fruit. The masses consisted of densely packed cells,

the outer layer of which was darker coloured than the rest and regularly
arranged, so that the cells, which had the shape of short cylinders with
rounded ends, had their longer axis always in the direction of the
radius. Beneath this regularly arranged layer the cells were roundish-
angular and presented the appearance of parenchymatous cells.”

129

It will be seen that this curious fungus hitherto unknown in
America was first described by Hoffmann, the date of the Icones being
1863, but it was not, however, recognized by him as belonging to the
Ustilagineae, to which it seems to be correctly referred by Corun. If
we are to follow the system of nomenclature in vogue on the continent
the species would be called Doassansia occulta (AH. Hotim.) Corun.
The genus as characterized by Corun is marked by the fact that the
external cells of the sori remain as a sterile covering, while the internal
cells on the rupture of the sori give off short germinal tubes, which
bear at their tips whorls of short cells as in the genus T/letia. |The
germination was seen by Corunin D. Alismatis, a species which has also
been found recently in the United States. As I have said, the material
first sent by Mr. Fletcher in 1882, was in alcohol, and the germination
could not be seen. In 1883, I received some fresh material from Mr.
Fletcher, but at the time of sending the spores were not mature, appar-
ently, and I was unable to make them germinate. If the form on
Potumogeton acts similarly to that on Alisma, it ought to be an easy
matter for observers in Canada to discover the mode of germination.
According to Corun it is only necessary to place the ripe sori of
D. Alismatis in a damp place, when they quickly split open and the
internal cells at once give off the characteristic germinal tubes. From
the accompanying figure of a germinating spore of D.Alismutis, one can
see what to expect from the form on Potamogeton.

DP. occulta has also been found by Mr. Fletcher or P. pusillus,
P. perfoliatus var. lanceolatus, and P. natans in Canada, and its range
will perhaps be found to extend considerably southward. _ Besides the
true species of Doassansia, already mentioned, a third form was doubt-
fully referred by me to the same genus in a paper in the botanical
Gazette, August, 1883. It forms small black spots in the leaves of
Epilobium alpinum in the White Mountains, and may be expected
farther north. Any collector so fortunate as to find it, should, if

possible, watch the germination.

130
REPORT OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL BRANCH.

Yo the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club :

In presenting their report, the leaders of the conchological branch
regret that during the past season they were, for reasons unnecessary to.
mention, unable to devote much time to the collection and study of the
mollusca of this vicinity. ‘They have, however, to record the discovery
of a species new to your lists and to lay before you a few observations
on species already noted.

An important addition to the Club lists has been made by Mr. W.
H. Harrington. With a view to obtaining very minute beetles, that
gentleman collected in November a quantity of sphagnum and other
moss in Dow’s swamp. The moss when dried was shaken over white
paper, and with the insects which fell from it were found a number of
small shells. These he submitted to one of the leaders of this branch
for determination. They were found to include a number of interest-
ing species—some so rare as not to have been met with here except by
Mr. Heron, and one altogether new. This is, we consider, Patula
asteriscus, Morse. It is very distinctly characterized, and therefore not
likely to be confounded with any other species. Although not hitherto
known to occur in this vicinity, it has in Canada an extended eastern
and northern distribution, having been recorded from Gaspé and the
country north of Lake Superior.

Of the other shells found by Mr. Harrington, the most worthy of
note are Hyalina milium, Morse; Pseudohyalina exigua, Stimpson ;
Vertigo milium, Gould; and V. Gouldii, Binney.

Mr. Harrington’s success shows that the process of collecting and
screening moss may be used with great advantage for collecting not
only insects but minute shells. :

That shells reputed to be rare may yet be very common is well
illustrated by the fact that Macrocyclis concava, Say, was found in May
last in great abundance in a prickly ash thicket on the banks of the
Rideau in Billings’ bush. Previously but a few isolated specimens had

‘been found. ;

Succinea ovais, Gould, occurred in considerable numbers on the

banks of the brook flowing through the beaver meadow in Hull, about

131

half a mile north of the Aylmer Road tollgate. They were large for
the species and of a rich amber colour. Shells of equal size but paler
on the body whorl and tinged with red towards the apex were found
on the Ontario shore of the Ottawa near Mason’s mill in company with

Suceinea avara, Say, and Hyalina nitida, Miiller.

The young of Swccinea ovalis were taker on alders in the Hull
beaver meadow at the height of eight feet from the ground, where they
were observed both by Mr. Harrington and one of the leaders of this
branch. This climbing habit of a species which usually lives at the
very edge of a pool or stream is not a little remarkable. Succinea
avara has also been observed climbing to a height of three feet on tall

‘fronds of Struthiopteris germanica in Billings’ bush.

A succinea resembling ovalis, but smaller and more acuminate,
was found in abundance on floating timber in Skead’s Bay near the
Remices Rapids in October, 1882. Specimens collected at that time
were aftcrwards mislaid ; and on a visit to the same place in October,
1883, no shells of the kind could be found. This locality should be
visited again during the coming season and an effort made to collect
some of these shells. A small form of Limnea stagnalis is also found

there and is of much interest.

In the report of the branch made in 1883 mention is made of the
occurrence in a garden in this city of a single specimen of Limax
agrestis, Linn. In the preceding years this slug was not observed
either by Mr. Heron or Mr. Latchford. The garden in which one
solitary individual was found in 1882 afforded hundreds in 1883. Last
year in and around Ottawa ZL. agrestis was abundant everywhere, both
alone and in company with the smaller and common native species, Z.
campestris, Binney.

L. agrestis is of toreign origin, but has long been known as inhabit-
ing the cities along the Atlantic coast. Its migration has since been
steadily inland ; and its advent in Ottawa is of interest not oniy from a
scientific but from an economic point of view, as it is an exceedingly
prolific and voracious species. Gardeners have already complained of
its destructive attacks on lettuce, spinach and other tender esculents,

and its continu ed increase may be regarded with some apprehension.
a

132

In the past year, as in the year previous, the water in the Ottawa
never fell so low as to enable us to collect any of the fine unios which
are known to occur down the river.

