THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS* GLUB, 1900-1901.

Ipatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

prestDcnt :

Henry M. Ami, M.A., D. Sc, F.G.S., F.G.S.A.

\Dice=lpre0fC>cnt0

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D. Walter S. Odell.

!!Librarian :

D. A. Campbell, B.A.

(■Colleg-iate InstituteJ

Secretary: G;reasurcr ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher.

("Geological Survey DeptJ ^Central Experimental FarmJ

Committee :

E. E. Prince.
W. T. Macour
A. E. Attwoor

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss G. Harmer.
Miss Marion Whyte.

StauMng Committees of Council :

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, W. S. Odell, W. J. Wilson,' D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : D. A. Campbell, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, W. S. Odell, J Mrs.

Attwood, Miss Harmer, Miss Whyte.
Soirees : Dr. Bell, Prof. Prince, A. E. Attwood, W. J. Wilson, Miss Whyte,

Miss Harmer.

ILeaOers :

Geology : R. Bell, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.

Botany : John Macoun, J. D. Conklin, D. A. Campbell, R. H. Cowley.

Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.

Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford.

Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, L. H. Alexander.

Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, A. E. Attwood.

Archceology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
BDitor :

Bssoclate B^itors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department oi Geology-
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Palceoyitology.
Mr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. o'i Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. — Dept. o{ Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm.— Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. of 200/05 y.

][em1>er.ship Fee O.F.N.C., witli "Ottawa Natnralisl, " Jfil.oo per aiiuum.

igoi. VOL. XV. 1902.

THE

OTTAWA NATURALIST,

Being Vol. XVII. of the

TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

OTTAWA FIBI/D-NATURAI,ISTS^ CI.UB.

Organized March, 1879. Incorporated March, 1884.

OTTAWA, CANADA:

Ottawa Printing Company (Limited.)

1901,

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURflLlSTS* GLUB, 1901-1902.

ipatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPrcsiDcnt :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

lDtce=ipre6iDcnts

\V. T, Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

Xibrarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary :

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B

fGeological Survey Dept J

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

XLveasincv ;

Dr. James Fletcher.
^Central Experimental Farm,

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

StanDinc; Committees ot Council :

Publishhi^ : J. Fletcher, \V. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W\ J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soir(fes : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

Xea&ers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchohgy .• J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.

I Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

}6J)itor :

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

Bssociate BOitors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department oi Palceontology.
Mr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchohgy.

Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. — Dept. cii Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries lor Canada. — Dept. of^oo/o§y.

niciiibershlp Fee to O.F.N.C., with " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per aiiuuiu.

LIST OF MEMBERS

OK THE

Ottawei Field-Naturcilists' Club,
April, lOOl.

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

Alexander," L. H., M.A.

Allen, Hon. G. VV., D.C.L., F.R.G.S.

F.L.S., P.C. (Toronto.)
Allen, S. S.
Ami, H. M., M.A., D.Sc, F.G.S.,

F.G.S.A
Ami, Mrs. H. M.
Ami, S. T.

Anderson, James R. (Victoria, B.C.)
Anderson, Lieut.-Col. W. P., C.E.,
Attwood, A. E., M.A.
Attwood, Mrs. A. E.
Baldwin, J. W.
Ballantyne, James.
Barlow, A. E., F.G S.A.
Bate, H. Gerald.
Bate, H. N.

Beaudry, Amable E. (Aylmer, O.)
Bell, Robert, B.A.Sc, M.D , LL.D.,

F.P.S.,F./e.S.C., F.G.S., F.G.S.A.
Belliveau, A. H.
Bethime, Pev. C. J. S., M.A., D.C.L.,

F.P.S.C. (London, Ont.)
Billing's, C.
Billing-s, W. R.
Blackadar, Lloyd.
Boardman, Wm. F.
Boddy, Mrs. H. M.
Bolton, Miss Eliza,
Borden, Hon. F.'W., M.D., M.P.
Bostock, Mrs. H. (Monte Creek, B.C.)
Bowen, Miss Alice. (Quebec.)
Bowerman, J. T., B.A.
Boyd, Miss M.
Boyd, W. H., B.A.Sc.
Brainerd, E. D wight. (Montreal.)
Brewster, W. (Cambridge, Mass., U..S)
Bronson, F. G.
Bronson, Mrs. F. G.
Brock, R. W.
Brown, Mrs. R. D,
Breckenridge, R. Stuart.
Burgess, T. J. W., M.D., F,R.S.C.

(Montreal).
Burland, Lt.-Col. J. H. (Montreal.)

Burland, Mrs. G. B. (Montreal.)

Burland, G. L.

Burman, Rev. W. A. (Winnipeg.)

Campbell, D. A., i?,A.

Cameron, E. R., M.A.

Campbell, A. M.

Campbell, R. H.

Campbell, Miss B.

Carter, Mr. J. J.

Chalmers, Robert.

Charlton, H. W., B.A.Sc.

Charron, A. T., B.A.

Chubbuck, C. E.

Clarke, T. E.

Cobbold, Paul A. (Haileybury.)

Conklin, J. D.

Connor, M. F., B.Sc.

Cooke, C. A.

Cornu, Ft^lix, M.D. (Angers, Cue.)

Cot*^, J. L.

Coubeaux, Eug. (Prince Albert, Sask.)

Cousens, W. C, M.D.

Cowan, Miss E.

Cowlev, R. H., B.A.

CvM'g', PTof. John. (Ithaca, N.Y.)

Curry, Miss E. E.

Dawson, S. E., Lit.D.

Denis, Theo., B.A.Sc.

Dixon, F. A.

Dohertv, T. Keville.

Dowling, D. B., B.A.Sc.

Dresser, J. A., M.A. (Richmond, Que.)

Dulau & Co. (London, Eng. )

Dunne, J. P.

Dwight, Jonathan, ]v.,M.D. (N. York)

Edwards, A. M., M.D.

Ells, R. W., ZZZ>., F.G.S.A., F.R.S.C.

Evans, J no. D., C.E. (Trenton, Ont.)

Ewart, D.

Ferric, W. F., B.A.Sc, F.G.S., F.G.

S.A. (Rossland, B.C.)
Fisher, Hon. S. A.
Fleck, A. W.
Fleming, Sir Sanford. A". CM. G., C.E.,

F.R.C.I., F.R.S.C.
Fletcher, J., LL.D., F.L.S., F.R.S.C.

igoi]

List of Members.

Fleury, Prof. J. M.

Forward, A. J.

Gt^rin, L^on, B.A., F.J^.S.C.

Gibson, Arthur.

Gilmour, T.

Glashan, J. C, LL.D.

Gorman, M. J., LL.B.

Graham, W.

Grant, Sir J. A., K.C.M.G., M.D.,

F.R.C.S. Ed in., F.R.S.C.. F.G.S.
Gregson, Percy B. (Waghorn, Alia.)
Grisdale, J. H., B.Agr.
Grist, Henry.
Grist, Miss Mary L.
Guillet, Miss Elise.
Guillet, Cephas, B.A., Ph.D.
Halkelt, Andrew.

Harmer, Miss G. (Westboro', Ont. )
Harmon, Miss A. Maria.
Harrington, W. Hague, F.R.S.C.
Harrison, Edward. '

Hay, George, Sr.
Hay, G. U., M.A., Ph.B., F.R.S.C.

(St. John, N.B.)
Hayter, F.
Holland, Miss Ira.

Honeyman, H. O., B.A. (Granby, Q.)
Hope, J.

House of Commons Reading Room.
Hughes, Charles. (Montreal)
Ide, Wm.

Irwin, Lf.-Col. D. T.
James, C. C, M.A. (Toronto.)
Jenkins, S. J., B.A. >

Johnston, Robt. A. A.
Joly de Lotbiniire, Hon. Sir Henry.
Jones, C. J.
Jordan, J. Wolfred.
Kearns, J. C.

Keefer, Thos. C, C.E., F.R.S.C.
Keele, Joseph.

Kells. W. L. (Listovvel, Ont.)
Keeley, D. H.
Kendall, E. W.
Kennedy. R. A., ^.^., M.D.
Kenny, Thos,
Kemp, E.
Kingston, A. G.
Klotz, Oskar.

Laidlaw, J. C. (Victoria Road, Ont.)
Lambart, Hun. O. H.
Lambe, L. M., F.G.S. , F.G.S. A.
Latchford, Hon. F. R., B.A.
Lee, Miss Katharine.
Lees, Miss V.
Lees, W. A. D.
Lees, Mrs. W. A. D.

Legg, A. B. Rowan.

Lemieux, E. E.

LeRoy, O. E. (Montreal).

LeSueur, W. D., B.A.

Library, Leg. Assembly (Quebec).

Library of Parliament.

Lindsay, A.

Low, A. P., B.A.Sc.

MacCabe, J. A., LL.D., F.R.S.C.

McCalla, W. C. (St. Catharines.)

McConnell, R. G., B.A., F.G.S.A.

MacCraken, John I., B A.

McDougall, A. H., B.A.

McElhinney, M. P.

McEvoy, James, B.A.Sc.

McGill, A., B.A., B.Sc.

Mclnnes, Wm., B.A., F.G.S.A.

Mac Kay, A. H., LL.D., B.Sc, F.R.S.C.

(Halifax).
McLaughlin, S. (Los Angeles, Cal.)
MacLaughlin, T. J.
McLean, D. L.
McLeod, H. A. F., C.F.
McLeod. Rev. Norman, 3LA., B.D.
MacNicholl, Miss C.
McPhail, Mrs. J. A. (Montreal )
Macoun, Pro/. John, M.A., F.L.S.,

F.R.S.C.
Macoun, J, M.
Macoun, W. T.
McOuat, Miss Mary E.
McOuat, Miss E. J.
Macrae, J. A.
Marshall, John.
Matheson, D.
Matthews, Miss Annie L.
May, Dr. S. P. (Toronto).
Mearns, Dr. E. A. (Washington, D.C.,

U.S.)
Meneillv, W. J. (Toronto.)
Metcalfe, W.

Miller, Prof. W. G. (Kingston.)
Morris, Miss F.
Nelson, H. M.
Newcombe, C. F., M.D.
Northrop, B M.
O'Brien, S. E.
Odell, \\. S.

Ogilvie, Wm., D.L.S. (Yukon Ten)
Orde, J. F.
Poirier, Hon. P. S. M.A. (Shediac,

N.B.)
Pollock, T. J. (Aylmer, Que.)
Prevost, L. C. M.D,
Prince, Frof. E. E., B.A.. F.L.S.
Putman, J. H., B.A.
Richard, Mr. A. E.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[April

Robertson, Pmf. J. W.
Ross, Hon. G. W, (Toronto.)
RotlivvoU, Miss Lina.
Sanson, N. B. {Banff, Alta.)
Saunders, Wm., LL.D., F.L.S., F.C.S.

F.R.S.C.
Saunders, W. E. (London, Ont.)
Scott, Miss Mary McKay.
Scott, W., B.A. (Toronto.)
Senate of Canada, The.
Shore, John W.

Shutt, F. T., M.A., F.I.C., F.C.S.
Sifton, W.
Simpson, WiUibert.
Sinclair, S. B., B.A.
Small, H. Beaumont, M.D.
Smith, Capt. W. H. (Halifax, N.S.)
Sowter, T. W. E.
Spencc; J. C.
St. Germain, Theodor.
Stewart, Archibald.
Strachan, Miss V.
Summerby, Wm. J., M.A. (Russell,

Ont.)
Sutherland, J. C. (Richmond, Que.)
Taylor, F. B. (Fort Wayne, la., U.S,)
Thompson, Miss Bessie.
Thompson, E. Seton. (New York.)
Thorburn, John, M.A., LL.D.
Topley, Mrs. W. J.
Tucker, Walter.

Tyrrell, J. B., B.A., B.Sc, F.G.S.

F.G.S.A. (Dawson, Yukon.)
Wait, F. G., B.A.
Walker, B. E., F.G.S. (Toronto.)
, Walker, Bryant. (Detroit.)
Warwick, F. W., B.Sr. (Buckingham,

Que.)
Watters, Henry.
Weston, T. C, F.G.S.A.
Whelen, Peter.
Whelen, Miss A.
While, Georg-e R.
White, James. (Snelgrove, Ont.)
White, Lt.-Col. W., C.M.G.
Whiteaves, J. F., L.L.D., F.G.S., F.R.

S.C., F.G.S.A.
Whitley, Thomas.
Whyte. Miss Ethel.
Whyte, Miss Ida.
Whyte, Miss Isabella.
Whyte, Miss Marion I.
Whvte, R. B.
Williams, J. B.

Willing, T. N. (Regina, Assa.)
Wilson, Miss M. F.
Wilson, W. J., Ph.B.
Wood, Hon. Josiah. (SackviUe, N.B.)
Young, Fev.C. J., AI.A. (Wolfe Island,

Ont.)
Young, C. H.

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

Hill, Albert J., Af.A. C.E., New Westminster, B.C.

Holm, Theodor, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., U.S.

Merriam, Dr. C. Hart, Department of Agriculture, Washington, U.S.

Omkrod, Miss E. A., LL.D., F. R. Met. Soc, Torrington House, St. Albans,
England. *

Smith, Prof. John B., Sc.D., Rutger's College, New Brunswick, N.J.

Taylor, Rev. G. W., ALA., F.R.S.C. F.Z.S., Nanaimo, B.C.

WiCRHAM, Prof. H. F., Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.

THE OTTAWA PTURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, APRIL, 1901. No. i.

THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE OTTAWA

FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB FOR THE YEAR

ENDING MARCH iqth, 1901.

I

Membership.

Thirty-one members have been added to the Club during^ the
year and nineteen names have been struck off, leaving the present
membership two hundred and sixty-five.

Dr. H. M. Ami, the president, represented the Club at the
meeting- of the Royal Society of Canada, held in this city in May,
at which he read a summary report of the work done by the Club
during the year 1900.

Special Lectures.

Dr. James Fletcher delivered two lectures on "Nature Study,
with special reference to Birds," before the Normal School
students, and Dr. Ami one on " Soils and their Origin, with
special reference to those of the Ottawa Valley."

Soirees.

The programme of Winter Soirees, as printed on page 176 of
The Ott.awa Naturalist for December, 1900, was carried out
with the follow^ing exceptions : The meeting for the 22nd of
January was postponed for one week on account of the death of
Her Majesty Queen Victoria ; and the meeting for 6th March was
put off till 1 2th March on account of the death of Dr. G. M.
Dawson, a former president and an active member of the Club.
In consequence of the latter postponement, the two papers that
would have been read last Tuesday have b?en presented to-night,

8 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

Owing- to the absence of Mr. W, T. Macoun from the city, his

paper was taken as read, and Mr. E. D. Ing-all was unable to

g^ive his.

Excursions.

The first sub-excursion of the season was held on the 28th
April at Rockliflfe and Beechwood. About twenty were in attend-
ance. The afternoon was pleasantly spent, but the backwardness
of the season made it very difficult to find specimens of interest.
Hepaticas, a few Trilliums and Doj^tooth Violets, with Aspens,
Willows, Red and Silver Maples, together with a few common
spring flowers were all that rewarded the botanists. Mr. Gibson
secured some specimens of Grapta Faniius, an uncommon butterfly
in this district.

Three sub-excursions and one general excursion were held in
May. The weather at all of these was perfect, and most pleasant
and profitable outings were enjoyed.

Saturday, 5th Ma)'. Some sixty members and their friends
visited McKay's Grove and Beechwood. That portion of the
grove adjoining Clarkstown is being rapidly denuded of its wild
character, but the botanical students found a variety of early
spring flowers. The geologists examined the Keefer Bluff at the
forks of the roads leading to the cemetery and found a series of
topical fossils belonging to the Black River formation. Several
large masses of the Coral Tetradmin fib}'atum\<iQ.XQ. obtained in the
upper layers of limestone in the old quarry at this spot.

On re-assembling, Mr. Odell described and exhibited the
larvae of some Mosquitoes, and also some Crustaceans he had cap-
tured. Mr. Attwood spoke on the plants found during the after-
noon, and Dr. Ami described the geological formations.

Saturday, May 13th. Seventy-five members of the Club,
Normal School students, teachers and friends visited Beaver
Meadow, Hull, P.Q- The botanists found many desirable species
of plants and the entomologists captured several good specimens,
while the geologists visited " the Heap " on the Aylmer branch of
the C. P. R., where they found and listed over thirty species of
fossils of the Trenton formation. Dr. James Fletcher, Mr. A.
G. Kingston and the President addressed the members before
separating.

I

igoi] Report of the Council. 9

Saturday, 19th May. Over eighty excursionists spent the after-
noon at Hemlock Lake and vicinity. Two small colonies of
Columnaria HaLli were found in the upper strata of the Black
River formation at Keefer's Bluff, and both fresh-water and
marine shells were found in the Pleistocene deposits round Hem-
lock Lake. These and other specimens were described by the
various leaders before the party returned to the city.

On 9th June a successful meeting was held at Britannia, and
many summer flowers and insects were secured.

The first general excursion was held on May 26th to Gil-
mour's Grove at Chelsea and was, as is always the case, a delight-
ful and instructive excursion. The weather was very fine and the
attendance large. Many interesting specimens were collected in
all branches of Natural History.

The second general excursion was to Cumberland by the steamer
Victoria, in which over one hundred members left Ottawa at one
o'clock and returned in the evening by the steamer Empress, after
spending several pleasant hours at the beautiful village of Cum-
berland. This locality is a new field for investigation, and several
discoveries were made. The entomologists were much pleased at
securing a specimen of the larva of the Large Tortoise-shell Butter-
fly, Grapta J-aibum^ which had been sought for unsuccessfully for
many years. The geologists found several valuable species of
fossils, and the botanists succeeded in collecting representatives
of no less than sixteen species of ferns along the side of the cliflF.

The third general excursion was to Kirk's Ferry on the 15th
September, when about 150 were present. The day was a perfect
type of our Canadian autumn weather, and many interesting
specimens were collected and observed. An unusual feature was
the large number of plants which were in bloom at this late season,
and many of the party were able to regale themselves with ripe
raspberries, which were growing in profusion along the railway
embankments.

At all these excursions the members assembled and listened
,to addresses by the various leaders on the collections made during
the day and on the natural features of the places visited.

Volume XIV. of The Ottawa Naturalist, containing eleven
numbers and 240 pages of text has been completed, under \^\q

lO

The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

editorship of Dr. James Fletcher. The volume has several illus-
trations and many interesting- articles. Among the more im-
portant papers published this year are the following :

Some Interesting Moths taken at Ottawa, by Arthur

Gibson.

Contributions to the Natural History of the Northwest Terri-
tories. The Birds of Southern Saskatchewan, by Eug. Coubeaux.

Soils and the Maintenance of their Fertility through the
Growth of Legumes, by Frank T. Shutt.

The Labrador Flying Squirrel, by J. D. Sornberger.

The Two-lined Salamander, by Walter S. Odell.

Notes on Rare Birds occasionally Breeding in Eastern On-
tario, by Rev. C. J. Young.

Ornithology 'in several numbers), by W. T. Macoun.

Additions to North American and European Bryology (Moss
Flora), by N. Conrad Kindberg.

On the occurrence of a Species of Whittleseya in Nova Scotia,
by H. M. Ami.

An Ornithological Incursion into Florida, by W. E. Saunders.

A Condensed Summary of the Fieldwork annually accom-
plished by the Officers of the Geological Survey of Canada from
its commencement to 1865, by D. B. Dowling.

Notes bearing on the Devono-Carboniferous Problem in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, by Dr. H. M. Ami.

Fauna Ottawaensis, Diptera, by W. Hague Harrington.

The Finding of a Flamingo's Nest, by W. E. Saunders.

Dr. Nansen's Scientific Results, by Prof. E. E. Prince.

Gannets and Cormorants, with special reference to Canadian
forms, by Andrew Halkett.

Hemphillia glandulosa. by Geo. W. Taylor.

Catalogue of the Recent Marine Sponges of Canada and
Alaska, by Lawrence M. Lambe.

Description of a New Species of Unio from the Cretaceous
rocks ot the Nanaimo Coal Field, V.I., by Dr. J. F. Whiteaves.

A Preliminary Note on the Amygdaloidal Trap Rock in the.
Eastern Townships of the Province of Quebec, by John A.
Dresser.

The Nesting of the Cserulean Warbler, by W. E. Saunders.

igoi] . Report of the Council. ii

The Annual Address of the President of the Ottawa Field-
Naturalists' Club, by Dr. H. M. Ami.

Notes on the Acadian Owl [Nyctala Acadicd) in captivity, by
F. Norman Beattie.

Notes on some Land and Fresh Water Mollusca from Fort
Chirho, Ung-ava Bay, by Dr. J. F. Whiteaves.

Notes taken in the Peace River, Athabasca, and adjacent
country, by J. A. Macrae.

Two Warblers new to Canada, by W. L. Kells.

Besides these long-er papers there are numerous short notes
on scientific subjects, book reviews, etc.

The Treasurer reports that after paying all expenses he has
$256.46 on hand.

The Council recommends that the following gentlemen be
made corresponding members of the Club in recognition of valu-
able services they have rendered to the Club and to science, viz :
Prof. H. F. Wickham, of Iowa State University, and Mr.
Theodor Holm, Assistant Botanist of the Department of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D.C.

A special prize was offered by the Hon. G. W. Ross, Minister

of Education, to the student of the Normal School doing the best

work in Natural History in connection with the Club's work. The

prize was awarded to Miss Elma Cannon, of Athens, Ont., for the

best collection of botanical specimens made during the season.
A second prize was given by the President, Dr. Ami, and was
awarded to Miss May E. Robson, of Grey Co., Ont.

A memorial portrait of the late Elkanah Billings has been
presented to the Geological Survey Department by a committee ot
the Club, as recorded in the Ottawa Naturalist for January

last.

The hearty thanks of the Club are again due Dr. J. A. Mac-
Cabe for giving the use of rooms in the Normal School for our
library and for holding Council meetings, and tor the use of the
Assembly Hall and lantern on two evenings. We have also to
acknowledge our indebtedness to the Young Men's Christian
Association for the free use of their Assembly Hall for ordinary
meetings ; to Mr. D. B. Dowling, Mr. Putm.an and other gentle-
men who assisted in operating the lantern at different lectures,
and to the daily newspapers for inserting notices of our meetings.

Henri Ami, W. J. Wilson,

President. Secretary.

12 The Ottawa Naturalist. ■ [April

TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1900-01.

To the President and Members of the Ottaiva Field- Naturalists"

Club.

The Treasurer begs to report that the finances of the Club
are in a satisfactory condition. It will be seen by the statement
submitted herewith that about 225 members have paid their
subscriptions. The advertisements realized a little more than
last year, and the Treasurer wishes again to speak emphatically
to the members of the Club of the duty we owe to those
firms who help us every year by advertising in The Ottawa
Naturalist. It will be seen by examining the list of firms who
advertise with us, that they are all first-class houses, which will
supply goods at least equal in quality to those obtainable any-
where else, and it is only reasonable that these firms should expect
to receive an increase of business from the members of the Club,
whose interests they serve by advertising in the Club organ. I
am quite well aware that many members of the Council do make a
point of dealing with these firms, but I believe even more can be
done by other members of the Club. For my own part, I always
make a point, occasionally even at some little inconvenience, to
deal with those who have shown a substantial interest in this Club
because it is in an organization in which I am keenly interested.
Most matters in this world are arranged on a qnid pro quo basis,
and I leave this matter with the members ot the Club, asking
them to bear it in mind.

The Ottawa Naturalist has contained many valuable
papers, several of which were well illustrated. The printers have
done their work satisfactorily, and the cost of the monthly
magazine, including illustrations, extras for authors, postage and
editing, has amounted to $400.16. Miscellaneous printing has
cost $24.55. T^^ conversazione and soiree expenses have this
year cost us only $10.82, and there is nov.' a satisfactory balance
on hand of $256.46. From this a small amount must be deducted
for illustrations which have been ordered but have not yet been
received.

Your obedient servant,

JAMES FLETCHER,

Treasurer.

N.B. — A\\ subscriptions are payable in advance, and are due
each year on the day of the annual meeting.

— We patronize our advertisers. —

IQOl]

Treasurer's Report.

t3

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB.
The Treasurer s Statement for the year ending March ig, igoi.

RECEIPTS.

1900.

March 20 — To balance $146 30

Subscriptions, 1900-01 $136 50
,, arrears 89 00

225 50

Advertisements 76 10

Extras sold 21 30

Ottawa Naturalists sold . . 3 70

Government grant 200 00

Profit on excursions i and 2 . . 1 1 80

Electrotypes sold 8 00

$692 70

expenditure.
1 901.

March 20. — By print-
ing Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. XIV. . .$256 90

Illustrations 39 4°

Authors' extras 33 90

Postage and wrapp-
ing 19 96

Editor 50 00

400 16
Less 5% allowed on

printing a/c $297 05 15 15

385 01

Miscellaneous printing 18 95

Programmes 2 00

Receipt books 3 60

24 55

Stationery 2 25

Conversazione expenses ... . 10 82

Typewriting of report 2 00

Telegram 31

Postage 5 80

Loss on excursion 3 5 '5

Exchange on drafts 35

Balance in Bank 256 46

$692 70

Audited and found correct.
J. Ballantyni

R. B. Whvte

':■}

Auditors.

JAMES FLETCHER,

Treasurer,

THE LATE DR. G. M. DAWSON, C.M.G., F.R.S.

The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club here places on record an
expression of its deep sense of sorrow and loss at the death of
Dr. George M. Dawson, CM G., F R.S., F.G.S., F.R.S.C, &c.,
Director and Deputy Head of the Geolog:ical Survey of Canada,
who was President of the Club for the years 1892, 1893 and 1894.

By his death Canadian science loses one of its inost brilliant
and distinguished leaders; one who by his varied intellectual gifts
and ceaseless labours substantially advanced the scientific and
material interests of the Dominion during the last quarter of a
century.

t4 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

NATURAL HISTORY IN YUKON TERRITORY.

A letter has been received from Mr. J. B. Tyrrell, now living
in Dawson City but formerly of Ottawa, and who has published
several very valuable papers in The Ottawa Naturalist, stating
that Mr. William Ogilvie and some of the other residents of
Dawson are making an effort to start a Yukon Museum in
which all the natural products of the country are tobe repre-
sented:— rocks, minerals, plants, animals, birds, insects, etc.
The local Government is much interested in the undertaking, and
a building has been promised for this spring.

Mr. Tyrrell has been chosen as curator for the time being,
and there is no one in the Yukon so well fitted to fill this post.
Mr. Tyrrell's long experience as a traveller and collector, and in
the Museum while on the staff of the Geological Survey, will
enable him to do most valuable service in organizing and starting
the work at the outset in a systematic and useful manner.

J. F.

BOTANICAL NOTES.

Rattlesnake Plantains. Goodyera repens^ supposed to be
a common plant in the vicinity of Ottawa, is not represented
among the specimens so named which I have seen. G. tesselata,
G. repens var. ophioides and G. piib3scens have all been collected
within the area covered by the Club's work. The true
G. repens is a northern species and may yet be found in the
Gatineau Valley. G. Mensiesii may also be found here as it has
been collected in New Brunswick, Quebec and Western Ontario.
A revision of this genus was published in Rhodora, Vol. I, No. i.

Aster vimineus. We have in the vicinity of Ottawa both

A. vinimetts and the variety saxatiLis, Fernald. The variety is a

slender plant and easily separated from the species by its stiff,

ascending branches terminated by a solitary head. It has been

collected art Paueian Falls and Casselman.

j^W^^X J. M.M.

igoi] Gould — Bird Notes. 15

BIRD NOTES FROM POINT PELEE, ONT.

By Harry Gould, London.

(Read before the London Ornitholog-ical Section of the Entomological

Society of Ontario.)

Point Pelee, in Essex County, is a narrow spit of land jutting
out into the lake at the west end of Lake Erie. It is interesting
in many ways ; looking at it from Leamington, about 12 miles
distant, one might imagine that a huge Cleopatra's needle had
ages ago toppled over and was now lying on its side with the tip
stretching out into the lake. Judging from the chips cf flint and
other indications this point was in times gone by a favourite resort
for Indians. Fish and game of all kinds would be plentiful and it
is known that many years ago a number of whites were murdered
here by the red-skins for the sake of their belongings. It was not,
however, to study the archaeology of this interesting locality that
my friend Mr. W. E. Saunders and I visited it on Sept. 19th and
2oth 1900, but on account of it being such a favourable place for
the crossing of birds during migration. There is perhaps nothing
so interesting in connection with the study of our native birds as
their arrival in spring and departure in autumn. We listen with
delight in early spring to the first sound of the Bluebird or Robin
and with sadness in the fall, to the chirp of the little bird overhead
at night as he seems to say good bye. Point Pelee is 10 miles from
the base to the tip and 4 miles across the base, from which it
gradually tapers the whole distance to the tip. A great part of
the base has a government ditch or dyke running through it ren-
dering it very good farm land. On the east side towards the tip
is a marsh which is rented to a gun club for duck shooting, but on
the west side is natural wood-land, which gets more stunted in
growth as the tip is approached. Across the lake to the west,
about 8 miles distant, is Pelee Island and further south are several
smaller islands called the Sister Islands making it a very easy
passage for birds crossing the lake into Ohio. With all these
advantages it is only natural to suppose a great many of our birds
cross at this particular point. Upon the evening of September

1 6 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

19th last Mr. Saunders and I arrived at Learning-ton about 7.30
p.m. and started on our tramp by g-oing- about 5 miles towards
the lake on the east side of the point and camping for the night near
the road in a little wood where our first bird the Great Horned
Owl was noted, as well as a small bird or two journeying over-
head. At daylight we were on the move tor the lake shore but
before reaching it we saw a number of Marsh Harriers and a small
flock of ducks, possibly Black Ducks. Feeding in a weedy patch
near the road were a number of Dickcissels. The lake was
soon reached and having a nice sandy beach we expected to find
waders and gulls. The first to be noted were the Herring, the
Ring-billed and Bonaparte gulls, Black-billed, Semipalmated,
Golden and Kill-deer plovers, Sanderlings and Baird's Sandpiper.
Skimming past the Common and Black Terns were seen. By noon
the tramp is beginning to tell and we halt to rest and get dinner.
The lake water has to be boiled, and the drifting sand plasters the
bread and butter but being hungry everything goes and we are soon
off again. In passing the open water of the Marsh we were able by
the aid of g^lasses to identify the Horned Grebe. Evening found us
at the point and having walked all day in the sliding sand and
thinking that enough was as good as a feast, we camped for
the night under a scrubby red cedar. Next morning, breakfast
over, a start was made back up the west shore, where owing to
the woods we expected to find very different birds ; the first
specimens noted were a pair of Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-
shinned Hawks were to be seen all day while the small birds which
they caught napping were many, as was evidenced by the bunches
of feathers found here and there through the woods. Warblers
were numerous, including Black and White, Black-throated Blue,
Black-throated Green, Bay-breasted and Chestnut-sided, also the
Black-poll with a few Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. The
Gray-cheeked and Olive backed Thrushes seemed to be the
favourite food of the Hawks with once in a while a Cuckoo. On
Hearing Leamington we saw a number of Bald-headed Eagles
sailing aloft and on the shore found a number of dead Shad
which had been discarded by fishermen. These accounted for the
presence of the eagles. A walk of 3 miles back to the train at
Leamington finished a very pleasant two days outing- .

^re- aUt^ie*/ CA^rzn-a/s.

Map of the OTTAWA RIVEn BASIN

PRESENT AKID PRE-GL/^CIAL CHANNELS

igoi] Ells — Ancient Channels. 17

ANCIENT CHANNELS OF THE OTTAWA RIVER.

By R. W. Ells, LL.D., F.R.S.C.
The Ottawa may well be reg-atded as one of the great historic
rivers of Canada. For hundreds of years it formed the favourite
means of communication between the Indian tribes of the west and
those of the east. It was ascended by Champlain in 1615. At
that early date he crossed the height of land at Lake Nipissing,
and was presumably the first white man to gaze upon the vast
expanse of our inland seas.

Following the advent of this great explorer, this river became
the chosen route of the voyageurs on their way inland to the great
unexplored country of the western plains. On the coming of the
Hudson Bay Company it formed the principal channel for carrying
on their immense business, their brigades of boats and canoes
passing year by year, carrying eastward the annual harvest of furs
and bearing westward into the wilds of our vast interior the
various kinds of merchandise suitable to the trade with the
savages of the great west. Later, by means of steamboats on
the deep stretches and by portages round the falls and heavy
rapids, it formed the chief means of communication between the
east and the numerous settlers who were scattered along its
route.

The river itself is of very ancient date. When the continent
was young, its valley was outlined, and for countless centuries the
drainage of a large part of eastern and northern America followed
approximately the present course. In support of this statement it
may be said that along the present channel of the stream, ex-
tensive deposits of the oldest Palaeozoic formations ot this part of
Canada are found, ranging from the base of the Potsdam sandstone
upward into the Silurian, comprising many hundreds of feet of
strata, the greater portion ot which, over many thousands of
square miles, has long since been removed by the various pro-
cesses of denudation.

The finding of these formations at many points in the bed
of the present channel shews that, before they were deposited, the
granite and gneiss hills were formed and the principal river channels

1 8 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

were excavated. The general course of the river must have been
defined at an early date in the world's history, and, though since
that time many changes have taken place, the causes which led to
these may in some cases be readily seen.

The distance from Montreal on the St. Lawrence River to
Georgian Bay on Lake Huron may be given as 431 miles. Of this,
the part between the junction ot the Ottawa and the St. Law-
rence at Ste. Anne and the mouth of the Mattawa is 286 miles.
This portion of the river has an almost direct course of fifteen
degrees south of east. It is, however, deflected from this course at
several places. Thus in the lower hundred miles it sweeps south-
ward around the great mass of the crystalline rocks from a point
a few miles above the city of Ottawa down to the mouth of the
River Rouge, south of which to the St. Lawrence the surface of
the country is generally level and occupied for the most part by
rocks of the fossiliferous formations or by great areas of drift sand
and clay.

The portion of the river above the Mattawa may be divided
into two parts. From the source of the stream, which lies near
the heads of the Gatineau and the west branch of the St. Maurice,
it pursues a course a little south of west, with several large lake
expansions and large bends, for about 250 miles, to the head of
Lake Temiscaming. Here the direction of the river abruptly
changes. Temiscaming Lake is about sixty-one miles in length,
with a width diminishing from some six miles at the northern end
to only a few hundred yards at the southern extremity. The
general course of the lake and the connecting stretch of river to
the forks of the Mattawa, which is some thirty-five miles lower
down, is thirty degrees east of south.

The drainage basin of the Ottawa is not less than 60,000
square miles. On the south the height of land ranges from 1,400
feet near the sources of the Petawawa and the Muskoka, to 417
feet at the divide near the head of the Rideau Lakes, while further
east to the north of Prescott, the height of land is within one mile
and a half of the St. Lawrence and the country is comparatively
level. Many large streams flow into the main river from either
side, the channels of which form deep furrows in the area which
they now traverse. The most easterly on the south side is the

igoi] Ells — Ancient Channels. 19

South Nation which rises near the St. Lawrence not far from the
town of Brockville, and after a somewhat tortuous course of 100
miles reaches the Ottawa about forty miles east of Ottawa city.
The descent of the river in this distance is not more than 100 feet,
so that, allowing- for the High Falls near Casselman and several
rapids between that place and the Ottawa, it will be seen that for
the greater part of its course the waters of the South Nation must
be comparatively sluggish.

The elevation of the height of land to the north which divides
the waters of the Ottawa from those flowing into James' Bay is
rarely more than 1,000 feet above sea-level. Over a large part of
this area to the north, embracing many thousands of square miles
in this direction, the surface is covered with heavy deposits of sand
which overlie thick beds of clay. These deposits extend from the
lower Ottawa and the St. Lawrence nearly, or in places quite, to
the height of land. In the absence of fossils in these higher clays
positive evidence of their marine origin cannot be obtained, but it
may be stated that they are continuous northward with those
which do contain such organisms, and therefore the assumption
may be made that the sea, at some date prior to or at the time of
their deposition, had invaded all the northern country to a depth
• of some hundreds of feet.

The denudation of the old crystalline rocks, which were the
first to appear throughout this area, must have been enormous.
How many thousands of feet have thus been removed, cannot be
surmised. But along portions of the lower Ottawa, as in the
stretch below the Joachims Rapids, known as the Deep River,
the present bottom of the channel is now many feet below the sea-
level, the surface of the river being about 370 feet above tide, while
soundings made several years ago are reported to have reached
a depth of over 500 feet.

In Lake Temiscaming also, certain portions have been
sounded and show that here the excavation has been very great.
At one point a depth of 470 feet was obtained, while the surface of
the lake is 591 feet above the sea. There must therefore have
been a large amount of denudation throughout this part of the old
river basin, though certain parts of this old channel have
since been to a certain extent tilled in by glacial deposits.

20 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

It is interesting- to note that, as one ascends the Ottawa, the
lower beds of the Palaeozoic series fail to appear. Thus, in the
lower portion of the river and as far west as the foot of the Chats
Falls about thirty-five miles west of Ottawa, the lowest formation of
the series, viz., the Potsdam sandstone, rests directly upon the
Archaean rocks. This is succeeded upward by the higher members
of the series. But even in early times there must have been heavy
breaks and uplifts, since, on the crest of the ridge of crystalline
rocks which extends eastward from Arnprior to within a few miles
of Ottawa on the south side of the river, a deposit of the Potsdam
sandstone is seen several hundreds of feet above the beds noted
near the river bank at Quyon, while a couple of miles further
south, this part of the series has been thrown down again by a
heavy break, to about the same distance.

West of Arnprior the lowest beds seen along the river are of
Calciferous age, and these are last observed at the west end of
Allumette Island, above which no outcrops ot this formation have
yet been recognized.

Further up the river, above the Roche Capitaine, which is
thirty-six miles below the Mattawa, the lowest beds are of the
Chazy formation, while on several of the islands in Lake Nipissing
beds of Black River age are found. On some ot the islands in <
the northern part of Lake Temiscaming fossiliferous limestones of
upper Silurian age occur which are about the horizon of the
Niagara formation The Black River beds of Lake Nipissing are
at nearly one hundred feet greater elevation than the Niagara beds
just mentioned, and about loo feet lower than similar limestones
seen in the vicinity of Clear Lake to the south of the Bonnechere.

In all descriptions of the country toward the height of land,
north of the Ottawa, the occurrence of great areas of sand has
been pointed out. The origin of this sand deposit has never been
satisfactorily explained. The material appears to be largely the
result of the decomposition, or breaking down to a fine slate, of
the underlying- granite and gneiss which are the predominating-
rocks of the area. From the generally level character of the
country along this height of land isolated peaks rise to consider-
able elevations, though over long distances these are rarely more
than low hill features, scarcely exceeding a hundred feet in height,
above the general plain,

igoi] Ells — Ancient Channels. 21

It is scarcely to be supposed that the decay of the granitic
rocks alone could give rise to the extensive deposits of clay which
spread over so wide an area of the Ottawa valley underlying- the
sand. These clays are seen at elevations up to the summit of the
dividing ridge, at several points reaching a height not far from
1,000 teet above the sea. The source of this clay must also be
largely conjectural. It may be safely assumed, however, that the
amount of denudation throughout the entire area has been some-
thing enormous. In the Eastern Townships of Quebec this has
been undoubtedly more than 1,000 feet. In the area around
Ottawa city it has been lully as much, since at the faulted contact
of the Calciferous and the Utica the upraised beds have been
entirely removed and the rocks reduced to a uniform level. It is
quite possible that there was at one time a regular succession of
the Palaeozoic formations throughout the Ottawa valley, extending
over the whole country both north and south to the present height
of land, since even now we find at many widely detached points,
patches of these rocks which have in some way escaped the
denuding agents. It is therefore quite possible that much of the
clay throughout the district has been the result of the decomposi-
tion of the more recent formations.

While therefore this grand scheme of denudation has been
going forward from the earliest times, this has been supplemented
by the agency of ice in the glacial period. How many of these
periods of glaciation have been in operation in this area we can
not say, but we have distinct evidence of at least three which are
presumably the most recent, and the traces of other and earlier
ones are probably long since removed. That ice moved over the
area in different directions and at diff"erent times is shown from
the direction of the striae and groovings now seen on the rock
surface. The presence of a third and apparently last set of mark-
ings with a western trend seems to indicate that a series of large
floating ice-pans moved westward up the Ottawa in a direction
almost opposite to that recorded for the earliest known glacier
which would seem to have followed down the present channel of
the river.

In discussing the history of this valley therefore several
periods of upheaval and depression must be considered, and some

22

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[April

of these must have affected the surface or crust by a vertical uplift
of many hundreds of feet. The amount of the latest recorded
movement can be, to some extent, estimated by the present
position of certain terraces which occur along- the Ottawa and
St. Lawrence rivers. These are found at elevations ranging- as
high as 900 feet above sea-level on the the slopes of the mountains
east of Montreal, while on the upper Ottawa and around Lake
Nipissing terraces are recorded at even greater heights. Thus
high level beaches in the vicinity of North Bay were recorded by
Mr. F. B. Taylor* at elevations cf 1100 to 1200 feet and were
regarded by him as of marine origin. Along the Ottawa, below
Mattawa, Mr. R. Chalmers records beaches and sand terraces at
elevations of 1000 feet and more, and further adds "Extensive
deposits of sand and silts, implying submergence are spread over
this part of the country up to a height even greater than that oi
the beaches referred to which have been described in earlier reports
of the Geological Survey as Algoma sands*.

These sands were formerly supposed to be due to fresh-water
agencies, but subsequent investigation has shewn that portions of
the deposits thus styled contain marine organism, especially along
the lower Ottawa, while their similarity in many respects to those
which have been styled Saxicava s-ands in the lower St. Lawrence
basin and which are held to be of marine origin, is very remark-
able.

While therefore the Ottawa at some time flowed in a tolerably
direct line from the mouth of the Mattawa to the St. Lawrence,
certain causas have interposed at different periods to deflect the
waters from their original course and to cause them to excavate
other and newer channels. In an examination of the valley of the
river these interruptions will be found at various points. Thus in
that portion of the river between the Mattawa and the head of the
Deep River, a distance of fifty-four miles, the channel is fairly
straight. Several heavy rapids and falls however occur among
which may be mentioned Des Joachims, Roche Capitaine, Deux
Rivieres, La Trou, L'Eveille, &c.

^Bulletin Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. V, 1893.
*Rep. Geol. Sur. Can.. Vol. X. p 18 J.

igoi] Ells — Ancient Channels. 23

At most of these the banks are hio^h and the river still
apparently follows its original course. At the Roche Capitaine
however, and at Des Joachims, secondary channels have been
made and the waters diverted. This feature is especially well seen at
Desjoachims where the present channel of the river is comparatively
new and the course of the old channel lies to the north following the
depression occupied by McConnell Lake and coming into the
present channel at the head of the Deep River, to the north of the
village of Des Joachims in a well defined depression, while the
shallow nature of the present channel is indicated by the long line
of foaming rapids which come in from the south. The difference
in elevation between the foot and the head of these rapids is about
forty feet, it is probable that at some time in the histoty of the
river, perhaps at the close of the Glacial period, great accumula-
tions of sand, gravel and boulders blocked the old channel at a
point some three miles above the present foot of the rapids or near
the mouth of the Dumoine river, and thus diverted the stream.
Possibly the same thing occured at the Roche Capitaine, since
here the second channel is seen to the north of the large island in
the river, this channel being now largely dry at ordinary stages of
the water.

Indications of this blocking of the old course of the Ottawa is

seen in the great accumulations of boulders near the village of

Mattawa, which represent terraces of morainic origin, modified

by the agency of the waters of the river. This evidently had

some effect upon the river channel at this place, since Dr. A. E.

Barlow in his report on the region says that "a well defined old

river-channel occurs running through the rear portion of the

village between the main street and the railway station which has

evidently been followed by the Mattawa or its antecedent stream.

It leaves the Mattawa about a mile above its mouth and reaches

the Ottawa at the foot of the rapid nearly three-quarters of a mile

below"*

About twenty miles west of Pembroke the river makes

a sudden bend to the south at what is known as High View.

Just above this on the north side is a bold headland known as

Oiseau rock, which rises abruptly from the surface of the stream

Rep. Geol. Sur. Can. I897 Vol. X, p. 178, Part I.

24 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

for a height of nearly 500 feet. The southern shore of the river
for several miles above High View is a rocky ridge which divides
the Deep River channel from a" long chain of lakes which starts
from the south shore ot the Ottawa about ten miles west of High
View and cuts across to a point about three miles south of High
View point. The surface of the country around this chain of lakes
is heavily sand covered and these deposits extend south towards
Chalk River. The lakes evidently indicate a former channel
of the Ottawa which became choked up by sand subsequent
to the glacial period.

The shore of the river opposite High View is indented by
bays. The north shore of the main stream east from Oiseau rock
continues in a bold range of hills for some miles eastward, and an
old channel apparently followed a straight course from the deep
bay eastward from High View. This channel evidently became
choked up by great deposits of sand and gravel, thus diverting the
stream past the east end of what is now known as the township of
Buchanan, southward. The old channel thus blocked extended
across the southern part of the townships of Sheen and Chichester,
and probably reached the Culbute channel of the the Ottawa which
flows along the north side of Allumette Island, below the Culbute
Fall.

On both sides of the river opposite this place and for some
miles to the ea-t and west, the surface is covered with great de-
posits of sand and gravel, many feet in depth. In that part of the
township of Chichester, north of the village of Chapeau, these sand
ridges are well defined, continuing for several miles till they reach
the foot of a bold ridge of granite and gneiss. This ridge is con-
tinuous from the foot of Deep River to the mouth of Rouge River
about sixty miles below Ottawa city, and at one time undoubtedly
formed the the north shore of the Ottawa River for this portion
of its original course.

A great part of Allumette Island is occupied by these reddish
granite sands. They form extensive ridges along the centre of the
Island from east to west and they were at one time doubtless con-
tinuous with the broad areas north of the Culbute channel through
which that channel has since been cut. The upper end of this channel
for some miles is narrow and rocky, but the portion below the

igol] Ells — Ancient Channels. 25

Culbute fall is much broader and rocks rarely appear along its
course except at the crossing- of the road north from Chapais.
Below this the shores are of clay or sand till the end of the Island
is reached where the Pembroke channel joins the Culbute, flowing-
over broad ledges of Black River limestone, and forming what is
known as the Paquette Rapid which is about a fourth of a mile
south of the junction of the two channels.

The Pembroke channel which flows past the south side of
Allumette Island is not deep. At the upper end rapids extend
partly across the river and there are many small granite islets.
Along- the south shore of the river especially above the mouth of
the Petewawa the banks are entirely of sand and in some places
are from fifty to eighty feet high.

At the town of Pembroke a depression comes to the river
from the south and the Musquash River here joins the Ottawa.
This stream flows north-west against the regular course of
the Ottawa and discharges the Musquash and Mud Lakes, the
former of which is about ten miles in length. The stream is for
the most part sluggish, flowing through a clay flat for some miles.
On the north side of Musquash Lake a ridge of crystalline rocks
rises abruptly, and on the south side Palaeozoic rocks, mostly of
of Black River age, form outliers, which have steep scarped
sides towards the north as if cut down by the agency of running
water.

At the upper end of Musquash Lake a stream flows in
which discharges a chain of long and narrow lakes, and these
continue for some miles in a depression into the township of Horton.
Along these lakes, which are surrounded by great masses of sand
the action of water is very evident. Some of them are long and
very narrow but have a depth of over a hundred feet, though only
a tew chains in width. They present all the features of an old
river channel which has been blocked up by great deposits of sand,
gravel and boulders, so that the original channel is now defined
simply by the line of the depression and the remnants of the old
river left in the narrow series of lakes.

This depression extends out to the river again, reaching it
near what is known as the Chenaux rapids, about four miles below
the junction of the two channels which surround Calumet Island,

26 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

and which join a short distance above the village of Portage du
Fort.

Of these two channels the south or Roche Fendu, is very
rough and rocky. The north channel from Le Passe around the
north end of the island and down to Bryson, flows for the most
part of the distance through great beds of sand which show on
both sides of the river but are very largely developed on the
island, especially on the northwest portion.

Below the Chenaux Rapids the Chats Lake forms the river
and extends down to the head of the Chats rapids and Falls about
three miles east of the town of Arnprior. The shore on the north
side opposite Sand Point and thence to a point opposite the mouth
of the Bonnechere River is largely drift covered, and this feature
is well seen at Norway Bay where great banks of sand form the
shore line for some distance. Inland also these deposits are
largely developed to the east of Shawville, where they overlie a
great thickness of clay, which extends northward to the main
ridge of crystalline rocks.

The Chats Falls are caused by a large dyke of reddish
granite which cuts across the crystalline limestone of the Arnprior
and White Lake belt, here several miles in width. The falls
are among the most beautiful on the river, extending across the
whole breadth of the stream which is here about two m.iles
in width. The total rise from the foot of the falls to the waters of
Chats Lake is about fifty feet.

Just below the Chats Falls on the south side is the village of
Fitzroy Harbour, It is built on a clay blufT about forty feet
in height and this rests on the Calciferous dolomite, which in turn
reposes on the gneiss and crystalline limestone at the foot of the
falls. These newer rocks are seen on both sides of the river.

The Carp river enters the Ottawa a short distance below the
village, and has a course of about twenty miles. It also flows
westerly against the general course of the Ottawa in a depression
through the northern part of the townships of Huntley and
Fitzroy and is on the whole a very sluggish stream. About four
miles above its mouth there is a rapid formed by a ridge of granite.
Elsewhere the bed of the stream is a clay flat, in places very
marshy, to its source, which is in the northern part of the township
of Goulbourn.

igoi] Ells — Ancient Channels. 27

Between the Carp and the present channel of the river, a well
defined ridge of crystalline rocks extends eastward from the
vicinity of Fitzroy to within nine miles of Ottawa city, where it
sinks down nearly to the level of the river and becomes covered
over with Potsdam sandstone. The south side of the ridge is
marked by a well defined line of fault which brings the Black River
limestones against the crystalline rocks. It is supposable there-
fore that an old channel of the river flowed eastward along the
depression in which the Carp River now lies.

To the north of the crystalline rock ridge just mentioned a
second line of depression occurs also south of the Ottawa and
separated from it by another rock ridge formed of Chazy shale
and limestone. In this depression lies Lake Constant, and
Constant Creek flows thence westward to the Ottawa into a deep
depression known as Sand Bay. The elevation of the Creek and
Lake is but a few feet above the present level of the river, the
waters being sluggish throughout, and the depression extends
eastward through a swampy tract into the Ottawa again at Shirley
Bay a few miles West of Britannia. Great areas of reddish sand
occupy the shores of the Ottawa about the mouth of Constant
Creek and for several miles to the east and west.

The north side of the Ottawa between Hull and a point some
miles west of the Chats Falls, practically as far west as the Ottawa
opposite the east end of Calumet Island near Campbell's Bay above
Bryson, is generally low and largely occupied by great deposits of
clay or sand. Occasionally well defined beaches are seen, as in the
area to the north-west of Quyon near the village of North Onslow,
where they are crossed by the road between these two places.
Occasional ridges of rock occur, as in the rear of the town of
Aylmer and north of Bristol station, but the main shore of the
river was at one time undoubtedly marked out by the great ridge
largely composed of reddish grey granite which rises in Kings
Mountain, west of Chelsea, and extends westerly for many miles
forming the northern limit of the great Ottawa plain.

The lower part of the Ottawa must have been at one time
much broader and more delta shaped than at present. On the
north side the range of the crystalline rocks must have de-
fined the river much as at present, as far as the mouthy of the

28 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April

Rouge River, but below this place the hill rang'e trends off more
to the north-east and a broad plain occupied partly by sand and
largely by clay, extends southward to the St. Lawrence. The
northern part of this area is treversed by the North River, which
between St. Jerome and the town of Lachute has but little current
and follows a westerly course till the latter point is reached when
it bends abruptly to the south and meets the Ottawa near the
village of St. Andrews, near the upper end of the Lake of Two
Mountains.

To the south of the North river and east of Lachute a rock
ridge formed of the Potsdam and Calciferous rocks comes in and
extends eastward for some miles. South of this a broad well
terraced valley extends across to the lower portion of the Ottawa,
but this area is again traversed by a granite ridge which
rises just to the east of St. Andrews and extends eastward for
four to five miles. Between these two ridges the depth of clay
and gravel is great. At one point several borings have been
made, one ot which reached a depth of over 120 feet without
touching the underlying rock, so that the bottom of this old
channel is many feet below the present level of the river.

On the south side of the Ottawa below Ottawa city, the
country between the river and the St. Lawrence is generally level
or broken by low ridges, sometimes of rock but often of gravel or
boulders which have come from the north side of the Ottawa.
Over a large part of this area great deposits of clay, overlaid in
places by sands and gravels, are seen, and a peculiar feature of
these deposits is noted in the fact that while the clays are undoubt-
edly of marine origin they rarely show marine fossils, while the
overlying sands and gravels contain these in immense quantities
at very many places. These marine shells however apparently
cease west of a line drawn from Smith's Falls to Prescott or have
not yet been noticed in the western area, though there is no
apparent break in the character of the surface deposits in this
direction.

South of the Ottawa also the evidences of an old river channel
are very clear. A large number of borings have been made in the
last half dozen years both in the vicinity of the river itself and in
the area to the south. Some of these are in ^he course of the east

igoi] Ells — Ancient Channels. 29

and west stretch of the Nation river. The holes were sunk only
to the rock in most cases, through clay with occasional thin
deposits ol sand or gravel. The deepest of these was 210 feet,
and in the township of Plantagenet on the north bank of the
Nation, and in Alfred about two and a half miles east, two holes
were sunk to the underlying Utica, to depths of 180 and i86 feet.
On a h'ne extending- westwardly along what is known as the Brook
in the direction of Eastman's Springs a number of similar holes
have been bored, the depths of which ranged from 100 to 150 feet,
following a fairly direct line. The most easterly of these was put
down at Caledonia Springs to a depth in the clay of 132 feet.
Beyond this to the north-east the country is flat and clay covered
in the direction of L'Orignal at which point presumably this
ancient channel reached the river. Recently in the area south-east
of Ottawa city, near Ramsay's Corners, a boring has been made
which passed through 186 feet of clay and 18 feet of underlying
gravel to the Lorraine shahjs.

This line of excavation may be the continuation of that already
described for the Carp valley, since in the eastern portion of the
Carp area there are great deposits of clay, gravel and sand which
extend beyond the Rideau a few miles south of Ottawa in the
direction of the deep borings just referred to. The old channel
should cross the Rideau not far from the centre of the township of
Gloucester and extend towards the Mer Bleue, since rock escarp-
ments appear a short distance north of that place in the direction
of the Ottawa, and rock ledges are seen to the south in the
direction of Bear Brook on the line of the Canada Atlantic Ry.

On the lower Ottawa between Grenville and Lachute the
surface is generally flat. Deposits of clay, covered in places with
a great thickness of sand, occur in the area between the bold
escarpment of the crystalline rocks and the river, and near the line
of the Grenville canal the accumulation of boulders over the
surface is very great. The whole area for some miles is heavily
drift covered, and great masses of ice must have discharged
immense loads brought from the high lands to the north and north
east in this direction. These accumulations of boulders are found
at intervals over a large extent of country south of the Ottawa,
some of the blocks being of immense size. Near Vankleek Hill

30

The Ottawa Naturallst. [April

great numbers of these loose rocks can be seen, one of which
measures 20 feet by 15 feet and is 4 feet out of the ground.

Among channels of more recent date but which are now
closed except at periods of high water on the river, two at least
may be mentioned. East from Coulonge village a depression
in the surface extends to the Ottawa at the north west angle
of Calumet Island. The eastern portion of the depression to the
west of the river is known as the Grand Marais or Big marsh;
and while at ordinary stages of water in the Ottawa much
of this is comparatively dry, in the spring it becomes a regular
water-course cutting off the great point which extends south-west
from Coulonge village to La Passe.

Further east below Ottawa at the mouth of the Nation river
a depression also occurs forming the bay in front of the villnge of
Papineauville, and separating that place from what is known as
the Presqu'ile. This latter is a long ridge or tongue of gravel
and sand which extends east from the mouth of the North Nation
River for about six miles. At high water stages the current passes
over the narrow barrier at the west end of the Presqu'ile Bay and
flows directly past the village. It is quite possible that close
investigation in the Ottawa basin would disclose other channels
which are now partly filled.

In this paper it has been the intention to indicate only the
most prominent of these old channels. That the submergence of
the whole basin has been sufficient to cause the waters of James
Bay to unite with those of the Ottawa basin is indicated by the
presena of well defined terraces and clay deposits at elevations
greater than the present height of land north of Lake Temiscaming.
It is probably due to this great spread of inland or ocean waters
over this area that the sands and gravels which have been so
instrumental in choking up the ancient valley of the river are so
widely distributed. That these upper level deposits of clay and sand
have not yielded organic remains is only negative evidence against
this theory. On similar grounds much of the typical marine clay
of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence basins would not be of marine
origin since inthe whole stretch north and west of Ottawa city
they yield marine fossils only in very lare cases.

[I±!Ilibraryi so

THE OTTAWA f(ATURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, MAY, 1901. No. 2.

NOTE ON A SUPPOSED NEW SPECIES OF LYTOCERAS

FROM THE CRETACEOUS ROCKS AT DENMAN

ISLAND, IN THE STRAIT OF GEORGIA.

By J. F. WHITKAVES.

In 1 87 1 Mr. James Richardson, then of the Geolog-ical Survey
of Canada, collected a fragment of the inner whorls of an
Ammonite with numerous slender and finely costulate volutions,
a wide, open umbilicus, and rounded venter, from the Cretaceous
rocks at Norris Rock, south of Hornby Island, in the Strait of
Georg^ia. This specimen was described by the writer, referred
with a query to A7n7nonifes Jukesii, Sharpe, and figured, in the
second part of the first volume of " Mesozoic Fossils," published
in 1879, The type and only known specimen of A. Jukesii, it
may be mentioned, is a mere fragment from the "hard Chalk of
the county of Londonderry," Ireland, described and figured by
Sharpe in his monograph of the Cephalopoda of the Chalk, pub-
lished by the Paleeontographical Society of London in 1853.

Much larger, more perfect and beautifully preserved specimens
of the same shell as the specimen from Norris Rock, were collected
at Denman Island, near Hornby Island, four in 1892 and three in
1895, by Mr. Walter Harvey, who also obtained a characteristic
fragment at Hornby Island in 1892. Three of these specimens
from Denman Island are now in the Museum of the Survey, and
two of them were described by the writer, under the name Lyio-
ceras Jukesii (Sharpe), and figured, in a paper "On some Fossils
from the Nanaimo group of the Vancouver Cretaceous," published
in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada for 1895.

32 ' The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

When this paper was written, the writer had not seen the
first part of Dr. Kossmat's memoir on the Chalk formation of
Southern India, pubhshed at Vienna in 1894, in which the sup-
posed A. /ukesti from Norris Rock is placed among the synonyms
of Lyioceras {Gaudryce? us) Kayei (Forbes.) On receiving a copy
of this publication, it seemed to the writer that the large and fine
specimens from Denman Island that had been referred to L.Jukesii
present several points of difference from the L. Kayei, as therein
figured, and one of the best of the Denman Island specimens was
sent to Dr. Kossmat, for comparison with the Indian species.
The conclusions arrived at on this point by Dr. Kossmat, after
this comparison had been made, and as embodied in a letter to
the writer, dated March 9th, i8g6, are as follows:

"Your Lytoceras Jukesii must be distinguished from L. Kayei,
as you already supposed. "Specimens that are not full grown
(as that figured in Mesozoic Fossils, vol. i, pt. 2, pi. 13) agree re-
markably well with all the V^ludayur specimens seen by me, and
it would be quite difficult to distinguish them. "But, in the adult
state, the Denman Island specimens are quite different. "The body
chamber of L, Kayei, as shown in Plate 3, fig. 2, of my publication
is ornamented with very delicate striae, even thinner than in the
inner whorls, and of almost silky -appearance ; whereas, on your
L. Jukesii the ribs of the last volution become very strong and
sharp, and are separated by broad intervals. "There is no doubt
that such specimens are very similar to Lytoceras [Gaudryceras]
Jukesii, Sharpe, but considering the incompleteness of Sharpe's
type specimen, their identification with it will always be disputable.
"Judging from the figure and description of Sharpe's specimen,
the ribs of the type of L. Jukesii, in middle stages of growth, are
sharper, somewhat more distant, and not so strongly curved for-
ward on the sides ; the increase of the whorl in thickness is more
rapid, and the whorls are perhaps less numerous. "I think that
it will be be.st to give a new name to the fine specimens from
Denman Island. "Their septa are typical Gajidryceras septa,
with descending auxiliary lobes."

The writer, accordingly, begs to propose for these specimens^
which have already been described somewhat in detail and figured,
the provisional name of Lytoceras [Gaudryceras) Denmanense.

Ottawa, April i6th, igoi,

[goi]

Chalmers — Gold-Bearing Alluvions.

33

THE SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE GOLD-
BEARING ALLUVIONS OF QUEBEC.

iStu r ft c t

By R. Chalmers, Geolog-ical Survey of Canada.
(Read before the Club, March 19th, 1901.)
The few remarks which I have to offer this evening-, refer to
the gold-bearing river gravels of south-eastern Quebec, in the
Eastern Townships and County of Beauce. Alluvial gold has

been found here in the valleys of the
two principal rivers which drain the
region, the Chaudi^re and the St.
Francis. In the bottoms of the val-
leys along which these rivers and
their tributaries flow, it occurs in
scattered grains and nuggets in the
gravels and sands and frequently in
crevices in the underlying rocks. It
is, however, most generally found in
paying- quantities in old river chan-
nels now partially or wholly filled
with boulJer-clay, these often being
at a lower level than the present
water-courses, and usually on one
side or the other, though in the same
valley. The g-eneral succession of
the deposits in these river valleys is
much the same throughout the re-
gion, and is as follows in descending
order, (fig. i ) :

1. Surface gravel and sand, carry-
ing fine gold in places.

2. Boulder-clay, including in some
valleys, an interglacial deposit.

3. Stratified clay and sand, often
in alternate beds; " the pipe clay "
and "quick-sands "of the miners.

4. Stratified g-ravels, usually rusty,
or oxidized, the materials belonging to local rocks. Gold-bearing^
^specially in lower strata. Gold often coarse.

; 'j^i .-r^ -v^ ;

■:- 1

Yc'(„.

7"

Fig.l. General Section of the
Gold-Bearing Deposits.

34 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

5. Rotten rock, contains particles of g"old.

6. Decomposing" rock surface, uneven, non-glaciated. Gold
in the crevices.

It is in division 4, the lowest member of the stratified beds,
that the g'old is found in greates quantity, though often met with
in the overlying" series, as well as in the decomposed rock beneath.
Where these stratified, oxidized g^ravels rest on the bed rock, the
g'old is most plentiful in the lowest strata, and in the clefts, or
between the folia, of the rocks.

The enquiry as to the orig-in of these g-ravels and how they
came to be gold-bearingf takes us back to an early period in the
g'eological history of the region, — soon after it emerged from
beneath the sea and became dry land. Subaerial denudation
then began and has been in incessant operation ever since. About
this time the larger rivers probably had their origin and began to
carve out their valleys. Throughout the long ages which have
intervened since, these forces of nature, under varying conditions,
have been wearing away and reducing the surface of the land.
This reduction has been unequal because of the unequal hardness
of the rocks, and the difference in their power of resisting erosion.
The degradation from these agencies must have been enormous,
amounting to several hundreds, perhaps several thousands, of
feet, entirely changing the appearance of the country, the existing
residual forms of relief being, in no small degree, the result of this
wear and waste of the land surface. Regional and orogenic move-
ments have taken place during these ages, the effects ot which
are evidenced by uplifts and downthrows in several places and in
the dislocation of the river valleys ; but no cessation in the action
of the decomposing and transporting forces seems to have occurred
till a much later period, when it was interrupted by the ice age.

Coming down to the Tertiary period we can, perhaps, form
some conception of the appearance of this region then, though in
an imperfect degree, if we suppose it stripped of all the boulder-
clay and overlying deposits. Except on some of the more promi-
nent hills and summits, the surface of the rocks would be mantled
by a thick sheet of its own debris. On the slopes and in the river
valleys this material would be largely denuded and portions of the
decomposed rock would form stratified beds, especially where it

igoi] Chalmers — Gold-Bearing Alluvions. 35

had underg-one transportation and modification by the action of
rivers and streams. Prolonged shifting" of the gravels and their
gold content in this manner, assorting and reasserting the materi-
als and the sifting out of the least weighty, allowing the gold and
other heavy particles to settle to the bottom — were the processes
which brought about the conditions which we now find existing as
regards these auriferous deposits.

In the glacial period which followed, these river beds were
buried beneath sheets of boulder-clay. The thickness of the boul-
der-clay in the Chaudiere valley is 100 feet or more. The ancient
valley of the Gilbert was likewise filled with it to a depth of 25 to
50 feet.

On the withdrawal of the ice of the glacial period the rivers
began to clear out their ancient channels cutting down into the
boulder-clay and other beds, and in many places eroding the g^old-
bearing gravels beneath, and once more exposing them to view.
But in some valleys, as for example in that of the Gilbert, the
river was diverted from its original channel and caused to form a
new one, and the auriferous gravels in the pre-glacial channel have
thus been preserved from erosion. In these valleys the ancient
channel is generally at a lower level. The pre-glacial channel of
the Gilbert is from 30 to 85 feet below the bed of the present river
in that part wrought for gold, and from 100 to 400 feet or more to
the south of it. All the river valleys have, however, undergone
dislocations during and since the glacial period, so that while some
parts of a pre-glacial river channel may be considerably lower than
the present one, in other places it is not.

From all the facts which have been obtained it would seem
that the alluvial gold is entirely of local origin, that is, the gravels
and the gold they contain belong to the rocks of the particular
valley in which we now find them. But just from what rocks the
gold came, whether from the pre-Cambrian or Cambrian or both
is by no means evident. There is no question but that it is de-
rived from some of the quartz veins in the vicinity of where it now
occurs ; but as little or no quartz mining has been carried on, no
new tacts were obtained by us which would elucidate the problem.
Logan and Hunt regarded the gold as belong-ing to the oldest
rocks of the region, that is to the crystalline schists of the Notre

36 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

Dame range. But the gold of southeastern Quebec is not confined
to the oldest rocks. Though occurring in these, it is also found
in quartz veins which traverse Cambrian slates. Indeed, the
largest quantities of alluvial gold have been obtained in districts
occupied by these slates, where they are cut by diorite dykes, a
fact brought out by Ells. On the supposition that the original
source of the precious metal is in the pre-Cambrian schists, how-
ever, these, in their disintegration and waste, may have yielded
gold to the sediments which, doubtless, entered into the composi-
tion of the Palaeozoic rocks. This gold would be in a fine state of
division, but would be concentrated in the quartz veins at a later
date.

The total gold production of southeastern Quebec, as been
valued at two millions to two and a quarter million dollars. Of this
amount probably from one million and a quarter to a million and
a half dollars worth have been taken from the Gilbert river beds
alone. Ditton is said to have yielded from seventy-five to one
hundred thousand dollars. The remainder has been obtained
from the gravels of Du Loup, Famine, Des Plantes and
Mill rivers, tributaries of the Chaudiere, and from Dudswell,
Magog, etc., on the St. Francis.

A New Horse Gentian. — In the March number of Torreya,
Dr. Bicknell describes a new species of Triosteum which he names
T. aurantiacum. An examination of the specimens in the herb-
arium ot the Geological Surve}- shows that while those from
Western Ontario are T. perfoliatum those collected at Casselman,
near Ottawa, are T. aura?itiacu?n. Though there are many strik-
ing differences between the two species, the most obvious one is
to be seen in the main leaves "which broadly perfoliate in true
perfoliahini are in the new species conspicuously narrowed into a
merely sessile base." As the two species have much the same
range T. perfoliattini should be looked tor in this vicinity. ^

C

iQoi] Holm — Allies of Stellaria Medium. 37

ALLIES OF STELLARIA MEDIA (L.) Cyrillo.

By Theo. Hcvlm,
(With two plates.)

Plants as common as the " common Chickweed " are seldom
collected by botanists, very seldom studied, and as a rule, but
poorly represented in herbaria. Authors of manuals, especially in
North-America, have usually paid very little attention to the
plant, and no variety or subspecies has, so far, been recorded
from Canada or the United States. Being- considered as a weed
infesting- gardens, and being so very abundant everywhere in damp
soil, it has escaped attention in this country, although other
plants of similar frequent occurrence, and with much the same
behaviour as weeds have been granted a good deal of attention,
and have been treated quite elaborately by systematic botanists.
But Stellaria media appears always to be the same, a single
species with no characteristic forms or varieties appended, yet it is
recognized as being equally common in the boreal and temperate
regions of both the old and new world, and to produce its flowers
from earliest spring to late autumn or sometimes even throughout
the winter.

Judging from a geographical range such as this, one
would naturally suspect that the species would hardly be
equally uniform and constant in appearance, as it is noted
to be common nearly everywhere. We all know that it
may be met with in our wandermgs through woods and thickets,
along borders of creeks, in old river-bottoms, very often remote
from inhabited places, yet it is always looked upon as an intro-
duced plant of no interest whatever. Whether it was introduced
to this country from Europe or Siberia, no one knows, but the
probability is, that it has existed on the Pacific Coast a sufficient
time to develop into several varieties, or perhaps even subspecies
with power to spread towards more distant regions in eastern
direction. It would be interesting to know something about its
geographical distribution in the boreal parts of America, where
it, no doubt, extends beyond the Arctic circle as it does in Siberia
and Europe, Russia for instance ; that it extends from the Pacific

38 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

to the Atlantic in the British provinces, has been recorded in
Professor Macoun's Catalogue of Canadian plants, and it shows a
similar wide range in the United States, even as far south as
from California to the coasts of P'lorida. But it does seem strange
that we actually know so little about this plant in America, and
that no one has, so far, attempted to illustrate the species as it
occurs in the north and south, east and west, in cultivated
grounds, in woods, thickets, etc., instead of being contented
with the idea that it is always the same introduced " common
Chickweed."

In Europe the plant is known much better. Already Linnaeus
distinguished between " pentstemon " and, "decastemon" as two
forms of the species, both of which were then figured in Flora
Danica by M. Vahl and O. F. Mueller (1769-70) ; the locality for
"pentstemon" is given as everywhere in cultivated grounds,
while the other is said to be frequent in springy places, A corres-
ponding variation in the number of stamens from 3 to 10 is,
furthermore, recorded by Lightfoot^ and Rafn." Meanwhile
Father Bernardinus of Ucria'^ described an apetalous Stellaria,
which he consequently named S. apeiala, and which in many
respects looks like a depauperate or abnormal form of our Chick-
weed. This is the plant which Dumortier^ described as Alsine
pallida and Jordan^ as Stellaria borceana, and which Pir^" finally
figured under the name S. pallida. " Pentstemon," " De-
castemon " and " apetala " thus signify two distinct plants of
which the two first were at that time supposed to represent
Stellaria 7nedia, while " apetala" was a species distinct from this.
However, some years later we find the Linnaean form "decastemon"
elevated to specific rank as Stellaria neglecta Whe.,'' a suggestion

^ Lightfoot, John. Flora Scotica. 1777, p. 172.

^ Rafn, C. G. Danmarks og- Holsteens Flora, iSoo, p. 381.

^ Father Bernardinus of Ucria. Planta; ad Liiina?Hnum opus addenda;
et secundum Linnaei systema noviter descriptJE. " Rcemer's Archiv fiir die
Botanik," Vol. I, 1796, p. 68.

^ Dumoriier B. Prodronuis floras Belgica;, 1827, p. 109.

^ Jordan, A. Pug-illus plantarum novarum, 1S52, p. 33.

^ Pir^, Louis. Notice sur V Alsine pallidn Dmtr. " Bull, de la soc.
Roy. de Botanique de Belgfique," Vol. 2, 1863, p. 43.

' Weihe in " Bluff et Fingerhuth : Compendium flora; Germanize, " 1825,
Vol. I, p. 560.

igoi] Holm — Allies of Stellarl\ Medium. 39

that was followed by several botanists, among them Elias
Fries, ^ who recorded it from Sweden and Denmark, and Babing-
ton,^ who reported both this and S. pallida from the British
Isles. There are not a few authors, however, who have felt more
inclined to consider these plants as representing a single species,
"6'. media'''' with the others as merely varieties. Thus FenzP **
enumerates three varieties, deca?idm, oligandra and apetala,
besides four others, which are less characteristic ; a similar classi-
fication is given by Langi, ^ ' who distinguishes between var. vul-
garis with 3-5 stamens, var. neglecta with 10 stamens and var.
apctala without petals, or as suggested by DoelP - var. decandra
and var. apetala.

Stellaria media is, thus, with European botanists the plant
with 3-7 stamens, S. neglecta the one with 10 stamens and S.
apetala with 2-5 stamens, but with no petals. Of these the
typical form has been described as being very frequent in
North-America, while none of the others have been cited. It
would, however, be desirable to know a little more about this
plant as it is represented in this country, and we thought there-
fore, that some more information might be obtained by presenting
this brief notice about the European plant with its allies, whether
these be considered as varieties or species. And there is good
reason for supposing that the species, S. media, in this country is
actually an aggregate of several well defined forms or even
species, which may naturally be looked for in the cold temperate
resfions or farther south. So far the writer has succeeded in
detecting Weihe's 6*. neglecta in the vicinity of Washington,
D.C., where it grew in shady places in deciduous forests, more-
over, some specimens in Dr. E. L. Greene's herbarium, collected
in California proved to be this species, besides that the herbarium
of the Geological Survey Department of Canada, contains several

* Fries, Elias. Corpus florarum provinciarum Sueciae I. Flora Scanica.
1835, P- 88.

