é = > tet . oS oe Mer A sy x 3 ye ; Sr tt Sette» oH Pee Ry aSteleed ee ere y vege ws re He rea 4 Pat xt os Sp? SF 2 no or AW é eat oe RTL IAD Cede Cree at Saat od VP a8 ohn ge tare 24 Fe ad pts 7 ) Look PITY ow - wages : : A pi tea eae iintite Bigs : : Sif Raa SF epee hanethe = et At) SMe Bee a PO DT eae ted gt azese CES Me rt? oy Ue 84, " BOR OIE Pa PLP . prone) gore “it cmreeblen. pe Lee set Botge few gp Or ae tal hoes 9 9b ai wl epee Pere wears 34 ee) SRG ’ (66 @ *eF Veer Mere fad Pewee vid 771 3,0 FS os BOF 0 I 5 Ae ; roe} hike eg tapes) 4 7 Pd aes aes hing Ate’ oe Be 4 =~ re oe aah. i ? i 4 1 tl Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Toronto http://www.archive.org/details/canadianfieldnat15otta Igol. VOL. XV. 1902. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST, Being Vol. XVII. of the TRANSACTIONS OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB. Organized March, 1879. Incorporated March, 1884. OTTAWA, CANADA: OTTAWA PRINTING COMPANY (LIMITED. ) 1gol. NTA AT TRU ; A . THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ GLUB, 1901-1902. Patron: THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EARL OF MINTO, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA. President: Robert Bell, M.D., F.R.S., LL.D. Vice=Presidents W. T. Macoun. D. A. Campbell, B.A. Librarian: J. Harold Putman, B.A. Secretary: Treasurer ; W. J. Wilson, Ph. B. Dr. James Fletcher. (Geological Survey Dept.) (Central Experimental Farm, Committee : W. H. Harrington. Mrs. A. E. Attwood. F. T. Shutt. Miss Marion I. Whyte. A. E. Attwood. Miss M. McKay Scott. Standing 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. Soirées : D. A. Campbell, F. T. Shutt, W. T. Macoun, A. E. Attwood, Miss Whyte, Miss Scott. Leaders: 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. Editor : James M. Macoun (Geological Survey Department.) Associate Editors: Dr. R. W. ELts, Geological Survey of Canada.—Department of Geology. Dr. H. M. Ami, Geological Survey of Canada.—Department of Paleontology. Mr. A. E. BARLOW, Geological Survey of Canada.—Dept. of Petrography. Dr. Jas. FLETCHER, Central Experimental Farm.—Department of Bolany. Hon. F. R. LAtcHFoRD.—Department of Conchology. Mr. W. H. HarrincoTton, Post Office Department. —Dept. of Entomology. Mr. W. T. Macown, Central Experimental Farm.—Dept. of Ornithology. Pror. E. E. PRINCE, Commissioner of Fisheries tor Canada.—Dept. of Zoology. Membership Fee to 0.F.N.C., with *' Ottawa Naturalist,” $1.00 per annum, LIST OF MEMBERS OF Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ THE Club, April, 1901. Adams, Prof. F. D., 1.A.Sc., Ph. D. Alexander, L. H., WA. Allen, Hon. G. W., D.C.L., F.R.G.S. FOLES: 5 eG .( OLonto,) Allen, S. S. Ami; Elsa; PAZ SA SDSS re ohGs Ss. F..G.S.A Ami, Mrs. H. M. Ami, S. T. Anderson, James R. (Victoria, B.C.) Anderson, Lzeut.-Col. W. P., C.£., Attwood, A. E., WA. 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, Q.) Bell, Robert, B.A.Sc., 17. D LED., E.R. S., F.R.S.C., FF. GAS., F. G.S.A- Belliveau, A. H. Bethune, Rev. C. J. S., W.A., D.C.L., F.R.S.C. (London, Ont.) Billings, C. Billings, W. R. Blackadar, Lloyd. Boardman, Wm. F. Boddy, Mrs. H. M. Bolton, Miss Eliza. Borden, Hon. F. W., .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. Dwight. (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, TI. J. W., 12.D., FR:S.C. (Montreal). Burland, Z/.-Col. J. H. (Montreal.) Burland, Mrs. G. B. (Montreal.) Burland, G. L. Burman, Rev. W. A. (Winnipeg.) Campbell, D. A., B,A. Cameron, E. R., A. Campbell, A. M. Campbell, R. H. Campbell, Miss B. Carter, Mr. J. J. Chalmers, Robert. Charlton, H. W., B.A.Se. 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, Félix, 17.D. (Angers, Que.) Coteaye Le. Coubeaux, Eug. (Prince Albert, Sask.) Cousens, W. C., M.D. Cowan, Miss E. Cowley, R. H., B.A. Craig, Prof. John. (Ithaca, N.Y.) Curry, Miss E. E. Dawson, S. E., Zit..D. Denis, Theo., B.A.Se. Dixon, F. A. Doherty, T. Keville. Dowling, D. B., B.A.Sc. Dresser, J. A., 4/.A. (Richmond, Que.) Dulau & Co. (London, Eng.) Dunne, J. P. Dwight, Jonathan, Jr., 17.D, (N. York) Edwards, A. M., Z.D. Ells, Ro'W.., ZL Ds, fF. G. S: Ass hee Evans, Jno. D., C.Z. (Trenton, Ont.) Ewart, D. Ferries, W. Ea, 28.A. Sc... Gass leas S.A. (Rossland, B.C.) Fisher, Hon. S. A. Fleck, A. W. Fleming, Szr Sanford. A.C.M.G., C.E., ) TRUER GET (ad DI NA Om Fietcher, J:, 2Z2D: 0,72 S: evens 1go1| List OF Fleury, Prof. J. M. Forward, A. J. Gérin, Léon, B.A., F.R.S.C. Gibson, Arthur. Gilmour, T. ilashan. Jj. C., £L2.D. Gorman, M. J., ZZ.B. Graham, W. iSranwy S77 J. A: K.C.M.G., M.D., FRC. SL din., F.R.S.C.. F.G.S. Gregson, Percy B. (Waghorn, Alta.) Grisdale, J. H., 2. Agr. Grist, Henry. Grist, Miss Mary L. Guillet, Miss Elise. Guillet, Cephas, B.A., Ph.D. Halkett, Andrew. Harmer, Miss G. (Westboro’, Ont.) Harmon, Miss A. Maria. Harrington, W. Hague, 7.2.S.C. Harrison, Edward. Hay, George, Sr. HayaG.w 17.4., Pr.B., FRS.C. (St. John, N.B.) Hayter, F. Holland, Miss Ira. Honeyman, H. O., B.A. (Granby, QO.) Hope, J. House of Commons Reading Room. Hughes, Charles, (Montreal) Ide, Wm. Irwin, 7--Gol. D: T. James, C. C., 4Z.A. (Toronto.) Jenkins, S. J., B.A. Johnston, Robt. A. A. Joly de Lotbiniére, Hon. Sir Henry. Jones, C. J. Jordan, J. Wolfred. Kearns, J. C. Keefer, Thos. C., C.Z., F.R.S.C. Keele, Joseph. Kells, W. L. (Listowel, Ont.) Keeley, D. H. Kendall, E. W. Kennedy, R. A., 8.4., WD. Kenny, Thos. Kemp, E. Kingston, A. G. Klotz, Oskar. Laidlaw, J. C. (Victoria Road, Ont.) Lambart, Hon. O. H. Lambe, L. M., 7.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. MEMBERS, 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. ow, A: Pt. bua Sc. MacCabe; |e A., 2L:D hee oeG: 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, 2.A.Sc. McGill, A., B.A., B.Sc. McInnes, Wm., &.A4., F.G.S.A. MacKay, A. H., £Z.D., B.Sc.; F.R.S.C. (Halifax). McLaughlin, S. (Los Angeles, Cal.) MacLaughlin, T. J. McLean, D. L. McLeod, H. A. F., C.Z. McLeod. Rev. Norman, 1/.A4., B.D. MacNicholl, Miss C, McPhail, Mrs. J. A. (Montreal ) Macoun, Prof. John, .A., F.L.S., DAES EF 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, Dry. S. P. (Toronto). Mearns, Dy. E. A. (Washington, D.C., LS.) Meneilly, W. J. (Toronto.) Metcalfe, W. Miller, Prof. W. G. (Kingston.) Morris, Miss F. Nelson, H. M. Newcombe, C. F., 47.D. Northrop, B. M. O'Brien, S. E. Odell, W. S. Ogilvie, Wm., D.Z.S. (Yukon Ter.) Orde, J. F. , Poirier, Hon. P. S. M.A. (Shédiac, N.B,) Pollock, T. J. (Aylmer, Que.) Prevost, L..C3 2472), Prince, Prof. E. E., B.A., F.L.S. Putman, J. H.;6.A. Richard, Mr. A. E, 6 Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. | April Robertson, Prof. J. W. Tyrrell, J. B., B.A., B.Se., F.G.S. Ross, Hon. G. W, (Toronto. ) F.G.S.A. (Dawson, Yukon.) Rothwell, Miss Lina. Wrartte Gay 25se4e Sanson, N. B. (Banff, Alta.) Walker, B. E., 7.G.S. (Toronto.) Saunders, Wm., ZZ.D., F.L.S., F. C.S.,Walker, Bryant. (Detroit.) FERS. G: Warwick, F. W., B.Sc. (Buckingham, Saunders, W. E. (London, Ont.) Que. ) Scott, Miss Mary McKay. Watters, Henry. Scott, W., B.A. (Toronto. ) Weston, T. C., #.G.S.A. Senate of Canada, The. Whelen, Peter. Shore, John W. Whelen, Miss A. Shutt, F. T., J0.A., F.1.C., F.C.S. White, George R. Sifton, W. White, James. (Snelgrove, Ont.) Simpson, Willibert. White, Zz.-Col. W., C.M.G. Sinclair, S. B., B.A. Whiteaves, J. F., ZZ.D., F.G.S., FR. Small, H. Beaumont, J.D. SiGe LaGaseaue Smith, Capt. W. H. (Halifax, N.S.) Whitley, Thomas. Sowter, T. W. E. Whyte, Miss Ethel. Spence, J. C. Whyte, Miss Ida. St. Germain, Theodor. Whyte, Miss Isabella. Stewart, Archibald. Whyte, Miss Marion I. Strachan, Miss V. Whyte, R. B. Summerby, Wm. J., 4.4. (Russell, Williams, J. B. Ont.) Willing, T. N. (Regina, Assa.) Sutherland, J. C. (Richmond, Que.) Wilson, Miss M. F. Taylor, F. B. (Fort Wayne, Ia,, U.S,) Wilson, W. J., PAB. Thompson, Miss Bessie. Wood, Hon. Josiah, (Sackville, N.B.) Thompson, E. Seton. (New York.) Young, Rev.C. J., W.A. (Wolfe Island, Thorburn, John, 17.A., LL.D. Ont.) Topley, Mrs. W. J. Young, C. H. Tucker, Walter. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. Hitt, ALBERT J., .A. C.EZ., New Westminster, B.C. Hoim, THEODOR, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., U.S. Merriam, Dr. C. Hart, Department of Agriculture, Washington, WES: Omerop, Miss E. A., LL.D., F. R. Met. Soc., Torrington House, St. Albans, England. SMITH, PRror. JOHN B., Sc.D., Rutger’s College, New Brunswick, N.J. TAYLOR, REv. G. W., M.A., F.R.S.C.. F.Z.S., Nanaimo, B.C. WicrHAM, Pror. H. F., Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. Wor. XV. OTTAWA, APRIL, 1rgot. Noir. THE REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE O1TAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH igrtn, 1901. 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 Soirées, as printed on page 176 of THe Orrawa Narura.ist for December, 1900, was carried out with the following 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 12th 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 been presented to-night. 8 Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. [April Owing to the absence of Mr. W. T. Macoun from the city, his paper was taken as read, and Mr. E. D. Ingall was unable to give his. EXCURSIONS. The first sub-excursion of the season was held on the 28th April at Rockliffe 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 Dogtooth 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 Faunus, 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 May. 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 typical fossils belonging to the Black River formation. Several large masses of the Coral Zetradium fibratum were obtained in the upper layers of limestone in the old quarry at this spot. On re-assembling, Mr. Odell described and exhibited the larve 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. 1901] 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 oth 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-album, 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 cliff. 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 Orrawa NaTuRALIsT, containing eleven numbers and 240 pages of text has been completed, under the 10 THE Orrawa 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 ‘jn 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 Field-work 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 of 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 Cerulean Warbler, by W. E. Saunders. 1901 | 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 Acadica) in captivity, by F. Norman Beattie. Notes on some Land and Fresh Water Mollusca from Fort Chimo, Ungava 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 longer 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 of the Club, as recorded in the OrraAwa NaTurRAListT 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 for 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. Putman 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 OtTTawa NATURALIST. [ April TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1900-01. To the President and Members of the Ottawa 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 Naturatist. 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 memters 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 guid 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. The conversazione and soirée expenses have this year cost us only $10.82, and there is now 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.—All subscriptions are payable in advance, and are due each year on the day of the annual meeting. —We patronize our advertisers. — wy 1901] TREASURER’S REPORT. THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB. The Treasurers Statement for the year ending March 19, 1901. RECEIPTS. 1900. March 20—To balance Subscriptions, 1900-01 $136 50 arneie Se $146 « EXPENDITURE. 19Ol. March 20.—By print- ing OTTAWA NATUR- ALIST, Vol. XIV...$256 go Illustrations ......... 39 40 Authors’ extras...... 33 90 | Postage and wrapp- IOs) wa ogre sists. NARA ig 96 Editor 22 tear cab 50 00 400 16 Less 5% allowed on printing a/c $297 05 15 15 Miscellaneous printing 18 95 Programmes ....-.... 2 00 Receipt books ....... 3 60 Stationery Conversazione expenses.... Typewriting of report. Telegram Postage Loss on excursion 3........ Exchange on drafts........ Balance in Bank..... 15 JAMES FLETCHER, Treasurer. Gs arrears 8g 00 —-—-— 225 50 Advertisements :..... ..... 76 10 Extras sold Phas hiss iets 2t 30 OTTAWA NATURALISTS sold... 3, 70 Government grant .......... 200 00 Profit on excursions t and 2.. 11 80 Hlectrotypessold..... ...... 8 00 $692 70 Audited and found correct. J. BALLANTYNE, | Auditors. R. B. WuytTe, | THE LATE DR. G. M. DAWSON, The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ C.M.G., F.R.S. Club here places on record an expression of its deep sense of sorrow and loss at the death of Dr. George M. Dawson, C.MG., F.R.S., F.G.S., EF. S.C.7 at Director and Deputy Head of the Geological 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 most brilliant and distinguished leaders; one w ho 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. 14 _ Tue Orrawa NAaTUurRALIST. [ 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 Orrawa 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. ie 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. éesselata, G. répens var. ophioides and G. pubascens 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. Menztesii 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. t. ASTER VIMINEUS. We have in the vicinity of Ottawa both A. vinimeus and the variety saxatjtés, 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 at Paugan Falls and Casselman. J. M.M. 1901 | Gov_tp—Birp Notes. 15 BIRD NOTES FROM POINT PELEE, ONT. By Harry Goutp, London. (Read before the London Ornithological 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 archeology of this interesting locality that my friend Mr. W. E. Saunders and I visited it on Sept. 19th and 20th 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 aad with sadness in the fall, to the chirp of the little bird over head 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 verv good tarm 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 thetip 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 16 THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. [April 19th last Mr. Saunders and I arrived at Leamington about 7.30 p.m. and started on our tramp by going 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 for 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 glasses 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 ail 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 nearing 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. i boae OS ia et I. . MAP OF THE OTTAWA RIVER BASIN Shovwt7g PRESENT AND PRE-GLAC!IAL CHANNELS Scale of Statute Miles DIN So ee eee ae oe 1901 | ELLS—ANCIENT CHANNELS. 17 ANCIENT CHANNELS OF THE OTTAWA RIVER. BYR. WHBLLs LED! F.R.S.C: The Ottawa may well be regarded 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 Paleozoic formations of 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 of 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 18 _ Tue Orrawa NatTurRALIST. [ 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 of 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 1901] 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 hlled in by glacial deposits. 20 THe Orrawa NATURALIST. [April It is interesting to note that, as one ascends the Ottawa, the lower beds of the Paleozoic 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 Archean 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 of 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 roo 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 state, 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, 1901 | 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 feet 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 fully 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 Palzozoic 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 different times is shown from the direction of the striz 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 Orrawa 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 goo 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 1ooo 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 of 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 sands 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 causds 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. 