Undoubted specimens of Spheriwm securis, Prime, were obtained
in the culvert which crosses St. Louis Dam. On Mr. Heron’s list this
species is marked with a query.

Planorbis bicarinatus, Say, in the typical form was found on the
right shore of the Rideau in the rapids near Hartwell’s Locks. A small
variety with the keels less developed and with coarse wrinkles was
found in the pond east of the Bank Street Road near Billings’ Bridge,
and in brooks in Hull and Masham. Meech’s Lake afforded two shells
of this species of much greater size than any previously found, but of
the typical form. The measurements of the larger shell are as follows :
Greater dia. 0.83 in., lesser dia. 0.64 in., height 0.52 in. Both shells
were unfortunately dead. They were found near the outlet of the
lake. Living specimens will probably be had higher up the lake—a
locality still unknown to us and worthy of a visit.

Very fine Limneea columella, Say, were found in the early part of
November in the bay above Mason’s mill, at Mechanicsville. One
specimen clung with such tenacity to the log on which it was observed
that, while the empty shell came away in the collector’s fingers, the
animal itself remained adhering to its foothold.

On the 13th October a good find of Campeloma decisum, Say, was
made in McKay’s Bay, New Edinburgh. The shells, though not of so _
bright a green as those of the Rideau, are nevertheless of good colour,
very large, and beautifully clean.

Two weeks later the same locality was visited, when no living
shells were to be found, but numbers of fresh dead specimens were
observed with the peristome broken where thinnest, and portions of the
animal extracted. Whether this was done by muskrats or birds could
not be ascertained.

An effort was made during the past year to collect from as many
different localities as were accessible large sets of our commonest shells,
such as Limnea stagnalis, L. palustris, Physa heterostropha and Pla-
norbis trivolvis. Many forms of these protean species have been col-

*

133

lected which present characteristics well worth noticing. Comparison
of these varietal forms is, however, deferred until more material shall
have been. accumulated.

In conclusion, we would solicit the co-operation of the members of
the Club who have not heretofore taken an interest in the study of our
shells. So wide and rich a field as here presents itself should be worked
by numerous earnest labourers. Were there more students of this
branch of natural science amongst us, vexed questions of variation and
distribution might be settled and our present knowledge of the mol-
luscan fauna of Canada would certainly be very much increased.

F. R. LATCHFORD.
PASCAL POIRIER.
14th February, 1884.

Mr. WHiITEAVES enquired how many species of molluscs were
known to exist in this locality.

Mr. Larcurorp replied that the Club lists enumerated over 100
species, and although it was probable that a critical revision might
slightly reduce this number, he thought the reduction would in time be
more than made up by species yet unnoticed here, but whose distribution
to the south and east left little doubt of their occurrence in this
vicinity.

Mr. WuiteEaVEs stated that there were in North America two
distinct types of bivalve ; one eastern, ranging from the Atlantic to the
Alleghanies, the other western, from the Mississippi to the Pacific, and
that these two types overlapped to some extent. The introduction of
the western species was probably due to canals and navigation through
the great lakes. He thought that the Anodontas particularly had been
unduly increased in nutmber of species, and that the present tendency
was to consider all North American forms as a single species analogous
with A. cygnea of Europe.

Mr. LatcHrorpsaid that while the numberof Anodontas had undoubt-
edly been placed too high by the addition of synonyms, he was still far
from thinking that our shells could by any possibility be reduced to
one species ; and further, that when the unvisited lakes and streams

had been examined even a few more might be added to out list.

134

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL BRANCH FOR THE
SEASON OF 1883.

To the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club.

The depth of snow by which the ground was covered during the
winter of 1882-3 was in a very high degree favourable to the preservation
of insect life, by protecting hybernating larve and pupe from sudden
alternations of temperature, and from the attacks of birds, mice and
other animals. In consequence the depredations of insects became
noticeable almost simultaneously with the development of vegetation.
Foliage, in many instances, was devoured in the bud, or immediately
after expansion by the numerous larve which had safely hybernated.
An even greater snowfall during the present winter will be conducive
to an abundance of insects in the coming spring, and from having been
protected for two successive winters, it is highly probable that many
injurious species will prove decidedly troublesome during the coming
season.

Although specimens of hybernating butterflies such as V. antiopa
and V. milberti were seen as early as the 13th and 15th April, with
some coleoptera, diptera and a few hymenoptera, the weather during
that month was cold, and the snow disappeared slowly, there being a
fall of about two inches as late as the 27th. It was only on the
entrance of May that it became warm and favourable to the appearance
of the main body of the insect army.

HYMENOPTERA. Observations were continued last summer on the
family Uvoceride, and one species not previously recorded as abundant
or injurious was found in considerable numbers in ‘and about the city.
The species is known as the white-horned Xiphydria (X. albicornis,
Harris), and the females may be observed from 15th June to end of
July depositing their eggs in the bark of maple trees. A paper on
this insect will be found in the Report of the Entomological Society
of Ontario for 1883. The minute parasite Pleromalus vanesse which
was mentioned in last year’s report as so frequently infesting the pup
of V. antiopa was not nearly so abundant last summer, and a large
preportion of chrysalids were free from them. Two broods of 19 and
11 were noticed, of which all the members passed successfully to the

135 ‘

perfect butterfly. The chrysalids of Pieris rape, on the other hand,
were very much infested by Pteromalus puparum, and the increase of
this injurious butterfly was correspondingly checked. Sawfly larve,
probably of Nematus similaris, were found feeding upon locust, but not
in sufficient numbers to do much damage.

Lepiporrera. Several good specimens belonging to this order were
taken during the past season, and notes were made concerning the
life histories of some of the better known species.