'^ Babington, C. C. Manual of British Botany, 1874, p. 57.

^o Fenzl in " Ledebour's Flora Rossica." 1841, Vol. I, p. 377.

^^ Lange, Job. Haandbog iden Danske Flora, 1864, p. 342.

^- DceII, I. Ch. Flora des Grossherzogthums Baden, \'ol. 3, 1862,
p. 1224.

40 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

specimens of the same from British Columbia, Manitoba and Sable
Island.* As reg^ards S. apctala we have seen no specimens from
North America, but it would be very strang-e if this should not be
found here also.

In order to facilitate the identification of S. apetala and
S. neglecta., we have thought it worth while to illustrate these
besides giving' a few notes upon their principal characteristics.

Stellaria apetala Bernard. (Plate i, fig. i.)

This has the general aspect of ordinary forms of .S". media in
regard to the leaf-shape and inflorescence, but it is pale green and
the flower has no petals ; however, rudimentary petals may
occasionaly be found in the earliest developed flowers ; the num-
ber of stamens varies from two to five, and the styles (fig. A.) are
diverging horizontally from near the base, while in S. media (fig.
B.) the styles are erect and only recurved at the apex. The seeds
are of a pale yellowish-brown colour, minutely tubercled like
those of S. media. The figure (i.) is drawn from a Swedish
specime*!, natural size.

S. neglecta Whe. (Plate 2, fig. 2,)
Generally taller, but more slender than S. media, deep green.
The lower leaves have long petioles (fig. C) and the blade is very
distinctly pointed in contrast to the leaf of S. media ; the inflor-
escence is more lax and the flowers are borne on long, very slender
peduncles, which bend downwards after the flowering, but become
erect soon after the seeds have fallen. The petals are as long as
the calyx or even a little longer, while they are shorter than the
calyx in S. media. The stamens are ten in number, but the styles
are erect with recurved apex, as in S. viedia. The seeds (fig. D.)
are larger than those of S. media (fig. E) and the tubercles are
much more prominent and often cone-shaped. The figure (2) is
drawm from a specimen collected near Washington, D.C.
S. neglecta is, according to Murbeck,^'' a well marked type in
North and Middle Europe, but specimens from the Mediterranean,

* These specimens are labeled: Cedar Hill near Victoria B.C. ; Burrard
Inlet B.C.; Killarney Man.; Sable Island, N. S.

^■■' Murbeck Sv, Die nordeuropagischen Formen der Gattung- Stellaria.
Botaniska Notiser. Lund. 1899, p. 193.

iQoi] Hold — Allies of Stellaria Medium. 41

for instance North Africa, are less distinct, passing- gradually over
into S. 7nedia. Dr. Murbeck feels, therefore, more inclined to
consider S. neglecta as a subspecies of S. media, rather than an
independent species. While the plants from Washington and
Canada show the characteristic habit of Swedish and German
specimens, we must state, however, that the seeds of our speci-
mens did not show the tubercles quite as prominent as we
observed in the European plant, of which the seed (fig-. D) has
been illustrated.

These characters seem sufficient for distinguishing these
plants, but it would be interesting to know whether S. apetala
occurs in this country, and whether the characters are constant.
It may be that S. neglecta is more typically developed in the
northern countries than in the south. In regard to the flowering-
time, S. media is known to bloom and produce seeds nearly through"
out the year thus several generations may appear in the same year
under favourable conditions. S. apetala and S. neglecta are, on
the other hand, known only to bloom in the spring, and their
seeds do not germinate until the following autumn, as has been
observed in Europe. Our specimens from Washington of the
latter were, however, collected in the last week of September with
ripe seeds and a very few flowers, which might indicate a second
generation.

Explanation of Plates.
Plate I, fig-. I. — Flowering specimen of Stellaria apetala, Bernard. Natural
size.

Figf. A. — Pistil of same.

Fig-. B. — Pistil of 5. media.
PUte 2, fig. 2. — Inflorescence oi Stellaria neglecta, Whe. Xntural size.

Fig. C. —Stem-leaves of same, natural size.

Fig, D. — Seed of same, magnified.

Fig. E. — Seed of 5. media, magnified.

!^|LIBRARY|aD|

42 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

NEW PLANTS FROM ALBERTA.

By Edw. L. Greene.

Berberis brevipes. Allied to B. nana but every way smaller,
the foliag-e of a deeper green and merely g-laucescent rather than
g-laucous ; leaves with very short petiole, not longer than the inter-
nodes of the rachis ; leaflets usually seven, rather broadly elliptic-
oblong, I to I y^ inches long, sharply and closely spinulose-serrate,
very acute, conspicuously though minutely reticulate, in texture
comparatively thin ; racemes short and few-flowered, but in fruit
surpassing the petioles ; berries small, subglobose, blue and very
glaucous.

Collected at Crow's Nest Pass, Rocky Mts., August, 1897, by
Prof. John Macoun; No. 18,080 of the Canadian Geological Survey
Collection. It is next of kin to the more southerly B. naiia,
Greene, which so long passed, by mistake, under the name of B.
repens; but it is wholly distinct by several characters, among the
best of which is the short-stalked foliage. In B. nana the petioles
are so long as to surpass even the long fruiting racemes.

Stfllaria subvestit.v. Numerous suberect stems densely
tufted, slender though firm, 5 to 10 inches high, very leafy below
the middle, the dichotomous cyme notably narrow and strict ;
leaves linear-acuminate, ^ inch long, i-nerved, erect, sub-
tomentose beneath, otherwise more or less pilose-pubescent, the
stem also pilose, the peduncle and pedicels less so ; bracts of the
cyme ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, scarious, often villous-
ciliate; sepals oval, obtuse or acutish, scarious-margined, i-nerved
and the nerve often pilose; petals little exceeding the calyx ; cap-
sule not seen.

Obtained at Devil's Head Lake and Banff", National Park,
July, 1891, by Prof. John Macoun ; the specimens distributed for
S. longipes var. ; but the species is of diff'erent habit, and is well
marked by the strong pubescence, the strict and narrow cyme, etc.

[goi] Ami — The late George M, Dawson. 43

THE LATE GEORGE MERCER DAWSON.

The world of science and especially of geolog^y received a
severe shock on the evening of Saturday, the 2nd day of March
igoij when the news of the death of Dr. G. M. Dawson was
announced. This sad event was altogether unexpected and leaves
the ranks of the Canadian Geological Survey minus one of its most
distinguished men, one who had always taken a foremost part in
carrying on the good work of his predecessors in the position of
Director.

Not only as a geologist, but also as an ethnologist and
naturalist Dr. Dawt'On was well known, and his too early loss
will be felt by the whole scientific world.

The immediate cause of the death, was a severe attack of
capillary bronchitis which set in subsequent to a somewhat pro-
tracted but apparently only slight cold. Dr. Dawson had been
attending to his official duties all day Thursday Feb. 28th and had
thus been only a whole day absent from the Department when he
breathed his last at five minutes after six in the evening, at his
rooms in the Victoria Chambers, Ottawa.

His loss to Canada cannot be overestimated. His place can
never properly be filled. He will be missed most by the various
members of the Geological Survey of Canada with whom he was
in constant communication regarding the advancement and welfare
of every part of the Dominion of Canada.

The earl)^ training he received with his father, Sir William
Dawson, at McGill University, subsequently in London, England,
at the Royal School of Mines, eminently fitted him for the distin-
guished positions which he held during his lifetime and at the time
of his death, as Director of the Canadian Geological Survey.

By his demise there is removed from this sphere of activity
one of the greatest lights and intellects of the last progressive half
of the century just ended. His numerous and important writings
are a monument which will ever be a crown of glory and renown
to his life-work, for his industry, talent and painstaking accuracy.

He was a Nestor in Canadian geology and the grasp which

44 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

his strong intellect had of all problems relating- to the economic
and natural resources of our vast Dominion, made him master of
his Department and a centre of distribution of the most valuable
information. With a diminished staflF at his disposal, he guided
the Department under his care with unsparing as well as inspiring
efforts, and was thus producing more results and giving out more
information than ever before in any period of the history of the
Survey in all its different branches.

With the ever increasing demands for exact information con-
cerning the mineral and other economic resources of Canada, with
the increase of labour and attention to oflficial matters, he was kept
more than usually busy for the past six years. Through his
personal efforts and that of his staff, he did much to disseminate
such information 'regarding Canada's mineral resources, that the
mining interests of the Dominion may now be said to be fairly well
established upon a firm and non-speculative basis.

Dr. George Mercer Dawson was the eldest son of the late Sir
William Dawson who was the honoured Principal of McGill
University for upwards of forty-four years, and who preceded the
subject of this sketch by a few months only, having died in Mont-
real, his home, on the 19th day of November, 1899, at the advan-
ced age of 79.

" Doctor George," as he was wont to be called, was born in
the town of Pictou, Nova Scotia, Aug. ist, 1849. His early training
was at the Montreal High School, then subsequently, at home
under tutors, and in McGill University, where however, he did not
graduate, but went to Edinburgh and London. There he carried on
studies and researches in Mining and Geology, especially at the
Royal School of Mines, London, from 1869 to 1872, carrying off
the highest honours of his class and the Duke of Cornwall's prize
in his year, also the Edward Forbes gold medal for paleontology,
ranking first, and subsequently became an "Associate of the Royal
School of Mines," a much coveted title.

On his return to Canada he spent some time investigating the
copper and iron deposits of Nova Scotia, his native province, and
later lectured in Morrin Col'ege. In 1873, he was appointed
geologist and botanist to Her Majesty's British North American
boundary commission, of which Major D. R. Cameron, R.A., was

igoi] Ami — The late George M. Dawson. 45

Chief Commissioner for Britain. His excellent report upon the
Geology and Mineral Resources of the 49th parallel from the Lake
of the Woods to the Pacific Ocean marked him out as a scholar
and an eminent observer. He was only twenty five years of age
when this report was prepared. This volume was so eagerly
sought, that it is now out of print, the edition being soon ex-
hausted and a copy is conceded to be actually worth its weight in
gold.

Then it was that were laid down the lines upon his subsequent
career and researches lay, for in July 1875, ^^'hen he received from
the Dominion Government an appointment on the Geological Sur-
vey staff, as Chief Geologist, his explorations and researches led
him into the vast and then practically unknown Northwest Terri-
tories, and in British Columbia. In the mass of his voluminous
and much-sought-for reports upon the resources of the districts
which he examined and explored will be found the most authentic
and useful information on those now rapidly developing and flour-
ishing districts. In his Yukon explorations of 1887 and 1888, he
examined and reported upon that most valuable and important
district to which the world has been and is still looking for most
years for a goodly share of its source of supply of gold. He was
the real discoverer and describer of that now famous gold-bearing
belt in which there is happily left as a monument to his indefatig-
able researches in the eighties the capital town or city of the
Yukon Territory, which now bears his name.

Not onlv were his mental strenofth and intellectual vigour
rem'arkable but even his powers of physical endurance were great.
As an instance of the latter, may be mentioned a boat journey of
1,300 miles and a portage of fifty from the Valley of the Liard to
that of the Yukon, as one of the feats which his zeal and energy as
an explorer accomplished. It would be superfluous here to give
even a synopsis of his numerous reports, suffice it to say that they
are all most readable and full of useful information on the reerions
traversed.

Besides being an eminent geologist, he was also a foremost
naturalist. Amongst his contributions to the Empire may be
mentioned his work as one of the Commissioners appointed by
Her Late Majesty Queen Victoria, as one of the arbiters in the

46 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

Behring Sea seal fisheries. The conditions and real facts concern-
ing- seal life were studied by him and have been Britain's most
powerful argument in the case. In 1883 he was appointed assis-
tant director to the Geological Survey Department. In 1892,
after his work on this commission was ended, Her Majesty Queen
Victoria was pleased to create him a C.M.G., and in 1890 and 1891
respectively, Queen's and McGill Universities conferred upon him
the degree of doctor of laws honoris causa.

In 1 89 1 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Eng-
land, the highest scientific body in Britain, for his eminent work
in geological science. In 1893 he was elected President of the
Royal Society of Canada ; in 1894, corresponding member of the
Zoological Society of London ; in 1895, Fellow of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science ; in 1896, chosen
President of Section "C" in Geology of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science, and in 1897 delivered a masterly
inaugural address upon the Archaean geology of Canada. In the
same year, the Royal Geographical Society of London presented
him with their highest award, a gold medal ; and in 1891 had
been awarded the Bigsby medal for eminent researches in
geology by the Geological Society of London. The recipient of
this medal must not be older than 45 years at his last birthday.

As an ethnologist and archjeologist, Dr. Dawson stood fore-
most in Canada and was an eminent authority. Many of his spare
hours were devoted to this most important subject. His report
upon the manners and customs of the Haidas in the Queen Char-
lotte Islands and the numerous and interesting specimens he
brought with him have laid the foundations of the ethnological
department of the National Museum at Ottawa. The Geological
Survey of Canada was fortunate in having so able a scientist and
geologist as Dr. Dawson for its director. He has done much in
disseminating exact knowledge regarding the vast regions of the
west chiefly, whilst his attention and care has led him to take a
most prominent part in the economic prosperity and development
of the eastern or older provinces. His courteous and practical
replies' to the constant stream of correspondence which, in his
position as chief of the Geological Survey department, he received,
have done much to place Canada's mining interests on a solid

I

1901] Ami — The late George M. Dawson. i\y

basis. He had successfully carried out the work of his predecess.
ors, Sir William Logan and Dr. Selwyn, in investigating the
resources of Canada, both far and near. His death is an irrepar-
able loss to Canada, to science, but especially to the Geological
Survey Department.

Dr. Dawson was by nature of a retiring disposition, though
exceedingly sociable and amusing as well as always interesting in
company, yet more so in the case ot geologists, and above all
in the field. He was unmarried, and a foremost member of the
Rideau Club, where he was most popular and highly appreciated.
He proved to possess a perfectly inexhaustible fund of ready
knowledge upon questions of Canadian or of world-wide interest.

His writings are to be found in the Annual Reports of the
Geological Survey department, in the Quarterly Journal of the
Geological Society of London, in the American Journal of Science
and Arts, in the Canadian Naturalist, the Ottawa Naturalist, &c.
In 1894 he was unanimously elected President of the Royal Society
of Canada, the theme of his address being "The Future of Science
in Canada." He was Associate Editor of the Journal of Geology
of Chicago, and for three years he was President of the Ottawa
Field-Naturalists' Club, during which term he did all in his power
to advance and promote the interests of the Club. His was a lite
constantly devoted to the best interests oi his official work. He
combined indomitable energy with will power which did much to
keep up his vital strength as against what might be termed a
weakly physique. Close attention — possibly too close attention —
during late years, to office work, and a lack of outdoor physical
exercise, which he was wont to enjoy in his arduous mountain
climbings and in his explorations of many unknown regions of this
great Dominion, possibly combined to weaken his constitution.

He was called away most suddenly and will be missed by all
who knew him personally or through his writings; but he has left
behind him a noble monument of his industry as an explorer and
of his skill as a practical geologist both in his official work and in
the personal influence which he exerted in the advancement of
science and scientific thought for twenty-six years.

As a geologist Dr. Dawson's reputation was world-wide. He
was one of those investigators into the realm of geological science

48 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

who sought not only to point out the at once practical and
economic side in the resources of the earth's crust ot" Canada, his
native land, but one who diligently and intelligently hammered
away at the numerous problems ot pure geological science. They
are numerous the problems in the geology of North America
which are as yet unsolved ; and, wherever an element of doubt
came in, as to the truth or validity of the results propounded by
this or that investigator, or whenever intricate bits ot geology
presented themselves to his mind and eye for investigation, he
made it his sacred duty to closely examine and carefully study their
various relations in the field as well as in the office, thus seeking
to ascertain all the facts of the case to enable him to arrive at a
satisfactory conclusion of the difficult points involved. He never
rested until the problem which he had before his mind was solved.
In other words he was thorough. His reports, maps and papers
are models of excellence and description. He had a facile pen,
an intelleect ready and lucid, which could grasp the situation at a
glance. His love for thoroughness and the best possible work
came forth time and again in his endeavors, as the head of the
Geological Survey of Canada, to present to the Hon. the Minister
of the Interior, and to Parliament, the reports under his care, as
well as the innumerable correspondence of the department making
enquiries on the resources of every quarter of our great Dominion
as models ot care and attention. The reports issued during his
regime as Deputy Head and Director can truly be said to be the
pride of the Department. As regards quality as well as quantity
of work brought forth and exact information published and dis-
seminated by him during the six years and two months of his
administration, it can not be denied that they were both un-
paralleled in any previous period in the history of this now old
and established institution.

A cursory sketch of the various regions examined by Dr.
Dawson during his connection with the Geological Survey of
Canada will serve to shew the amount of territory which he covered
and the nature of his extensive researches.

After completing his explorations and surveys in connection
with the British American Boundary Commission, and writing his
priceless memoir on the same, he contributed several reports which

igoi] Ami — The late George M. Dawson. 49

are noted in the Reports of Progress of the Geological Survey of

i[' Canada for 1873-74, for 1874-75. These include reports on the
" hematite deposits of Pictou County, Nova Scotia ; on the limo-
nites of the same county and on the spathic ore deposits of the
K Sutherland's River, N.S.; also on the clay-iron stones of the
Tertiary, along the 49tL parallel, and the limestones of the Creta-
K ceous of the Swan River and Thunder Hill in Manitoba ; together

■ with the results of his botanical researches along the 49th parallel.

■ In the Report of Progress for 1875-76 comes his report on
Chilco and Nazco rivers and trail to P'ort George, B.C., and in
the next year's report his results in the basins of the Blackwater,
Salmon and Necchacco rivers and of Fran<;:ois Lake, B.C., along
with a reconnaissance report of Leech River and vicinity on Van-
couver Island. This report includes a statement of the condition
ot mines and mining in British Columbia at this early period.
Coals and lignites and many minerals of economic importance
were obtained by him along ihe route and analyses made by the
department which have helped to lay down the foundation of the
mineral wealth of that once remote province, hut one whose re-
sources, thanks to Dr. Dawson's work, is to-day well known and
appreciated.

In 1S77 and 1878 Dr. Dawson's field of explorations was in
the Queen Charlotte Islands. It would suffice to obtain an estimate
of the subject of this sketch to peruse the most interesting report
on the resources and possibilities of these hitherto unknown islands
from his pen. It was a practically virgin district tor him and the
excellent maps which he prepared that were published by the
Department reflect greatly to his credit however young he was at
that time. Not only as a geologist did he excel in this report, but
he distinguished himself also as an ethnologist of repute. He
shewed the world of science what an abundant field for research
and enquiry there was open on that west coast. Even with the
languages and vocabularies of the different tribes of the
aborigines which he visited and examined, he made himself
familiar, and has contributed much of value to the Philology of
the western tribes of British Columbia.

Dr. Dawson's reports are usually accompanied by an exten-
sive series ot Appendices. He was a most prolific collector of

i

50 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

facts and specimens. Accordingly, his reports sometimes contain
as many as a dozen appendices on all kinds of subjects of import-
ance and interest to our country. The floras and faunas met with,
the insects and Crustacea, the shells of the land and of the sea,
weather reports and other interesting meteorological observations;
as well as the fossil organic remains of the district which he visited,
he ever looked after most carefully, for he truly knew their great
value as horizon markers. He not only submitted these various
collections to specialists and authorities throughout the country
and abroad from whom he received further information from time
to time but examined and described them himself.

Later, in the Report of Progress for 1878-79, he gives notes on
the geology of areas drained by the Red and Assiniboine River^
in Manitoba, and also describes the Coal deposits of the Lignite
Tertiary of the Souris River, trom the Great Valley and Porcupine
Creek. The report of his explorations on the Skeena and down
the Peace in 1879 ^""^ embodied in the Report of Progress for the
year 1879-80, which is entitled "A report on exploration from Port
Simpson to Edmonton, by the Peace River." Much important
astronomical data has been furnished the government by Dr.
Dawson during his numerous voyages and explorations wh-ich
serve to fix the latitude and longitude of distant places on our Map
of the Dominion.

In 1882 Dr. Dawson visited Europe where he carried on
studies having for their object the utilization of the lignites of the
West as fuels, and the results of his researches were embodied in
a subsequent report.

For a knowledge of the forests of British Columbia the
country is under a great debt to Dr. Dawson. He sought not
only to bring forward the immense value which they prove to
possess but also to point out the best means to preserve such a
grand heritage. In the Districts of Alberta and Assiniboia he did
much to reveal their hidden geological structure and economic
resources, especially as far as coal is concerned. Up to 10,000,000
tons of coal to the square mile for hundreds of square miles of
territory he has described and reported, and time will only serve
to emphasize the accuracy of his carefully sought out facts from the
bosom of Nature which was ever ready to yield her secrets to him,

logi] Ami — The late George M. Dawson. 51

who knew her heart and appreciated her bountiful stores. His
report on the g-eolog-y of Bow and Belly Rivers in the Report of
Progress for 1880-82 affords a condensed summary of his explora-
tions in the districts just east of the Foothill country.

In 1883, Dr. Dawson was engag-ed along- the western slope of
the Rocky Mountains proper and had with him as assistant that year
Mr. J. B. Tyrrell who examined the geology and structure of the
Crow's Nest Pass with its great possibilities for Coal. In 1884 he
carried on explorations farther north in the Rocky Mountain and
Selkirks region and prepared a reconnaissance map and a report
giving the results, together with notes on the geology of the Red
Deer River country.

In 1885, Dr.Selwyn was appointed as Canadian Commissioner
to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition and Dr. Dawson superin-
tended the work of the survey as Acting Director, and his time
was fully occupied in attending to the duties of the office, to the
shipment of the minerals and ores of the Dominion and cataloeuino-
the same as well as of editing the first Annual Report of the Sur-
vey's new series. However, he found time to write and publish
his own report on the Rocky Mt. region, and Dr. Selwyn makes
the following kindly allusion to his work : —

"I wish here to record my high appreciation of the very able
" and efficient manner in which Dr. Dawson has performed all the
"work."

Dr. Dawson was officially appointed to the staff of the Geol-
ogical Survey of Canada in 1876, as we read on page 7 of the
Report of Progress for 187:^-76, where Dr. Selwyn, then Director,
informs us as follows :— "Mr. G. M. Dawson, late Geologist and
Naturalist on the International Boundary Survey of the 4gth
parallel was appointed and has since been actively engaged in
exploration in British Columbia." It was during this first year
of Dr. Dawson's connection with the Canadian Survey that tha
Centennial Exhibition was held in Philadelphia and on page 2 of the
report just quoted one can see that even at that early date he had
the material welfare and prosperity of British Columbia at heart.
He contributed, we read, not a little towards the proper repre-
sentation and display of the then little known mineral resources of
the Pacific province, and not only were the minerals attended
to,^ but also the vegetable as well as the animal products of
British Columbia.

5 2 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

His recent reports on the Kamloops District of British Colum-
bia, those on the Southern Interior of the same province, on the
Northwest Territories, on the Yukon Territory (containing" in 1888,
as this last mentioned report did, nearly 400 pag'es of description
of that now famous region including its gold-bearing" gravels,)
also his Queen Charlotte and Vancouver Island reports, are all
replete with the greatest interest and afford the best works of
reference upon these important regions.

A list of Dr. Dawson's writings has been prepared from
various bibliographic sources and references to original papers
from his pen, in geology, natural history, &c. These comprise
hundreds of reports, memoirs and papers on economic as well as
scientific subjects. It is reserved for a subsequent issue of The
Ottawa Naturalist.

Dr. Dawson was President of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists'
Club for three years, from 1891 to 1894; and as much as lay in his
power he worked in the interest of our Club, not only by contri-
buting important papers to the pages of its Transactions but also

by encouraging others to do the same. His love for science and
scientific work was unbounded, and of him it may be truly said
that he spent himself for his country and his country's good.
Especially in the West he will be greatly missed.

I cannot more fitly close this sketch than by quoting part of
that admirable

Ode to "Dr. George" by Capt. Clive Phillipps-VVoolley.*

" Hope she h-is fooled us often, but we follow her Spring" call yet,
And we'd risk our lives on his say so and steer the course he set,
Down the Dease and the lonely Liard, froni Yukon to Stikine ;
There's always a point to swear by, where the little doctor's been.
Who made no show of his learning". But, Lord ! what he didn't know
Hadn't the worth of country rock, the substance of summer snow.
I guess had he chosen, may be, he'd have quit the noise and fuss
Of cities and high palavers to throw in his lot with us.
He'd crept so close to Nature, he could hear what the Big Things say,
Our Arctic Nights, and our Northern Lights, our winds and pines at play.
HE loved his work and his workmates, and all as he took for wage
Was the name his brave feet traced him on Northland's newest page —
That, and the hearts of the hardfists, though I reckon for work well done.
Ho who set the stars for guide lights, will keep him the place he won,
Will lead him safe through the Passes and over the Last Divide,
To the Camp of Honest Workers, of men who never lied.
And tell him the boys he worked for, say, judging as best they can,
TJiaf ill laitds ivhich try ntaiihood hardest, he ivas tested atid proved A ]\Ian."

Ottawa, 19th April, 1901. H. M. Ami.

"Ex. British Columbia Mining Record for April, 1901.

igoi] Macoun — Ornithology. 53

ORNITHOLOGY.

Bird Notes.
By W. T. Macoix.

Although the winter was unusually long and the ground
covered with snow until the second week of April the Robins,
Song Sparrows and Bluebirds, three of the first migrants, were
here several days earlier than either in 1899 or igoo. Although
not birds, the frogs, which are among the first spring songsters,
were heard near the Experimental Farm on April loth. Mr.
White reports seeing them on the 14th. By co-operation the
records of the arrivals of birds become more reliable, and we have
begun well this year, several members of the Club having sent in
their notes. As space will not permit of publishing all the notes
only the earliest dates are recorded. Observers in other parts of
Canada have also contributed notes, but as these are not yet com-
plete their publication in tabular form has been postponed until
next month. Notes intended for the Ornithological Editor should
be sent to him not later than the 20th of the month.

I go I.
Jan. 12 — Saw-whet Owl, Nyctala acadica. Mr. C. H. Young^.

Y^h. 20 — Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umhclhis. Mr. A. G. Kingfston.

20 -Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, Mr. King-ston.

20 — American Crow, Corvus ajneiicnnus. Mr. Kingston. Spring
migration, March 13th. Mr. White.

20 — Chickadee, Pams atricapUlus. Mr. Kingston.
March i — Prairie Horned Lark, Otocoris alpcstris praiicula. Mr. Young.
Not seen at the Experimental Farm until March 19.

12 — Evening Grosbeak, Coccothranstes vespertina. Three specimens
seen near Normal School b}- the caretaker and reported by
Mr. Alexander.

22 — Robin, Merula viigratoria. Heard by Mr. A. Gibson at Experi-
mental Farm March 24th ; seen b\- Mr. W. Harririgton. Nesc
almost built at C. E. F. April 24th. First records of previous
years : 1898, March 15th; 1899, April 6th; 1900, April ist.

23 —Song Sparrow, Melospiza fasciata. Mr. W. A. D, Lees, at
Russell, Ont.; March 24th, Mr. Young-; March 24th, Mr. White.
First records of previous years : 1898, March iith; 1899, April
6th; 1900, March 31st.

24 — American Rough-legged Hawk, Archibuteo lagopus Saticti-
Johannis. Mr. Young.

26 — Bliebird, Sialia sialis. Mr. Lees. March 27th, Mr. Young.

54 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

iqoi.
March 27 --Pu;i:oN Hawk, Falro coliimbai ins. Mr. \'ouiit;-,

28 — Slate-COLOIRHD ]v^vo, Jiinro /ivcmalis. Mi-. \'oiinsJ:.

29 — SllARl'-SHiNNKD Hawk, Accipifer Vi'lox. Mr. Wliilc.

30 — Bronzed Grackli:, Ouiscahis ijiiiscula cenciis. Mr. Kinsj-ston.

April 2 — Rvst\BL:\CKBIRD, Scolecophag^us rarolinns. Mi. Young-.

2- Ri:n-\viNGKD Blaikiurd, .iL^rlaius pltceuiccus. Mr. Vouii};-.

2 — American Goshawk, Accipitct (itricapillns. Mr. Kinti-ston.

5 — Me.VDOWLARK, Sliirnclla magna. Mr. Kiiitifston.

9 — Vhcebv., Sayoniis pJicebc. Mr. Whilo. April iitli, Pr. Fletcher.

10 — Tree Swallow, Tachycinetabicolor. Mr. Kingston.

13 — Amerkwn GoLnEN-i:VF., Glaucio>iftta chingula amcricana. Mr.

White.
13 — Vesper Sparrow, Poonetcs s^taiiii)icii.';. .Mr. W. T. Macoun. April

14th, Mr. King'ston.
13 — American Herring Gii.i., Lam.'; anreiifattis sinlfhsonlaniis. I\Ir.

White.
13 — Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle aln'on. Mr. Kingston.
15 — PiRPLE Finch, Carpodarns piirpiiteus. Mr. Macoun.
15 — White-THRO.\TED Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis. Mr. .Macoun.
16 — Red-tailed H.\wk, Butco borealts. Mr. White.
18 — Cow-bird, Molothnis ater. Mr. Macoun.

18 — Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphympicu.^ varttis. Mr. White.
18 — GOLDE.N-CROWNED KiNGLET, Rfgiiliis satrapa. Mr. Kingston.
18 — American Osprey, Pandion halliaetus carolinensis. Mr. Young,
ig — Northern Shrike, Lauins borealis. Mating at Experimental

Farm. Seen at intervals during the latter part of the winter.
21 — F'licker, Colaptcs auratus. Mr. Young.

22— C.\S\D\ Goose, Branfa canadensis. Three birds. Mr. .Macoun.
22 — BrFFLE-HE.\DED DlCK, Charitoni'tta albeola. JNIr. White.
23 — PiRPLE IMartin, Progne subis. Mr. White.
23 — Barn Sw.\llow, Chelidon erytlirogaster. Mr. White.
23— Tree Sp.^rrow, Spizella monticola, Mr. White.

Meadow-sweet. — It is doubtful whether the true Spircva
salicifolia occurs in Canada. At least two varieties have been col-
lected near Ottawa and others will probably be found. The most
common form is var. la f /folia. Ait., with obovate or elliptical
dentate-serrate leaves ; the inflorescence is broadly pyramidal.
Another variety is lanceolata. Ait, with finely serrate oblanceolate

leaves.

J. M. M.

[goi] Prince — Ross's Gull. 55

ROSS'S GULL [Rhodostethia rosia, Macgill.)

By Protessor E. E. Prince, Ottawa.

My brief account of the scientific results of Dr. Nansen'.s Polar
Expedition, which appeared in The Ottawa Naturalist last
November, has hroug^ht me many kind and interesting- communi-
cations none more so than a letter from Dr. Otto J. Klotz who
generously loaned to me a volume of the Report of the Interna-
tional Polar Expedition sent out by the United States Government
in 1881. In this volume Dr. Klotz pointed out to me, occur two
fine coloured plates of Ross's Gull, or the Roseate Gull {Rhodos-
tethia rosea, Macgill.) and my statement on p. 143, vol. 14 of this
publication dernands correction. I ventured to say that in the
conjoint report of Dr. Nansen and Dr. Collett, on birds observed
in the polar regions, there is given for the first time a fully detailed
description of Ross's Gull with exquisitely tinted illustrative plates
and I am indebted to Or. Klotz for calling my attention to the
real facts, and for enabling me to correct my statement. In
matters of this kind rigid accuracy is above all things necessary
and it is only just to the United States observer, Mr. John Mur-
doch to state that on pp. 123-4-5 of his report on the birds noticed
during the International Polar Expedition, 1881-2-3 he gives a des-
cription of this rare species, and accompanies it by two tinted
plates. Mr. Murdoch states that a large series of specimens was
secured, and they appeared not sporadically and in scattered num-
bers, but in abundance on certain dates. Thus from September
28th to October 22nd, 1881, small flocks were seen moving north-
east, their total numbers being so considerable that the observer
speaks of them as exceedingly abundant. Next year about the
end of September these gulls again appeared plentifully ; but, cur-
iously enough, they were all young birds as far as could be
ascertained. Mr. Murdoch pertinently remarks that it is difficult
to say what becomes of the thousands coming west, and proceed-
ing along the Alaskan coast taking a northeasterly course. Of
course the point of observation (Point Barrow) was nearly nine
degrees of latitude south of Nansen's, which as I pointed out was
in the Hirtenland waters, and its nesting grounds as Nansen sur-

56 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

mised are no doubt in these more remote and inhospitable rei^ions.
I may add that Mr. Murdoch's beautiful plates occur in a volume
mainly consisting" of meteorological and other physical records,
and less likely on that account to meet the eyes of the naturalist.
My indebtedness to Dr. Klotz is on that account greatly increased.
I have already sent a note of correction to the New York Sun,
which newspaper, as our President, Dr. Ami informed me repro-
duced almost complete the article published in these pages last
November.

Ottawa, February, igo£.

THE GOLDEN EAGLE. AN ADDITION TO THE FAUNA
OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

By J. E. Keays, London, Ont.

(Read before the Ornitholog-ical Section of the Entomological Society

of Ontario.)

On Saturday, December ist, 1900, a large bird was noticed
in the vicinity of Lambeth and towards evening was seen pursuing
and finally capturing a turkey from the flock of Mr. Jas. Cassidy.
Carrying the bird to some distance it lit on the low branch of a
tree and commenced its repast at which it remained so engrossed,
that two boys, sons of Mr. Cassidy were able to approach close
enough to strike it on the head with a rifle, slightly injuring its
skull and stunning it so that it was easily carried 10 the house
where it was placed in the cellar apparently dead ; but after two
hours it was found to be a very lively bird, and on Monday or
Tuesday was brought to the city for sale, and is at present in the
possession of Mr. Davey. It proves to be a Golden Eagle, in fine
young plumage, and as far as we can learn a new record for
Middlesex Co.

This eagle breeds sparingly through eastern Canada and is
seldom seen far from the courses of large rivers or the shores of
lakes, where it follows and preys upon the flocks of water-fowl,
Mr. Mclllwraith mentiones two taken at Hamilton and several at
Toronto but a capture this far inland I think is somewhat unusual
in Ontario. In the west it is much more numerous and there

igoi] Keays — The Golden Eagle. 57

breeds in the mountainous parts from New Mexico and Arizona
to far north in British Columbia and Alaska.

Its food consists of mammals and large birds, such as rabbits,
racoons, gophers, squirrels, grouse, waterfowl, etc., and unlike
the Bald Eagle sparingly, if ever, partakes of fish, but will fre-
quently feed upon carrion.

From time to time we see newspaper reports of children being
carried away by Eagles, fortunately, however, the majority of such
are sensational, but in sections of the south these birds are con-
demed by the sheep farmers, from the havoc they play among
their flocks by feeding on the very young lambs, one firm alone
reporting in 1889 the loss of from 400 to 500 lambs.

A comparison of the. Golden Eagle with its near relative, the

Bald gives the latter a slight advantage in size as the following

table will show.

Length. Expanse. Wing.

Male Golden, 30 to 35 in. 78 to 84 in. 23 to 24^ in.

Male Bald, 30 to 35 in. 84 in. 20 to 25.9 in.

Female Golden, 35 to 40 in. 84 to 90 in. 25 to 27 in.

Female Bald, 34 to 43 in. 84 to 96 in. 25I to 28 in.

The Golden Eagle in Adult plumage is nearly uniform dark
brown, the feathers of head and hind neck and tarsus tawny, tail
darker than body and banded with grayish ; Young similar to
the adult but with basal half of tail pure white, and feathers of
tarsi paler sometimes nearly white or with portions white, head
and neck same as in adult. In any plumage it may easily be dis-
tinguished from the Bald Eagle by its tawny head and by having
the tarsus thickly feathered down to base of toes.

Note. — The specimen referred to above has since come into
my possession and I have made a skin of it. The bird was ex-
ceedingly fat, weighing about 10 lbs. with an alar expanse 6 ft. 11
in. from tip to tip. Beneath the skin was found one pellet of shot
about No. 6, which was very much out of shape as though it had
hit a bone. This pellet was embedded in the fat. The ulna, (the
large bone in the wing) had been broken about an inch from the
wrist, but was entirely healed over, making a very strong join.

W. E. Saunders.

58 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

REVIEWS.
The Physical Features and Geology of the Paleozoic Basin

BETWEEN the LoWER OtTAWA AND St. LaWRENCE RiVERS.

By R. W. Ells, LL.D. (Trans. R. S. C, Sec. IV, 1900,
pp. 99-120.)

This paper may be looked upon as a continuation of one read
before the Royal Society in 1894, in which many additional facts
relating- to the structural features of the Palaeozoic formations
exposed in what may be called the Ottawa Basin. This infor
mation is believed to be especially important and opportune at the
present time, in view of the boring operation which have lately
been undertaken for the purpose of securing- a supply of natura'
gas and oil which would be economically valuable. The formations
exposed range in age from the Potsdam sandstone which rests
upon the uneven surface of the Archsan to the Medina shales
which here represent the lowest member of the Silurian proper.
These constitute in general a broad synclinal basin whose bound-
aries are defined and note- is made of their extension across the St.
Lawrence into the state of New York. The various railways
traversing and giving access to this area are mentioned as well as
certain details in regard to the elevation above sea level at certain
points. These have been secured through the kindness of Mr.
Jas. White, Geographer to the Department of the Interior from
advance proofs of "Altitudes in the Dominion of Canada,"
which it is expected, will be published shortly. These levels have
evidently been quoted only approximately and many of them will
be corrected in Mr. White's forthcoming volume. The determin-
ation of the various lines of demarcation between the several
formations is very difficult owing to the thick and widespread cover-
ing of drift. A few general remarks are made in regard to ice
movement, the strice representative of these showing no less than
three such periods. The thickness of the several formations vary
considerably at different points and the presence of numerous
extensive faults prevents any very definite statement.

The following estimates are furnished and will doubtless be
found valuable in any future boring operations which may be
undertaken. The figures represent what is believed to be the
g^reatest thickness.

[goi]

Reviews.

59

Potsdam, 300-700 feet.

Calciferous, 300 feet about.

Chazy, 175 feet about.

Black River, 38-100 feet.

Trenton, 600 feet.

Utica, 100 feet.

Lorraine, ?.

Medina, 75 feet.
Descriptions of the trend of some ancient channels of the
Ottawa are given as revealed by borings and the general
topography of the area.

Details in regard to the position and extent of the main lines
of dislocation are given and the fact noted that both vertical dis-
placements and horizontal throws are represented.

It is believed by the author that the question of the occur-
rence of natural gas or oil in the Ottawa basin has never yet been
actually tested. The borings already made have been placed in
locations quite unfavourable for this purpose or in the case of those
to the south of the Ottawa river have penetrated the rock at but
few points. Gas has been found in considerable quantity in several
of the deep borings which have been made in the clay along the
ancient channel of the Ottawa. The location of favourable anti-
clinal folds is rendered very difficult owing to the thick overlying
mantle of drift.

A. E. B.

Synopsis of the Geology of Canada, Being a Summary of the
Principal Terms Employed in Canadian Geological Nomen-
clature. By Henry M. Ami, M.A., D. Sc, F.G.S. (Trans.
R. S. C, Sec. IV, igoo pp. 187-225.)

This extract from the transactions of the Royal Society, with
its hundred names newly coined to mystify the reader and to re-
place others well known and more appropriate, justifies an obser-
vation made by a Committee ot the House of Commons that such
purely scientific researches seem devoted rather to upsetting
theories of antecedent scientists, than to the discovery of new
principles or the addition of new information. The author
divides the 3,616,980 square miles of British North America into

6o The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

five regions, the Acadian, Laurentian Hig"hlands, Lawrencian Low-
lands, Interior Continental Plain, and Cordilleran ; gives a list ot
the geological systems ; then, " compelled " thereto " by dire
necessity," proceeds "to affix provisional formational names."

Of this great area nearly two-thirds belong to the Laurentian
and Huronian systems — names now generally adopted throughout
the world — in which no definite organisms have been found. In
regard to the occurrence of these rocks at Hudson Bay there is a
vague description (p. 190) of an " undifferentiated mass of granites,
. . . .consisting ot granites and gneisses and other crystalline rocks

similar in structure and chemical composition to crystalline

limestones " !

The great gold-bearing series of Nova Scotia, provisionally
called Lower Cambrian, is also barren of fossils ; while the over
lying Etcheminian and Upper Cambrian rocks of Newfoundland,
Cape Breton and New Brunswick hold fossils in abundance. Dr.
Ami, misunderstanding Mr. E. R. Faribault's description of the
mode of occurrence of the gold in Nova Scotia, speaks of "many
anticlines superimposed one upon the other at different depths and
intervals ;" and of strata, altered in a narrow zone by contact with
granite masses, as a " metamorphic series" ! Three Cambrian
fossiliferous zones have been recognized in British Columbia among
a great series of volcanic rocks.

Ordovician or Cambro-Silurian rocks have been determined
by the author from their fossils in every one of the five regions
" the Sl<;iddaw and Arenig, the Hartfell and Llandeilo formations
being easily recognized in Canada." The Silurian system also
"presents a compact fauna which in facies closely resembles rocks
in the Kendal and Ludlow regions of England ; " yet local desig-
nations "based upon the faunistic relations" are given by the
writer. It is noteworthy that he now agrees with Dr. Honeyman
to include in the Silurian the disputed beds of the Nictaux iron
mines, called by him elsewhere Eo-Devonian. His new names
for the Arisaig Silurian tend only to obscure the correlation of
a regular succession of strata shown, forty years ago, to range
from Lower Helderberg to Medina.

In all the five regions, Devonian and Carboniferous strata
have been met with. Many will object to the author's grouping

igoi] Reviews. 6i

of those of the Acadian provinces, since it rests neither upon the
ascertained stratig^raphical sequence noron any inference from the or-
ganic remains. And in justice to Dr. Matthew, Sir J. W. Dawson,
Messrs David White and R. Kidston, authorities quoted by him,
he should state the evidence by which he is "constrained to place"
(p. 207) in the Eo-Carboniterous ten or fifteen thousand feet of
strata constituting- the Mispec and Little River groups of New
Brunswick, included in the Devonian by the two first named,
by the last in the Upper Carboniferous. On pages 211 to 213
there is some obscurity of thought or expression concerning the
age of his so-called Windsor formation, two widely divergent
views being hinted at, each of which has been held in turn by Dr.
Ami. The first, commonly accepted, refers that formation to the
Carboniferous Limestone of England ; the second maintains that
its fossils indicate the summit, not the base of the Carboniferous
system. The confusion of ideas is thus expressed : The Windsor
formation is followed upward by the Millstone Grit ; unconform-
ably above the latter is the New Glasgow Conglomerate, the basal
portion of a continuous series northward into equivalent and
newer strata on Prince Edward Lsland called Permo-Carboniferous,
Permian and Triassic and probably representing the Windsor and
Millstone Grit formations of Nova Scotia! This circular classifi-
cation is not stratigraphical. And if the Upper Carboniferous can
not be distinguished from the Little River formation or Middle
Devonian by its fossils, why should it surprise us that "no charac-
teristic fossil evidence has as yet been obtained to enable us to
clearly separate these rocks (called Permian) from the Upper or
Neo-Carboniferous " ? In the Geological Survey reports Upper
Carboniferous and Permian have the same meaning.

It was not the author who examined the Crow's Nest and Koote-
nay passes (p. 210.) Instead of the North Saskatchewan, in the
next sentence, he probably means the Bow River. The Albert shales
of New Brunswick (p. 212) are not overlaid by the Millstone Grit
as stated by him, but unconformably by Lower Carboniferous lime-
stone, shales and conglomerate. It is also a notable fact that the
Cretaceous beds of the Kamloops district in British Columbia
(p. 217) described by him as "consisting of argillites, limestones
and sandstones," contain no limestones. The author (p. 218)
quotes the "Paskapoo series" or Paskapoo formation, pr upper

62 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

division oi the Laramie," when in fact the adopted names is Pas-
kapoo beds. Certain crystalline limestones in the Yale district
(p. 202) are said to occur west of Lansdowne, at Adams Lake,
whereas that lake is fifty miles 7torth of Lansdowne.

Triassic rocks occur, also according to the author, in British
Columbia, Vancouver and the Queen Charlotte Islands ; and
Jurassic, in the Arctic archipelag'O. The Cretaceous, larg'cly
developed in Manitoba, the Northwest and British Columbia,
includes important coal fields.

The'Quaternary deposits he divides into three periods ; the
Glacial or boulder clays ; the Champlain or marine clays deposited
during" a period of submergence ; and the Recent or terrace period
of elevation.

He introduces three difi^erent names for the boulder clays: —
the Labrador formation for the boulder clay of the Laurentide
glacier or glaciers ; the Rupert formation for that of the Keewatin
glacier ; and the Cordilleran formation for the product of the Cor-
dilleran ice sheet. These names are of no practical use, and,
moreover, are misleading and tend to confusion. For example,
how is it to be known from the term Rupert formation that it is a
boulder clay, without referring to Dr. Ami's paper? No geologist
has used any other term than the descriptive one of boulder clay
or till for the product of Pleistocene ice. As well might the Trias-
sic be given difTerent local names in different parts of Canada.

Dr. Ami also adopts the term Champlain, presumably suppos-
ing it to be the equivalent of the Leda clay and Saxicava sands.
This is a name not in common use north of the International

boundary, simply because neither the upper nor the lower limits of
the deposits classed under that term as defined by Hitchcock and
Dana correspond with those of the marine beds of the St. Lawrence
valley and Maritime provinces. The two geologists referred to
have made the Champlain a glacial formation, but in Eastern Can-
ada no deposits attributable to ice action have been met with in
the Leda clay and Saxicava sands. Further, the fossils they
contain are really identical with torms now living in the northern
part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the east coast of the Lab-
rador peninsula, where no glaciers exist at the present day.

Only in the most recent of our superficial deposits have traces
of the aborigines been found, together with their stone or copper
implements and remains of beaver, deer, bear and other animals of
the chase identical with those of to-day, H. F.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VOL. XV.

PLATE I.

Auctor ad naf. del,

STELLARIA APE7ALA
(k) Pistil of S apetala. (B) Pistil of S. media.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST, VOL. XV.

PLATE II.

Aucfor ad nai. del.

STELLARIA NEGLECTA

(C) Leaves of S. negiecta. (D) Seeds of S- neglecta.

• El Seeds of S. media.

l^lLIBRARYlaoj

^^<

I

-* 0 >■

THE OTTAWA pTORAUSt

sP-

Vol. XV.

OTTAWA, JUNE, 1901.

No. 3.

NOTES ON A TURTLE FROM THE CRETACEOUS ROCKS

OF ALBERTA.*

By Lawrence RI. Lambe, F. G.S., of the Gt'olog:ical Survey of Canada.

{With four plates.)

In the collection of reptilian remains, made by the writer
during^ the summers of i8q7 and 1898, from the Cretaceous of the
Red Deer River, Alberta, are parts of two plastrons of a Chelonian,
of large size, that evidently belong to Cope's species Compsemys
variolosus. The specimens are in an excellent state of preserva-
tion and throw new light on the generic affinities of the species.
Referable also to this species are parts of the carapace, plastron
and endoskeleton, belonging presumably to one individual, that
were collected in 1881 by Dr. G.M. Dawson on the Old Man River
below Fort McLeod, and two marginal bones with some smaller
fragments of the shell obtained by Mr. R. G. McConnell on the
Red Deer River in 1882. These latter specimens, taken in con-
junction with those first mentioned, form a most interesting series
that help to elucidate some important structural points.

The rocks exposed on the Red Deer River, from which the

[specimens of Mr. McConnell and the writer were obtained, belong

[to the Belly River series which underlies the marine Pierre-Fox
Hills (or Montana) formation in this region. The specimens col-

ilected by Dr. Dawson on the Old Man River are from a higher
horizon, viz., the Willow Creek subdivision of the Laramie.

The original description of C. variolosus, Cope, based on

■ material from the Fort Union (Laramie) beds of Montana, ap-

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

64 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

peared in 1876 in the Proceeding-s of the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. xxviii, p. 257, as follows : "One of
the most abundant, and the larg^est species of the Fort Union
beds. The carapace is convex and the plastron flat; the marginal
bones are heavy and strong-ly convex on the inferior side. The
margin of the plastron is thickened and heavy, characters which
also belong to all parts of the carapace. The sutures of the dermal
scuta are deeply impressed, and the surtace of the bone is strongly
sculptured above and below, and even on the superior face of the
thickened margins of the free lobes of the plastron. The sculp-
ture consists of round fossae, which are deeply impressed and are
arranged quincuncially, so that their borders never form straight
lines. The latter are also more or less angulate on the edge, so
that the surface has a more than usually rugose character. The
typical specimen equals those of the large land tortoises of the
Eocene in dimensions." The specimens that Professor Cope had
may not have permitted a more detailed definition of the species,
but the style of sculpture and other points of resemblance seem to
remove beyond doubt the question of the specific identity of the
Montana specimens with those from the Old Man and Red Deer
rivers.

The proportions of the component elements of the plastron
can be seen by referring to plate III, where a restored outline is
given, based on two specimens from the Red Deer River, which
are represented in the figure by the dotted portions. The sutures
between the bones are shown by the sinuous lines and the bound-
aries of the shields by the heavy ones. The dotted lines represent
the supposed shape of the end of the posterior lobe, the direction
of the sulcus defining the front limit of the femoral shields, and
the position of a sulcus that probably crossed the xiphiplastrals,
whilst the extent of the hypoplastrals is conjectural.

The plastron is flat except at the sides where it. bends evenly
upward, the lobes are short and broad, and the sternal bridge
long. The entoplastral is roughly pentagonal and rather broad.
The epiplastrals are of not unusual size and shape, whilst the
hyoplastrals are relatively large. A divided intergular shield
separates two small gulars, behind which are well-developed
humeral shields. The pectorals narrow rapidly toward the sides

I

igoo] Lambe — Notes on a Turtle. 65

where they and the abdominals meet a series of inframars:inals
that overlap the peripheral bones. All the sulci are deep and very
conspicuous except those marking- the position of the infra-
marg-inals, the inner anterior boundaries of the gulars, and the
division of the inter^ular. These latter, however, are sharply and
clearly defined. The sulural line between the hypoplastrals and
the xiphiplastrals is shown in the smaller of the two specimens.
As regards the sculpture, the original description is accurate and
succinct.

Turning to the dorsal or upper side of the plastron (fig. 2, plate
III) it is seen that the rugose sculpture extends inward for some
distance from the free edges of the lobes, more particularly at the
extreme anterior end, where also the bone is very much thickened.
A decided thickening also occurs in the axillary region. The oval
outlines on the xiphiplastrals (P, plate III) show the position of
smooth, slightly raised, flat surfaces that are apparently facets for
the articulation of the pubic bones.

• In the two marginal bones collected by Mr. McConnell the
rib prolongations from the adj-ic^nt costal bones are preserved.
These marginals, with parts of costal bones collected by Dr.
Dawson, show that the carapace had a sculpture similar to that
of the plastron, and was covered by well-developed shields. The
rib-heads of the costals were apparently also well-developed.

The foregoing characters indicate a Chelonian that cannot be
retained in the genus Compsemys, which is nearly allied to Pleiiro-
sternon and possesses a mesoplastral element. The presence of
two small gular shields separated by a divided* or double inter-
gular shield (in reality two intergulars), and of a series of infra-
marginals, the absence of a mesoplastral and of a sutural union of
the pelvis with the plastron, together with an abbreviation of the
lobes and a decided lengthening of the sternal bridge are charac-
ters that suggest such close affinities to the genus Adocus of Cope
that this species is here referred to that genus.

Measurements :

M.
Estimated length of plastron (28^ inches) 720

*G. Baur, Proc. Acad. Nat, Sci. Philadelphia, vol. xliij^, 1891, p. 428. Th^
genus Adocus.

66 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

Length along- median line from anterior end to posterior

border of pectoral shield 295

Breadth from median line to lateral suture ( = half of breadth

of plastron) 280

Length of entoplastral 085

Maximum breadth of entoplastral 123

Thickness midway between gulars 035

Thickness at centre of gular shields 033

Thickness on median line at posterior border of pectoral

shield 013

Thickness at posterior edge of hyoplastral near left bound-
ary of abdominal shield 007

Thickness in axillary region near lateral suture 032

Thickness midway between entoplastral and the axillary

notch . . .025

In 1882 Dr. J. F. Whiteaves had labelled the two marginal
bones from the Red Deer River with the name Compscmys
variolosus, and to him belongs the credit of having first noticed
the occurrence of this species in Canada.

The writer is indebted to Dr. O P. Hay, of the American

Museum of Natural History, New York, who since the above was

written, has compared some of the Red Deer River material, sent

to him, with the type of Cornpsemys variolosus, Cope, and confirms

the correctness of the writer's specific identification. Dr. Hay

informs the writer that in the type there is little, if any, of the

carapace represented and that the anterior lobe of the plastron is

missing. Also that the specimen shows the central portions of ■

the plastron, and the posterior lobe, which latter is broadly

rounded.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

Plate in.

Figure 1- -The pla^stron of ^Idoats variolusiis (Copo); from the Cretaceous
of Alberta. One-sixth natural size. I G, Interjjular shield ; G, Gular do.;
HUM, Humeral do.; PEC, Pectoral do.; AB, Abdominal do.; FEM,
Femoral do.; AN, Anal do.; EP, Epiplastral bone ; ENTP, Entoplas-
tral do.; HYP, Hyoplastral do.; HPP, Hypoplastral do.; XP, Xiphi-
plastral do.

Figure 2 — The upper or inner side of the plastron o( -Idociis vinrio/ostts (Cope).
One-sixth natural size. P, surface for the articulation of the pubis.

igoi] Kells — Cory's Least Bittern. 67

Plate IV.
Lower or outer surface of specimens represented in plale III; one-third natural
size.

Plate V.
Upper or inner surface of specimens represented in plate III; one-third natura
size.

Plate VI.

The lower surface of the anterior end of the plastron fiifured ni the preceding-
plates; natural size; to show the sulci of the interg-ular and yular shields,
details of sculpture, etc.

CORY'S LEAST BITTERN {Botaurus neoxemis, Cory).

By \V. L. Kells, Listowel, Ont.

Many years ag-o, in the time of the early settlement of the
township of Peel, the writer remembers to have seen a specimen
of a bird which he has never since seen alive. It was at the
time of the spring- migration, and the bird, probably wearied
with a long flight, was able to fly but a short distance at a time,
so that being pursued it was finally captured in a pool of water into
which it fluttered in its eff"orts to escape. When dissected it
proved to be a female. It evidently belonged to the family of the
Waders, or Shore birds, as it had a long neck and bill and long
legs, with a slender body, but some of the colouring of its plumage
was very beautiful.

Many years afterwards, when visiting the museum in the
University of Toronto, a specimen of the Least Bittern Botaiiriis
exilis was identified as similar in size and form, but lacking
in some of the handsome hues of the Peel specimen. When
again in Toronto, in the spring of 1891, the writer noticed at the
store of Thurson & Spanner a mounted specimen of a Least Bit-
tern, which had been collected the season before in the Toronto
marsh. In the published "Transactions of the Canadian In-
stitute" for 1890-91, is the following reference to this bird,
which was then regarded as the first specimen of the Florida
Dwarf Bittern or, as it had been previously called, Cory's Least
Bittern, unknown to science, that had been taken in Ontario. Mr.

68 The Ottawa Naturalist, [June

W. Cross, the writer of the article, says ; " On May the iSth,
1890, a very interesting capture was made on Toronto Island, and
I afterwards received the bird. It was a small bittern with all the
colouring- very dark and blended with rich chestnut-brown on the
back. It was so unlike any other Least Bittern that I had pre-
viously seen that I put it down as a new bird, and soon identified
it as Cory's Least Bittern. It is a resident of Florida and Mexico,
and is supposed to have wandered here with our Botaurus exilis
during the spring migration." This bird was a female, and Mr.
Cross presented it to the Canadian Institute, where, after being
mounted, it now remains. A second specimen of this interesting
species was taken on May 20th, 1893, ^"'^' ^ report of this capture
by Mr. H. Brown was published in the Auk. The specimen was
sent for examination to Mr. Wm. Brewster, a distinguished
American ornithologist, who wrote regarding it : "It agrees
very closely with a skin taken at Lake Flirt in 1892. The
Toronto bird is a trifle darker on the back, and the chestnut of
its under parts is slightly richer, but in other respects the two
specimens are exactly alike. It, also, is a female." On May
26th, 1894, a third specimen was shot at Ashbridge Bay, Toronto,
by a Mr, Jacobs, who flushed it with a B. exilis from a clump of
reeds. Both birds were secured and found to be males. On com-
paring the three specimens it was found that the one shot in the
summer of 1893 ^^^ identical with the one obtained in 1894, with
the exception of the wing coverts, which are a little darker. The
female shot in 1893 is black on the crown only, the back of
the neck is a dark rufous-chestnut, the back is black with a decided
brownish shade, not green as the other two; the remainder of the
colours correspond with the exception of one or two white feathers
on the legs. It is interesting to know that up to that date this
Toronto specimen was the ninth known in collections. Mr. Charles
Pickering captured another specimen of this species on the 15th
of July, 1894, and has written the following interesting account
regarding that event : " While going through Toronto marsh I
had the good fortune to find a Cory's Bittern. It was a little east
of the south end, and was just in the act of lighting a little behind
me when I caught sight of it ; I thought at first that it was a
Virginian Rail, but on the second sight its long legs showed

igoi] Kells — Cory's Least Bittern. 69

clearly that it was not. I therefore pushed my boat as close to
the rushes as I dared, and watched it for a quarter of an hour,
and then turned to leave it as I had no g^un. After going- some
fifty yards I turned as I thought to have another look at my rare
friend when my lady companion suggested to me to hit it with my
oar. I took the hint, but as I was about to strike, the bird arose
and flew to the other side of the marsh. I followed, and as it
allowed me to approach within a couple of yards, I succeeded in
knocking it over and secured it. While watching its actions I
noted that these were altogether different from those of any other
Least Bittern that I had previously seen, for instead of standing
erect when being watched, as is the habit of the other members of
the family, it would crouch down until it seemed to be only the
size of a Virginian Rail, its long neck being altogether out of
sight. It had a very slow, sneaky walk, grasping a single rush
with one foot and striding as far as possible so as to grasp
another. It seemed to be feeding on insects on the lily leaves at
the foot of the rushes, as it would every few seconds dart out its
neck with great rapidity and take something off the leaves."

In the appendix to Coues' "Key to North American Birds,
1884," thefollowing descriptionof theFloridaDwarf Bittern is given:
'•Crown, back and tail black, glossed with green ; sides of head
and throat chestnut, the feathers on the back of the neck tipped
with greenish-black, breast and under parts rufous-chestnut, nearly
uniform, shading into blackish on the sides, under tail coverts
dull black, upper tail coverts rufous-chestnut, the under ones paler
chestnut, all the remiges slaty plumbeous. Length 10.80 inches,
wing 4.30, tarsus 1.40, bill 1.80; habitat southwestern Florida."
It will also be noted by the more advanced students of Ornithology
that while these specimens are thus described by Dr. Coues in
"The Key" of 1884, Ardetta neoxena, yet, in "The Union. Check
List" of more recent date, the name Botaurus neoxenus is used, and
by ornithologists it is known b) both these names, as well as by
the different English names previously mentioned. In the October,
1894, issue of the " Biological Review for Ontario," Mr. H. Brown
writes that up to that date nine specimens of Cory's Bittern had
been captured at Toronto, and he gives a r^sum^ of its history,
from which a few extracts are here given. "A most peculiar circum-

70

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[June

stance in the history of this bird is that it has only been recorded
from two isolated and widely separated localities, viz., Southern
Florida, and Toronto, Ont., and it is interesting to note that not
until 1890 was it observed at Toronto, some four years after it
was discovered in Florida. In 1893, another was captured here,
and this year (1895) five have been secured. Quite a number have
been observed, but only five taken in Florida since the type was
obtained.

This fact would lead to the supposition that the species
is increasing- in numbers; or is it because greater interest has been
taken in searching for them ? The marshy location at Toronto to
which the birds resort and where all the specimens recorded were
taken, is only about half a mile square protected from the waters
of Lake Ontario by a narrow sand bar a few yards in width, and
is situated immediately adjacent to the city of Toronto, so that
the bird, though evidently of retired habits, could scarcely have
chosen a more frequented piece of marsh. In Florida the habita-
tion of Cory's Bittern extends over a swampy area about 40 by 50
miles in extent. Of the specimens taken at Toronto, the majority
were males, and it was found by dissection of three of this number
that they feed on small bass and perch, and in one stomach there
was found the larva of a dragon-fly. That they breed at Toronto
seems evident from the dates at which the specimens were taken,
and the manner in which several allowed themselves to be cap-
tured, indicates either their stupidity or tameness. Its nesting
modes and eggs are similar to those of the other species of Least
Bittern.

Note. — Since the nliove was writtcMi infornintion has been received of
several more specimens of this species being' taken at Toronto, and one in the
State of Michiifan.

VV. L. K.

[goi] Macoun — Canadian Botany. 71

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANAD'AN BOTANY. ^

By James M. Macoun, Assistant Naturalist, Geological Survey of Canada.

XIV^

Thalictrum confine, Fernald, Rhodora, vol. 11, p. 232.

Rootstock 2 to 4 cm. lon_^. bearing- 10 to 12 strong roots:
stem slender, 3 to (> dm high, puberulent, pale-green, often
finely mottled with purple, leafy to. the summit: the four or
five leaves glandular-pruinose, glaucous beneath, the lower,
including the short petiole 3 to 4 cm. long ; leaflets sub-
orbicular broadly obovate or flabellate, coarsely toothed, 0.75
to I cm. long, the terminal on slender petiolules, the lateral
short-petiolulate or subsessile : flowers dioecious, greenish or
purplish, the panicles i to 2 dm. high, with ascending
branches: sepals greenish, oblong-lanceolate, caducous: car-
pels 6 to 10, glandulai-pruinose ; stigmatose style lance-sub-
ulate, 3 to 5 mm. long ; achenes ovate-lanceolate, excluding
the persistent style, 4 to 5 mm. long, 2 to 3 mm. thick, plump,
subterete, scarcely compressed or ancipital with 8 simple or
slightly branched strong ribs, the alternate ones strongest;
seed linear-lanceolate, hardly filling the cell.

Thickets, Hemlock Lake, near Ottawa, Ont., in flower,
Aug. 8th, 1894. Herb No. 2,956.- [John Macoun.) Also
collected in Maine.

Thalictrum occidentale, Gray.

T, dioicum pnrpurascens, Can. Rec. Sci , 1894, p. 77.

Rootstock slender, elongated : stem g-labrous, i m. or
less high, leafy to the summit, the three to six leaves glaucous
beneath, smooth or minutely glandular, the lower including
the long petiole 0.5 to 3 dm. long, those of the inflorescence
often simple ; leaflets thin, reniform or obovate, with coarse
rounded lobes, the terminal on slender petiolules, the others

^ Published by permission of the Director of the Geological Survey of
Canada.

- These numbers are tliose under which specimens have been distributed
from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada.

72 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

short-petiolulate or sub-sessile : flowers dioecious or polygamo-
dioecious, g^reenish or purplish, the panicles 1.5 to 3 dm. high,
with ascending branches: sepals oblong": carpels glabrous or
minutely glandular-pruinose ; achene excluding the persistent
style 6 or 7 mm. long, 2 or 3 mm. wide, compressed, strongly
ancipital, with three strong or somewhat branching ribs on
each side: filaments yellowish, greenish, or purplish, elongated,
slightly clavellate ; anthers linear, mucronate.

Represented in the herbarium of the Geological Survey
of Canada by many sheets from the west and by specimens col-
lected at Eel River, N.B., by Robert Chalmers, and on the
St. John River above Woodstock, N.B., by John Macoun,
Mr. Fernald has examined specimens collected by Mr. G. U.
Hay at South Tobique Lakes and St. John, N.B., and by
Bourgeau near Lake Winnipeg.

Ranunculus Pallasii, Schlecht.

Mosquito Bay, Lat. 60*^ 42', east coast of Hudson Bay.
Aug. i8th, 1898. Herb. No. 23,003. {A. P. Low.) Not
recorded from Eastern America.

Berberis brevipes, Greene, Ott. Nat., vol. xv, p. 42.

Crow's Nest Pass, Rocky Mts., 1897. Herb. No. 18,080.
{Joh7i Macotm.)

Sarracenia purpurea, L. var. heterophvlla, Torr.

In bogs, Madawaska River, Algonquin Park, Ont. 1900.
{Joh?i Macoun.) Only Canadian specimens in herbarium of
Geological Survey.

Dentaria geminata, Wats.

Koksita, Vancouver Island. {R. H. Jamesoyi.) New to
Vancouver Island.

Viola mistassinica, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 6.

Lake Mistassini, Que. 1885. (/. M. Macoun.) Rich-
mond Gulf , Hudson Bay. {IVtn. Spread borough.) West branch
of. Hamilton River, Labrador. {A. P. LO70.) Banfi", Rocky
Mountains. (A^. B. Sanson.) Cassiar Trail, west of Dease

i9oi[ Macoun — Canadian Botany. 73

Lake, B.C. Lat. 58'' 30'. {Dr. G. M. Dawson.) The western
specimens differ slig^htly from those from the east, but seem
referable here. This plant is readily distinguished from V.
blandn, V. retiijolia, and V. amosna by its "stout scaly-looking
and elongated root-stock and by its notably toothed foliage,
the leaves in all the others being crenate, the proper teeth
never salient but on the contrary almost obselete." The
lowest petal is not only purple-veined but the purple colour
is diffused over the whole petal.

Viola Watsoni, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 5.

Boggy meadow near Charlottetown, P.E.I. 1898. {La-iv-
rence IV. Watsoti.)

Viola cyclophylla, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 7.

Yellow Head Pass, Rocky Mountains, July 13th, 1898.
Herb. No. 19,298. The type. {IV. Spread borough.)

Stellaria subvestita, Greene, Ott. Nat., vol. xv, p. 42.

Common in the Rocky Mountains on both sides of the
Bow River Pass.

Stellaria media, Cyrillo.

Attention is again drawn here to Mr. Theo. Holm's paper
on "Allies of Stellaria media'" in the last number of The
Ottawa Naturalist. These plants should be carefully
studied everywhere in Canada. Among our herbarium speci-
mens labelled S. media, S. nc^lecfa was found from Victoria,
Vancouver Island; Burrard Inlet, B.C., Killarney, Man.;
Sable Island, N.S.

Radiola linoides, Gmel.

Along a ditch near the old fortifications at Louisburg,
Cape Breton Island, N.S. 1898. Herb. No. 20,232. {John
Macoun.) New to Canada. Probably introduced by the
French.

Spir^a salicifolia, L.

The reading of Mr. Wiegand's note on .S". salicifolia in
Rhodora for May, 1900, suggested an examination of the

74 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

sheets in the herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada.
This examination has forced me to the conclusion that we
have no true S. salicifolia in Canada. There are, however,
three or four well defined varieties or species of which the
most abundant in the east is S. salicifolia, var. lafifolia. Ait.,
common from Nova Scotia to Lake Superior but not found in
the Northwest Territories. The form most nearly approach-
ing S. salicifolia is var. lanceolate^, Ait., represented in our
herbarium by specimens from Newfoundland west to Prince
Albert on the North Saskatchewan. Though the herbarium
material is ample no attempt will be made at present to char-
acterize the other forms as like some other genera of the
Rosacece, Spircea must be studied in the field. The part of the
plant which can most easily be made into a herbarium speci-
men is not always that most necessary for the proper deter-
mination of the species.

Agrimonia hirsuta, Bicknell.

A. Eupatoria, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. i, p. 142 in
part.

Truemanville, N.S. (//. Tnieman.) Billings' Bridge, Ot-
tawa, Ont. ; Pt. Edward, St. Clair River, Ont. (/. M.
Macoun.) Belleville, Ont. ; Wooler, Northumberland Co.,
Ont. [John Macoun.) Edmonton, Ont. [Jfis. H7iile.)

Agrimonia Brittoniana, Bicknell.

Boylston, N.S. [Dr. C. A. Hamilton?) Big Intervale,
Cape Breton Island, N.S.; Flat Rock Portage, Nipigon River,
Ont.; Killarney, Man. {John Macouyi.) The western speci-
mens in the herbarium of the Geological Survey include
several species.

Myriophyllum alterniflorum, D.C.

Golden Lake, Renfrew Co., Ont. {Johji Macoun.) The
western limit of this seldom collected species.^

Triosteum aurantiacum, Bicknell, Torreya, vol. i, p. 26.

Rich soil on the rocky bank of the Nation River at

^ The geographical limits given in these papers refer to Canada only.

igoi] Macoun — Canadian Botany. 75

Casselman, Ont. (/. M. MacoJin.) T. perfoliatum is repre-
sented in the herbarium of the Geological Survey by speci-
mens from Belleville and Churchville, Ont.

Eupatorium boreale, Greene, Rhodora, vol. in, p. 83.

Stout, erect, 2 feet high or more, glabrous except as to the
inflorescence : leaves ample, very thin, dark-green, feather-
veined, the veins not light-coloured, 3 or 4 inches long, often
3 inches broad towards the base, broadly subcordate-ovate,
abruptly acuminate, coarsely and evenly serrate, the serra-
tures 20 to 25 on each side, some of the larger with a second-
ary tooth ; petioles }( to i}4 inches long, somewhat ascend-
ing: cymes terminal, but with one pair from the axils of the
uppermost leaves : peduncles and pedicels rather densely
pubescent, but involucres glabrous, their bracts thin, only
obscurely striate : tips of the corolla-teeth somewhat hairy:
achenes dark-brown, sharply thin-angled, the angles of those
of the outer series remarkably setose-hispidulous, the surface
glabrous.

Represented in our herbarium by specimens from Bass
River, Kent Co., N.B., collected by Prof. J. Fowler. Most
of what has been taken to be K ageratoides in Eastern Canada
is probably this species.

SoLiDAGO PRUiNOSA, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 70.

Erect, ^ feet high or more, very leafy up to the dense
short, pyramidal panicle of short, spreading or slightly recurved
abruptly ending and obtuse racemes of rather large heads:
leaves ascending, 2 inches long, elliptic-lanceolate, acute or
acuminate, slightly but evenly serrate from near the base to
near the apex, distinctly 3-nerved and canescent or almost
hoary on both faces with a dense, rather soft puberulence or
pubescence: pedicels and branches of the inflorescence almost
tomentulose : bracts of the more than middle-sized involucre
in about 3 series, the short outer ones subulate-linear, the
inner long ones also visibly narrowed from base to apex but
obtusish; flowers apparently light yellow.

Moose Jaw, Assa., Aug. 13th, 1895. Herb. Nos 10,892,
10,893 and 10,894. {John Macoun.)

76 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May

EucEPHALUs macounii, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 70.

Along fences, Sea's Farm, near Victoria, Vancouver
Island. Herb. No. 447. {John Macoun.) Distributed as
Asfer radulinus.

Centaurea Scabiosa, L.

Along the Canadian Pacific Railway at Snellgrove, Ont.
{J(is. White.) New to Canada and known from only one
other locality in America. Determined by Dr. Robinson.

Senecio ovinus, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 1 10.

S. resedifoliiis, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. i, p. 267 in
part.

Mountain slopes, western summit of North Kootanie
Pass, Rocky Mts., 1883. {Dr. G. M. Dawson.) High slopes
of Sheep Mountain, Waterton Lake, Rocky Mts. Herb. No.
11,619. {John Macoxui.) Described from the Sheep Moun-
tain specimens.

Vaccinium nigrum, Britt.

V. corynibosum, var. pallidum^ Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants,
vol. I, p. 291.

Point Pleasant, N.S.; Englishtown, Cape Breton Island,
N.S.; common in the vicinity of Ottawa, Ont., and at Niagara,
Ont. {John Macoun.)

Lysimachia vulgaris, L.

Well established on Toronto Island, Ont. {IV. Scott.)
Only Canadian record.

Steironema lanceolatum, Gray; Macoun Cat. Can. Plants, vol. i,

P-3'3-

Recorded from Ontario, but such specimens as we have
seen so named are S. quadrijlorum, Hitchc.

Acerates longifolia, Ell.

Dry sandy soil, southwest of Sandwich, Ont., 1893.
{Alex. Wherry.) Our only Canadian specimens. The speci-
mens referred here, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. i, p. 563,
are A. viridijiora var. lajiceoldtay Gr.

igoi] Macoun — Canadian Botany. 77

ASCLEPIAS PULCHRA, Ehrh.

In Mahone River bed at New Germany, N.S., and at
entrance of West River into New Germany Lake, N.S., July
1 89 1. Herb. No. 23,581. {Dr. C. A. Hamilton.) New to
Canada.

Erythr.^iA Centaurium, Pers.

Very abundant on the old land near the main lighthouse
station, Sable Island, N.S. 1899. {John Macoun.) Our only
Canadian specimens.

LiTHOSPERMUM LATIFOLIUM, Mx.

Lorette Falls, near Quebec, Que. 1895. {i^fs. Brodie.)
Not before recorded except from Ontario.

Heliotropium Curassavicum, L.

Saline soil, McLeod, Alta. Herb. No. 23,971. {John
Macoun.) Western limit.

Convolvulus arvensis, L.

Open prairies, Morris, Man. {John Macoun.) Not re-
corded from Manitoba.

Physalis ixocarpa, Brot.

Roadsides near the hotel. Golden Lake, Renfrew Co.,
Ont. {John Macoun.) New to Canada.

HyOSCYAMUS NIGER, L.

Old railway ground, Banff, Alberta. 1900. {N. B. Sanson.)
Not before recorded from the west.

Buchnera Americana, L.

Port Frank, Ont., Sept. 8th, 1891. (/ Dearness.) Only
Canadian record.