1901 | ELLS—ANCIENT CHANNELS. 23 At most of these the banks are high 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 tke 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 history 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. 1897 Vol. X, p. 178, Part I. 24 Tue Otrawa NATURALIST. | April for a height of nearly 500 fcet. 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 1901 | ELLS—ANCIENT CHANNELS. 2 un 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 teet 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 few 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. 7 Or 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 mest 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 Bonnechére 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 miles in width. The total rise from the foot of the falls to the waters of Chats Lake is about fifty teet. Just below the Chats Falls on the south side is the village of Fitzroy Harbour, It is built on a clay bluff about forty teet 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, 1901 | 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 mentioneda second line of depression cccurs 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 betwzen 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 mouth, of the 28 Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. [ April Rouge River, but below this place the hill range 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 of 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 partof 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 areato the south, Some of these are in the course of the east 1901] ELts— 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 fin deposits of 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 186 feet. On a line 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 shales. 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 NATURALIST. [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 village 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 1are cases. | THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, MAY, 1oo1. No.' 22 NOTE ON A SUPPOSED NEW SPECIES OF LYTOCERAS FROM THE CRETACEOUS ROCKS AT DENMAN ISLAND, IN THE STRAIT OF GEORGIA. By J. F. WHITEAVES. In 1871 Mr. James Richardson, then of the Geological 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 Georgia. This specimen was described by the writer, referred with a query to Ammonites Jukesit, Sharpe, and figured, in the secund part of the first volume ot ‘‘ Mesozoic Fossils,’ published in 1879, The type and only known specimen of A. /ukesiz, 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 Palzontographical 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 {sland are now in the Museum of the Survey, and two of them were described’ by the writer, under the name Lyfo- 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, published at Vienna in 1894, in which the sup- posed A. /ukeszi from Norris Rock is placed among the synonyms of Lytoceras (Gaudryceras) Kayet (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 LZ. /ukeszi present several points of difference from the Z. Aayez, 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 oth, 1896, are as follows: “Your Lytoceras Jukesit must be distinguished from ZL. Kayez, as you already supposed. ‘‘Specimens that are not full grown (as that figured in Mesozoic Fossils, vol. 1, pt. 2, pl. 13) agree re- markably well with all the Valudayur 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 Z. Kayez, as shown in Plate 3, fig. 2, of my publication, is ornamented with very delicate stria, even thinner than in the inner whorls, and of almost silky appearance ; whereas, on your L. Jukesit 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 Lydoceras (Gaudryceras) Jukesit, 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 Z. /wkeszz, 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 best to give a new name to the fine specimens from Denman Island. ‘‘Their septa are typical Gaudryceras 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 16th, 1901. 1901] CHALMERS—GOLD-BEARING ALLUVIONS. aa THE SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE GOLD- BEARING ALLUVIONS OF QUEBEC. By R. CHALMERS, Geological 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 Surface gravel. 2 two principal rivers which drain the region, the Chaudiére 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 4 gravels and sands and frequently in aaa ie crevices in, the underlying rocks. It nlargical.Fre bed is, however, most generally found in paying quantities in old river chan- SS nels now partially or wholly filled with boulder-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 general succession of : the deposits in these river valleys is 2B Qeicksands much the same throughout the re- gion, and is as follows in descending order, (fig. 1 ): Bee Yellow, geld- bearing, tase 1. Surface gravel and sand, carry- gravelsar sonae ing fine gold in places. 2. Boulder-clay, including in some iS oe of Paty $i, Retten rook valleys, an interglacial deposit. Bi a ee : Ui Wifi ie 3. Stratified clay and sand, often ll HS, in alternate beds; ‘‘the pipe clay ”’ Fig. 1. General Section ofthe and ‘‘ quick-sands ” of the miners. Gold-Bearing Deposits. 4. Stratified gravels, usually rusty, or oxidized, the materials belonging to local rocks, Gold-bearing, especially in lower strata. Gold often coarse. " ,’ 34 THE OtrawaA NATURALIST. [May 5. Rotten rock, contains particles of gold. 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 gold 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 gravels rest on the bed rock, the gold is most plentiful in the lowest strata, and in the clefts, or between the folia, of the rocks. The enquiry as to the origin of these gravels and how they came to be gold-bearing takes us back to an early period in the geological 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 of 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 torces 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 | 1gor | CHALMERS—GOLD-BEARING ALLUVIONS. 35 had undergone transportation and modification by the action of rivers and streams. Prolonged shifting of the gravels and their gold content in this manner, assorting and reassorting 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 ot 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 gold- 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 belonging to the oldest rocks of the region, that is to the crystalline schists of the Notre 36 Tue 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 Palzeozoic 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 anda 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 Chaudiére, and from Dudswell, Magog, etc., on the St. Francis. A New Horse GENTIAN.—In the March number of Zorreya, Dr. Bicknell describes a new species of 7riosteum which he names T. aurantiacum. An examination of the specimens in the herb- arium of the Geological Survey shows that while those from Western Ontario are 7. perfoliatum those collected at Casselman, near Ottawa, are 7. aurantiacum. 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 perfoliatum are in the new species conspicuously narrowed into a merely sessile base.”” As the two species have much the same range 7. perfoliatum should be looked tor in this vicinity. J. M. M. 190" | Ho_M—ALLIES OF STELLARIA MEDIUM, 37 ALLIES OF STELLARIA MEDIA (L.) Cyrillo. By TuHEo. Hoim. (With two plates.) Plants as common as the ‘‘ common Chickweed ” are seldom collected by botanists, very seldom studied, and asa 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, althougk 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 wanderings 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 Tue Orrawa NaTurRALIsT. [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 Florida. 