Among the Diurnals mention must be made of a handsome
specimen of VFenisica Tarquinius taken by Mr. Hanham on 17th
May, 1882, at Hull, and of a specimen of Grapta J-album taken by
Mr. F. R. Latchford in the Beaver Meadow at Hull. Both of these
are rare in this locality. Besides these not many rare butterflies have
been added to our collections during the past season; the injurious insects,
however, were, as usual, too well represented. The imported small white
cabbage butterfly Pieris rape, (notwithstanding the fact that hundreds
of the larve died from a fungous disease when half grown), was very
injurious in gardens, attacking the sweet mignonette, Reseda odorata, in
preference to all other plants, not even excepting the cabbage itself.
This latter plant, however, did not escape the visits of unwelcome guests;
no sooner were the young plants put out in the spring than they were at
once pounced upon by the flea-beetles, Halticw, and the cabbage-fly,
Anthyonia brassice, and in many places almost exterminated. The
larvee of the different cut-worms, Agrotis, also did their share, and
later in the year the survivors were vigorously assaulted by unusual
numbers of the beautiful black velvet and yellow striped caterpillars of
Mamestra picta. This larva has usually been noticed here as feeding
on sweet-peas and the feathery foliage of asparagus. In the latter
instance, of course, it did very little harm.

The currant bushes seemed freer than usual last season from the
ravages of the currant moths and saw-flies. These should never trouble
the horticulturist, for with a little care and attention, such as two or
three applications of powdered hellebore, they are easily mastered.
The gooseberry fruit worm is much more difficult to combat and was
very troublesome in the month of June. It was also plentiful on the
wild gooseberries L’ibes oxycanthoides, growing in Dow’s swamp.

136

Some fine specimens were secured of the different kinds of American
suk worms. Actias luna, the swallow-tailed luna moth was
particularly abundant both in the Jarval and _ perfect states,
as also was Zelea Polyphemus. Platysamia Cecropia and Callosamia
Promethea occurred but not so commonly. The cocoons of the last
two, however, are not uncommon on our city shade trees and in gardens:
P. Cecropia chiefly on apple and maple trees, and C. Promethea
almost entirely on lilac (Syringa vulgaris). All of these moths are
preyed upon in their preparatory stages by birds who pierce the
tough cocoons with their bills, and extract the juicy pup. They are
also preyed upon in the larval state by parasitic Hymenoptera.

The larve of AVema albifrons |were particularly abundant on
maple trees in September and October. Several species of Lepidoptera
have been reared from the larval stage during the past season; among the
most interesting were Darapsa versicolor, from larve found on
Nesea verticillata. Other larve found on Cephalanthus occidentalis,
but not brought to maturity were referred to this species. Sphinx
drupiferarum, from plum trees; Sphinw gordius, from apple trees;
Sphinx kalmic, from a pupa found beneath drift wood on Kettle Island
by Mr. Harrington, on 19th May. This is particularly interesting as
it must have been submerged for some weeks during the spring
freshets. One

Smerinthus excecatus. A. pair of these handsome moths was taken
in coitu on the trunk of a white poplar in June. From these about 20
eggs were saved which began to hatch out on the 15th June. The first
caterpillar was ready to pupate, and buried on 9th July. Last cater-
pillar buried on 19th July.

Callimorpha militaris. The larve of this moth were found very
abundantly on wild gooseberry and maple in the month of June, Some
larvee were collected which pupated on 15th June, and produced the
moths on 7th July. The moths were in great abundance, especially in
Beechwood.

The Hickory Tussock moths, from larvee collected at Hull on
Carya amora. :

A single specimen of the rare Platycerura furcilla, Pack. was bred
from a larva taken on Pinus strobus at Stewarton in September, 1882.
It spun up on 27th September, 1882, and emerged on 3rd June, 1883.

137

The wingless female moths of the canker worm Anisopteryx
pometaria were very plentiful during September and October, but no
appreciable amount of damage has been observed in this locality from
this cause.

On the whole, the season was a fairly good one for Lepidoptera.

Diptera. Anthonyia radicum, the Turnip-fly, was noticed as com-
mon, and as being destructive, while the Radish-fly Anthomyia raphani,
Harris, (possibly identical with the foregoing) was particulary abun-
dant, and in some localities almost entirely destroyed the crop of
radishes. These are small greyish flies, somewhat resembling a diminu-
tive house fly.

Some locust trees on Nepean street were badly infested by the
larvee of C'ecidomyia robiniw in July. The eggs are laid along the
edges of the leaflets, and the irritation produced by the young larvee
causes the edge of the leaflet to curl over and swell up. Several larvee
were found on each leaflet, and the appearance of the graceful foliage
was very sadly altered. The pupa state is also passed under the rolled
portion of the leaf, and when the fly is ready to emerge the pupa
works itself partially out at one end of the flap in order that the fly
may make its appearance unrestrained.

CoLeorTgeRA. In this order, work has been so far advanced that
Mr. Warrington has been able to prepare for publication a list of the
beetles found in the vicinity. A visit was made to Ottawa in July by
the late Dr. LeConte, for the express purpose of examining any local
collections of Coleoptera, and of meeting those interested in entomology.
Unfortunately, two of the leaders in this branch were absent, and were
thus deprived of the pleasure of meeting that distinguished entomolo-
gist. Although Dr. LeConte’s health had been failing for sometime,
the tidings that he had died on 15th November came unexpectedly to
most entomologists, all of whom felt that in his death entomology had
sustained the loss of her most experienced and eminent student and
teacher.

A great number of interesting species of beetles were taken during
the year, including many not previously found, but mention can only be
made here of a few species.