Gerardia paupercula, Britt.

In marshy places near the main station. Sable Island, N.S.
1899. Herb. No. 22,578. {John Macoun.) Not recorded
east of Quebec.

LippiA lanceolata, Mx.

Wet places, Leamington, Ont. 1892. Herb. No. 24,-
270. {John Macoun,) New to Canada.

78 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

Amarantus blitoides, Wats.

East of Brandon, Man.; Cardston, Alta. [John Macoun.)
Not recorded west of Ontario.

MONOLEPIS CHENOPODIOIDES, Moq.

Cypress Hills, Assa.; Kananaskis and Banff, Rocky Mts.
{John Macoun.) Western limit.

Chenopodium Botrys, L.

Waste places, Spence's Bridge, B.C. [John Macoun.)
Not recorded west of Ontario.

Chenopodium leptophyllum, Nutt.

Sandy soil, Spence's Bridge, B.C.; Deer Park, Lower
Arrow Lake, B.C. [Jolin Macoun.) Not recorded west of
Rocky Mountains.

Chenopodium leptophyllum. Nutt., var. subglabrum, Wats.

Sandy woodlands, Pt. Pelee, Essex Co., Ont. 1886. [Dr.
Burgess.) Neither the type nor variety recorded from On-
tario.

Chenopodium urbicum, L.

Nanaimo and Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C. i8q3.
[John Macoun.) Not recorded west of Ontario.

Chenopodium rubrum, L.

On brackish flats near the main lighthouse station, Sable
Island, N.S. Very rare. 1898. [John Macoun.)

Salicornia herbacea, L.

Borders of saline ponds near Kamloops, B.C. 1890.
[J. M. Macoun.) Not recorded from British Columbia.

Salicornia ambigua, Mx.

Long Arm, Skidegate Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands,
B.C. [Dr. C. F. Ne^vco77ibe.) Northern limit.

Rumex Patientia, L.

Not uncommon about houses and in fields, Boylston, N.S.
[Dr. C. A. Hafnilfon.) Not recorded east of Ontario.

Scleranthus annuus, L. ; Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. i, pp.
80 and 499.

West of London, Ont., 1890; Komoka, Ont., July, 1892.
[J. Dearness.) Our only herbarium specimens.

igoi] Macoun — Canadian Botany. 79

PODOSTEMON CeRATOPHYLLUM, Mx.

On stones near the mouth of Eel River, 12 miles below
Woodstock, N.B. Herb. No. 22,593, 1899; Petawawa River,
Alo^onquin Park, Ont., igoo. {John Macoun.) Our only other
specimens are from Hull, Que.

Cypripedium guttatum, Swartz.

Shore of Great Slave Lake. 1899. {Dr. R. Bell.) The
single specimen brought home by Dr. Bell is the third from
the Mackenzie Basin, the others having been collected by
Richardson.

Cypripedium passerinum. Rich.

West shore of Great Bear Lake, Lat. 65" 30' to 66*^ 30'.
1900. (/. M. Bell.) Northern limit.

Zvgadenus elegans, Pursh.

West side of Gre^t Bear Lake, Lat. 65*^ 30' to 66*=" 30'.
1900. (/. M. Bell.) Northern limit.

JUNCUS BULBOSUS, L.

In boggy places, east end of Sable Island, N.S. 1899.
Herb. No. 22,623. ij^^m Macoun.) Only Canadian speci-
mens in herbarium of Geological Survey. Reported from
Labrador.

Stenophyllus capillaris, (L.) Britt,

Wet sandy fields. Sandwich, Ont. Herb. No. 25,334.
{John Macoun.) New to Canada.

FlMBRISTYLIS AUTUMNALIS, R. & S.

Wet sandy fields. Sandwich, Ont. Herb. No. 25,333.
{John Macoun.) New to Canada. Growing with Stenophyllus
capillaris.

Carex leiocarpa, C. a. Meyer ; Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants,
vol. II, p. I 10.

Dawson Harbour, Skidegate Inlet, Queen Charlotte
Islands, B.C. {Dr. C. F. Neivcombe.) The second Canadian
station.

Carex capitata, L.

Additional stations for this species are Northern Labra-
dor. {A. P. Lo7v.) Boggy places, Bragg's Creek, Elbow
River, Rocky Mountains. Herb. No. 25,447. {John Macoun.)

8o The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

THE ALGONQUIN NATIONAL PARK OF ONTARIO— ITS
. RESOURCES AND ADVANTAGES.

By Archibald M. Campbell, Ouavva.

The Parry Sound division of the Canada Atlantic Railway
renders readily accessible for the first time one of the most remark-
able regions of lake and stream, primeval forest and rug-g-ed rock
that can be found anywhere. It lies between the Ottawa River
and Georgian Bay, and is a compact territory over forty miles
square, with an area of nearly 2,000 square miles, comprising
eighteen townships and six half townships in the District ot
Nipissing, and representing in the aggregate a million acres of
land and water. The Ontario Government has set apart and
reserved for all time to come, " for the benefit, advantage and
enjoyment of the people of the Province," this Algonquin National
Park. In it, the citizens of Canada have a possession, the value
of which they have not yet even remotely realized. It is in reality
a huge game preserve, a fisherman's and sportsman's paradise,
a source of water supply, a field for reforestry operations, and a
natural sanitarium which bids fair to outdo the Adirondack region
and other noted health resorts of America.

RIVERS and lakes.

In the valleys, between the rocky ridges of the Laurentian
formation, are the fountain-heads ol the Muskoka, Magnetawan,
Madawaska, Petawawa, Amable du Fond, and South rivers — all
important streams, emptying into Georgian Bay, the Ottawa and
Mattawa rivers, and Lake Nipissing. Within the limits of the
Park is a large part of the watershed which divides the streams
flowing into the Ottawa river from those which empty into Geor-
gian Bay, and there is probably not to be tound elsewhere within
the Province a tract of country which in the same limited space
gives rise to so many important streams. Therefore, one of the
principal objects that the Government had in view when establish-
ing the reservation was the protection and maintenance of their
water supply. The interests of the lumberman, who annually
floats large quantities of timber to market down their waters, of
the manufacturer for whose mill-wheels they supply the motive

igoi] Campbell— Algonquin Park. 8i

power, and of the farmer to whom a continuous supply ol
water in spring, well and stream is an absolute necessity —
all required that provision should be made to keep the hills
and highlands of this inland plateau covered with a heavy
forest growth. The park contains within its boundaries an
immense volume of water in lake and river, brook, pond and
marsh. The spring and autumn rains and the heavy snows of winter
keep the fountain-heads of the important streams rising there con-
tinually replenished, the density of the forest retarding evaporation,
and the spongy layer of leaves and decaying vegetation which
covers the giound, tending to maintain an equable flow through-
out the year. The reservation is a veritable lake land, it being
estimated that there are about i,ooo lakes and ponds within its
borders. Most of the large lakes find a place on the map of the
Park that has been issued by the Ontario government, but many
of the smaller ones have not as yet been accurately located.
Many of the lakes are of great natural beauty — not too large to
be picturesque, nor too small to possess many a mirrored islet.
Great Opeongo lake in the south east corner of the Park is the
largest body of water, being twelve miles in length. It is a truly
noble sheet of m.any square miles in extent, is very irregular in
shape, possesses numerous islands, and presents many
picturesque features. At a ceVtain spot on the lonely shore ot
this lake there are still the remains of an ancient burial ground of
the Algonquin Indians, reminding us of that once powerful race,
which, in days gone by, held all this norlhland as its untitled
domain. The name of the Park is the only reminder that we
have of this primitive ownership, for the white man has displaced
the red, the stalwart brave has vanished to his happy hunting-
ground, and the pale-face reigns in his stead. The superinten-
dent of the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park writes as follows
of the lake scenery of the region : " Each expanse of water has
some charm peculiarly its own. On every side the forest
primeval clothes the hills and mountains with verdure of varying
hue down to the very shore ; deep shades are thrown across the
Park waters of the lake, whose placid surface mirrors to perfec-
tion every outline of cloud or hill, tree or rock ; while the baby
ripples from the bow of the canoe, or the congeries of air bubbles

82 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

from each stroke of the paddles, gHsten in the sunHght like
diamonds, or as the stars on a December nig^ht. To the tourist
the continual change from lake to river, from rivei to portage,
and from portage to river and lake again, make a delightfnl
panorama which captivates the eye and the senses, and provides
abundant opportunity for the cultivation of the tastes in the study
of all the varying phases of the landscape, and impels a seeking
after more perfect knowledge of the many varieties of animal and
vegetable life, which have their habitat in the territory.

TIMBER,

This region forms part of the great forest which formerly
covered the whole Province, and which here consists of white and
red pine, hemlock, tamarac, balsam, spruce, cedar, birch, maple,
beech, ironwood, ash and basswood. All the lands embraced in
the Park limits are now covered by licenses to cut timber, and
on certain of them, pine has been cut for nearly half a century.
Bush fires and lumbering operations have made serious inroads
upon the supply of pine, but it will still be many years before the
Park can, under existing contracts, be freed from these operations.
There are no other vested interests in the reservation, so that
eventually the Crown will have sole ownership and control of all
its products and resources.

a fine canoeing and camping ground.

For canoeing and camping, the Park offers unexcelled facili-
ties and attractions. The rangers have already made over a
hundred miles of trails and portages, and have cleared obstruc-
tions from, and otherwise improved the navigation of, many of the
streams. This work will be continued until the comparatively free
navigation of the more important routes through the reservation
has been secured. As a rule, the portages are short and easily
made, and are generally welcomed by the canoeist, giving him a
chance to stretch his legs. Forty or more log huts or cabins have
been erected at different points throughout the Park, and this
number is to be yearly increased. They are intended to furnish
shelter to the rangers and others in their canoe trips through the
reserve, and vary in distance from seven to ten miles of each
other — the limit being a day's joutney on snowshoes in the
winter,

igoi] Campbell — Algonquin Park. 83

A natural game preserve.

Mr C. K. Grig-g-, then a member of the Park staff, in the
autumn of 1897, contributed two short articles to thi; " Ottawa
Evening- Journal," which contained some very interesting infor-
mation about the inhabitants of this g-reat g^ame and fish preserve.
He also proved conclusively the necessity for such an asylum for
our g-ame, and showed how successful the experiment had been.
He said that prior to the inception of the Park, scarcely a beaver
could be found outside its present limits anywhere in this province
south of Lake Nipissing, and that in what is now the Park, only
a few straggling and decimated colonies existed. It is estimated
that there are now hundreds of colonies of these interesting
animals within its boundaries. In many cases, they have not
only erected new dams, but have also built upon the ruins of old
ones. The beaver houses which dot the edges of the streams
and marshes are, like the dams, marvels of engineering and
architectural skill. The menu of this industrious little denizen of
the forest consists principally of the tender bark of the saplings,
and he afterwards utilizes the denuded trunks for his dams. The
following extracts from the *' Report of the Royal Commission on
Forest Reservation and National Park," may be of interest :

"Of the fur-bearing animals, the beaver is by far the most
valuable. On the shore of every lake in this district are to be
found old beaver houses, and there is scarcely a brook in the
whole territory on which at short intervals their abandoned dams
may not be seen. Now one may travel for days there without
seeing a single fresh beaver sign.

"There are two reasons why this industrious and harmless
animal should be preserved from destruction. First, because its
skin furnishes us with one of our richest and most valuable furs ;
and, second, because from its habits it is perhaps the
greatest natural conservator of water. It is probably within the
mark to say that were this region again stocked with beaver as it
once was. there would be in every township at least a hundred
dams and beaver ponds, each with its family or families of beaver,
exclusive of the large numbers in the lakes and rivers where no
dam building is necessary. In this way the water area would be
increased by perhaps a fifth, a very important circumstance
from the lumberman's point of view.

84 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

"The beaver is a most prolific creature, and, if left undis-
turbed, the progeny of a single couple would, in a few years,
stock a large extent of country. The young beavers remain in
the same house as the parents until they are a year old, when they
strike off in couples for themselves, and either build a new house
on the same pond or select a site on some other creek, and there
erect a dam and house. In a few weeks the dry swamp or marsh
is transformed into a lake, and the stock of provisions, consisting
of a pile of saplings and brush, for winter use, is laid up beside,
the house, only a few of the limbs showing above the surface of
the water. In the interior of the house a dry, warm nest is made,
where they remain all winter. Going out at the call of hunger to
the pile of provisions, they drag a piece up out of the water and
eat the bark, which, together with the roots of aquatic plants, is
their only food, thrusting the pole back again into the water.
Here they remain until the long, warm days of spring sotten the
ice, when, cutting a hole in it, they go out for a taste of fresh
food. In the beginning ot May they bring forth their young,
which almost invariably consist the first year of two, after which
the average number is from four to six."

Otter are also now very plentiful, and the marten, mink, fisher
and their fur-coated kin are not behind in fecundity. In fact, the
net-work of waters that course through the dark tree-avenues of
the reservation are becoming thickly populated with these animals,
and this region affords grand opportunities for the observation
and study of the naturalist. The true sportsman will certainly
rejoice that there is now such a sanctuary for our nobler game,
and that already the lordly moose, which has been almost totally
exterminated in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and elsewhere, and
which bids fair to suffer a similar fate in this Province, is again
multiplying. It seems almost incredible with what ferocity and
wastefulness such animals as the moose have been hunted and
killed in the past. According to an official report, in the spring
of 1887, to give an example, the carcasses of not less than sixty
moose were found in this district, the animals having been killed
for their skins alone. During the preceding winter, between Lake
Traverse on the Petawawa and Bissett's station on the C. P. R.,
a distance of a little over twenty miles, seventy moose were

igoi] Campbell — Algonquin Park. 85

3

slaug-htered after Christmas. If one-half of these were females,
and if they even averaged only one calf each, here was game
enough destroyed in one season to stock the Park. Besides
affording noble sport to the hunter, the moose is a very valuable
animal to the settler and the frontiersman, and it would be a pity
to allow him to be exterminated like the buffalo of the western
plains without at least affording him every opportunity of survival.
A full-grown moose' weighs upwards of 1,000 pounds, and will
dress 600 pounds of beef, while his skin will make twenty pairs of
moccasins, which readily sell at two dollars a pair.

The nimble-footed deer are, notwithstanding the onslauefhts
of the pot-hunter in the past, and of their natural enemy the wolf,
always, growing in numbers. For here, too, the wolf, the fiercest
and most cunning enemy of all animal life, thrives, and claims
many a victim, especially among the young deer and smaller
quadrupeds. The interlocked antlers of moose and deer, which
the rangers occasionally find in the Park, tell of forest tragedies
where conflicts have been waged to the death and the strife has
been ignominiously terminated by the arrival of the wolves on the
scene. At the time of his first visit to the Park, the writer was
shown (and got an excellent photograph of) two pairs of these
locked antlers, which had been taken from the carcasses of two
bucks found the previous winter in the woods, and whose inex-
tricable grip of each other caused their mutual destruction. It
would, in fact, be impossible to separate them without destroying
them,

BIRD LIFE.

Bird life is also being attracted to the Park. Owing to the
wanton and useless destruction of our feathered friends, by means
of guns in the hands of boys and young man, insectivorous birds
are every year becoming scarcer in the settled portions of the
Province, and had we not a refuge such as the Algonquin Park
some species would probably eventually become practically extinct.
Partridge are numerous, but are preyed upon by the foxes —
which, however, along with the wolves, bears and other destruc-
tive and objectionable animals and birds, are being gradually killed
off by the rangers. Wild duck are reported plentiful on some of
the lakes, and wild rice has been sown with the intention of at-

86 The Ottawa Naturalist. [fune

tracting- these birds to other waters. It is said to be the o^overn-
ment's intention to introduced black g-ame and capercailzie from
Europe, and prairie fowl from our own western plains.

FISH, and fishing.

The disciples of good old Izaac Walton will find in the streams
and lakes of the Algonquin Park an abundance of trout, pike,
pickeral, and, in certain localities, white-fish and herring. Eels
of larg-e size are plentiful in the Opeongo branc h of the Mada waska.
Strange to say, both black and rock bass are missing. With the
view of introducing- these excellent and gamy fish, General Manager
Chamberlin, of the Canada Atlantic Railway, offered special
facilities for their transportation from other lakes in the Parry
Sound District to those of the Park. As a rule, brook trout, con-
sidered by many as the " King of fishes," are looked for in rushing
mountain torrent or the shining silver brook, but while the waters
of most of the brooks in the reservation are dark, it seems to suit
the taste and requirements of this loveliest and gamiest of fishes.
Mr. George B. Hayes, Prison Commissioner of the State of New
York, claims to have fished nearly all the streams of North
America, but says that for game qualities as well as beauty of
color and form, the brook trout of the Algonquin Park excel all
others. Perhaps the biggest of these speckled beauties are caught
in the Petawawa river, where they range on an average from half
a pound to four and a half pounds in weight, almost, if not quite,
equal in size to those of the famous Nepigon. Most of the brook
trout are of a superior quality of flesh, being- firm, and ranging in
color from a rich cream to the brightest salmon tint, while the skin
exhibits its glorious rainbow hues. In most of the lakes the salmon
trout, commonly called grey or lake trout, abounds. To catch
them, spoon or bait is used, as they seldom rise to the fly. To
fish within the Park limits, it is necessary to get a permit from the
Superintendent, and, even then, the use of rod and line and trowl-
ing line only are permitted. Moreover, the angler is only allowed
to take such fish as he requires for his own use, within the Park,
and is forbidden to carry away or wantonly destroy any piscatorial
spoils. It is not likely that the waters within the reservation will
ever be choked with the sawdust which has proved so fatal else-

igoi] Campbell — Algonquin Park. 87

where, so that, with the afore-mentioned restrictions in force, the
finny tribes should there have great opportunities for increase.

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION AND MINERALS.

The land comprised in the Algonquin Park is in general of little
use for agricultural purposes, being, as might be expected from its
situation on a watershed, for the greater part rough, broken and
stony. There are few high hills, th-=' surface being mostly com-
posed oi rocky ridges, alternating with valleys, swamps and
marshes. The rough ribs of the Laurentian formation everywhere
protrude, and in granite or gneiss dip at all angles to the south-
east, the strike of the strata being northeast by southwest. No
limestome, so far as the writer knows, occurs, and the indications
of mineral hitherto found are few, consisting principally ol traces
of iron. Mining exploration or prospecting for minerals within
the Park is prohibited except under certain conditions and pro-
visions. The working of mines and the developing of mining
interests would be regulated in the same way.

A FIELD FOR EXPERIMENTS IN FORESTRY.

Much might be said about the possibilities for useful experi-
ment in forestry which such a region affords. The re-planting of
burnt areas, the re-filling of gaps in the original forest, the ob-
taining of accurate information anent the soils, localities and ex-
posures suitable for certain trees, the discovery of the best method
of obtaining from a forest the maximum amount of product which
it is capable of yielding without at the same time trenching upon
its capacity, and the solution of the problem of destroying the
branches and tree tops left on the ground by the lumberman during
the culling of a pine forest, are all experiments of a great probable
value which might advantageously be made.

CLIMATE.

The retention of such an extensive block of forest is bound to
« have a beneficial influence on the climate of the surrounding
( country. Forests tend to promote humidity, and exert a temper-
^ ing eflfect upon injurious winds, preventing the fierce hurricanes
I and "blizzards" common in unforested lands. They also help to
S equalize the atmosphere, cooling the summer air and mitigating

88 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

its severity in the winter. Consequently, the destruction of a
large portion ot the forest growth of a country is generally attend-
ed by a deterioration in its climate. History proves that many
countries which once possessed forests became sterile after having
been deprived of them.

a natural sanitarium.
Owing to the altitude of this region, and its bracing atmos-
phere— redolent with the resinous odours of the pine and balsam,
it is a great natural sanitarium, where consumptives may recover
lost health and vigor. The idea has been shown to be well
founded that pine forests are of specific value in the cure of lung
disease. The old Romans sent sufferers of this class to Libra,
where, by breathing the bal samic emanations of the pines which
there abounded, they are said to have received much benefit. In
the Adirondack Forest of New York State a sanitarium has been
in operation for many years, with the special object of relieving
patients in the early stages of consumption. It offers to such the
benefit of climatic treatment, a systematic out-door life, hygienic
habits and suitable medical treatment, and its reports show that
twenty-five per cent of the patients are apparently cured ; while
twenty-five or thirty per cent more are sufficiently restored in
health to resume their work or support themselves by their own
efforts while living in a suitable climate. The Gravenhurst sani-
tarium on Lake Muskoka is a newer institution, which has also
attained a considerable measure of success in this sort of
treatment, but perhaps the results obtained by the famous
Dr. Otto Walther, at the sanitarium at Nordrach, in the Baden
Black Forest, Germany, are better than those obtained at any
similar hospital in the world. However, there can be little doubt
but that a sojourn in the pine forests of this Nipissing upland,
with its pure air, good water and aromatic breezes, would be
beneficial to many afflicted with weak lungs.

THE park headquarters.

The Park headquarters were at first situated on Canoe Lake,
but, for various reasons. Cache Lake was considered a more
suitable spot for them, and they were removed thither. Suitable
buildings for the accommodation of the superintendent and his

igoi] Campbell — Algonquin Park. 89

staff of six or seven rangers, were erected during- the summer of
1897 on the lake shore just south of the railway track. The
rang-ers are supposed to be travelling about most of the time, in
order to keep a sharp lookout for trespassers and poachers, and
against fires, and to watch especially the waterways and usual
entrances to the Park. They incidentally erect shelter-lodges,
make other improvements, and wage war on wolves and other
noxious animals. '

On a rocky point, about fifteen feet above the water, and so
embowered in birches and spruces that one might paddle by un-
conscious of its presence, stands " Fort Necessity" — one of the
shelter-lodges. It is a small, rustic, one-roomed cabin, containing
a sheet-iron stove, rude stools and table, and a platform bed the
width of the building. The latter will accommodate, if necessary,
six men, three at one end and three at the other, lying feet to

feet.

The inlet of the lake is near by, and a paddle of half a mile
up it brings you to White's Lake, in the vicinity of which — and
within the sound of the locomotive whistle — a fine beaver-dum
and other works of that exemplary animal can be seen.

Enough has, doubtless, been said about the Algonquin Na-
tional Park to give some idea of its character and resources, and
of the great inducements which it offers to the canoeman, the
camper, the sportsman, the seeker after rest and health, and the
lover of Nature.

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES.
By W. T. Macoun.

As announced in the May Naturalist, several observers in
different parts of Canada and Michigan have agreed to send in
their notes for comparison of records in the Ottawa Naturalist.
This arrangement was brought about by Mr. Wm. Saunders,
London, Ont., and Dr. James Fletcher ; the notes, however, are
being sent to the ornithological editor for tabulation. The gentle-
men who contributed the notes are Mr. Alex. Gow, Windsor
Ont. ; Mr. Wm. Saunders, London, Ont. ; Mr. J. Hughes
Samuel, Toronto, Ont.; Mr. W. P. Melville, Sault Ste. Marie,
Mich ; and Mr. L. McI. Terrill, Robinson Bury, Que.

The records of the common birds should prove of most value
as often the rarer species are not seen until some days after
their arrival and hence the comparison of records is misleading.
Another table of records will appear in a later number of the
Naturalist.

90

The Ottawa Naturalist.

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92 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

Ottawa Bird Notes.

1901.
April 10 — Rkd-shoulderko Hawk, Ihifco liiica/ns. Mr. C. Guillet.
19 -Hairy W^iiidpeckek, Dryobatcs villosns. Mr, Guillet.
19 — Downy Woodpecker, Dryobah-s ■pubesrens. Mr. A. G. Kinysloii.
23 — Wilson's Thrush, Trtrdus fuscescens. Miss E. Guillet; April 25,

Mr. Geo. R. White.
23 — Brown Creeper, Ccrtliia familiaris aiiiericnna. Mr. Guillet,
23 — Chipping Sparrow, Spisella socialis. Mr. Guillet.
25 — House Wren, Troglodytes cecion. Mr. King-ston.
25 — Wood Thrush, Ttirdns niKstclinus. Mr, White.
26 —Wilson's Snipe, Gallinciiro delicata. Mr. White.
26 — American Goldfinch, Spimis tristis. (Full breedini^ pluinaye. )

Mr, White.
26 — Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Rcgulus culcudula. Mr. White,
26 — Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis. Mr. Guillet ; April

28, R'lr, Kingston,
26 — Swamp Sparrow, Mclospiza georgiana. Mr. Kingston,
28 — RosE-BREasTED GROSBEAK, Habia ludoviciana. Mr, Kingston.
28 — W'hite-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta cafolinensis. Mr. Kingston.
28— Red-shouldered Hawk, Biiteo lineatus. (Nest and three eggs.)

Mr, Kingston.
28 — Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo latissimus. Mr, White,
28 —Hermit Thrush, Turdus aonalasclikw pallasH. Mr. White; April
30, Mr. Guillet,
May 2 — Chimney SwiVT, Chcetura pelagica. Mr. White.

2 — American Bittern, Botaunis lentiginosus. Mr. White.

4 — Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pennsylvanica. Mr. Guillet,

4 — Brown Thrasher, Harporhynchns rufus. Mr. W. T. Macoun.

4 — Spotted Sandpiper, Actiiis niacidaria. Mr. White.

4 — Marsh Hawk, Circus Inidsonius. Mr. White.

5 — Pine Warbler, Dendroica vigorsii. Mr, Kingston.

7 -Least FlycatcHEB, Evipidonax mininius. Mr. Guillet,

8 — Savanna Sparrow, Amnwdramus sandivichensis savanna. Mr,

Kingston,
8 — Whip-poor-will, Antrostumits vocifcrus. Miss Harmer,
9 — Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca. Miss E, Guillet,
9 — Black-throated Blue Warbler, Dendroica ccerulescens. Miss E.

Guillet.
9 — Warbling ViREO, Vireo gilvus. Mr. Guillet.
9--YELLOW W.arbler, Dendroica (estiva. Miss E. Guillet, Miss

Harmer.
10 Black and White Warbler, Minotilta varia. Mr, Guillet; May

1 I, Mr. White,
10 — Bank Swallow, Clivicola riparia. Mr, White,

igoi] Macoun — Ornithological Notes. 93

10 — Cliff Swallow, Petruchelidon lunifrons. Mr. White.
10 — Myrtle Warbler, Dendroica coronala. Mr. White.
II — White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys. Mr. Macoun;

May 12, Mr. Guillet, Mr. White.
II — Baltimore Oriole. Icterus ^albula. Mr. Kingston, Mr. White.
II — Kingbird, Tyranmts tyrannus. Mr. White.
II — Cooper's Hawk, Accipitcr Cooperi. Mr. White.
12 — Cape May Warbler, Dendroica tigrina. Mr. White.
12 — Tennessee Warbler, Helmhithdphila percgrina. Mr. While.
12 — Bl.\ckburnian Warbler, Dendroica blackbumicc. Mr. White.
12 — Nashville Warbler, Hciiii>itJiopliiIa ruficapilla. Mr. White.
15 — Kildeer, jEgialitis vocifvra. Mr. Kingston.
15 — Wood Pewee, Contopus virens. Mr. Guillet.

16 — Catbird, Galeoscoptes caroUnensis. Miss E. Guillet, Mr. White.
16 — American Redstart, Setophaga rutiUa. Miss E. Guillet; May 18,

xMr. White.
)6— Olive-backed Thrush, Turdus ustulatus s'wainsonii. Mr. While.
\(i- -^OMKMAiiV., Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Mr. White.
18— Bay-breasted Warbler, Dendroica castanea. Mr. White; May 19,

Miss Harmer.
18 — Oven-bird, Seirus aiirocapillus. Mr. While ; May 21, Mr.

Kingston.
18 — Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica maculosa. Mr. White,
ig — Black-throated Green Warblek, Dendroica virens. Mr. While;

May 21, Mr. Guillet.
19 — Scarlet Tanager, Piranga erythromelas. Mr. White.
19 — Maryland Yellow-throat, Geothlypis trichas. Mr. White ; May

21, Miss E. Guillet.
19 — Great-crested Flycatcher, Myiaichus crinitus. Mr. White.
21 — Ruby-throated HuMiMING Bird, Trocliilus colubris. Mr. While.
21-— Night Hawk, Clwrdeiles virginianus. Mr. Guillet, Mr. Macoun.

Note. — The editor finds that when notes are nol sent in until
the 20th of the month they delay the publication of The Naturalist.
Observers will therefore oblige by sending them on the 15th in-
stead of the 2oth. Interesting records of the nesting of birds or
their habits should be included, and all sent to the Ornithological
Editor, Mr. W. T. Macoun, Experimental Farm, Ottawa.

I

94 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June

EXCURSIONS.

April 27TH. — The first excursion of the season under the
auspices of the Club was held at Beechwood. About eighty mem-
bers were present. Under the leadership of Dr. Bell, the presi-
dent of the Club, and Dr. Ami, those interested in Geology
examined the excavations for the main sewer, where 15 species of
fossils were collected. Col. White and Dr. Fletcher took charge
of those who wished to study birds, plants and insects. Twenty-
three species of plants were found in bloom.

May 4TH. — The excursion to Britannia was more largely
attended than that held at Beechwood a week before, a large num-
ber of Normal School students being present. The majority of
those who took part in the excursion were interested in Botany,
and under the leadership of Dr. Fletcher, Dr. Guillet and Mr.
Putnam the woods and fields about Britannia were thoroughly
examined. Petasites pnlmata, a rare plant in this vicinity, was
collected by Miss Matthews. The geologists, under the leader-
ship of Dr. Ami, studied the rocks of the vicinity securing many
interesting specimens. A full report of the geological work done
at these excursions will be published later.

Sweet Coltsfoot. — A few years ago Petasites pabnata gvQw
at the old race-course south of Patterson's Creek on Bank street,
but the draining of the Glebe lots and the partial clearing of
" Stewart's Bush" have caused its extinction. It has always been
rare in this vicinity, but has been noted in two widely separated
localities this spring. By Miss Matthews near Britannia, as
recorded in the report of the sub-excursion published in this num-
ber of The Naturalist, and by the Hon. F. R. Latchford beside
a road leading through a swamp from near Mountain View in
Hull to what is known as " The Hollow Road." Mr. Latchford's
specimens and his diagram showing the exact locality at which
the plants were found are in the Herbarium of the Geological
Survey. He reports the plant as occurring in considerable num-
bers were found.

J. M. M,

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VOL. XV.

PLAlt IIL

Figure i. Lower surface of plastron.

ADOCUS VARIOLOSUS, (Cop3).

Figure 2. Upper surface of plastron.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST- VOL. XV.

PLATE IV.

.iiilS-

ADOCUS VARIOLOSUS, (Cope).
Lower surface of plastron; one-third natural size.

I

J

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VOL. XV.

PLATE V.

V.,.-

.*^

ADOCUS VARIOLOSUS, (Cope).
Upp3r surface of plastron ; one-third natural size.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. YOL. XV.

PLATE VI.

ADOCUS VARIOLOSUS, (Cope).
Anterior end of plastron ; lower surface ; natural size.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. Pl. V|I.

To Illustrated paper by David White on Species of Whittleseya.

■f^ilh

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, JULY, 1901. No.

THE EXTINCTION OF THE ELK IN ONTARIO.

By L. H. Smith, Strathroy, Ont.

(Read before llie London Ornithological Section of the Entomological Society

of Ontario.)

That the Wapiti {Cervus canadensis), commonly called "Elk,"
once roamed in numbers in the southern part of Ontario which
lies between Lakes Huron and Erie, I have positive evidence, but
as to what time they lived here or when or by what tneans their ex-
tinction was broug-ht about, I have been able to glean very little
information.

The extinction of some animals of our fauna is easily accounted
for ; the wolf, the bear, the common red deer and the wild turkey
were all indig-enous to our forest ; their death-warrant was signed
when the first settler, with his axe, felled the first tree making the
little clearance to erect his primitive log shanty. Naturalists do
not agree on the cause of the disappearance of the passenger
pigeon, which used to be with us in countless millions. I am of the
opinion that clearing the forest, and thus destroying its great
natural food supply, was the cause. The animals I have named
were alLhere when the first settlers came to the country, but the
great elk was not.

The first settlers came into the township of Adelaide in 1832.
There were no elk here then, and I have never been able to glean
any information from them about this great deer, although I have
spoken to many. The most interesting information I have been
able to get of this animal is from an Indian on the Kettle Point
Reserve, in the county of Lambton. He was an intelligent man
and acted as interpreter. He was an elderly man when I spoke to
him, perhaps between 60 and 70 years of age, He knows nothing

96 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

of the elk himself, but his father used to tell him stories of shoot-
ing them in that part of the country when he was young. Figured
out at the time, I thought it was quite 100 years ago when this
great deer roamed in these parts.

I have an interesting collection of elk antlers ; one, a perfect
specimen, measures forty inches in length and has seven points,
one only of which is broken off. . Another, a broken one, a cut of
which accompanies this sketch, must have belonged to a large ani-
mal. This piece is thirty inches long and measures thirteen inches
in circumference where it joined the skull. I have several small
pieces, all of which were found in this neighborhood and in the
adjoining county, Lambton. From the state of decay all are in,
I can quite believe it is more than a century since they fell from
the heads of the animals to which they belonged.

The most perfect specimen I know of, belongs to Mr. George
Wilson, of Strathroy. This set of antlers is in a perfect state of
preservation and must have been carried by a noble animal. Each
antler measures fifty-five inches in length ; one has seven points
and the other six. The longest point is eighteen inches. The
greatest spread is thirty-four inches, and the weight when found
was 35 pounds. Mr. Wilson obtained this grand set on his farm,
lot 15 in the 12th concession in the township of Lobo, about
seventeen years ago, and now has it mounted, in good shape, in
his hall, where it makes a fine ornament.

This set of antlers was found in a boggy spring where Mr.
Wilson had bored for water, of which he obtained a bountiful
supply. Some time subsequently his sons, while digging a little
ditch to carry off the surplus water, came on the horns. They
also found bones which were part of the skeleton, and, as the

I goo] Smith — Extinction of Elk. 97

antlers were still fast to a part of the skull, it was evident that
the animal to which they belong-ed died there.

How this Elk skeleton came there would be a question for
thinking- naturalists to solve. Mr. Wilson is of the opinion that
it might have been driven by wolves and have mired there. Per-
haps the most reasonable theory is that it either died a natural
death or was killed on that spot by a pack of these blood-thirsty
brutes.

How these great deer became extinct here will, perhaps, ever
remain, to naturalists, a hidden secret. The Indian did not anni-
hilate it because they never killed to extermination. If disease
overtook them, as it sometimes does the great white hare of the
far north, it is only reasonable to think that others would have
come to replace the dead, or the few, if any, left would have in-
creased again. We are quite in the dark concerning them. What
we do know, is that this grandest of North American deer once
roamed here, but it was before the white man came.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTE.

The Painted Lady Butterfly. — An interesting occurrence
of a butterfly suddenly appearing in numbers sufficient to attract
general attention has taken place this spring throughout Manitoba
and the Northwest Territories, where this insect, Parameis Cardiii,
has been extremely abundant. Caterpillars produced from eggs
laid by the females have appeared in thousands, and natur2lly
have caused much anxiety among those growing crops of any
kind. The food plant of this butterfly in Canada is chiefly the
Canada Thistle, but it also feeds on other plants. Owing to the
scarcity of their natural food, the larvae had to take to a new
plant, viz., the Blue Bur {EcJiinospcrvmm Lapyula). A. G.

LI iiARYl^

98 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

THE CANADIAN SPPXIES OF THE GENUS WHITTLE-
SEYA AND THEIR SYSTEMATIC RELATIONS.

By David Whitk.
SOURCES and supposed AGE OF THE MATERIALS.

The discovery ot the g"enus Whillleseya in the Upper Pahe-
ozoic of Nova Scotia was announced by Dr. H. M, Ami, oi" the
Geological Survey of Canada, in the August number of this journal
for 1900. This well marked PaliEOZoic plant type has been found
only within a very limited vertical range, and it has hitherto been
regarded as characteristic of a stage in the Meso-carboniferous of
North America. The occurrence, therefore, of the genus in the
shales of the Riversdale formation, concerning the age of which
there is at present great difference of opinion, is a matter of palffi-
ontological importance and interest. Through the courtesy of
Dr. Ami and of Dr. G. M. Dawson, the late Director of the Sur-
vey, a series of the specimens forming the basis of the former's
notes has been p'aced in the writer's hands for study and com-
parison with the types from the Allegheny region.

The material from Nova Scotia includes a number of speci-
mens collected by Dr. Ami in 1898, from the banks of the Har-
rington river near the boundary between Cumberland and Col-
chester counties, and at West Bay shore, Parrsboro', Cumberland
county. The fossils are said to have been gathered from the
Riversdale formation, a sequence reported to be several thousands
of feet in thickness of sandstones and shales which, on account of
their stratigraphic position and relation to the metamorphism in
the region, are regarded by the stratigraphical geologists ^ who
have investigated the structure and extent of the Paleeozoic form-
ations of this region as of undoubtedly Middle Devonian age.

On the other hand, palaeontologists, though differing some-
what as to ihe stage of the fossils, are entirely agreed that the
rocks are Carboniferous. According to the evidence of the
Batrachia, Crustacea and Lamellibranchiata examined by Sir
William D^iwson, Professors T. R. Jones and Henry Woodward,

1 Husjh Fletcher, Ann. Rept. Geol. Surv. Canada, 1886, vol. II, p. 64P ;
also Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Sci., vol. X, igoo, p. 242; also R. W. Ells, Ann,
Rept. Geol. Surv. Canada, vol I, 1885, p. 511:.

igoi] White— The Genus Whittleseya. 99

and by Dr. Ami, the conclusion is reached that the formation is
safely within the Carboniferous. Dr. Ami, who has not only
critically reviewed all the faunal evidence but who has also studied
the structure and position of the beds in the field, refers the Rivers-
dale formation to the Eo-Carboniferous, and places it at the base
of the Lower Carboniferous.^

Pala^obotanists have been disposed to refer this formation to
a still hig-her stage. Specimens from Harrington River examined
by Sir William Dawson, were referred by him to the Millstone
Grit. Later, in December of 1897, a small collection from these
beds was inspected by the writer and recognized by him as indi-
cating a position in the Carboniferous not far from the dividing
line between the Upper and Lower Carboniferous, i.e., in the
region of the Millstone Grit or the Pottsville of the Appalachian
trough. A little later a collection was submitted to Mr. Robert
Kidston, of Sterling, Scotland, who arrived, absolutely independ-
ently, at nearly the same conclusion, suggesting that the plants
might be even so late as the Lower Coal Measures. Both Mr.
Kidston and the writer recognized the approximate contem-
poraneity of the Riversdale plant beds with the " fern ledges" of
the Lancaster formation at St. John. Both regions furnish
species of Asierophyllites, Calamites, Sphcnopieris, Aneimites,
Neuropteris, Alethopteris, Cordaiies and Cardiocarpoii, which, after
continued study of the Carboniferous floras of the Appalachian
trough, I find to be characteristic of that stage. I therefore do
not hesitate, on the evidence of the fossil plants, to regard the
Harrington River plant beds as representing a level at or not far
below the Pottsville.

In addition to the specimens from the Riversdale formation of
Nova Scotia the Whittleseya material in hand for description in-
cludes a single specimen from the " fern ledg^es," Lancaster form-
ation, at St. John, New Brunswick. On examining one of the
specimens of Neuropteris Sehvyni, labelled by Sir William Dawson
and now in the collection of McGill University, a small out-
cropping plant fragment was observed whose nerves suggested
those of Whittleseya. The removal of the rock from the remaining-
portion of the specimen brought to light a new and very interest-
^ Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Sci., vol. X, igoo, pp. 167-178.

loo The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

ing" species, Whitilescya Dawsoniana, whose description, through
the courtesy of Professor Penhallow of the University, I am
enabled to include in this paper. The '^' fern ledges " have been,
and are still, regarded by most Canadian geologists as Middle
Devonian. ^ The composition of this flora is essentially that of
the Pottsville of the Allegheny region, to which most of the Lan-
caster ferns are common. In fact, the fossil flora of the " fern
ledges" appears to be representative of the Pottsville (Millstone
Grit in part) of the United States. The more exact distribution
of the species seems clearly to indicate, as I have elsewhere re-
marked,- the reference of a portion at least of the *' fern ledges"
to the Upper or Sewanee division of the Pottsville.

The discovery oi Whittleuya at once in the Riversdale of
Nova Scotia and in the Lancaster formation of New Brunswick
not only tends to confirm the conclusion as to the approximate
contemporaneity of these formations, a relation that has long been
accepted by most geologists, with the exception of the late Sir
William Dawson, but it is also corroborative of the correlation of
both of these formations with the Pottsville.^

^ Sir William Dawson, Fossil Plants of the Devonian and Upper Silurian
formations of Canada; Gaol. Surv. Canada, 1871. L. W. Bailey, Observa-
tions on the Geology of Southern New Brunswick, 1S65, pp. 54-76. Hugh
Fletcher, Geological Nomenclature in Nova Scotia, Trans. Nova Scotia Inst.
Sci., vol. X, 1900, p. 235.

2 20th Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, Pt 2, 1900, p. 917.

^ The Pottsville ("Pottsville conglomerate") in the type section in the
Southern Anthracite field of Eastern Pennsylvania covers the interval, including
a basal transition, between the marine Lower Carboniferous and the Lower
Productive Coal Measures. Its lower portion contains a flora apparently
corresponding to the Ostrau-Waldenberg zone of Europe, included by many
palaeontologists within the top of the Lower Carboniferous. The upper
portion includes the plants of the Millstone Grit and of the Lower Coal
Measures of the Old World. Mr. Kidston's reference of the St. John Flora to
the Lower Coal Measures corresponds perhaps exactly to my correlation of
the plant beds with the upper portion of the Pottsville, since, as he has pointed
out (Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edinburgh, vol. XII, 1S94, p. 225), the Millstone
Grit flora of Europe is essentially the same as that of the Lower Coal Measures,
from which in many cases the Millstone Grit seems not to have been entirely
stratigraphically distinguished.

iQoi] White — The Genus Wwittleseya. ibi

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES.

Whittleseya, Newberry, 1853.

The genus Whittleseya, established by Newberry^ in 1853,
embraces a type of narrowly petiolate leaves, more or less flabelli-
form in plan, whose nervation is composed of broad and thick,
closely or even densely arranged, fascicles or bands ot nerves
originating chiefly from a marginal strand on either side of the
base and sometimes forking, not far above the point of origin,
before passing upward, longitudinally parallel, to the generally
truncate apex, where the nerves of each band or fascicle abruptly
converere in a more or less distinct crenulation or tooth.

The leaves may be oblong, squarrose, triangular, cuneate or
linear. They are always narrowed, sometimes so abruptly as to
give an almost round-truncate profile, at the base. The petiole
is usually long, and oiten filamentose. The lateral borders are in
most instances nearly parallel, and the distal border is frequently
acutely dentate. In the more cuneate forms the basal marginal
nerves are less developed, the nerve fascicles radiating more
directly from the summit of the petiole. In some species, and
circumstantially in others, the vascular bands coalesce and are so
densely arranged in the thick leaf substance as to be hardly separ-
able. In most species the thickened central portions of the bands
produce low costae, though the bands are not wholly distinct from
one another below the teeth ; or, in many examples in which the
teeth or corrugations are obscure, they may not be distinguished,
unless topographically, for a portion of their length. The bands
sometimes divide once near the base. Above the base they con-
tinue nearly parallel to the lateral margins of the leaves. Fre-
quently the lateral margins are very slightly infolded near the
apex.

The branchlets or possibly the stems of this type, as shown
in specimens of Whittleseya microphylla, are slender, rarely divid-
ing at a rather wide angle, apparently naked at some distance
below the apices, and probably woody as indicated by the rather
densely carbonaceous residue. The leaves, still attached to the

^ Annals of Science, vol, i, No. 10, Cleveland, 185J, p. 116.

I

I02 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

terminal portions of the branches, were sustained by apparently
lax, often extremely slender petioles, sometimes several times as
lono^ as the blade of the leaf. No precise correlation has yet been
made between the ]Vliittleseyce and any of the types of PaljEOzoic
fruits, one or more genera of which are usually found associated
in the same beds.

The species already attributed to this g-enus are : Whitlleseya
elegdiis,^ iW o'dssi folia, ~ W. undulnta,''' W. microphylla,* IV.
Cainpbelli,-' and IV. Lesctiridua/' To these are now added three
species from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, as follows :

Whittleseya desiderata, n. sp.

PI. VII, Fi.y-s. I, 2, \a.

Leaves of moderate thickness, oblong-, slig^htly cuneate, 9 mm.-
14 mm. in length above the petiole, 6 mm. -10 mm. broad near the
truncate apex, slightly rounded at the distal angles, rapidly con-
tracted in the lower one fourth to form a round-obtuse or obtuse
base; apex crenulo-denticulate, often obtusely denticulate, with
short, rounded teeth ; vascular bands or costae 18-24 in number,
often low-rounded, usually distinct, confluent and generally once-
forked at a narrow angle at the base, the outer two or three on
either side blending in a marginal band; petiole relatively broad
at the top, the length and mode of attachment being unknown.

The species here described is one of the smaller of the genus,
of which, however, it shows well the distinctive characters. As is
usual in this group, especially in the type, JVhiitkKseya clcgans, the

^ Newberry, Ann. Sci., vol. i, Cleveland, 1853, p. 1 16, fiji^s. i, 2. Les-
qiiereux, Coal Flora, vol. II, p. 523, pi. I\', f. 1., la.

- Lesquereux, Coal Flora, Atlas, 1879, p. 2, pi. I\', f. 2 {]V. integrifulia,
op. cil., vol. II, p. 524,)

■' Lesquereux, op. cit., vol. II, p. 525, pi. IV', f. 3.

•* Lesquereux, op. cit., vol. Ill, p. S43. Lesley, Diet. Foss. Pa., vol. Ill,
p. 1256, text-fig's.

' D. White, 2oth Ann. Rept. U. .S. Geol. Survey, Pi. II, 1900, p. 867.

^ Loc. cit., p. 867.

igoi] White — The Genus Whittleseya. io

v>

vascular bands become more distinct and separate as they ap-
proach the teeth. In the middle of the leaf they are often more
diflfuse, thouj*'h they are g-enerally recog'nizable down to near their
points of orii^-in.

The normal aspect ot Whittleseya desiderata is shown in
PI. VII, Fif^. I, an enlargement of whose vascular bands is pre-
sented in Fig-. \a. In this example the origin of the bands is
easily traceable. The original of Fig. 2 is slightly warped or de-
formed in the matrix, which gives the apex an unduly contracted
form. It is notable, however, that in this specimen, as is often
the case in ]V. iindulata and W. Ca^npbelli^ the bands on the ex-
treme borders are slightly infolded near the apex, so that one or
two of the teeth at each corner are sometimes overlapped and
slightly inward inclined. In this specimen is also indicated a trace
of a petiole, which would appear to be filainentose, as in JF. micro-
phyiia Lx. Whittleseya desiderata is distinguished from W. Daiv-
soiiiana by its proportionately smaller and more elongated form,
and especially b}' the narrow anJ more numerous vascular bands.
The latter, by their number and proximity, suggest ]]'. niicrophylla,
but they are neither so dense nor so far blended as in the species
last named. In ]]'. microphylla,^ although the dimensions are
very similar, the bands are often difficult oi distinction, while the
distal margin appears more or less obscurely crenulate. One of
the specimens, from West Bay Shore, Parrsboro', Nova Scotia,
collected by Dr. Ami in 1899, is somewhat narrower than the two
examples figured, though belonging to the same species. Another
example, from Harrington River, Station A5 of Dr. Ami's collec-
tions, presents, apparently as the result of lateral deformation, a
somewhat cuneate form strikingly similar to that of Whittleseya
microphylla, with which it agrees in size. The same shale frag-
ment contains a normal example to which a part of the petiole is

still attached.

Localities. — Harrington River beds, Harrington River, Col-
chester Co., N. S., Stations A5 and B5 ; collected by Dr. Ami,
1898. Also on the Harrington River in Cumberland Qo., N. S., ,
Station A7 ; collected by Dr. Ami in 1898. West Bay Shore,
Parrsboro, Cumberland Co., N. S. ; collected by Dr. Ami in 1899.

The specimens are in the collections of the Geological Survey
of Canada.

^ PI. vii, Figf. 7.

104 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

Whittleseya brevifolia, n. sp.

PI. VII, Fig. 3, 3«.

Leaf very small and very short, fan-shaped, very broadly
triangular, less than one cm. in length, and nearly as broad or
broader than long" at the apex, truncate or slightly truncate at the
top, and gently convex laterally ; vascular bands narrow, about 20
or 25 in number, forking once near the base, or derived simply
from the marginal nerve, slightly arched near the lateral margins,
crowded, somewhat obscure in the middle portion, more distinct
near the apex where each band contracts within the limits ot a very
small, short, obtuse tooth.

The salient features of this species are the somewhat dimin-
utive size, the extremely broadly triangular form and the compact-
ness of the narrow vascular bands. As shown in the illustration.
Fig. 3, the lateral margins, perhaps slightly mechanically
contracted in this instance, form nearly a right angle at the base.
The characters of the vascular bands and of the teeth are shown
in Fig. 3a. The specimen figured is but 7 mm. in length, exclusive
of the petiole, and 8 mm. in breadth at the apex.

Although the species is represented by but a single example
in the collection, it appears to be specifically distinct from Whittle-
seya desiderata by reason of the abbreviated triangular form and
the narrow bands. It is possible, however, that a series of in-
termediate phases may be discovered, which will prove this form
to lie within the limits of individual variation in the leaves of the
latter species. In the absence of such forms it cannot at present
be safely included in the same species. As compared with Whit-
tleseya microphylla, the only other distinctly cuneate species, the
leaf in hand differs by its very short form, the more distinct costae
and the well defined teeth.

Locality. — Harrington River beds, Harrington River, Col-
chester Co., N.S.; Station A12 of Dr. Ami's i8q8 collections.

The type is in the collections of the Geological Survey of
Canada.

igoi] White — The Genus Whittleseya. 105

"Whittleseya Dawsoniana, n. sp.
PI. VII, Fig-s. 4, 4rt.

Leaf very small, short, squarrose, broader than long-, truncate
at the apex, round-truncate at the base, thick ; nerve bands very
broad, 1.5 mm. -1.75 mm. in width, about 10 or 12 in number,
parallel to the lateral borders, apparently undivided, and forming-
very broad and very low flat costae which are contiguous or
slightly confluent in the interior of the leaf, each band terminating
in a short, broad, tooth.

While examining one of the specimens from St. John, N.B.,
labelled by Sir William Dawson as Neiiropteris Selivyni, loaned
from the collections of McGill University throug-h the courtesy of
Prof. D. P, Penhallow, the writer observed on the same fragment
of shale a small portion of a leaf showing vascular bands similar
to those of Whittleseya. On carefully removing the matrix from
the remaining portion of the fossil, the specimen was found not
only to belong to Whittleseya, but to represent a new species of
that genus This leaf, which is illustrated in PI. VII, Fig. 4, is
about 13 mm. long above the petiole, and about 17 mm. in width
at the top, which is slightly wider than the lower portion. The
specimen, which is slightly deformed and a little crumpled at the
base so as not to reveal the petiole, is well marked by the very
low, broad, and flat ribs, whose terminations in the apparently
short, obtuse teeth, are very obscurely seen along a portion of the
distal border. The characters of the teeth are hardly positively
determined.

The species is named in memory of Sir William Dawson,
Canada's most disting-uished palaeobotanist and one of the great
palaeontologists of the world. It is recognized among- other
broad-leaved species of the genus by its small size, relatively great
breadth and proportionately very broad bands. Further, the teeth
along the distal margin appear to be shorter and more obtuse than
in Whittleseya ele^a?is, while the form of the leaf is not elongate
as in W. undulata, whose teeth are also short.

The species described above is associated on the same shale
fragment with Alethopteris and a ha.gmQn\. oi Neuropteris {XaheWed
Neiiropteris Sekvyni) apparently indistinguishable from a plant

io6 The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

from the upper Pottsville of the Appalachian province described in

manuscript by the writer as a variety of A'europ/eris Schlehani
Stur.

Locality. — "Fern ledg-es," Lancaster formation, near Sr John,
New Brunswick.

The type of the species is with No. 73 (391) in the collections
of the Geological Department of McGill University, Montreal,
Canada.

RELATIONS AND SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF THE SPECIES'.

The species of Whittleseya from Nova Scotia and New Bruns-
wick are closely allied to the southern representatives of the same
genus. The Whittleseya desiderata has the aspect ot a diminutive
W. elegans Newb., an example of which, from the type bed and
vicinity, is, for comparison, shown in PI. VII, Fig. 5. In the
small species the teeth are less acute, while the bands are more
confluent, more carinate, and less ribbon-like than in the Ohio
plant. In respect to the nervation, the former species agrees per-
haps more nearly with the material from the roof of the Sewanee
coal of Tennessee placed by Lesquereux in W. undulata. Tha
compactness of the fascicles also approaches the nervation of IV .
mici'ophylla (PI. vii. Fig. 7.) In fact, the longer Riversdale
species appears, while ranging most closely to W. elegans and
W. undulata^ to stand on the side toward the cuneate W. fnic7-o-
ptiylla.

The Whittleseya brevifolia, though nearest to W. desiderata,
suggests by both its form and nervation a position between Ihe
latter and the W. micropliylla, an example of which, from the Type
locality,^ is illustrated in Fig 7.

Whittleseya Da^vsoniana, on the other hand, is by far most
closely bound to W. elegatis, from the Sharon coal (Upper Potts-
ville) of Ohio, though its proportionately broader ribs and less

^ Near Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the "coal bearings sliale," a formation
representing: a part of the Upper Pottsville, not far from the Sharon coal, in
the Appalachian trougfh. The species is also present in the Breathitt forma-
tion of Kentucky, and the Upper L^-kens division of the Pottsville in the
Pennsylvania Anthracite retfion.

igoi] White — The Genus Whittleseva. 107

pointed teeth are comparable to the Sewanee form of JV. luidulata.
It is worthy of note in this connection that the collections from
the Upper Lykens division at the Lincoln mines in the Southern
Anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania contain a Whittleseya form^
whose narrowest leaves are so similar in size and character to
that described above from St. John as to sug-g-est slight doubt as
to the validity of a specific separation for the Pennsylvania type,
although the other associated leaves of the same plant are propor-
tionately very much broader and somewhat longer.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the Whittlcseycv thus
far discovered in the Riversdale and Lancaster formations pertain
to the group with numerous more compact nerve fascicles and
broader proportions, in general characteristic ot the Upper Potts-
ville, rather than to the linear group,- with comparatively few
bands and large teeth, which prevails in the lower portions of the
Pottsville in the Appalachian province.

The genus Whittleseya is regarded by most paljEobotanists as
a gymnospermous type, although some difference of opinion
exists as to its position among- the gymnosperms. As originally
published by Dr. Newberry,'^ it was described as perhaps pinnate,
and compared with various genera, not all gymnospermic, without
suggestion of a definite relationship with any family. By Lesquer-
eux,* and Sir William Dawson, •' it was referred to the
NocggcralhiacciF , a family typified by N^oeggerathin. The latter
genus, the original species of which resembles A?'ch<Topteris, is
now generally considered as most closely allied to the Cycads,
though some writers have classed it among the ferns. Schenck,^
in 1884, placed the Whittleseycc in the Dolerophylleic, whose type
genus Dolerophylliim was put by Dawson in the Nocggerathiacce.

Almost simultaneously, in 1885, in two important palajobotan
ical works published by Saporta, ^ and Renault,** Whittleseya

^ Whittleseya clegujis Nevvb., var. miner D. W ., 20th Ann. Rept. U. S,
Geol. Surv., Pi. II, 1900, pp. 78S, 904.

- Whittleseya CampbeUi D. W., op. cit.. p. 905, pi. CXL, fig's. 9-1 1;
and Whittleseya Lescuriana D. W., op. cit., p. 867 (description not vet pub-
lished. )

^ Annals of Science, vol. i, Cleveland, 1853, p. 116.

•' Coal Flora, \ol. II, 1880, p. 523. Principles of Palaeozoic Palseobotany,
1883, p. 97.

^ Can. Rec Sci., vol. IV, No. i, 1890, pp. 26, 27.

^ In Zittels Handb. d. Palasont., vol. II, p. 253.

' Evol. re^-. vegf., Phanerog., vol. I, p. 144.

** Cours Bot. Foss., vol. IV, p. 69.

io8 The Ottawa Naturalist. [J"ly

was referred to the Salisburiaccce, in which it was ranged with
Dicranophyllum, Rhipidopsis^ Trichopifys, Ginkgophyllnniy and
BaierUy the earlier relatives of the living genus Ginkgo. This
reference, which was accepted by Schenck, ' appears to find favour
with most foreign paheobotanists- who have more recently con-
sidered the relationship of the American genus, though Solms-
Laubach,^ regards it as based on too. slender evidence.

In the absence of any precise knowledge of the florescence or
fruits of Whittlesey a ^ any systematic reference of the genus is based
almost wholly on the characters and analogies of the leaves, and
must therefore be regarded as hypothetical and tentative. Yet
the development and the nervation of the leat are such as prac-
tically to exclude a comparison with any Cryptogamic type, and to
at once suggest a gymnospermic nature. Further, the analogies
between the leaf structure of Whittleseya a.nd those of Ginkgo, and
more particularly with the more ancient forms of that type, are so
striking as to compel a comparison with both the living and the
fossil representatives of the Ginkgoales. These analogies are
illustrated by the almost identical characters of the nervation and
distal border of the leaf in Whittleseya microphvlla and in the
recent Ginkgo. Among some of the additional Appalachian Potts-
ville material, which will probably receive special attention in - a
later paper, are several fragments which appear to indicate a
probably spiral arrangement of the leaves, the latter forming, in
W. microphylla, very loose tufts at the ends of the twigs.

There are also two conditions which favour a direct relation-
ship of the American type to the Ginkgoales : First, there is the
extraordinary antiquity of the genus Ginkgo which is clearly iden-
tified in the older Mesozoic,while its antecedents or closer relatives,
Baiera and Ginkgophylluni, are present in the Permo-Carbon-
iferous, in which are also found a number of the immediately allied
types. In this connection it will be of interest for the reader to
compare the Whittleseycs with the group illustrations of Ginkgo

^ Die fosb. Pflanzenreste, i8S8, p. i66.

"^ See Zeiller, Elem. de palt^obot., 1900, p. 251. Also see Seward and
Gowan, in Annals Bot., vol. XIV, 1900, p. 135.
* Fossil Botany, 1891, p. 66.

igol] White — The Genus Whittleseya. 109

relatives and Ginkgo leaves g-iven by Saporta, ^ Ward,^ Seward
and.Gowan,^ and Zeiller. * The other circumstance, lending- some
minor colour of probability as to the relationship, is the occurrence,
in especial abundance in the beds containing Whittleseya of numer-
ous types of gymnospermic fruits, some of which represent genera
closely analogous in structural characters to those of the living
"maiden-hair tree," Ginkgo hiloba. In the judgment of the writer the
Whittleseyce are the oldest representatives of the Ginkgoales stock
that have yet been discovered. The fruits of this type are prob-
ably included in some of the American species of Rhahdocarpos, or
possibly in Cardiocarpon. The plant from the Upper Coal
Measures of Bale de Chaleur described by Dawson'' as Nwggerathia
dispar, although fragmentary and very incomplete, appears by its
petiolate development, the basi-marginnl nerves, and the banding
of the parallel, longitudinal nervation to be also referable to the
sam£ stock, if not to the same genus. The Nceggerathia dispar
may perhaps, without too great an assumption, be regarded as a
connecting link between the earlier Whittleseyas and the later
Saportcea of Fontaine and I. C. White, "^ from the Dunkard or
supposed Permian of the Appalachian trough. Saporttca'^ through
its allied genera, Baiera, and Ginkgophyllum, may perhaps be
safely regarded as belonging to the Ginkgo stock, while the two
genera last named are not only closely related, but one of them is
perhaps antecedent to the genus Ginkgo, which is unquestionably
present with characteristic flowers and fruits in the earlier Meso-
zoic. During this epoch Ginkgo, which in the world of to-day is

' Evol. reg. veg-., Phanerog-., vol. I, 1S85, pp. 142-146.

- Science, vol. X, 1S85, p. 496.

■* Annals of Botan}-, vol. XI\', 1900, pp. 109-154.

* Elements de Piileobotanitjue, 1900, pp. 248-253.

^ Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. London, vol. XXII. 1866, p. 153, PI. XIII, fig.
91.

** Permian Flora, pp. 99, loi, 102, pi. XXXV'III. tigs. 1-4.

' Saportcea, F. and W., antedates and is quite distinct from Saportia, a
genus of Tertiar\- Algae, named by Squinjibol in 1891, Contr. Fl. Fosb. Terz
Liguria, pt. i , p. xx.

^'LIBRARYli

no The Ottawa Naturalist. [July

not definitely known in a wild state, ^ appears to have enjoyed a
world-wide distribution includinj^ all continents and extending-
from California to India, from Greenland to Arg-entina, and from
Tasmania to Spitzberjj^en.
bmithsonian Institution, Washinofton, 2 May, iqoi.

Plate V'll. — Canadian types.
Figures i and z. — Whii/lcstyn dcsiderala, D. W'., F'ig'. \a, cnlarg-enient (X4) lo

show the vascular bands of tiie leaf.

Harrinj^ton River, N. S. ; Riversdale formation.
Figure 3. — Whifflcseva hrcvifoUti, D.\\'., Fig-. \a, detail show ing^ the nervation

(X4) .'.'_,." ^

Harrington River, N. S. ; Riversd.ile formation,
figure 4. — W'/iiftleseya Da7vsuniLi?ia, D. W., Fig. 4<f, enlargement (X4) to show

the vascular bands.

St, John, X. B. ; Lancaster formation.
-Appalachian t\pes.
Figure 5. — W/i it/Irxcvd clegaiis, Xewb. , showing the average form and

proportions.

Roof of Sharon coal, Akron, Ohio; upper part of Pottsville.
Figure 6. — Wliiftlcseya itndulatn, Lx., slightly narrower than the normal form

hibelled by Lcsquereux with this name.

Roof of I'ratt coal, l^olomite, Ala. ; Pratt group, Upper Pottsville.
Figure 7. — Whi/tlcstya uiicmphylla, Lx.

Near Fayette»ille, Ark. ; Coal-bearing shale, Upper I'ottsville.
Figure 8. — Whittlescya Campbelli, D. \\\

Lincoln Mines, Southern Anthracite field. Pa. ;

Lower Lykens division, Pottsville.

SOME NEW CANADIAN GENTIANS.-

By Theo. Holm.

Gentiana macounii. — Annual or sometimes biennial, g-jabrous
except the calyx : stem strict, quadranj^ular, 5 to 30 cm. high,
branched from the base : lowest leaves spathulate or oblong- lanceo
late, the upper linear-lanceolate, acute : peduncles long- and stout,
I -flowered : calyx purplish-green, uneciually cleft to near the
middle, 4-lobed, the longer lobes lanceolate, the shorter ovate with
broad membranaceous margins, all acuminate and carinate,
scaberulous with minute short papilhe, especially along the keels :
corolla deep bluish, 1 1^ to 3 cm. long, cleft to about / .; of its
length, 4-lobed, the lobes very veiny, slightly spreading, broad and

1 The sole survivor of the genus Ginkgo, the Ginkgo tree (G. biloba), also
known as the " Maidenhair tree" on account of the resemblance of its leaves
to the Maidenhair fern (Aditn///////), is the sacred tree of the temple gardens
of Japan and China, whence it has been introduced by horticulturists into
Europe and America.

- These descriptions of new species, formerly supposed to represent
Gentiana serrata, Gunn., have been extracted from a very valuable paper
by Mr. Holm on " Some Canadian species of Gentiana : section Crossopetalce,
Frtel.", with four plates, received too late foi- publication in this number of
Thp: Ottawa Naturalist. The complete paper will ajipear in an early
nimiber of this journal.

Mr. Holm also proposes G. serrata, var. grandis, and var. ludopetala. Gray,
as species, viz.: G. grandis (Gray Synopt. Flora, p. 117), Holm, and G. holo-
petala (Gray ibid.). Holm.— Editor.

igoi] Holm — Canadian Gentians. hi

fringed along the sides, but merely denticulate across the summit;
nectariferous glands 4 at the base of the corolla-lobes : stamens 4
with broadly winged filaments, these ciliate in the middle: anthers
at first introrse : pistil fusiform, stipitate with short but distinct
style: stigma roundish : mature capsule shorter than the corolla :
seeds rough with numerous long papillae.

Prairies, gravelly soil and margins of marshes. The Geologi-
cal Survey specimens are from Lees Creek at Cardston, Alberta;
Red Deer, Alberta; along the Bow River to Banff, Rocky Moun-
tains, where it is very abundant; Waterton Lake, Lat. 49*^ 05'; and
F^ort Pitt, Saskatchewan.

Gentiana procera. — Annual, glabrous except the calyx: stem
erect, angled, 25 to ^about 50 cm. high, branched above : lowest
leaves spathulate or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, the upper linear-
lanceolate, acute: branches i — 3-flowered with 2 or 3 pair of leaves:
calyx I ^ to 3 cm. long, unequally cleft to the middle or a little
above, 4-lobed, the longer lobes linear-lanceolate, the shorter much
broader with membranaceous margins, all acuminate and carinate,
scabrous: corolla, deep blue, 2 to 5 cm. long, 4-lobed, the lobes
very veiny, roundish with many long fringes along the sides and
dentate across the summit: nectariferous glands as in G. Mncounii:
stamens 4, the filaments naked, otherwise as in the preceding
species ; ovary shortly stipitate with short style and a roundish,
somewhat lobed stigma : mature capsule much shorter than the
corolla : seeds with long papilhe.

Represented in the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of
Canada by specimens from near Sarnia, Ont. (C K. Dodge); Lake
Huron {Dr. Richardson); Stony Mtn., Man. [Jolin Macoiui); and in
the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University from Goat Island
Niagara Falls; shore of Lake Superior, Charlevoix, Mich.; and
Minnesota.

Gentiana nesophila. — Annual, glabrous: stem erect, angled,
6 to 9 cm. high, much branched from near the root : leaves glau-
cous, densely crowded and forming a rosette, roundish or obovate,
tapering into the petioles, the cauline spathulate or lanceolate, ob-
tuse : peduncles sometimes as many as 12, stout, 1 -flowered with 2
or 3 pair of leaves : calyx glaucous and wholly glabrous, about 1]/^
cm. long, unequally cleft to near middle, 4-lobed, the longer lobes
narrow and keeled, the shorter much broader with membranaceous
margins, but not carinate : corolla pale bluish in dried specimens,
2 to 2^ cm. long, 4-lobed, the lobes roundish with a very few
lateral teeth, but no Iringes, erosely denticulate across the sum-
mit: nectariferous glands 4 : stamens 4, with winged filaments :
ovary shortly stipitate, the style distinct, with a roundish stigma :
mature capsule shorter than the corolla : seeds with short, obtuse
papilla.

Known only from near Salt Lake, Anticosti, Quebec, where it
was- collected by Prof. John Macoun on low, moist ground; in flower
August, 1883. '

112

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[July

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114 The Ottawa Naturalist, [July

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Acting-Editor of The Ottawa Naturalist :

Having^ been asked by several members of the Ottawa Field-
Naturalists' Club why I did not reply to the bitter attack made
upon my " Synopsis of the Geology of Canada,"' published with
the sanction of the Editor, and without any opportunity on my
part of replying- thereto in the same May number of The Ottawa
Naturalist, I desire to state that whilst I did feel strongly in-
clined to reply to it in the same strain, and point out the errors
and mistakes it contains as well as the evident motives for the
words of the writer, who signs himselt " H. F." [who, by-the-
bye, from his initials, is evidently not even a member of the Club,
yet, was allowed to use our official organ as a medium] and at-
tacks one who, in the course of his geological researches in the
field and studies in the department has been compelled to state
what he believes to be the truth regarding the geological age of
certain strata in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick about which a
great deal has been written by a certain writer whose initials are
also "'H. F." and presumably refer to the same person. These
writings, as well as that of " R. W. E." in the January issue of
The Ottawa Naturalist for 1900, and an unsigned article in a
local journal, all bearing ow the same subject and evidently in-
spired from the same quarter, may be placed along with that
" very large mass of geological writing of the present time which
is utterly worthless for any of the higher purposes of science,
which might quite safely and profitably, both as regards time and
temper, be left unread." I do not wish to enter into any personal
controversy as that bitter attack would seem to lead. I merely
desire to point out facts and natural conclusions that we can draw
from them. I had much rather not had to write this letter in-
tended for the members of the Club, who are certainly entitled to
consideration in the matter.

After over twenty years' experience in chronological geology
in Canada, I have brought out my "synopsis" in the interests of
geology in Canada and in accordance with the facts which I have
examined for myself during nearly two decades in the Geological
Survey Department — not with any preconceived notions or ideas
to bolster up, nor yet with any vain theories of mine to uphold.

I do not hesitate to stand by the position I have taken in my
" Synopsis " as regards points in nomenclature. As regards nicety
of diction and literary skill, I do not claim any.

Sincerely yours,

(Sgd.) H. M. Aml
Ottawa, June '22nd, 1901.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. Pl. VIM

Topographical Map of Red River Valley, from Model by D. B. Dowling.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. PL. IX

^

>*

Part of Manitoba.
Dotted lines show beaches of west side of former lake.

I^ILIBRARYIr

v^W..,

THE OTTAWA f(ATURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, AUGUST, 1901. No. 5.

THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE RED RIVER

VALLEY.

By D. B. DowLiNG, B. Sc.

A critical study of the physical features of any region is not
complete nor is its full sig'nificance understood if there is not added
some note referring- to the great changes which have contributed
to its history. Many of the bolder features such as mountain
ranges show in the bending and folding of the beds composing
their mass, a yielding to great lateral pressure and consequent
upheaval. Similarly all the surface deformations offer evidence as
being the result of various agencies ; whether changes in elevation,
folding and breaking of the crust or the continued action of atmos-
pheric or climatic conditions.

In the district to be discussed the principal movements
recorded are changes in elevation during which the sea advanced
or retired and was the principal agent in the deformation and sub-
sequent addition to the deposits on the earth's crust.

A reference to the illustration will show the general nature
of the valley from the height-of-land at Lake Traverse northward
to the Manitoba lakes. It broadens toward the north and in
Manitoba is seen to include a wide tract — ^the first prairie steppe —
extending from the hills bordering it on the west, to the rougher
country lying to the east of Lake Winnipeg.

The general character of the country on both borders is quite
distinct and the plain, through which the river runs, forms an area
of a still different type. The character of each is primarily caused
by the relative hardness and formation of the material forming the
crust of the earth beneath.

.c^

n6 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

To the east is a rug-ged plain sloping gently westward. On
this many small lake-basins are seen and the streams winding
through it are peculiar in that they have not of themselves worn
down valleys but are found winding in various ways seeking the
lowest level, passing through lake expansions which are merely
hollows hlled to the level of the lowest outlet. This area is a part
of the original continent formed after the molten mass of the earth
had cooled sufficiently to have formed upon it a crust.

A study of this area shows that the original crust suffered
many changes — that successive sinkings into the still molten mat-
ter beneath, modified much of it or probably remelted all of the
original surface. The earliest littoral deposits are associated with
eruptive greenstones, and wherever remnants of these are found
they are nearly always surrounded by rocks which appear to have
been at a later date in a plastic condition and to have enfolded the
early sedimentaries. These remnants are of great economic value
inasmuch as they have been specially enriched by veins carrying
the precious and other metals and minerals. A long lapse of time
enabled the surface to become firmer before additional deposits
were placed upon it, but the surface suffered great denudation and
a large part of it was removed to form the earlier stratified sea
deposits. The uneven nature of its present surface is due in a
great measure to the varying hardness or brittleness of the con-
stituent rocks.

The country beneath this rough slope and the edge of the
plateau to the west of the valley is underlain by limestones placed
nearly horizontal and covered by coatings of clay, the nature of
which is dependent on the conditions of deposition.

The plateau to the west through which may be seen many deep
river channels is composed of a series of soft, dark coloured, easily
eroded shales or hardened clays with occasional overlying deposits
of sand and clays of a lighter colour containing a few seams of
lignite which were deposited in shallow, probably brackish water.

These various deposits indicate a certain part of the history
of the continent to be briefly as follows : —

A subsidence of the original continent brought the sea into the
central part of the present land area, so that its waters covered
perhaps all of Manitoba. The advance was slow and represents a

igoo] DowLiNG — Red River Valley. 117

great lapse of time. Along- the margin of the sea the waves and
currents were breaking up and carrying away the loosened parts
of the former land surface. The heavier material was left near the
shore to form the lower rocks which are mainly of sand, while
above are the deeper sea deposits; limestones.

That this sea remained for a long time is evident from the
great thickness of the limestone beds laid down over its bed, for it
is generally supposed that limestone is not formed very rapidly.

The commencement of an upward rise was probably about the
time of the great coal period. Traces of rocks formed at this time
are found in Minnesota but none so far in Manitoba. As this part
rose above the water it probably presented a very even surface or
that of a great plain sloping to the south-west, but the fact that
near the shore the beds were thinner than elsewhere would cause
them to be more easily fractured by any unequal movement of the
crust in the general elevation.

There was a long lapse of time during which this part of the
continent remained above the sea and it is probable that in this
interval the surface of the limestone was worn away and brought
near its present contour. Along the eastern margin there was
probably a line of cliffs facing the east, and in front of this a line
of lakes or a river system the fore-runner of the Lake Winnipeg
basin.

The next evidence of change in the elevation shows that the
next advance of the sea was caused by a much less depression
than in the previous case. In this instance the sea was shallow
and apparently the waters very muddy if we are to judge by the
amount of silt that was left by this submergence

A preliminary sandy deposit showing the advance of the seals
succeeded by a great thickness of shale or hardened mud which is
characteristic of this later submergence. These shales not being
here subject to any great pressure except the weight of the upper
beds, are not hardened to any degree.