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 Linnzeus 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 Io is, furthermore, recorded by Lightfoot! and Rafn.* Meanwhile Father Bernardinus of Ucria* described an apetalous S¢edlaria, which he consequently named SS. apetala, and which in many respects looks like a depauperate or abnormal form of our Chick- weed. This is the plant which Dumortier+ described as Adszne pallida and Jordan® as Stellaria boreana, and which Piré® finaliy figured under the name S. pallida. ‘‘Pentstemon,” ‘‘ De- ’ thus signify two distinct plants of which the two first were at that time supposed to represent castemon”’ and ‘‘apetala’ Stellaria media, while ‘‘ apetala’”’ was a species distinct from this. However, some years later we find the Linnzan form “‘decastemon” elevated to specific rank as Stellarta neglecta Whe.,* a suggestion 1 Lightfoot, John. Flora Scotica. 1777, p. 172. 2 Rafn, C. G. Danmarks og Holsteens Flora, 1800, p. 381. > Father Bernardinus of Ucria. Plantae ad Linnzeanum opus addendzx et secundum Linnzi systema noviter descriptae. ‘‘ Roemer’s Archiv fiir die Botanik,” Vol. I, 1796, p. 68. * Dumortier B. Prodromus flore Belgicz, 1827, p. 109. 5 Jordan, A. Pugillus plantarum novarum, 1852, p. 33. ® Piré, Louis. Notice sur /Alsine pallida Dmtr. ‘‘ Bull. de la soc. Roy. de Botanique de Belgique,” Vol. 2, 1863, p. 43- * Weihe in ‘‘ Bluff et Fingerhuth : Compendium floras Germaniz,” 1825, Vol. 1, p. 560. 1901 | Ho_tM—ALLIES OF STELLARIA 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 trom the British Isles. There are not a few authors, however, who have felt more inclined to consider these plants as representing a single species, ‘* .S. media”? with the others as merely varieties. Thus Fenzl!® enumerates three varieties, decandra, oligandra and apetala, besides four others, which are less characteristic ; a similar classi- fication is given by Lange, '' who distinguishes between var. vu/- faris with 3-5 stamens, var. zeglecta with 10 stamens and var. apetala without petals, or as suggested by Deell'!* 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. medza, 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 regions or farther south. So far the writer has succeeded in detecting Weihe’s S. neglecta in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., where it grew im 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 Sueciz I. Flora Scanica. 1835, p. 88. ® Babington, C. C. Manual of British Botany, 1874, Pp. 57- 10 Fenzl in ‘‘ Ledebour’s Flora Rossica.” 1841, Vol. I, p. 377- 11 Lange, Joh. Haandbog iden Danske Flora, 1864, p. 342. 12 Deell, I. Ch. Flora des Grossherzogthums Baden, Vol. 3, 1862, p- 1224. 40 Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. [May specimens of the same from British Columbia, Manitoba and Sable Island.* As regards S. apetala we have seen no specimens from North America, but it would be very strange if this should not be found here also. In order to facilitate the identification of S. apelala and S. neglecta, we have thought it worth while to illustrate these besides giving afew notes upon their principal characteristics. Stellaria apetala Bernard. (Plate 1, fig. 1.) _ This has the general aspect of ordinary forms of S. medza 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. medvza (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 (1.) is drawn from a Swedish specimen, natural size. S:. neglecta Whe. (Plates; teva) Generally taller, but more slender than S. medza, deep green. The lower leaves have long petioles (fig. C) and the blade is very distinctly pointed in contrast to the leaf of S. medza; 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 SS. media. The seeds (fig. D.) are larger than those of S. medza (fig. E) and the tubercles are much more prominent and often cone-shaped. The figure (a) is drawn from a specimen collected near Washington, D.C. S. neglecta is, according to Murbeck,1? 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. *8’ Murbeck Sy. Die nordeuropzeischen Formen der Gattung Svellaria. Botaniska Notiser. Lund. 1899, p. 193. 1901 | HoL_p—ALLIES OF STELLARIA MEDIUM. 41 for instance North Africa, are less distinct, passing gradually over into S. media. 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 1, fig. 1.—Flowering specimen of Stellaria apetala, Bernard. Natural S1zZe. Fig. A.—Pistil of same. Fig. B.—Pistil of S. media. Plate 2, fig. 2.—Inflorescence of Stellaria neglecta, Whe. Natural size. Fig. C.—Stem-leaves of same, natural size. Fig. D.—Seed of same, magnified. Fig. E.—Seed of S. media, magnified. 42 THe Orrawa NATURALIST. | May NEW PLANTS FROM ALBERTA. ' By Epw. L. GREENE. BERBERIS BREVIPES. Allied to B. nana but every way smaller, the foliage of a deeper green and merely glaucescent rather than glaucous ; leaves with very short petiole, not longer than the inter- nodes of the rachis ; leaflets usually seven, rather broadly elliptic- oblong, 1 to 134 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. nana, 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 SUBVESTITA. 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, 34 inch long, t1-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, 1-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. fongipes var.; but the species is of different habit, and is well marked by the strong pubescence, the strict and narrow cyme, etc. ——————<—_<<«< - ~— 1901 | AMI—THE LATE GEORGE M. Dawson. 43 THE LATE GEORGE MERCER DAWSON. The world of science and especially of geology received a severe shock on the evening of Saturday, the 2nd day of March 1901, 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. Dawson 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 whorh he was in constant communication regarding the advancement and welfare of every part of the Dominion of Canada. The early 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 OrrawaA 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 staff 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 official 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 1gth day of November, 1899, at the advan- ced age of 79. ‘* Doctor George,” as he was wont to be called, was born in the towmof Pictou, Nova Scotia, Aug. rst, 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 palazontology, 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, kis native province, and later lectured in Morrin College. 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 \ — 1901 | 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, when 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 volumincus 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 only were his mental strength and intellectual vigour remarkable 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 regions 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 Orrawa 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 1891 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 Archean 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 archeologist, Dr. Dawson stood fore- most in Canada and was aneminent 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 ae fhe a 1901 | AmI—THE LATE GEORGE M. Dawson. 47 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 of 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 Loudon, 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.” Hewas 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 of 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, anda 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 Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. [May who sought not only to point out the at once practical and economic side in the resources of the earth’s crust of Canada, his native land, but one who diligently and intelligently hammered away at the numerous problems of 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. Wis 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 of care and attention. The reports issued during his régime 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 1901 | AmI—THE LATE GEorRGE M. Dawson. 