138

Calosoma frigidum. A specimen of this beetle was taken on
Kettle Island on 19th May. (C. calidwm is common here, but no other
specimen of frigidum has come under our notice. | Many other species
of Carabide were taken on the same date. Déiplotawis tristis. On the
occasion of the Club Excursion to King’s Mountain on the 24th May,
this beetle was very abundant under and on the pines near which the
members lunched. Hoplia trifasciata was at the same time somewhat
numerous on the flowers of Viburnun lantinoides and the catkins of
willows. Phymatodes thoracicus. During the early part of June, Mr.
Fletcher obtained a number of these interesting longicorns which had bred
in an old wine cask then used by him asa water-barrel. Toxotus
vittiger. This beetle was captured at Casselman at the Club Excursion
of 23rd June. Among other interesting species taken on the same
day were Eluphrus cicatricosus, Languria imornata (var. gracilis)
Aphodius hyperboreus, Leptura subhamata, (on oak) Disonycha carolin-
tana, (on Rumex salicifolius) Silpha ineequale and Psephenus Leconte,
all aditions to list. Purpuricenus humeralis. A fine male of this
handsome beetle was taken near Rideau Hall on 27th June, anda
female was fcund upon the sidewalk on Sparks Street, about a fortnight
later. This species occurs in the middle and western States, and
although recorded from Canada we have been unable to find where it
was captured.

Tanysphyrus lemne, Fab. Immense numbers of this minute
weevil were observed on 26th July upon the correspondingly minute
water-plant Lemna minor, by which the surface of the brook flowing
from Fairy Lake was entirely covered. On the same day the voracious
blister-beetle Macrobasis wnicolor, Kirby, was seen in destructive
abundance on meadow-rue (Zhalictrum Cornuti). Stenotrachelus
arctatus, Say, was unusually numerous during October, and occurred
until the middle of November. Phyllobrotica decorata, Say, was taken
during July, at the Mer Bleue and along the Canal, feeding in large
numbers upon Seutellaria lateriflora. Among injurious beetles which
were destructive during the summer may be specially mentioned
Diabrotica vittata, Fab., greatly infesting cucumbers, and Crepidodera
cucumeris, Harris, and Phyllotreta viltata, Fab., which did great
damage to all garden crucifers, such as cress, radishes, ete.

139

Several bags of moss were collected in Dow’s Swamp, Stewart’s —
Bush, and near Hull, just before the snow fell, and a large number of
beetles were obtained therefrom, including many (principally of
Scydmeenide, Pselaphide and Staphylinide) not previously found. The
beetles so collected include representatives of over twenty families, and
probably of nearly one hundred species, and are interesting as affording
evidence of the hybernation of such a number of our species, including -
many which were not known to us as hybernating in the perfect state.

Hemiprera. So little work has been done in this order that we
are only able to mention one or two species, which, by their abundance
attracted attention during the summer. The destructive currant-aphis,
Aphis vibes, Linn., infested both the red and white varieties, the leaves
being all curled up and shrivelled. Pecilocapsus lineatus, Fabr., was first
noticeable from its ravages upon a large patch of burdocks in the city,
the leaves of which were so badly attacked as to have the appearance of
being scorched. Later in the season the bugs were found upon currant
and mint; but these were by no means the only plants attacked by these
very injurious insects. Many species of tree-hoppers and other plant

bugs were remarked as being more than usually plentiful.

OrtHoprerA. The only species which we have to mention in this
order is Qidipoda corallina, Harris, which was seen in great abundance
(it is usually rare here) in oat fields near Hull during the month of
June, and which must have done considerable damage.

Nevroprera. We regret to have to state that nothing was done
in this order.

ARACHNID&. Since the inception of the Club a number of spiders
and mites have been collected in this vicinity, A few of the former,
mostly belonging to the genus Epeira (the species of which spin a
wheel-like web) have been kindly determined by Mr. J. H. Emerton,
of New Haven, Conn., and it will be interesting, at least, to record
their occurrence.

Epeira trifolium, Henz., isa large and beautiful spider found in and
about dwellings. Two specimens were collected by Mr. Ripley, formerly
of this city.

140

Epeira marmorea, Fabr., was found in large numbers hanging om
a web between trees and blades of tall grass in the vicinity of Dow’s.
Swamp, near the city.

Epeira patagiata appears to be rather common. A very dark
variety is found occurring with the normal light-coloured variety.

Lpeira scopetaria.

Epeira striz, Henz., is found along the banks of streams.

Epeira fasciata, Henz., (not the original Z£. fasciata, Latreille,)
was found close to the ground in meadows and pasture fields.

Epeira displicata, Henz., is a small species found in meadows in
the grass and on low bushes.

Dolomedes tenebrosus, Henz., is a large and beautiful spider, found
in dry dark places, coming out of its hiding piace at night in search of
food. It does not spin a web, and carries its cocoon on its back.

Eylais extendens, Miiller, is the round red water-mite which makes
such a pretty object swimming round among the weeds in pools and
sluggish streams.

Atax Bonzi, Claperéde, was found under and between the gills of a
number of Unio luteclus from the Rideau River. é

Atax ypsilophorus, Bonz., was found in large numbers under the
gills of Anodonta fragilis from Meech’s Lake. This species has been
already very well described and figured by Dana and Whelpley in
Gilliman’s Journal, vol. 30, under the name of Hydrachna formosa as

occurring parasitic on some American unios.

W. HAGUE HARRINGTON,
JAMES FLETCHER.

. J. B. TYRRELL.
28th February, 1884.

In answer to Mr. R. B. Whyte, it was explained that the larva
which he had found so destructive to his gooseberries—living in the
fruit—was that of Anthomyia grossularie.

141

REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL AND OOLOGICAL
BRANCH FOR THE SEASON OF 1883.

To the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club :

The leaders in ornithology and odlogy beg to report that good
work was done during the past season in the branch under their
charge.

No sub-excursions were organized, other than those participated in
by all the members of the Club, as it was found that, although produc-
tive of a large increase of work in other branches, they were, except in
special cases, unsuitable to ornithology.