Above these dark shales there is a lighter coloured series of
sands and clays holding a few seams of lignite, but as these de-
posits have been removed from most of the area in the vicinity of
the Red River valley they are merely referred to ; farther west they
are better developed and are of great econoniic importance.

ii8 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

After the final emergence from the sea was accomphshed, the
country assumed somewhat the same character which it has at the
present time but with several modifications. The plateau west of
the present valley extended farther to the east and sloped more
regularly eastward while the larger channel was probably also
shifted eastward to run along the face of the limestone outcrop or
by a series of minor streams running parallel to it corresponding
to the basii'is of the present lakes.

A great change in the climatic conditions next brought about
important changes in the surface features and also in the distribu-
tion of the soil. Colder winters and cooler summers were succeeded
by a long period ot continuous winter, in which all the natural
drainage was stayed and there gradually accumulated a vast thick-
ness of snow. The area of greatest precipitation and consequent
accumulation of ice and snow was at first in the country to the
north. As this ice increased in thickness it began to spread slowly
towards its outer margin. In this way there was a movement of
the ice southward through the valley and as the movement pro-
gressed this mass of ice picked up and carried along with it much
of the loose material on the surface, at the same time scoring and
polishing the harder rocks, breaking off protruding points and
deeply plowing along the face of the plateau of soft rocks to the
west. When the valley was filled there might have been a halt to
the forward movement for a time but it gradually over-rode the
edge and spread to the west as far as the Coteau du Missouri and
southward over Minnesota.

Warmer conditions returned and the great mass began to
melt along its margin. The great amount of debris carried along
with the ice was thus left in great heaps where the edge of the ice
was stationary for some time or if the retreat caused by melting
was rapid the surface would be more or less evenly strewn by this
material which is generally called boulder-clay. As the ice melted
there would naturally be a vast quantity of water to be carried
away, and river channels were formed which appear now to have
little cause for origin except for this emergency. Where the slope
of the country was toward the ice, large lakes along its margin
were formed. /<\C*lCj/">v

igoi] DowLiNG — Red Riyer Valley. 119

One line along- which it is evident the edge of this glacier
made a halt as shown by an extra amount of boulder-clay, is along
the western margin of the Duck mountains then southward skirt-
ing the eastern bank of the Assiniboine river, ciossing to the
south side through the Brandon hills and by the Tiger hills to the
Pembina mountain. There is evidence that a lake filled the valley
of the Souris and part of the Assiniboine, while the ice front was
at this line. (This is ouclined in the second illustration.) The
drainage of this lake was to the south-east along the foot of
the glacier and the scouring of this large stream wore a great
valley through which now runs a small stream — the Pembina river.
The change in drainage was accomplished by the further melting
of the ice so that the Assiniboine and the Souris rivers united in
the present valley.

The retreat of the ice down the Red River valley was accom-
panied by the formation of a large lake at its southern margin, for
the water was obliged to accumulate till it found an outlet, which
in this case was to the south through what is now Lake Traverse to
the Mississippi. As the retreating front passed farther north the
lake grew in dimensions and beaches were formed along its shores.
There is evidence that another great invasion of ice this time from
the north-east, was threatened but its margin did not probably
cover the entire basin. It still held the water, as a long inland
sea, from draining to Hudson Bay. During this period the
removal of the weight of the former glacier from the earth caused
a gradual rising of the land at the north to probably its previous
elevation and maintained the flow of the waters of the lake to the
southward. This rise was continued as the second glacier dis-
appeared and there came a time when the water found other
outlets probably toward Hudson Bay and a gradual contraction of
the lake ensued in which successive beaches mark the different
stages.

The evidence of the former occupation of this great plain by a
vast lake is clearly shown in the beautiful beaches in Manitoba,
Dakota and Minnesota. These have been examined, traced and had
their levels determined. In the tracing and levelling it was dis-
covered that instead of being laid in level rows, the surface of
the higher ones rise to the north at a rate increasing from six inches
to one foot in the mile. The lower ones are more nearly level as
is the case of the lowest or those at present around the present
lakes. This is the evidence of the upward rise of the land to the

I20 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

north-east which also is shown in the beaches around Hudson Bay
at heights up to 500 feet above sea.

As the level of the lake fell, the present lake basins became
defined and reached their present dimensions. Examples of
beaches at different stages might be cited but they are very nume-
rous in the western part of the basin along the base of the Pembina
and Riding mountains. An example of a former island in the
lake at a low stage is to be seen at Stony Mountain where the
crest of the hill is crowned by good types of lake beaches.

The effect on the value of the farming lands of the valley ot
this former lake is of great moment. The general boulder-clay
covering, which the northern part of the continent has received
produces some fine farming land but when this material has been
sifted and all its finer constituents spread out over a particular
area none but the finest land is to be expected in that area. That
the great lake received an enormous amount of sediment especially
from the west is evident not only in the soil of the valley itself but
in the great valleys worn down through the clay rocks of the
plateau. An especially thick deposit would be expected at the
mouths of all these streams and particularlj' of the delta in front
of the mouth of the Assiniboine which at one time carried the
water of the Saskatchewan river while the latter was ice-dammed
at the north. The Pembina river as before noted was at one time a
great stream, the outlet of a temporary lake, and brought down a
heavy deposit. Farther north, the Valley river spread a sediment
over the Dauphin country, while the Swan river helped to fertilize
the country north-west of Lake Winnipegosis. Beyond the con-
fines of Manitoba the Great Saskatchewan spread an immense
delta deposit over the low country to the west of Cedar lake but
the vast amount of sediment still being catried by this stream, as
in the case of the Mississippi, causes its bed to be gradually built
up above the surrounding country. Great stretches are therefore
available in that region as yet as grazing or hay land only during
low water.

We have thus some clue to the reasons for the fertility of
most ol the Red River valley. Other parts that have not been
specially fertilized in this way are covered by the ordinary boulder-
clay which when disintegrated forms good though heavy soil of
fair quality.

The eastern and northern parts are at present well wooded as
well as the summits and slopes of Riding mountain and thence
northward. The south and western parts west of Red river are
generally open prairie though the true forest is bordered by a more
or less wide belt oi' partly wooded country.

igOl] SCI/DDER — My FiRST NaMESAKE. 12 1

MY FIRST NAMESAKE.

By Samuel H. ScrnnER.

In the summer ot i860 I made a collecting trip to Lake Win-
nipeg and the lower Saskatchewan, interesting to me because so
far as I went I passed over the exact route taken by the Franklin
search party under Sir John Richardson. It will be remembered
that the insects collected on that occasion were published in Rich-
ardson's Fauna boreali-americana, by, Kirby, and I was thus the
better able to determine some of his species. Among the butter-
flies I found at the mouth of the Saskatchewan (collected with
incredible difficulty on account of the mosquitoes) was a delicately
marked and exquisitely pretty bluet unknown to me, and I sent it
to Mr. W. H. Edwards, then just beginning to describe new
American butterflies, who pronounced it new and named it Lycceiia
scudderii. It was the first insect named for me and has always
held a special place in my affection.

Although first described from specimens brought from the
interior of the continent and far north, it has since been taken over
a wide extent of northern territory, mostly in Canada, and as far
east as Cape Breton ; it has been found also in a few isolated
localities at some distance from its known general range, as at
Albany. N. Y. It was on account of its occurrence at this place
(though it has since been recorded from New Hampshire) that I
introduced it in my work on the Butterflies of the Eastern United
States. Its early stages had been partly described by a Canadian
entomologist, but, unwilling to publish my work without a toler-
ably full account of my namesake and figures of it at every stage,
I determined to make a visit at the proper season to the spot near
Albany where it had been found, and get eggs from females en-
closed over lupines, and so, by rearing it, obtain its whole history.
The State entomologist who had first discovered it at Albany
kindly accompanied me to the breeding ground, and with in
absence from home of just twenty four hours I obtained the
material afterward used in my book.

Of course the Reporters got wind ot this ; a journey of four
hundred miles after a butterfly's eggs was not lost upon them !
They learned how many eggs I had secured a.nd; easily figuring

122 The Ottawa Naturalist^ [August

up the probable cost of the trip, announced in large head-lines in

the Albany papers, that the price of butterflies' eggs had risen to

•' Sixteen Dollars a dozen." In very truth, many kinds would

be cheap at that.

This butterfly appears twice during the year. The first brood

flies early in June or even late in May, and continues on the wing

through June and often into July. It lays eggs in June, which

hatch in seven or eight days, the caterpillars live in that stage

for about a month and the chrysalis continues about ten days.

Sometimes these figures must be shortened, for though the second

brood of butterflies is normally an August brood, it sometimes

appears by the middle of July or even earlier. The second brood

lays eggs in August, but whether these hatch before spring, or

whether it is the caterpillar or chrysalis which hibernates is not
yet known.

The turban-shaped and most elegantly chased eggs are laid
on the leaves of lupines, usually on the under side, and on the
stalks. The caterpillar, which is slug-shaped, eats its way out at
the side of the egg ; it has a remarkably extensible head and neck
and procures its food in a curious way, at least when young,
showing its relationship to some of its brethren which are fruit-
borers ; biting a hole through the lower cuticle of the leaf no
larger than its own minute head, it devours all the interior of the
succulent leaf it can reach by pushing its head through this hole
in every direction and leaves the eaten leaf with a blistered look,
this blister being eight or ten times larger than the hole by which
it is entered. Later in life, it devours also the cuticle on which
it rests while feeding, but also devours such softer parts of the leaf
between the integuments as it can reach by its protrusile head,
and it will bore the softer parts of a cut stem down to the rind as
far as it can reach.

The caterpillar is attended by ants according to Mr. Saunders,
who first discovered it. He was "surprised by seeing several
ants actively running about the leaf" on which he found his first
caterpillar, "and repeatedly over the body of the caterpillar,
without disturbing it in the least." The discovery of other cater-
pillars was indeed "made comparatively easy from the invariable
attendance of these active attendants." They attend them to lap
up the drops of fluid secreted by glands opening externally near
the hinder end of these caterpillars, and of which, as of the honey-
dew Aphides, the ants are extremely fond ; so fond indeed that
they guard the caterpillars from the approach of insect enemies,
and thus the gain rs mutual.

igoij GuiLLET — Flowering of Wild Plants. 123

ON THE AUTUMN-FLOWERING OF VARIOUS WILD

PLANTS IN 1900.

By Cephas Guillet, Ph. D.

On account ot the remarkably mild autumn of last year, one
mi^ht have g-athered nosegays of wild flowers about Ottawa,
not only throughout Octob.^r, but during the first half of Novem-
ber. We had our first real snowstorm and sleighing the 13th
November, but even for some time after that wild flowers were to
be found in odd nooks and corners. Berries also were to be seen
unusually late. Dr. James Fletcher tells me, he gathered as many
ripe red raspberries as he cared to eat, at Kirk's Ferry, on the 27th
September, and they were of excellent flavor. I picked a few near
Rockliffe Park as late as the 15th October, which were, however,
ot better color than taste.

It is well known that diff'erent plants bloom at diff"erent
times ; that there is, so to speak, a procession of the flowers.
Just when or for how long we may expect this or that plant to
bloom is not so well known. I am not aware that the order in
which the 1,200 odd species of flowering plants, of the Ottawa
district, put forth their blossoms has ever been determined. Here
is a pleasant and useful task for the students of nature in every
locality of our country. As a slight contribution to this end, I
submit the following late autumn observations made in the vicinity
of Ottawa, together with observations made in other parts of the
country by several readers of this "The Ottawa Naturalist,"
who have been so good as to communicate them to me.

Viper's bugloss or the " blue thistle" [Echium vulgare) — said
by Prof. Harrison in his "Weeds of Ontario," to be imported from
Europe — was quite abundant on October 26th, on a limestone
ridsre three miles out the Montreal Road. Three other " weeds "
(as the farmer justly calls them) I found on November 6th, namely,
May-weed [Maruta cotula) and ox-eye daisy [Leucanthemum vulgare)
on the roadside, and treacle mustard {^Erysimum cheiranthoides)
in a garden, in Ottawa East. I saw a patch of white clover in
Mr. Odell's brickyard on November 6th, and some red clover near
the same place on the same day, and again near Hemlock Lake on
November 8th and 12th. North of Peterboro' at Stony Lake, I

124 The Ottawa Naturalist, [August

have observed yarrow (^r//77/t'rt: millejoluan), g-olden rod {Sol'idago)
and the asters begin to bloom in the order named, yarrow late in
June, golden rod early in July, and the asters late in July. These
flowers thereafter remain with us until winter sets in. I found
golden rod still in bloom on a road in Ottavia East, November 6th ;
and near Hemlock Lake, November 9th ; and asters near Green's
Creek, October 26th ; while Dr. Fletcher found fresh new speci-
mens ot Solidago Canade?isis, Aster cordijolius and Aster paniculatus
at Brittania on November 9th. The yarrow I found on the up-
lands near Green's Creek, October 26th ; near Hemlock Lake,
Lake, November 8th ; and at Rockliffe, November 12th.

Perhaps the most familiar flowers to every child are the butter-
cup and dandelion, and little wonder seeing that they display their
bright yellow blossoms for seven months of the year. The tall
buttercup {R. acri's), I found on the roadside in Ottawa East,
November 6th ; on Beechwood avenue, November 8th ; and at
Rocklifl"e, November 12th ; all bright fresh speciments. Dr.
Fletcher found it also at Brittania, November 9th. The dandelion
I saw in a field three miles out the Montreal Road, October 26th ;
near Hemlock Lake, November 8th ; and again near the same
place one plant with two blossoms as late as November 23rd.

The mention of strawberry blossoms and of violets reminds
one of spring, tor they may be found as early as April, and yet they
are also among the last flowers one finds in bloom in the tall. I
found strawberry blossoms {Fragaria virginiand) in a field near
Green's Creek on October 26th, and several plants in bloom at
Rockliffe, November 12th. The white Canada violet ( V. canadensis)
I found in a wood out the Montreal Road on October 26th, and in
hollows in the beech woods near Beechwood Cemetery on November
gth and 12th in great numbers, while by searching under the leaves
two plants were found in bloom even on November i3rd. The
downy yellow violet does not commonly flower in the fall, yet last
year quite a few were found November 8th, blooming along with
the Canada violet in the beech woods, and one good bright speci-
men was obtained on November 12th.

The cultivated plants also felt and responded to the balmy
touch of the last autumn of the century, for on November 8th, Dr.

igoi], GuiLLET — Flowering of Wild Plants. 125

Fletcher tells me, the guelder rose and Japan quince were in
flower on the Experimental Farm.

That the late mild season was general over a great part of the
land of "Our Lady of the Snows," is shown by the following
reports of other observers in northerly regions of our country.

Mr. John A. Dresser of Richmond, Que , sends the following
from the phenological observations ot the school at Nicolet Falls,
Que., (15 miles from Richmond) made by Miss Annie Dresser : —
October 30th, buttercup ; October 31st, dandelion ; November 3rd,
blue and white violet ; November 5th, creeping buttercup ; Novem-
ber 6th, strawberry blossom. Similar observations, except of the
violet, were made three miles from Richmond by Miss Bertha
Dresser, and at Richmond in the St. Francis College School by
Miss A. L. Beckett.

" On the 2nd October," writes Dr. Robert Bell, "in a bruld
15 miles N.E. of the town of Chapleau (on the C. P. R., N.E. of
Lake Superior) I found the blue-berrv bushes covered with a pro-
fusion of flowers, and in the same brul^ a tew strawberry blossoms.
Young white birch bushes, 2 to 3 feet high, had burst their buds
and some of them showed the green of the young leaves. The
ground in the hru\6 was dry and warm with granite rocks cropping
out near by and all well exposed to the sun and sheltered from the
wind. We had had several days of warm sunny weather just
before the abov^e date (2nd October)."

On October 16th, Mr. W. J. Wilson, collected the trailing
arbutus {Epigea repens) in flower between Jack Fish and Manitou-
wick Lake, on the main canoe route between Michipicoten Har-
bour and Missinabie station on the C. P. Ry. He also saw the
shrubby cinquefoil {Potentilla fruticosci) in flower in several places
up to October ist.

Mr. J. A. L. MacMurray brought Dr. Fletcher a good large
bunch of the flowers of the smooth blue-berry, Vaccinimn
Pennsylvaniciim^ and marsh xwa-ugoXdCaltha palustris, both of which
he had found blooming profusely in the French River Valley,
Ontario, in the month of October. He also saw wild straw-
berries in flower in many places.

Mr. A. W. Hanham, writing from Manitoba to Dr. Fletcher,
says : "At Brandon, in October, I noticed stray plants in bloom

126 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

on the hill sides, a larg^e percentage being summer bloomers ; a
botanist would have made quite a decent collection of native plants
in bloom. We had no killing- frosts until towards the end of the
month. About the ist of November a flower called scarlet cup
{Castilleia miniata), frequenting marshy lands, was plentiful in
bloom. I have this on good authority ; some were picked and
brought in. Isn't this a July August species? I fancy I have
seen it from the train, when en route west to Brandon."

1 could not more appropriately close this paper than by
quoting a little poem placed in my hands by the genial president
of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club, Dr. Ami. It was written
by Albert Bigelow Paine, and is entitled "To a Violet found
blooming in November."

Pretty blossom, little stranger, with your modest eye of blue.
Why in this unusual season are you bravely blossoming-?

Did you think the other flowers all had been deceiving you,
And because the day was sunny that it was return of spring ?

Or perhaps you wished to see how the world looked at this season,
When companions of the springtime, birds and blossoms have all fled,

And the woods are brown and silent — tell me, have I guessed the reason !
And do you lament, sweet blossom, that you find your brothers dead ?

Little violet, pretty stranger, bravely blossoming alone,

Prize you well the fleeting moment, for so brief will be you stay

That I fear it will have ended with the setting of the sun —
For the frosts will gather thickly o'er you ere another day.

You will wither, little blossom, when you feel its icy breath
Fall upon your tender petals that were just unclosed to-day,

As with me, in early youth-time, hope received a blow of death,
By the frosts of winter falling thickly on my head in May

I am sorry, tender floweret, that so bravely you came hither.

When all other flowers have faded and the winter winds are nigh,
I am sorry, but 'tis only that you must so quickly wither -

Sorry that you left the bosom of your mother but to die.

igol] McCallum — Buff-Breasted Sandpiper. 127

TRINGITES RUFESCENS, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.

By G. A. McCallum, M.D., Dunnville, Out.
(Read before the Ornithologfical Sec. of the Entomolog-ical Soc. of Ont.)

I write this at the request of a friend to report at greater
length the capture of a female of this species and her nest, which
I was fortunate enough to take near Dunnville, Haldimand Co.,
Ontario on June loth 1879. The only particular point of interest
being the latitude in which this nest was found, since, heretofore,
this bird has generally been credited with breeding only in high
latitudes. A short report was published in Mr. Mcllwraith's work
on the "Birds of Ontario " a number of years ago and were it not
that the fact of its breeding in this locality is very remarkable the
published report already given would be sufficient. However, as the
identification of my specimen has been doubted by Prof. Macoun
and it has been suggested by him in his Check J ist of the Birds
of Canada that I evidently had mistaken the bird for the Spotted
Sandpiper, Actitis 7nacul(iria, I felt somewhat nettled that an old
fellow like myself who has closely observed birds all his life should
be credited with not knowing a Spotted Sandpiper, one ot our
most beautiful as well as one of the very commonest of our shore
birds.

I find however, that I am not the only observer who has been
doubted when he reported seeing or taking the nest of this rare
little bird the Buff"-breasted Sand-piper. Dr. Heerman claimed to
have found its nest in Texas made of grasses placed in a hollow
in the ground and containing four eggs but Prof. Baird said "but
as this bird breeds in high northern regions up to the very border
of the Arctic Ocean he may have been mistaken in his identifica-
tion."

As far as I can make out it has always been a very uncommon
species, only one or two birds having been seen at a time in any
locality. It was entirely unknown to Wilson and Buonaparte and
was first made known as a species by Vieillot from a specimen
taken in Louisiana, but Audubon had not noticed it there and the
first one he ever saw was a specimen in the hands of the Arctic
explorer Capt. James Clark Ross who had received it from a
sailor who had secured it on one of his inland excursions in the

128 The Ottawa Naturalist. [August

far north. "From all this Audubon conjectured rig^htly " so Prof.
Baird says "that this bird bred within the Arctic Circle." It is
said to winter in South America and the West Indies. Gundlach
reports it as a winter visitant in Cuba making- its appearance there
from the north from August to November. Mr. Salvia reports
that he received a specimen from Bogata, and Natterer obtained
examples from Brazil between November and March. Henshaw
reports taking a specimen in Boston harbour and Boardman found
it at Calais, Me. The dates for these last are given as about
August 20th which would probably be the time of its southern
migration.

My capture was on June loth, 1879. While walking along
the bank of the Grand River below the dam on the evening of
June 9th a bird arose in a hurried manner from near my feet.
I saw at once that it was not the common Spotted Sandpiper from
its color, size and manner of flight. I noticed too that it evidently
had a nest and looking where it arose I easily found it, between
two large tussocks of coarse marsh grass which grows in such
localities. There was a distinct depression in the soft ground and
although there was not much of a nest, some bits of moss were
gathered around the edge helping still more to form a nest. It
contained three very dark colored eggs lying with the small ends
pointing to the centre as is usual with most birds of this family.
Being anxious to secure the bird herself I did not take the eggs
then, but returned in the morning and having shot her I went to
the nest and was somewhat disgusted to find that during the night
two of the eggs had hatched and their places had been taken by two
pretty little creatures spotted with dark spots on a light fawn-colored
ground. They were all brought home and mounted and are now
in my collection. The egg although far advanced, I was able to
make a good cabinet specimen of and it also is in my collection.
It measures 1.25 x .95, and is very pyriform in shape. The ground
color is buff thickly covered with spots of two shades of dark
brown or sepia, the markings being much larger on the large end,
the general color being very dark.

The location of the nest was on the bank of the river four or
five feet above the water and a short distance from the edge. I
did not see the male bird, in fact this is the only specimen I ever
saw outside of a collection, and I was at the time naturally very
proud of the find. The bird had little or nothing in her stomach
besides some bits of some small insects.

I

1901] Smith — The Woodcock's Love Song. 129

THE WOODCOCK'S LOVE SONG.

63- L. H. Smith
(Read before the Ornithological Sect, of the Entomolog-ical Soc. of Ont. )

The woodcock so much admired by sportsmen as a game
bird, has traits of character which have never been read either by
the sportsman or the naturalist. His habits being principally
nocturnal perhaps to some extent account for this.

His peculiar shape and make up, so different to that of the
grouse or partridge family, or to any other game bird, mark him
as a strangely unique specimen. His long bill, peculiarly shaped
head, in which his large black eye is set so far back, his breast-
heavy body, and short excuse for a tail, all mark him as a delight-
fully curious and uncommon bird. His color is beautiful, velvet
and russet ; none of our game birds is clothed in richer plumage.

The haunts of the woodcock are in keeping with his general
character. Our deeply shaded swales and glens are the places he
loves to make his home. He is seldom found unless in a spot so
beautiful that the sportsman-naturalist could imagine he is the
companion of " wood nymphs " ; no other birds frequent and live
in such lovely sylvan retreats.

" The woodcock's love song " is a strange performance and
is known to com.paratively few. Any fine warm evening about
the middle of April, it you take your stand at dusk, by the side of
a good piece of woodcock cover, and remain perfectly still for a
few minutes, you will soon hear a sound, perhaps not twenty
yards from you, from some bird on the ground. If you never heard
the^ same before you would be inclined to think it was a nighthawk,
for the sound is a sort of drawn-out " pate" very similar to the
night-hawk when on the wing. The bird will emit this note
" pate," " pate," several times at short intervals, and then take
wing, when you will at once recognize the author of the weird
notes, for no one who has ever heard the wing-whistle of the
woodcock as he rises in cover can mistake him for any other bird.
The bird mounts in the air by a circular flight ; you can easily
keep track of him, although he is not visible to the eye, by the
incessant twittering noise he is making with his wings. When
he arrives at the summit of his flight, he commences a sharp
twittering whistle and after describing a few circles he commences
a rapid descent, and pitches to the ground very close to the spot
he ro e from two or three minutes before. He soon commences
his "pfite," "pate" again and repeats his aerial gymnastic flight
over and over again. By listening very attentively you will hear
a low gutteral note just preceeding the pating note; a note very
similar to the crowing note of a hen made just as she is getting
her chicks nestled snugly beneath her for the night. How long
on a fine spring night he will keep his antics up I cannot say, but
quite long enougti for you to get the whole performance thoroughly
engraved on your senses, so that at any subsequent time you
would not possibly mistake it for that of any other bird.

130

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[August

THE LATE DR. ELEANOR A. ORMEROD.

Press cablegrams of the 19th July announced the sad tidings
of the death of Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, ot Torrington House,
St. Albans, England. This accomplished and estimable lady was
a recognized authority on economic entomology, and had during a
long series of years prepared and published numerous Reports
and Manuals upon injurious insects, and of great value to the
agricultural interests of Great Britain, As a recognition of pro-
longed and valuable work, she was created an LL.D. of Cam-
bridge, and she was a fellow or honorary member of many scien-
tific bodies. As one the few Corresponding Members of the
Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club she evinced much interest in its
progress and in the investigations of its members — W. H. H.

The Ottawa Naturalist

Vol. XV. Pl. X

p;:^— Prehistoric Camping Grounds.

THE OTTAWA f(ATURALIST

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER, 1901. No. 6.

FAT IN THE ANIMAL BODY, ITS FUNCTIONS AND

ORIGIN.

Bv A. T. Charron, B. A.

(Read March 12th, 1901.)

This evening I would invite your attention for a few moments
to the discussion of a subject that Hes on the borderland between
chemistry and physiology. We are to consider the nature of fat
as revealed by chemistry, its origin and the role that it plays in
the animal economy.

What does the word fat convey to your mind ? Have you
ever thoughtfully asked yourself what fat really is ? Ladies handle
it every day, men are very often annoyed at the stains it leaves on
their clothing as evident proofs of their carelessness, and yet very
few enquire into the very nature of that most common substance.

If I were to ask you, what is fat ? Some undoubtedly would
answer me with Webster that fat is "an oily substance," and if I
were to question you further and ask what is an oil, you would
again follow Webster and inform me that " an oil is an unctuous
substance expressed or drawn from various animal or vegetable
substances." Of course, I would have to be satisfied with this
definition, which is the only one given in the dictionary.

A true student, anxious to understand the very nature of the
substance he has to deal with, is, however, not satisfied with such
an ambiguous empty definition. I am positive that the members
of this Club who are always so active in scrutinizing nature, are
not satisfied with such a hazy knowledge. Let us, therefore, try
to elucidate the question of the nature of fat.

To a chemist a fat is a glyceride of a fatty acid. In the
formation of a fat two things therefore are necessary, namely,
glycerine and a fatty acid. The fatty acids are a series of acids

\7^2 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

derived from the monatomic alcohols by oxidation. Thus common
acetic acid which is derived from ordinary ethyl alcohol by oxida-
tion is a fatty acid.

Every one here present knows what glycerine is. Many
times has it been applied to delicate hands and to charming- lips to
repair injuries caused by cruel cold winds. When applied to the
lips that inodorous, colourless, viscid liquid is found to possess
somewhat of an agreeable sweet taste. Several no doubt would
have hastily thrust it away from them had they known that
sweet, inoffensive looking substance to be an alcohol. True,
however, it is thitt it is just as much an alcohol as the accursed
beverage which brings unhappiness to so many homes. It is an
alcohol, but of somewhat different constitutional composition, for
it is v\hat chemists call a triatomic alcohol. Each person carries
stored up in his body a rather considerable quantity of that
special alcohol. Let our prohibitionists be not alarmed, for this
alcohol produces none of the nefarious effects of the so-called fire-
water. Its action is only beneficient, for it combines with the
fatty acids to form that very necessary substance : fat.

Fat is found widely disseminated in nature. Plants contain a
certain amount in the form of oil. It is found in most of the
animal tissues. The following table from Gorup-Besanez gives
the percentage in the organs and fluids of the body : —

Sweat o.ooi Cartilage 1.3

Vitreous humour 0.002 Bone 1.4

Saliva 0.02 Crystalline lens 2.0

Lymph 0.0^ Liver 2.4

Synovia 0.06 Muscles 3.3

Liquor amnii 0.06 Hair 4.2

Chyle 0.2 Brain 8.0

Mucus 0.3 Egg 1 1.6

Blood 0.4 Nerves 22. r

Bile . . 1.4 Adipose tissue 82.7

Milk 4.3 Marrow 96.0

Fat being found in the body must necessarily be derived from
the food which is absorbed. All foods whether animal or veget-
able contain three distinct classes of compounds which deserve
special notice, namely : protein, carbohydrates and fats.

igoi] Charron — Fat in the Animal Body. 133

Protein is a class of substance characterised by the presence
in its composition of nitrogen to the amount of about 16 per cent.
Like the carbohydrates and the fats it contains carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen, but it stands apart from these two on account of its
nitrogen content. Carbohydrates consist of those substances like
sugars, starch and fibre, which are composed of carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen united in such a way that the relation of the latter to
the former is in the ratio of one atom of the latter to two atoms
of the former, as in water.

Fat is a substance composed of exactly the same elements as
the carbohydrates, but whose atoms are arranged differently in
the molecule. The atoms of hydrogen to those of oxygen are not
in the same proportion. It contains no nitrogen and is thus quite
distinct from protein.

Now do you believe that fat as it is found in the animal body is a
simple compound of always exactly the same definite composition ?
If so, a'low me to inform you that you are mistaken. Fat
is not a simple compound, but a mixture of three, some-
times more compounds of analogous nature. The three
principal compounds are stearin, palmitin and olein. The first
two are solid at ordinary temperature and the latter is a liquid.
The amount of olein is always more or less in excess of the other
two, and it with the help of the heat of the living body keeps them
in the liquid form. Olein really acts as a solvent towards stearin
and palmitin You must have noticed that in the living body fat
exists in the liquid state. As soon as death occurs there is a
gradual falling off in the te-nperature of the body, rigor mortis
sets in, and the fat becomes solidified. The mixture of those three
substances is more or less firm according to the smaller or greater
amount of olein it contains.

I told you that fat is one of the component parts of food.
You are perhaps anxious to know what part it plays in the
nutrition of the body, and what transformations it undergoes
previous to becoming an integral part of the same.

Fat is one of the best producers of heat, in fact, it is the m.ost
powerful heat producer ot all the food stuffs. A glance at its
composition will convince you as to the truth of this assertion.
The composition of one of the fats (olein) is expressed by the

134 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

formula C^, H,^^ Og, whilst that of protein is indicated by the
formula C,o Hm Njg SOgo, and that of carbohydrates by
Cj5^ H , .1 Og. From a comparison of these formulae it is evident
that in fats the ratio of the carbon and hydrogen (taken together) to
the oxygen is greater than in the protein and carbohydrates. Now
you are aware that the heat in the body is produced by combustion,
and as carbon and hydrogen are the only two combustible sub-
stances in these compounds (with the exception of a small amount
of sulphur in proteins), that class of compounds in which these
two elements (not already combined with oxygen) predominate
must necessarily be the greater heat producer. Rubner has very
carefully estimated the relative heat value of fat, carbohydrates and
protein with the follow^ing results : —

roo grammes of fat are equivalent to 211 grammes of protein,
to 132 grammes of starch, to 234 grammes of cane sugar and to
256 grammes of grape sugar.

Besides being used as tuel to keep up the body temperature
and produce energy, tats are stored up in the body as fat.

Perceiving that fats are absorbed with the food and deposited
in the body, physiologists have asked themselves whether there
is a direct transposition into the ' adipose tissue without any
previous decomposition. Radziejewsky, Subbotin and others
endeavoured to solve the problem.

Radziejewsky fed a dog with erucin, the glyceride of erucic
acid, but could find only small quantities of it in the tissues.

Subbotin fed another dog with spermaceti and found none at
all in the fat cells, and only traces in the intestinal fats and
internal organs. What conclusions could he draw, if not that in
the case of carnivora the fat in the food does not pass directly into
the cells of the body ?

These experiments were repeated by I. Munk, who fed a dog,
which had fasted a long time previously, with erucin and he got
contrary results finding a considerable amount of the neutral fat.
This, however, does not prove that the fat is transferred directly
without previous decomposition, for is it not possible that the fat
may be saponified and absorbed as a soap, and the neutral fat of the
same composition afterwards synthesized in the epithelium cells ?
In fact the most credited and better experimentally sustained idea

igoi] Charron — Fat in the Animal Body, 135

is that none of the fats are stored up in the body without previous
decomposition. After the fatty material is introduced into the
alimentary canal, the first liquid it meets on its way is the acid
g-astric juice which, as far as we know, has no effect whatever upon
it. This juice has the carbohydrates and the proteids to contend
with and enough has it to do. The fat, therefore, passes unheeded,
but a little further it meets its most bitter enemy, namely, the
alkaline pancreatic juice which wrestles with it until its entire
decomposition is effected. By its action the fat is resolved into
glycerine and a salt of the fatty acids, which salt is known as a
soap.

Now as you well know soaps are usually soluble. Tliis one
is very similar to that so often called into domestic use and like it
is soluble. It dissolves and is readily absorbed by the numerous
villi, capillary filaments linings the small intestine, whose functions
consist in absorbing the thus dissolved foods. In this way the
soap is introduced into the circulating system and carried to the
epithelium cells where it in turn suffers decomposition into its
org-anic acid and an alkali. The organic acid again unites with
the glycerine which has been absorbed at the same time as the
soap and the fat is reformed.

The fact that the fat of an animal fed entirely on a certain
kind of fat is not identical in composition with the fat fed, seems
to indicate this double decomposition and a certain power of selec-
tion on the part of the little villi foraging for their proper food.
Undoubtedly if an exclusive diet of a certain fat is given some of
the reformed fat will inevitably be of the same composition as the
one fed.

The g-reat objection to the absorption of fat in the form of
soaps has been that the reaction ot the fluid in the small intestine
where the absorption takes place is not alkaline but acid, and
that a soap cannot persist in the presence of an acid liquid. Carb
investig-ated the reaction of the intestine in three experiments on
dogs, and found the intestinal contents to be acid all the way from
pylorus to caecum. The indicators used were litmus and phenol-
phtalein. Moore and Rockwood have recently studied the reaction
of the intestine making use, besides the indicators mentioned, of
methyl orange, which is not affected by carbonic and weak organic

136 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

acids. With phenolphtalein the reaction was invariably acid all the
way, whilst it was alkaline to methyl orang-e, thus showing- that
the acid reaction was due to a very weak organic acid
probably to dissolved acids set free from fats. The alkaline
reaction indicated by methyl orange can only be due to weak
organic acids combined with alkalies i.e. in all probability to dis-
solved soaps. Such a weak acid would not decompose the soap,
and so the objection to the theory falls to the ground.

Another objection is that the amount of the alkali required
for the saponification would simply be enormous. Munk reckons
that to so combine with the fatty acids of 200 grammes of fat
about 40 grammes of sodium carbonate would be required. Now
a dog weighing 25 kilogrammes can easily digest from 200 to 350
grammes of fat in twenty-four hours. Supposing only 200
grammes are digested and that all this is absorbed as soap and
glycerine, about 40 grammes of sodium carbonate will be required
for the purpose ; now the total blood only contains, in such an
animal, alkali equivalent to 6 grammes of Nag CO3. If the other
fluids of the body be supposed to contain an amount of alkali
equivalent to another 6 grammes, the total alkalinity is equal to
12 g-rammes of Nag CO3.

In this objection Munk loses sight of the fact that during the
process of absorption of fat as soap and glycerine and its subse-
quent synthesis in the epithelial cells, the alkali combined in the
first portions of the soap absorbed is again set free immediately
after absorption, and what is to prevent that alkali from being, in
some way, in the natural course of circulation, brought back to the
intestine there to unite again with some more fatty acid to form
soap and thus keep up the continuous action of composition and
decomposition !

Whatever may take place the consensus of opinion seems in
favour of the theory that fats are absorbed as soaps and glycerine
and reformed by synthesis in the epithelial cells and then deposited
in the cells of the adipose tissue.

Another problem about fat which has puzzled many a physiolo-
gist is its origin. From which class of food compounds is fat
derived ?

igoi] Charron — Fat in the Animal Body. 137

There is no difficulty for anyone in admitting that the fat of
the body 7nay be derived from the ready formed fat absorbed as
food. But is that the only source of fat ?

In 1742 Beccaria, in Bologna, advanced the idea that animals
take the substances which form their tissues ready made from the
vegetable kingdom. This theory was supported by many prom-
inent men, amongst whom may be mentioned Prout, in England,
and Dumas, in France. The chief point of the theory was that
animal fat is derived from the fat of plants. This appeared
so simple and probable, that for a long time nobody questioned
its truth. Liebig was the first (in 1848) to dispute this deep seated
belief of over one century old. He observed that if by lack of
exercise or otherwise, respiration is hindered in Herbivora, fat
deposits in greater quantity and thence he argued that as there
was no more fat absorbed in the food than previously, that greater
deposition must be due to the formation of new fat from the
fat free substance of the food. Hindering respiration he thought
diminished the combustion of the carbohydrates and the protein,
the unburnt carbon was retained in the body and used up in the
formation of fat.

As a natural consequence Dumas and Liebig entered into an
active controversy, and this set them and their supporters at work
experimenting to discover additional proofs to uphold their respec-
tive pretentions. Milne Edwards sided with Dumas.

It is not my intention to give you an account of all the experi-
ments undertaken. A few will suffice to make the results and the
conclusions drawn therefrom clear to your mind.

Upon instituting experiments it occurred to Voit that fat
might possibly be formed from protein. He had noticed that
adipocere is often formed from nitrogenous tissue, muscles, etc.,
when portions of the animal body are kept underwater. Wishmg
to ascertain whether really albumin could be changed into fat, he
kept glass tubes, containing pieces of meat, in a water bath at a
constant temperature of 40^0. for 3^^ months. At the end of this
time he found a small increase in the fat content of the substance.
The increase was small, but nevertheless the fact was established
that fat could be formed from protein substances. Further investi-

138 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

gations regarding fatty degeneration by Wettick, Forster and
others, confirmed Voit's results.

Dumas and Milne Edwards jointly instituted an experiment
with bees to find out out whether fat can be produced from fat
free substance.

A swarm of bees were fed with honey for 32 days with the
following results : —

Amount ot wax produced 11. 515 grammes.

II lat in honey 0.667 "

II fat produced from fat free

substance 10.848 n

This opened their eyes to the truth of Liebig's statement and
they acknowledged that fat could be formed from fat free sub-
stance. With Voit they supported the view that it was derived
from the pre-existing fat and the transformed protein matter.

Other experiments were therefore instituted with the especial
object of ascertaining whether or not carbohydrates play a part in
the formation of fat.

Berlepsh experimented with bees feeding them on 1 17 grammes
of pollen and honey. The 117 grammes of pollen contained 22
grammes of protein : —

22 grammes protein = at the most 12 grammes wax.

Amount of wax produced by the bees • • • 33 '*

11 11 from other sources 21 "

Possible amount of wax in bodies of bees. 10 "

Amount of wax necessarily formed from

carbohydrates 11 grammes.

E. Erlenmeyer, in 1878, wishing to prove conclusively that the
fat could come from carbohydrates alone, fed a swarm of bees
solely on rock candy. From each 8 grammes of sugar consumed
there was produced 1.589 grammes of wax, which could not have
possibly been formed from protein. The nitrogen and fat content
of the bees remained unchanged during the experiment.

Henneberg, Kern and Wattenberg experimented with sheep :

A sheep was fed for 70 days with lucerne hay, maize meal and
turnips : —

igoi] Charron — Fat in the Animal Body. 139

Amount of fat formed 9730 grammes.

Possible amount of fat from fat and protein 6872

n

Fat from carbohydrates 2858 g-rammes.

The experiment which sets the question at rest, however, is
that undertaken by Lawes and Gilbert, at Rothamstead, with pigs.
Without giving all the details of the experiment which were
scrupulously attended to by these most reliable experimenters, I
may only say that they lattened the pigs during 8 to 10 weeks,
keeping a record of their composition at the outset and at the finish
and ot the food consumed, all of which was of accurately known com-
position. On examining the results obtained they discovered that
29 percent, of the fat produced must necessarily have had its origin
from carbohydrates.

Another experiment, deserving of special notice proving the
same fact, has recently been made by Jordan and Jenter, at the
New York Agricultural Station.

The experiment was made with a young and vigorous Jersey
cow. The cow was fed during 95 days with food from which the
fat had been extracted :

Quantity of fat fed during the 95 days 1 1.6 lbs.

M II not digested 5.9 n

II

digested 5.7 n

Quantity of fat in the milk 62.9 lbs.

II II consumed , . . . 5.7 n

57.2 lbs.

Therefore 57.2 lbs. of fat have to be accounted for otherwise
than by the fat contained in the food. Moreover at the end of the
experiment the cow weighed 47 lbs. more and was much fatter
than at the start.

The increase in fleiih could certainly not have been large for
during 59 days of this period an accurate record of the nitrogen
income and outgo showed that the nitrogen income was repre-
sented by 124.3 lbs. of protein and the nitrogen outgo by 125.7
lbs.

140 The Ottawa Naturalist 1 [September

During" this period (59 days) the amount of protein digested
was sufficient to form at the most 17. i lbs. of tat, and the fat in
the food which was assimulated amounted to only 3.3 lbs., so that
the total possible amount of fat from protein and ready formed fat
was 20.4 lbs. The milk from the cow during that period con-
tained 38.8 lbs. of fat. so that at least 18.4 lbs. of fat must
necessarily have been derived from carbohydrates.

Strange it seems, does it not, that I should be proving to you
that fat 7niist be derived from carbohydrates without having first
told you whether it \s possible for carbohydrates to be transformed
into fat.

In this I have followed the emperical method which first
establishes a fact and then endeavours to explain it.

The observations of Hanriot and Richet, two French scientists
of wide reputation, furnish indirect proofs of the transformation of
the carbohydrates into f;it. These observers found that with the
administration of the carbohydrate food there is a greatly increased
output of CO2 without a corresponding increase of oxygen intake.
This fact Hanriot explained by a transformation of carbohydrates
into fats in conformity with such an equation as the following : —

13 (Ce Ht. OJ = C55 H,,, Oe + 23CO2 + 26H,0.
• (Oleo-stearo-palmitin)

Fat therefore ca7i and is derived from the three distinct classes
of compounds absorbed for the purpose of nourishing the body.
We can satisfactorily explain how the fat of the food can be
transformed into the fat of the body, but how this formation occurs
from protein and carbohydrates is still a problem unsolved. It is
one of those secrets which the Creator has not yet revealed to any
human being. May we not hope that, as there are at present so
many scientific investigations in the field of physiological chemistry
in various parts of the civilized world, there may be worked out
ere long- a satisfactory solution of these complex problems ?

^r^^

igoi] SowTER — Prehistoric Camping Grounds. 141

PREHISTORIC CAMPING GROUNDS ALONG THE

OTTAWA RIVER.

By T. W. Edwin Sowter.

The evidences of Indian occupation that are met with along'
the Ottawa River, between the City of Hull and Pointe k la
Bataille, on Lake Deschenes, consist, for the most part, of the
prehistoric camping' grounds that occur at frequent intervals along
the shores of the lower part of the lake.

Now, just at this point, ihe " practical man " as Huxley would
call him, comes forward with the very pertinent query : " How do
you know that these places were Indian camping grounds ?

In the first place, it may be said that the grim warriors of our
brethren of the Indian race, who repose in their ancient burial
places on Lake Deschenes, regard not such poetic license as that
which elicited from a Newport skeleton the weird confession of an
armored viking ; but these lords of the forest have left behind
them such traces of their methods of living as cannot fail to be
profoundly interesting and widely instructive to those who wish to
study the conditions under which a primitive people were slowly
struggling, upward and onward, along the highway of civilization.

In a former paper upon the ' 'Archaeology of Lake Deschenes, "
reference was made, among other places, to the traces of Indian
occupation that are met with at Raymond's Point, on the Ontario
side of the lake opposite Aylmer, Que. Let us take this place as
an example, and see if we can prove that it is the site of a pre-
historic Indian camping ground.

At this point, following the water-contour of Raymond's Bay,
the lake shore consists of a well defined outcrop of Calciferous
limestone holding in great abundance the typical gasteropodean
fossils of that formation.

Resting on this Calciferous outcrop, we meet with the
ubiquitous Laurentian boulder, which the merest tyro in geology
would recognize as the legacy of the great glacier which, in its
descent from the Laurentian highlands, traversed at this point at
least the present course of the Ottawa River.

Where the alluvial soil has been washed away, at high-water
mark, the Calciferous rocks are thickly strewn with fragments of

142 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

black or dark-colored flints, from 2 to 3 inches in diameter down
to the finest particles, such as may have been flaked from an
arrow-head in the finishing process.

Ming-led with these rough fragments are some that bear
unmistakable evidence of having been worked, together with
roughly as well as finely finished arrow-heads and spear-head
shaped knives of the same material. In other words we find these
implements, in various stages of completion, along with the raw
material from which they were fabricated.

The question which now arises, in regard to the presence of
these flints, is somewhat similar to that once propounded by a
novice upon seeing some large boulders at Deschenes station :
" Have them stones been brought there or have they just
growed " ?

It is evident that this flint was not " growed " at Raymond's
Point as it'is not found in situ either in the Calciferous outcrop
upon which it is strewn or in the contiguous Chazy, so that it
must have been brought there, but from whence and by what
means are other questions.

It does not appear to have been brought there by glacial
action, as it is not found in the glacial drift on the main land or
adjacent islands. It is not even found in the dark boulders which
line the opposite shore of Chartrand's Island and which, a sapient
friend of mine once suggested, may have been pine knots which
had been washed ashore and petrified at the time of Noah's flood.

In the Trenton formation in the City of Hull, however,
nodules of this flint are found in great abundance, especially along
Brigham's Creek, both in situ and in detached masses of the same
limestone from which latter they may have been removed with but
little difficulty. Let some of this flint be broken up and mingled
with similar fragments from Raymond's Point and I doubt if the
most skilful geologist could distinguish the former from the latter
by other evidence than the recency of the fracture.

This, therefore seems to be one of the several obvious reasons
for supposing that the flint from both places is identical. That it
was picked up or quarried at Hull or Ottawa and carried up the
river by Indians who, at Raymond's Point, among places, fashioned
it into their arrow-heads and knives. That the aforementioned

igoi] SowTER — Prehistoric Camping Grounds. 143

glacier did not take up the red-man's burden is apparent from the
fact that it moved down the river instead of up, so that the flint
could not have been carried to Raymond's Point by its agency.

If our practical man wishes us to give proofs of what we know
about the direction of the glacial movement, we may show him
the grooves below the boat-house on Mr. Watt's farm in the
township of Nepean, Ont., and again near the Presby-
terian Manse, at Aylmer, Que., where the glacial plough has fur-
rowed up the rocks in its passage down the Ottawa valley. To
prove that its passage was down, instead of up the river, a num-
ber of places may be shown, notably among which the one on Main
street, Aylmer, in front of the Methodist Church. Here, where a
section of rock was laid bare by the water-works excavations, it
was observed that boulders had been forced under the Chazy strata
from the westward, leaving large masses of these beds hoisted up
and dipping towards the east.

That the flint was not carried by white men is obvious, from
the fact that the pale-face, on his arrival in this country, was
supplied with his musket and steel knife and the only flints he
carried were those for the hammer of his musket or the larger ones
for use in the preparation of his fire.

And the paUeolithic Indian, it is only reasonable to suppose,
went to the nearest and most convenient place to procure such
material for the fabrication of his implements, and where it could
be obtained in the greatest abundance with the least expenditure
of labor, just as his civilized descendant of to-day will do when in
search of rim ash or red willow for working into his baskets.

It is also a reasonable supposition, that the palaeolithic Indian
had acquired such a knowledge of what was good for himself, as
to take the precaution of carrying the raw material, for use in his
primitive arts, to some such judiciously selected camping ground
as Raymond's Point, where, from its strategic and secluded
position, he would be the better enabled to stand upon his dignit}'
and defend himself against an enemy, or make himself scarce as
prudence or necessity might dictate. An Indian clun^ to life and
wanted his days to be long in the land just the same as a white
man, and his natural instincts warned him against sitcing down in
any exposed position to flake out his flint instruments, where

144 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

attracted by the noise of his labor, an inquisitive member of some
hostile tribe mig"ht come and look over his shoulder to see what
he was doings and, incidentally, remove some of his hair, tog-ether
with any tribal prestig^e he may have acquired as a cunning
warrior.

And now ror the reasons which point to Raymond's Point as
an aborig^inal camping ground. We have adduced what seems to
be fairly conclusive evidence that the flint was brought there by
Indians for purposes of palaiolithic manufacture. From the
presence of finished and unfinished palaeolithic implements in
various stages of fabrication, mingled with the debris of the
aboriginal workshop, we are convinced by circumstantial evidence,
that this primitive industry was carried on upon the spot, just as
much so as after an examination of the flat at the mouth of
Breckenridge's Creek, higher up the river, we would recognize it
as the abandoned site of a modern brick-yard. We also find the
worn out and discarded celt, or stone tomahawk, and observe, in
its blunted and dilapidated condition, the reasons which led its
former owner to cast it aside for a new one.

Following the denundation edges of the alluvial soil, we find
fragments of rude pottery made out of a mixture of clay and
coarse sand or gravel, which has been imperfectly burnt and bears
other evidences of crude fictile workmanship.

If our practical friend is desirous of knowing where the Indian
procured the material tor the manufacture of this ancient pottery,
there is little difficulty in pointing out to him the source from which
it was derived.

At Noel's Bay, Coghlan's Creek, Winter Point and several
other places in the immediate vicinity, the clay and sand on the
lake shore are mixed together in about the same proportion as in
the fragments of pottery already alluded to and, as our primitive
artificer was the graduate of a rough-and-ready school of art, he
made use of this ready-to-hand matrix, instead of going miles out
of his way to get better, as the fragments of his work most clearly
indicate.

Another important feature of Raymond's Point is the presence
of arrow-heads of what we might term foreign manufacture, for
although, as a rule, the arrow-tips found at this place are made

igoi] SowTER — Prehistoric Camping Grounds. 145

from the Trenton flint of Hull or Ottawa, we sometimes meet with
some that are made from a more compact and lighter coloured
flint than that found in the Ottawa district. And one reason why
these latter seem to be of foreign rather than of local manufac-
ture is, that we do not find in the debris of the Raymond's Point,
or any other Indian workshop on Lake Deschenes, any of the raw
material from which they were fabricated.

Within the memory of the generation passing away, this was
an ideal spot for the aboriginal hunter. The forest was alive with
red deer, the bay teemed with fish and the adjacent creeks were
well stocked with beaver, otter, muskrat and other fur-bearing
animals. So that this prodigality of nature, in thus supplying the
wherewithal to keep the wolf from the wigwam, together with the
evidences of Indian occupation already enumerated, seem to be
ample proof that the place was an Indian camping ground. And
the foreign arrow heads would favor the conclusion that it was
also a halting place for roving bands of natives, who made use of
the great water highway of the Ottawa River.

Last summer, Harold Nelson, a student in Woodstock
College, and a son of Mr. Frank Nelson of the Interior Depart-
ment, at Ottawa, was good enough to send me some arrow-heads
from Paris, Ont. In comparing these with those in my collection,
I was surprised to find that some of them were of the same
" make " as well as of the same flint, in color and texture, as what
I have called the foreign ones, found a few weeks previously, at
Raymond's Point.

The presence of flint implements of foreign, as well as of local
manufacture on these palaeolithic camping grounds of the Ottawa
River, seems to present an interesting field of investigation in
comparative palajolithology, that might throw some additional
light upon the ramifications of intertribal commerce, or the
migratory movements of the native races which occupied this
country in pre-historic times.

It might be possible after an exhaustive study of the subject,
extending over wide areas of occupation, to point with such a
degree of accuracy either to the occurrence or to certain peculiar-
ities of material or workmanship of palaeolithic implements, as to
t)§ able to identify them as the relics of this or that particular tribe

146 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

that may have been the temporary or more or less permanent
occupant ot these prehistoric camping- g-rounds.

The palaeolithic knife found at Raymond's Point and described
in the former paper on the " Archaeolog^y of Lake Deschenes," as
a " squaw's knife," is without doubt of Indian origin. This
implement is also known as a " woman's knife" and is very otten
mistaken for a spear-head which it very much resembles.

This particular form of knife is not by any means peculiar to
this part of the American continent, for it is found on the village
sites of western Ontario and even as far south as San Geronimo,
in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, according to an art'cle on
Aztec relics, by Mrs. Wm. Stuart, in the Onta^'o Archajological
Report of 1899. It is also met with among^st aborig-inal tribes in
the remotest parts of the world.

Since the spear, as a weapon, is supposed to hive been un-
known to our Indians, it is just possible that this implement may
represent the survival of a knife-form that was, and is to-day, used
by primitive peoples to serve the purposes of both knife and spear-
head.

As an interesting- instance, in this connection, of the same
instrument serving different purposes in a rude condition of the
arts, H. N. Moseley, Naturalist to the Challeng-er Expedition,
informs us that the obsidian-headed spears ot the Admiralty
Islanders are used as knives, being cut off just below the ornamental
mounting which acts as a handle. Col. A. Lane Fox also
observes, in reference to these same implements, that " the shapes
of the obsidian spear-heads found, just as they happened to flake
off, are interesting- as showing the natural origin of such forms
and the remark that these spear-heads are used as knives reminds
us of like customs in Africa where the Kaffirs, the Watusi described
by Grant, the Fans of the Gaboon and others use their iron spear-
heads in a similar manner and which accounts for the form of
knife and spear-head amongst savages being so commonly the
same.

Since the publication of former reports, in the Ottawa
Naturalist, upon centers of Indian occupation on Lake Des-
chenes, I have had the good fortune to discover two more ancient
camping sites on the Ottawa River, one at Squaw Bay, in Tetreau-

igoi] SowTER — Prehistoric Camping Grounds. 147

ville, a suburb of the City of Hull, and the other at Powell's Bay,
about 10 miles above Aylmer, Que.

I have also been informed by Mr. Gainsford, of March
township, that from i to 2 miles from the entrance to Raymond's
Bay, on one of the creeks that run into it, Indian relics such as
stone celts, flint arrow-heads and pottery have been found in great
abundance at different times by people living- in the vicinity.

As the camping grounds so far examined have, without an
exception, been situated on the high water shore line of the river,
it would be extremely interesting to verify the existence of an
inland village site such as Mr. Gainsford describes ; and I feel
certain that, as my informant is a thoroughly reliable person, he
has indicated a place where we may ultimately unearth a store of
important information.

The slate knife, figured in the accompanying plate, was found
at this place on the farm of Mr. John Armstrong, and was collected
by George Burland of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club. Flint
arrow-heads were also found in the vicinity by Albert Smith.

Second hand information is all very well in its place if you
know the party with whom you are dealing ; but, I met a man
last summer who has such a loose rein on his imagination that I
fear he sometimes allows it to run away with his better judgment.
My friend told me that he had found a large stone axe and the
head and bust of a squaw carved in stone. When he took me to
inspect these Indian relics, I found that the former was a piece of
limestone that had a fanciful resemblance to an axe ; but, as it
weighed about 15 lbs it seemed to me that, if it could be proved
that any pre-historic Indian could have wielded such a mighty
weapon, it would confirm an opinion that is current among a
certain class of our people, that there were giants in those days.
The graven image turned out to be a mass of w.iter-worn Calciferous
limestone that some wag had embellished with a few artistic
touches of red chalk. It occurred to me at the time that, if it were
a true likeness, the original might have been worshipped, without
any imputation of idolatory, as there could have been nothing like
her in the heavens above or in the earth beneath, for she must have
been fearfully and wonderfully made. I have merely referred to
the above for the purpose of showing how extremely cautious one

148 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

should be in accepting" second-hand information without verifica-
tion.

The worked flints at Powell's Bay, like those met with at
similar places lower down the lake, have been derived from the
Trenton formation at the Chaudi^re. They are strewn along the
river side of a long- narrow rocky and sandy point that reaches
down the river and shelters the mouth of a low marshy creek, which
runs into the bay. This point, which is of Laurentian formation,
is still a resort for trappers and fishermen.

The north shore of the Ottawa, at the entrance to Squaw Bay,
is a bold outcrop of limestone which rises 15 or 20 feet per-
pendicularly from, and in places overhangs, the swift current of
the river, a short distance below the Little Chaudi^re Rapids.
The bay, which forms an indentation in this cliff of about 100
yards in width, extends northward, a distance of 800 feet, to the
southern end of Mountain street, or the foot of the declivity which
slopes downward from the Hull Electric Railway tracks. The
banks of both sides of the bay are bold and rocky, but not so abrupt
as the main shore-line of the river. From the upper end of the
bay right out to the rocky point which forms its southern extremity,
the western shore is strewn more or less, throughout its entire
length, with fragments of worked flint, just as we meet with them
at similar places on Lake Deschenes higher up the river.

So far, I have only made a casual examination of this camp-
ing site, for the purpose of ascertaining its extent and general
features, rather than for the discovery of such details as might
throw some light upon its origin and subsequent history.

To all appearance, it seems as if this spot had been a landing-
place at the foot of an old Indian carrying-path, which led up to the
head of that break in the canoe route of the Ottawa River caused
by theLittle Chaudi^re Rapids.

There is no doubt that, in pre-historic times, there were
periods of tribal inactivity, during which an Indian community
may have lived in such peace and comparative security, at Squaw
Bay, as to have led even its younger members to indulge in the
contemplation of making old bones ; but the situation of the
dwelling sites of these palceolithic people bear indubitable evidence
that no dream of lasting peace eve^r found them off their guard

igoi] SowTER — Prehistoric Camping Grounds. 149

against possible contingencies, for these makers of flint arrow-
heads and stone axes were, as the Pathfinder would call it,
"judgmatical" in the selection of their camping grounds.

Occupying a strategic position, between the upper and lower
portages of the north shore of the Ottawa, this rocky and well
wooded inlet possessed exceptional facilities for the formation of an
ambuscade, that would not fail to be taken advantage of under the
conditions of primitive warfare.

Standing amidst the debris of this pre-historic Indian work-
shop, one cannot fail to be carried back, in imagination, to a time,
when this intricate system of islands and channels, rapids and falls
was clothed in the sombre garments of the primeval forest. One
pictures to himself the peaceful condition of this northern wilder-
ness ere the once powerfnl Algonkin-Huron combination, that
claimed sovereignty over it, had dwindled into insignificence before
the superior military and diplomatic genius of the five confederated
'nations to the south of the great lakes; ere the Algonkin name,
which once carried terror to the council fires of its enemies, had
become a term of contempt, through that lack of military
organization which led to the downfall and final dispersion of that
nation.

One sees a dense cloud of spray hovering over the spot where
the downward sweeping waters take their final plunge into the
lower river, with a green tree-clad eminence in the background,
and is reminded that this place was known to the Mohawks as
" Tsitkanajoh," or the "floating kettle; while the Onondagas
called it " Katsidagwehniyoh," or the chief "Council Fire."* So
that either of these names may have been a shibboleth on the
Ottawa during the closing acts in that tragedy of the middle of
the 17th century, which resulted in the wiping out of the once
dominant Algonkin-Huron confederacy.

But, by the subtle magic of these names, the retrospective
scene is changed and the inner circle of the council fire of this
ancient camping ground is occupied by the grim war chiefs of the
Iroquois. For this wonderful race of sagacious warriors, in con-
formity with a well planned and far-reaching scheme of conquest,
has sent war-parties to secure among other places the passes
of the Chaudi^re and intercept the Huron traffic with the French

*See Ontario Archaeological Report of 1898.

150 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

settlements on the St. Lawrence, whilst the main force of the
confederacy is directed against their tribal strong-holds in what is
now western Ontario.

In imagination, this romantic and picturesque spot is trans-
formed into a cleverly constructed ambush. Wary sentinels posted
at the upper end of the portage pass the word that the enemy is
approaching from the upper reaches of the river and is about to
run the rapids. The council is broken up, the canoes are manned
and with ready musket and uplifted paddle the warriors await the
signal ot attack. Once within the rift of the Little Chaudi^re and
all retreat, for the luckless Huron or Algonkin is out of the
question. Retreat up the river is hopeless, for the foot of the
portage is held by the enemy. Escape by the lower portage is
equally futile, for the same implacable foe will intercept them
before they can reach it, or overtake them before they can pass it.
The attack is delivered with the usual results, and the Iroquois
return to their concealment laden with the spoils of war, with scalps
and prisoners.

Now the manufacturer of yellow literature would like to
describe the torture and death of these prisoners at the hands of
their captors ; but we know that the Iroquois were not always
given to vengeance and that they adopted large numbers of Hurons
that were thus taken in battle.

Mr. William E. Connelly, in his excellent papers on "The
Wyandots," in the Ontario Archaeological Report of 1899, in
writing of " the oldest branch of the Iroquoian family," informs us
that the clan system in the Five nations was the feature of real
strength. He goes on to say that: "The clan system was
responsible for much of the fierce warfare made by one tribe upon
another. It was a religious duty to keep the clan full, i.e. every
name in the clan lisi of proper names. No name was allowed in
ancient times to become wholly obsolete. The animal from which
the clan claimed descent was always angry when these names were
not in use, for they were not in his honor. To suffer a clan to
become extinct was a reproach to the nation or tribe. It was
followed by dire calamity. This both the old Wyandots and
Senecas have often told me. War was often undertaken to
replenish the depleted ranks of a decaying clan. White men were
eagerly adopted and to such an extent had this practice been
carried by the Wyandots that after the year 1820 there was not a
full blood Wyandot alive. Few women and girls were slain in
battle or tortured as prisoners even in ancient times. They were
adopted into the different clans of the tribe."

"The Wyandots claim that as late as 1800 at least, the
Wyandots and Cherokees made war upon each other for the sole
purpose of obtaining women and children for adoption."

IQOl]

SowTER — Prehistoric Camping Grounds.

15'

PLATE X.

FigTire i — Side view of crystalline limestone pipe, ^ diameter, with perfora-
tion at base of bowl, from Pointe i la Bataille, Lake Des-
chenes, Torbolton township, Ont. Collector, N'arcisse Noel,
Aylnier, Que.

,, irt. — Front view of Fig- i, showing^ stem-hole and ends of perforation
at base of bowl.

,, lb. — Section of Figf. i. Shaded portion shows stem-hole and tobacco
cavity.

,, ir. — Top view of Fig-, i.

,1 2. — Flint arrow-head, 4^ diameter, from Ottawa River, Bryson, Que.
Collector, E. J. Leroy, Bryson, Que.

., 3- — Flint arrow-head, ^4 diameter, of foreig-n make, from Raymond's
Point, Ont.

)) 4- — Flint a-rrow-head, natural size, from Paris, Ont. Collector,
Harold Nelson, Ottawa.

,, 5- — Flint arrow-head, natural size, from Raymond's Point, Lake Des-
chenes, Ont. This pomt and Fig-. 4 so closely resemble each
other in size, shape and the peculiarly streaked flint from which
they are fabricated that it is difficult to disting-uish them apart.

,, 6. -Black flint arrow-head, natural size, from Raymond's Point, Lake
Deschenes, Ont.

,. 7- — Dark stone celt, ^ diameter, from beach in front of Hotel Victoria,
Lake Deschenes, Aj'lmer, Que.

,, 8. — Buff-coloured flint arrow-head, natural size, from Pointe aux Pins
(Queen's Park), Lake Deschenes. A recent fraction at the
tip reveals a rind or crust which encloses a lig-hter-coloured
interior.

), 8 — Dark slate knife, ^ diameter, from farm of Mr. John Armstrong:,
March township, Carleton Co., Ont. Collector, Geo. Burland,
Ottawa.

,, 9. — Cross section of Fig-. 9.

152 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

NOTES ON THE WINTER BIRDS OF THE CARIBOO

DISTRICT. B.C.

By Allan Brooks.

I spent the winter of 1900-01 in the western portion of the
Cariboo district, and as I was in the field the whole se:ison, I had
ample opportunities to note the birds of both the Upper Eraser
river valley and the more heavily timbered mountains to the
eastward.

The whole district, both in fauna and flora shows a decided
infusion of the Hudsonian element, but this is less marked in the
case of the winter birds than in the summer residents and the
spring- and fall migrants, many of which do not occur to the
southward, except perhaps as stragglers. Such species as 3ar-
tram's Sandpiper, Tennessee, Black poll and Magnolia Warblers,
and Empidonnx alnormn probably migrate east through the
Yellowhead pass and down the Mississippi valley.

Many of the mammals found in the district are identical with,
or closely allied to those found east of the Rockies, for instance
Arct07nys monax and Microsotex hoyi.

The southern range of the Moose in British Columbia will
approximately define the limit of the Hudsonian element.

The season was a very poor one for winter birds. Redpolls
and Snowflakes, which are very abundant as a rule, were com-
paratively scarce, and Hawks and Owls were almost entirely
absent. The northern portion of Ontario— Algoma district — will
approximate very closely to western Cariboo both in climate and
physical features.

299. Dendragapus franklin i. Franklin's Grouse.

Abundant in suitable localities. To the northward it will probably
intergrade with the Canada Grouse, as many of the specimens secured
showed a decided infusion of Canadensis blood, the tail often being nar-
rowly tipped with fulvous or white.
3006. Bonasa umhellns umbelloides. Gray Ruffed Grouse.

Most of the Ruffed Grouse could be referred to this form, but some
specimens were closer to typical unibclliis or to togatn.
304. Lagopus leucurus. White-tailed Ptarmigan.

Only occurs at high altitudes. The only species ot Ptarmigan obr
served.
308. Pediceceies phnsianellus. Sharp-tailed Grouse.

The form occurring -it Quesnelle is apparentl}' the typical northern

species.
Richardson's Grouse occurs in the district both along the Fraser river
and at timber line in the high mountains, but not in the intervening coun-
try, and was not observed during the winter.
334. Accipiter atricapilhts. American Goshawk.

The only hawk observed during the winter months.

iqoi]

Brooks — Winter Birds. 153

I

352. Haliaetus leucocephatiis. Bald Eagfle.

349. Aquila chryshl'tos. Golden Eagle.
Both eagfle.s occur sparingly.

371. Nyctale richardsoni. Richardson's Owl.

372. Nyctale aradica. Sawvvhet Owl.

366. Asio ivihonianus. American Long-eared Owl.

367. Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl.

With the probable exception of the last these are resident throughout
the winter.

375. Bubo virgianiis. Great Horned Owl.

375«. Bubo V. subarcticus. Western Horned Owl.
375r. Bubo v. safuratus. Dusky Horned Owl.
All three forms occur and intergrade.

376. Nyctea nyctea. Snowy Owl.

Several mounted specimens seen. I also heard of the Great Gray
Owl being shot near Barkerville.

3g3rt. Dryubates villosus leucomelas. Northern Hairy Woodpecker.

Tolerably common.

400. Picoides arcticus. Arctic three-toed Woodpecker.

Scarce throughout the winter; the greater number seemed to migrate
southwards.

This should be the western form lately described by Mr. Bangs, but
specimens taken seemed to correspond in measurements with the typical
form.

401 Picoides americanus. American three-toed Woodpecker.

Much commoner than the last. Both species are among the hardest
of birds to collect; they are shy and retiring, especially the last species,
and when shot almost invariably remain clinging to the tree by their
powerful claws, even if they fall they generally manage to catch on to a
small twig or festoon of moss and remain suspended by one or both feet
long after death. I shot a male of the Arctic species as it clung to a
small stump; tliough killed quite dead it did not drop. On examination I
found the feet were five inches apart and the t?il firmly braced. Tlie
head and bodv falling backwards had brought considerable pressure on
the tail. It required considerable force to detach the bird.

405. Hylotomus pileattis. Pileated Woodpecker.

Scarce. This is probably the northern limit of its range.

475. Pica hudsonica. American Magpie.

Tolerably common.
486a. Corvus principalis. Northern Rav'en

Common. The first crows were observed early in March.

478. Cyanocitta stelleri ntiectens. Black-headed Jay.

Common.
48^^. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. Rocky Mountain Ja}'.

Abundant. All my efforts to find the nest failed From dissection
of a number caught in Marten traps I came to the conclusion that not 20
per cent, were breeding birds, and that the eggs were laid iibout 25th
March,

56, Pinicola eniicleator alascensis. .\laskan Pine Grosbeak.
Cpmmpn,

154 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September

521. Luxia curvirostra minor. American Crossbill.

522. Loxia leiicoptera. White Wing-ed Crossbill.

The latter the most abuiidHtit. Both species seemed to migrate from
the district before the close of the winter. Both were common dnring
summer of 1900.

524^?. Leiicosticte tephrocotis littoralis. Hepburn's Leucosticte.

Typical examples taken during- the winter. The form .hat breeds in

the high mountains near Barkerville is tj'pical tephrocotis.

527^. A can this exilipes. Hoary Redpoll.

528. Acanthis linaria. Wealy Redpoll.

I carefulh' examined all flocks of Redpolls seen and only secured one
specimen that showed any approach to exilipes. During former winters
Mr. Sidnev Williams has taken several fairly typical exilipes at Quesnelle.
I did not observe tlie Pine Siskin during the winter months.

534. Plectrophi'iiax nivalis. Snovvflake.

70 1. Cimliis mexicanus. American Dipper.

Found in the neighbourhood of open water throughout the winter.
7266. Certhia a. montanits. Rocky Mountain Creeper.

Tolerably common througfhout the winter.

728. Sitta canadensis. Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Less common than the last.
735«. Pariis a. septejitrionalis. Long-tailed Chickadee.

Cjmmon.
73S. Pams gambeli. Mountain Chickadee.

Occasionally observed at Quesnelle.

7406. Pariis hudsonius colttmhianus. Columbian Chickadee.

Abundant in the heav}- spruce timber and on high elevations.

748rt. Regidus satrapa oHvaceiis. Western Kinglet.

A few of these delicate little birds remained throughout the coldest
weather.

The birds enumerated in the foreg^oing- list were all actual winter residents

with the possible exception oi the Short-eared Owl. Bohemian Waxwings

were observed in larg^e flocks during the late fall and again early in March.

A single Butcher bird was also noticed in February, probably only accidental,

as no others were seen between October and March. Winter Wrens

( pacificus ) remained until the end of October and returned 6th April. The

first Robin was seen on the 6th March, but no more were observed for some

time, but as I went into the heavily timbered reg-ion to the northeast of Ques-

nelie about that date I had not much chance to observe the mig-ration of the

spring birds, which did not begin to show up there till well on in April, the

W'inter Wren on the 6th being followed by a considerable influx of migratovy

Goldcrests and Tree Creepers. First Geese ( canaaensis) were seen on 9th

April, Snowfinches (Juncos) and a Pigfmy Owl were seen on the same date,

though the latter (the Californian form) might have remained all winter and

been overlooked. A considerable number of Robins, Arctic Bluebirds and

Red-shafted Flickers were seen on the 12th, and first \'aried Thrushes on the

i7tli. The big- rush of spring arrivals came in after the 20th April, when the

winter had fair!}' broken up.

THE OTTAWA f(ATURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, OCTOBER, 1901. No. 7.

SOME OF THE BIRDS OF ALGOMA.

(Read before the Ornithological section of the Entomolojfical Society of

Ontario.)

By C. T. Scott, Aylmer, Onl.

We were a party of four who had planned to spend our
summer vacation in the wilderness of Alg-oma. We took boat at
Collingwood for Killarney, and during^ this twenty-four hour trip,
not the least of our pleasure was in watching- the gulls which sailed
around the boat with an air of proprietorship. When doing
justice to the excellent menu of the boat, \ve did not forget these
birds, but invariably carried off some tid-bits to make sport tor
them. When a morsel was dropped into the water, the nearest
gull turned in a short but graceful curve until he stood just tip-
toe on the waves, deftly picked up the food, then rising would
almost regain his place at the head of the flock. When the birds
were close together there would be a race for the food, and some
of them would drop with a hovering movement of the wings
striking the water with a splash in their eagerness to be first.
But never could we deceive them. They could distinguish a chip
or a piece of paper at the highest altitude. Occasionally some
noisy one would straighten out his neck, open a capacious mouth,
and utter a cry decidedly irritating to the nerves. One gull, of
dark gray colour — so dark as to look black when at a distance —
seemed particularly anxious to exhibit his musical talents. At
nightfall they dropped behind resting upon the water, but they
were following us again in the morning with the earliest streaks
of day.

156 The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

When at KiUarney we learned why the Ontario Government
have imposed a fine of $20 upon anyone convicted of killing- a
«^ull. Along- the shores of Georg-ian Bay the fishermen are pro-
hibited from throwing- refuse into the water. All the offal left
from a " clean-up" of the fish is dumped into barrels placed along
the shore, where it is speedily devoured by the numerous g-ulls
and the almost equally numerous ravens, which are ready to dis-
pute title to the dainty feast. These two birds form the natural
scaveng-ers to this region, and doubtless are to be credited with
helping: to preserve the splendid fisheries around Georg-ian Bay.