49 are noted in the Reports of Progress of the Geological Survey of Canada for 1873-74, for 1874-75. These include reports on the hematite deposits of Pictou County, Nova Scotia; onthe limo- nites of the same county and on the spathic ore deposits of the Sutherland’s River, N.S.; also on the clay-iron stones of the Tertiary, along the 4otl parallel, and the limestones of the Creta- ceous of the Swan River and Thunder Hill in Manitoba ; together with the results of his botanical researches along the 4oth parallel. In the Report of Progress for 1875-76 comes his report on Chilco and Nazco rivers and trail to Fort George, B.C., and in the next year’s report his results in the basins of the Blackwater, Salmon and Necchacco rivers and of Francois 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 miverals of economic importance were obtained by him along the 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 1877 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 for 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 of Appendices. He was a most prolific collector of fe) THE Orrawa NATURALIST. [May a facts and specimens. Accordingly, his reports sometimes contain on 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, inthe Report of Progress for 1878-79, he gives notes on the geology of areas drained by the Red and Assiniboine Rivers 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 are 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 numcrous voyages and explorations which 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 farests of British Columbia the country is under a great debt to Dr. Dawson. He scught 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 isconcerned. 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 1091 | AMI—THE LATE GEORGE M. Dawson. 51 who knew her heart and appreciated her bouatiful stores. His report on the geology 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 engaged 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 cataloguing 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. 1875-76, where Dr. Selwyn, then Director, informs us as follows :— ‘‘Mr. G. M. Dawson, late Geologist and Naturalist on the International Boundary Survey of the 49th parallel was appointed and has since been actively engaged in It was during this first year b exploration in British Columbia.’ of Dr. Dawson’s connection with the Canadian Survey that the 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. 52 Tue Orrawa 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 pages 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 Orrawa 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 scientiflc 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 J OpeE To ‘‘ Dr. GEorGE”’ By Capt. CLIVE PHILLIPPS- WOOLLEY.* ‘© Hope she has 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, from 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 Joved 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, He 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, That in lands which try manhood hardest, he was tested and proved A Man.” Ottawa, roth April, igor. H. M. Ami. *Ex. British Columbia Mining Record for April, 1901. 1901 | Macoun—OrnITHOLoGy. 53 ORNITHOLOGY. Birp NOTES. By W. T. Macoun. 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 1900. Although not birds, the frogs, which are among the first spring songsters, were heard near the Experimental Farm on April toth. 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 2oth of the month. 1901. Jan. 12—SAW-WHET OWL, Wyctala acadica. Mr. C. H. Young. Feb. 20—RUFFED GROUSE, Bonasa umbellus. Myr. A. G. Kingston. 20-—-BLUE JAY, Cyanocitta cristata. Mr. Kingston. 20—AMERICAN CROW, Corvus americanus. Mr. Kingston. Spring migration, March 13th. Mr. White. 20—CHICKADEE. Parus atricapillus. Mr. Kingston. March 1—PRAIRIE HORNED Lark, Ofocoris alpestris praticola. Mr. Young. Not seen at the Experimental Farm until March 19. 12— EVENING GROSBEAK, Coccothranstes vespertina. Three specimens, seen near Normal School by the caretaker and reported by Mr. Alexander. 22—RoBIN, Merula migratoria. WHeard by Mr. A. Gibson at Experi- mental Farm March 24th; seen by Mr. W. Harrington. Nest 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, WMelospiza fasciata. Mr. W. A. D. Lees, at Russell, Ont.; March 24th, Mr. Young; March 24th, Mr. White. First records of previous years: 1898, March rith; 1899, April 6th; 1900, March 31st. 24—AMERICAN ROUGH-LEGGED Hawk, Archibuteo lagopus Sancti- Johannis. Mr. Young. 26—BLUEBIRD, Sialia sialis. Mr. Lees. March 27th, Mr. Young. $4 THe Ortrawa NATURALIST. [May IgOT. March 27--P1GEON Hawk, Falco columbarius. Mr. Young, 28—SLATE-COLOURED JUNCO, /unco hyemalis. Mr. Young. 29—SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, Accipiter velox. Mr. White. 30—BRONZED GRACKLE, Quitscalus quiscula eneus. Mr. Kingston. April 2—Rusty BLACKBIRD, Scolecophagus carolinus. M1. Young. 2—-RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, Agelaius pheniceus. Mr. Young. 2—AMERICAN GOSHAWK, Accipiter atricapillus. Mr. Kingston. 5—MEADOWLARK, Sturnella magna. Mr. Kingston. 9—PHEBE, Sayornis phebe. Mr. White. April 11th, Dr. Fletcher. . 10—TREE SWALLOW, Zachycineta bicolor. Mr. Kingston. 13—AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE, Glaucionetta clangula americana. Mr. White. 13—VESPER SPARROW, Poocetes gramineus. Mr. W. T. Macoun. April 14th, Mr. Kingston. 13—AMERICAN HERRING GULL, Larus argentatus smithsonianus. Mr. White. 13—BELTED KINGFISHER, Ceryle alcyon. Mr. Kingston. 15—PURPLE FINCH, Carpodacus purpureus. Mr. Macoun. 15—WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, Zonotrichia albicollis. Mr. Macoun. 16—RED-TAILED HAwWk, Auteo borealis. Mr. White. 18—Cow-BIRD, Molothrus ater. Mr. Macoun. 18—YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, Sphyrapicus varius. Mr. White. 18—GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, Regulus satrapa. Mr. Kingston. 18—AMERICAN OspREY, Pandion halliaétus carolinensis. Mr. Young. 19—NORTHERN SHRIKE, Lanius borealis, Mating at Experimental Farm. Seen at intervals during the latter part of the winter. 21—F LICKER, Colaptes auratus. Mr. Young. 22—CANADA GOOsE, Branta canadensis. Three birds. Mr. Macoun. 22—BUFFLE-HEADED Duck, Charitonetta albeola. Mr. White. 23—PURPLE MARTIN, Progne subis. Mr. White. 23— BARN SWALLOW, Chelidon erythrogaster. Mr. White. 23—TREE SPARROW, Sfizella monticola. Mr. White. MEADOW-SWEET.—It is doubtful whether the true Spzrea salicifolta 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. /at/folia, Ait., with obovate or elliptical dentate-serrate leaves; the inflorescence is’ broadly pyramidal. Another variety is anceolata, Ait., with finely serrate oblanceolate leaves. J. M. M. t9o1 | Prince—Ross’s GULL. es on ur ROSS’S GULL (Rhodostethia rosta, Maegill.) By Protessor E. E. PRINCE, Ottawa. My brief account of the scientific results of Dr. Nansen’s Polar Expedition, which appeared in THE Otrrawa NaturRAList last November, has brought 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 (?/odos- tethia rosea, Macgill.) and my statement on p. 143, vol. 14 of this publication demands 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 Dr. 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 north-easterly 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- 5G. THe OrrawA NATURALIST. 3 [May mised are no doubt in these more remote and inhospitable regions. 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, 1gor. THE GOLDEN EAGLE. AN ADDITION TO THE FAUNA OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY. By J. E. Keays, London, Ont. (Read before the Ornithological Section of the Entomological Society of Ontario.) On Saturday, December 1st, 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 to 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. Inthe west it is much more numerous and there Igor | 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 &4 in. 23 to 244 in. Male Bald, 30 to 35 in. 84 in. 20 to 25.9 in. Female Golden, 35 to 40 in. 84 to go in. 20 0.27. 