The colony of great blue herons (Ardea herodias, L.) mentioned in
last year’s report was visited on 18th May by a gentleman from Len-
noxville, P.Q., who states that he was obliged to wade to the nests
through water from three to four feet deep. He climbed four trees,
and obtained, in all, thirty-eight eggs, all of which, however, were hard
set. He says, moreover, that every nest contained from five to six
eggs, whereas, when the heronry was visited in July, 1882, not more
than three young birds were found in any one nest. Whether these
numbers are usual, and if so, what causes the discrepancy between the
number of eggs laid and the number of those which mature are ques-
tions well worthy of investigation next seasen.

During the past season the following species have been added to
the “ List of Birds found in the Vicinity of Ottawa,” published in Nos.
3 and 4 of the “Transactions.” The numbers refer to Coues’ “ Check
List of North American Birds,” 1882 edition.

13. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni (Cab.) Coues’ Olive-backed -
Thrush. A fine specimen of this thrush was shot on the 14th April
last, on the banks of the Rideau River, by Mr. Edward White. . Later,
on the 19th May, a pair was observed on Kettle Tsland by Mr. W. —
L. Scott, and the male bird shot. It is quite probable that they breed
here, as the last mentioned locality is frequently the breeding place of
numbers of Wilson’s thrushes (Zurdus fuscescens, Steph.).

81. Cistothorus stellaris (Licht.) Cab. Short-billed Marshs. Wren.
A female of this bird was shot in a beaver meadow not far from the

142

city on 2nd June by Mr. Geo. R. White. Mr. Scott found the same
species very abundant during the month of August in the marshes
_ along the Rideau, about twenty miles from the city.

126. Dendroeca tigrina (Gm.) Bd. Cape May Warbler. Mr. E.
White succeeded in securing a pair of these rare warblers near the
Rideau River on the 24th May. Dr. Coues says that they are “not
a common bird with us,” and Audu on states that they are exceedingly
rare. According to the list of Messrs. Morden and Saunders, only one
Specimen is recorded from Western Ontario. Mr. MclIllwraith, how-
ever, in his list of the birds of Hamilton, considers them as only
“rather rare.” They are not mentioned in Mr. Chamberlain’s list of
the birds of St. John, but are stated, in an appendix, to occur in other
parts of New Brunswick.

173. Vireo philadelphicus, Cass. Brotherly-love Vireo. A single
specimen was shot on 2nd June by Mr. E. White.

176. Vireo flavifrons, V. Yellow-throated Vireo. A male bird
shot towards the middle of June.

177. Vireo solitarius, V. Solitary, or Blue-headed Vireo. A male

of this bird was shot on 2nd October by Mr. E. White.

227. Passerculus sandvicensis savina (Wils.) Ridg. Common
Savanna Sparrow. Specimens of this diminutive sparrow were obtained
by Prof. Macoun in the month of May, in the vicinity of the St. Louis
Dam ; and Mr. Geo. R. White noticed them about the Rifle Range,
where they were probably breeding, during the whole of the summer.

282. Passerella iliaca (Merr.) Sw. Fox Sparrow. Three specimens
of this handsome sparrow were shot, one in April, one towards the
beginning of June, and one on 8th November.

380. Contopus borealis (Sw.) Bd. Olive-sided Flycatcher. A pair
was shot within a short distance of the city on 24th May.

385. ELmpidonax trailli (Aud.) Bd. Traill’s Flycatcher. Two
specimens of this flycatcher were obtained, one on 13th May by Prof.
Macoun and a second on 24th May by Mr. E. White.

444. Picoides americanus, Brehm. Banded-backed Three-toed

Woodpecker. A fine female of this bird was shot by Mr. E. White on
5th November.

143

473. Asio accipitrinus (Pall.) Newt. Short-eared Owl. On Oct.
6th Mr. Geo. R. White shot a pair of these owls not far from the city,
and on 28th October another individual was seen by Mr. Scott.

505. Falco columbarius, L. Pigeon Hawk. A fine male was shot
on 7th April while in pursuit of some tame pigeons.

524. Buteo pennsylvanicus (Wils.) Bp. Broad-winged Buzzard
Hawk. Prof. Macoun shot a specimen of this bird on 15th May ; a
second specimen was shot on 24th May.

525. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-jorannis (Gm.) Ridg. American
Rough-legged Buzzard. On the 8th November last a male of this
fine hawk was shot not far from the city by Mr. Geo. R. White.

532. Aquila chrysaétus, (L.) Cuv. Golden Eagle. A female of this
species was shot on 30th Oct. by Mr. J. Saxon Castleman on the banks of
the River Castor, about two miles and a half above Casselman Station,
and forty miles from the city. Another was seen near the same place a
short time afterwards. Mr. Castleman says he recoilects having seen
two or three other specimens which were taken in his section in the
past ; and there are also other recorded instances of its occurrence in
this locality.

617. Actodromas bonapartii (Scl.) Coues. | White-rumped Sand-
piper. One specimen shot. It was found in company with a number
of other sandpipers, principally Least (Actodromas minutilla [V.]
Coues), and Pectoral (Actodromas maculata [V.] Coues).

Most of the species enumerated above were kindly checked by
Dr. Coues, of Washington, D.C.

Besides the above, additional specimens of the following species
which appeared in last year’s “ List of Additions ” were taken during
the past season ;

Uyiodioctes pusillus (Wils.) Bp. Green Black-capped Fly-catching
Warbler. This species appeared to be quite common, for some days,
towards the middle of last May.

Chrysomitris pinus (Bartr.) Bp. Pine Linnet. <A flock of these
birds was seen on 30th October, and another on 11th November; but,
so far, they do not appear to be nearly as common as they were last
year.

$44

Spatula clypeata (1.) Boie. Shoveller Duck. Two females of this
duck were observed on.the Ottawa, some distance below the city, last
‘October.

On page 34 of Transactions No. 3, No. 609 should have been
omitted.