We stayed just long- enoug-h at Killarney to change travelling
for camping suits, to rent a large birch bark canoe, and to engage
a small steam launch to tow us, with our impedimenta, five miles
out into a cove on the northwest shore of Killarney bay. Here
we pitched our tent on a portage path leading back to an inland
marsh, and prepared to spend our first night in this pleasing soli-
tude. Whist ! What was that ? A wild duck ! But our guns
were not at hand, so we couldn't determine the variety. As we
lay around the camp-fire that night, our voices subdued almost to
a whisper by the impressive silence of the forest, suddenly a shrill,
weird cry just above our heads nearly froze the blood in our veins.
It was the cry of a loon coming into our cove, but we scarcely
knew how to interpret it. Was it a laugh or a wail ? We de-
bated the question, and concluded that much depended on the
mood of the listener. More loons passing over our camp wakened
us in the morning. Alter breakfast, and the more difficult task of
dish washing, we strolled over the trail into wooded gollies and
up ascending tei races of quartzite rock. Who knocked just then ?
We looked in the direction, when lo ! I caught my first glimpse
of the pileated woodpecker. It was but a moment, then came a
flash of red and black in the sunlight, and he was gone. We fol-
lowed in his direction, but our pursuit was in vain. We tramped
all forenoon, but one or two golden-winged woodpeckers, con-
scious of intruders, were the only other feathery friends we
chanced to meet.

Whilst trolling down the bay in the afternoon a wild-duck
passed us again. This time we felt sure it xyas a wood-duck, and

igoi] Scott — Birds of Algoma. 157

we concluded it mig'ht have a family somewhere in the vicinity.
We forgot all about the duck until some hours after when, pass-
ing- an inlet, we saw something moving in the reeds. Through
the field glass we distinguished them as a whole family of young
duck. Thinking to approach them by guile we passed the inlet,
landed farther up on the shore, and stealing over the rocks, care-
ful to step only on the moss so our approach could not be heard,
we sought a closer vision. No duckling was in sight. We after-
wards entered the inlet and searched for some trace of our game,
but again the birds proved themselves too wary for men. Paddling
up the cove to our camping-ground a solitary kingfisher passed
us uttering his rubber doll squeak.

The second day we paddled up the bay for two miles in search
of a portage that would take us into a chain of lakes which lay
north of the mountain range. Several wild ducks passed us, but
flying too high for identification. The only portage we crossed
was one that led up precipices so steep as to preclude the possi-
bility of carrying the large canoe across. Climbing this path we
were suddenly halted by a covey of partridge who with ruffled
neck feathers seemed to ask us to get out of their way. They
finally concluded to give us the road and moved aside with no
more tear than so many chickens. It was in climbing this eleva-
tion that we noted the singular absence of small birds through
this region. No other birds met our eye until we were pushing
off our canoe to return to Killarney, when we disturbed a small
sandpiper who evidently felt he was the sole possessor of this
long-stretching beach.

The next morning, having exchanged our one large canoe for
two smaller ones, we paddled out on a heavily rolling sea to cross
four miles of Georgian Bay into the entrance of Collins' Inlet.
After three hours paddling we made the lee of the first island
where we landed to caulk our canoes and dry our water-soaked
cargoes. This island known as One Tree Island, proved a perfect
rendezvous of the gulls, who protested against our lighting a camp
fire. The castings of the birds showed that they frequently lunched
on the blue-berries, with which these rocks abound. We cooked
our supper five mil?s up th§ inlet, 3.nd \vhilst gathering some blue-

158 The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

berries a couple of chickadees took an interest in our work, and a
hairy woodpecker rapped out his compliments from some neigh-
boring trees. We proceeded up the Inlet by moonlight. The
almost oppressive silence hushed our conversation, and only the
swish of our paddles woke the echoes of the nearly perpendicular
walls which closed us in. Once some heavy animal, probably a
deer, broke the branches in the dark forest of the right bank ;
again we saw a porcupine move up from the waters' edge from
the left, but for hours these were the only sounds that broke the
stillness. Just as we were looking about for a landing place, two
whip-poor-wills on opposite sides of the inlet struck up a cheery
duet. This music brought us back to the world of reality. We
landed, made camp, and not even the droning of the mosquitoes
could rob us of the pleasure ot this midnight litany from the
whip-poor-wills.

We rested Sunday, and on Monday portaged past Collin's
Mills, paddled up the Mahzenazing River, and by dinner time had
had put the last habitation ten miles behind us. Whilst eating our
lunch at a dam, made to raise the water in the river for logging
purposes, we enjoyed the company of about a score of cedar wax-
wings. Up the river we went, finding that this six-foot dam had
made miles of marsh, and "drowned" land. Nothing could be
more desolate than this marshy stream bordered everywhere by
dead trees holding their bare arms rebelliously towards heaven.
Repeatedly a large crane got up in front of us and moved lazily
on in advance. Black ducks, singly or in pairs, would start up at
our approach and quack the announcement of others hidden in the
reeds. Once a bittern, startled by the noise of our gun, flew away
southward as though determined to leave the region forever now
that man had invaded the solitude. We reached the shore of
Johnny Lake at midnight, tired, thirsty and wet, for the' rain had
commenced to fall. To add to our discomfort the little clearing
where we were trying to get some wet wood to burn, was literally
choked with mosquitoes. No wonder ':he garrulous chatter of a
flock of crow black-birds roused our wickedness. We resolved on
a black-bird pie. They must have suspected our intentions, for we
never got within gun range,

igoi] Scott — Birds of Algoma. 159

From this point on for several days we had uniform experience
of travel throug^h lakes and portag-es, full of interest as a canoe
trip, but almost void of ornithological specimens. An occasional
duck on the lakes, with partridge and golden-wings on the port-
ages composed our whole experience with the feathery tribe. Once
when two of us g"ot lost in the forest and had spent the greater
portion of the day without food, we counted it a providential thi-ng-
that we stumbled on a little lake where two small saw-bills were
sailing around. We killed one and wounded the other, but failed
to reach the wounded one. When we got back to camp at even-
tide, nearly exhausted, a loon was laughing at us from across the
bay.

Passing out of Lake Panache on Saturday — a large lake
beautifully indented with promontories and sprinkled with islands
— we entered a marshy lake known as Lake Levasse. Here ducks
were abundant. A coot gave us so much trouble in identifying
him, that we didn't stop to classify any other specimen. Besides,
there seemed to be so many miles of this lake, and it was so over-
grown with rushes that it became difficult to find the channel and
we must get through before dark. Pushing on, we entered a
a picturesque river which brought us, after an hour's paddling to
the falls of Round Lake. Here a few cedar wax-wings that had
not yet gone to roost watched us pitch our tent and prepare for
another Sunday's rest.

Sunday morning found a gale blowing from the east, and
there, riding" majestically above us, was a beautiful fish-hawk.
That day whilst sauntering over rocks and tracings the boundaries
of a great diorite upheaval, we disturbed a pair of hairy wood-
peckers. But what was that larger woodpecker beyond ? The
field-glass showed us that he had a bright orange-yellow crown
and black back. To us this arctic woodpecker was such a novelty
that we thought of collecting him. But then it was Sunday, and
we had no fire-arm with us but a 44 calibre rifle. We concluded
that to kill and skin a bird with one shot was too delicate an
operation, so we only aimed our field-glass until he went dipping
away into the depths of the forest.

i6o The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

Two days more and we reached the C. P. R. line. We put
our canoes on th» train sending them east to Wahnapitae station,
whilst we got off at Sudbury to visit the mines. Here the
ubiquitous English sparrow had followed the settlers in great
numbers. The surrounding country, made almost as barren as
Gehenna by sulphur fumes from the mines, seemed all the more
desolate by being infested with great flocks of the common crow.

At Wahnipitae station, where we rested for a day, my atten-
tion was arrested by great numbers of the barn swallow. At times
they seemed to fairly cover the telegraph lines tor the distance of
six or seven posts. Here, too, we saw the only attempt at farm-
ing we had met in our journey. Between two great granite ridges
one man had brought about forty acres of land under cultivation.
Yet such familiar birds as the robin and bluebird did not come
under our observation even here. Though personally not in a fit
condition for observation during this day's rest, owing to sudden
illness, none of the party noted any representatives of the warbler
or sparrow families. In the twilight, as I lay on my back with
my face to the sky, I saw the swallows gradually withdraw and
an occasional night-hawk skim through the gathering shades.
Now and then tha whirr of a duck passing up the river made a
pause in the supper preparations, but soon the stars came out
and camp-fire stories took the place of Nature's quiet delights.

We had left ourselves but three days and a Sunday rest to
cover the sixty miles which lay between us and French River port
on Georgian Bay. Passing down this river with its varying
panorama, its sudden turns enabling us to startle deer and moose,
we found only monotony in the study of ornithology. Ducks,
more ducks, and ducks again, at every bend of the river.
Amongst these we identified the larger saw-bill, grey duck and
blue-winged teal as well as black duck in abundance. These
black ducks seemed to prefer a diet of snails, for each one we
opened had a number of snail shells in his crop. Whilst examin-
ing one, some twenty miles down the river, our attention was
drawn upward by a passing shadow. There was a bald-headed
eagle sailing leisurely past. About dusk on Saturday evening a
large bird crossed the river silently in front of us. We paddled

igoi] Scott — Birds of Algoma, i6i

close to the shore to get a better look. As he sat on a tree far
above us he looked like a snowy owl, so we thought we would put
the matter beyond dispute by " collecting" him. The gun made
a noisy report, but a few feathers scattered in the wind were not
enough to confirm our identification.

Sunday whilst resting near an interesting waterfall on the
river I saw two flycatchers plying their calling. A dull haze made
accurate observation impossible, from size and form 1 judged them
to be olive-sided flycatchers. Here the sense of my ignorance
made me dejected. Whether from this cause, or the exciting
rapids we had to run, or the exhausting portages we had to make,
I found no other bird I could enter on my list for the districts of
Algoma and Nipissing.

When we turned into the middle channel of French River we
were in the land of the loon and the gull once more. Crossing
our last portage just before entering French River village a whole
covey of partridges stood on the tramway chuckling defiance at
our attempts to " Shoo !" them into flight. About midnight we
stepped aboard the " Atlantic ' with tickets for Killarney port,
but we were such doubtful looking " birds " ourselves that the
steward hesitated about giving us respectable berths.

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTE.

PiERis PROTODiCE. While walking along the "perennial
border" in the botanical garden at the Experimental Farm at
Ottawa on September the 21st last, I was surprised to see a fine
specimen of the Checkered White butterfly {Pieris proiodice, Bdv. )
I had not a net with me but was lucky enough to catch it in my
hands. It is a fine female and this is the first time the species has
ever been taken at Ottawa or as far as I know so far East in On-
tario by a hundred miles. The caterpillar, like those of most of
the white butterflies feeds on the various cruciferous plants includ-
ing occasionally the cultivated cabbage.

J. Fletcher.

i62 The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

RATTLESNAKES AND SCORPIONS.

During- a recent trip in the interior of British Columbia I fell
in with an old acquaintance, Mr. E. Bullock-Webster, from Kere-
meeos, on the Similkameen River, near the southern boundary of
the province, on the mainland. This part of the country seems to
be a continuation of the desert regions which extend through the
adjoining States and California down to Mexico ; the theory being
borne out by the existence of some of the plants and reptiles
peculiar to those regions, lor instance, Purshia tridentata as well
as various members of the Artemisia family, burrowing owls,
horned toads, rattlesnakes, scorpions, &c.

Being aware of the existence of scorpions in the hot rocky
hills in the vicinity of his ranch, having seen one from there
in captivity some years ago at New Westminster which had been
kept in a glass jar with only some gravel, and without food or
water for several months, I asked my friend if he could obtain a
specimen for me. He promised he would do so when opportunity
offered ; but the season, he said, was past for obtaining them to
the best advantage. He then explained that during the dormant
season the scorpions shared the dens of rattlesnakes, Crotalns
lucifer (Baird and Girard) and in the spring time when the sun
began to attain some power, the snakes come out to the mouths
of their dens, in horrid coiling masses, the scorpions running over
them on apparently quite friendly terms. Mr. Webster described
several of these dens in the rocky defiles of the mountains of
Similkameen very graphically.

One, which from accounts received from Indians, seems to be
the headquarters of all the rattlesnakes, is situated in an ideal in-
ferno, a weird defile that would have appealed to the imagination of
Dor^. It appears that the Indians from superstitious motives do
not kill snakes, ant' from the same motives do not ^o near their
dens. Mr. W^ebster, however, induced an old Indian to conduct
him to the spot, which he did, but would not go nearer than about
two hundred yards. Mr. Webster entered the horrid place alone.
He says it is indescribably weird, the entrance of the den proper
being partly stopped up with bunch-grass, apparently carried
there by the snakes, presumably for protection against cold. It

igoi] Rattlesnakes and Scorpions. 163

was too late in the seasotj, however, the snakes having' all left for
summer quarters, and all that was to be seen were some skins
that had been shed and a dead snake, probably an interloper,
which had apparently been killed by the others. Mr. Webster
expressed the belief that the snakes belonged to different com-
munities, and that an individual who attempted to force its com-
pany on a community to which it did not belong, suffered the
penalty of death at the fangs of the members of the invaded
colony.

The bull snake (so-called), Pityophis catetiifer, a harmless
variety, is described as being a deadly enemy of the rattlesnake,
which the former devours whole. The bull snake is therefore
carefully preserved. Mr. Webster says that since the advent of
miners and settlers the number of rattlesnakes has sensibly
decreased.

A curious account of a snake fight was described by Mr.
Webster, the witness being a Mr. Richter, a man well known to
him, and of whose veracity he can vouch. It appears that during
a cattle hunt Mr. Richter, feeling tired, dismounted, and fell
asleep, but was awakened by a rustling noise in the grass near
him. He raised himself carefully and saw a bull snake holding on
to a garter snake, a species of Euicenia, by the head. The latter
was making frantic efforts to get away by winding itself about the
body of the larger snake, nearly succeeding several times, when
the bull snake loosened his hold in the attempt to get the smaller
snake " end on," so as to begin the swallowing operation. At
length the bull snake, apparently tired of this way of trying to
capture its prey, reared itself on its head and began twirling itself
violently with a spiral motion. This continued for about a minute,
after which the garter snake seemed quite paralyzed, and the bull
snake proceeded to swallow him at his leisure.

J. R. Anderson.

Victoria, B.C., 1901.

164 The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

BOTANICAL NOTES.

Acer dasycarpum. — I have for seven years kept a careful
note of the time of blooming ot a healthy tree of the Silver Maple
{Acer dasycarpum) which stands on the north side of James street,
Ottawa, in front of my house. Thinking" that these dates might
be of interest to others as well as myself, I send them to The
Ottawa Naturalist. On the following dates the tree was fairly
well covered with blossoms :

1895 — April i8th.

F^irst flowers April 8th.

1896—

1, i6th.

1897-

.1 nth.

1898 —

11 2nd.

1899—

II 20th.

1900^

1. 15th.

1 90 1 —

1, 15th.

W. J. Wilson.
A New Meadow-rue» — Mr. M. L. Fernald examined the
Geological Survey specimens ot Thalictrum a few months ago and
among them found a new species which he has named T. coiifirie,
and described and figured in Rhodora for Dec. 1900. It was col-
lected by Prof. Macoun in thickets at Hemlock Lake near Ottawa,
in flower Aug, 8th, 1894. Fruiting specimens of this species were
collected by Mr. Fernald in Sept., 1900. in Maine. T. occidentale
has also been found to be common in the Maritime provinces,
and it is not unlikely that it too will be found at Ottawa where
T. dioictirn and T. polygamiim are common. The meadow-rues
should always be collected in fruit.

Agrimony. — The two species of Agrimony, A. hirsitta and

A. Brittoniana should both be found in the Ottawa district though

only the former species is represented in the herbarium of the

Geological Survey. A. hirsnia has short, turbinate fruit, the

dilated marginal rim of the convex disk bearing numerous reflexed

spreading hairs ; in A. Brittoniana the disk is flat or concave, the

bristles short, crowded, inflexed and connivent over the sepals, the

fruit is long-turbinate. In the former species the leaves are thin

with the margins and nerves beneath ciliate, in the latter species

the leaves are thickish, rugose and softly pubescent beneath, the

margins finely scabrous-ciliolate.

J. M. M.

igoi] Reviews. 165.

REVIEWS.

Catalogue of the Marine Invertebrata of Eastern Canada.
By J. W. Whiteaves. LL.D , F.G.S., F.R.S.C. Geological
Survey of Canada, pp. 271. 1900.

The publication of this catalogue will be hailed with genuine
delight by zoologists the world over, and especially by marine
biologists on this continent. Dr. Robert Bell, the eminent head
of the Geological Survey, in his introductory note, modestly ex-
presses the hope that it may stimulate to renewed activity Canadian
naturalists, who have taken up marine researches, and he very
appropriately refers to the opportuneness of the appearance of this
catalogue soon after a Marine Biological Station has commenced
its work on our Atlantic shores.

Dr. Whiteaves would be the first to disclaim for this catalogue
its title to be considered a magnum opus, yet such it is, and as
such it will be regarded by American naturalists in the future.
Hitherto reliance had to be placed on scattered and fragmentary
lists and notices by Canadian workers, or to the memoirs and
catalogues published in the United States, and professedly dealing
less with Canadian than with United States' local faunas. Now
we have a faunistic list of our own so far as marine invertebrates
are concerned. Two features at once strike the appreciative reader
on perusing this catalogue, — first, the extensive geographical area
it covers, and the large amount of material it embraces (the species
enumerated being over a thousand in number) and second, the
care and accuracy revealed on every page of the publication. This
latter characteristic the scientific world has long recognised in all
Dr. Whiteaves' work and anj one familiar with the reports, now
somewhat venerable lor they date back thirty years, in which Dr.
Whiteaves summarised the results of his dredging expeditions in
the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Bay of Chaleurs, and
the Bradelle and Orphan banks as well as parts of the coast of
Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island during the years 1871,
1872 and 1873, which reports were published by the Department
of Marine and Fisheries, will experience no surprise at the extent
of the coastal waters covered by Dr. Whiteaves in the present
catalogue. What an infinite amount of labour is represented by

i66 The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

the 271 pag-es of this work only those who have attempted launistic
lists can realise. True, it is largely drudg-ery : but it is pioneer
work without which no future progress is possible. That a larg-e
proportion of the species of Spong^es, Echinoderms, Worms,
Hydroids, Mollusks, Crustaceans, Ascidians, etc., have passed
through the author's own hands — a considerable proportion dredged
by himself, is clear from the references : but in the preparation of
so ambitious a list as that covering the invertebrate fauna of our
Atlantic coast, reliance has also been placed upon the reports
published by various United States workers, and many of the de-
terminations of these workers are already undergoing revision.
It seems, for instance, hardly credible that our Atlantic waters can
boast at least nine distinct species of Spirorbis, the sedentary,
almost ectoparasitic, habits of this Polychgete, when adult, favour-
ing variations in the form and physical characteristics of its coiled
tube, which may not justify the creation of so many species. As
Verrill has pertinently remarked, and Dr. Whiteaves quotes the
observation on p. 68, "The animals of the various species of
Spirorbis are still very imperfectly known, and many species have
been described from the tubes alone. Accurate descriptions or
figures of the animals are necessary before the species can be de-
termined satisfactorily." The Marine Biological Station founded
in 1898 by the Dominion Government, freely opening its doors to
all qualified scientific workers in the Dominion, will no doubt
render substantial aid in confirming or in correcting current diag-
noses of such species, a station of this character facilitating the
study of the animals in a living or, at least, in a fresh condition,
and providing the needed facilities for the accurate determination
of species. It is revealing no secret to say that several marine
invertebrates and vertebrates secured by the staff of the Canadian
Station at St. Andrews, N.B., in 1899 and 1890, and at Canso in
1 901, are not referable to any recognized Canadian species, and
will of necessity be announced as additions to oar marine fauna.
A Priapuliis dredged at Canso last August did not appear to re-
semble any known Canadian species.*" But while such additions

* Dr. Whiteaves appears to be in doubt as to the identity of the specimens
he secured in adjacent N. S. waters, and places a query after Priapnlus caii-
datus. Lmk. (p. 89).

igoi] Reviews. 167

are to be expected for some years to come, there is every proba-
bility that many lengthy lists of species will be cut down, when
the life-history of the young", and the anatomy and morphology ot
the adult stages, of many species have been studied in detail by
Canadian zoologists.

The following enumeration gives a tabulated summary of the

species set forth in Dr. VVhiteaves list :

^. Xo. of species.

Protozoa.

Foraminifera, 63 species

Radiolaria, i

64

Sponges.

36 (exclusive of 2 Hudson Ba}' species. ) 36

CCELENTERATA.

Hydromedusje, 66 species

Scyphomedusa; 5

Anthozoa,

44

Ctenophora

4

ECHINODERMATA.

Crinoidea,

3 species

Holothurioidea

'5

Asteroidea

29

Ophiuroidea

21

Echinoidea

3

119

71

MARINE WORMS.

Platyhelminthes 4

Nemertea 21

Ch.etopoda 106

Gephvrea 7

Bracuiopoda 428

POLVZOA 3

MOLLL'SCA. 115

Pelecypoda, 100 species

Scaphopoda, 5

Gasteropoda, 164

Cepiialopoda, 13

282

Arthropoda.

Crustacea 198

ArACHNIDA II

Chordata.

Urochordata ./f:^ t. J*^'?***. 27

1 68 The Ottawa Naturalist [October

Our Atlantic waters, it cannot be doubted, abound with
animal life, indeed in some localities there is a plethora which is
almost incredible. Those naturalists who were privileged to
pursue researches in the new marine station at St. Andrews, dur-
ing' the two seasons when it was located there, were familiar with the
spectacle which Dr. Whiteaves describes in a passage from Dr.
Stimpson on p. 44. The large reddish or blackish purple sea-
cucumbers, resembling the garden vegetable in shape, but soft,
i-limy and elastic to the touch, were so abundant that the dredge
often came up heavy and packed tight with their plump and
writhing bodies. Considerable areas in the waters of Passama-
quoddy Bay are indeed black with the crowded assemblages of
these curious Echinoderms. The delicacy so much coveted by the
Chinese called '' trepang'' is really the dried and prepared bodies
of these interesting animals. In our utilitarian age a catalogue
such as this may even stir some enterprising business man to
create a " trepang" industry on the Atlantic coast. Hyrtl it was
who showed a visitor a stained section of a kidney under the
microscope, and the visitor straightway designed an attractive
wall-paper based on the stained histological section shown to him.
Dr. Whiteaves need not be alarmed if, while his valuable cata-
logue is of infinite worth to his brother scientists, it prove also an
incentive to a new fishery enterprise ! In contrast with the large
fleshy Pentacta frondosa is the small delicate and transparent
Pentacta mimita of Verril, a species first distinguished as Cucu-
viaria mimiia by Otto Fabricius in 1780, but which there is every
reason to believe, now, is the small immature stage of /*. frondosa.
Dr. Martin Duncan and Mr. Sladen suggested this, as Dr.
Whiteaves mentions on page 44, and the numerous specimens ex-
amined alive at St. Andrews in 1899 and 1900 support the
suggestion. The curious " Sea Orange," Lophothiiria
Fabricii, Duben and Koren, a congener of the sea-
cucumbers, is recorded by Dr. Whiteaves as occurring all the way
from Grand Manan to Temple Bay in Labrador. Its somewhat
flattened shape, (not unlike a small shoe with the opening for the
foot closed up) and covered with dense overlapping scales, ren-
ders it one of the most peculiar of littoral prizes; but it is strange

I

igoi] Reviews. 169

that the much more familiar Psolus phantapiis is recorded only
from Grand Manan, at 40 fathoms depth, and at Eastport and in the
St, Lawrence estuary. Of the Sea Urchins, three Canadian
species are here placed on record, while the Starfishes embrace
eig"ht species, Dr. Whiteaves rightly concurring in the view that
the huge specimens of " Five fingers," measuring 12 or 15 inches
across are simply over-grown Asterias vulgaris, which usually
measures 4 or 5 inches across. The six-rayed Starfishes, abound-
ing below Rimouski, have been by many observers regarded as
abnormal "five-fingers," but they are referable to Asterias polnris
Miill. and Trosch, and range fron the Nova Scotia banks to Cape
Chidley in Labrador. Of special interest are the three species of
Antedon occurring in Nova Scotian and southern New Brunswick
waters. Future dredgings may add to this list of species, as well
as extend their Canadian distribution, though the Crinoidea be-
long to a past epoch, and of the 1500 species existing in Palaeozoic
times a meagre remnant now remains in our seas. Their stalks
and ovate or globular bodies abound in the rorks upon which
Ottawa stands and testify to their abundance in the old-time seas.

It IS im.possible in a short notice like the present to refer even
in the briefest way to many of the suggestive thoughts aroused by
a perusal of Dr. Whiteaves' catalogue. One point, however, may
be referred to as possessing a very general interest. It bears
directly on the fascinating problems of animal distribution. A
great proportion of species named in this list are L^nistoniam, to
adopt the Dominion Statisticians' uncouth yet expressive adjective
(as a substitute for the misused term American), or at any rate
they are regarded as peculiar to this continent. Our lobster is
Homarus americanus not the H. vulgaris M. Edw., of Europe, yet
the differences would be difficult to define. Prof. Knight of King-
ston found that a small cephalic gland present in our lobster is
absent in Scottish specimens, and Prof. Herrick states that the Euro-
pean lobster's stages of larval development have been abbreviated,
so that it is of larger size at a corresponding age than our species.
Further study will show whether the differences are essential and
specific, or unimportant and varietal merely. Certainly the com-
mon whelk of our shores though called Buccinuni undalum, L., may

lyo The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

ultimately justify Reeves' name -5. lahr ado reuse, for features shown
in the eggf-masses, and in early stages of development exhibit
differences quite marked as compared with the British form. Dr.
Whiteaves' con-parison of living adult specimens, however, from
both sides of the Atlantic showed them to be practically undistin-
guishable from each other. The ten species of Buccinum men-
tioned in this catalogue would well repay renewed study, especially
if the study included the ova and the embryonic stages. Curiously
enough the small Dog-whelk {Purpura lapi/his, L.) arouses such
question. Its adult stage as well as its characteristic vase-shaped
eg^ cases are identical with those of the European form, nor does
the periwinkle {Litorina literea, L. ) stir up any doubts. Indeed its
identity with the East-Atlantic form has been so long recognized
that Nova Scotian naturalists have for more than a quarter of a
century supported its non-indigenous character. Dr. Whiteaves
(p. 173) seems inclined to favour the view that it has been intro-
duced from Europe. If so its dispersion and its local abundance
everywhere are most astonishing. There are few rocky spots on
our Atlantic shore where the periwinkle does not occur in count-
less myriads. The allied species Z/V<;r/;/« rudis (Maton) is recorded
only for our more northern coast extending into Hudson Bay, but
no doubt it will be yet found further south.

Just as so many of our mammals, birds and fishes correspond
to but are not identical with European species — our moose differ-
ing from the European elk, though not extremely so ; our white-
fish, sturgeon, pike and trout unlike, yet in many respects
resembling, the corresponding species in Europe, and our eastern
salmon being according to the authorities not distinguishable from
the British salmon [Salmo sdlar, L. ), so o.ur invertebrate forms
differ in so many respects yet may in some cases be essentially
undistinguishable.

A recent remark by the famous British zoologist, Professor
Mcintosh, to whom Dr. Whiteaves was indebted for diagnosing the
Annelids, emphasizes this point and shows how much our natural-
ists have to do before the determination of many zoological species
can be regarded as final. Dr. Mcintosh says : "The exact relation-
ships of the American Phyllodocidae to European forms have yet to

igoi] Reviews. 171

be more rigidly determined. Further, more accurate figures of the
brist'es and other parts are required." In a recent paper in the
" Annals of Natural History " (London, September, 1901) Prof.
Mcintosh publishes some notes on at least six species of marine
worms procured by Dr. Whiteaves, and though the British autho-
rity is the most eminent expert in that group of invertebrates, and
has diagnosed myriads of specimens from all parts of the world
and established numberless new species, yet of these specimens of
Canadian Phyllodocid^e only one species is in every detail identical
with a European form, viz., the ubiquitous Phyllodoce j^rcenlandica,
CErsted," taken abundantly on Bradelle Bank and 15 miles south-
east of Bonaventure Island. Othtr specimens closely resembled
P. laminosa, Sav., and others again differed from both. Of three
species of Eteone, one, E. spefsbergensis, Mgrn., was unquestion-
able, but two other species approached either E. lentigera, Mgrn.,
or E. chierea, Webs, and Bened. An appropriate means of escape
from the dilemma so often presented by Canadian species is to call
them Canadensis or to do as Professor Mcintosh did in the case of
the graceful Polynoid worm, Malmgrenia ivhi/eavesh\ or as Professor
Verrill did in naming a pretty shell CeriUiielLa whiieavesii, and a
unique zoophyte Actinopsis tohiteavesii.

The author in his prefatory remarks points out that most of
the invertebrates were obtained on the floor of the sea or collected
in littoral regions, hence such widely scattered species as the
aberrant Chaitognath Sagitta does not occur in the catalogue,
though pelagic Ctenophores like Pleurobrachia, Bolina and Idyia
are mentioned on the authority of certain United States observers,
and the interesting occurrence of the lovely sea-butterfly {Clione
limacma, Phipps) is recorded near Belle Isle Straits on the autho-
rity of Dr. Deeks, other specimens being also referred to, from
more northerly regions.

The usefulness of this catalogue, if it is permissible to make
the suggestion, would be vastly increased by the addition of an
index. An index would save time and would certainly facilitate
reference to its pages by those not familiar with marine zoological
nomenclature, and many such, it is to be hoped, will use this
excellent work of reference.

1^2 The Ottawa Naturalist. [October

Dr. Whiteaves in the early pages of his work adverts to the
faunistic regions indicated by the distribution of species included
in the catalogue. We know too little of the local disposition of
the marine vertebrate and invertebrate lite ot our Atlantic waters
to arrive at any satisfactory solution of this interesting problem
as yet. The influence of the Gulf stream on the one hand, and of
Arctic currents bearing their annual burden of icebergs, on the
other, complicates the problem greatly. The occurrence of Clio
limacina within the Gulf and the capture in the Gut of Canso of
Sconiberoids and other fish belonging to a southern range almost
Mexican in its limits, suflficienth^ indicates the complexity of the
conditions presented.

It is however the difficulty and complexity of the problems to
be solved which stimulate scientific inquiry, and within the next
decade more will he done in marine biological research in Canada
than has been done for half a century. The scientists who will
carry on valuable and luminous work and who will reveal to us
more and more fully the marvels of life in our Canadian seas will
have no basis so ample and trustworthy — none so indispensable as
Dr. Whiteaves' Catalogue of the Marine Invertebrata ot Eastern
Canada. It is a work in Canadian Zoology worthy to mark the
first year of a new century.

E. E. P.

A Chapter on the Pleistocene Geology of Northern Asia.
Recent Geological changes in Northern and Central
Asia. By G. Frederick Wright. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.
London, Vol. 57, pp. 244-250. 1901.

This paper is the result of an examination of " those portions
of the Asiatic continent which most nearly correspond in general
superficial conditions to the glaciated portions of America. " Prof.
Wright has ascertained that the actual agency of wind in the
deposition of the loess is evident throughout the mountainous
track to the east of the border of the high plateau ; further, that
there were other ^reas pf loess so large and so level that wind

iqoi] Reviews. 173

would seem incompetent to produce them as the writer adds, "it
seems therefore necessary," from the occurrence of strata of gravel
and pebbles in the loess, "to invoke both wind and water, in order
to fully explain the distribution of that formation." This loess,
over Eastern China, Prof. Wr)o;ht states was deposited "at a very
recent geoloi^ical date."

" The period of the loess in China corresponds roughly with
that of the continental glaciers in Europe and North America.'' No
signs of glacial action were found in south-eastern Mongolia.
The Amur River is compared with the St. Lawrence, which it re-
sembles very much, besides being in nearly the same latitude.
Prof. Wright concludes "that there was no general glaciation of
the lower Amur Valley south of the 53rd parallel." The region
about Lake Baikal was also examined. It is surrounded by moun-
tains "rising from 3000 to 4000 feet above it, except at one narrow
depression through which the Angara River carries off its surplus
waters." Around Samarkand and west, evidence of a submergence
was present. Lake Balkash, 1000 feet above sea, and the Sea of
Aral have no outlets. The waters ol the former are said to be nearly
fresh, " those of the latter are only brackish." The saltness of
the Caspian Sea is only one-third that of the ocean.

These and other associated phenomena observed furnish valu-
able data for the interpretation of the problems of post-Pliocene
geological movements in that part of the world. At Nebizond
on the Black Sea, Prof. Wright found direct evidence of the
great continental submergence. Regarding the discovery of stone
implements below the loess at a depth of 53 feet, the author re-
marks that "thus it appears that the continental submergence
which aided in the wide distribution of the loess was subsequent
to the appearance of man, and so another chapter is added to
those which connect the ancient history of the human race with
the more recent phases of the geological story." The author
thinks it likely that "the depression of the land in Asia was co-
incident with the elevation in America."

H. M. Ami.

174 ^"^ Ottawa Naturalist. [October

On a new Ostracoderm {Enphanerops longcBvus) from the Upper
Devonian of Scaumenac Bay, Province of Quebec,
Canada. By A. Smith Woodward. Annals and Mag-. Nat.
Hist., yth Ser., Vol. V, No 29, pp. 416-419, pi. X, figs.
I, i«, i^, May, 1900.

This new Ostracoderm is based on an imperfect specimen in
the J ex collection from the Scaumenac formation (Neo-Devonian)
of Gasp^ Peninsula, at present in the British Museum. Of the
head, " a pair of small skeletal ring-s " appear to indicate orbits.
Shagreen-like granules are seen within these supposed orbits. The
abdominal region shows small, narrow and deep scales in straight
rows, inclined forwards and downwards instead of backwards and
downwards, as is usually the arrangement in fishes. There is also
a suggestion ot calcified neural spines of an endoskeletal axis.
No traces of paired fins or supports are present. The caudal
region is well preserved in side view and is covered with sjales
disposed as in abdominal region, scarcely overlapping, "invested
with enamel and marked with a few antero — posteriorly— directed
ridges and grooves." There is a small remote dorsal fin, low and
triangular. This species is related to Cephalaspis, but is distin-
guished by absence of a continuous head-shield. It is the latest
survivor known of the earliest type of Ostracoderm armour. It
is the " first example of an Ostracoderm in which traces of the
axial skeleton of the trunk have been detected. Dr. Woodward
erects the family "Euphaneropid^ usually referred either to the
Osteotraci or to the Anaspida."

H. M. A.

Buttercups. — The only typical specimens o^i Rariuncnhis acris
in the herbarium of the Geological Surve)' are from Newfoundland
and Greenland. The common Buttercup found in Canada is
R. Steveni but it is doubtful whether this plant should rank as a
species though it is so considered in Europe. In R. acris the leaf
segments are linear ; in R. Steveni they are broad. Both species
may be common in Canada but among thirty sheets examined only
the two mentioned above were typical, R. acris.

• y

THE OTTAWA f(ATURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, NOVEMBER, 1901. No. 8.

ON SOME CANADIAN SPECIES OF GENTIANA : SECTIO

CROSSOPETALvE, FRCEL.

Bj- TnKO. Holm.
(With four Plates.)

That very natural group of North American species of
Froelich's section CrossopefnlceK the so-called "Fringed Gentians,"
has long been in need of careful revision. The latest treatment of
the genus, as it occurs in North America, is the one presented by
Asa Gray in the Synoptical Flora*, wherein the species, however,
are described with much the same distinctions as in other
works of the same author. Writers of a more recent date have
generally felt so much influenced by that author's decisions that
they have not seemed to question the correctness of his pronounce-
ments, and have not examined the diagnoses further. Conse-
quently the same species are enumerated and the diagnoses
faithfully reproduced in the manuals and local Floras, on the
strength of which botanists abroad have finally attributed a geo-
graphical range to some of these species extending throughout the
northern hemisphere.

Among these Gcntiance is Gunner's G. serrata, which by Gray
and subsequent authors is unanimously regarded as an inhabitant
of North America, and its geographical distribution is by Gray
(1. c.) given as " Newfoundland, Canada and N. W. New York to
Saskatchewan and northward, and west to Colorado and W.

^ Froelich, Joseph Al. De Genliana dissertatio Eriangen, p. 109. 1796.
Gray, Asa. Synoptical Flora of North America, Vol. 2, p. 116. New

2
York. 1886

176 The Ottawa Naturalist. [November

Nevada, Siberia, Norway and Greenland." Two varieties,
grandis and Iwlopetala^ are said to occur in S. E. Arizona, Cali-
fornia and Oregon, and since Pallas' G. ciliata'^ is by Gray con-
sidered as identical with G. serrata, the species should occur also
in the mountains of Caucasus.

When high northern or arctic plants are found farther south,
they are as a rule confined to very high mountains and above the
timber-line, but if the plant described by Gray were the true G.
serrata it would be equally abundant much farther south and at
low elevations, in for instance, Canada and the United States.
It was not, however, this incredible geographical distribution
alone that made the writer suspicious in regard to the identity of
the American so-called G. serrnta with that of Europe, but also
the fact that our material, which we some years ago collected in
the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, differed so very much from our
European specimens. The difference appeared to us so striking
that the que>tion of considering the Rocky Mountain plant as a
meie geographical variety was at once excluded. This view be-
came especially strengthened when we learned from our friend,
Professor Wille in Christiania, that none of our specimens could in
any way be considered as belonging to the species '■'■serrata " as
this occurs in northern and arctic Norway. By studying the
several specimens of the true G. serrata, which Professor Wille
kindly sent to the writer, we felt convinced that the diagnosis in
the Synoptical Flora was based on specimens from America of
some allied species without being compared with the European
plant. In order, however, to make our investigation as careful as
possible, the writer applied to the Geological Survey Department
at Ottawa for the loan of the entire collection of this group, as
represented in the British provinces, which was courteously
granted through the kindness of Mr. James M. Macoun. Being
unable to find any trace of G. serrata in this comprehensive collec-
tion we felt obliged to consult, also, the herbarium of Gray and
of the United States' National Museum, of which the complete
material of the American G. serrata was kindly placed at our
disposal.

3 Pallas, Peter Simon, Flora Rossica. St. Petersburg, 1784. Vol. i,
p. 101, plate 92, fig, 2,

iQoi] Holm — Canadian Species of Gentiana. 177

The specimens identified by Gray were of special importance,
and we might state at once that none of these represented the true
G. serrata, nor was the plant to be found in the collection of the
United States' National Museum. How it happened that Grav
could make such a mistake is not difficult to explain, since the
most exhaustive diagnosis of G. serrata is not only published in
the Scandinavian language, but, moreover, it is not very complete.
The original description in Latin by Gunner is so short that it
might well apply to the American plants of this group. By com-
paring the structure of the flower and especially the stamens and
the nectariferous glands, besides the leaves, it is not difficult to
find important differences between the European and American
plant, but these organs should not be studied from dried material
alone, and especially not from specimens that are pasted to the
sheets. The attempt to identify our Getiitana from Colorado has,
thus, resulted in an investigation of these various collections, and
we have reached the conclusion that G. serrata is not represented
in any of these. Inasmuch as most of the material examined was
from the British provinces, we have thought that Canadian
botanists might care to leurn what G. serrata is, and what it is
not.

In considering the literature upon this subject, there are not
a few works to be consulted, those of Wahlenberg*, Fries'"',
Blytt" and Hartman" being the most important as concerns
G. serrata.

The monographs by Froelich (1. c), Bunge" and Grisebach"

* Wahleiiberg, G. Flora Suceica. Vol. i, p. 153. Upsala. 1824.

' Fries, Elias. Summa vegfetabilium Scandinavise, Sectio I, p. 190.
Upsala. 1846.

« Blylt, M. N. Norges Flora, Vol. i, p. 712. Christiania. 1861.
" Hartman, C. J. Handbok i Skandinaviens Flora, p. :;7. Stockholm.
1870.

* Bung-e, A. Conspectus generis Gentianse, imprimis specierum Rossi-
carum.

Nouveaux mem. soc. imp. natur. de Moscoii, \'ol. 1, p. 225. Moscou.
1829.

" Grisebach, A. H. R, Genera et species Gentianearum, p. 256. Stutt-
gart. 1839.

178 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Noverrber

are of special interest in reg"ard to the supposed synonyms, and
Pallas' work (1. c.) gives an excellent description and figure of his
G. ciliafa, which is known now as G. barbata Frcel. A very com-
prehensive treatise of the various sections of Gentiana is presented
by N. Kuznezow in Eng-ler and Prantl's Natuerliche Pflanzen-
familien. But as we have stated above, the diagnosis of G. serratu
Gunn, does not seem to have been fully appreciated, and more-
over there are some salient points in its floral structure which
have not been mentioned by Scandinavian authors. The diagnosis
may be written as follows :

Gentiana serrata, Gunn.

Annual or biennial, glabrous ; stem erect, quadrangular, 5 to
16 cm. high, branched from the base: leaves mostly crowded near
the root, obovate-lanceolate or the upper linear-lanceolate, acute :
peduncles long and quite stout, i -flowered : calyx about 2 cm.
long, unequally cleft to near the middle, 4-lobed, the longer lobes
lanceolate, the shorter ovate, all acuminate with membranaceous
margins, but none carinate : corolla deep blue, 3 to 4 cm. long,
4-lobed, cleft to about ^3 of its length, the lobes nearly erect,
oblong, erosely denticulate across the obtuse summit, mostly
without lateral fringes and destitute of basal nectariferous glands*:
stamens 4 with slender filaments : ovary fusiform, stipitate with
an almost sessile 2-lobed stigma : mature capsule longer than the
corolla: seeds scabrous from short papilla.

Said to bloom in July or August, and has been collected on
the sea-shore of Norway from 66° 10' to 70° 50' N. lat., and on
the west coast of Greenland at 61^ N. lat., where Vahl first col-
lected it. The plant is also said to be frequent in the northern
parts of Iceland, but we have seen no specimens from there, and
are, therefore, not certain whether the Icelandic plant is identical
with the Norwegian, the former having been described by Rott-
boell as G. detonsa. ^ "

* Hartman (1. c.) describes the flower as tetramerous or, but seldom,
pentamerous. None of the Scandinavian authors mention nectariferous
g-lands in this species, and they were totally absent in our material from Nor-
way and Greenland.

10 Acta Acad. Hafn., Vol. 10, p. 435. (Not seen.)

igoi] Holm — Canadian Species of Gentiana. 179

If we compare now the Canadian allies of G. serrata, formerly
considered as representing- this species, we mig-ht point out at
once some of the most conspicuous characters possessed by these :
tb£ frequently carinate and scabrous calyx, the very veiny and
fring-ed corolla-lobes, the broadly winged stamens, the constant
presence of nectariferous glands at the base of the corolla, the
more or less conspicuous style, the roundish stigma and the
strongly papillose seeds. These characters appear to be constant
and taken together with some habitual differences warrant the
segregation of the followmg species :

, Gentiana Macounii, Holm,

(Plate XI, Fig-s. i and 2.)

Annual or sometimes biennial, glabrous excepting the calyx :
stem strict, quadrangular, 5 to 30 cm. hig-h, branched from the
base : lowest leaves spathulate or oblong lanceolate, the upper
linear-lanceolate, acute : peduncles long- and stout, 1 -flowered :
calyx (fig. A) purplish-green, unequally cleft to near the middle,
4-iobed, the longer lobes lanceolate, the shorter ovate with broad
membranaceous margins, all acuminate and carinate, scaberulous
with minute short papilla, especially along the keels ; corolla
(fig. B) deep bluish, i}4 to t, cm. long, cleft to about I3 of its
length, 4-lobed, the lobes very veiny, slightly spreading, broad and
fringed along the sides, but merely denticulate across the summit :
nectariferous glands 4 at the base of the corolla-lobes : stamens 4
with broadly winged filaments, these ciliate in the middle : anthers
at first introrse : pistil (fig. C) fusiform, stipitate with short but
distinct style ; stigma roundish : mature capsule shorter than the
corolla : seeds rough with numerous long papillae.

The specimens examined are from Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan ;
Bow River at Blackfoot Crossing, Lees Creek, Waterton Lake
and Banff, Alberta (Macoun), and Red Deer, Alberta {//. H. Gaetz).
Habitat g^iven as : Prairies, gravelly soil and margins of marshes.
Flowers from July to September.

Gentiana procera, Holm.
(Plate XII, Figs. 3, 4 and 5.)
Annual, glabrous except the calyx ; stem erect, angled, 25 to
about 50 cm. hig^h, branched above ; lowest leaves spathulate or

i8o The Ottawa Naturalist. [Noveml-er

oblong'-lanceolate, obtuse, the upper Hr>ear-lanceolate, acute :
branches 1-3 flowered with 2 or 3 pair of leaves : calyx (fig-. G)
i/^ to 3 cm. long-, unequally cleft to the middle or a little above,
4-lobed, the longer lobes linear-lanceolate, the shorter much
broader with membranaceous margins, all acuminate and carinate,
scabrous : corolla (fig. H) deep blue, 2 to 5 cm. long, 4-lobed, the
lobes very veiny, roundish with many long fringes along the sides
and dentate across the summit : nectariferous glands as in G.
Macounii: stamens 4, the filaments naked otherwise as in the
preceding species : ovary (fig. I) shortly stipitate with short
style and a roundish, somewhat lobed stigma : mature capsule
much shorter than the corolla : seeds with long papiflai.

Collected near Sarnia, Lambton County, Ontario, by C. K.
Dodge, and in a swampy place at Stony Mountain in Manitoba,
with flowers from August to September.

Several specimens from United States are preserved in the
Gray herbarium of Harvard University from the following stations:
Goat island and Strawberry island, Niagara Falls ; shore of Lake
Superior ; Charlevoix in Michigan.

Gentiana nesophila, Holm.

(Plate XIII, Fig. 6.)

Annual, glabrous : stem erect, angled, 6 to 9 cm. high, much
branched from near the root : leaves glaucous, densely crowded
and forming a rosette, roundish or obovate tapering into the peti-
oles, the cauline spathulate or lanceolate, obtuse : peduncles many
to 12, i-flowered, with 2 or 3 pair of leaves: calyx (fig. K)
glaucous and wholly glabrous, about i j^ cm. long, unequally
cleft to near the middle, 4-lobed, the longer lobes narrow and
keeled, the shorter much broader with membranaceous margins,
but not carinate : corolla (fig. L) pale bluish in dried specimens,
2 to 23^ cm. long, 4-lobed, the lobes roundish with a very few
lateral teeth, but no fringes, erosely denticulate across the summit,
nectariferous glands 4 : stamens 4, with winged filaments : ovary
(fig. M) shortly stipitate, the style distinct with a roundish stigma:
mature capsule shorter than the corolla : seeds with short, obtuse
papillae.

9

^\

igoi] Holm — Canadian Species of Gentiana. i8i

Collected by Prof. John Macoun in low, moist ground near
Salt Lake, Anticosti Island, Quebec ; with flowers in August, 1883.
The only known locality for this species.

These are the species which have been collected in Canada,

and which were formerly supposed to represent Gunner's G. serrata.

They are all very different from the plant we collected in the Rocky

Mountains of Colorado, and of which we have, also, received

some specimens from Wyoming through the kindness of Professor

A. Nelson, who someiyears ago described it as G. elegans. It is

more than probable that this species occurs, also, in the British

provinces, thus we take the opportunity of presenting a diagnosis

and an illustration of this excellent species in connection with the

Canadian.

Gentiana elegans A. Nels. ^ ^

(Plate XIV, Fig-s. 7 and 8.)

Annual, glabrous excepting the calyx, very robust : stem

erect, angled, 20 to 40 cm. in height, branched from near the

base : leaves forming a rosette, broadly spathulate, the upper

lanceolate, obtuse : peduncles often numerous, until 20, erect,

i-flowered : calyx pale green with purple spots, about 3 cm. long,

unequally cleft to the middle or below, the longer lobes narrower

than the others, all with membranaceous margins and very sharp

and prominent keels, scabrous only along the keels : corolla (figs.

N and O) bluish to deep purplish, until 5 cm. in length, 4-lobed,

the lobes very broad and veiny, erose across the summit, fringed

along the sides : nectariferous glands 4 : stamens 4, the filaments

broadly winged, the anthers as in the preceding species at first

introrse (fig. O), but later on extrorse (fig. N) : ovary (fig. P)

stipitate, the style distinct, but short, stigma (fig. Q) roundish and

4-lobed: mature capsule shorter than the corolla: seeds with

short, obtuse papilla;.

Collected in Wyoming at 9 — io,ooo feet elevation and in

Middle Colorado near Long's peak at 8,600 feet, where it grew

abundantly in meadows in the Aspen Zone, with flowers in August.

It has, furthermore, been collected in Southern Colorado near

Pagosa peak at 11,000 feet.

^^ Nelson Aven. New plants from Wyoming-. (Bull. Torrey Bot. Club.
Vol. 25, p, 276. 1898.)

I

182 The Ottawa Naturalist. [November

Var. BREVICALYCINA Wettsteiii (/>; litteris).

Differs from the type by its much shorter calyx and by the
very deep purple colour of the corolla, the lobes ot which are den-
ticulate, but destitute of fringes.

Collected in a swamp on Mt. Massive near Leadville, Col-
orado, at an elevation of 11,000 feet, near timber-line.

Among the other North American species, which by Gray
were referred to G. serrata Gunn., are the two varieties : gratidis
and holopctala, none of which, however, are referable to this or
any of the other species that occur in this country. They represent
several vegetative and floral characters by which they appear to
be distinct from all the others, and may consequently be consid-
ered as independent species ; G. holopetala (Gray) and G. grandis
(Gray).

It would, thus, appear as if G. serrata Gunn. has not, so far,
been collected in North America, judging from the collections,
which have been examined, but we do not think it improbable that
it may be found on this continent, since it occurs on the west-coast
of Greenland ; it should be looked for on the north Atlantic coast
in the immediate vicinity of the sea-shore and north of the arctic
circle.

The American species, which we have described in the preced-
ing pages, represent members of the section Crossopetalce Frcel.,
to which G. serrata Gunn. belongs, but they exhibit a marked
difference from this by the carinate calyx-lobes, the presence of
nectaries and by the winged stamens ; their habit is, also, some-
what different, if we consider G. proccra and G. nesophila. Small,
one-flowered specimens have been found of all these species, but
such individuals do not deserve rank as even varieties. Their
small size, lesser developed foliage and the single flower may
depend on their development from poor seeds, on their occurrence
in drier soil or, finally, on the fact that they are developed as root-
shoots. Such root-shoots are not uncommon in G. holopetala and
have, furthermore, been recorded as characteristic of the European
G. ciliata L. in accordance with Irmisch.

igoi] Holm — Canadian Spicies of Gentiana. 183

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
Plate XL

Fig. 1. — Gentiana Macounii, natural size.

Figf. 2. —Same, a small specimen, natural size.

Figf. A. — Calyx of same, laid open.

Fig. B. — Part of the corolla of same, laid open and showing the ciliate

stamens and 2 nectaries at the base of the corolla-lobes.
Fig. C. — Pistil of same.

Fig. D. — Calyx of G. serrata Gunn., laid open.

Fig. E. — Part of the corolla of same, showing the slender filaments.
Fig. F. — Pistil of same.

Plate XIL

Fig. 3. — Gentiana procera, showing the habit, much reduced in size.

Fig. 4. — Same, the base of the stem and the roots, natural size.

Fig. 5. — Same, the flower, natural size. *

Fig. G. —Calyx of same, laid open.

Fig. H. — Part of the corolla of same.

Fig. L- -Pistil of same.
Plate Xin.

Fig. 6. — Gentiana nesophila, natural size.

Fig. K. — Calyx of same, laid open.

Fig. L. — Part of the corolla of same.

Fig. M, — Pistil of same.

Plate XIV.

Fig. 7. — Gentiana elegans, the base of the stem with leaves and roots,

natural size.
Fig. 8. — ^Flowcr of same, natural size.
Fig. N. — Part of the corolla of same.

Fig. O. — Part of the corolla of same, taken from a bud.
Fig. P. — Pistil of same.
Fig. Q. — Style and stigma of same.

1 84 The Ottawa Naturalist [November

AN AFRICAN DIPNOID FISH. -
( Protopteius minectens. )
By Andrew Halkett.

In an issue of the Fishing Gazette^ a paragraph appeared
under the title, " Digging for Fish," of which the following is the
substance :

" The natives of Kottiar, in Africa, are in the habit of digging- every year,
in the summer, the dry banks of the \'ergel River for fish, which they dig out
by hundreds, just as they would potatoes. The mud lumps are broken open,
and the fish, perhaps eight or ten inches long, will always be found alive, and
often frisky, as if just removed from its supposedly native element — the water.
In the dry beds of several African rivers a similar practice is often pursued.
A kind of mud fish buries itself while the bottom is still moist, and remains
there all the summer, waking up when the rains begin again."

Preceding this paragraph were words to the effect that the
above was " a new fish story," a bait, in fact, " to lure the un-
wary summer boarder to the swamps and sandhills of Suffolk
County." But knowing better, I wrote to the editor of the
Gazette corroborating the fact of the existence, during the dry
season, of living fishes encased in capsules of mud awaiting the
return of the rainy season when the pools and rivers are refilled
with water. He published my letter- under the title, "The Dark
Continent Fish," and the following quotation in full is its import :

" In regard to the ' new fish' 'credited to the Dark Continent' which ap-
peared in your issue of January 7, under the title of ' Digging for Fish,'
permit me the following space in your columns concerning a very remarkable
group of fishes.

" These are the Dipnoids, distinguished from others by the possession of
a rudimentarv lung in addition to the ordinary gills. This lung is simply a
modification of the air-bladder. The group contains four' existing species,
and several extinct ones. The names of the existing species are these :

" Lepidosircn paradoxa, a very rare fish of the River Amazon.*

1 The Fishing Gazette [203 Broadway, N. Y.] Saturday, Jan. 7, 1899.

2 Ibid, Saturday, Feb. 4, 1899, p. 71.

■' During my visit in Great Britain I learned of a fifth (a recently dis-
covered) Dipnoid, but am not yet in possession of any particulars about it.

* "■Lepidosircn has recently been found in abundance in swampy localities
of the Chaco, Paraquay." Guide to the Galleries of Reptiles and Fishes,
British Museum, 1898.

igoij Halkett— African Dipnoid Fish. 185

" Ceratodns miolepis and C. forsteri, from the rivers of Queensland,
Australia.

" Protopteriis aniiecteiis, from the rivers of tropical Africa.

" The species alluded to in your columns is the last mentioned, Protop-
teriis annectens, of tropical Africa. Thisfish inhabits the rivers of that continent,
and while it has sufficient water there is nothing extraordinary concerning- its
function of respiration, as it breathes just like other fishes, by gills; but during
the dry season it encases itself in capsules of mud and mucus, and then
breathes through its lung. While tlius encased it can be transported alive to
great distances, and when replaced in water the gills again assume their
normal function.

'The Dipnoids are a sub-order of the Ganoids, to which the sturgeons
and garpikes belong. I have seen sturgeons bre'ithing atmospheric air by
putting their snouts out of the water, and on examining a specimen of the
garpike found an approach to a rudimentary lung, the air-bladder being
cellular, thus revealing even in these North American fishes certain dipnoid
characteristics.

" Petrified remains of other genera of Dipnoids are found in Devonian
formations."'

Since the above was published I have been fortunate enough
to see several living" specimens of Dipnoids, during my visit some
time ago to Great Britain. Two of Ceratodus in one of the aquaria
of the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London ; and one of
Protoptenis annectens in the aquarium of the Liverpool Public
Museum, which had been successfully transported from Africa in
its mud-capsule. Furthermore, Dr. P'orbes of the latter institution
very kindly gave me a specimen of Protopterus also encased in its
capsule, and which I brought with me across the Atlantic ; with
the intention of dissolving it, and liberating the fish on my arrival
in Ottawa. So of late I have had additional incentives for prose-
cuting my studies of the Dipnoids.

The group receives its name from the double character of the
respiratory organisation : these remarkable fishes breathing not
only under water by gills, but at times, as has been stated in the
letter to the Gazette, when the waters dry up, atmospheric air by
rudimentary lungs. They belong to the Ganoid group of fishes,
and are referable to three existing genera : Ceratodus, Lepidosiren,
and Protopterus ; and to a few extinct ones. The existing species
differ exceedingly from other Ganoids in the character of the
paired fins ; there being in the pectorals and ventrals an axial skel"

i86 The Ottawa Naturalist. [November

eton, which is most fully developed in Ceraiodus; these fins in
Lepidostren and Protopterus being- filamentous. The tail, as in
Chimajras, is diphycercal ; but in at least one extinct species :
Diptettis heliodus the tail was heterocercal. The scales are cycloid,
and in the several species they differ much in size. In general
shape and character Protopterus approaches more closely to Lepi-
dosiren than either do to Ceratodus. The scales in the two former
genera are small, whilst those of the latter are very large. Again
in the two former the vertical fin begins before the middle of the
fish, and, as has been stated, the paired fins are converted into
long filamentous organs ; whilst in the latter the vertical fin begins
behind the ventrals, which are placed of course as they are in all
Ganoids abdominally, and the paired fins ^re proportionately
shorter and paddle shaped.

Unfortunately the specimen of Protopterus annectens, and
another for Prof. Ramsay Wright of Toronto University, which I
brought from Liverpool did not survive ; and on dissolving the
capsule the former had all the appearance of having been dead tor
some time. However, after placing the dead fish for a short time
in spirits diluted with water, I succeeded in sufficiently softening
out the specimen so as to enable me to make an examination of
its structure.

This species is elongated and compressed in shape. The
gill-cleft and the eye are small. The filamentous pectorals and
ventrals are fringed down the sides — the fringes according in plan
with the rays of the verticle fin : which fin bears a multitude of
close fitting rays throughout its length. Adjacent to the gill-cleft
and immediately above the pectorals, there are branchial appen-
dages. The scales, being small, are numerous, and embedded in
the skin. Each jaw has a large tooth, a molar, with cusps.

The following recorded characters of structure, in this speci-
men were more or less obscure, owing to its shriveled condition.
The lateral line runs nearly straight from the gill-cleft to the caudal
portion of the vertical fin. There are two pairs of nostrils. The
lung agrees with that oi Lepidosiren in being "divided into lateral
halves," and differs in that respect from Ceratodus in which genus
the lung is single.

iQoi] Halkett — African Dipnoid Fish. 187

Previous to dissolving the capsule of mud, that object pre-
sented a hard and baked appearance, and had seemingly been
firmly attached to the dried up bed of the river or pool in which
the fish had previously carried on its ^ill-breathing function; and
had been broken off by the collector. In this capsule the fish had
coiled itself up : a circular opening communicating between its
interior and the outer atmosphere, enabling the dipnoid to breathe.
The opening was rounded at the entrance, and led inwards by a
zig-zag channel. On dissolving the mud the capsule was found
to be intermixed with vegetable fibres, which tended to support
the capsule.

Protopterus annectcns is said to attain a length of six feet.

Bird Migration. -A bird migration of exceptional magnitude
was noticed by many people during the night of October 15th.
Several smallpox guardians who were questioned by the writer
informed him that birds had passed south in great numbers for
several nights previous to the 15th, but that on that night there
seemed to be millions of them The writer's observation covered
from about ten o'clock until nearly daylight, and during the whole
of that time an unbroken stream of birds passed over the city at a
very low altitude. Two distinct kinds of bird-note could be distin-
guished, one the chippering of small birds, the other the calls of
plover, snipe, etc. It was this last sound which attracted general
attention, but the other was just as distinct, and could be easily
separated from the shorter call of the larger birds. All were
probably waders. Doctor Oscar Klotz, who carefully noted the
course of the birds, says that it was about southeast. The night
was very cloudy and on that account the birds could fly at a low

altitude without being seen.

J. M. M.

'!->

i88 The Ottawa Naturalist. [November

BRUE OR SOAP BERRV^.

My attention has been directed to an article which recently
appeared in one of the eastern papers headed " Where they eat
soapsuds." Evidently the writer of the article in question was not
well informed and it always seems to me a pity that people should
publish any information of doubtful authenticity which if properly
enquired into might really prove at least interesting if not of
scientific importance.

The berry from which the so-called soapsuds are made is that
of a shrub, botanically known as Shepherdia Canadensis, called by
the French Canadians " Brue " and in the Chinook jargon "Soap
Oolalie," i.e. Soap Berry, and from which latter name I presume
the writer of the article has arrived at " Sapoliii," a term quite
unknown in this province. I am not aware that it is used by the
natives on festive occasions but it is used as a common article of
food. It has really a very pleasant flavour and is relished by
almost everyone when properly prepared. The mode of prepara-
tion is shortly as follows.' The berries, if fresh, are strained
through a cloth so as to separate the seeds from the juice and if
dried they are first soaked and then strained. The juice is placed
in a bowl, earthenware by preference, and sweetened with sugar,
it is then beaten up either with a bunch oi twigs or an egg-beater
until it attains the consistency of ice-cream of a beautiful light
pink colour, when it is fit for use

From the fact that all utensils used in the preparation must
be scrupulously clean and free from any taint of grease to ensure
success, it is obvious that the remark that it is prepared " in a not
over clean manner " is to say the least not strictly according to

fact.

The brue berry is about the size of a red currant and gener-
ally of about che same colour, but many are of an orange colour.
It has the peculiarity of being sweet, acid, bitter and aromatic all
at the same time. To some people it is disagreeable but many
acquire a liking for it both in its natural and prepared state.

Before concluding let me set another fairy tale at rest, viz, the
use of a fish for light. I have no doubt the fish alluded to is the
C>olahan or Oolachan which is about the size of a smelt, very fat and
when dry it will burn for a time, but that it was ever used for a light

I

iqoi] Reviews. 189

by the natives is purely a Iraveller's tale. In any case the fish is
only obtained in some of the coast rivers, and therefore to the
majority of interior indians it is unknown. Let me assure the
readers of this short article that the time-honoured custom of
a fire of wood on the floors of their abodes was the usual way of
obtaining- light and that now most of them use coal-oil lamps.

J. R. Anderson.
Victoria, B. C.

October loth, 1901.

Note. — Mr. Anderson's statement regarding the use of the
candle-fish may be true enough to-day when the labour of the
west coast indians is utilized by the whites, and they are able to
indulge in such luxuries as parafin candles and coal-oil lamps, but
there can be no doubt that formerly the Oolachan was frequently
used by these indians for lighting purposes. Writing in 1866 of
this fish Lord says, in " The Naturalist in British Columbia," :
"It is next to impossible to broil or fry them, for they melt com-
pletely into oil. Some idea of their marvellous fatness may be
gleaned from the fact that the natives use them as lamps for light-
ing their lodges. The fish, when dried, has a piece of rush-pith or
a strip from the inner bark of the cypress-tree drawn through it,
a long, round needle made of hardwood being used tor the pur-
pose; it is then lighted and burns steadily until consumed. I have
read comfortably by its light ; the candlestick, literally a stick for
the candle, consists of wood split at one end, with the fish inserted
in the cleft."

Editor.

NOTE ON SOME ERRATA IN THE REVIEW OF DR.
WHITEAVES' LIST OF EASTERN CANADIAN
INVERTEBRATES.
A number of errors, some very apparent others less so, ap-
peared in the review of Dr. Whiteaves' Catalogue on pp. 165-172
of the October number of The Ottawa Naturalist. Circum-
stances, which it is not necessary to detail, necessitated a very
urried reading of the first proof, and absence from Ottawa pre-
vented a careful and thorough correction of the final proof, hence

190 The Ottawa Naturalist. [November

some errors were no doubt unavoidable, though others it is more
difficult to account for, especially such an obvious misprint as
" Dr. J. W. Whiteaves," instead of the correct and familiar "Dr.
J. F. Whiteaves," in the heading of the review. "Marine Worms"
in large type on p, 167 requires elision, as also the figures 428,
opposite the word " Brachiopoda." Canadian waters are rich in
Invertebrates, but they would be a veritable zoological Eldorado
if they harboured 428 species of Brachiopods. The actual number
of Biachiopod species is 3, and the Polyzoa 1 15, the figures 3 and
115 being one line below their proper place. The 9th line, on
page 170, states exactly the reverse of the fact and the sentence
should end : " the Dog-whelk {Purpura lapillus, L.) arouses no
such question." It is difficult to account for the statement in lines
20, 21, and 22, that Litorina rudis is recorded only for our more
northern coast extending into Hudson Bay, unless it is due to the
circumstance that the review was based on notes, made while
reading Dr. Whiteaves' Catalogue, and the author's statement
was overlooked that the species has a widespread abundance as
well as a northern distribution. Happily these errata do not affect
the reviewer's attempt to express the genuine feeling of apprecia-
tion with which the publication of the Catalogue will be regarded
in scientific circles at home and abroad.

Readers will do well, however, to make note of the following
errors in the review : —

p. 165, line 5— "J. F. Whiteaves, LL.D.," &c., not "J. W. Whiteaves."
p. 167, line 28 — " Marine Worms" to be elided.
„ 33-" 3 "not "428."
„ 34-" 115" not '3."
,, ,. 35— " "5" to be elided.

.> i> 43 — After Arachnida insert '^{Pyc?iogo?iida).''
p. 170 ,, 10 — " arouses such," to read " arouses no such."
,, ,, 12 — '■'■ Uturea'^ not '■'■ literea."

,, ,,22 and 21, to be elided and to read " not only for our more

northern coast extending- into Hudson Bay: but is abundant almost every-
where o\'\ rocks, sea-weeds, &c."

p. 171, line 15 — '■'■ spitsbergensis" not '' spetsbergensis."
,, ,, 19 — '■^ Canadensis" not '^^ Ccxiiadensis."

The Reviewer.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. PL. Xr

Gentiana Macounii Holm.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. Pl. XII

<J^^Sur-^^^^r&.^o6^,

Gentiana procera Holm.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. Pl. XIII

c:"?9^«^*«%^

Gentiana nesophila Holm.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV. Pl. XIV

<:'rfA!i-iViir&^ ti^

Gentiana elegants Nelson.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, DECEMBER, 1901. No. 9.

CERTAIN CANADIAN VIOLETS.

By Edw. L. Greene.

In a recent issue of Pittonia* I published a number of Cana-
dian violets of that caulescent group to which the following belong,
and the paragraphs here presented would have found their places
in that paper, but that I was unable to find the manuscript, which,
at that time, had been written more than a year and a half, and
had become misplaced, as it then seemed quite hopelessly.
Lately, quite unsought, it has come to light, and I hasten to offer
it for the pages of The Ottawa Naturalist.

V. leucopetala. Perennial, caulescent, leafy, the many
stems ascending, 3 to 5 inches high ; herbaee wholly glabrous :
leaves cordate-reniform and ovate-cordate, ^ to ^ inch long,
crenate ; stipules lacerate-toothed, or the uppermost ciliolate and
entire : corolla pure white without even a coloured venation ; odd
petal as long as the others, somewhat broader, obtuse or retuse
or almost obcordate, spur nearly straight, obtuse, compressed
[laterally, lateral petals notably differentiated into blade and claw,
densely bearded, the hairs narrowed upwards rather than clavel-
late, and somewhat tangled : style papillose-hairy all around under
[the stigma.

The above description is drawn in part from fresh specimens
[sent me by Mr. J. M. Macoun from near Ottawa, in May, 1899,
[and partly from specimens grown in my garden at Brookland, D.C.,
a year later. The species has been referred to V. Miihleyihergii
(now called F. Lahradoricd) as an albino variation ; and, albino
states of that may well occur, but this is something quite different.
Mr. Macoun himself first intimated this, assuring me that the

*Pittonia, Vol. IV, p. 285 et seq.

192 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

plant has its own habitat, quite apart from that of the other, and
flowers two weeks earlier.

While the above, and two other closely allied species, all sent
from Ottawa by Mr. Macoun in 1899, weie flowering- in my gar-
den in May, 1900, I took the following notes as to their respective
floral structures; and those notes may well bp given here.

V. Labradorica, Schrank. In this the flowers are distinctly
smaller than in V. Icucopetala. Only two of the petals are bearded,
and these with a small tuft of straight slender somewhat flattened
hairs ; the odd petal is here not only smaller than the others but
also acutish rather than truncate or retuse ; the style is papillose
on the back and sides only.

V. subvestita, Greene. Distinguished from both the fore-
going by its bractlets, these being linear, appendaged at base
(laterally) with 2 or 3 gland-tipped awn-like processes, and notably
auriculate at the very base, the whole bractlet only its own length
below the flower : sepals faintly i-nerved, strongly auricled, the
auricles dentate : petals deep-violet, three ot them bearded with
slightly flattened hairs : style short, sparsely muriculate all
around.

Doubtless these notes may serve as a hint to others to
examine carefully in fresh specimens the particulars of floral
structure in other violets of this group. Only thus may we hope
to ultimately establish firmly the limits of the species.

Washington, D.C., Nov. ist, 1901.

Note. — The three species referred to above maybe found at
Ottawa, within half a mile of one another. V. Muhlenbergii is
common everywhere about Ottawa, but by entering Rockliffe Park
at Governor's Bay it will be found near the Electric Railway line,
and by then walking to the river bank just east of Governor's Bay
V. Labradorica will be found in abundance. V. leucopefala grows
along the road connecting Buena Vista road with the eastern
approach to St. Patrick's bridge.

J. M. M.

igoi] Odell — Alligator and Turtles as Pets. 193

ALLIGATOR AND TURTLES AS PETS.
By W. S. Odell, Ottawa, Ont.

In November of last year a small alligator [Alligator Mississip-
piensis) and three turtles were placed tog-ether in an aquarium.
Only a few features descriptive of the alligator need to be men-
tioned. The skin is now used for so many purposes that by this
means it has become known.

This reptile is carnivorous, head broad, flattened and having
teeth of the lower jaw fitting into pits in the upper. The bright
yellow bands so marked in the young, lose their color to a large
extent in the adult. Tail about half the entire length of animal,
ard laterally compressed, terminating in a blunt point.

Approaching cold weather had a marked effect in his loss of
appetite and vigor. During daytime the aquarium was placed in
sunlight, at night on hot water coils in the room, with a glass
cover, to retain heat and prevent escape. Remarking to a friend
his loss of appetite, the suggestion was jokingly made : "Why
not try cod liver oil ? " The alligator's mouth was forced open
and a few drops poured in. No bad results following, this novel
article of diet, varied at times with fluid beef, was continued
twice per w^eek through the winter. It is questionable whether
any benefit resulted from this treatment.

Early in May, he for the first time, snapped at a piece of meat
which was being fed to the turtles. From this time onward all
kinds of meat, small toads, young tadpoles, newly hatched catfish,
etc., were fed him. Fish cut into small pieces was greatly
relished, but earthworms were preferred above all else. On re-
ceiving food it was carried into the water and was there eaten,
considerable motion being made in swallowing, the throat appear-
ing too small to admit of its passage. While feeding, his usual
torpid appearance underwent a change. The pupils of his eyes,
at other times contracted to a narrow slit, now become greatly
dilated ; and with open mouth and tail gracefully curved upward
his appearance was rather formidable. A hissing noise when
disturbed, and a sort of grunt in a high key, were the only sounds
he appeared capable of making.

194 '^"^ Ottawa Naturalist. [Deceml-er

At night he sleeps with the body hidden under the plants,
leaves, etc., of aquarium, the nostrils and part of head only being
visible ; but in day time he prefers to bask in sunlight on a small
raised landing. At this time a small common turtle, probably for
warmth, generally slept perched on his back.

Efforts in taming have not been very successful. One attempt
to bite was made.

Although considerable attention is required in changing water
frequently in warm weather, and watchfulness in keeping the
aquarium at all times covered to prevent escape, still the pleasure
derived from observing his habits, more than compensates for the
trouble taken.

A Japanese turtle and a Chinese turtle were companions to
the alligator. The Japanese was a fine specimen, kindly donated
by one of the curators of the New York Aquarium.

They would have hibernated, if given opportunity. Most of
their time was spent hidden under the leaves, weeds, etc., of the
aquarium. When called they only extended their necks, occasion-
ally taking a little meat, but on bright days, they came out to
enjoy the heat of the sun. When spring came they were lively and
became quite tame, taking flies from the hand as long as one had
the patience to catch them, but tearing off and rejecting the wings.
They were called Jap and John, the former being the livelier and
responding to a whistle or to his name when called.

Everything of a carnivorous character seemed to suit their
palates ; their food while in mouth was torn into pieces by the
claws. It was great amusement feeding them worms ; each
taking hold of an end, a tug-of-war would follow, lasting till the
worm was torn asunder. The best sport was when a turtle tried
to take a worm from the alligator ; if the worm were strong
enough to stand the strain the former would be towed round and
round the aquarium and handled very roughly.

Some Salamanders [Spelerpes bilineatus) were placed in the
aquarium, as com.panions, but inside of an hour the turtle had
bitten a large piece out of the tail of one : they had to be at once
removed. Fish were placed with them as companions, but the
turtles gave them no peace. Turtles are very courageous and

igoi] Moore — The Woodcock's Love Song. 195

will tackle everything- that comes in their way, and will eat every-
thing- they can hold. Sag'ittaria and lily leaves put in for shade
were relished for food, and Vv^ere supplied while available.

Our common turtle {Chrysemys picta) is, in many localities,
not rare. Its bright red markings along the margin of the shell
make it an attractive t)b)ect. It is hardy and easily kept. After
a short time it will become quite tame and be a source of instruc-
tion, and amusement as well. To any one wishing to start an
aquarium it will be a good specimen.

NOTES ON THE WOODCOCK'S LOVE SONG.

By Wm. H. Moore, Scotch Lake, N.B.

(Read before the Ornitholog-ical Section of the Entomological Society of

Ontario.
[Transcript from field note-book.]

May 17, 1898. — Woodcocks are about at nights now. They
beg^in their antics soon after sunset. On the ground the male
struts about the $ uttering a note sounding like zeet, and much
like the nighthawk's note but finer (not so harsh and loud). Then
with the whistling twitter takes flight, and in gradually widening-
circles mounts high in the air — to a height, I should say, of 200
yards. Near the last of this upward flight he begins his song —
which is a pleasant twitter, and more of a musical call than many
song birds have — which sounds like chip-t-chee chip-t chee tweep.
This is given forth several times, and towards the last the bird's
flight is undulating in narrower circles, when of a sudden the song
stops and the bird descends to its mate on the ground. Descend-
ing in nearly a straight line, at varying- ang-les to the earth, he
again begins the nighthawk call and so on. The ? evidently feeds
while the $ is on his honeymoons. The notes, as you say in the
O. N., are somewhat ventriloquil. I attributed this to the circling
of the bird, and assisted by the fact that one must have things
sort of convenient (such as light sky and distance) to see the bird.
When I was able to see the bird during flight the ventriloquil
eff^ect was not so much in evidence.