10. Female Bald, 34 to 43 in. 84 to g6 in. 25% 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. : Tue PuysicAL FEATURES AND GEOLOGY OF THE PAL#OzoIc BASIN BETWEEN THE LOWER OTTAWA AND St. LAWRENCE RIVERS. By R. W.. Elis; LL.D. . (Trans. Ro S.C. , «Seer@ivaemeee 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 Paleozoic 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 natural 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 Archean 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 striz 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 wili doubtless be found valuable in any future boring operations which may be undertaken. The figures represent what is believed to be the greatest thickness. 1901] 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 ot the Ottawa. The location of favourable anti- ‘clinal folds is rendered very difficult owing to the thick overlying mantle of drift. Ai .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. es. G., Sec. IV, 1900 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- _—< S eee place others well known and more appropriate, justifies an obser- vation made by a Committee of 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 — 60 THe Ottawa NATURALIST. | May five regions, the Acadian, Laurentian Highlands, Lawrencian Low- lands, Interior Continental Plain, and Cordilleran; gives a list of 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 of granites and gvezsses and other crystalline rocks similar in structure and chemical composition to...... crystalline limestones” ! F 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 Skiddaw ard 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 1901 | REVIEWS. 61 of those of the Acadian provinces, since it rests neither upon the ascertained stratigraphical 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, tte 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 Island 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. 4 It was not the author who examined the Crow’s Nest and Koote- _ May 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, or upper 7?y 7 62 THe Ortrawa NATURALIST. [| May division of the Laramie,” when in fact the adopted names is Pas- kapoo dJeds. 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 zor¢h of Lansdowne. Triassic rocks occur, also according to the a:thor, in British Columbia, Vancouver and the Queen Charlotte Islands; and Jurassic, in the Arctic archipelago. The Cretaceous, largely 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 different 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 different 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 forms 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, HO THE OTTAWA NATURALIST, VOL. XV. PLATE |. Auctor ad nat. del, STELLARIA APETALA (A) Pistil of S apetala. (B) Pistil of S. media. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST, VOL. XV. PLATE Il Auctor ad nat. del. STELLARIA NEGLECTA Y (C) Leaves of S. neglecta. (D) Seeds of S. neglecta. (E) Seeds of S. media. wy THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, JUNE, root. Np: 3, NOTES ON A TURTLE FROM THE CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF ALBERTA.* By Lawrence M. Lampe, F.G.S., of the Geological Survey of Canada. (With four plates.) In the collection of reptilian remains, made by the writer during the summers of 1897 and 198, 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 sheil 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. Tne 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- lected 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 ©. 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 OtTtTawa NATURALIST. [June peared in 1876 in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. xxviii, p. 257, as follows: ‘‘ One of the most abundant, and the largest species of the Fort Union beds. The carapace is convex and the plastron flat; the marginal bones are heavy and strongly 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 fossz, 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 Protessor 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 porticns. 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 1900] LAMBE—NOTES ON A TURTLE. ‘65 where they and the abdominals meet a series of inframarginals that overlap the peripheral bones. All the sulci are deep and very conspicuous except those marking the position of the infra- marginals, the inner anterior boundaries of the gulars, and the division of the intergular. These latter, however, are sharply and clearly defined. The sutural 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 IIl) 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 adjicent 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 Pleuro- 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, xliig 1891, p. 428, The §enus Adocus, 66 THe OTTaAwaA NATURALIST. [June Length along median line from anterior end to posterior border of: pectoral shield). .\.a.0.50. 2 6 -295 Breadth from median line to lateral suture (= half of breadth 6fiplastion), as.) Wo. Gb oetiitare seh toi ee i taaa Length of entoplastral.... 42. 0.00 >. see .085 Maximum breadth of entoplastral .......... NMI) «12g Thickness. midway between eulars.:.%..022020 J) seh eee L035 Thickness at centre of gular shields .................. Tez Thickness on median line at posterior border of pectoral shield /\s /is:/sG)a.5 7s io Rite See ie ae tee rr .013 Thickness at posterior edge of hyoplastral near left bound- ary of abdominal shield “2.2002 Jui2. 27) = ap eee . 007 Thickness in axillary region near lateral suture .......... .032 Thickness midway between entoplastral and the axillary notch. 4e5.sceee Att Ssebe. 9) ee J ee ee .025 In 1882 Dr. J. F. Whiteaves had labelled the two marginal bones from the Red Deer River with the name Compsemys vartolosus, 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 Compsemys vario‘osus, 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 III. FIGURE 1—-The plastron of Adocus variolosus (Cope); from the Cretaceous of Alberta. One-sixth natural size, I G, Intergular 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.; MPP, Hypoplastral do.; XP, Xiphi- plastral do. FIGURE 2—The upper or inner side of the plastron of Adocus variolosus (Cope). One-sixth natural size. P, surface for the articulation of the pubis. 7. 1901 | KeLts—Cory’s Least BItTern. 67 Plate IV. Lower or outer surface of specimens represented in plate 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 figured in the preceding plates; ratural size; to show the sulci of the intergular and gular shields, details of sculpture, ete. CORY’S LEAST BITTERN (Boéaurus neoxenus, Cory). By W. L. KE ts, Listowel, Ont. Many years ago, 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 weariz2d 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 efforts 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 Bofaurus 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 18th, 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 svon identified it as Cory’s Least Bittern. It is a resident of Florida and Mexico, and is supposed to have wandered here with our Bofaurus 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 2oth, 1893, and a report of this capture by Mr. H. Brown was published in the Aus. 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. exzlzs 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 was 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 1901 | KeLts—Cory’s Least Birrern. 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 | had no gun. 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,”’ the following description of the Florida Dwarf 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 Bofaurus neoxenus is used, and by ornithologists it is known by both these names, as well as by the different English names previously mentioned. Inthe 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 résumé of its history, from which a few extracts are here given. ‘‘A most peculiar circum- 70 Tue Orrawa 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. j NotTe.