The following is a list of birds, giving the dates on which they
were first noticed, in the vicinity of Ottawa, last spring (1883). It is
hardly necessary to remark that these dates are merely the dates on
which the birds were first noticed, and that many of them may have
really arrived much earlier :

Feb’ry 20—Lremophila alpestris (L.) Boie., Shore Lark.
March 1—Corvus frugivorus Bartr., Crow.
“4 10—Astur atr icapillus (Wils.) Bp., Goshawk.

April 1—Turdus migratorius L., Robin.
& 6—Sialia sialis (L.) Hald., Blue-bird.

i 7—Melospiza fasciata (Gm. ) Scott. Song Sparrow.

se 9—Tridoprocne bicolor (V.) Coues., White-bellied Swallow.
“ 9—Ardea herodias L., Great Blue Heron.

e I—Quiscalus purpureus eneus Ridg., Bronzed Grackle.

bd L0—Junco hiemalis (.) Sel., Common Snowbird.

ce 10 —Contopus virens (L.) Cab., Wood Peewee.

M 11— Regulus satrapa Licht., Golden-crested Wren.

< 11—Sphyropicus varius (L.} Bd., Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.
13 —Sturnella magna (L.) Sw., Meadow Lark.

< 13—Sayiornis fusca (Gm.) Bd., Pewit Flycatcher.

“« - 14—Mergus merganser L., Goosander.

2 14 Poacetes gramineus (Gm.) Bd., Bay-Winged Bunting.

“ 14 Colaptes auratus (L.) Sw., Golden-winged Woodpecker.
cs 14—Astragalinus tristis (L.) Cab., Goldfinch.

He 14—Ageleus phoeniceus im Wi, Red- winged Blackbird.

ee 14—Turdus unalasce nanus (Aud. ) Coues., Hermit Thrush. ©
gs 14—Turdus fuscescens Steph., Wilson’s Thrush.

sk 14—Progne subis (L.) Bd., Purple Martin.

13 14—Ceryle aleyon (L.) Boie., Kingfisher.

es 14—Certhia Jamiliaris L., Brown Creeper.

sé 15—Spizella domestica (Bartr.) Coues., Chipping sparrow.

ss 15—Zonotrichia albicollis (Gm.) Bp., White-throated Sparrow.
< 15—Anas obscura Gm., Black Duck.

- 15—Molothrus ater (Bodd.), Gray Cowbird.

rf 15—Zonotrichialeucophrys(Forst.) Sw., White-crowned Sparrow.
es 17—Mergus cucullatus L., Hooded Merganser.

= 18—Carpodacus purpureus (Gm.) Gr., Purple Finch.

- 21—Hirundo erythrogastra horreorwm (Bart.) Coues., Barn

Swallow.

145

April 21—Gallinago wilsoni (Temm.) Bp., Wilson’s Snipe.

“ce

(a4

May

€e

«e

June

26—Spizella monticola (Gm.) Bd., Tree Sparrow.
28— Pandion haliaétus (I.\ Sav., Fish Hawk.
2— Dendrecu coronata (L.) Ga., Yellow-rumped Warbler.
2—Chaetura pelasgica (\..) Steph., Chimney Swift.
2— Aix sponsa (1...) Boie., Wood Duck.
2—Circus cyaneus hudsonius (.) Coues., Marsh Hawk.
3—Anorthura troglodytes hiemalis (Wils.) Coues., Winter
Wren.
3—Troglodytes domesticus (Bartr.) Coues., House Wren.
3—Accipiter fuscus ‘Gm.) Bp., Sharp-shinned Hawk.
5—Passerculus sandvicensis savana (Wils.) Ridg., Savanna
Sparrow.
d—Ngialites vociferus (L.) Cass., Killdeer Plover.
5—-Tringoides macularius (L.) Gr., Spotted Sandpiper.
10—WMniotilta varia (L.) V., Black and White Creeper.
10—Parula americana (L.) Bp., Blue Yellow-backed Warbler.
10—Helminthophila ruficapilla (Wils.) Bp., Nashville Warbler.
10—Dendreca aestiva (Gm.) Bd., Summer Yellowbird.
10—-Sturus auricapillus (L.) Sw., Golden crowned Thrush.
10—Pyranga rubra (I.) V., Scarlet Tanager.
10—Zamelodia ludoviciana (L.) Coues., Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
10—Melospiza palustris (Bartr.) Bd., Swamp Sparrow.
10—Tcterus gulbula (L.) Coues., Baltimore Oriole.
10—Faleo sparverius I., Sparrow Hawk.
11—Turdus mustelinus Gm., Wood Thrush.
12—Tyrannus carolinensis (L.) Bd., Kingbird.
13—Myiodioctes pusillus (Wils.) Bp., Green Black-capped Fly-
catching Warbler.
13—Anthus ludovicianus (Gm.) Licht., Titlark.
13— Rhyacophilus solitarus (Wils.) Bp., Solitary Sandpiper.
14—Mimus carolinensis (L.) Gv., Cat-bird.
14—Chordediles propetue (V.) Bd., Night Hawk.
14—Totanus melanoleucus (Gm.) V., Greater Yellow-legs.
15—Setophaga ruticilla (1h.) Sw., Redstart.
17--Helminthophila perigrina (Wils.) Cab., Tennessee Warbler.
17—Ampelis cedrorum (V.) Bd., Cherry Bird.
19—Mytodioctes canadensis (L.) Aud., Canadian Fly-catching
Wavbler.
19—Myiarchus crinitus (l.) Cab., Great-crested Fly-catcher.
19—Lmpidonax minimus Bd., Least Fly-catcher.
19—Melanerpes erythrocephalus (1.) Sw., Red-headed Wood-
pecker.
24— Dendreca castanea ( Wils.) Bd., Bay-breasted Warbler.
24. —Actodromas minutilla (V.) Coues., Least Sandpiper.
2— Vireo olivaceus (L.) V., Red-eyed Vireo.