May, I, 1901 — Heard the woodcock singing this evening.
The day was cloudless, so I could see him plainly.

196 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

A SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION OF THK CONSERVATION

OF ENERGY.

By J. C. Sutherland, B.A. , Richmond, Que.

The other day when blowpiping- some silver nitrate on the
"charcoal splinter," I observed what seemed to be a good,
although simple, illustration of the law of the conservation of
energy. It is possible that the phenomenon has been observed
many times before, but I cannot recall any instance of the parti-
cular explanation which I believe to be the correct one having
been offered for it.

As possibly some readers may not be acquainted with the
reduction process which is carried on by means of a charcoal
splinter, it may be well to give a brief account of it before pro-
ceeding to the particular phenomenon and the offered explanation.

To prepare a charcoal splinter, the head of a common match
is broken off and the wood is then smeared for about an inch of
its length with ordinary washing soda melted in the flame of a
spirit lamp. The smeared end is then gently heated in the flame
for a few moments until a charred mass of wood and soda is ob-
tained. Upon this is placed carefully a small mass of the particu-
lar substance to be reduced, mixed with some fused soda. The
blowpipe is then directed on the flame, the mass being held in the
"reduction" part of it. In a few minutes separation of the
elements is obtained, and in the case of silver nitrate a beautiful
small sphere of metallic silver is left upon the splinter.

Buc in the first few seconds of the operation, the unsmeared
part of the match tends to burst into flame. C^nce, however, that
the reduction process is fully started, this does not occur. This
is the phenomenon. What is the explanation?

It is possible that in some instances, and then in part only, it
is due to the formation of combustible gases at the outset which
cease to be formed as the reduction proceeds. But I think the
more general explanation of the fact is to be found in the consider-
ation that during the first few seconds of the blowpiping, the only
work that is done by the flame is that of raising the temperature
of the mass and driving off" moisture — comparatively light work

[goi] Elliott — The King Eider.

197

compared to that which immediately follows. The moment the
real reduction begins, an enormous amount of work is being done.
In the smallest mass of silver nitrate treated before the blowpipe,
millions of atoms of silver are torn from the strong embrace of
millions of atoms of nitrogen and oxygen. May we not conclude
that in the first few seconds of the process, the small amount of
work done allows a surplus of heat to raise the uncharred part of
the match to combustion but that when the genuine work of reduc-
tion has begun all of the available heat is required to work at the
one point ? If this explanation is tenable we have here an inci-
dental, it simple, illustration of the correlation of the physical
forces.

THE KING EIDER IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

By Robert Elliott. Bryanston, Ont.

(Read before the Ornitholog-ical Section of the Entomological Society of

Ontario.)

The capture of the first specimen of Somater'ia spectahilis
known to have been taken in this county was effected under the
following circumstances : —

On the 24th November, 1900, my young friend Mr. Roger
Hedley, of Lobo, walking for his mail, being on game intent,
brought his gun along and visited Duncrieff mill-pond— a sheet
of water which covers about six acres, and is near his home. That
morning he saw one duck only, and shot it at a range of sixty
yards. He preserved it and lately very kindly presented it to me.

I find, after carefully consulting Ridgeway's Manual, that it is
a genuine specimen of the King Eider. It is a young bird, and as
the sex was not determined by dissection, I cannot pronounce on
the question, although probably a reference to a more detailed
work on our birds, such as that of Bainl, Brewer and Ridgeway,
would settle this point. Mr. Hedley further informs me that the
bird was in very thin condition and that strong and cold westerly
winds prevailed at the time.

198 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

NOTE ON THE OVIPOSITION OF THE MUD TURTLE.

By Mailes Cowley, Bristol, Que.

In the month of October, 1896, my hired man was ploug-hing-
near the Ottawa River in the Township of Clarendon, and about
nine feet above the level of the water he ploughed up a mud
turtle's nest, which contained about fifty eggs. They were about
eight inches under ground and covered with a solid grass sod,
there being no entrance to the nest except from the top, where
there was a hole about one inch and a quarter in diameter. The
field in which the nest was situated had not been cultivated for
more than forty-five years The nest was shaped like an inverted
soup-tureen, the hole being in the top of the dome, and how the
young turtles got out when hatched is not easy to guess. These
eggs were seen in the tall and not a thing was found in the shells
when the snow was going off in the month of April, the follow-
ing spring. Were they hatched by the early spring sun, or did
some animal eat them ?

One of my neighbors, Mr. John Telfer, a reliable man, who
has done much hunting and fishing, says that some j'ears ago he
came across a good sized turtle about six acres from the Ottawa
River at Clarendon Front, in the county of Pontiac, and as its
movements were peculiar he decided to watch it. He climbed a
leaning tree and from his position a few feet above the ground he
saw the turtle lift up her hinder part and drop an egg. Then with
one of her hind legs she took the egg and reaching far down in
the hole placed it in the nest. After about a minute the same pro-
cess was again gone through with, and so on until she had laid
about a dozen eggs. Mr. Telfer says that he is satisfied that a
turtle lays all its eggs at one time, not at intervals like a hen. He
affirms that they hollow out the nest first and then cover it over,
leaving a small hole in the top large enough to allow a hind leg
to enter it with an egg. Mr. Telfer also expressed his wonder at
the length to which a turtle could stretch her leg and the care she
displays in placing the eggs in the nest. Though he never saw a
young turtle come out of a nest his belief is that the mother
watches the nest, and when the young are hatched, either pulls the

igoi]

BouTELiER — Birds, Sable Island, N, S.

199

top off the nest or puts down her claws and Hfts the little ones
out. Mr. Telfer also says that he once dug a turtle up in the
spring in a cow-path that had been walked over daily by fifty head
of cattle for four or five months. All that could be seen of the
turtle was a claw sticking up out of the clay, and when he dug it
out it was still living.

The eggs of the turtle are richer and better flavoured than
those of a hen. Mr. McKillop, whom I know to be a reliable
man, tells me that he once killed a large " moss-back," and when
he had cut her open he took from her sixty eggs, which he boiled.
Most of them were eaten by a neighbor and himself and found to
be excellent.

AUTUMN NOTES ON BIRDS, SABLE ISLAND, N.S., 1901,

By Richard Boutelier.

The list of birds which follows, though not complete, will
give a pretty good idea of the bird migrants which visit Sable
Island in the autumn. We are not sure about the Knot, but the
bird we have so named was larger than the Jack Snipe and agrees
well with the illustration and description in the bird book we use.

Incidentally it may be mentioned that we have a tame black
duck here which we j-aised during the summer of 1900. It flies
all over the island but always comes home again. Once it was
away for two months, but when it flew home it came under the
window to be fed as usual. We have two other black ducks with
clipped wings, and attracted by them what looked like a pintail
nearly settled down in our yard a few weeks ago.

I. King-bird, one, Aug-. 3rd.

Crossbills, in flocks, Aug-, igth.

Various kinds of hawks, in numbers, Aug. 30th.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, in numbers, Sept. 2nd.

Flicker, one, Sept. 25th.

White-throated Sparrow^ in numbers, Sept. 26th.

Orchard Oriole, one, Sept. 28th.

8. Pine Warbler, in numbers, Sept. 28th.

9. American Pipit, in numbers, Sept. 28th.

10. Knots, (?) in numbers, Sept. 30th.

11. Horned or Shore Lark, one, Sept. 30th,

12. Hermit Thrush, one, Oct. ist.

2.
3-

4-

5-
6.

7-

200

The Ottawa Naturalist.

[December

13-
14.

15-
16.

17-

18.

19.
20.
21.
22.

23-
24.

25-
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31-
32.
33-
34-
35-
36.
37-
38.

39-
40
41.
42,
Sable

Blackbird, one, Oct. ist.

Slate-coloured Junco, two, Oct. 2nd.

House Sparrow, in flocks, Oct. 4th.

Yellow-headed Blackbird, one, Oct. 5th.

Heron, one, Oct. 5th.

Swallows, in numbers, Oct. 5th.

Snowflake, two, Oct. 5th.

Connecticut Warbler, one, (found dead), Oct. 6th.

King-fisher, one, Oct. 8th.

Robin, one, Oct. i6th.

Bluebill, seven, Oct. i8th.

Pipits, 1

Warblers, !- in numbers, Oct, 18th. Left the Island.

Sparrows, j

Semipalmated Sandpiper, in numbers, Oct. 22nd.

White-rumped Sandpiper, in numbers, Oct. 22nd.

Long-tailed Squaw, in numbers, Oct. 20th.

Ring-necked duck, five, Oct. 20th.

Golden-eye, three, Oct. 20th.

Vesper Sparrow, one, ^

Juncos, in numbers.

Golden-crowned Kinglets, in numbers,

Hermit Thrush, one.

King Bird, one,

Brown Creeper, one, Oct. 28th.
Snowflake, in numbers, Oct, 28th,
Kittiwake, in numbers, Oct. 28th,
White-winged Crossbill, one, Oct. 2Sth.
Lapland Longspur, one flock, Nov. 2nd.

Stormv Petrel, one, (found injured in the Island), Nov. 4th.
Island, N, S,,

Nov. loth, 1901.

Leavmg the Island.
Leaving the Island,

(

Oct, 22nd.

These all
came dur-
{ ingastrong
I N. W. gale
l^ (60 miles,)

THE GLAUCOUS GULL IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY,

During- the last week in January, 1901, a larg^e white gull
was seen on the Thames river, six or eig^ht miles west of London.
After staying- there for a few days it found a carcass on the farm
of Mr. Elson, a few miles from Byron on which it fed for two or
three days, when it was shot by Mr. Will Elson, on February ist,
who kindly let me have it, and it is now in my collection. It
proved to be a female g-laucous g-ull in the plumage of the second
year, white, uniformly speckled with light gray all over. Consid-
ering that there is no definite record of the herring gull in Middle-
sex, it is rather surprising that this should be the first of the larger
species of gulls to be obtained in the country.

W. E. Saunders,

igoi] The Ottawa Flora,

20I

THE OTTAWA FLORA.

In working up the flora of Ottawa the writer has been much
impressed with the narrow limits ascribed to some species, and the
few locaHties that have been even cursorily examined. The inten-
tion of this note is to encourage beginners and show how much is
yet to be done in this vicinity.

The herbaria of those who worked in past years show that
most of their work was done in the seventies. Mr. R. B. Whyte
did his work chiefly in 1875, 76, 77, 78 and 79. Dr. H. M. Ami
in 1879, Dr. James Fletcher chiefly in 1878 and 1879, though he
has been doing active botanical work ever since. My own work
and that of my son, J. M. Macoun, commenced in 1883 and has
been continued ever since. Mr. William Scott, Head Master of
Toronto Normal School, did a great deal of good work from 1891
up to the time he leit for Toronto. I'he above names are given
because the collections made by each of them may still be studied.
Each collector had apparently his own "beat."

Mr. R. B. Whyte, first in the field, did most of his collecting

on the east of the city, but the Gatineau river, Hull, Beechwood,

and the Bank street road on the Glebe property, were his chief

hunting grounds. Dr. Fletcher made his earliest collections in

old Stewarton and the vicinity of Billings' Bridge. Later the

writer collected in the Beaver Meadow beyond Hull, and the above

with Dow's Swamp, Rockliff'e Park and Beechwood are the only

localities which have been exhaustively examined by him around
the city.

Dr. Fletcher, in his Flora Ottaivaensis, intended to include a
radius of 30 miles from Ottawa, but outside of five miles from the
city scarcely anything has been done. The only points we have
specimens from are Eastman's Springs, Casselman, South Indian,
Carleton Place, Stittsville, Aylmer, Chelsea, King's Mountain,
Kirk's Ferry, Templeton and Buckingham.

Since the building of electric roads and the multiplication of
railways there is no difficulty now in getting about, and the writer
makes an earnest appeal to the members of the Ottawa Field-
Naturalists' Club to commence active work in all branches in
the spring, and he can assure them that in no branch is the
field exhausted.

John Macoun.

Nov, 30th, 190 1.

202 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DR. GEORGE MERCER DAWSON.*

By H. M. Ami, of the GeoIo§;ical Survey of Canada.

In a new country like Canada, pioneer scientific work must of
necessity be of a general rather than of a more specialized and
restricted type, and the numerous contributions to the scientific
lore of the Dominion trom the pen of Dr. George Dawson partake
essentially of the former type, though in not a few instances has that
eminent geologist and thinker left behind him a record of facts of
a particular and special nature which show clearly that he had a
mind capable of grasping the minutest details of a critical study.

His scientific activities extend over a period of some thirty-
two years, and during that time not a single year elapsed without
some contribution from his pen. His writings are chiefly geologi-
cal, but they also include important reports and papers on the
natural history of Canada. He devoted much of his leisure hours
in preparing succinct reports on the economic resources of the
Dominion, but first and foremost with regard to the mineral pro-
ducts of British Columbia and adjacent portions of the North West
Territories.

Dr. Dawson's contributions to forestry are well known and
supply a fund of useful and ready information whose value cannot
be overestimated. The climatic conditions which prevail over the
wide areas which he explored have been carefully tabulated and
described, and will serve as a permanent record of the greatest in-
terest and value. In the varied and abundant nature of his
researches, Dr. Dawson was ever looking to the future growth
and development of Canada and the Empire.

In preparing the accompanying list of Dr. Dawson's writings
the writer has made liberal use of the bibliographies published by
the Royal Society of England, the Royal Society of Canada, and
N. H. Darton's Index of Contributions to the Geology and
Palaeontology of North America, supplemented references from
his own card Catalogue.

* For Biographical sketch of Dr. Dawson, see Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. XV, No. 2, pp. 43 to 52, May, 1901.

iQoi] The late George M. Dawson — Ami. 203

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DR. GEORGE M. DAWSON.

1870.

On Foraminifera from the Gulf and River St. Lawrence. Canada
Naturalist, N.S. Vol. vii, No. 5. pp. 172-180, June 1870. Montreal. (Also
separately, pp. 1-8.) Also in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History,
8vo. 4th series, Vol. VII, pp. 83-90, February-, 187 1. London, Eng-.

1874-

The Lignite Formations of the West. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vii. No.
5, pp. 241-252, April. Montreal. (Also separately with the next.)

Note on the Occurrence of Foraminifera, Coccolilhs, etc., in the
Cretaceous Rocks of Manitoba. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vii, pp. 252-257,
April. Montreal. (Also separately, with the foregoing.)

Marine Champlain deposits on lands north of Lake Superior. American
Journal of Science, 3d series, p. 143 (1-4 p.).

The fluctuations of the American Lakes and the Development ot Sun
Spots. Nature, 4to. , pp. 504-506, April, 1874. London. Also in Canadian
Naturalist, Vol. VII, No. 6, pp. 310-317, November. Montreal.

Report on the Tertiary Lignite Formation in the Vicinity of the P'orty-
ninth Parallel. (British North American Boundary Commission.) 8vo. pp.
1-31. Montreal.

(Abstract, American Joicrnal 0/ Science, 3rd series. Vol. 8, pp. 142-143
I and 1-2 p. 1874.)

1875-

Report Oil the Geology and Resources of the Region in the Vicinit}- of the
Forty-ninth Parallel. British North American Boundary Commission.) 8vo.
pp. I-XI and 1-387. Dawson Bros., Montreal.

On some Canadian Species of Spongillae. Canadian Naturalist, \o\. VIII,
No. I, pp. 1-5, November. Montreal. (Also separately, same pagination,)

On the Superficial Geology of the Central Region of North America.
Quarterly Journal Geological Society, 8vo. pp. 603-623, November. London.
(Also separately, same pagination.)

1876.

Communication in J. A. Allen's Monograph, " The American Bisons,
living and extinct," 173-174, ^vith map on p. 173. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool.,
Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. Vol. 4, No. 10, 1976.

Notes on the Locust Invasion of 1874 in Manitoba and the North-West
Territories. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. viii. No. 3, pp. 119-134. Montreal.
(Also separately, pp. 1-16,)

Review of "Report on the Geol. & Resources, etc., Forty-ninth Parallel.'
(Anon.) Canadian Naturalist y Vol. viii, No. 2, p. 118. 1876.]

204 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

1877.

Notes on ihe Appearance and Migrations of the Locust in Manitoba and
the North-West Territories, Summer of 1875. Cayiadian Naturalist, Vol. Viil.
No. 4, pp. 207-226, April. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-20.)

Notes on some of the more recent Chang-es in Level of the Coast 01
British Columbia and adjacent reg'ions. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. \'lii, No.
4, pp. 241-248, April. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-8.)

Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks of British Columbia and Chili. Relation or
Volcanic and Metamorphic rocks. Geological Magazine, Svo. pp. 314-317.
July. London. (Also separately, pp. 1-4.)

Note on the Economic Minerals and Mines of British Columbia. First
List of Localities in the Province of British Columbia, known to yield Gold,
Coal, Iron, Copper and other Minerals of Economic Value, (Appendix R. )
Report on Surveys, Canadian Pacific Railway, Svo. pp. 218-245. Ottawa.

Note on Agriculture and Stock-Raising- and Extent of Cultivable Land
in British Columbia. (Appendix S.) Report of Surveys, Canadian Pacific
Railway, Svo. pp. 246-253. Ottawa.

Report on Explorations in British Columbia. Report of Progress,
Geological Survey of Canada. 1875-76. Svo. pp. 233-280. (Abstract
American Journal 0/ Science, 3rd series, Vol. 14, page 70, 1-8 p.)

1878.

On the Superficial Geology of British Columbia. Philosophical Magazine,
Vol, 4, p. 237, 1S77. Quarterly Journal Geological Society, London, Vol. 34
pp. 89-123, February. Also separately, same pagination.)

Traveling Notes on the Surface Geology of the Pacific Coast. Canadian
Naturalist, Vol. viii, No. 7, pp. 389-399, February. Montreal. (Also
separately, pp. i-ii.)

Notes on the Locust in the North-West in 1876. Canadian Naturalist,
Vol. VIII, No. 7, pp. 411-4T7, April. Montreal. (.Also separately, pp. 1-7.)

Erratics at High Levels in Northwestern America.— Barriers to a Great
Ice Sheet. Geological Magazine, Svo. pp. 209-212, Ma}'. London.

Report of Explorations in British Columbia, chiefly in the Basins or the
Blackwater, Salmon and Nechacco Fivers, and on Francois Lake. Report
of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1876-77, Svo. pp. r7-g4. Montreal.

Report on Reconnaissance of Leech River and Vicinity. Report of
Progress, Geological Survey of Canada. 1876-77, Svo. pp. 95-102. Montreal.

General Note on the Mines and Minerals of Economic Value of British
Columbia, with a list of localities, with appendix. Report of Progress,
Geological Survey of Canada, r876-77, Svo. pp. 103-145. Montreal. (Also
separately, same pagination.) Abstract, American Joiirnal of Science, 3rd
series, Vol. 16, p. 149. (1-2 p.) 1878.)

1879.

On a Species of Loftusia from British Columbia. Quarterly Journal
Geological Society, Svo. pp. 69-75, February. London. (Also separately,
same pagination.

igoi] The late George M. Dawson — Ami. 205

Notes oil the Glaciation of British Columbia. Canadian Naturalist, n. s.
Vol. IX, No. I, pp. 32-39, March. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. i-8.)

Sketch of the Past and Present Condition of the Indians of Canada
Canadian Naturalist, Vol. IX, No. 3, pp. 129-159, July. Montreal. (Also
separately, pp. 1-3 1.)

Preliminary Report of the Physical and Geological Features of the
Southern Portion of the Interior of British Columbia. Report of Progress.
Geological Survey of Canada, 1877-78. 8vo. pp. 1B-187B. Montreal.

Abstract, American Journal Science, 3rd series, Vol. 18, pp. 482-483.
New Haven, Conn.

1880.

Memorandum on the Queen Charlotte Islands. British Columbia.
(Appendix, No. 9.) Report Canadian Pacific Railway, 8vo. pp. 139-143.
Ottawa.

Notes on the Distribution of Some of the More Important Trees or
British Columbia. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. ix, No. 6, pp. 321-331, August.
Montreal. (Also separately, pp. i-ii.) Reprinted with additions and correc-
tions as an Appendix to Report on an Exploration from Fort Simpson, etc.
Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1879-80, pp. 167B-177B
(with map). Montreal, 1881.

Report on the Climate and Agricultural Value, General Geological
Features and Minerals of Economic Importance of part of the Northern por-
tion of British Columbia an! of the Peace River Country. (Appendix 7.)
Report Canadian Pacific Railway, 8vo. pp. 1 07-151. Ottawa.

Report on the Oueen Charlotte Islands. With Appendices A to G, etc.
Report of Progress, Geological of Canada, 1878-79, 8vo. pp. 1B-39B. Mon-
treal. (Abstracts, American Journal of Science. 3rd series. Vol. 21, p. 243
(7-3 p.) 1881. American A'aturalist, Vol. 15, p. 647, (1-3 p.) 1881.)

On the Haida Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Report ot
Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1878-79. Appendix A to Report or
the Queen Charlotte Islands, etc. (G, M. Dawson.)

Sketch of the Geology of British Columbia. (See 1881,) British Associa-
tion Report, Vol. 50. Transactions, pp. 588-589, 1880. Canadian Naturalist,
Vol. 9, n s. pp. 445-447.

Vocabulary of the Haida Indians. Report of Progress, Geological
'Survey of Canada, 1879-79. Appendix B to Report on the Queen Charlotte
Islands, etc.

1881.

Note on the Gealogy of the Peace Rivei Region. Canadian Naturalist,
Vol. X, No. I, pp. 20-22, April, 1881. Montreal. Also in American Journal of
Science, 8vo. pp. 391-394, May, 18S1. New Haven.

Report on an Exploration from Fort Simpson to the Pacific Coast, to
Edmonton, on the Saskatthewan, embracing a portion of the northern part of
British Columbia and the Peace River Country. Report of Progress, Geo-

2o6 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

logical Survey of Canada, 1879-80, 8vo. pp. iB-ryjB. Montreal, 1881. illus-
trated.

Meteorclog'ical Observations in the Northern Part of British Columbia
and the Peace River Country. Report of Prog-ress, Geologfical Survey ot
Canada, 1879-80. Appendix II to Report on an Exploration from Fort
Simpson, etc. (G. M. Dawson.)

Note on the Latitudes and Longitudes used in preparing the map of the
Region from the Pacific Coast to Edmonton. Report of Progress, Geological
Survey of Canada, 1879-80. Appendix III to Report on an Exploration from
Fort Simpson, etc.

Der Queen Charlotte-Archipel. Petermann's Mitt., Vol. 27, pp. 331-347,
map 4°.

On the Lignite Tertiary Formation from the Souris River to the one
hundred and eighth meridian. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of
Canada, 1879-80, 8vo. pp. 12A-49A. Montreal. Abstract, {Philadelphia
Magazine, n. s., Vol. 14, pp. 70-71. (1-3 p,) 1881.)

1882.

The Haidas. Harper's Magazine, Vol. XLV, 8vo. pj. 401-408, August.
New York.

Descriptive Note on a General Section from the Laurentian Axis to the
Rocky Mountains north of the 49th parallel. Transactions Royal Society of
Canada, Vol. i. Sec. 4, 4to, pp. 39-44, 18S3. (Also separately, same pagini-
tion.

i88s.

Notes on the more important Coal-seams of the Bow and Belly River
Districts. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. X, No. 7, pp. 423-435, March, 1883.
8vo. Montreal.

Note on the Triassic of tlie Rocky Mountains and British Columbia.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, Vol. i. Sec. 4, 4to. pp. 143-145.
(Also separately, same pagination. )

Preliminary on the Geology of the Bow and Belly River Region, North-
West Territory. With special reference to the Coal Deposits. Report of
Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 16S0-82, 8vo. pp. 1B-23B. Montreal.

Glacial deposits of the Bow and Belly River Country. Science, Vol. i,

PP- 477-479-

List of Elevations. Report of Piogress, Geological Survey of Canada,
1882-83-84. Appendix I to Report on a region in the vicinity of the Bow and
Belly Rivers, N. W. T. (G. M. Dawson.)

(Abstr?cts, Canadian Naturalist, n. s.. Vol. 10, pp. 423-435, Science, Vol.
I , pp. 429-430.

1884.

On the occurrence of Phosphates in Nature. Transactions Ottawa
Field Naturalists' Club, 8vo. pp. 91-98, February. Ottawa,

i

igoi] The late George M. Dawson — Ami. 207

(and Selwyii, A. R. C.) Descriptive Sketch or the Physical Geography
and Geologfy of the Dominion of Canada, 8vo., pp. 1-55. Montreal.

(and Tolmie, W. F.) Comparative Vocabularies of the Indian Tribes of
British Coljmbia. With a map illustrating- distribution, 8vo. pp. 1-131.
Montreal.

(Abstract. Science, Vol. V, pp. 156-157 (4-5 p.) New York City.

Recent Geolo^^ical Observations in the Canadian North-West Territory,
Science, Vol. 3, pp. 637-648.

Notes on the Coals and Lignites of the Canadian North-West. 8vo. pp.
I -2 1. Montreal Printing- and Publishing Co., Montreal.

1885.

On the Microscopic structure of certain Boulder Clays and the Org-anisms
contained in them. Bulletin Chicagfo Academy of Science, 8vo. pp. 59-69,
June. Chicago. (Also separately, same pagination.) 13th Annual Report
Geological and Natural History Survey Minnesota, pp. 150-163. St. Paul.

The Dominion of Canada (Part thus entitled in " Macfarlane's Ameri-
can Geological Railway Guide."') 8vo. pp. .si-83. June. D. Appleton & Co.,
New York. (Also separatel}-, same pagination.)

The Saskatchewan Country. Science, Vol. 5, pp. 340-542, with map.
1885.

Report on the Region in the vicinity of Bow and Belly Rivers, N, W. T,
Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1882-84, '*^^*-"'' PP- 1C-169C.
Montreal.

On the Superficial Deposits and Glaciation of the District in the Vicinity
of the Bow and Belly Rivers. (Reprinted from the Report of Progress,
Geological Survey of Canada, 18S2-84, 8vo. pp. 1-14, (Abstracts, Science,
Vol. 6, pp. 522 (1-8 p.) American Joiunal of Science, 3rd series, Vol. 29,
pp. 408-411, American Naturalist, Vol. 21, pp. 1 71-172 (with comments by
G. M. Dawson).

1886.

I

On Certain Borings in Manitoba and the North-West Territory. Trans-
actions Royal Society of Canada, Vol. iv. Sec. 4, 4to., pp. 85-99. (Also
separately, same pagination.) (Abstract, G^o/o^/c/r/ 3/rt^rts-me, 3rd decade,
Vol. 4, pp. 278-289, 1887.)

Preliminary Report on the Physical and Geological Features 01 that Por-
tion of the Rocky Mountains between Latitudes 49 degrees and 51° 30'.
Annual Report Geological Survey af Canada (N. S.) Vol. i, 8vo. pp. 1B-169B.
Montreal. (A'so separately, same pagination.) Abstracts, American Journal
of Science, 3rd series, Vol.33, p. 317 (1-2 p.) 1887. Geological Magazine,
decade 3, Vol 4, pp. 176-178. 1887.)

1887.

On the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with special reference to that part of
the Range between the forty-ninth parallel and the headwaters of the Red

2o8 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

Deer River. Canadian Record of Science, Vol. Ii, No. 5, pp. 285-300, April,
1887. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-16.)

Note on tlie Occurrence of Jado in British Columbia and its Employment
by the Natives. With extracts from a paper by Prof. Meyer. Canadian
Record of Science, Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 364-378, April, 1887. Montreal. (Also
separately, pp. 1-15.)

Notes and observations on the Kvvakiool People of Vancouver Island.
Transactions Royal Society of Canada, Vol. IV, Sec. 2, 4to. pp. 1-36, 1887.
(Also separately, same pagination.) (Abstract without geology, British Asso-
ciation Report of 56th meeting, pp. 638-639.)

Notes on the Exploration in Yukon District. Science, Vol. 10, pp. i65-i(' 6>
reproduced from Montreal Gazette.

Report on geological examination of the northern part of Vancouver
Island and adjacent coasts. Report Geological and Natural History Survey,
of Canada, part B pp. 1-107, plates, map No. i, in atlas. Montreal. (Abstract
Geological Magazine, 3rd decade, Vol. 6, 130-133.)

Notes to accompany a geological map of the northern portion of the
Dominion of Canada, east of ths Rocky Mountains. Report of the Geological
and Natural History Survey of Canada, i886, part R, 62 pp. coloured map,
1S87. Montreal. Abstract in Geological Magazine, 3rd decade. Vol. 6, pp.

137-138.)

Meteorological Observations, 1885. Appendix III to Peporton a Geo-
logical Examination of the Northern Part of Vancouver Island, and adjacent
Coast. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, New series. Vol. 2,
1886, issued 1887. Montreal.

1888.

Recent Observations on the Glaciation of British Columbia and Adjacent
Regions. Geological Magazine, 8vo. pp. 347-350, August, 1888. London.
American Geologist, Vol. 3, pp. 249-253, 1889. (Also separately, same pagina-
tion.)

Report on the Exploration in the Yukon District, N. W. T. , and adjacent
Northern portion of British Columbia. Annual Report, Geological Survey of
Canada. (N. S.) Vol. iil, 8vo. pp. 1B-277R. 188S. Montreal. (Abstracts,
ibid., Report A, pp. 4-12 ; American Geologist, Vol. 5, pp. 240-241 (2-3 p.) ;
A?netican Journal of Science, 3rd series, Vol. 39, p. 238 (1-2 p.), 1888.)

Notes on the distribution of Trees and of certain Shrubs in the Yukon
District and adjacent Northern portion of British Columbia. Annual Report,
Geological Survey of Canada, New series, Vol. ill, 1887-S8, Appendix I to
Report of an Exploration in the Yukon District, N. W. T., etc. (G. M. Daw-
son.) Montreal.

Notes on the Indian Tribes of the same district. Annual Report Geo-
logical Survey of Canada, new series, Vol. ill, 1887-88. Appendix II to
Report of an Exploration in the Yukon District, N. W, T., etc. (G. M.
Dawson.) Montreal (out of print).

igoij The late George M. Dawson — Ami. 209

Meterologfical Observations in the same district. Annual Report, Geo-
logical Survey of Canada, new series, Vol. ill, 1887-88. Appendix VI to
Report of an Exploration in the Yukon District, N. W. T. , etc. (G. M.
Dawson.) Montreal.

Summary of Astronomical Observations employed in the construction of
Maps, Nos. 274-277. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, new
series. Vol. Ill, 1887-88. Appendix VI to Report of an Exploration in the
Yukon District, N. W. T., etc. (G. M. Dawson.) Montreal.

Account of Explorations in southern interior British Columbia. Report
Geological Survey of Canada, Vol. Ill, n. s. pp. 60A-66A. Montreal.

Note on the Cascade anthracite basin. Rocky Mountains. American
Geologist, Vol. I, pp. 332-333.

The Geological Observations of the Yukon Expedition, 1887. Science,
Vol. II, pp. 185-186, 4°.

Notes on the Indian Tribes of the Yukon District and adjacent Northern
portion of British Columbia. (Reprinted from the Annual Report of Geo-
logical Snrvey of Canada, 1887.) 8vo. pp. pp. 1-23.

Mineral Wealth of British Columbia with annotated list of localities of
Minerals of Economic Value. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada
(N. S.), Vol. 4, 8vo. pp. 1R-163R. (Also separately, same pagination.)

Views of the Archffian. Report American Committee, International
Congress of Geologists, 1S89, A. American Geologist, Vol. 2, pp. 146-184, in
part, 1888.

1889.

Glaciation of High Points in the Southern Interior of British Columbia.
Geological Magazine, ^vo., pp. 350-351, August. London. (Also separately,
same pagination.) (Abstracts, Ottaiva Naturalist, \o\. 3, pp. 112-113, (4-5 p.);
American Naturalist, Vol. 24, pp, 771, 4 lines.

On the earlier Cretaceous rocks of the North-western portion of the
Dominion of Canada. American Journal of Science, 8vo. pp. 120-127, August.
New Haven. (Also separately, same pagination.) (Abstract, Nature, Vol.
40, p. 404 (i I lines).

Notes on the Ore Deposit of the Treadwell Mine, Alaska. American
Geologist, Svo. pp. 84-93, August. Minneapolis. (Also separately, same
pagination.)

1 890.

Notes on the Cretaceous of the British Columbia Region. The Nanaimo
Group. Americati Journal of Science, Svo. pp. 180-183, March. New Haven-
(Also separately, same pagination.) (Abstract, American Naturalist, Vol. 24,
p. 764(1-2 p.).

On some of the larger unexplored Regions of Canada. Ottawa Naturalist,
Svo. pp. 29-40, May. Ottawa. (Also separately, pp. 1-12.) Also printed as
Appendix to Pike's Barren Ground of Northern Canada, 1892, London, Svo.
pp. 177-289, 1892. Macmillan & Co. London.

2IO The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

Oc the Glaciation of the Northern Part of the Cordillera, with an attempt
to correlate the events of the Glacial Period in the Cordillera and Great
Plains. American Geologist, 8vo. pp. 153-162, September. Minneapolis.
(Also separately, same pag'ination.)

On the Later Physiographical Geology of the Rocky Mountain Region in
Canada, with special reference to Changes in Elevation and the History of the
Glacial Period. Transactions Royal Society of Canada. Vol. viii. Sec. 4,
4to. pp. 3-74 (pis. 1-3). (Also separately, same pagination.)

Report on a Portion of the West Kootanie District, British Columbia.
Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada (N. S.), Vol. iv, 8vo. pp. i B-66B.
Montreal. (Also separately, same pagination.) (Abstract, American Geo-
logist, Vol. 8, pp. 392-394.)

Introductory Note on an expedition down the Begh-ula or Anderson
River, by R. Macfarlane. Ca>iadia>i Record of Science, Vol. 4, No. i, pp. 28-29.
Jan., 1890.

The Chalk from the Niobrara Cretaceous of Kansas. Science, Vol. 16, p.
276 (1-4 col.), 4°.

Northern Pacific Railroad. Macfarlane's Geological Railway Guide, 2d
edition, pp. 258-266 ; 261, 262.

The Dominion of Canada. Macfarlane's Geological Railway Guide, 2nd
edition, pp. 51-83.

1891.

Northern Extension of earlier Cretaceous in Western British North
America. Bulletin Geological Society of America, Vol. 2, p. 207 (1-4 p.).
(In discussion of paper by G. F. Becker, ''Notes on the Early Cretaceous
of California and Oregon.")

Remarks on the Glaciation of the Great Plains Region. Bulletin Geo-
logical Society America, Vol. 2, pp. 275-276, 1891. (Abstract, American
Geologist, Vol. 7, p, 143, 5 lines.) Discussion of paper by W. Upham,
"Glacial Lakes of Canada."

Note on the Geological Structure of the Selkirk Range. Bulletin Geo-
logical Society of America, Vol. 2, pp. 165-176. (Discussed by C. D. Walcott,
p. 611 (1-4 p.) Abstracts, American Geologist, Vol. 7, pp. 262-263 ('"2 P-);
America?!. Naturalist, Vol. 25, p. 658, 3 lines. (Also separately, same pagina-
tion.

Notes on the Shuswap People of British Columbia. Transactions Royal
•Society of Canada, Vol. ix, Sec. 2, 4to. pp. 3-44. (Also separately, same
pagination.)

1892.

(and Alex. Sutherland) Geography of the British Colonies, 8vo. pp. i-xiii,
and 1-330. Macmillan & Co., London.

(and Baden-Powell, Sir G.) Report of the British Behring Sea Commis-
sioners, London : Government, pp. i-Vll ; 1-241. London, Eng.

Notes on the Geolog}' of Middleton Island, Alaska. Bulletin Geological
Society of America, Vol. iv, 8vo. pp. 427-431. Rochester.

igoi] The late George M. Dawson — Ami. 2ji

1893.

Mineral Wealth of British Columbia. Proceeding-s of the Royal Colonial
Institute, Vol. XXIV, 8vo. pp. 238-264.

Mammoth Remains. (Abstract and notice of papers read before the
Geolog-ical Society, No. 8. Nature, Vol. 49, No. 1156, Nov. 23, p. 94.

Notes on the occurrence of Mammoth Remains in the Yukon District of
Canada and in Alaska. Abstracts and notice of papers read before the
Geological Society, London. Quarterly Journal Geological Society, Nov. 8th.
Proc. of meeting. Geological Magazine, Dec, No. 354. London, Eng.

1894.

Geographical and Geological Sketch of Canada, with notes on Minerals,
Climate, Immigration and Native Races. Baedeker's Dominion of Canada
Hand Book, i2mo. pp. 23 48. Lipsic,

Notes on the Occurrence of Mammoth Remains in the Yukon District of
Canada and in Alaska. Quarterly Journal Geological Society, 8vo. pp. 1-9,
February. London. (Also separately, same pagination.) Also in Geological
Magazine, Dec, No. 354, pp.

Geological Notes on some of the Coasts and Islands of Behring Sea and
vicinity. Bulletin Geological Society of America, Svo. pp. 117-146. February,
1894, Rochester. (Also separately, same pagination.)

1895.

Interglacial Climatic Conditions. American Geologist, Vol. 16, No, i, pp.
65-66, 1895.

Summary Report of Geological work in British Columbia for 1894.
Printed by Order of Parliament. Ottawa, 1896.

1896

Summary Report of the Director, for the year 18:4. With map No. 554.
(Reprint from Blue Book.) pp. 124. Annual Report Geological Survey ot
Canada, new series, Vol. Vll. Ottawa.

Report on the Area of the Kamloops Map-sheet, British Columbia.
With Appendixes I-IV, and Maps Nos. 556 and 557, pp. 427. Report B.
Annual Report Geological Survey of Canada, new^ series. Vol. vii, 1894.
Ottawa.

Shuswap names or places within the area of the Kamloops map-sheet.
Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, new series, Vol. vii, 1894.
Appendix II to Report on the Area of the Kamloops Map-sheet, Brittsh
Columbia. (G. M. Dawson.) Ottawa.

Notes on the Upper and Lower Limits of Growth of some Trees and other
Plants in different Places within the area of the Kamloops Map-sheet. Annual
Report, Geological Survej- of Canada, n. s. Vol. vli, 1894. Appendix III to
Report on the area of the Kamloops Map-sheet, British Columbia. (G. M.
Dawson.) Ottawa,

212 The Ottawa Naturalist. [December

Comparative Observations of Temperatures at different Altitudes in or
near the Region embraced by the Kamloops Sheet, Southern interior of British
Columbia, duringf parts of the years i88S, 1889 and 1890. Annual Report,
Geolog^ical Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. vii, 1894. Appendix IV to Report on
the area of the Kamloops Map-sheet, British Columbia. (G. M. Dawson.)
Ottawa.

Some Observations tending to show the oceurrences of secular climatic
changes in British Columbia. Transactions Royal Society of Canada, 2nd
.series. Sec. 4, Vol. 2, pp. 159-166. Montreal.

1897.

Summary Report ot Director for the year 1895, pp. 154, (Reprint from
Blue-book.) Annual Report, Geoiogfical Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. Viir,
Report A. Ottawa.

189S.

Summary Report of the Director for the year 1896 (Reprint from Blue-
book) pp. 144. Annual Report, Geolog-ical Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. ix,
Report A. Ottawa.

Annual Report, Geological Survey ot Canada, new series, V^ol. 9, 1896
(1898), 816 pp., maps, containing the Director's Summary Report for 1896, and
reports by Tyrrell, Bell, Low," Bailey, Hoffman and Ingall, etc., also 20 plates.
Queen's Printer, Ottawa.

Duplication of geolgic formation names. (Discussion and correspondence.)
Science, n. s., Vol. ix, pp. 592-593. 1899.

Summary Report of the Geological Survey of Canada for the year 1897.
Geological Survey of Canada, 156 pages. Ottawa. Compiled by the Director.

1899.

Summary Report of the Geological Survey Department, ror the year 1898
(containing also reports of the several technical officers of the Geological
Survey Staff, on the geology, etc., of various portions of the Dominion 01
Canada). 208 pp. Govt. Printing Bureau, Ottawa.

Summary Report of the Director for the year 1898 (Reprint from Blue-
book), pp. 208. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. xi.
Report A.

(On Mammoth and musk-ox remains from the Saskatchewan gold-bearing
gravels of the Edmonton district. Alberta.) Summary Report, 1S98. Geo-
logical Survey Department, pp. 19-20. Govt. Printing Bureau, Ottawa.

Summary Report of the Director for the year 1897 (Report from Blue-
book), pp. 156, with Mai> No. 639. Annual Report, Geological Survey of
Canada, n. s. Vol. xx, 1897. Report A 1899. Ottawa.

1900.

Summary Report of the Geological Survey Department for the year 1899,
224 pp. Printed by order of Parliament. Ottawa, 1900.

igoi]

The late George M. Dawson — Ami.

213

Economic Minerals of Canada. Paris International Exhibition, 1900, with
map, 54 pp. Toronto, Canada.

Remarkable landslip in Portneuf county, Quebec. Bull. Geol. Soc,
Amer. , Vol. x, pp. 484-490, plates 51 and 51. Rochester, N.Y. 1900.

1 90 1.

On the Geological Record or the Rocky Mountain Region in Canada,
Address by the President. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., Vol. xii, pp. 57-92.
Rochester, N.Y., Feb., 1901. Abstract of same in Scientific Americafi Supple-
ment, No. 1307, pp. 2094S and 20499, J^-"- 19th, 1901. In part published in
Science, n.s.. Vol. xiii. No. 324. pp. 401-407, March 15th, 1901, under the
title : " Ph3'sical History of the Rocky Mountain Region in Canada." New
York City.

(George Mercer Dawson), with portrait. Obituary notice by Dr. W. J.
McGee, The American Anthropologist, n. s.. Vol. 3, pp. 159-163, May, 1901.

(The late George Mercer Dawson), with portrait. Obituary notice by H.
M. Ami in The Otta-wa Naturalist, Vol. XV, No. 2, pp. 43-52, May, 1901.

(George Mercer Dawson). With portrait. Biographical sketch, by B.
J. Harrington. American Geologist, August, 1901, pp. 66-67. Bibliography
of Dr. G. M. Dawson, by H. M. Ami. pp. 76-86. Minneapolis, Minn.

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB.

Under the Distinguished Patronage of the Right Honourable
THE Earl of Minto, Governor-General of Canada.

PROGRAMME OF WINTER SOIREES, iqoi-1902.
1 90 1.

In the Assembly Dec. 10.— President's Address, " On the Extinttiun of Useful

Hall of the Aniviah in Modern Times."

Normal School, g,^^^^ addresses by Dr. J, A. MacCabe, F.R.S.C,

Professor Macoun and others.

Conversazione, witli exhibition of Natural History
objects and Microscope slides.

1902.

In Y. M. C. A. Jan.
Hall.

In Y. M. C. A. Jan.
Hall

In Y. M. C.
Hall.

A. Feb. 1 1

In the Assembly Feb.

Hall of the
Normal School.

In the Assembly Mar.

Hall of the
Normal School.

4. — "O;/ the Relation of Geology to Geography," illustrat-
ed by lantern slides, by Professor R. A. Daly.

Report of the Geological Branch.

28. — " Whales and JVhale Hn nting,'' illustrated by lantern
slides, by Professor E. E. Prince.

"The Natural History of Honey Bees," by Mr. Percy
H. Selwyn.

Report of the Entomological Branch.

"The Ferns of Canada," illustrated by lantern
slides, by Rev. Robert Campbell, D.D., Mon-
treal.

Report of the Botanical Branch.

"The Present Position of the Evolution Theory,"
illustrated, by Professor E. W. MacBride,
McGill University, Montreal.

Report of the Zoological Branch.

^'' Native Birds : their Characteristics and Habits,^'
illustrated by lantern slides, by W. E. Saun-
ders, Esq., London.

Report of the Ornithological Branch.

-3.-

i.-

In Y. M. C. A.
Hall.

Mar. 18.

-Annual Meeting.
tion of officers.

Reports of Council and elec-

" Azotes on the Arboretum at the Central Experi-
mental Fann, Ottaiva,^' by Mr. VV. T. Macoun.

The meetings will be held at 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays
of the month, e.xcept in the case of the Annual Meeting

President : Dr. Robert Bell, F.R.S.
Secretary : W. J. Wilson. Treasurer: Dr. James Fletcher.

(Geol. Surv. Dept.)- (Central Experimental Farm.)

Membership Fee, O. F. N.C., with Ottawa Naturalist, $1.00 per annum.
Admission to Lecture Course Free,

THE OTTAWA I(ATURALIST.

Vol. XV.

OTTAWA, JANUARY, 1902.

No. ID.

FAUNA OTTAWAENSIS.

Hymenoptera — Superfamily II.— Sphegoidea.

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

The proceedings of our society have recently made little refer-
ence to the local insect fauna, but it seems important that this
branch of our natural history should not be altogether neglected.
Abundant material exists in our cabinets, but unfortunately records
have to be fragmentary, as so many forms are still undetermined
or imperfectly classified. Last winder a start was made toward a
rearrangement ot my hymenoptera according to the admirable
scheme of classification published by Ashmead, but the work has
progressed slowly. Under his system the very extensive order of
the hymenoptera is divided into ten easily recognized superfamilies
as follows :— Apoidea, Sphegoidea, Vespoidea, Formicoidea, Proc-
totrypoidea,Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, Siricoidea.
and Tenthredinoidea, which are subdivided into ninety-four families
and many hundred genera. It would be preferable to commence
with the Apoidea and to publish the superfamilies in consecutive
order, but this is rendered impossible by the difficulty of determining
the numerous bees belonging to such groups as Halictus, Andrena,
Osmia and Megachile, and the superfamily Sphegoidea has been
selected as a commencement. The species included therein are com-
monly known as solitary, or fossorial wasps, because they do not
form communities as do some of the Vespoidea and because they
usually construct their egg-cells in burrows in the earth or in dead
wood. The cells thus formed are stored by the industrious wasps
with provisions for their prospective young. This food supply does
not consist of pollen and honey, as stored by the bees, but of

2i6 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

insects, which vary in kind according to the wasps collecting
them. Any observant person may, during the summer months,
watch the agile mother-wasp hunting for its special prey, which
when captured is paralyzed by the potent venom injected by the
captor's sting. Thus the grubs, when they hatch, have fresh meat
provided for their voracious appetites, and at the same time are
secure from injury by their victims. They are not, however, in
all instances exempt from parasitic species, which find access to the
cells during the course of construction and deposit eggs, from
which larvae hatch and proceed to consume the food so industriously
stored, and either devour or starve, the rightful occupants.

The superfamily is divided into twelve families of which all
but the Stizidae (which includes the great cicada-hunters) and the
Ampulicidas (rare cockroach-catchers) have representatives in our
district. The family Oxybelid^ furnishes two small species, of
which the commoner one was found by the Peckhams to store
with flies its burrows in the sand. The family Crabronidae con-
tains one-third of all our species, usually in livery of black and
yellow. 1 hey may often be seen about old stumps and trees,
disappearing in burrows made either by themselves or by some
departed beetle. The food collected varies with the species. The
PemphredonidcC are rather small and generally black and their
habits are much the same as those of the crabronids. Of the
Bembicidse wehaveonlythreespecies, of which two are common and
are easily known by the long beak-like labrum. They are strong
active insects frequenting sandy fields in which their burrows are
stored probably with diptera. The Larridae are more numerous
and are more bee-like in form and in color black, with sometimes
a red band on abdomen. In their burrows they store small grass-
hoppers, etc. The family Philanthidce contains a half dozen hand-
some species, of which the two speciesofCerceris are common. Some
members of this genus have been found to provision their cells
with beetles. The Trypoxylidee utilize the deserted burrows ot other
insects, and store up spiders for their progeny. The only represent-
ative of the Mellinidse is very rare and probably supplies flies for
its young as an European species is said to prey upon diptera.
The Nyssonidae is the second of our families in number of specieS)

1902] Harrington — Fauna Ottawaensis. 217

and some of its members are very prettily marked. They offer a
fine field for study of life habits as hardly anything^ is known in
reg-ard to them. The family Sphegidae contains those species
which are at the height of tashion as regards slimness of waist.
The small abdomen is attached to the thorax by a threadlike
petiole consisting of one or two segments exceedingly attenuated,
and frequently -nuch longer than the abdomen itself The black,
or red and black, Ammophilas may be seen hawking up and down
paths in fields, and collecting caterpillars for their burrows, which
are constructed in dry light soil. The mud-daubers which build
clay cells, often in groups, under stones or about buildings, provi-
sion them with spiders.

The foregoing scant remarks will give only a brief and imper-
fect idea of the diversity of habits to be looked for among the
Sphegoidae, and of the correspondently great interest to be derived
from a careful observation of our species, regarding- so many of
which nothing definite or authentic is recorded. Those of our
members who, more fortunate than the writer, are able to spend
the summer in the country, could derive a great deal of pleasure
in considering the ways of these wasps, and would by carefully
recorded observations much amplify our knowledge of their life,
histories. As a guide for such work, so suitable for ladies sum.
mering afield, there is a delightful book on the " Instincts and
Habits of the Solitary Wasps," by Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Peckham,
of Milwaukee. Acquaintances could readily be made among these
lively and industrious insects, which would make the sweet sum-
mer hours still more enjoyable and the fields to yield new interests.
The plates in the volume just mentioned give excellent figures of
several of our common species, and many of our forms are por-
trayed in the beautiful plates of "The Insect Book," by Dr.
Howard, the eminent United States Entomologist. This splendid
book should be in every household, especially in every farm house
or country cottage, a mine of information and delightful interest for
every youth, who desires to know somewhat of the teeming life of
the fields, the woods and the waters.

2i8 The Ottawa Naturalist.

Family XV. — Oxybelidae.

1. O X y b e I u s q u a d r i n o t a t u s, Say. Our common species from June

to Sept.; 6 females and 7 males.

2. Notoglossa emarginatus, Say. Four females; the male not

yet captured.

Family XVI. — Crabronidae.
Subfamily I. — AnacrabronincE.

3. Anacrabro ocellatus, Pack. This interesting' form is sometimes

very abundant on spiraea, and is seen chiefly in July, in which month
my 9 females and 12 males were taken.

Subfamily \\\.—Crahronince.

4. Solenius interruptus, Lepel. One of our commonest crabronids,

occurring abundantly at the end of summer on goldenrods, etc.; 18
females, 12 males.

5. Solenius producticollis. Pack. Occurring with former species

but much less common. In appearance and markings it closely
resembles the former, but is less coarsely sculptured. Four females
and five males collected in July and August.

6. Ectemnius montanus. Cress, Five females and three males.

7. Ectemnius corrugatus, Pack. A slightly smaller species;

I female, 3 males.

8. Crabro maculatus, Fabr. This large and handsome insect is our

only representative of the typical genus upon which the family is
based. As C. singular is, Sm., it will be familiar to our collectors.
It occurs not unfrequently upon goldenrod, the males being most
abundant, as I have 10 males and only 3 females. Fox in his mono-
graph of the Crabronids states that the scutelium of the male is never
marked with yellow, but in one of my specimens it bears two yellow
dots, as it also does in two of the females.

9. Pseudocrabro chrysarginus, Lepel. Another fine large

species which is quite common; represented by 4 females and 19
males.

10. Xestocrabro sexmaculatus. Say. One of our commonest and

largest species of the subfamily, occurring abundantly throughout the
summer ; 12 females, 18 males.

11. Xestocrabro trifasciatus. Say. Very similar in appearance

but hardly as large, and much less common ; 3 females, 5 males.

12. Xestocrabro paucimaculatus, Say. One female, captured

June 20th,

1902J Harrington — Fauna Ottawaensis. 219

13. Clytochrysus nigrifrons, Cress. One male at Aylmer, Aug. ,

determined by Fox.

14. Clytochrj'sus obscurus, Smith. One male, on Kettle Island,

Aug. 25, 1894.

Subfamily l\\ — Thyreophice,

15. S y n o t h y r e o p u s a dv e n u s, Smith. The males of this and of the

four following species are remarkable for a curious shield-like expan-
sion of the anterior tibiae, making the forelegs look as if they might
be used as auxiliary wings. The species have all been determined
for me by Fox. None of them are at all common apparently, and the
females are very rare. Of this species i female, 3 males,

16. Synothyreopus tenuiglossus, Pack, One female. Collected

also by Mr. Guignard.

17. Thyreopus cribellifer. Pack. Two males. The tibial shield is

very large, about one-third of it spotted and the remainder fuliginous,

18. Thyreopus argus, Pack. Two males. The shield is smaller but

is beautifully mottled with light spots upon a dark ground over ils
whole surface, from whence the name.

19. Thyreopus latipes, Smith. Two males. The pale yellowish

shield bears several radiating dark stripes.

20. Blepharipus Harringtonii, Fox, The type female is in Coll,

Fox, I, however, captured another female near Hull on June 9, 1895,
and I have received from Mr. Guignard a male (labelled B. ater).
This species is distinguished from the following by the more rugose
metathorax, and the female is smaller.

21. Blepharipus nigricornis, Prov. One male in my collection

and a female (labelled B. ater, and apparently determined by Prov.)
received from Mr. Guignard,

22. Blepharipus ater. Cress, Two females. Easily separated from

the foregoing by the enclosed triangular space on metanotum.

23. Blepharipus (Crabro) niger, Prov. This species, described

from an Ottawa female from Mr. Guignard, is probably identical
with B. Harringtonii, Fox, but I have not seen the specimen. If
the same, this name would have priority.

24. Blepharipus cinctipes, Prov, Two females and one male.

Very similar to nigricornis, but has the hind tibiae distinctly annu-
late with white.

25. Blepharipus impressifrons. Smith. Two females and two

males. A pretty little species easily distinguished by the yellow
markings on pronotum, scutellum and legs.

220 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

26. Crossocerus minimus, Pack. Our smallest species of the sub-

family. One female and four males, taketi in June. Fox in his
monotfraph of the crabronids says that he had not seen the male. It
differs little from the female except in beingf slig'litly smaller and in
having a little more 3'ellow on the legs.

27. Cuphopterus maculipennis, Smith. This is a not uncommon

species, prettily marked with yellow, and easily recognized when
living, by the maculate wings, the spots upon which fade out very
much in cabinet specimens ; 4 females, 5 males.

Subfamily IV. — Rhopalince.

28. Rhopalum pedicellatum. Pack. The insects in this subfamily

are rather small, and are easily recognized by the petiolate abdomen.
This species is common and forms its nests in the stems of elder and
raspberry; 15 females, 10 males.

29. Rhopalum rufigast.er, Pack. Only one female of this small (

species, with abdomen partly red.

Family XVII. — Pemphredonidae.

Subfamily I, — Pempredonince.

30. Stigmus fraternus, Say. A small species, abundant ; 8 female

5 males.

31. C e m o n u s i n o r n a t u s, Say. A common form ; 12 females, '_

males.

32. Pemphredon concolor, Say. V^ery similar in appearance b 1 1

larger and not so common ; 2 females, 2 males.

33. Passaloecus m a nd i bu 1 a r i s. Cress. The triangularly produce (

labrum and short petiole distinguishes this genus from C e m o n u
and Pemphredon. Three females.

34. Passaloecus annulatus. Say. Smaller, with paler legs ; 2

females, 2 males.

35. D i o d o n t u s a m e r i c a n u s , Pack. One female from Dr. Fletcher.

Subfamily II. — Psenhice.

36. M i m e s a b o r e a 1 i s, Smith, Second segment ot abdomen red ;

females.

37. M i m e s a n i g e r. Pack. All black ; 2 females, i male. The species

much resembles in general appearance the smaller individuals of
Pemphredon concolor, but is more slender and has the
thorax more polished.

38. P s e n t r i s u 1 c u s, Fox. Taken near Hull in Jul}' ; i female, i mal

1902] Harrington — Fauna Ottavvaensis. 221

Family XVIII. — Bembicidse.

39. Bembidula ventialis, Say. A common species upon goldenrod

in Aug-ust ; 4 females, 3 males.

40. Bembex spinol^e, Lepel. Much resembles in shape and markings

some of the large paper-making wasps, but is easily distinguished by
the long beak-like labrum. Common in sandy spots in fields, where
its burrows are made, and very active ; 2 females, 2 males.

41. Microbembex monodonta. Say. A smaller and more prettily

marked insect, of which I have received a female from Mr. Guignard
who captured several. It has also been taken by Dr. Fletcher, but
I have not yet met with it.

Family XIX. — Larridae.

Subfamily I. —Larrince.

42. Ancistromma distincta, Smith. One female captured on 26th

July. This species is larger and has the tibiae more spinous than the
following species. Three basal segments ot abdomen red.

43. Tachysphex quebecensis, Prov. Although I have at present

only I female and i male in my collection this species is not uncom-
mon as several individuals have been taken by Mr. Guignard. The
metathorax is more coarsely sculptured than in our other members
of the genus. In the index published with his Add. Hym. Que.,
Provancher gives this species as = abdominalis, but the
Larra abdominalis of Say is a Tac bytes.

44. Tachysphex com p actus, Fox. One female seems to belong

to this species ; the abdomen is coloured as in quebecensis, but
the metathorax is different.

45. Tachysphex terminatus, Smith. A species easily recognized

by the red tip of the abdomen ; 2 females, one male. I have also a
small (headless) male from Mr. Guignard under the name Larra
minor, a species described by Provancher from individuals sent to
him by that gentleman. In the description the legs are said to be
unarmed, but the spines, though feeble, can be easily seen. The
species is undoubtedly a synonym of terminatus.

46. Tachysphex laevifrons. Smith (?) Provancher records a male

which he received from Mr. Guignard as this species, and I have a
female which I doubtfully refer to it as I have not the description for
comparison. Fox speaks of the species as perhaps identical with
T. tarsatus, Say, the description of which applies pretty well to my
specimen.

47. Tachysphex arcuatus. Smith (?) Provancher refers to this

species a female received from Mr. Guignard. (Add. Hym., p. 26.)

222 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

48. Tachysphex sp. A male received from Mr. Guig'nard cannot be

referred to any of the descriptions accessible. It is black with the
exception of the reddish posterior margfins of segments 2 and 3 of
abdomen. The metanotum is finely striated and the eyes are unusu-
ally close together on the vertex.

Subfamily II. — Lyrodhiee.

49. Lyroda subita, Say. Of this elegant black species 2 females,

3 males.

Subfamily IV. — Pisonince.

50. Pi son 1 « V i s, Smith. Provancher (Add. Hym., p. 269) credits Mr.

Guignard with having taken a female at Hull. I have not seen the
insect, as it, with others previously mentioned, are in the Provancher
collection in Quebec.

Family XX.— Philanthidse.

Subfamih^ I. — Cercerina.

51. Cerceris clypeata, Dahlb. This and the next are our only

representatives of about one hundred described North American
species. It is a common insect ; 7 females, 11 males.

52. Cerceris nigrescens. Smith. The markings of this species are

white, instead of yellow, and ii is also abundant . 4 females, 6 males.
Subfamily II. — Phila7ithince.

53. Aphilanthops frigidus, Smith. A pretty insect and not com-

mon ; 2 females. 2 males.

54. Epiphilanthus soli vagus, Say. Our largest and most abun-

dant species of this fimily. Very numerous upon goldenrod ; 18
females, 13 males.

55. Anthophilus politus. Say. One female. Taken also by Dr.

Fletcher.

55rt. Anthophilus dubius, Cress. Two males: the species is evi-
dently a synonym of politus.

56. P h i 1 a n t h u s b i 1 u n a t u s , Cress. A highly polished insect prettily

marked with bright yellow ; 8 males. The female appears to be
unknown.

Family XXI. — Trypoxylidae.

57. Trypox}'lon striatum, Pro v. (T. a 1 b i p i 1 o s u m, Fox.) A

fine large species which appears to be rare in this district as I have
taken only one female. I have, however, received a male from Mr.
Guignard who also furnished the type to Provancher.

58. Try poxy Ion frigidum. Smith. A small species and rather

abundant ; 6 females, i male.

1903] Harrington — Fauna Ottawaensis. 223

Family XXII. — Mellinidae.

59. M e 1 1 i n u s b i m a c u 1 a t u s, Pack A neat little insect which seems

to be rare here as elsewhere. One male taken many )^ears ago on
Aug. 6 and one female Aug. 5, 1S94 ; the latter was dead in a
spider's web, but quite fresh and perfect.

Family XXIII. — Nyssonidse.
Subfamily I. — Gorytmce.

60. Pseudoplisus phaleratus, Say. A handsome species with

clouded wings and conspicuous yellow markings on body and legs ;
II females, 9 males.

61. Hoplisus canaliculatus, Pack. Wings and markings paler; 3

females, 4 males.

62. Hoplisus simillimus, Smith. Very similar in appearance; i

female, 3 males.

63. Hoplisoides nebulosus, Pack. Rare; i female, 2 males.

Gorytes armatus, Prov., and Philanthus Harringtonii,
Prov., described from Ottawa specimens, appear from the descrip-
tions to be males of the same species.

64. Gorytes nigrifrons, Smith (?) One female taken near Hull on

Aug. 5, 1894, is referred to this species with a little uncertainty.

Subfamily H. — Alysonince.

65. Didineis texana, Cr. One female taken at Aylmer Sept. 10, 1893.

Its capture was quite accidental, for it settled on the ground near me
as I sat by the roadside watching a couple of S p h a e r o p t h a 1 m a
candensis, Blake, wandering around.

66. A 1 y s o n G u i g n a r d i i , Prov. One female, two males.

67. Alyson conic us, Prov. The types of this and of the preceding

species were collected by Mr. Guignard. Three females, one male.

68. Alyson melleus, Say. A pretty pale species ; i female.

69. Alyson t r i a n g u 1 i f e r, Prov. One female, one male.

70. Alyson op posit us. Say. This appears to be the commonest

species ; 6 females, 2 males.

Subfamily III. — NyssontucE.

71. Nysson lateralis. Pack. A stout black insect with white spots on

abdomen ; i female, 3 males.

72. Brachystegus nigripes, Prov. I have received from Mr.

Guignard, who collected the type, a male, and also under the name
Nysson rustic us. Cress, a female, which, although it has the

224 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

base ot the abdomen red, is evidently the same species. It does not
answer to the description of riisticus and belongs like nigripes to
Brachystegus.

Subfamily IV. — Astatince.
y3. — A status u n i c o 1 o r, Say. One female, one male ; the latter is con-
spicuous by the large eyes meeting at vertex. Taken also by Dr.
Fletcher and Mr. Guignard,

Family XXV. — Sf)hegidae.

Subfamily I. — Spheghice.

74. Isodontia philadelphica, Lepel. One male received from Mr.

Guignard. It has also been taken by Dr. Fletcher.

75. Priononyx bifoveolatus, Tischb. Mr. Guignard sent to Pro-

vancher the types of P. canadensis, which is a sj'nonym. I have
not met with either of the species. Provancher also records Sphex
i c h n e u m o n e a, Linn., as taken at Ottawa, but this is an evident
error, as Mr. Guignard, to whom it is credited, has no recollection of
capturing this fine species which is common westward.

Subfamily II. — Ammophilince .

76. Psammophila communis. Cress. Abdomen partly red ; i female,

5 males.

77. Psammophila 1 u c t u o s a. Smith. All black ; 3 females.

78. Ammophila gryphus, Smith. This large species appears to be

rare. I have only one male, and Dr. Fletcher has captured only one
individual.

79. Ammophila conditor, Smith. This appears to be our com-

monest species, and the males appear to much more numerous than
the females; i female, 12 males.

Subfamily III. — Sceliphro7iince.

80. Sceliphron cementarius, Drury. This large wasp is at once

separated from the slender-waisted species of the previous subfamily
by its yellow-banded legs. It may frequently be seen making its
mud-cells under windowsills, etc., and is a common form ; 3 females,
3 males.

81. Chalybion coeruleum, Linn. This is a fine insect, differing from

all our fossorial wasps in its bright blue body and dark wings. Like
the preceding form it is common and a builder of mud-cells ; 4
females, 4 males.

^^^^

[902] Kells — Nesting OF SOME Canadian Warblers. 22:
NESTING OF SOME CANADIAN WARBLERS.

By Wm. L. Kells, Listowell.

The Chestnut-sided Warbler.

On the northern end of Wildwood Farm, which lies on the
northwest of the town site of Listowell, there exists a tract of hard-
wood timbered forest of about seven acres in extent; but which,
with that on the adjoining- farm to the north, covers an area of
over twenty acres. Most of this tract has a good natural drainage;
but some parts towards the centre are lew, and contain pools of
stagnant water until after mid-summmer. The greater part of
this wooded tract is still in its primitive wildness; for though the
larger timber of the forest of tMrty years ago has been mostly
removed, yet the subsequent growth is yearly increasing in size,
though none ot the trees are ever likely to attain the proportions
of their ancestors of the "backwoods." In most parts of this
woodland there is a thick growth of low, young underwood;
which, when in full leaf, as it is at the end of May, is very
dense, being also intermingled in most places with wild raspberry
vines. Amid such scenery the chestnut-sided vi'arbler evidently
loves to make its summer haunts and home; for here, from the
early days of May till summer time is over, its rather plaintive
song-notes are daily heard, and here, for several years past, I have
noted the nests of several of the species. On May 22nd of the
past year (igoo), not far distant from each other, I noted two
newly formed nests of this bird. The first seen was deep in the
underwood, and placed in the fork of a small bushy maple about
twenty inches off the ground. This was so bulky and compactly
built that at first I took it to be a nest of an Indigo Bird. It was
formed of a kind of woody fiber gleaned from decayed timber,
vines and grasses, and lined with long, black, horse-hair, which it
must have taken the builder a good deal of time, with much
trouble, to collect and place in position. On the above date this
nest contained an egg of the cow-bird, which I removed and — five
days after — it contained three eggs of the chestnut-sided warbler, and

226 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

on these the female was incubating^, and as the usual set of eggs of
this species numbers four, it was evident that the cow-bird had re-
moved one of the warbler's when she deposited her own ; this tramp
among birds, is one of the worst enemies with which the whole family
of the warblers has to contend : as many of their nests are found to
contain one or more, of the cow-bird's eggs ; and there is danger
that the progeny may destroy the whole brood in the nest of the
species in which it is cradled. On one occasion I found a nest of the
chestnut-sided warbler which contained four cow-bird's eggs, and
but one of the warbler's own. The eggs of this species are of a
whitish hue, with a very irregular wreath, or belt, of a brownish
color, around the larger end, and some dottlngs, sometimes of a
blackish hue on the middle surface ; the smaller end is unmarked.
The other nest of this species, noted on the same date, was near
the edge of the wood, and placed between several stalks of rasp-
berry vines, about two feet off the ground, and composed of
materials much similar to the other, with the exception of the
horse-hair lining, and was not so bulky in size — this on the 30th
of May, contained four eggs. A week after, two other nests of
this species were noted, both deeper in the wood, and both placed
in the forks of Utile maples : but at varying elevations from the
ground, one being about four feet, this contained four four eggs,
the other which contained three eggs, was about two feet off the
ground, and by the side of a pathway. In both cases these were
evidently advanced in incubation, and were not molested. I con-
cluded that in this tract of forest about a dozen pairs of this spieces
were breeding, but they have many enemies among other birds
and small animals.

The chestnut sided warbler is among the first of the warb-
lers to make its appearance in this part of Ontario, usually when
the young underwood is beginning to put forth its leaves and the
earliest of our wild flowers are in bloom. This season I first
noticed the species on the 4th of May, and two weeks after its
advent it begins to nest. It is probable that as more small fruit
shrubs and vines are cultivated in the rural districts, that this
species, as well as others of our wild woodland birds, will yet be
found to make their summer haunts and homes in the vicinity of

1902] Kells — Nesting of some Canadian Warblers. 227

human habitations, and contest with the chipping sparrow for the
possession of a nesting site among the raspberry vines of the
garden.

The American Redstart.

In the same woodland, which, with the uncleared parts of the
adjoining farm, covers an area of over twenty acres, the active and
beautiful redstart is heard intermingling its notes, and found to
have its summer home in close community with those of the chest-
nut-sided warbler, and its nesting site is always found to occupy a
higher elevation, and usually the more open parts of the under-
wood, the nest being placed in rather exposed positions, the bird
apparently depending for the concealment of the nest more on the
fact that the material of which it is composed closely resembles the
bark of the saplitag in the fork of which it is placed, rather than on
the denseness of the foliage that overhangs and surrounds it.
Many nests of this species, in past years, have come under my
observation; but it is only of those noted the present season that
I purpose here to speak. On May 22nd I noticed a female red-
start flying from a partly composed nest, the site of which was in
the fork of a small maple sapling, and at an elevation of about
eight feet off the ground. This nest could be easily seen, when the
searcher's gaze was directed to it, at a distance of four rods; the
woods around it were rather open, and the leaves of the sapling
were a yard or more above it. Eight days afcer I found that this
nest contained four of the warbler's own eggs and one of a cow-
bird, all of which were fresh. Of all the warblers, the nest of this
species is about the neatest and most firmly put together, the bird
evidently emitting a good deal of saliva upon the material of which
the nest is composed when she is placing the fragments in position.
All this work, as well as that of incubation, appears to be done
by the female, though it is probable that her more beautifully
plumaged consort occasionally supplies her with food as she incu-
bates her eggs; and he certainly largely assists in feeding the
young and in trying to defend them if exposed to danger. If the
first efforts ot this bird to propagate its species are successful, it
does not nest more than once in the season, otherwise it will nest
a second time. The materials of which the greater part of the

2 28 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

nest of the redstart are composed is a kind of fibre gathered from
decaying timber and the seed pods of various kinds of vines, and
it is usually lined with animal hair. I have never known the set of
eggs to exceed four in number, and generally the second set con-
tainsonly three, with the addition mostly of a cow-bird's. The eggs
are of a whitish ground hue, marked towards the larger end with
a wealth of spotting of a flesh-colored hue and smaller dots of the
same hue scattered over the surface. Another bird of this species
was noticed building her nest at a much higher elevation deeper
in the wood, and even in a more exposed position; but a few days
after the nest was completed it wholly diappeared, and I suspected
that an olive-sided fly-catcher that had made her nest on an over-
hanging branch, a tew rods off", was the author of that. Other
nests were observed, but there was nothing specially noteworthy
about them.

The Water Thrush.

Near the centre of the woodland, adjoining Wildwood on the
north, is a natural water *' runway " where most of the large tim-
ber was up-rooted in the terrible wind and ice storm of April some
seven or eight years ago. In one of those up-turned roots, below
which there is in the early season, a deep pool of water, I have on
several occasions, in past years, noticed a nest of a water thrush,
and expected this year to take a set of its eggs from a cavity in
the same old root, but a delay of several days having occurred
after the time when I intended to have visited it for that purpose,
I found when I did so on the 28th of May, that I was too late, the
nest was there, but a glance at the four eggs which it contained
showed by their galvanized appearance that they were far advanced
in incubation, and I did not remove or revisit them. The cavity
in which this nest was placed was small, the bird had either found
it ready for her purpose, or had partly enlarged it, and the nest
itself was made of weed-stems, dry grass, animal hair, and " hair-
moss." Usually when the cavity is large, this species uses a
quantity of dead leaves in the construction of her nest. This bird
is not abundant anywhere in this country, though a pair or two of
them may be found each season in suitable localities, which is
always low, swampy woods, or along a natural water course

1902] Kells — Nesting of some Canadian Warblers. 229

where there is much fallen timber, and where fires have burnt
hollows in the mucky soil, that in after years are filled with
stagnant water during- the greater part of the year. In my boy-
hood days I discovered that this bird, as well as several other
species of the warblers, would nest in cavities prepared for them
in the early spring time, and as I have often acted on this sugges-
tion, I seldom fail — each year — to find nests in these places if,
situated in the localities that they frequent.

The Black and White Warbler.
On the southeast corner of the farm lot that adjoins Wild-
wood on the north, and but a few rods from the boundary line,
in a stretch of low ground there stands the large turned up
root of an old fallen tree, the top of which is over a dozen feet
from the level ground. In what was once the "upper" side of
this " turn-up," and about half-way in its height, I discovered on
the 28th of May, a nest containing three eggs, which at the time,
I took to be those of a Canadian warbler. Three days after I
revisited the site, found the mother bird "at home" and seated on
the nest. At my near approach she flushed off and down upon
the ground — where with outspread and quivering wings, and the
venting of a few notes, she attempted to draw my attention from
her treasures. Gazing down on the interesting little creature,
within a few feet of where I stood, I was not much surprised,
though somewhat disappointed, to note that the specimen was of
the M. varia species, and that it was her nest that was placed
before me, and which now contained five beautifully spotted, fresh
eggs. The cavity in which the nest was placed had been partly
excavated, probably by the bird itself; but in order to support the
foundation quite a large quantity of dead leaves and strips of bark
had been used, and inside of this there was a lining of fine veget-
able materials and some animal hair. So closely in composition
and materials, as well as the situation of the nest, as also the size
and marking of the eggs, do those of this species resemble that of
the Canadian warbler, that it would be difficult to decide which
belonged to each species, unless the owners were identified on or
close by the nest. A few points of variation may be noted, and
this subject will again be referred to in the article on the nest of

230 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

the Canadian warbler ; M. varia usually selects a nesting site
in the " upper side " of the up-turned root and generally higher
oflF the ground, and the eggs are usually less oblong in form than
those of Canadensis. This species is not an abundant summer
resident in this district, and scarcely a dozen nests of this bird have
come under my observation in all my Wildwood rambles ; yet in all
the low-land woods of this country some of the species may be
found, and in such tracts it makes its haunts and home during the
period that it remains in this province ; and here, from the early
days of May, till towards the end of June, its song notes may be
heard, and this period may be regarded as its nesting time ; but
whether it nests more than once in the season I do not know. In all
probability when the first set of eggs is taken before incubation
begins, it nests again, but it may be taken as certain that in does
not raise more than one brood in the season ; and considering the
many enemies to whose depredations its nests are exposed, it is
very probable that many of the species come and go without
having increased their numbers ; the cow-bird is one of its worst
enemies.