—Since the above was written information has been received of several more specimens of this species being taken at Toronto, and one in the State of Michigan. WV ele see 1901 | Macoun—Canap1An Borany. 71 CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANADIAN BOTANY.! By JAMEs M. Macoun, Assistant Naturalist, Geological Survey of Canada. XIV. THALICTRUM CONFINE, Fernald, Rhodora, vol. u, p. 232. Rootstock 2 to 4 cm. long, bearing 10 to 12 strong roots: stem slender, 3 to 6 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 4cm. long; leaflets sub- orbicular broadly obovate or flabellate, coarsely toothed, 0.75 to 1 cm. long, the terminal on slender petiolules, the lateral ‘short-petiolulate or subsessile : flowers dicecious, greenish or purplish, the panicles r to 2 dm. high, with ascending branches: sepals greenish, oblong-lanceolate, caducous: car- pels 6 to 10, glandular-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.” (/ohn Macoun.) Also collected in Maine. THALICTRUM OCCIDENTALE, Gray. T. dioicum purpurascens, Can. Rec. Sci., 1894, p. 77: Rootstock slender, elongated: stem glabrous, 1 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 1 Published by permission of the Director of the Geological Survey of Canada. 2 These numbers are those under which specimens have been distributed from the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada, 72 THe Otrawa NATURALIST. [June short-petiolulate or sub-sessile: flowers dicecious or polygamo- dicecious, greenish 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 7mm. long, 2 or 3mm. 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. 18th, 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. (john Macoun.) SARRACENIA PURPUREA, L. var. HETEROPHYLLA, Torr. In bogs, Madawaska River, Algonquin Park, Ont. 1900. (John Macoun.) Only Canadian specimens in herbarium of Geological Survey. DENTARIA GEMINATA, Wats. Koksita, Vancouver Island. (2. 4. Jameson.) New to Vancouver Island. VIOLA MISTASSINICA, Greene, Pittonia, vol. Iv, p. 6. Lake Mistassini, Que. 1885. (/. WM. Macoun.) Rich- mond Gulf, Hudson Bay. (Wm. Spreadborough.) West branch of Hamilton River, Labrador. (A. P. Low.) Banff, Rocky Mountains. (4M. B. Sanson.) Cassiar Trail, west of Dease 1go1[ MacouNn—CAanabDiAn Borany. 73 Lake, B.C. Lat. 58° 30’. (Dr. G. M. Dawson.) The western specimens differ slightly from those from the east, but seem referable here. This plant is readily distinguished from V. blanda, V. renifolia, and V. amena 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 Wartsonl, Greene, Pittonia, vol. Iv, p. 5. Boggy meadow near Charlottetown, P.E.I. 1898. (Zaw- rence W. Watson.) VIOLA CYCLOPHYLLA, Greene, Pittonia, vol. Iv, p. 7. Yellow Head Pass, Rocky Mountains, July 13th, 1898. Herb. No. 19,298. The type. (W. Spreadborough.) 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 Orrawa Narouratist. These plants should be carefully studied everywhere in Canada. Among our herbarium speci- mens labelled SS. media, S. neglecta 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. SPIR4A SALICIFOLIA, L. The reading of Mr. Wiegand’s note on S. salicifolia in Rhodora for May, 1900, suggested an examination of the 74 THE OtTTawa 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. salzczfolia in Canada. There are, however, three or four well defined varieties or species of which the most abundant in the east is S. saliczfolia, var. latifolia, Ait., common from Nova Scotia to Lake Superior but not found in the Northwest Territories. The form most nearly approach- ing \S. saliczfolia is var. lanceolata, 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 Rosacee, Spirea 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. 1, p. 142 in part. Truemanville, N.S. (47. Zrueman.) Billings’ Bridge, Ot- tawa, Ont. ; Pt.. Edward, St. Clair River, Ont.on( ae Macoun.) Belleville, Ont.; Wooler, Northumberland Co., Ont. (John Macoun.) Edmonton, Ont. (Jas. White.) 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. (/ohn Macoun.) The western speci- mens in the herbarium of the Geological Survey include several species. . MyYRIOPHYLLUM ALTERNIFLORUM, D.C. Golden Lake, Renfrew Co., Ont. (/ohn Macoun.) The western limit of this seldom collected species. ! TRIOSTEUM AURANTIACUM, Bicknell, Torreya, vol. 1, p. 26. Rich soil on the rocky bank of the Nation River at * The geographical limits given in these papers refer to Canada only. 1901 | Macoun—CanapiAn Botany. 75 Casselman, Ont. (/. MZ. Macoun.) 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. 1, 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 34 to 1% 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 Z. ageravoides in Eastern Canada is probably this species. SOLIDAGO PRUINOSA, Greene, Pittonia, vol. Iv, p. 70. Erect, 3 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. (/ohn Macoun.) 76 THE OtTTAwA NATURALIST. [May EUCEPHALUS MACOUNII, Greene, Pittonia, vol. Iv, p. 70. Along fences, Sea’s Farm, near Victoria, Vancouver Island. Herb. No. 447. (/ohn Macoun.) Distributed as Aster radulinus. CENTAUREA SCABIOSA, L. Along the Canadian Pacific Railway at Snellgrove, Ont. (Jas. White.) New to Canada and known from only one other locality in America. Determined by Dr. Robinson. SENECIO OVINUS, Greene, Pittonia, vol. Iv, p. 110. S. resedifolius, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. 1, 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 Macoun.) Described from the Sheep Moun- tain specimens. VACCINIUM NIGRUM, Britt. V. corymbosum, var. pallidum, Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, VOL. Ts. Ds 2012 Point Pleasant, N.S.; Englishtown, Cape Breton Island, N.S.; common in the vicinity of Ottawa, Ont., and at Niagara, Ont. (John Macoun.) LyYSIMACHIA VULGARIS, L. Well established on Toronto Island, Ont. (W. Scott.) Only Canadian record. STEIRONEMA LANCEOLATUM, Gray; Macoun Cat. Can. Plants, vol. 1, P- 313- Recorded from Ontario, but such specimens as we have seen so named are 5S. guadriflorum, Hitchce. 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. 1, p. 563, are A. viridiflora var. lanceolata, Gr. ae’ an 1go1 | Macoun—Canap1An Borany. 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 1891. Herb. No. 23,581. (Dr. C. A. Hamilton.) New to Canada. ERYTHR.ZA CENTAURIUM, Pers. Very abundant on the old land near the main lighthouse station, Sable Island, N.S. 1899. (/ohn Macoun.) Our only Canadian specimens. LiTHOSPERMUM LATIFOLIUM, Mx. Lorette Falls, near Quebec, Que. 1895. (Mrs. Brodie.) Not before recorded except from Ontario. HELIOTROPIUM CuRAsSAViIcUM, L. Saline soil, McLeod, Alta. Herb. No. 23,971. (/ohn Macoun.) Western limit. CONVOLVULUS ARVENSIS, L. Open prairies, Morris, Man. (/ohn Macoun.) Not re- corded from Manitoba. PHYSALIS IXOCARPA, Brot. Roadsides near the hotel, Golden Lake, Renfrew Co., Ont. (/ohn Macoun.) New to Canada. HYOSCYAMUS NIGER, L. Old railway ground, Banff, Alberta. tgoo. (V. 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 Orrawa NATURALIST. [June AMARANTUS BLITOIDES, Wats. East of Brandon, Man.; Cardston, Alta. (/ohn Macoun.) Not recorded west of Ontario. MONOLEPIS CHENOPODIOIDES, Mog. Cypress Hills, Assa.; Kananaskis and Banff, Rocky Mts. (John Macoun.) Western limit. CHENOPODIUM Botrys, L. Waste places, Spence’s Bridge, B.C. (/ohn Macoun.) Not recorded west of Ontario. CHENOPODIUM LEPTOPHYLLUM, Nutt. Sandy soil, Spence’s Bridge, B.C.; Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, B.C. (/ohn 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. 