146

Last spring, most of the winter birds were very late in going
north. Red Cross-bills(Loxia curvirostra americana, {[ Wils.] Cowes) and
Pine Linnets (Chrysomitris pinns, [Bartr.| Bp.) were seen as late as
10th May, and the Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator {L.] V.,) which
had been particularly abundant all season, were not all gone before 21st
April, up to which date also the lesser Red-polls (giothus linaria
| L.] Cab.) were still with us.

Several pairs of the last mentioned species, indeed, must have
remained a good part of the summer, for Prof. Macoun uoticed them
up to the 6th of June, among some cedar bushes at the west end of
Maria street, where they appeared to be breeding. But, as Prof.
Macoun left town on the date mentioned, and remained away the
greater part of the summer, their further movements are unknown.

This fall, too, the winter birds have appeared very early. Five
Bohemian Waxwings (Ampelis garrulus, Li.) were seen feeding on the
seeds of a Black Birch (Betula lenta) on 11th November, and two others
were seen a few days afterwards. The Pine Grosbeaks and Red-polls
were still earlier, the former arriving on lst November and the latter
on 30th October. Some of our summer birds have, on the other hand,
far outstayed their usual limits; for a Robia (Zurdus migratorius, L.)
was shot on 15th November, and a male Goldfinch (Astragalinus
tristis [L.] Cab.) on the 25th of the same month.

Tree Sparrows (Spizellu monticola [Gau.] Bd.) were unusually
abundant here this fall, while on their way south, i.e. from 24th to 30th
October, Yellow-rumped ‘Warblers (Dendreca coronata {L.| Gr.) were
seen on 6th October. The latter species was particularly common last
spring, from the beginning till towards the end of May. The Nashville
Warbler (Helminthophila ruficapilla [Wils.| Bd.\, formerly considered
very rare in this locality, was also quite common towards the middle of
last May. Two additional specimens of the Hudsonian Chickadee
(Parus hudsonicus Forst.) have been noted this fall, the one by Mr.
Scott, the other by Mr. George R. White, bringing the total number
recorded from this locality up to six.

The leaders beg to call attention to the fact that every member of
the Club, whether directly interested in the study of Ornithology or not,
may render very material assistance to the work of the branch by

a

147

noting down the earliest date on which any bird is seen in the spring,
and transmitting these notes to the leaders at the close of the season.
Notes of the latest dates, on which the birds are seen, in the autumn, are
also of great value.
The leaders cannot close this report without calling attention to

a great event in the history of Ornithology, which took place during the
past season. Last September, a number of the ablest Ornithologists on
the continent held a meeting in New York City, and founded the
** American Ornithologists’ Union.” The formation of such a society
was the one thing necessary ta ensure the rapid and systematic develop-
ment of American Orhithology. Should any of the members of the
Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club be desirous of bringing any notes, or
other communications, before the notice of the Union, they may do so
through the medium of either Professor Macoun or Mr. W. L. Scott,
both of those gentlemen having been elected associate members of that
body.

JOHN MACOUN,

GEO. R.. WHITE,

Wei SCO mi,

Leaders.
20th December, 1883.

148
REPORT OF THE ZOOLOGICAL BRANCH.

To the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Ciub :

In making a report on what was done last year in this branch,
the ditticult question presents itself, what is left to zoology outside of
the branches of it which have already reported on their sections of animal
life, viz., the ornithological, conchological and entomological, seeing
that the field of enquiry and discovery has been well worked by the
leaders of those branches. As, however, zodlogy covers all animal life,
the leaders of this branch consider that it embraces any fact in the
animal kingdom woriliy of notice not as yet reported during the past year.
No regular sub-excursions of the Club in this branch were held, but a
number of interesting facts were noted by various members, and the
following brief observations are now submitted as likely to prove of
local interest.

Mr. Scott, who partially took up the study of the randie or
frogs, mentions four species as coming under his notice, viz., the
Leopard Frog (2. halecina, Kalm), both green and brown skin, with
large distinct spots (the green being the true edible frog), and the Bull-
frog (R. catesbiana), both abundant; the Pickerel Frog? (R. palustris,
LeConte), which he found only in Patterson’s Creek, and the Wocd
Frog (P. temporuria, LeConte,) var. sylvatica, tolerably common. The
last is a small species, with a heavy dark brown line on each side of
the head, and varying considerably in colour. Mr. Scott has experi-
mented with a pair taken by him on the 9th November, since which
date he has kept them in his room in a vessel with about half an inch
of water, renewed daily. Although not becoming torpid, owing prol-
ably to the artificial warmth, yet they refused food of all kinds abso-
lutely, and this circumstance evinces the fact of the ranid@ being able
to sustain life for long periods without food.

The duration of the hibernation of frogs depends materially on
climatic conditions of the seasons. ~A Leopard frog is reported to us as
found above ground on the 7th November, and a mass of frog spawn
was noticed on the 20th April, showing that the depositors of it had —
already been at work. The 23rd or 24th April is usually the date on
which frogs are first heard in this vicinity, byt local causes may so,

149

influence certain ponds as to arouse the hibernating animals earlier than
in others, such, for instance, as a large inflow of warm surface water
into a small pond, or the effect produced by the reflection of the sun’s
rays from rocks surrounding it.

Three species at least of tree toads have been noticed in this
vicinity, but only one actually placed, the common Tree Toad (Hyla
versicolor), of which several young specimens were seen on small pines
on 17th May. A few full grown specimens were met with during the
summer. ‘The study of the tree toad is desirable, as there is no record
of the varieties in this vicinity. Mr. Harrington reports having taken
a smaller yellowish tree toad whilst beating shrubbery for insects. It
is apparently not so abundant as Wyla versicolor, and he thinks it is H.
Pickeringii, Pickering’s tree toad of Polbbook. It would be desirable to
have a good series of frogs and toads, snakes and lizards collected, so
that the varieties and species might be separated.