The Canadian Warbler.

On the 28th of May, when passing the " old root " of a fallen
tree I discovered the newly made nest of a small bird, which at
first I thought might be that of a mourning warbler, whose scold-
ing notes I heard near by. On the 5th of June, when I thought
the set of eggs would be deposited I revisited the place. On the
nest sat. the mother bird, and there she remained till I almost
touched her with my hand, then she flushed out, making some
attempts to draw off my attention ; and uttered a few sharp
"chips," and I saw at once that she was a Canadian warbler.
The nest then contained five eggs, and incubation had begun.
The nest was placed in a cavity among the rocks, only a few
inches above the more level earth, and was composed of dry
leaves, strips of bark, and other fine vegetable fibers, and lined
with some long horse-hair. When placed side by side with that
of M. varia previously described, I make this comparison of the
nests and their sets of eggs, after the latter are blown. The nests
^in composition and size — are very much alike ; both are rather

1902] Kells — Nesting of some Canadian Warblers. 231

loosely put together, but there is quite a distinguishing' difference
in the eggs. Those ot M. varia are actually the largest, and
more globular in form, and the ground color more of a chalky
whiteness, and the spotting more of a brownish hue ; with a
general tendency to form a wreath about the larger end, and
be distributed over the surface, even to the smaller point.
The eggs of the Canadian warbler have a clear white hue,
with a beautiful rosy blush, and the coloring which clouds the
whole of the larger end of each ^^^^t has more of an orange
tinge than either reddish or brown, the dotting on the sur-
face is more separated, and the approach to the smaller point more
devoid of dotting than are those of M. varia ; but in all the
specimens the variations are so numerous that it is difficult to
describe them. This species is very local in its distribution, being
generally found to frequent the borders of swampy woodlands,
having much the same habitat as the water thrush and M.
varia ; but here it is more abundant than either of the other
species, and seems more disposed to explore the underwood of the
higher hardwood lands and to nest on more level ground. Alto-
gether, about a score of the nests of this species have come under
my observation in my woodland rambles in this vicinity in the
past twenty years; and, as in the case of the water thrush, black
and white warbler, and several other species, several of these nests
were in cavities previously prepared for them. The song of the
male of this species is generally emitted at a height ot twenty feet
from the ground, and is rather a plaintive warble than an expression
of joyfulness, and is rapidly repeated in an emphatic tone of voice;
and the attentive student of bird music will soon learn to distin-
guish it from those of the other warblers. Like most other of our
minor birds, this species is frequently imposed upon by the vaga-
bond cow-bird. It is uncertain if the male assists the female in
the duty of incubation, but he certainly helps to feed and protect
the young. When the first set of eggs is taken, they nest again;
but, if not molested, only one brood is raised in the season. The
nesting period extends trom the middle of May to the first week
in July. The ground-nesting warblers have many enemies; and
it is evident that many pairs of them come to this country, and

232 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January ,

return again to their winter homes, without being being able to
raise a single offspring.

On the 15th of June I saw another nest of the Canadian
warbler, which then contained young a few days old. This was
placed in the upper side of a hemlock "up turn," on the lower side
of which I had noted a nest of the species the two previous years.
As I had occasion to pass that way during the following days, I
several times saw the mother bird seated on the nest, brooding
over her young; and I thought as I gazed on the lovely creature
that a more perfect picture of motherly care, affection and peace-
tulness could not be imagined, and I was pleased {o think that she
would succeed in raising her little family in peace and safety.

The Oven Bird.

On the 14th of June, as I was passing with a team of horses
attached to a wagon, along a road-way through the above men-
tioned wood, my companion directed my attention to the action of
a small bird that was seen to flush almost from under the horses'
feet, and by her manner of running along the ground, indicated
that she had been disturbed oflfher nest. A little search discovered
her home which contained three young just hatched out. This
was a nest of an oven bird, otherwise known as the acceator, or
golden-crowned thrush. It was partly sunk in the virgin mould,
amid dry leaves and some wild flower stalks, and under a small
branch, and composed of dry leaves and decayed vegetable stalks,
and being covered over like a small hut, or oven, was so well con-
cealed that the passer by even in searching for it, could fail in
most cases to notice it ; and this site was only a few inches from
where the horses and cattle had walked with heavy steps, and
where the wheels of the wagon had sunk deep in the soft earth.
It contained three young just hatched ; and the mother bird in
leaving it acted more like a mouse, than a creature with wings.
This interesting member of the warbler family is still a tolerably
common summer resident of the remnant of our forest; and owing
to the peculiar manner in which it constructs its nest, manages to
secrete its eggs, and thus continues its existence in its ancestoral
home, from which so many others of the avifaunian race have been
driven to seek new homes in more secluded retreats. The mother

1902] Correspondence. 233

bird also sits very close on her nest, and will allow herself to be
almost trodden upon or caught within her hut-like nest before she
leaves her charge. The set of eggs usually numbers four, occa-
sionally five; these are of a whitish hue, wreathed and dotted,
mostly on the larger end, wilh spots of brownish or flesh color.
Like most other small birds, this species is often imposed upon by
the cow-bird. If her first set of eggs is removed she nests again,
but only one brood is raised in the season. The oven-bird arrives
in this vicinity about the first week of May, and its song continues
about eight weeks. When, on a June day, as I wander in the
wooded lands and hear the song, or see the nest of this bird, my
memory recalls my boyhood days and early pioneer rambles in
what was then a portion of the backwoods of Western Canada;
and now, as then, I note that this species seems disposed to locate
its nesting place by the side of the cow-path, and among low
underwood.

NOTE ON BROOD -CARE IN REPTILES.
To the Editor of The Ottawa Naturalist.

Dear Sir, — In an interesting note appearing in the December
number of the Ottawa Naturalist on the oviposition of the Mud
Turtle, the writer quotes an observant friend as saying that
" though he never saw a young turtle come out of a nest, his
belief is that the mother watches the nest, and, when the young
are hatched, either oulls the top off the nest or puts down her
claws and lifts the little ones out." Natural History consists not
of beliefs but of carefully ascertained facts. As nobody has ever
observed any turtle trouble itself about its eggs once they have
been laid and covered up, one must be excused for hesitating to
share this "belief." The brood-care so well developed in birds,
the mammals, and some of the highest fishes (teleosts), is a much
simpler thing in the reptile. There is very little evidence of any
reptilian interest in the young, and what evidence there is relates
so far as I know, to the snake and crocodile only. Any observa-
tions of such an instinct in the turtle would be very interesting.

C. GUILLET.

234 The Ottawa Naturalist [January

SCUDDER'S BLUE.
By J. B. Williams, F. Z. S.

Dr. Scudder's interesting article in the August number of the
Ottawa Naturalist on " My First Namesake," brought to my
mind the fact of there being a second brood ot LycKua scndderi ;
and I went to High Park, near Toronto, on the evening of August
i6th, to try and find some of these butterflies. I had secured
quite a number of the first brood on the lupine patches there
during the month of June. It was almost six o'clock before I was
able to reach the Park, and I quite feared that it would be too
late ; however, the place was exposed to the setting sun, and a
number were still flying about ; so that, in half an hour, two
males and eight females of the desired species were captured.
Several of them flew up from tall grass growing where the lupines
flourished in the early summer. The flowering stems of the
lupines were all dead, and the few leaves that remained near the
ground were half withered, and did not look as if they would form
very nourishing food for the young caterpillars, if the eggs of the
second brood hatch in August. I therefore went again to High
Park on December 7th, to see if any trace of eggs or chrysalids
could be found. It was a mild, dry, afternoon, and I grubbed
about on hands and knees among the dead lupine plants for a
good hour ; and as a result, found two tiny white objects, one on
a piece of stalk, and one a seed-pod, which when looked at under
a pocket-lens, appeared to be the "turban-shaped elegantly
chased eggs," described by Dr. Scudder.

A mounted policeman who was patrolling the Park seemed
rather suspicious of my movements, perhaps thinking he had
come across an escaped lunatic, for the asylum is on that side of
the city ; and to the uninitiated, my actions may have appeared
rather curious. When I got back to the road, he was standing a
short distance from the Park conferring with a brother officer,
and as I passed, one of them saluted me with " good afternoon."
My answer was, I suppose satisfactory, for they made no attempt
at an arrest, and I got safely back to the city with the two
butterfly eggs. The price has fallen since Dr. Scudder collected
at Albany, for my trip was a cheap one, and they only cost about
seven cents apiece ; nevertheless, that is a good price for such
small objects, and I shall be sorry if they turn out, after all, to be
something else, and do not hatch out in the summer as Scudder's
Blue.

1902] Moore— The Bobolink's Love for its Home. 235

THE BOBOLINK'S LOVE FOR ITS HOME.

i

By W. H. Moore, Scotch Lake, N.B.

(Read before the Ornithological Section of the Entomological Society of

Ontario.)

In the little experience the writer has had in ornitholog'ical
study, there is no incident more deeply impressed upon his mind
than the love of a pair of bobolinks for their home.

June i6th, 1900, the writer and his brother C. were clearing
drift material from a piece of island meadow, which overflows
during- the spring freshet in the St. John River. A bobolink nest
containing three eggs was discovered, but not until the nest had
been overturned and the eggs scattered about. The nest and eggs
were gathered together and put in our lunch basket and taken
home. Next day (June 17th) we were again employed in clearing
up the drift. As we were about leaving for home, C. inquired
what kind of nest that was, with one egg in it ? On answering
that I did not know of any nest there, but that that was where I
had obtained the bobolink's nest the day before, he said tnere was
a nest with one egg. Sure enough, in the depression where the
nest had been, the birds had collected a tew of the scattered straws
of the nest and on them deposited an egg.

What impressed the writer most strongly was that the birds
should repair the nest at all, for on just such occasions song and
Savannah sparrows' nests had been partly destroyed, but the old
birds were discouraged, and never returned to finish incubating.
It was for this reason that the bobolink eggs were taken the first
day. The egg laid on the 17th was taken and makes one of a set
of four eggs, which afford an interesting bit of bobolink history.
When cutting the grass on our island lot, young birds are
often found which cannot fly, and when it happens to be a bobo-
link's nest, the old female will fly about over the spot searching
for its young. The flight at such times is undulating in small
circles, but often Vvhen no person is near, the mother bird alights
and searches in the grass to find the young and teed them. If the
young are large enough to leave the nest, they are led to a place
f safety. The male seems to be much less concerned in respect

236 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

to the safety of the young ; he seems to think more of saving his
own colours, which he changes here by ihe first week in August.
After that date the plumage of male and female, old and young,
is very nearly the same, and they congregate in flocks of hundreds
which resort to some favorite place to roost at night. During
the latter half of August they begin the southward journey, and
their " pink," "pink," is often heard high overhead, so high in-
deed that the birds are indiscernable to the naked eye.

SOIREES.

The first Soiree of the season was held in the Assembly Hall
of the Normal School on the evening of Dec 12th. In the absence
of Dr. MacCabe, an address of welcome was delivered by Dr.
Sinclair.

Dr. Robert Bell in his Presidential address "On the Extinc-
tion of Useful Animals in Modern Times," referred to the general
tendency to extinction of all species of animals which had obtained
throughout zoological time, and showed that while in a state of
nature a balance was generally maintained any interference by
man accelerated the tendency towards extinction. Prot. Macoun,
Mr. Shutt and Mr. Halkett also spoke briefly.

As is usual at the opening Soiree of the Club's lecture season,
a portion of the evening was devoted to the exhibition of natural
history objects and microscopic slides. Several members of the
Club had loaned microscopes, and these added not a little to the
interest and success of the meeting.

A mounted collection ot perennial plants suitable for Ottawa,

grown at the Experimental Farm, was exhibited by Mr. W. T.

Macoun, and a very beautiful collection of fifty water colour paint-
ings of Manitoba plants were shown by Dr. Fletcher with the
artist's permission. These were painted by Mr. Norman Criddle
of Ameme, Man., and attracted much attention not only on
account ot their artistic merit but also for iheir scientific
accuracy.

Mr. Odell's living specimens of reptiles, and Mr. Halkett's
living fish were among the most interesting objects shown.

The next Soiree will be held in the Y. M. C. A. Assembly
Hall, when Dr. R. A. Daly will read a paper " On the Relation of
Geology to Geography," illustrated by lantern slides.

1902] To Our Ottawa Members. 237

TO OUR OTTAWA MEMBERS.

Half the Club's year has passed — half is before us. Each
season should have for our members its own particular work
and interests. Apart from the publication of The Ottawa
Naturalist, the two chief features of our organized life are the
summer excursions and the winter lecture course. We all regret
extremely that owing to untoward circumstances — principally un-
favourable weather — our general excursions were not perhaps as
successful as in past years. The sub-excursions, at the opening
of the season, were well attended and the leaders report good col-
lections being made.

The Soirde Committee appeal to the members to make the
remainder of our year as successful as possible. Everyone can
help towards this end by attendance at the lectures and by an in-
telligent interest in the subjects discussed.

The Council has made a departure this year — a most im-
portant one, one which should commend itself to all. As will be
seen by the programme, we have secured for three nights of the
course several new lecturers, some from outside the city — two
from Montreal and one from London, Ontario. These lecturers,
are well known men — specialists upon the subjects they will dis-
cuss, and we feel there is a great treat in store for us.

As Chairman of the Lecture Committee, may I invite, or if
necessary, urge, regular attendance throughout the course, which
will^be found one of particular interest. But if regular attendance
is impossible, every member should strive to be present on the
evenings when our visiting lecturers are with us. Come and
bring your friends. Let us have the hall full, and thus show our
appreciation of their kindness.

One word further. We should very much like to see fifty new
names added to the membership roll this winter. To meet the
increased expenditure in connection with the lecture course the
money is needed, but altogether apart from that aspect, we want
the members. It we all make some little effort, this increase is
quite feasible. Every year, if the Club is vigorous and doing its
work, should see an accession of members, but for several years
past the proposals of new names for membership have not been as
numerous as they might have been.

Finally, keep your programme where you can at all times
refer to it, and let our Tuesday evenings have the first claim
among your engagements.

F. T. Shutt.

238 The Ottawa Naturalist. [January

REVIEWS.

Sylvan Ontario. A Guide to our Native Trees and Shrubs.
By W. H. Muldrew. William Briggs. Toronto. 1901.
Illustrated with 131 Leaf-drawings.

When Prof. Muldrew established in the grounds of the
Gravenhurst High School an Arboretum in which he has now
growing practically all the trees and shrubs of the Muskoka dis-
trict he not only hit upon the best method of interesting his pupils
in botany and especially the care and culture of trees, but he did a
service to the town itself which might be imitated by other head-
masters of public and high schools all over Canada. But when
he went a step further and originated and elaborated his system of
identifying trees and shrubs by their leaves alone he made it easy
for any intelligent person, whether a botanist or not, to know
them after a few minutes' study.

His plan is sirriplicity itself. After first describing the dif-
ferent kinds of leaves, their arrangement on the stem, their mar-
gins, shape, venation, etc., and figuring 131 forms of leaves, he
separates the Ontario trees and shrubs into groups by their leaves
and all the knowledge required to use the " Index based on the
leaves '' may be acquired by a careful reading of the six pages
which precede it. But should there be any uncertainty in deter-
mining a difficult species the index is followed by a catalogue of
all the species referred to in the index and where it has been
thought necessary a few words of further description are added,
together with the habitat and distribution of the species. Students
of botany and everyone who wishes to know cut shrubs and trees
should possess a copy of Sylvan Ontario.

Manual of the Flora of the Northern States and Canada.

By Nathaniel Lord Britton. New York. Henry Holt &

Co., 1901.
This long expected manual, based on Britton & Br ^wn's Illus^
trated Flora of the Northern States and Canada has just been
published, and will be reviewed in an early number of The
Naturalist. .^-^XTX'>>^

THE OTTAWA I(ATURALIST.

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, FEBRUARY, 1902. No. 11.

MAMMALS OF THE CHILLIWACK DISTRICT, B.C.

By Allan Brooks.

Chilliwack lies on the south bank of the Eraser River, the
valley proper being- a very level stretch of alluvial land some
seventy feet above sea level. On the east, the Cascades rise sheer
from the flat land to the height of from 5,000 to 8,000 feet, Mt.
Baker to the southward being over 14,000 feet. The fauna of the
lower levels is typical of the coast district, the higher peaks ex-
tending into the boreal and alpine zones, which give a great
diversity of fauna and flora for so small an area.

Most of my mammal collecting was done between 1894 ^nd
1900, prior to that time my attention being devoted mainly to
birds.

I made many trips into the mountains, including the Mt.
Baker range on 49th parallel, Tami Hy peak, Chilliwack Lake,
and mountains to the southeast of this lake, mountains at head of
Stave lake, Cheam peak, and many of the smaller mountains ; so
the district was very fairly covered by me. Most of my collections
were sent to, and identified by, Mr. Outram Bangs and Mr. Senit
S. Miller, Jr. I have also supplied skins to the Biological Survey
collection and a few to Mr. S. Rhoads, as well as skins of a pair
of most of the species enumerated to the Provincial Museum,
Victoria, B.C.

Many of the rodents may be intergrades with the forms occur-
ring to the east of Cascade Range. One or two bats not enumer-
ated may occur, for instance Atalphacinerea and Myostis longicrus;
I am pretty sure I have taken the last. The wolverine occurs in
the mountains to the north and may be found in the district,

240 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

1. Cervus Canadensis. Wapiti, or Elk.

The elk, once numerous, is now extinct south of the Fraser, but I have
many reliable reports that a bunch still holds out in the mountains
at the head of Harrison Lake.

2. Cariacns columbianus. Black-tailed Deer.

Common in some localities and very scarce in -others ; the mule-deer
overlaps the range of this species on the summit east of Hope.

3. Mazama montana. White Goat.

Irregfular in its distribution on the highest peaks.

4. Sciuropteriis oregoneiisis. Pacific Flying Squirrel.

Generally distributed both on the mountains and lowlands.

5. Sciurus donglassi. Douglas' Squirrel.

Abundant at all elevations.

6. Eutamias to-wnsendi. Townsend's Chipmunk.

Common in the valley, and ascending the mountains to the park-like
glades near timber line at about 5,000 feet.

7. Eutamias qiiadrivHtatus felix. Cascade Chipmunk.

Abundant from about 5,000 feet to summits of the high rocky pc^ks
above timber line.

The locality where I collected the type specimens was Lumsden
Mountain on 49th parallel, due north of Mount Baker.

8. Arctomys caUgatus. Hoary Marmot.

On all the alpine peaks, very rarely descending into the valleys.

9. Aplodontia tufa. Sewellel.

Very rarely seen in the valley, but more or less common on all the
foothills and higher mountains ; very abundant on the southern
slopes of all the higher mountains, where the ground is in some
places completely honeycombed with their underground runways.
It is never found away from water or small springs, and does not
ascend above timber line. Locally known as " Mountain Beaver."

:o. Castor canadensis. Beaver.

I have taken specimens as late as 1900, and a few still hold out in the
mountain streams, and occasionally in the Fraser itself.

11. Mus decumanus. Norway Rat.

Introduced.

12. Mils musculus. House Mouse.

Introduced and driving the indigenous white-footed mouse from most
of the houses and barns.

1902] Mammals OF THE Chilliwack District, B.C. 241

13. Peromyscus austnis. White-footed Mouse.

Abundant at low elevations.

14. Peromyscus areas. Bangf's White-footed Mouse.

Abundant on mountains and in heavily timbered foothills. I took the
type specimens on Lumsden Mountain at an elevation of about
5,500 feet.

15. Neotoma cinerea columbiana. Wood Rat.

Rare in the valley, common in the mountains ; for several years prior
to 1897 wood rats were extremely scarce.

16. Evotomys saturatus. Western Red-backed Vole.

I have never taken this species in the valley, but from the foothills to
timber line it is common. I took some very pale Evotomys at Stave
Lake in '96, which Mr. Miller identified as differing- but slightly
from saturatus ; Stave Lake lies between Agassiz and Port Moody,
at both of which points has been taken another species oi Evotomvs,
described by Mr. Vernon Bailey in his monograph of the genus.

17. Phenacomys orophilus. Mountain Lemming Vole.

Taken only on Lumsden, Mt. Baker Range, at an altitude of about
5,500 feet, described by Mr. Rhoads as a new species {"■ oramontis ")
from these specimens.

18. Microtus mordax. Cantankerous Vole.

Mr. Vernon Bailey in his excellent " Revision of the North American
Voles." states that no form of the longicaudus group occurs on the high
Cascades. I took three specimens of either mordax or macrourus on
Lumsden Mountain at an altitude of 5,500 feet in August '95. These I
sent to Mr. Senit S. Miller, in size they resembled marourus but in
coloration were nearer motdax.

19. Microtus ricliardsoni arvicoloides. Giant V'ole.

Common on all the higher peaks, being especially abundant in the
dense growth of pink flowered Mimulus which fringes the little snow-fed
streams. Like other voles, it is subject to epidemics which thin them out
when they become too numerous ; in '99 I noticed numbers of dead
ones on the mountain tops.

20. Microtus to7vnsendi. Townsend's Vole.

In the fields and meadows of the valleys only, some times abundant, at
others scarce.

21. Microtus oregoni serpens. Creeping Vole.

Abundant in the valleys, where nearly every log in the woods has one
of their underground runways beneath it. I have also taken it at timber
line in the mountains (6,500 feet.)

Not often noticed on account of its subteranean habits.

242 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

22. Fiber osoyosensis. Pacific Muskrat.

Common.

23. Zapus trionotus. Western Jiimpingf Mouse.

Found in suitable localities from sea level to 7,000 feet. Most abundant
on the mountain tops.

24. Erithison epixanthus. Western Porcupine.

Very scarce.

25. Lagomys minimus. Least Pika.

Mr. Bangs has re-instated Lord's species from specimens I sent him
taken near the type locality. Found in nearly all rock-slides from 100
feet to summits of highest peaks.

26. Lepus washingtoni. Washington Hare.

Common in the bottom lands.

27. Lepus columbiensis. Columbian Varying Hare.

This is one of the only mammals that are found in this locality I have
never succeeded in taking specimens of. The hares north of the Fraser
and in the mountains all turn white.

28. Felis oregonensis. Pacific Cougar.

Not uncommon and very destructive to both game and stock. In some
localities they have about exterminated the deer. I have then noticed the
bones and teeth of Aplodontia in their dung. The young ones are hand-
somely spotted, differing in this respect from the form found east of the
Cascades.

29. Lynx canadensis. Canada Lynx.

Now very scarce, used to be not uncommon.

30. Lynx fasciatus. Coast Wildcat.

Not uncommon, used to be abundant.

31. Canis occidentalis. Wolf.

Very scarce, both the black and gray forms occur.

32. Canis latrans. Coyote.

Coyotes of late years have made their appearance in the Chilliwack
Valley.

33. Vtilpes vulpes. Red Fox.

I have heard one or two reports of foxes, and saw the remains of a red
one that was killed at Pitt meadows.

34. Utsus horribilis. Grizzly Bear.

Found in the mountains only. I saw one shot near Summit Lake, of
an almost uniform drab gray, almost white.

35. Ursus americanus. Black Bear.

Once abundant but getting scarcer — still does great damage to raisers
pf hogs. Both black and "cinnamon " forms occur and intergrade.

1902 J Mammals of the Chilliwack District, B.C. 243

36. Pt ocy on psora pacijica. Pacific Racoon.

Common at low elevations.

37. Rutra canadensis. Otter.

Fairly common.

38. Mephitis spissigrada. Pacific Skunk.

Common. Described by Mr. Bangs from specimens sent to him by me
from Sumas.

39. Spilogale phenax latifrons. Little Stupid Skunk.

" Civets " are found from the lowest levels at all events up to 4000 feet,
and probably higher.

Scarce in the late winter and spring, but numbers can be taken in the
fall and early winter months.

40. Lutfeola energmnenos. Pacific Mink.

Common. Mr. W. H. Osgood has lately described the Alaskan
mink as a new species, larger and paler than energmnenos. In this con-
nection I may state that the type specimen of energumenos was very
much smaller than those I took later. The color is generally very dark,
but sometimes much paler — a warm reddish umber.

41. Putorius longicaudus saturatus. Long-tailed Weasel.

Very scare. I have only noticed it at low elevations and have only
taken one. Unlike the next species, I think it always turns white in
winter.

42. Putorius cicognani. Bonaparte's Weasel.

Common. In the valley this weasel rarely turns white in winter, at
high elevations always does so.

43. Putorius cicognani streatori. Puget Sound Weasel.

One or two typical examples taken.

44. Mustela caurina. North Western Marten.

Scarce. Mustela americana also probably occurs.

45. Mustela pennanti. Fisher.

At one time frequently seen throughout the district, now very rare.

46-47. Vespertilio /uscus. Brown Bat.
Rather scarce.

48. Vesperugo noctivagans. Silvery Bat.

Common.

49. Myotis evotis. Large-eared Bat.

I have several times taken a medium sized dark brown bat which
must be this species, though the ears seemed too short ; what I took to
be the young were uniformly blackish.

244 ^"^ Ottawa Naturalist [February

50. Myotis californicus. California Bat.

Common. Most specimens are dark enouj^fh for the form caurinus.

51. Myotis saturatus.

This little bat is the most numerous of the gfcnus.

52. Sotex personatus. Masked Shrew,

I have only taken this at very high elevations.

53. Sorex troivhridgi. Trowbridge's Shew.

Common in the thick woods ; I have not taken il above 2,000 feet.
Very hard to g'et g^ood specimens, as the fur on abdomen slips within
an hour after death. 5. vagrans and obscurus taken in same localities
will keep for eight hours or more.

54. Sorex vagrans. Wandering Shrew.

Abundant in the valley, and once taken at 6,000 feet elevation.

55. Sorex obscurus. Dusky Shrew.

Abundant, replaced on mountain tops by next species.

56. Sorex longicaudus. Long-tailed Shrew.

Common at hig'h elevations.

57. Sorex vancouverensis. Vancouver Island Shrew.

I have several times taken very dark seal-brown shrews with the size
and teeth formation of vagrans which must be this species. Specimens
taken on the foothill between the Chilliwack river and Chilliwack
valley were all of this race.

58. Sorex {Atophyrax) bendirei. Bendire's Shrew.

This fine shrew is fairly common in thick woods and swamps in the
valley.

59. Neurotrichus gibbsi. Shrew Mole.

Abundant in the valley in thick woods, and I took one specimen at
timber line near 49th parallel when trapping for Phenacomes among the
short juniper and heather, with banks of eternal snow all around.

60. Scapanus townsendi. Townsend's Mole.

Common in the portions of the valley not affected by Fraser floods,
and exceedingly hard to trap, more so than a Beaver or Otter.

1902] CouBEAUx — Birds of the Saskatchewan Valleys 245

SYNOPSIS OF THE BIRDS OF THE SASKATCHEWAN
VALLEYS AND TRIBUTARIES.

By EuG. CouBEAUX, Prince Albert, Sask., N.W.T.

The present key is based on the recent catalogue of Canadian
Birds by Professor John Macoun, M.A., F.R.S.C. (Ottawa, 1900,
Part I), and on my own collection and observations.

It includes all the species commonly found or more or less
frequently met with in the two valleys of the Saskatchewan and in
those of their tributaries.

In order to find the name of a bird with this key, see whether
the characters of the bird agree with those described in the key,
beginning with No. i in the first column of figures and following
the numbers of this column consecutively (i, 2, 3, etc.) as long
as the characters agree until the name of the bird is reached.

If a character does not agree, see what the number in the
second column of figures is ; then find the same number in the
first column lower down, and proceed as above.

This key is based on conspicuous characters only, without
regard to the genus, the family and the orders. It is above all
for field use and mainly made with fresh birds.

ANSERES.
Lamellirostral Swimmers.

Three toes directed forwards, webbed. Bill flat, broad, laminated
on sides.

1 17 Hind toe not lobed.

2 5 Neck rather long, bill with a soft cere extending to eye.

3 4 Bill entirely yellow or yellowish. Length 4-5 feet.

Olor Buccinator (Rich.) Wagler. Trumpeter Swan.

4 3 Bill having the tip black. Length 4^ feet.

Olor Columbianus (Ord.) Stephn. Whistling Swan.

5 2 Neck shorter, bill without cere.

6 12 Bill shorter than head.

7 13 Hind toe very short and elevated.

8 1 1 Neck entirely black.

9 10 Tail of 18 to 20 quills. Length 35 in.

Branta Canadensis (Linn.) Bannister. Canada Goosei

12

6

13

7

M

15

246 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

10 II Tail of 16 quills. Smaller, 30 in.

Branta Canadensis huicMnsii{^\c\\.^ Coues. Hutchins's

Goose.

11 9 Neck with a white patch on each side. Length 23 to

24 in.

Branta hernicla (Linn.) Scopoli. Brant.

Bill as long as head.

Hind toe reaching the ground.

Forehead white. 26-27 in.

Anser albifrons gambeli (Hartl.) Coues. American
White-fronted Goose. Laughing Goose.

15 14 No white on the forehead. Entirely bluish,

Chen ccerulescens (Linn.) Gundl. Blue Goose.

16 15 Adult white, bill reddish. Young more or less mottled

with gray. About 30 in.
Cheyi hyperhorea nivalis (Forst.) Ridgw. Greater Snow

Goose. ^

17 I Hind toe long and lobed.

18 33 Lobe of the hind toe narrow and not more than \ of an

inch. Nostril at base of bill.

19 20 Bill narrowed at base and much enlarged at tip

Spatula clypeata (Linn.) Boie. Shoveller. Spoon-bill.

20 19 Bill equally broad throughout or nearly so.

21 24 Bill conspicuously shorter than head and the middle toe

and claw.

22 23 First and second quills longest; bill blue black at tip.

Length 20-22 inches.
Mareca Americana {GiQ,v!\\.) Stephens. American Widgeon.

Baldpate.

23 22 Second quill longest, bill green, olive. Length 19 in.

Aix sponsa (Linn.) Bonap. Wood Duck.

24 21 Bill longer or as long as head, and longer or as long as

the middle toe and claw.

25 30 First quill longest; of large size, 19 to 24 inches.

^ I do not mention the typical species, the Chen hyperborea (Pall.), as it
seems to be only an accidental species in the west (vide Macoun, /. c, p. 114).

1902] CouBEAux-- Birds OF THE Saskatchewan Valleys. 247

27 27 Speculum white or whitish, or dusky speckled with white.
Length 19-22 inches.

Chaulelasmus strepera (Linn.) Bonap. Grey Duck.

27 26 Speculum glossy green or greenish, purple and blue.

28 29 Male, head and neck dark, neck with a white ring.

Anas Boschas Linn. Mallard.

29 28 Head dusky, fore part of the neck white; middle rectrices

longer than the other quills.

Dafila acuta (Linn.) Bonap. Pintail. Springtail.

Females.

With the wings as in the male ; head, neck and under

parts pale ochrey, speckled and streaked with dusky.

About 24 inches.

A?ias boschas.

With only a trace of the speculum between the white or
whitish tips of the greater coverts and secondaries.
The whole head and neck speckled or finely streaked
with dark brown, and grayish or yellowish-brown ; be-
low, dusky freckled ; above, blackish ; all the feathers

pale-edged.

Dafila acuta. ^

30 25 Second quill longest. Of small size, 13-17 inches.

31 32 Wing coverts pale blue; bill slightly enlarged.

Querquedula discors (Linn.) Stephens. Blue-winged Teal.

32 31 Wing coverts dusky.

Nettion Carolinensis (Gm.) Baird. Green-winged Teal.^

33 18 Hind toe short, broadly lobed; lobe broader than \ of an

inch.

34 51 Bill elevated at base, flat and broad towards tip which

has a strong horny nail.

^ I put off the Anas obscura Gmel., the black duck, which is the common
wild duck of the Maritime Provinces, though a few stragglers reach some-
times Manitoba {vide Macoun, /. c. p. 76.)

^ I do not include the Oiierquediila cyanoptera, the Cinnamon teal, a
southern species, which is only a very rare straggler in Manitoba {vide
Macoun, /. c. p. 83).

37

36

38

44

39

42

248 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

35 49 Nail small, holding only the middle of the tip of bill,

36 37 Rectrices very narrow, pointed and stiff, 18 in number.

Erismatiira Jamaicensis (Gmel.) Sal v. Ruddy Duck.

Rectrices softer.

Of small size, less than 20 inches.

Bill keel hollow, slightly enlarged towards tip; nail \ to
y^ of an inch.

40 41 Speculum white, bill blue. About 16 inches.

Aythya affinis (Eyt.) Stepn. Lesser Scaup Duck. Blue-
bill.

41 40 Speculum gray ash, About 18 inches.

Aythya collaris {Donow .^ '^\d,^\N . Ring-necked Duck, ^

42 39 Bill keel round and smooth, equally broad throughout,

blue, with a very small nail. Length 15 inches.
Charitonetta alheola (Linn.) Stepu. Buffle-head. Spirit

Duck.

43 42 Bill black with above white at base. 18-19 inches.

Clangula clangula Americana Faxon. American Golden-
eve. Whistler.

44 38 Of large size, 20 to 24 inches.

45 46 Head and neck black.

Aythyamarila (Linn.) Boie. American Scaup Duck. Big
Black-head.

46 45 Head and neck rich chestnut or ruddy chestnut.

47 48 Bill shorter than head (two or less), dull blue with a black

belt at end. Nostrils within its basal half.
Aythya Americana (Eyt.) Baird. Red-head. Pochard.

48 47 Bill not shorter than head (two and a half or more),

blackish with nostrils at its middle.

Aythya Vallisneria (Wils.) Boie. Canvas-back Duck.

49 35 ^'3^\ very large, larger than \ of an inch, and holding the

whole of the end of the bill.

^ I include that Manitoban species, as a few stragfglers may reach
the eastern part of the partly wooded prairie in Saskatchewan.

1902] Ornithological Notes. 249

50 51 Bill gibbous at base, nostril nearly at its middle ; birds

black or dusky.

Oidemia Deglandt'Qondip. White-wing-ed Scoter.

51 34 Bill fctraight, tip hooked. Rectrices stiff.

52 53 Of small size, less than 20 inches, from 17 to 20.

Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.) Reich. Hooded Merganser.

53 52 Larger, from 20 to 27 inches.

54 55 Wing with one black bar. 26-26^ inches.

Merganser Americanus (Cass.) Stepn. American Mer-
ganser. Goosander.

55 54 Wing with two black bars- 23-23}^ inches.

Merganser Serrator (Linn.) Schaff. Red-breasted Mer-
ganser.

ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES.

The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chryscetos) in Ontario.

Through the kind exertions of Mr. Edwin Beaupr6, of Kings-
ton, two specimens of this fine species have recently been acquired
for the Museum of the Geological Survey. One of these, which
is said to be a female, was shot November iith, 1901, flying over
Mud Lake, Odessa, Lennox Co., by Mr. Smith. Odessa, it may
be added, is ten miles from Kingston. The other, which is said to
be a male, was shot November 15th, 1901, at Westbrooke, Fron-
tenac Co., by Mr. Redden. Westbrooke is seven miles from
Kingston and three from Odessa.

In the Museum of the Survey there were previously two
specimens of the Golden Eagle, both of which are from Ontario.
One, which is said to be a female, was shot near Woodbridge,
York Co., in November, 1897, and the other, which is said to be
a male, was shot near Brampton, some twenty five years ago.

It has long been known that in this species the sexes are so
similar, in colour, size, &c., that it is scarcely possible to distin-
guish them without dissection.

Although circumpolar in its range the Golden Eagle is no-
where very common, and it seems desirable to place upon record
these four instances of its occurrence in the Province of Ontario.

J. F. Whiteaves,
Ottawa, Jan. 20, 1902.

250 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

SOME NEW CANADIAN SENECIOS.

By Edw. L. Greene.

The following- members of the genus Senec'to^ all apparently
hitherto undescribed, form a part of a most rich and valuable col-
lection of plants made by Mr. James M. Macoun in the Chilliwack
Valley, B.C., during- the summer of 1901.

Senecio crepidineus. Perennial, low but rather stout and
very leafy, allied to S. taraxacoides and S. Hohnii, commonly 4 to 7
inches high, lightly somewhat arachnoid or floccose-pubescent, or
often almost glabrous : leaves mostly basal and supra basal, the
one or two properly cauline quite similar to, and scarcely smaller
than the others, all obovate-lanceolate, i )^ to 4 inches long,
tapering to a broad petiole, acutish, saliently and sharply dentate:
corymbose panicle of large more or less nodding heads little or
not at all surpassing the leaves : involucres nearly yi inch high,
subcylindric, the linear bracts about 10 ; rays about as many,
light-yellow, about 5-nerved.

Collected at an altitude of 6,000 feet; closely allied to several
alpine and subalpine species of the more southerly Rocky Moun-
tains, the whole terming a group of which S. Soldanella may be
considered typical. The heads in this new one are much more
numerous and notably narrower than in any of the allied species.
Its number in the Geol. Surv. collection is 26,678. Its habitat, as
given by Mr. Macoun is "damp debris on a snow-slide."

Senecio prionophyllus. Resembling S. triangularis, but
leaves on shorter petioles and distinctly hastate, more gradually
acuminate, much more deeply and sharply serrate-dentate, in
texture much firmer and dark-green, with venation pale or whitish,
underneath whitish tomentulose, above obscurely and sparse^
short-hairy, but the stem densely villous-tomentulose from base
almost to summit,, this indument subfuscous : inflorescence dense
and more fastigiate than in S. triangularis ; the rays longer anu
very narrovV : achenes short and slender-columnar, not narrowed
under the pappus, this very fine and promptly deciduous.

1902] Soirees. 251

The type of this is Mr. Macoun's No. 26,675, collected 8 Aug.,
on the southern slope of the Cheam Range, with Bromus niargin-
atus and CastUleia miniata, Sit 4,000 feet. Number 26,676, col-
lected Aug. 1 2th within a few yards of No. 26,675, ^ ^^^^ refer to
it though it is far less notably pubescent, while at the same time
it exhibits quite as strongly all those peculiarities of inflorescence,
ray flowers, etc., by which the species stands in contrast with
S. triangxdatis .

Senecio dileptiifolius. Allied to S. aureus, the rather
stoutish stems a foot high, from a firm short-jointed nearly
horizontal rootstock ; herbage deep-green and glabrous, small
tufts of white wool occupying almost the axils of the leaves and
pedicels : lowest leaves with broadly oblanceolate incisely serrate
blade an inch long or more, and a slender petiole about as long ;
the lower and middle cauline considerably larger and more deeply
incised but also petiolate, only the uppermost more nearly lanceo-
late or linear and sessile, these merely serrate-toothed : cyme of
middle sized or smallish narrow heads distinctly subumbellate ;
bracts of the cylindric involucre few and broad, oblong-linear and
merely acutish : rays about 5 or 6, long and light-yellow :

Mr. Macoun's label for this bears the number 26,679, ^""^
indicated that the plant was collected 29 August at an altitude of
6,000 feet, growing with Epilobium spicatiim, Bucephalus Engel-
fnannii and Mimulus Lewisii on a mountain slope, from the upper
part of which water trickled through the roots of these plants. I
name the species in allusion to the general likeness which its
leaves bear to those of Lepidiuni Virginicum, the type of a genus
Dileptium with some authors.

SOIREES.

The second soiree of the season was held in the Y. M. C. A.
Assembly Hall, Jan. 14th. The lecture of the evening, by Dr.
R. A. Daly on "The Relation of Geology to Geography," was
mainly devoted to the illustration of the developmental idea in
geographical study. A table showing the great scope of the geo-
graphical sciences was exhibited, and the conclusion stated that a

252 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

physical study of the earth furnishes a natural and necessary intro-
duction to the study of distributions which is the larg-est division
of the whole subject. But we must go to geology for information
as to the real nature of the forms ot the earth's surface. The
application of geology is gradually placing physical geography
among the true sciences. Living organic species have no more
surely been evolved from earlier types than have the present forms
of the land been developed trom pre-existing forms. This recog-
nition of streams of influence from past geological ages has a
salutary effect on the method of the geographer ; it makes clear
to him that many apparently similar land-forms should be clearly
differentiated and others of unlike outward appearance should be
closely associated. The lacustrine plain of southwestern Ontario,
the marine plain of the St. Lavvrence and the old denuded plain of
Russia can only be finally and rigorously described by referring to
their difference of origin. Similarly, valleys of stream erosion,
fault-troughs and glaciated valleys should not be classified together
simply on account of their possessing the common attribute of
being linear depressions. On the other hand, the Selkirk moun-
tains, the Laurentian highlands and the rolling plateau of Nova
Scotia, at first sight utterly dissimilar, are yet most fruitfully
treated of under the one class of complex mountains at different
stages in the process of earth-sculpture. Repetition of types form
one of the most interesting characteristics of the new physical
geography, greatly aiding the memory and the understanding of
land-forms. Thus a thorough discussion of the fiords of Norway
renders intelligible and easily retainable in the memory the physi-
ography of the ragged coasts of Greenland, Labrador, Alaska,
New Zealand and Patagonia ; the fault-trough of the Rhine is
paralleled by the fault-trough of Palestine; the delicate topography
associated with the vanished glacial lobes of North America, once
recognized in this country as having that origin, suggested ex-
planation for similar reliefs in Germany which have been moulded
in sympathy with similar lobes.

A few indications of the influence of his physical surroundings
on the life of man were given during the exhibition of lantern
slides. The geological history of the earth, the physical environ-

igo2] Soir:^es. 253

ment of life and the actual distribution of the activities of life, form
a continuous series of considerations, no term of which can be
omitted without impairing the interest and value of the whole
series.

The third soiree of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club was held
in the Y. M. C. A. building- on the evening of Jan. 28th, when Mr.
Percy H. Selwyn gave an address on the " Natural History of the
Honey Bee." Attention was first called to the difference between
the regular and uniform frames composed almost entirely of worker
comb, which are to be found in the modern hive, as compared with
those constructed by the bees when living in a state of nature.
The latter are of all shapes and sizes with usually an abnormal
proportion of drone comb. The queen bee was then spoken of at
some length, and it was shown that while being hatched from an
egg which under ordinary conditions would have produced a
worker bee, stimulative feeding during the larval period combined
with increased accommodation to allow for growth, made wonder-
ful changes in the perfect insect. Notice was also taken of the
fact that while the worker bees are most solicitous for the welfare
of the drones during the time of natural increase, viz., swarming,
no sooner has this time passed and their services are no longer
required than the bees turn them all out of the hives to perish. It
was also shown that while it is now possible with the aid of comb
foundation to reduce the amount of drone comb in each hive to a
minimum, in no case can it be entirely dispensed with. The
natural instinct for the reproduction of the race is so strong within
the bees that before swarming takes place a certain number of
drones must be present in the hive, and consequently if only
worker combs are provided, the bees will either cut out portions
of this comb and replace with drone comb of their own building,
or, as is generally the case, will build cells suitable for rearing
drones along the bottoms of the frames.

The report of the Entomological Branch was read by Dr.
Fletcher and will be printed in an early number of The
Naturalist ^SIC^T^

254 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GEOLOGICAL SECTION OF
THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB,
" FOR THE YEAR 1901-1902.

Addressed to the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club,

In presenting to the Council the Report of the work done by
the members of the Geological Branch of the Club during the past
year, the latter desire to state that considerable progress has been
made, much additional material has been obtained, and reports as
well as papers published during the past year bearing on the
geology of the Ottawa district, and that though there were not
many excursions held, the number of small working parties and
sub-excursions did not fall very short of any previous year in the
history of the Club.

The numerous excavations and openings for drainage and
sewage purposes have continued to give to the student of geology
in our midst a fine opportunity to obtain excellent material, espe-
cially of fossils.

A pleasurable feature of the sub-excursions has been the good
attendance of members as well as of student of different educa-
tional institution:; in our citv. Several new members were elected
from amongst occasional attendants at our geological sub-excur-
sions in former years. Some of the ladies and gentlemen present
at the outing-s have been able to secure quite a series of interesting
specimens, most of which have been named by one or other of the
leaders of the Geological Branch of our Club, and they now form
part of private or public cabinets where geological collections are
kept.

Amongst those who took a prominent part in the work of this
section last year may be mentioned : Mr. W. J. Wilson, Ph.B., of
the Geological Survey Department, who never fails to be present
and usually brings with him quite a following ; Mr. I. Kendall, of
the Macdonald School of Manual Training, and also Dr. F. Slater
Jackson, late assistant in Biology at McGill University, who,
on several occasions last summer, accompanied our branch and ob-
tained interesting suites of fossils which were all determined for
him before he left the city. A number of younger members of the

1902] Annual Report — Geological Section. 255

Club and their friends have also done excellent work. Georee
Lewis Burland, Herbert Maing-y, Dougflas McLean, Percy Wilson,
Willie Herridge and Otis Whelen all deserve special mention for
the industry and care they exhibited in the collections made and
the anxiety they evinced to have them named and labelled. An
enthusiastic class of youthful geologists was composed of the boy
pupils of our fellow member Dr. Cephas Guillet. The work done
by this class is most creditable indeed.

Besides collections of the fossils which were obtained on
several of these sub-excursions, at some of which the president and
other officers of the Club and leaders in Geology were present,
notes bearing upon the stratigraphy and character of the rock
formation were taken and a number of interesting photographs
prepared which serve to show the nature of the strata at many
points where they had never previously been observed. Some of
the photographs taken during the sub-excursions of the Club are
used in illustrating points of interest in the geology of Ottawa and
its surroundings in Dr. EUs's forthcoming Report of the Geology
of the Ottawa District.

Among the more salient and important features noted may be
mentioned the occurrence along the eastern extension of Somerset
street, in the centre of that valley of erosion which formerly was
used as a rifle range — the Rideau rifle range — a well-defined fault
or dislocation in the earth's crust. This is only one of many
faults which must exist hidden by pleistocene or drift deposits, and
except for the artificial cuttings made and the notes taken during
the excavations it would have been practically impossible to say
that there existed one there.

This fault occurs in the Utica formation and presents the two
limbs of a normal dislocation, in juxtaposition, the strata being
scarcely disturbed at all, yet, both from the studies that have been
previously made of the characters of the Utica of the Ottawa district
and from the characters of the fauna obtained by the writer on
each side of the fault it is evident that the lower as well as the
upper beds of the Utica occur in the exposure.

There was no topographic feature or indication on the surface
of the ground or trace whatever evident to even suspect the exist-

256 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

ence of a fault in that locality, but in the trench cut along- Somer-
set street east between Chapel street and Goulborne avenue the
dislocation was clearly visible. Mineralization along- the line of
fault, as is customarily the case, had taken^place resulting in
the segreg-ation of a considerable quantity of calcite associated
with iron pyrites.

This fault was seen to trend in an almost due east and west
direction heading for the western end of Sparks's rapids on the
Rideau river. On each side of the fault and in the neighbourhood
of the same the strata were strikingly dissimilar ; on the east side
thin bedded limestones with interstratified black bituminous shales
were exposed, whilst an almost compact and homogeneous mass
of fissile and black bituminous shales holding but few fossils, com-
pared with the lower beds of the series occurred on the east side
of the fault.

Lists of the fossils noted during these sub-excursions were
prepared .and will accompany this report. They will serve to
emphasize the facts already noted of the existence at that point of
an upper and a lower outcrop of the beds of the Utica formation.

New Edinburgh, — At the C. P. R. crossing along the DufTerin
road in New Edinburgh, the main drain excavations revealed fine
sections in the Utica formation also. On the occasion of the first
excursion of the Club to Beechwood (see p. 94 of the Trans, of
the O. F. N. C.) the geological section examined the exposures
as well as the dumps, and a large quantity of fossils were ob-
tained. Your leaders were kept busy identifying and determining
specimens from the time the excursionists reached the spot until
time was called to meet at the rendezvous near the Cemetery
gate, where the addresses were given on the finds of the day.
Seventeen species of fossils typical of the Utica were listed on that
occasion from specimens obtained by one or other of the following
persons present for whom they were named. Leaders : Dr. R.
Bell, Mr. W. J. Wilson, Dr. H. M. Ami; Members, &c.: Mr.
Clark, Mr. Kendall, Miss McQuestion, Miss Ross, Mr. Baldwin,
besides the following younger but enthusiastic collectors : Alex-
ander Anderson, Herbert Maingy, Lloyd Blackadar, Otis Whelen
and Gordon GuUock.

I

I

1902] Annual Report — Geological Section. 257

List of the fossils of the Utica formation found in the excavations made for the
Main Drain of Ottaiva, April 2jth, igoi, on the occasion of the first
excursion of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

1. Leptograptus flaccidus, Hall.

2. Orthograplus quadrimocronatus, Hall.

3. Climacograptus bicornis, Hall.

4. Leptobolus insignis, Hall.

5. Lingula Progne, Billings.

• 6. ,, Cobourgensis, Billings.

7. ,, cuta, Hall.

8. ,, obtusa, Conrad.

9. Orthis testudinaris, Dalman.
^ 10. Zygospira modesta, Say.

f II. Trorholites ammonius, Emmons. (Large, fine specimen.)

12. Orthoceras teniiistriatum, Hall.

13. Orthoceras lamellosum, Hall.

14. Modiolopsis, sp. indt.

15. Asaphus latimarginatus, Hall. ( = A. Canadensis, Chapman.)
V 16. Triarthurus spinosus, Billings.

17. ,, Becki, Green, (both in the nepionic and adult stages).

Amongst the most interesting^ finds made on that occasion
was one of the embryonic forms of Triarthrus Becki, a
characteristic trilobite of the Utica formation. Primordial
features present in the specimen indicate clearly the remote origin
of this generic form whose nearest relatives so far known belong
to the Cambrian period, and whilst its pygidium or tail appendage
is quite diminutive, its head or cephalic shield is comparatively
large. Such larval forms of this trilobite are rather scarce, but
deserve special attention. The writer has found a number of them
during his researches in the Utica of the Ottawa district, and
hopes to be able to put the material together some day. It may
be added here that considerable progress was made during the
past year in the study of the fauna of the Utica, and as soon as
drawings can be prepared which will serve to illustrate the fine
Utica fossils of this region a much needed contribution to the
palaeontology of a portion of the Ordovician succession about
Ottawa will soon follow.

Britannia. The second excursion of the season was held at
Britannia. The geological section visited the extensive excava-
tions made by the Metropolitan Light, Heat and Power Company,

258 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

and obtained there on the huge blocks of sandstone and shale a
series of interesting tracks and trails of marine organisms, together
with one or two rare fossils preserved as casts of the interior of
the animal.

Hull, Que. About the end of May, whilst there were a few
members of the Royal Society of Canada still in our city, some of
the members of the geological section, acting as guides, visited the
** Heap " in Hull, as well as the excavations for the main drain,
in Ottawa, where the Utica formation was well exposed. The
species collected were subsequently determined and will serve to
Illustrate the geology of our district in remote portions of the
Dominion.

Besserers, Otit. The exceedingly low state of the water in the
rivers and streams about Ottawa afforded an unusually fine oppor-
tunity to collect nodules from the fossiliferous clays of the Green's
Creek period or formation (as Prof. Penhallow styles it) and
though considerably incapacitated from doing much work during
the autumn owing to an accident which had befallen the »vriter, a
number of collections were made.

Rideau Sand Quarry. About two miles up the Rideau River
above Hog's Back, along with Mr. W. J. Wilson, also a leader
of the Club and a foremost student in Pleistocene geology in our
midst, we visited this interesting locality and obtained four species
of drift fossils preserved in a matrix of coarse sand. These
comprise the well known Saxicava riigosa, Linnasus, Macoma
Balthica, Linneeus, Mytikis editlis, Linnaeus, and a species of
Belanus which is difficult to identify with any of the forms now
living in. the waters of the Lower St, Lawrence or shores of
the Western Atlantic. Its characters ally the form more closely
to Balanus porcatus de Costa than to any other. I am indebted
to Dr. Whiteaves, who was shown the specimens in question,
and he thinks that this as well as most of the species of Balanus
from Canada need revision and careful study.

Below the residence of Mr. T. C, Keefer, RockclifT, along the
shore of the Ottawa river, an excellent section of the Chazy form-
ation may be seen especially in its most arenaceous development.

1902] Annual Report — Geological Section. 259

Some of the lower strata consist of coarse sandstones with occa-
sional films of shaly or arg-illaceous materials interstratified.
Amongst the forms observed and not hitherto recorded from this
locality was the Lingtila Lyelli, Billings, described originally from
the Chazy of Allumette Island. A number of new tracks and
trails of marine organisms were also noted and a large suite of
specimens secured which will add considerable information to the
fauna of those seas whenever figured and described.

Piiblicati07is, As stated at the outset, a number of contribu-
tions on the geology of the Ottawa district have been prepared
and published during the past year which will enable the student
of Geology in our midst to prosecute his researches with greater
facility.

A Geological Map. 1 scarcely think that I am giving out a state
secret when I say that there is hope that before this season is over
the Geological Survey Department will have issued from its press
the long-looked-for map of the " Ottawa District."

Thanks to the energy of Dr. A. R. C. Selwyn and of his
successor Dr. Dawson, as directors of the Geological Survey of
Canada, the plan of issuing geological ma^s for the leading cities
or centres of activity and thought in Canada will find its expres-
sion in the issue of the first of the series in " A Geological Map of
Ottawa and its environs;" but whilst the initial steps were taken,
as remarked above, by Drs. Selwyn and Dawson during their
terms of office, it was reserved to Dr. Bell, acting Director of the
same Survey and also the President of the O. F. N. Club, to see
the practical completion of the work.

The Club hails with special pleasure the publication of the
map in question, especially the Geological branch, for, within the
area covered by the map many of the geological phenomena
recorded and described in the Transactions of the Club for the
past twenty-two years are therein embodied. There is nothing
like a map on which one can lay down statements and facts in
geology and geography which is, according to the latest definition,
only a branch of geology, after all. Not only in the department
of Geology will the said map be of use, but also for the Botanical,
the Zoological and other sections of the Club. Faunal and floral

26o The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

maps can now be prepared and maps showing the distribution of
any species, whether of plant or animal. For this purpose it is
hoped that the Council of the Club will endeavour to secure from
the Department of the Geological Survey at least 200 black and
white prints or copies of the map of this district to be kept on sale
by our Club Librarian for the use ot the members of the Club.
They may, however, be purchased from the Geological Survey at
a nominal price.

The report by Dr. Ells which is to accompany the map will
no doubt be hailed with great pleasure by all who will read it. I
should advise the members ot the Club to secure copies of this
report early if they do not wish to find the edition exhausted from
the demands that may be made upon it when issued.

Catalogue of the Marine Invertebrata of Eastern Canada, by
Dr. Whiteaves, also of the Geological Survey, is a report which is
of special interest to the members of our Club, as it deals with the
marine invertebrates of the Lower St. Lavvrence, a goodly propor-
tion of which are to be found in the sands, clays and gravels of
our Pleistocene deposits in the Ottawa valley. Every year sees
new forms added to the lists of the Pleistocene fossils, and these
find their living representatives in the salt waters of the St. Law-
rence and adjoining basins of to-day. An excellent review of this
most important work of Dr. Whiteaves has already appeared in
The Ottawa Naturalist, p. 165 by Prof. E. E. Prince, and I
shall not trouble you with a notice of it from a geological stand-
point further than to state that the volume is most welcome and
timely and represents the work of a life-time, the accumulation of
vast amount of useful information all condensed for the use of
naturalists, fishermen and others interested both in the economic
as well as the scientific side of the subject.

'■'■ Ancient Channels of the Ottawa River'"'' is the title ot another
paper by Dr. R. W. Ells, F.R-S.C. It appeared in the April
number of The Ottawa Naturalist, pp. 17-30 with map accom-
panying the same, and forms a contribution which ought to
stimulate the members of the Club to carry on the work there
delineated, with special reference to the immediate vicinity of the
Capital. The ancient or now abandoned river valleys are quite

1902] Annual Report — Geological Section. 261

common about this city, and the numerous accompanying pheno-
mena which these valleys invariably present, afford fertile subjects
for future study and research. There is a proposal to prepare at
no distant date a contour map of Ottawa and vicinity, so that
when this is an accomplished fact the interpretation of many
phenomena, especially in Pleistocene g^eology, will be g^reatly
facilitated and their correlation made easy. Such a map would
fill another long-felt want.

* Pleistocene plants. The fossil plants collected by different
members of the Club and others at different times, were some time
ago forwarded to Prof. D. P. Penhallow of the Botanical Labora-
tories at McGill University, and he has kindly determined them,
and these are now all labelled by that eminent authority, so that
as soon as there is room to exhibit them in the National Museum
on Sussex street or in the new Museum to which we are all look-
ing with earnest hope, the extinct flora of the Green's Creek
period will be seen to advantage. From the last collections sent
to Prof. Penhallow by the writer he has determined no less than
nineteen species of plants from the marine fossiliferous clays of
Besserers Springs and adjacent shores of the Ottawa River.

^^ Geology of the Principal Cities of Eastern Canada,^' by the
writer. In this paper, published by the Royal Society of Canada
last year, [ have endeavoured to put together in condensed form
the results of twenty-four years' work in the neighbourhood of
Ottawa. A table containing lists of the formations and of the
systems under which these fall, of the characteristic fossils they
contain, as well as of the thicknesses of the strata, constituting
each as known to date, are given, together with lists of the
localities where these formations may be studied to advantage.
This will, it is hoped, save much time and labour on the part of
those who will come after us in studying the geology of this part
of Canada. Similar lists and tables are also prepared for the cities
of Montreal, Toronto and Quebec by the writer, and by Dr. G.
F. Matthew for St. John City, N.B. Attention is called to this
paper on account of the reference to the Ottawa formations
therein contained.

262 The Ottawa Naturalist. [February

The late Dr. G. M. Daimon. This report cannot conclude
without a slight reference to the great loss which the geological
section of the Club has sustained in the death of one who tor three
years was the President of the Club and the foremost Canadian
geologist. In Dr. Dawson the Club and the members of the
geological section had one who was .ever ready to give them the
benefit of his judgment, criticism and experience in the discussion
of points of interest in the geological structure of our district. He
never failed to encourage and stimulate our members to unraval
and describe the geology of this interesting section.

The following list of fossil sponges from the geological forma-
tions about Ottawa has been taken from among my notes on the
palaeontology of this district taken during the past twenty years,
and may not be uninteresting to local geologists.

Quaternary.
Pleistocene System.

Green's Creek formation (Marine fossiliferous clays, "Leda clay").

1. Craniella Logani, Dawson. Odell's brickyard, Ottawa East, Ont.
Paleozoic.

Ordovician Systeiti.
Utica formation.

2. Stephanella sancta, Hinde. Porter's Island, Montreal Road,

Albert Street, near Bank Street, Ottawa City, Ont.

3. Cyathophycus reticulatus, Walcott. Gloucester, Ont.

4. ,, nidiformis, nobis. MS. Somerset Street East, City.

5. ,, subsphericus, Walcott. ,, ,, ,,

Trenton formation.

6. Astylospongia parvula, Billings. Concession and Division Streets.

7. Brachiospongia digitata. Marsh. Foot of Parliament Hill.

8. Steliella crassa, Hinde. Division Street, Ottawa.

9. ,, Billingsii, Hinde. ,, ,,

10. Palseospongia Trentonensis, var. Ottawaensis, n. var. Division

Street, Ottawa.

Birdseye and Black River formation.

11. Stromatocerium rugosum. Hall. Hull and Ottawa quarries ; also

found at base of the Trenton formation.

Beekmantown or Calciferous formation.

12. Cryptozoon calciferum, Dawson. March, Ont.; on Ottawa, Arn-

prior &. Parry Sound Railw .}'.

H. M. Ami, Leader.
Ottawa, Jan. 14th, 1Q02.

|ii!(LIBRARYl5

THE OTTAWA IIATURALIStV^ ^

Vol. XV. OTTAWA, MARCH, 1902. No. 12.

ON THE GENUS PANENKA, BARRANDE, WITH A

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND SPECIES OF THAT GENUS

FROM THE DEVONIAN ROCKS OF ONTARIO.

By J. F. Whiteaves.*
(With one Plate.)

In the sixth volume of the " Syst^me Silurien de la Boheme,"
which was published in two parts in 1881, Barrande proposed the
name Pmienka for a genus of lamellibranchiate bivalves from the
Silurian rocks of Bohemia, and described and figured no less than
231 species of that genus. These species are all ornamented with
radiating ribs, which give them a certain general but superficial
resemblance to recent shells of the genus Cardium. But, upon
closer examination it will be seen that in many of the Panenkas
the ribs are unequal in size and irregular in their distribution, and
that their valves are usually longer than high. Their test, also, is
said to be thin, and their hinge line to be entirely devoid of teeth
properly so called. On the other hand, in the typical species of
Cardnim the ribs are exquisitely regular in their size and arrange-
ment ; their valves are higher than long ; their test comparatively
thick, and their hinge line provided with both cardinal and lateral
teeth. Dr. Paul Fischer, in his " Manuel de Conchyliologie,"
places the genus Panenka in Rudolph Hoernes' family Proe-
cardiidce, which consists exclusively ot palaeozoic genera and
species.

Four years later, in 1885, Professor James Hall described and
fio-ured. or enumerated, seventeen species of Paneiika from the
Devonian rocks at several localities in the United States, in
volume V, part I, Lam.ellibranchiata II, of the " Palseontology of
the State of New York." And, in 1891, the present writer
described and figured an unusually large and coarsely ribbed
species of the genus, from the Corniferous limestone at St.

*Communicated by permission of the Acting Director of the Geologfical

Survey Department.

264 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Mary's, Ontario, under the name Panenka gra?idis, in the fourth
volume ot the " Canadian Record of Science."

The generic name Panenka, as stated by Barrande, is a Czech
or Bohemian word, with the same sig-nificance as puella in Latin.
But, althoug-h the seventeen species of Paneiika enumerated
by Hall are included by S. A. Miller in the list of " North
American Palaeozoic Fossils" in the first edition of his "North
American Geology and Palaeontology," published in 1889, yet in
the First Appendix to thnt list, published in 1892, he says that the
name Pa7ienka is " not formed according to the rules of nomen-
clature and should be discarded." It had, however, as already
explained, come into use by palaeontologists on both sides of the
Atlantic, so that its rejection would probably be attended with
more inconvenience than its retention.

Quite recently, in November and December, 1901, the Rev.
Thomas Nattress, of Amherstburg, Ontario, kindly sent to the
writer, for identification, a few specimens of a fossil lamelli-
branchiate bivalve from the immediate vicinity of Amherstburg.
These, he writes, were collected by Mr. Harry Hodgman from pieces
of solid rock blasted and dredged out of the bed of the Detroit
River, at the Old Lime Kiln Crossing, Anderdon township, Essex
county, a " few hundred yards only within the Canadian boundary,
in thecourse of deepening the channel." They clearly belong to the
genus Panenka and are obviously quite distinct from P. grandis.
So far as the writer can see, they cannot be satisfactorily identified
with any of the known species of Panenka from the American
Devonian, Two of them as much more perfect than the rest, and
both of these are represented on Plate XV. The original of
figure I on that Plate represents a specimen with a subcircular
marginal outline, which is somewhat similar in form to P. miilti-
radiata, Hall, but which has broader and more oblique umbones,
and a much longer hinge line posteriorly. Figure 2 represents a
specimen with an elongate subovate marginal outline, which comes
nearer to P. robusta and P. dichotonia of Hall, but which is more
regularly and longitudinally subovate than either. In P. robusia,
also, the ribs are much fewer and coarser, and in P. dichotoma the
anterior end is represented as produced and subangular above.
Under these circumstances it seems desirable to distinguish the

1902] Whiteaves — On the Genus Panenka. 265

specimens from the Detroit River by a new specific name, and
they may therefore be provisionally named and described as
follows.

Panenka Canadensis (sp. nov. ).
Shell, or rather cast of the interior of the shell, of about the
averag-e size, valves regularly and rather strongly convex, varying
in outline in different specimens from subcircular to longitudinally
subovate, but always at least a little longer than high. Posterior
side rather broader and much longer than the anterior, umbones
broad, tumid, prominent, very oblique and placed considerably in
advance of the midlength, beaks curved inward and forward ;
hinge line straight, horizontal, considerably prolonged behind in
some specimens but apparently not so much so in others.

Test unknown ; surface of the cast marked by numerous
(about sixty) narrow but prominent ribs, with concave grooves
between them. In the original of figure i on Plate XV, the ribs
are slight'y unequal in size. Most of them are simple but they
occasionally bifurcate, and here and there a few shorter ribs are
intercalated between the longer ones, that radiate from the um-
bones. In the original of figure 2 on the ^ame Plate, the ribs are
more regularly disposed, and they are all a little larger posteriorly
than anteriorly.

Muscular impressions and hinge dentition unknown.

Dimensions of a comparatively high and short specimen
(fig. i); maximum length 74 mrn., greatest height (inclusive of
the umbo) 67 mm.: do. of a more elongate specimen (fig. 2) that
is narrower in the direction of its height, length 77 mm.; greatest
height, which happens to be behind the umbo, 60 mm.

Corniferous formation, Anderdon township, Essex county,
Ontario : a few specimens collected by Mr. Harry Hodgman, U.
S. Inspector, in October and December, 1901. According to Mr.
Nattress they are from a brown dolomite which underlies the true
Corniferous limestone in that neighbourhood.

Explanation of Plate XV.
Panenka Canadensis.

Fig'. 1. — Side view, natural size, of a right valve of a Specimen with sub-
circular marginal outline, and comparatively long hinge line
behind.

Fig. 2. — Similar view of the right valve of a longitudinally subovate specimen,
with a comparatively short hinge line.

Both of these specimens are in Mr. Hodgman's collections.

Ottawa, Feb. 15th, 1902.

266 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

BIRD NOTES.

By W. T. Macoun.

Winter birds were not numerous at Ottawa this year with the
exception of the house sparrow, which is always here in large
numbers. Some interesting notes, however, have been taken and
these should be recorded.

The snowy owl has been much commoner than usual. Three
live specimens in a store on Sparks street attracteii much atten-
tion during the month of January.

The first pine grosbeaks of which I have a record were seen
by me on Jan. 26th at the Normal School, when two males were
observed, and on the following day a flock of from eight to ten
birds were noted none ot which, however, was highly coloured.
The birds may have been here earlier than these dates but no
notes were sent in. They have been quite common ever since and
were seen to-day, Feb. i8th.

On Feb. 6th I noticed two white-breasted nuthatches on a
shed near Concession street.

The following notes were supplied by Mr. W. A. D, Lees and
are of special interest ;

" On i8th December, 1901, I saw, near my house in Ottawa
East, a bird which I took to be a meadowlark [Sturjiella magna).
I was not qtiite certain of my identification as the bird rose sud-
denly from near the open end of a street drain and flew some
distance off and took refuge under some old lumber where I had
not the time to follow it. Again, yesterday, gth January, 1902, I
saw the same bird flitting from place to place along the railway
embankment near the round-house in Ottawa East, and this time
I satisfied myself beyond a doubt that my first guess as to the
species had been correct. So far as I know this is the first winter
record of this bird here, and it may interest the readers of The
Ottawa Naturalist to know of it."

On Feb. 6th Mr. Lees, in company with another person, saw
a robin at the Normal School grounds feeding with a flock of pine
grosbeaks. It seemed plump and in good health.

On Dec. 15th I saw a specimen of the bohemian chatterer
feeding on the berries of the mountain ash on Somerset street,
and I carefully noted the markings of the bird.

1902] Macoun — Contributions to Canadian Botany. 267

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADIAN BOTANY. ^

By James M. Macoun, Assistant Naturalist, Geolog-ical Survey of Canada.

XV.

Anemone Hudsoniana, Rich.

Frenchman's Bay, near Southampton, Ont. Aug-. 28th,
iqoi. {John Macoun.) Southern Hmit in Ontario.

AguiLEGfA cocciNEA, Small.

Niagara, Ont. ; Cache Lake, Algonquin Park, Ont. ;
Otterburne, Man. ; Brandon, Man. [John Macoun.) Wing-
ham, Ont. (y. A. Morton.) Grindstone Point, Lake Winni-
peg. (J. M. Macomi.J Our only specimens of .^. Canadensis
are from Ottawa, Belleville and Red Rock, Ont. A. coccinea
is easily separable from A. CariadeTisis either in flower or fruit.
In flower by its stout spur which is more than twice the
length of that of A. Catiadensis and abruptly narrowed near
the apex. The follicles of A. coccinea are straight and much
longer than the spreading follicles of ^4. Canadensis.

Aquilegia vulgaris, L.

Roadside, Wyoming near Petrolia, Ont. (Jshn Macoun.)

Lesquerella NODOSA, Green, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 309.

On sand, Castellated Rocks, Milk River, Assa., July 13th,
1895. Herb. No. 10,313.^ (John Macoun.)

Lesquerella VERSICOLOR, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 310.

On rocky slopes. Stony Mt., Man., June 4th, 1896.
Herb. No. 12,401. (Johti Macoufi.)

Lesquerella Macounii, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 310.

On prairies at the police barracks. Medicine Hat, Assa.,
Aug. 9th, 1895. Herb. No. 10,308. (John Macoun.)

^ Published by permission of the Director of the Geological Survey of
Canada.

^These numbers are those under which specimens have been distributed
from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada.

268 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Lesquerella rosea, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 310.

On prairies at Old Wives' Creek, Assa., June 2nd, 1895.
Herb. No. 10,309. (Joh?i Macoun.)

Brassica juncea, Cass.

Montrose, near Niagara, Ont. (/?. Cameron.) Burnside
Road, near Victoria, Vancouver Island. [A. J. Pineo.)

Viola Fletcheri, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 296.

Acaulescent, small, the simple ascending rootstock rather
small for the plant, closely jointed : leaves few, small, from
ovate-reniform to subcordate-ovate,^ to i inch long at time of
petaliferous flowering, the undeveloped ones cucullate, all very
regularly crenate, glabrous and shining above, mostly sparse-
hirsutulous beneath and on the petioles, these in the earliest
not longer than the blade, in the later more than twice as
long : flowers very few, often i only ; peduncles hirsute,
minutely bracted below the middle : sepals small, lanceolate,
veinless, serrate-ciliolate : corolla large, more than ^ inch
broad, rich purple ; the upper pair of petals much the largest,
obovate, the middle pair narrower in proportion and strongly
bearded with long cylindric hairs, the odd one as long as
these and a trifle broader.

Growing with V. blanda under trees north of the road
running from Rockcliffe to Beechwood. The plants grow
singly and are generally one-flowered. Collected in the
spring of 1901 and in fruit in September by Dr. J. Fletcher
and J. M. Macoun.

Viola subviscosa, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 293.

Rootstocks not much branched, slender, short-jointed
and knotted ; plant 4 to 5 inches high at time of petaliferous
flowering : leaves thin, deep-green, shining and slightly
clammy, very sparsely appressed-hairy above, somewhat
hirsute beneath along the veins and sparsely ciliate, in outline
from cordate-reniform to broadly cordate with deep and often
almost closed sinus, subserrately crenate, the more strictly
cordate ones about 2 inches in diameter and little longer than
broad : peduncles about equalling the leaves, bibracteolate

1902] Macoun — Contributions to Canadian Botany. 269

below the middle, more or less strong-ly hirsutulous, as are
also some of the petioles : sepals oblong, obtuse, strongly and
closely ciliate with spreading- or somewhat retrorse hairs :
corolla violet, large, about i^ inches wide, the petals not
very dissimiliar, rather broadly obovate, the keel as broad as
the others and very obtuse.

Described from specimens collected by Dr. Jas. Fletcher,
in open spaces among woods at Aylmer, Que. This species
has also been collected on Prince Edward Island, by Mr. L.
W. Watson and in Vermont. In general appearance V. sub-
viscosa resembles V. sepieiitrionalis but this latter species
*' has a heavier foliage, of a light green shade, wholly devoid
of clamminess, each leaf with a broad open sinus and each
branch of its stout rootstock produces a considerable cluster of
leaves and flowers."

Viola cardaminefolia, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 289.

Caulescent, the numerous slender decumbent or more
depressed stems 3 to 5 inches long : leaves small, the sub-
cordate-ovate obtuse minutely crenate blade often merely
Yi inch, seldom ^ inch long, of firm texture, obscurely pul-
verulent-puberulent, the slender petioles about i inch long;
stipules lanceolate, the lowest serrate-ciliate, the upper nearly
entire except toward the base : slender peduncles little more
than an inch long, bibracteolate much above the middle :
sepals subulate-lanceolate, glabrous: corolla small, deep-blue;
spur elongated, oblique.

In rocky woodland near Aylmer, Quebec, Canada, 6
June, 1901, Dr. J. Fletcher. AUied to the common V. Muhlen-
bergiana of the U. S. (now rightly or wrongly called V. Lahra-
dorica), but easily distinct by its small, thick and somewhat
fleshy foliage always of ovate outline and obtuse ; the flowers
not half as large, much more deeply coloured, with a different
spur.

Viola fulcrata, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 285.

Cowichan River, Vancouver Island, 2 June, 1898. Herb.
No. 19,912. {/. R Anderson.)

270 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Viola petrophila, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 286.

Crevices of rocks, Shavvnigan Lake, Vancouver Island,
9 May, 1897. (/. R. Atidersoti.)

Viola compacta, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 286.

Crevices of rocks, Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Lsland.
Herb. No. 19,910. {J- R- A?iderson.)

Viola Andersonii, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 287.

Thetis Lake, B. C, 29th April, 1900. (/. R. Anderson.)
Viola orecallis, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 288.

Mill Hill, B. C, 28th April, 1900. (/. /?. A?iderson )

Viola Albertina, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 289.

Described from specimens collected by W. Spreadborough
east of McLeod River, northern Alberta, but a common
species everywhere in the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains.

Cerastium angustatum, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 300.

Open prairies in the sandhills north of Prince Albert,
Saskatchewan, July, 1896. Herb. No. 12,459. {/ohn
Macoun.) Only known station.

Cerastium campestre, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 301.

Ihe common species on the Canadian prairies. Our
specimens are from Stonewall, Man. {John Macoun.) Indian
Head, Assa. ( W. Spreadborough ) Cypress Hills, Assa.
(/. M. Macoun.)

CerastIum vestitum, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 302.

Dry banks at Ste. Anne, west of Edmonton, Alberta,
June 9th, i8g8. Herb. No. 19,285. {IV. Spreadborough.)
A well-marked species known only from Mr. Spreadborough s
specimens.

Cerastium confertum, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 302.

Described from specimens collected by Prof. John
Macoun along the old telegraph trail in Lat. 54*^, British
Columbia, June 24th, 1875, ^"<^ ^^ Stewart Lake, B.C.,
June 20th. Not since collected.

1902] Macoun — Contributions to Canadian Botany. 271

Cerastium tomentosum, L.

There are specimens of this species in the herbarium of
the Geological Survey, labelled " Brant Co., Ont." but with-
out the collectors' name. It is here recorded in the hope that
some further information relating to it may be secured as this
is the first American record known to us.

Mentzelia tenerrima, Rydberg.

Waneter, B.C. 1901. (^. H. Jamieson,') New to Canada.

Stenotus Lyallii, (Gray.)

On nearly all the higher mountains on both sides of the
Chilli wack Valley, Coast Range, B.C., at about 6,000 ft. alt.
Always found with Solidago multiradiatay var. scopulorum.
(/. M. Macoun.)

Solidago Virgaurea, L., var. Gillmani, (A. Gr.) Porter.

On rocks at the extreme end of the Bruce Peninsula,
Tobermory, Ont., Aug. 23rd, 1901. Herb. No. 26,719.
[John Macoun.) Known previously only from the south
shore of Lake Superior. Probably a good species.

Solidago juncea, Ait., var. scabrella, A. Gray.

Thickets at Leamington, Ont. 1901. [John Macoun.)
New to Canada.

Aster angustus, T. & G.

At the " round house " in the M. C. Ry. yard at Mont-
rose near Niagara, Ont. {R. Cameron.) Introduced from
the prairies.

Aster longifolius. Lam., var. villicaulis, Gray.

On earth along the St. John River at Woodstock, N.B.
Herb. No. 22,505. {John Macoun.) Our only Canadian
specimens.

Aster kentuckyensis, Britt.

Toronto Island, Ont., Sept. 6th, 1901. Herb. No. 26,358.
[John Macoun.) New to Canada. Determined by Dr.
Britton.

272 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Aster vimineus, Lam., var. saxatilis, Fernald, Rhodora, vol. i,
p. 188.

Paugan Falls, Que.; banks of the Nation River at Cas-
selman, Ont. {John Macoiin.)

Erigeron Brandegei, Greene.
Aplopappiis Brandegii, Gray.

On mountains north of Chilliwack Lake, Coast Range,
B. C, alt. 6,500 to 7,500 ft., 1 90 1. {J. M. Macoun.) Not
recorded west ot Selkirk Mts.^

Gnaphalium uliginosum, L.

Abundant along ditches, Chilliwack, B. C, 1901. {J.
M. MacounA Our only specimens from British Columbia.

Xanthium Pennsylvanicum, Wallr.

Common at Humber Bay in front of High Park, Toronto,
Ont., 1901. Herb. No. 26,807. {John Macoun.)

Xanthium commune, Britt.

From Quebec to Manitoba. Our specimens are from
Casselman, Ottawa and Napanee, Ont., and Brandon and
Killarney, Man.

Xanthium Macounii, Britt.

Goose Island, Lake Winnipeg, Man., 1884. The type.
{J. M. Macoun.) Only known station.

Xanthium glanduliferum, Greene.

Police Point, Medecine Hat, Assa. Herb. No. 10,911 ;
Walsh, Assa. Herb. No. 10,9x0, the type ; east of Hand
Hills, Alta. {John Macoun.)

X. echinatuvi and X. Catiadense are not known to occur
in Canada, but as they grow in the Northern States they will
probably be found in Southern Ontario.

Silphium perfoliatum, L.

Not rare at Chatham, Ont. {John Macowt.)

1 The geographical limits given in these papers refer to Canada only.

1902] Macoun — Contributions to Canadian Botany, 273

SiLPHIUM TEREBINTHINACEUM, L.

Walpole Island, St. Clair River, Ont. [C. K.Dodge.) In
thickets at Sandwich and Windsor, Ont. {John Macoun.)

Helianthus petiolaris, Nutt.

Along the C. P. Ry. at Cache Lake, Ont. 1900. {John
Macoun.) Introduced from the west.

Helianthus annuus, L,

Head of Queen street, near High Park, Toronto, Ont.
1 90 1 . {Johfi Macoun. )

Chrysanthemum segetum, L.

Near the tannery at Tilsonburg, Ont. 1901. {Macoun.) A
garden escape. Not recorded from Ontario.

Chrysanthemum coronarium, L.

A garden escape at Tilsonburg, Norfolk Co., Ont. {John
Macoun.)

Artemisia caudata, Michx.

Abundant in sandy fields at Sarnia, Lambton Co., Ont.
Collected in recent years by C. K. Dodge and by Prof.
Macoun in 1901. Herb. No. 26,339. The plants from Mani-
toba referred here in Macoun's Catalogue of Canadian Plants,
vol. I, p. 256, are A. Canadensis.

Artemisia Abrotanum, L.

Roadsides at Allenford between Southampton and Owen
Sound, Ont. 1901. {Macoun.) Not before recorded in these
papers.

Senecio Plattensis, Nutt.

Woods at Sandwich, Ont. Herb. No. 26,673, ^"'^ ^'^

Camlachie, seven miles from Sarnia, Ont. Herb. No. 26,674,
1901. {John Macoun.) New to Canada.

Carduus Hillii, (Canby.) Porter.

On shingle, Little Eagle Harbour, Lake Huron. Aug.
23rd, 1901. Herb. No. 26,454. {John Macoun.) Specimens
referred to Crticus pumilus, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol, i,
p. 555 are this species.

LIBRARY

274 '^"'^ Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Saussurea monticola, Rich., App. Frank. Journ., ed. 2, 29.

Lumped with S. alpina by Gray and others, but it pre-
sents so little resemblance to that species that the most casual
observer would at once know it to be distinct. Easily
separated from S. alphia by its " narrower, more rigid entire
•leaves and very hairy involucre." Collected by Dr. Richard-
son in grassy plains on the Copper Mountains, lat. 67°, and
along the arctic coast between the Mackenzie and Copper-
mine rivers. The specimens in the herbarium of the Geologi-
cal Survey are from Herschell Island, west of the mouth of the
Mackenzie, 1893. [Rev. J. I. Stringer.) West shore of Great
Bear Lake, lat. 65° 30' to lat. 66° 30'. 1900. (/. M. Bell.)
Lat. 62° 17', long. 103° 07', 1893 ; o" Stony Island, Great
Slave Lake, igoo. ( /. W. Tyrrell.)

Hieracium Pilosella, L.

St. John and Charlos, Restigouche River, N.B. [Philip
Cox.) New to New Brunswick.

Hieracium longipilum, Torr.

A single specimen collected in woods 5 miles from Sarnia.
Ont. 1 90 1. [Joh7i Macou7i.) A very rare species in western
Ontario. Seldom collected.

Mentha rotundifolia, (L.) Huds.

In a gravelly ravine running into the Thames near London,
Ont., 1 901. (y. Dearness.) New to Canada.

Clinopodium Acinos, (L.) Kuntze.

Our herbarium specimens of this plant are from sandy
and grassy roadsides north ot London, Ont. (y. Dearness)
and near Gait, Ont. [\V. Herriot.)

RuMEX fenestratus, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 306.

Described from specimens collected by Prof. John
Macoun in salt marshes at Comox, Vancouver Island, June
23rd, 1893. Herb. No. 1,570. Also collected in 1887 by
Prof. Macoun at Chase River, near Nanaimo, Vancouver
Island. Herb. No. 23,723. The common large Rumex on
the east coast of Vancouver Island.

1902] Macoun — Willows OF THE Chilliwack Valley, B.C. 275

Calamovilfa longifolia, (Hook.) Hack.

Aminophila longifolia, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. ii, p.
208.

Sand-dunes at Point Edward, Lake Huron, Ont. 1901.
Herb. No. 26,047. [John Macoun.)

Danthonia Americana, Scrib. U.S. Dept. Agaric. Div. Ag-ros.,
Circular 30, p. 5.

Wellington Mines, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island. June
13th, 1887. [John Macoufi .) Among a score or more of
sheets oi Danthonia from the uest coast of British Columbia,
our herbarium contains but this one of D. Americana,

NOTES ON THE WILLOWS OF THE CHILLIWACK

VALLEY, B.C.

By J. M. Macoun.

The number of species of Salix in the Chilliwack Valley is
remarkably small for that region, only four species having- been
seen in 1901 in the valley itself and five on the mountains on either
side of it. In4:he valley 5". Sitchensis is common everwhere, and
was the only willow g-rowing- along the river between Chilliwack
Lake and the point at which the river enters the Eraser Valley
with the exception of one clump of S. pseiidomyrsinites Anders.,
which g-rew on a gravel bar in the river. This species was also
found by a rivulet at an altitude of 6,000 feet. The other valley
species were S. candata (Nutt.), collected at Chilliwack village,
and S. Lyallii, Heller, at Sumas Lake and by a stream flowing
into Chilliwack Lake.

^76 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

The only common species on the mountains was S. commutata^
Bebb., always by rivulets at about 5,000 feet altitude, where snow
has lain late in the spring-. S. co?ijuncta, Bebb., was found on
one mountain in a similiar habitat. S. nivalis, Hook., which
might be expected to be common, was seen only on Tami Hy
Mountain at an altitude of 5,500 feet. S. subcordata covered a
larg-e boulder at 5,600 feet and S. crassijulis, Trautv , was abun-
dant on a rocky slope on Tami Hy Mt. but seen nowhere else.

Specimens ot all the above were examined by Dr. P. A.
Rydberg who has verified my determinations and named the
species about which I was uncertain.

TARAXACUM IN CANADA.

About a year ago Dr. Edw. L. Greene described several new
species of Taraxacum from Canada.* Several sheets of specimens
have been added to the Geological Survey collection since our
material was examined by Dr. Greene, but these are all referrable
to one or other of the species enumerated below. In his intro-
ductory note Dr. Greene says : " Indigenous species will probably
be found sufficiently numerous though perhaps only upon western
mountain territory." It is probably true that the number of in-
digenous species in eastern and northeastern Canada is small,
perhaps, indeed, there is only one species which ranges from the
mountains of eastern Quebec through Labrador and Ungava to
Hudson Bay, but that there is at least one indigenous species in
eastern Canada no one who has travelled through the unsettled

*Pittonia, Vol. IV, pp. 227-233.

1902J Macoun— Taraxacum in Canada. 277

parts of the country can doubt. Not only is Taraxacum not rare
on the banks of lakes and streams, but the writer has often found
it in bogs and swamps several hundred miles from settlement of
any kind.

Taraxacum Chamissonis, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 228.

Very common on the shores and islands of Behring Sea
and south along the Alaskan coast. Will probably be found
in British Columbia.

Taraxacum rupestre, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv, p. 229.

Crevices of rocks, alt. 6,000 ft., Mt. Queest, Shuswap
Lake, B C. Herb. No. 15,111 ; Avalanche Mt., Selkirk
Mountains, B.C., alt. 8,000 ft. {J. M. Macoun.) Kicking
Horse Lake, Rocky Mountains. {Johfi Macoun.)

Taraxacum ovinum, Greene, Pittonia, vol. iv., p. 229.

On Sheep Mountain, Waterton Lake, lat. 49^ 05', Rocky
Mountains. Herb. No. 11,711, {John Macoun.)

Tar.axacum lacerum, Greene, Pittonia, vol iv, p. 230.

Canyon of the Upper Liard River, Yukon, lat. 60^ 26'.
June, 1887. Herb. No. 15,119. {John Macovn.)

Taraxacum dumetorum, Greene, Pittonia, vol iv, p. 230.

A common species from Assiniboia westward to British
Columbia.

Taraxacum erythrospermum, Andrz.

The red-seeded dandelion is probably common through-
out eastern Canada, but has been seldom separated from
Taraxacum Taraxacum. Our specimens are from Ottawa,
Niagara Falls and Hamilton, Ont.

J. M. M.

/<^^f-

278 The 'Ottawa Naturalist. [March

SOME NEW NORTHWESTERN COMPOSITE.

By Edwd. L. Greene.

Aster microlonchus. Stems about two feet high, very
erect, divested of all lower leaves at flowering time, parted from
below the middle into numerous leafy and flowering branches
forming a somewhat contracted and subpyramidal panicle ; the
reddened bark of stem and branches glabrous or obscurely pubes-
cent : leaves ot the panicle narrowly lance-linear, two inches long
more or less, entire, sessile by a broad more or less perceptibly
auricled base, thin, delicately scaberulous above, scabrous on the
margin, glabrous beneath, marked by a delicate midnerve only,
spreading or slightly deflexed : heads few and subracemose on the
branches, or solitary at the ends of them, nearly an inch broad
measuring the rays, the involucre short-campanulate, its bracts in
about three series, narrowly spatulatelanceolate, scaberulous, at
least marginally, and spreading or recurved at tip : rays many and
showy, apparently pale violet.

The types of this strikingly handsome new Aster are Mr.
Macoun's numbers 26,3':4 and 26,385 from the Chilliwack Valley,
B.C., collected 18 Aug., igoi. Its immediate allies are A. longi-
folius, Lam., A. hesperi'us, Gray, and A. etisatus, Greene. From
all of these it diff^ers not only in aspect, but in its foliage which,
though sensibly roughened above, is yet of a texture so delicate
that all the lower and properly cauline ones fade and fall before
the time of flowering. It is perhaps more elegant and beautiful
than any of its near relations, and rather smaller in stature,
though growing in generous soil, and a climate abundantly moist
and not severe.

Gnaphalium macounii. Apparently biennial, the stems
rigidly erect, about two feet high, rather loosely leafy and clothed
with a somewhat hirsute and viscid glandular-pubescence : leaves
narrowly oblanceolate, acute, 3 inches long, the upper decurrent,
all white-woolly beneath, light green and merely glandular-pubes-
cent above ; branches ot the subpyramidal close panicle and the
main stem for some distance below it densely white-woolly : invol-
ucres of middle size, their pearly scarious bracts all ovate, very
acute : flower and fruit not seen.

1902] Greene — Some New Northwestern Composite. 279

Collected in the Chilliwack Valley, B.C., 29 July, by Mr. Jas.
M. Macoun, No. 26,847; also earlier at Revelstoke, No. 11,334,
and again from the Warm Springs, Kootenay Lake, both in
British Columbia, in the year 1890. No. 34,05-^ from Salmon
Arm, J. R. Anderson, 1899, is also the same. The species is related
to G. decurrens, yet very distinct in hnbit and inflorescence, the
dense white-woolly pubescence of the upper part of stems and
branches of the panicle being very peculiar.

Gnaphalium proximum. Annual, erect, rather slender, a foot
high, rather amply leafy, even up to the subsessile leafy-bracted
clusters of heads : leaves thin, equally hoary on both faces, about
lyi inches long, from ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate,
broadest at the sessile and subcordate-clasping base, somewhat
cuspidately acute : small plants simple and with but a terminal
cyme ; larger ones with many short but strict branches, each with
its cyme : bracts of the rather smallish involucres greenish-white,
the outer broadly triangular lanceolate and acute, the inner very
obtuse : pappus rather scanty, dull-white.

In moist ground in the vicinity of the Mammoth Hot Springs,
Yellowstone Park, Messrs. A. and E. Nelson, 1899, distributed
under No. 6,036 for G. Sprengeln, from which the species differs
widely in habit, form of foliage, etc.

Arnica l^vigata. Near A. LatifoLia and as large, the
herbage of a deeper green and of much more thin and delicate
texture : radical leaves from round-ovate and cordate to lance-
ovate and subcordate, 2 to 3 inches long, on slender petioles as
long, the 2 or 3 cauline pairs broad and sessile, glabrous on both
faces and coarsely, incisely, often doubly serrate-toothed, the
larger 3 inches long and more than 2 in breadth : peduncles
about 3, slender, puberulent under their narrowly turbinate in-
volucres, the bracts of these uniserial, lanceolate, acuminate,
scarcely pubescent except as to the villous-ciliolate margins ; rays
light-yellow, long and narrow ; disk-corollas narrow-funnelform,
the very short and hirtellous tube passing gradually into the
limb, which much exceeds it in length : pappus white ; achenes
glabrous.

28o The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

By springs in woods of the ChiUiwack Valley, B.C., 5 Aug.,
190 1, J. M. Macoun, No. 26,926. However much like A. latijolia
in general habit and leat-outline this may be, it must needs be dis-
tinguished specifically by its total lack of pubescence, thin texture,
narrow involucres, funnelform corollas, etc. In true A. latifolia
the bracts are glandular-hairy throughout, and not at all ciliate ;
and its disk-corollas are much larger and not funnelform, the throat
and limb swelling out abruptly from the short tube. Mr. Macoun
writes that this species was collected in 1901 on Mt. Cheam by
Mr. J. R. Anderson and Dr. Jas. Fletcher.

Arnica aprica. Also akin to A. latifolia and like it com-
monly more or less pubescent, but the hairs less rigid, and
obviously jointed ; the whole plant much smaller in all its parts,
and the heads more numerous : radical leaves long-petioled and
broadly or narrowly cordate-ovate, the cauline oval, sessile, all
serrate or dentate, the teeth callous-tipped : bracts of turbinate
involucre few, thin, oblanceolate, acute or acuminate, often purple-
tipped, nearly glabrous : rays few, rather deep-yellow, not deeply
toothed, the teeth short and broad : disk-corollas with slei der
tube about as long as the subcylindric but abrupt limb : pappus
firm, white ; achenes long and slender, glabrous except a few
obscure bristly very short hairs and as few minute glands about
the summit.

This is represented by Mr. James Macoun's numbers 26,284
and 26,285 from the ChiUiwack Valley. It is said to be a plant
not of the woods, but of open ground along streamlets. It is
readily distinguishable from A. latifolia not only by its smaller
size and more numerous flowers, but by the character of its
pubescence, and especially by its short merely tridentate rays ;
these last, in the real A^ latifolia, being elongated, and very
deeply cut at summit into narrow almost ligulate teeth or seg-
ments.

Arnica Macounii, Greene, Pitt, iv., 160. This species,
hitherto known to me only from Vancouver Island, was copiously
collected by Mr. James Macoun in the ChiUiwack Valley, last
season, the specimens bearing the numbers 26,927, 26,928 and
26,929 of the Geol. Surv. Herb.

1902] Greene — Some New Northwestern Composite. 281

Arnica aurantiaca, Greene, Torreya i, 42, founded on a
plant of Oregon collected only by Mr. Cusick until now, must be
credited to British Columbia, Mr. Macoun's No. 26,934 f«"om the
Chilliwack region matching perfectly the originals of the species.

Arnica confinis. Less than a foot high, monocephalous, or
else with also a pair of monocephalous peduncles from the axils ot
the uppermost pair of leaves, these surpassing the terminal one ;
herbage of a light green, viscid-puberulent as to the foliage, the
stem with a sparse hairiness : lowest leaves obovate to oblanceo-
late, an inch long or more and petiolate, the cauline in about three
pairs, ovate to lanceolate, i to 2 inches long, callous-denticulate,
or serrate-dentate, or even subentire, acutish ; heads of middle
size, the involucral bracts biserial, acuminate, sparsely hirsute :
rays deep-yellow, not large ; disk-corollas with hirsute tube and
naked limb about equal ; achene^ with a few hirsute hairs ;
pappus tawny, subplumose.

Chilliwack Valley, B.C., Mr. Macoun, No. 26,933, ^^ characters
of pubescence, flower and fruit this approaches A. ova/a, Greene,
but in foliage and habit it differs widely.

Arnica aspera. Stems clustered, often 2 feet high, equably
leafy to the corymbose summit, loosely hirsute, more strongly and
quite retrorsely so toward the base : leaves about 2 inches long,
ovate-lanceolate, sessile by a broad base, the upper longer, the
lower shorter than the internodes, rough-hairy on both faces,
saliently callous-dentate : peduncles several, slender ; involucres
small for the plant, campanulate, their bracts uniserial, hispidulous
with pustulate hairs ; rays very obtuse and only minutely triden-
tate ; disk-coroUas with very short tube and rather longer limb
about equally and very sparsely setose-hairy : achenes setose-
hairy; pappus tawny, subplumose.

The type of this species is a plant found by myself on Mt.
Rainier, 19 Aug., 1889, and then supposed to he A. amplexicaulis y
which I have now for some time known to be a very different
plant. A. aspera has also been collected by Mr. Piper at
Snoqualmie Falls, Washington, and again in the Olympic Moun-
tains. Mr. M. W. Gorman obtained it in 1897 among his plants
of the Washington Forest Reserve.

282 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

Arnica cana is a name needed to replace that of A. mcatia,
Greene, Pitt., iv, 169; there being an Arnica inca7ia of Persoon of
much earher date.

Arnica crocina, Greene, Torreya, i. 42, first pubHshed in
Piitonia, iv, 159, by the untenable name of A. crocea, is now in
hand from two additional stations. It is Mr. James Macoun's No.
26,931 from dry slopes north of Chilliwack Lake, 26th July, 1901 ;
also No. 34,074 of the Canad. Geol. Surv., collected by J. R.
Anderson, 1901, from Mt. Cheam, north of Chilliwack River,
B.C.

THE SPOTS ON THE EGGS OF THE GREAT BLUE HERON.

By W. E. Saunders.

Some ten years ago I was surprised to receive from Frank L.
Farley, then at St. Thomas, but now ranching in Alberta, a set of
eggs of the Great Blue Heron which bore a goodly number of jet
black spots, and as these spots would not wash off, it was mani-
fest that they were a part of the Qg^ ! Although this conclusion
was easily arrived at, it was not a satisfying one, as I well knew
that all (?) herons' eggs were normally unspotted. In 1900 Mr.
Robertson, Aylmer West, Ont., sent me a fine set of five of this
species, all of which show more or less of this peculiar spotting.
At intervals this problem would recur to my mind, until at last,
one day it dawned on me that these herons, at St. Thomas and
Aylmer, were within ten or twelve miles of Lake Erie, and I knew
that the pound-nets set by the fishermen for sturgeon, etc., were
a favourite feeding ground for these birds; and, moreover, that the
fishermen soak their nets with a compound of pitch. This solved
the problem. Clearly the birds got pitch on their feet, off^ the
nets, and carried it home for the sole purpose (?)^ of beautifying
their eggs. But if this were the case, then a solvent of this pitch
compound, such as ether or carbon bisulphide, would dissolve and
remove these spots. This theory proved to be correct, and a
diligent application of ether to one of the spots removed it. It is
plain, therefore, that the spotted eggs would belong to birds who
fished in the lake, and that those who fed entirely at smaller

1902] Saunders — Eggs of the Great Blue Heron. 283

waters would have eg-g-s ot clear blue. This conclusion puts one
in a position to theorize abou*^ the inhabitants of an individual
heronry, and lends much interest to the following- extracts from
Mr. Farley's letter of Feb. ist, 1891, in which he says :

" On the 24th May, 1889, Ben and I went to the heronry
nine miles northwest from here, but did not get there till late in
the day, about six o'clock. 1 did not want to go up as I had
walked the country since four o'clock that morning and was tired,
but Ben went up one tree with six nests in it, and took two sets,
one of 4 spotted, and one of 5 plain ones. Then when he came
down I went up another with five nests in it. It was nearly too
late, about seven o'clock, when I got up, and I did not want to
be caught in the top of a black ash with dead branches after dark,
so I did not get any eggs but saw into several nests and could see
one set of 5 spotted ones and two plain sets. I went down and
we tried Ben's to see if they were fresh, but found that one ot the
set of 5 was broken, and it was about 18 days set on out of the
21 days; and the bird was all formed. We got the eight eggs
home all right and by persistent work for two weeks they were
fit for the cabinet, and he now has them in his collection in British
Columbia.

" The heronry is in a big forest of black ash and soft maple
trees, and was nearly flooded beneath. There were about 100
nests in the place. Some of the trees had as many as eight nests
in them, but the majority only had four or five, and some only
one. We concluded that we were about ten days too late, and in
1890 we would visit it. Accordingly, on the 12th May, 1890, we
left home at 3.30 a.m. and got there shortly after daybreak. We
each chose our tree as we both had a pair of irons. I took one
with five nests and Ben one with seven. As soon as I got up I
yelled out to him that I had a set of five spotted ones, but they
were pipped so I left them and went on up to the other nests.
From that tree I took two sets of spotted eggs and one of plain
ones. No. i spotted contained four eggs and No. 2 contained
three eggs. No. 2 is the set I send you. During the day I took
three sets of spotted, one of five, one of four and one of three. I
could only make the set of three fit for my cabinet, although I
have the rest laid aside. During the day Ben took three nests of

284 The Ottawa Naturalist. [March

spotted ones and seven ot the others. All told, the two of us took
about fifty eggs during the day. This date we also found too late,
and this year we will visit it on the ist or 2nd May, and I hope
you will prepare for it and have a good day up the ashes about
70 to 90 feet above terra firman

From this extract it is clearly a lawful conclusion that some
of the herons in that colony confined their feeding to smaller
waters, while others, nesting in the same tree, visited Lake Erie
as well, or possibly did the whole of their hunting on its waters.

On a careful examination of the set taken by Mr. Anderson
in May, iSqg, I find that although the eggs were fresh, yet every
one is spotted, varying from two to three small spots on what was
probably the most recent q^^, up to several dozen spots of varioi.s
sizes on the earlier specimens. Therefore it is manifest that the
eggs become spotted very soon indeed after they are laid, and
point strongly to the conclusion that the unspotted ones belong to
birds that confine their hunting exclusively to the smaller waters.

As a rule it is very difficult, if not impossible, to establish that
there is any fixed difference in the habits of individual birds of a
breeding colony, and a hint of individuality such as these spotted
eggs gives, is a gratifying discovery to the student of bird life.

THE AMERICAN SCOTER IN MIDDLESEX.

(Read before the Ornithological Section of the Entomological Society of

Ontario.)

By vV. E. Saunders.

At the last meeting I presented for inspection a specimen of the
Surf Scoter, which was one ot a flock of three, two of which had
been shot on the Thames River, eight miles west, by Messrs.
Murdock and Bridgeman. Only a single record had previously
existed for the county, and no other Scoter had been recorded
at all.

In the early morning of Nov. 13th, while walking up from
the waterworks, I saw a duck on the river and after making the
usual sneak along the bank, I got a good rifle-shot at it and
missed. It flew, but only about a hundred yards, when it lit

igo2] Saunders — The American Scoter in Middlesex. 28

3

again. A passing car caused it to go a little farther and soon
after, by a careful sneak, I g^ot another shot, this time with
success. In a moment or two the duck revived and beg-an to
swim vigorously for the shore. When it lagged, I dropped a
bullet from a smokeless cartridge just outside of the duck, which
then made a fresh start for the shore, which after several such
spurts was reached, and my prey hid among the irregular sods at
edge of the water, out of my sight. To kill it was then the
problem, but after carefully searching the shore from several
points, I managed so badly as to appear right above it and it
started for mid stream in hot haste. Before long it was dead, but
the wind being almost directly up stream refused to bring it
within reach, nor would the current, but the latter, on the con-
trary, neutralized the effect of bullet after bullet, which I dropped
carefully from the rifle, just beyond the dead bird. Eventually the
wind drifted it up stream past a point which was my last hope,
and from which, standing barefooted in the icy water, I was un-
able to reach it with a long stick, and I realized that I must get it
from the other shore. This meant walking three-quarters of a
mile to the bridge, and then back again. By the time this was
accomplished the duck had nearly reached the shore and in a few
minutes I had the pleasure of handling an unknown specimen
which I guessed was a Scoter. Without staying to plug its
mouth, I started in hot haste for business, the time being about
9.30, and in a few minutes was disgusted to notice that the old
adage, " more haste and less speed" was being proved once more
by the numerous splashes of blood on my trousers. This necessi-
tated a stop to wash them in the river, and once more I started
for town, this time without further mishap.

On examining the bird with the aid of Ridgway's Manual
it was easily seen to be the American Scoter {Oidemia Americana),
a bird not hitherto recorded for the county although it is a regular
visitant, probably in restricted numbers, to the great lakes.

286 The Ottawa Naturalist [March

SOIREES.

The fourth soiree of the Ottawa Field-NaturaHsts' Club was
held in the Y. M. C. A. lecture room on the evening- of July nth,
when the Rev. Robert Campbell, D.D., lectured on "The Ferns
of Canada." The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides showing
the various kinds of fern structure and fructification and with the
exception of a few western spet ies, the large series of slides shown
included nearly every form found in Canada. In his introductory
remarks the lecturer defined the term> used in describing the
various parts of a fern and as each picture was thrown on the
screen the differences between genera and species of the same
genus were pointed out. The slides were all good, but those
made from photographs ot mounted specimens were much truer
to nature than the reproductions of drawings. In addition to the
slides Dr. Campbell exhibited a very complete and finely mounted
collection of the ferns of Canada. The lecture was of great
interest not only to the botanist but to the many lovers of ferns
who, though not botanists, are lovers of Nature.

REVIEW.

Matthew, G. F. — Are the Saint John beds Carboniferous?
Amer. Geol. Vol. XXVII, No. 6, pp. 383-386, Minneapolis,
Minn., U.S.A., June, 1901.

This brief paper is an attempt to give the evidence upon which
the plant-bearing beds of the St. John district rest regarding their
reference to the Devonian and Silurian systems as held by Dr.
Matthew. Correlations with the "Millstone Grit" of England
and the " Mauch Chunk" of Pennsylvania are given for different
portions ot New Brunswick. Two distant series exist, says Dr.
Matthew, one in which the sandstones occur as "free stones," the
other in which the "sandstones are strongly cemented with silica
and some calcite, the shales converted into slates, the limestones
are more crystalline and the beds usually tilted at high angles."
An unconformity exists at the point of division. Dr. Matthew
holds with discordance of dip &c. The Mispec. and the Little River
terranes, the latter constituting the fern beds in question, accord-
ing to Dr. Matthew, lie beneath the unconformity. Dr. Bailey,
Dr. Ells, Sir Wm. Dawson, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt, and Dr. Selwyn
are given as authorities for the view that the stratigraphical
sequence is as given by Dr. Matthew. The latter claims that
recent discoveries serve to prove that types which are usually
referred to this " flora have been gathered from the lower horizotis
of the Carboniferous. Dr. Matthew also adds that many genera
of plants have a wide vertical range citing a recent genus supposed
to be found in the Dretaceous. Dr. Matthew makes the so-called
" Millstone Grit " the equivalent of the " Pottsville Conglomerate.

H. M. A.

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Vol. XV Pl- XV.

C F. King: del..

To illustrate paper by Dr. Whiteaves on a Species of Panenka.

TO THE

OTTAWA NATURALIST, VOL. XV, 1901-2.

Acer dasycarputn 164

AdocKS variolosus 63

Agrimony 1 64

Alberta, New Plants from 42

Algoma, Some of the birds of.. 155
Algonquin Xational Park of On-
tario, The 80

Alligator and Turtles as pets .... 193
Ami, H. M., Sketch of life and
work of the late George

Mercer Dawson 43

Correspondence 114

Review of "A chapter on
Pleistocene Geolog'y of

Northern Asia 172

Bibliography of Dr. G. M.

Dawson 202

Review of " Are the St. John

beds Carboniferous? " . . . . 286
Anderson, J. R., Rattlesnakes

and Scorpions, 162

Brue or Soap Berry 188

Aqtiihi chrysoetos 249

Arnica aprica, Greene 280

aspera, Greene 281

conjinis, Greene 281

IcEvigata, Greene 279

Aster Ttiicrolonchus, Greene 278

vimineus 14

Barlow, A. E., Review 58

Correspondence. 1 14, 233

Corresponding^ members of O. F.

N. C 6

Cory's Least Bittern 67

Coubeaux, Eug., Birds of the

Saskatchewan Valleys 245

Council of O. F. N. C _ 3

Report of, for 1 900-1 901 .... 7
Cowley, Mailes, Note on the

Oviposition of the mud turtle 198

Dawson, Dr. G. M., The Bibli-
ography of 202

Notice of death 13

Sketch ot life and work.... 43

Dipnoid Fish 184

Dowling, D. B., The physical
Geography of the Red River

Valley 115

Eag-le, The Golden. 56

in Ontario 249

Eider in Middlesex Co., The

King- 197

Elk in Ontario, The extinction oi 95

Elliott, Robt., The King- Eider. . 197
Ells, R. W., Ancient Channels

of the Ottawa River 17

Energ-y, simple illustration of the

conservation of 196

Entomological Notes 97, 161

Excursions, Records of 94

Fat in the animal body 131

Fauna OttaVaensis 215

Fish, An African Dipnoid 184

Berberis brevipes. Greene 42

Birds of Algoma 155

of the Cariboo District ... . 152

of Sable Island 199

of the Saskatchewan Val'ys 245
Birds, Comparative records of

arrivals of 112

Bird Migfration 187

Bird Notes. 53, 92, 266

See Ornitholog-ica! Notes.

Bird notes from Pelee Point 15

Bittern, Cory's Least 67

Bobolink's love for its home, The 235

Bota lines ?ieoxenns.. 67

Botany, Contributions to Cana-
dian, 71, 267

Botanical Notes 164

Boutelier, R. , Autumn notes on

birds of Sable Island 199

Brooks, Allan, winter birds of

Cariboo District 152

Mammals of Chilliwack Dis-

t^ct 23

Brue or Soap Berry igQ

Buff-breasted Sandpiper i^-

Buttercups i-l

288

The Ottawa Naturalist.

Campbell, A. M., The Algfonqiiin

quin National Park, Ontario 80

Camping grounds along- the

Ottawa River, Prehistoric. . 141

Chalmers, R., The sources and
distribution of the Gold-bear-
ing- Alluvions of Quebec.. ^^

Charron, A. T., Fat in the animal

body, its functions and origin 131

Chilliwack District, mammals of 239

Coltsfoot, sweet. 94

Compositae, Some new north-
western 278

Fletcher, Hug-h, Review 59

Fletcher, Jas., Entomological

Note 161

Treasurer's Report 12

Flora, Tiie Ottawa 201

Gentians, Some new Canadian. . iio
Gentiana, On some Canadian

species of. 175

Geological Section, Animal re-
port of 254

GnaphaliiiDi Macounii, Greene 278

proximiini, Greene 279

Gold-bearing alluvions of Quebec t,2

Goodyera Menzicsii 14

pubescens 14

repe7is 14

Gould, Harry, Bird NQtes from

Pelee Point 15

Greene, Edw. L., New plants

from Alberta 42

Certain Canadian Violets 191
Some new Canadian Sen-

ecios. 250

Some new northwestern

Compositae ..... 27S

Gull, The Glancous in Middle-
sex Co 200

Gull, Ross's 55

Guillet, Cephas, Note on Brood-
care in reptiles 233

On the autumn flowering of
wild plants 123

Halkett, H. Andrew, An African

Dipnoid Fish 184

Harrington, W, H., Fauna Otta-

waensis — Hymenoptera . . . . 215
Heron. The spots on the eggs of

the Great Blue 282

Holm, Theo, Allies of Stellaria

media 37

Some new Canadian Gen-
tians 110

Holm, On Some Canadian species

of Gentiana 17c

Horse Gentian, A new 36

Hymenoptera 215

Keays, J. E,, The Golden Eagle 56
Kells, \V. L., Nesting of some

Canadian Warblers 225

Cory's Least Bittern ........ 67

Lamb, L. M., Notes on a turtle
from the Cretaceons rocks
of Alberta 63

Lyccema Scuddert 234

Lytoceras, Note on a supposed

new species of 31

Lytoceras Detimanense 32

McCallum, G. A., Tringites rii-
fescetts, Bufi^-breasted Sand-
piper 127

Macoun.J. M., Botanical Notes 14, 164
Contributions to Canadian

Botany 71, 267

Notes on the Willows of the

Chilliwack Valley 275

Taraxacum in Canada 276

Macoun, John, The Ottawa Flora 201
Macoun, W. T , Bird Notes. .53, 89,

[113, 266
Mammals of the Chilliwack Dis-
trict 239

Meadow-rue, A new 164

Meadow-sweet 54

Membersof the O.F.N. C, List of 4

Migration, Bird . ... 187

Moore, W, H., Notes on 'Wood-
cock's love song 195

The Bobolink's love for its
home 235

Namesake, My first 121

Nesting of' some Canadian war-
blers 225

Odell, W. S., Alligator and Tur-
tles as pets 193

Ormerod, The late Dr. Eleanor A. 130
Ornithological Notes.... 89, 113, 249
See Bird Notes.

Ottawa District, Map of 17

Ottawa Members, To our 237

Ottawa River, Ancient Channels of 17

Ottawaensis, Fauna 215

Oviposition of the Mud Turtle . . ig8

Panenka, On the genus 263

Index.

289

Panenka Canadetisis 265

Pelee Point, Birds from 15

Petasites palmata 94

Plants, On the autumn flowering

of wild 123

Pleistocene Geology of Northern

Asia 172

Prehistoric Camping-grounds . . 141
Prince, E. E., Ross's Gull (Rho-

dostethia rosea) 55

Review of Dr. Whiteaves'
Catalogue of Marine In-
vertebrates 165

Programme tor Winter Soirees . 214

Protoperus annectens 184

Ranunculus acris 1 74

Rattlesnakes and Scorpions .... 162

Rattlesnake Plantain 14

Red River V'alley, The physical

geography of 115

Reptiles, Note on brood-care in. 233
Reviews. . .... 58, 59, 165, 172, 238

Rhodostcthia rosea . 55

Ross's Gull . 55

Sable Island, Autumn notes on

birds of 199

Saint John beds ? Are they Car-
boniferous ? 286

Sandpiper, Buff-breasted ... .. 127
Saskatchewan valleys. Birds of. 245
Saunders, \V. E., Note on Golden

Eagle 57

The Glaucous Gull in Mid-
dlesex County 200

The spots on the eggs of the

Great Blue Heron ... . 282
The American Scoter in

Middlesex 284

Scorpions, Rattlesnakes and ... . 162
Scoter in Middlesex, The Ameri-
can 284

Scott, Some of the birds of Al-

Sroma 155

Scudder, S. H., My first name-
sake 14

.Scudder's Blue . . 234

Senecios, Some new Canadian. . 250

Senecio crepidineus, Greene .... 250

deleptiifoliiis, Greene. ... 251

prionophyllus, Greene . . 250

Shutt, F. T., To our Ottawa

members 237

Smith, L. H., The extinction of

the Elk in Ontario 95

The Woodcock's love song. 129

Soap berry or Brue 188

Soirees, Programme of winter .. 214
Soirees, Reports of . . . . 236, 251, 286
Sowter, T. W. E., Prehistoric
camping grounds along the

Ottawa 141

Spircea salicifolia 54

Stellaria media. Allies of 37

Stellaria siibvestita, Greene 42

Sutherland, J. C, A simple illus-
tration of the conservation

of energy ... 1 96

Sylvan Ontario, A guide to our

native trees and shrubs. . . . 238

Taraxacum in Canada 276

Thalictrum confine, Fernald ... 164

Treasurer's Report for 1900-1901 12

T ring lies rufescens 127

Triosteum aurantiacum 36

perfoliatum 36

Turtles and Alligator as pets ... 193
Turtle, Notes on a, from the Cre-
taceous rocks of Alberta ... 63
Turtle, Note on theoviposition of 198

Viola cardatnincefolia, Greene.. 269

Fletcherii, Greene 268

Lahradorica 192

leucopetala, Greene 191

siibvestita 192

supviscosa, Greene 268

Violets, Certain Canadian 191

Warblers, Nesting of some Cana-
dian 225

White, David, The Canadian

dian species of Whittleseya. 98
Whiteaves, J. P., Notes on a
supposed new species of

Lytoceras 31

Catalogue of the Marine
Invertebrata of Eastern

Canada 165

The Golden Eagle in Ontario 249

On the genus Panenka 262

Whittleseya, The Canadian

species of 98

Wilson, W. J., Note on Acer

dasycarpum 164

Williams, J. B. , Scudder's Blue. 234

Willows of the Chilliwack Valley 275

Woodcock's love song, The .... 129

Notes on 195

Yukon Territory, Natural His-
tory in 14

APRIL. 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 1.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published bv the Ottawa Field-Naturaiists' Club.

CONTE NTS.

Page

1. List of Members of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club . . 4

2. The Report of the Council of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists'

Club for the year ending March 19th, 1901 7

3. Treasurer's Report for the year 1900-01. .... 12

4. The late Dr. G. M. Dawson, C. M. G., F. G. S 13

5. Natural History in Yukon Territory 14

6. Botanical Notes .... . . . a .... . . .... 14

7. Bird Notes from Point Pelee, Ont., by Harry Gould .... 15

8. Ancient Channels of the Ottawa River, by R. W. Ells LL. D.,

r • xv. o« \^» •••• •••• ..••• •■>• •••• ±. ^

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StanMng Committees of Council:

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Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young-, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
ArchcEology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
BDitor :

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

associate BDitovs :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Palceontology.
Mr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. of Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.

Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. —Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada. — De^X.. oi Zoology.

Memliersbip Fee to O.F.N.C, Mith " Ottiiwa Nnturnlist, " $1.00 per anuiuu.

MAY, I90t

VOL. XV, No. 2.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published bv the Ottawa Field -Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Pagb

1. Note on a supposed new Species of Lytoceras from the

Cretaceous Rocks at Denman Island, in the Strait

of Georgia, by J. F. Whiteaves .... , . . . 3j

2. The Sources and Distribution of the Gold-Bearing Allu-

vions of Quebec, by R. Chalmers .... .... 33

3. Allies of Stellaria Media (L.) Cyrillo, by Theo. Holm 37

4. New Plants from Alberta, by Edw. L. Greene .... ... 42

5. The Late George Mercer Dawson, by H. M. Ami 43

6. Ornithology, by W. T. Macoun .... ... .... .... 53

7. Ross's Gull, by Prof. E. E. Prince .... .... .... 55

8. The Golden Eagle. An Addition to the Fauna of Middlesex 56
Q. Reviews ■... .... .... .... .... .... ^o

f ISSUED MAY I, I go I.)

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THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

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GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

lt>rcsiJ)ent :

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IDiccsipreeiDents

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

Xlbrarian :

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Secretary : a;reaBurer ;

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CGeological Survey Dept J ^Central Experimental Faitn.)

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%cnt>ev3 :

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Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harring-ton, C. H. Young-, A, Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Beli.
Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. -Guillet.
Zoologv : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
^rchceology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
JEDitor :

James M. Macoun (Geolog-ical Survey Department.)

associate :e&itors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geologv-
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Palceontology.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department of jSo/««y.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.

Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Or^iithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries tor Canada.— Dept. of^oo/<7§y.

Membership Fee to O.F.N.C., -n-ith " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per annum.

JUNE. 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 3.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published bv the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

1. Notes on a Turtle from the Cretaceous Rocks of Alberta,

by Lawrence M. Lambe .... .... • • • • 63

2. Cory's Least Bittern (Botaurus neoxenus, Cory), by W. L.

Kells 67

3. Contributions to Canadian Botany, by James M. Macoun 71

4. The Algonquin National Park of Ontario— Its Resources

and Advantages, by Archibald M. Campbell 80

5. Ornithological Notes, by W. T. Macoun 89

6. Excursions .... .... .... . • • • • • • • 94

(ISSUED JUNE /, igoi.)

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P. W^. RESSEMAN,

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CO TO...

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THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS* GLUB, 1901-1902.

ipatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPrcsiDcnt :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

lDice=lpi"CsiDents

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

^Librarian :

J. Harold Pulman, B.A.

Secretary :

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B.
fGeoIogical Survey DeptJ

C^rcasurer ;

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^Central Experimental Farm.)

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

Committee :

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StanDf ng Committees of Council :

Publishifig : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
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Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

XeaDers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet,
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
Archeology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne. /

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

BDitor :

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

associate B&itors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department o{ Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department oi Palceontology.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm.^ — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.

Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. —Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. of^oo/tfgr.

Jlembersliip Fee to O.F.Bf.C, witu " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per annum.

•1

JULY, 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 4.

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published bv the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

1. The Extinction of the Elk in Ontario, by L. H. Smith .... 95

2. The Canadian Species of the Genus Whittleseya and their

Systematic Relations, by David White 98

3. Some New Canadian Gentians, by Theo. Holm .... no

4. Ornithological Notes, by W. T. Macoun. ... ... 112

5. Correspondence, by H. M. Ami .... 114

(ISSUED JULY 6, igoi.)

OTTAWA, CANADA.
Ottawa Printing Company

3 & 5 lyiOSGROVE St

Enteted at the , Ottawa Post Office at second class matter

1.

(Limited). ; '^6^16/9 ^-"X

t/)

0)

2

HBnm J. Sims & go..

FINE HATS AND FURS

108 Sparks St.

W^M. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

.SItelt au«l Heavy HaiMl^viti'c, Stoves,
Tiu'ware, Paint, «6c.

Corner Queen and Bridgfe Streets,
Ottawa. " Phone 629.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,

58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Drug-gist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

THE GATINEAU

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Rqilway Connpany.

For fishing and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and favorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President.

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas.

P. VT. RESSEMAN,

Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
raxes • • ■ »

CO TO...

Ottawa Printing Co., Ltd.

3 & 5 Mosgrove St.,
OTTAV^A.

Olmsted & Hurdman

Empire Watches

Are tlie best for tlie money.

67 Sparks St.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

33 e.

English Blended Black Tea,

JAMES GO ILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.
87 Sparks Street

G.A.McNee

Heintzman and
Xevvcombe

5

Pianos fnaMu'icai Phone 1322

a„dThomas Organs, ^i-'^^-'^- hi SPIIRKS SI.

la

J. G. BUTTERW^ORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Ha^i u<» Etiiial.

86 SPARKS ST.

C, C. RAY & Co.

Best C(uality lowest price.
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

"One of the most useful things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on your piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will regain its old-time lustre.

R. McGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . . .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

Cornwall, Massena Spring-, Albany, New York City,

Kingston, Malone, Syracuse, Buffafo,

Brockville, Toronto, Norwood, Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices. - 85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

Ketch u

& Co.

Bicycles, Filing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA.

^^,0mM.Srj^

^fR,QuE

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

SAPRKS St., Ottawa. Book binders, P inters

CD
CD

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

ipatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,^

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IpresiDcnt :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.EJL

DicesiPresiDcnts

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

Xibrarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary : treasurer ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher.

fGeological Survey Dept.; ' CCentral Experimental Fami.)

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

W. H. Harrington
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

Standing Committees of Comtcil:

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursiojis : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirdes : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

ILeaDers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Etitomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Otnithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
ArchcBology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

B^itor :

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

associate B<>itors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Paleontology.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. — Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries for Canada. — T>e.y^\..oi Zoology.

Memlbersliip Fee to O.F.N.C, witli " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per annum.

AUGUST, 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 5.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published bv the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

1. The Physical Geography of the Red River Valley, by D.

B. Dowling ... .... .... .... ... ....115

2. My First Namesake, by Samuel H. Scudder .... .... 121

3. On the Autumn Flowering of Various Wild Plants in igoo,

by Cephas Guillet .... .... .... ... .... 123

4. Tringites Rufescens, Buff-Breasted Sandpiper, by G. A.

McCallum .... .... .... .... .... .... 127

5. The \Voodcock's Love Song, by L. H. Smith .... 129

6. The late Dr. Eleanor A. Ormerod .... .... ... 130

(ISSUED JULY 6, igoi.)

OTTAWA, CANADA.

Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).

3 & 5 MOSGROVE St.

Entered at the Ottawa Post Office at second class matter

Henry J. Sims & Go.

FINE HATS AND FURS

io8 Sparks St.

W^M. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

Shelf and Heavy HaiHlware, Stoves,
Tlwware, I'aiut, «tc.

Corner Queen and Bridge Streets,
Ottawa. Phone 629.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,
58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Drug-gist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

THE GATING AU-^.

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Railway Company.

For fishing and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and favorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
' up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further informatiori see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President.

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas.

P. AV. RESSEMAN,

Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
raxes • • ■ ■

CO TO...

Ottawa Printitid Co., m.

3 & 5 Mosgrove St.,
OTTAVrA.

Olmsted & Hurdman

Empire Watches

Are the best for the niouey.

67 Sparks St.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

33 c.

English Blended Black Tea.

^

JAMES OGILVY

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.
5 87 Sparks Street

C.A.McNee,

Heintzraan and
Xewcombe

Pianos fndMu^rd'r phonei322
andThomas Organs. ^^-^^^"'^'- 141 sPflRKS 81.

J. G. BUTTERW^ORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has 110 Equal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

Best quality lowest price.
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

"One of the most usetul things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on your piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will regrain its old-time lustre.

R. MeGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . . .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNT INS

Cornwall,

Massena Spring,

Albany,

New York City,

Kingston,

Malone,

Syracuse,

BuflFafo,

Brockville,

Toronto,

Norwood,

Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices, - 85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

Ketch uo]

& Co.

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting"
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA.

^^mS^&^M

%<.

*'ef(,aut

121

♦

♦

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

SAPRKS St., Ottawa. Book binders, P inters

=i

^

^

jd

00

" CO

(D
CD

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

ftatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPresiCicnt :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

Dice=lpresi£)ents

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A,

librarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary : tTreasurer ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher.

fGeological Survey Dept.j fCentral Experimental Farm.)

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion I. Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

StanMng Committees of Council :

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss W'hyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

XeaDers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
OtnitJiology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology: John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
Arcliceology : T. W. E. Sovvter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

BOitor :

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

Bssociate BDitors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survej' of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of /'rt/rtPow/o/tJgy.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department of ^o^^^y.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department oi Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm.— Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. of.^oo/#^r.

Memberslilp Fee to O.F.N.C, witli " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per anunni.

SEPTEMBER, 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 6.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

1. Fat in the Animal Body, its Functions and Origin, by A. T.

v^narron .... .... .... .... .... ....131

2. Prehistoric Camping Grounds along the Ottawa River, by

T. W. Edwin Sowter .... .... .... ... . , . , 141

3. Notes on the 'Winter Birds of the Cariboo District, B. C,

by Allan Brooks .... .... .... ... .... 152

(ISSUED SEPTEMBER, 20, igoi.)

OTTAWA, CANADA,
Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).

3 & 5 MOSGROVE St.

Enteted at the Ottawa Post Office at second class ntxtter

05

Henry J. Sims & Go.,

FINE HATS AND FURS

1 08 Sparks St.

^

W^M. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

Shell and Heavy Haml^varc, Stoves,

Tinware, Paint, «&c.

Corner Queen and Bridge Streets,
Ottawa. Phone 629.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Drug-gist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,
58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Rai way Company.

For fishing- and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and favorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President. P. W. RESSEMAN,

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas. Gen'l. Sup;t.

For neat printing
at reasonable
rates ....

CO TO...

Ottawa Printing go., Dd.

3 & 5 MosgTOve St.,
OTTAW^A.

Olmsted S Hurdman

Empire Watches

Are tlie best for the money.

67 Sparks St.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

33 c.

English Blended Black Tea,

T A l\/r 17^ C^C^ T I \/^^ Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.

87 Sparks Street

l.

C.A.McNee,

Heintzraan and
Newcombe

and

Pianos f^lu^^li Phonei322

Thomas Qrgans. ^^'^-''-'^'- 141 SPARKS ST.

J. G. BUTTERW^ORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has uo Equal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

best quality lowest price.
53 Sparks St, Phone 461.

''One of the most useful things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on your piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will reg-ain its old-time lustre.

R. McGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . , .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

Cornwall,
Kingston,
Brockville,

Massena Spring, Albany, New York City,

M alone, Syracuse, Buffafo,

Toronto, Norwood, Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices, - 85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

Ketch u HI

& Co.

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA,

^^^^^''■'''ic.

*^£R,auE

JanneS Hope &, Sons, Booksellers, stationers,

SAPRKS St., Ottawa. Book binders, Printers

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURftLlSTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

patron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADAr'

IPresiDent :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

\Dice=ipre6iDents

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

^Librarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary : tlreasurer ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher.

("Geological Survey Dept J fCentral Experimental Farm.)

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

Stan&ing Committees of Council :

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

OLeaDers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock,
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Co7ichology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
07nithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
ArchcEology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE QT^TAWA NATURALIST.
JEDitor :

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

associate BDitors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Palceontology.
Dr. a. E. Barloav, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oiBotatiy.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. oiZoology.

Meniberslilp Fee to O.F.N.C., with " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per annum.

OCTOBER, 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 7.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

1. Some of the Birds of Algoma, by C. T. Scott 155

2. Rattlesnakes and Scorpions, by J. R. Anderson 162

3. Botanical Notes .... .... .... .... .... 164

4. Reviews .... ... .... .... .... .... 165

(ISSUED OCTOBER 12, 1901.)

OTTAWA, CANADA.

Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).
3 & 5 MosGROVE St.

Entered at the Ottawm Post Office at second clmss ntatier

CO

0 C/2

Henry J. Sims & 6o..

FINE HATS AND FURS

1 08 Sparks St.

W^M. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

Shell and Heavy HaiMlware, Stoves,
Tluware, Paiut, <&c.

Corner Queen and Bridge Streets,
Ottawa. Phone 629.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,

58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Druggist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

THE GATINEAU—

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Railway Company.

For fishing and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and favorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President.

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas.

P. W^. RESSEMAN,

Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
raxes • • ■ ■

CO xo...

Ottawa Printing go., Dd.

3 & 5 Mosgrove St.,
OTTAW^A.

Olmsted & Hurdman

Empire Watclies

Are the best for tlie inoiiey.

67 Sparks St.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

33 e.

English Blended Black Tea.

JAMES OGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.
87 Sparks Street

<

C.A.McNee,

Heintzman and
Newcombe

Pianos fndMu^icS Phone 1322

andThomas Qrgans. ^^-^'^^""'^ 14| SPARKS 81.

J. G. BUTTERWORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has no Equal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

best quality lowest price,
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

"One of the most useful things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on your piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will reg-ain its old-time lustre.

R. McGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . . .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

Cornwall, Massena Spring, Albany,

Kingston, Malone, Syracuse,

Brockville, Toronto, Norwood,

New York City,
Buffafo,
Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O, N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices,

85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

Ketch

u

& Co.

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA.

^■Ont. F.Xs^ f

'^£R,Qi\it

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

SAPRKS St., Ottawa. Book binders, Printers

^

O-o
^ 2-

P3

(D
(D

THE OTTAWA FlELD-NftTURftLlSTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

ipatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPreaiDent :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

IDicesprcsiDents

W, T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

Xibrarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Seci-etarg : XLxe^sutex ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher.

(■Geological Survey DeptJ fCentral Experimental Farm.)

Conimtttee :

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

Standing Committees of Council :

Publishhig : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, VV. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

Xea&ers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
Archceology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
JEC)itor : \

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

Associate EDitors ;

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Pflfeo«/o/ogy.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchelogy.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada. — Dcpi. oiZooltgy.

MembersUp Fee to O.F.N.C., witfc " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.0© per TannHm.

NOVEMBER, 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 8.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

I. On some Canadian Species of Gentiana ; Sectio Crosso-

petolae, Froel, by Theo. Holm ... .... .... 175

2 An African Dipnoid Fish, by Andrew Halkett 184

3. Brue on Soap Berry, by J. R. Anderson. .. . 188

4. Note on some Errata .... .... .... 189

(ISSUED NOVEMBER I, igoi.)

OTTAWA, CANADA,
Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).

3 & 5 MOSGROVE St.
Entered at the Ottawa Post Office at second class matter . ^O /|» tfc, C^-' V^X ^i<^

!^(LiriRARY]3e
^ ^^!^ /^]

Henry J. Sims & Go..

FINE HATS AND FURS

io8 Sparks St.

WM. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

Shell aiMl Heavy HaMlware, Stoves,

Tluware, I'aiiit, Ac.

Corner Queen and Bridge Streets,
Ottawa. Phone 629.

R. A. MeCORMICK,
Preseription Druggist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,
58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

THE GATINEAU — .

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Rai way Connpany.

For fishing and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and favorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President. P. W. RESSEMAN,

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas. Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
rates ....

CO TO. ..

Ottawa Printing go., £ta.

3 & 5 Mosg-pove St.,
OTTAWA.

Olmsted 8 Hurdman

Empire Watches

Are the best for tlic money.

67 Sparks St.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

33 e.

English Blended Black Tea,

JAMES OGILVY, '^°°''"n' l^r^t ^'""'"''-

Notice to members of the Ottawa Field-
Naturalist's Club.

During the winter and spring months, papers read at the
Club's Soirdes are given precedence by the Editor of the Ottawa
Naturalist when arranging MSS for the printer. This rule very
frequently delays the publication of articles which, had they
reached the hands of the Editor at this season of the year could
have been published in the November or December number.
Members of the Club who have notes or papers to be published
in The Ottawa Naturalist will ensure the early publication of what
they have written and sav- the Editor much embarrassment later
in the season if they will at once send in their contributions.

The Ottawa Naturalist is intended to serve as the medium
for the publication of the original work of the Club's members and
no member should hesitate to send to the Editor any material
suitable for publication.

.t'srj) „■■'!)

'a'jil'^'

(G)ii ar J'.

T-T

■ J- . ! .■ r , 1

a-, '.

h.

:'i 'sf.. /.:•;;■'. -rrs •':>■■

.::> ■■ H^ ■"■J.., inr.v

C.A.McNee

Heintzraan and
Newcombe

5

Pianos !^riiS Phonei322

andThomas QrganS. ^'-^^"''^^ |/}| spflRKS 81.

la

J. G. BUTTER'WORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has uo Equal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

Lest quality lowest price.
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

"One of the most useful things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on jour piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will regain its old-time lustre.

R. MeGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . . .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK rVIOUNTAINS

Cornwall, Massena Spring,

Kingston, Malone,

Brockville, Toronto,

Albany, New York City,

Syracuse, Buffafo,

Norwood, Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices, - 85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

KetchufTi

& Co,

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA.

^^^^^£^:m^^'

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

SAPRKS St., Ottawa. Book binders, Printers

CD

THE OTTftWA FlELD-NftTURALlSTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

patron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPrcsiDcnt :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D. j

IDicespcesiOents i

W. T, Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

Xibrarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary : tTreasurer ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher.

(■Geological Survey Dept J ('Central Experimental Farm.)

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

W. H. Harrington
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

StanMng Committees ot Council :

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirdes : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

Xea^ers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, TV. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.

Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A Campbell, A. E. Attwood.

Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.

Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.

Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet. j

Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.

Archceology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
BDitor':

James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

associate JEDitors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geologv-
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Palceontologv-
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. oi Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department oi Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Coyichology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. — Dept. oi Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. ofZoology.

Membersblp Fee to O.F.N.C, with " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per aunHm.

THE

DECEMBER, 1901.

VOL. XV, No. 9.

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

I.

2.

3-
4-

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Certain Canadian Violets, by Edw. L. Greene

Alligator and Turtles as Pets, by W. S. Odell

Notes on the "Woodcock's Love Song, by Wm. H, Moore

A Simple Illustration of the Conservation of Energy, by J.
C.Sutherland .... ....

5. The King Eider in Middlesex County, by Robert Elliott

6. Note on ths Oviposition of the Mud Turtle, by Mailes Cowley

7. Autumn Notes on Birds, Sable Island, N.S., 1901, by

Richard Boutelier. , . . .... .... .... ....

8. The Glaucous Gull in Middlesex County, by W. E. Saunders

9. Bibliography of Dr. George Mercer Dawson, H. M. Ami

See Programme on last page.

Page
191

196
197
198

199
200
201

(ISSUED DECEMBER j, igoi.)

OTTAWA, CANADA.

Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).

3 & 5 MosGROVE St.

Entered at the Ottawa Post Office ai second class matter _

CO

Henry J. Sims & Go..

FINE HATS AND FURS

io8 Sparks St.

W^M. STRACHAN,

Imp)orter and Dealer in

Shelf and Heavy Ha««l>«are, Stoves,
Tinware, Paiut. «tc.

Comer Oueen and Bridge Streets,
Ottawa. Phone 62q.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,
58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Druggist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

THE GATINEAU

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Railway Company.

For fishing- and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scener}- and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and tavorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. BEEifER, President.

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas.

P. w^. resseman,

Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
rates . . . .

HENRY BIRKS & SONS,

Manufacturing Gold and Silversmiths

Diamond Merchants.

Phillips' Sqnare, Montreal

and 57 & 59 Sparks Street, Ottawa.

CO TO

Ottawa Printing go., Ctl

3 & 5 MosgTOve St.,
OTTAW^A.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

38 c.

English Blended Black Tea.

J

JAMESOGILVY,

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.
S7 Sparks Street

y)

C. A. McNee

Heintzman and
Xewcombe

5

Pianos fndMuS Phonei322

andThomas Ofgans. -^i^-'^-'"- Hj SPARKS SI.

:2j

J. G. BUTTERWORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has no Equal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

Best quality lowest price.
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

'"One of the most usetul things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on your piano, and that smok>' appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will regrain its old-time lustre.

R. MeGIFFIN,

. . . MEX S FURXISHIXGS . . .
106 Spaeks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

Cornwall, Massena Spring, .Albany, New York City,

Kingston, M alone, Syracuse, Buffafo,

Brockville, Toronto, Norwood, Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices,

85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

§ .

Ketch uro

& Co.

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA.

^fR. gut-

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

SAPRKS St., Ottawa. Book binders, Printers

v>

^

^

^

0)

su

CO

THE OTTAWA FlELD-Nf\TURftLlSTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

ipatron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IprestDent :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

D(ccsipre0i5cnts

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

!ILibrarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary :

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B.
("Geological Survey Dept J

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

C^reasurer ;

Dr. James Fletcher.
fCentral Experimental Farm.)

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

Stan&lng Committees of Council :

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

Xea&ers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entoinology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Otnithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
Archeology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
BDitorh

James M Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

Besoclate lEDltors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of PalcFoniology.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. of Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department of ^o^awy.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. of Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries for Canada. — Dept. of Zoology.

nemhershiv Fee to O.F.Jf.C, with " Ottawa Naturalist, " $1.00 per aunum.

JANUARY, 1902.

VOL. XV, No. to.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTENTS.

Page

1. Fauna Ottawaensis, by W. Hague Harrington 215

2. Nesting of Some Canadian Warblers, by Wm. L. Kells 225

3. Scudder's Blue, by J. B. Williams 234

4. The Bobolink's Love for Its Home, by W. H. Moore 235

5. Soirees 236

6. Reviews 238

(ISSUED JANUARY 8, igo2.)

OTTAWA, CANADA.
Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).

3 & 5 MOSGROVE St. ^-i*~i"ini

Entetedat the Ottawa Post Office m second class matter \ -^ iLIBRARtI SB

^

^ Henry J. Sims & Go.

FINE HATS AND FURS

1 08 Sparks St.

W^M. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

Shelf and H^^jivy llnr4lMarc, Stoves,
Tinware, l*aiiit, dn%

Corner Queen and Bridge Streets,

Ottawa. Phone 629,

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,
58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Druggist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

THE GATINEAU— .

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Railway Connpany.

For fishing and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and favorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

tor further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
ofBces, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President.

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas.

P. ^V. RESSEMAN,

Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
raxes • • ■ ■

CO TO.

Ottawa Friming Co., Etd.

3 & 5 Mosgrove St.,
OTTAWA.

HENRY BIRKS & SONS,

Manufacturing- Gold and Silversmiths

Diamond Merchants.

Phillips' Square, Alontreal

and 57 & 59 Sparks Street, Ottawa.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

33 c.

English Blended Black Tea.

I A TV /I CO V^/^ T I \F\/ Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.
J AM E-O VJU 1 L- V I 5 87 Sparks Street

C.A.McNee,

Heintzman and
Newcombe

Pianos

^^dThomas OfganS.

Sheet Music Phone 1322

and Musical ^

Merchandise

141 SPARKS 81.

:s]

J. G. BUTTERWORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has uo Equal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

best quality lowest price.
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

"One of the most usetul things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it on 50ur piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.

Will regain its old-time kistre^

R. McGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . . .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

Cornwall,
Kingston,
Brockville,

Massena Spring,

Malone,

Toronto,

Albany,

Syracuse,

Norwood,

New York City,
Buffafo,
Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices, - 85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

Ketchurn

& Co.

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St
OTTAWA.

•^^£Pv,Q.Ut-'

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

« t • 1

1
CO
CD

THE OTTAWft FlELD-NATURflUSTS' GLUB, 1901-1902.

patron :

THE RJGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPresiDent :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

lDice=ipresiOcnt6

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

librarian : ^

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary :

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B.
(■Geological Survey Dept.^

treasurer ;

Dr. James Fletcher.
fCentral Experimental Farm.

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood,

Publishing
Excursions

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

Standing Commtttees of Council :

J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,
Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirdes : D. A. Campbell, F T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

Xea&ers :

Geology .• H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A. Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology : J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Ornithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
Archceology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
BDltorl:

James M Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

B00ociate BDitors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of /'«/<2'ow/o/o^y.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. of Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department of Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. of Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissioner of Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. of Zoology.

Membership Fee to O.F.Jf.C, with " Ottawa: Naturalist, " $1.00 per annnm.

FEBRUARY, 1902.

VOL. XV, No. II.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

* CONTE NTS.

Page

1. Mammals of the Chilliwack District, B. C, by Allan Brooks 239

2. Synopsis of the Birds of the Saskatchewan Valleys and

Tributaries, by Eug". Coubeaux.. .... .... .... 245

3. Ornithological Note, byj. F Whiteaves 249

4. Some New Canadian Senecios, by Edw. L. Greene 250

5« ouirccs *••• •••• •••• •••• •••• •••# ^S ^

6. Annual Report of the Geological Section of the Ottawa Field-
Naturalists' Club, for the Year 1901-1902 254

(ISSUED FEBRUARY 5, 1902.)

OTTAWA, CANADA.

Ottawa Printing Company (Limited).

3 & 5 MOSGROVE St.

Entered at the Ottawa Post Office a* second class matter

^ Henry J. Sims & Go..

c

en

10

a

<
u

.s

. 'jo.

hi S

cfl o

•J ^

I ^

C 1^

«4-. 0)

c

CO

2

FINE HATS AND FURS

io8 Sparks St.

AVM. STRACHAN,

Importer and Dealer in

Shelf and llravy Hardware, Stoves,
TiuMare, l>alnt, Ac.

Corner Queen and Bridge Sireets,
Ottawa. Phone 629.

A. G. PITTA WAY,

...PHOTOGRAPHER,

58 Sparks St. Ottawa.

R. A. Mccormick,

Prescription Druggist,

75 Sparks Street.
Phone 159. Ottawa.

THE GATINEAU^.

Ottawa Gatineau and
Western Railway Connpany.

For fishing- and hunting unexcelled. For beautiful
scenery and pure mountain air — the equal of any
locality. The ideal and tavorite route for Excur-
sions and picnics. The popular route for summer
residents. Hundreds of families from the City live
up the Gatineau during summer months.

Por further information see Folders, or apply at Company's
offices, Ottawa, Ont.

H. G. Beemer, President.

H. Lassey Maltby, Sec-Treas.

P. VT. RESSEMAN,

Gen'l. Sup't.

For neat printing
at reasonable
rates ....

HENRY BIRKS & SONS,

Manufacturing Gold and Silversmiths

Diamond Merchants.

Phillips' Square, Montreal

and 57 & 59 Sparks Street, Ottawa.

CO TO.

Ottawa Printing Co., Cta.

3 & 5 Mosgrove St.,
OTTAW^A.

TRY

BATE & GO'S

83 c.

English Blended Black Tea.

JAMESOGILVY

Bookseller, Stationer and Publisher.
J 87 Sparks Street

C.AJcNee,

Hcintzraan and
Newcombe

Pianos

a^dThomas OfganS.

Sheet Music Phone i';22

and Musical ''

Merchandise

141 SPARKS SI.

J. G. BUTTERV/ORTH & Co.

All-Rail Scranton Coal.

Has uo Eqnal.

86 SPARKS ST.

C. C. RAY & Co.

best quality lowest price.
53 Sparks St. Phone 461.

"One of the most usetul things

in the house-hold, is
"MOZART PIANO and
FURNITURE POLISH"

Use it oji your piano, and that smoky appear-
ance will vanish. Furniture, wood-work etc.
Will regain its old-time lustre.

R. McGIFFIN,

. . . MEN'S FURNISHINGS . . .
106 Sparks St. Ottawa.

New York & Ottawa Line

THE NEW SHORT LINE TO

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS

Cornwall,

Massena Spring,

Albany,

New York City,

Kingston,

Malone,

Syracuse,

Buffafo,

Brockville,

Toronto,

Norwood,

Upper Lake.

The Popular Route via Cornwall and R. & O. N. Co.
Steamers to Upper and Lower St. Lawrence Points.

Ticket Offices, - 85 SPARKS ST., & CENTRAL STATION.

Ketch UD]

& Co.

Bicycles, Fishing
Tackle, Golf, Ten-
nis, Cricket and
General Sporting
Goods.

104, 106 Bank St.
OTTAWA.

^^^W^^lut^'

♦
♦

^

Ml

James Hope & Sons, Booksellers, Stationers,

RAPFIT^R St. nt.tnwfl

Book binders. Printers

^

CO

O-o

•CO

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS* GLUB, 1901-1902.

patron :

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

IPrcsiDent :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

It)icesff»rc6i0ents

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

^Librarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary : C^reasurer ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher

(■Geological Survey Dept.^ fCentral Experimental Farm.

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.

W. H. Harrington
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

StaiiDing Committees of Council :

Publishing : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, W. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursions : W. H. Harrington, W. J. W^ilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott.

XeaDers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botany : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
Entomology : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchology .• J. F, Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Otyiithology : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology : John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
Archeology : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.
B^itorj:

James M Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

associate jiENtors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geology.
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of /Vr/tFow/o/c^y.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada. — Dept. of Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department of Botany.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department of Conchology.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department.— Dept. of Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. of Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada. — Dept. 3f Zoology,

Membership Fee to O.F.N.C, vrith " Ottaiva Katnrallst, ** $1.00 per auunni.

MARCH. 1902.

VOL. XV, No. 12.

THE

OTTAWA
NATURALIST.

Published by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club.

CONTE NTS.

Paok

1. On the Genus Panenka, by J. F. Whiteaves .... .... 263

2. Bird Notes, by W. T. Macoun. . .. .... 266

3. Contributions to Canadian Botany, by Jas. M. Macoun 267

4. Some New Northwestern Compositse, by Edw. L. Greene 278

5. The Spots on the Eggs of the Great Blue Heron, by W. E.

Saunders .... ... .... .... .... 282

6. The American Scoter in Middlesex, by W. E. Saunders . . . 284

(ISSUED MARCH 8, 1902. J

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THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' GLUB, 190i-1902.

IPatron : .

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO,

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

President :

Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D.

lDice=iprcsiCtents

W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A.

Xibrarian :

J. Harold Putman, B.A.

Secretary : tTreasurcr ;

W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher

CGeological Survey Dept.j CCenlral Experimental Farm.

Committee :

Mrs. A. E. Attwood.
Miss Marion L Whyte.
Miss M. McKay Scott.

W. H. Harrington.
F. T. Shutt.
A. E. Attwood.

StauMng Committeee of Council :

Publishi7ig : J. Fletcher, W. T. Macoun, F. T. Shutt, \V. J. Wilson, D. A.

Campbell.
Excursiofis : W. H. Harrington, W. J. Wilson, J. Fletcher, J. H. Putman,

Mrs. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott.
Soirees : D. A. Campbell, F T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss

Whyte, Miss Scott,

Xea^ers :

Geology : H. M. Ami, R. W. Ells, L. Lambe, W. J. Wilson, T. J. Pollock.
Botavy : J. M. Macoun, Cephas Guillet, D. A Campbell, A. E. Attwood.
EiitomoJogy : J. Fletcher, W. H. Harrington, C. H. Young, A. Gibson.
Conchohgy .• J. F. Whiteaves, F. R. Latchford, J. Fletcher, R. Bell.
Omithohgy : W. T. Macoun, A. G. Kingston, Miss Harmer, C. Guillet.
Zoology: John Macoun, W. S. Odell, E. E. Prince, Andrew Halkett.
ArchcBohgy : T. W. E. Sowter, J. Ballantyne.

THE OTTAWA NATURALIST.

:i£C)ltor :

James M Macoun (Geological Survey Department.)

Bssociate JEMtors :

Dr. R. W. Ells, Geological Survey of Canada. — Department of Geologv-
Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada. — T)e\yArimei\i oi Palceonfology.
Dr. a. E. Barlow, Geological Survey of Canada.— Dept. 0( Petrography.
Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Central Experimental Farm. — Department of ^o^awy.
Hon. F. R. Latchford. — Department o( Conc/iologv.
Mr. W. H. Harrington, Post Office Department. — Dept. o{ Entomology.
Mr. W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm. — Dept. oi Ornithology.
Prof. E. E. Prince, Commissionerof Fisheries tor Canada.— Dept. jf Zoology.

Jllenibersliip Fee to O.F.N.C, Mith "Ottawa Naturalist," $1.00 per nniium.

J

MBL/WHOI LIBRARY

liiH IfiHC 1