The study of snakes and the dates of their first appearance and
hibernation in this district has not yet been specially taken up, as far as
we are aware. Both Mr. W. L. Scott and Mr. Harrington are working
with a view to presenting notes and lists to the Society at some future
day on this subject. Mr. Harrington, on 6th May, observed quite a
gathering of snakes in Stewart’s bush amongst some loose stones,
beneath which they had probably hibernated, fully two dozen being
seen within a radius of a few yards. Amongst them he noticed three
ring-necked snakes (Diadophis punctatus), one young and the others 16
to 19 inches long respectively; several large red-bellied snakes (Storerva
occipitomaculata) about ten inches long, and a number of young snakes
one-third that length ; also several garter snakes (Hutenia sirtalis)
about 15 inches in length.

On May 8th, Mr. Harrington found a specimen of the viscid sala-
mander (Plethodon glutinosis, Baird) under a rotten log, and on 19th
May five specimens of a pretty blue spotted salamander about three
inches long under pieces of board and rubbish on the lower end of
Kettle Island. This is apparently Jefferson’s salamander (Amblystoma
jefersonianum, Baird). On 24th May, a number of small semiaquatic
salamanders were observed under stones at the edge of the rapids at
Hogsback, probably the yellow desmognath (Desmognathus ocrophwa,

150

Cope). Careful research may reward the student in this branch, of
which very little is known in this district. |

Mention was made ina paper on the fish of the Ottawa district,
read before your Society last winter, of a red-bellied minnow, supposed
to be a species peculiar to this district, but of the existence of which as
a separate species there is much doubt. Nothing has been ascertained
further during the past year, but information is desired respecting it.
The sheepshead (Haploidonotus grunniens, Jordan), which, years ago,
was abundant, but which of late has been a rarity in the Ovtawa River,
is again making its appearance on our markets, and it would be inter-
esting to ascertain whether its reappearance is due to fish protection
and the absence of universal netting, or to local causes affecting the
water, or to the reappearance of certain food it preys upon. Mr.
Harrington noted a large number of dead fish—pike, bass, suckers,
perch, etc.—in St. Louis Dam on 28th April. This circumstance has
been frequently noticed in that locality in spring, and has been
attributed to impurities draining into that body of water during winter
from factories and tanyards in its vicinity. Another probable cause of
this recurring mortality might be traced to the solid coating of ice over
the shallows which are left after the water has been let out of the canal at
the approach of winter, and which prevents the fish which remain there
from obtaining air. It is a well known fact that, in a pond completely-
frozen over, unless an opening exists where the fish can approach the sur-
face for air, the majority of them will perish during winter. As the water
of the canal is not let out until ice of a considerable thickness has
formed, the superincumbent weight settling down with the outflow of
the water probably prevents the passage of the fish from many of the
pools or shallows, and even presses upon. them, or they may congregate
in the slightly deeper parts of the dam which later in the winter freeze
to the bottom.

A close study of the lake trout of this district is desirable, as it is
a disputed point amongst naturalists whether there are really more
than one species, and if the so-called different species are not only
varieties, influenced by locality, water.and food.

Two species of field mice were noticed, the white-footed or deer-
mouse (//esperomys leucopus), and the meadow mouse (Arvicola riparia),

151

which is troublesome both in the cellar and garden ; in the latter especi-
ally, being very destructive during early spring, preying on the tender
shoots of plants. These are the mice so detrimental to young orchards in
winter, when they bark the young trees beneath the snow to such an
extent as to destroy them as completely as if girdled. Last summer a
pair of jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius, Zimmerman) were found at
Prescott, and although that ‘place is not in the Ottawa district, yet it is
so near as to induce the idea that it is not improbable they may be
found in this vicinity. We have heard of a pair being taken on the
Aylmer Road a few years ago, but nothing accurate is known of the
capture.

In conclusion, we appeal to the members of the Club to note down
any interesting fact that comes before them during the next season of
outdoor observations. Much information full of valuable import might
thus be imparted to the Club as a body which may appear perhaps
trivial: to the individual. If members also would make lists of the
objects they notice for the purpose of comparison and record the dates
of first and last appearance of the rare species, these would be very
useful. In following out one branch of natural history any interesting
feature of ancther branch should never be overlooked, as every con-
tributor to science of local interest becomes to a certain extent a public:

benefactor.
H. B. SMALL.

Wee LEE
Leaders.
3lst January, 1884.

Mr. R. B. Wuyte said the refuse from tan vats was quite sufficient
to kill fish, and there was a tannery emptying into St. Louis Dam. He
stated that in former years a creek ran down Mosgrove street, on which
a tannery was situated, and that every time the vats were emptied

numbers of dead fish were seen in the creek.

Mr. Fiercner said that the kangaroo mouse had been found near
Aylmer, and that he had, in the month of January, seen frogs moving
about in the canal near the Bank Street Bridge, in a pool possibly kept

open by a warm spring.

15%

Lo

Mr. Scorr said the finding of the kangaroo mouse was important,
as it belonged to the Alleghany fauna. He enquired whether pure
spirits should be used for preserving reptiles.

Mr. SmAtu said that care should be taken that the spirits were
not too strong, as, if they were, the colour and tissue were both apt to
be damaged and perhaps destroyed. He had found from expevience
that the ordinary druggists’ alcohol, 15 above proof, diluted with one-
third its quanrity of water, was the proper strength. It would also be
found very conyenient for the collector to keep a common wide-mouthed
jar in which to place his specimens when collected, to lie in the spirits
till required. A few days after being placed in the liquid they should
be taken out and pricked in several places with a sharp pin or needle.
This would allow the gas to escape and prevent any discolouration.
They could always, if kept under the liquid, be placed in any shape
required, as they remained perfectly pliant.

Pror. Macoun had lost some specimens of small fishes by using
too streng alcohol.

UIC

LN

3 2044 106 273 378

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