1893. (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. (/ohn Macoun.) SALICORNIA HERBACEA, L. Borders of saline ponds near Kamloops, B.C. 1890. (/. M@. Macoun.) Not recorded from British Columbia. SALICORNIA AMBIGUA, Mx. Long Arm, Skidegate Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C. (Dr. C. &. Newcombe.) Northern limit. RuMEX PATIENTIA, L. Not uncommon avout houses and in fields, Boylston, N.S. (Dr. C. A. Hamilton.) Not recorded east of Ontario. SCLERANTHUS ANNUUS, L.; Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, vol. 1, pp. 80 and 499. West of London, Ont., 1890; Komoka, Ont., July, 1892. (/. Dearness.) Our only herbarium specimens. 1901] Macoun—Canapian Borany. 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, Algonquin Park, Ont., 1g00. ( John Macoun.) Our only other specimens are from Hull, Que. CypPRIPEDIUM 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’. goo. (/. M. Bell.) Northern limit. ZYGADENUS ELEGANS, Pursh. West side of Great Bear Lake, Lat. 65° 30’ to 66° 30’. 1900. (/. M. Bell.) Northern limit. JuNcus BULBOosUsS, L. In boggy places, east end of Sable Island, N.S. 1899. Herb. No. 22,623. (/ohn 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. FIMBRISTYLIS AUTUMNALIS, R. & S. Wet sandy fields, Sandwich, Ont. Herb. No. 25,333. (John Macoun.) New to Canada. Growing with Stenophyllus capillarts. CAREX LEIOcARPA, C. A. Meyer; Macoun, Cat. Can. Plants, VOL.) yp: sbTO, Dawson Harbour, Skidegate Inlet, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C. (Dr. C. F. Newcombe.) The second Canadian station. CAREX CAPITATA, L. Additional stations for this species are Northern Labra- dor. (A. P. Low.) Boggy places, Bragg’s Creek, Elbow River, Rocky Mountains. Herb. No. 25,447. (/oin Macoun.) 80 . THE Otrawa NATURALIST. [June THE ALGONQUIN NATIONAL PARK OF ONTARIO—ITS RESOURCES AND ADVANTAGES. By ARCHIBALD M. CAMPBELL, Ottawa. 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 rugged 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 of 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 of 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 1901 | CAMPBELL— ALGONQUIN PARK. 81 power, and of the farmer to whom a continuous supply of 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 ground, tending to maintain an equable flow through- out the year. The reservation is a veritable lake-land, it being estimated that there are about 1,000 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 havenot 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. Itis a truly noble sheet of many square miles in extent, is very irregular in shape, possesses numerous’ islands, and presents many picturesque features. At a certain 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 northland 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 ur 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, glisten in the sunlight like diamonds, or as the stars on a December night. To the tourist the continual change from lake to river, from river 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 trom 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 hima chance to stretch his legs. Forty or more log huts or cabins have been erected at different points throughout the Park, and this riumber 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 journey on snowshoes in the winter. 1901 | CAMPBELL—ALGONQUIN Park. 83 x A NATURAL GAME PRESERVE. Mr C. K. Grigg, then a member of the Park staff, in the autumn of 1897, contributed two short articles to the ‘‘ Ottawa Evening Journal,” which contained some very interesting infor- mation about the inhabitants of this great game and fish preserve. He also proved conclusively the necessity for such an asylum for our game, 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 tur-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 Leaver 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 soften the ice, when, cutting a hole in it, they go out for a taste of fresh food. In the beginning of 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 anth 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 ALGONQUIN Park. 8s 1901 | CAMPBELL 5 slaughtered 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 onslaughts 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 Ortrawa NATURALIST. [June tracting these birds to other waters. It is said to be the govern- ment’s intention to introduced black game 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 large size are plentiful in the Opeongo branch of the Madawaska. 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. Asa 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 tor 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- 1901 | 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, the surface being mostly com- posed ot 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 of 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 usefal 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 havea beneficial influence on the climate of the surrounding ’ country. Forests tend to promote humidity, and exert a temper- ing effect upon injurious winds, preventing the fierce hurricanes and ‘“‘blizzards’”’ common in unforested lands. They also help to equalize the atmosphere, cooling the summer air and mitigating 88 THE Orrawa NATURALIST. [June its severity in the winter. Consequently, the destruction of a large portion of 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 1901] 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 rangers 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 shelterlodges. It is a small, rustic, one-roomed cabin, containing a sheet-iron stove, rude stools and table, anda 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-dam 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. MAcown. 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. Mcl. 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. [June a eee pas eune 6 a a ane . ce > ez jd i>) ae = (73 < gz Zi “Hot pudy é ij se = Pe oR < Some 28 Be 8) e qudy) (@) pe ad Ks ete iq a Paci: "* g qoae yl ‘ang ‘ = ) ” > i ’ ‘ ¥ a a “ P “i a . Sa *S gs « ?- ‘ > “Orr tis . od : one 7 Wi mi , ee = Vot. XV. PL. VII. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. TO ILLUSTRATED PAPER BY DAVID WHITE ON SPECIES OF WHITTLESEYA. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, JULY, 1901. No. 5 ee EXTINCTION OF THE ELK IN. ONTARIO: By L. H. Situ, Strathroy, Ont. (Read before the 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 means their ex- tinction was brought 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 indigenous 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 | have named were all here 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 r2th 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 1900] SMITH—EXTINCTION OF ELK. 97 antlers were still fast to a part of the skull, it was evident that the animal to which they belonged 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. Tue Parnrep Lapy ButrerFity.—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, Paramezs Cardut, has been extremely abundant. Caterpillars produced from eggs laid by the females have appeared in thousands, and naturally 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 toa new plant, viz., the Blue Bur (Zchinospermum Lapyula). A. G, 98 THe OTrawa NATURALIST. | July THE CANADIAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS WHITTEE- SEYA AND THEIR SYSTEMATIC RELATIONS. By Davip WHITE. SOURCES AND SUPPOSED AGE OF THE MATERIALS. The discovery of the genus Whz/tleseya in the Upper Pale- ozoic of Nova Scotia was announced by Dr. H. M. Ami, of the Geological Survey of Canada, in the August number of this journal for 1900. This well marked Paleozoic 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 pale- 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 placed 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 Paleozoic form- ations of this region as of undoubtedly Middle Devonian age. On the other hand, paleontologists, though differing some- what as to the 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 Dawson, Professors T. R. Jones and Henry Woodward, 1 Hugh Fletcher, Ann. Rept. Geol. Surv. Canada, 1886, vol. II, p. 64P ; also Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Sci., vol. X, 1900, p. 242; also R. W. Ells, Ann, Rept. Geol. Surv. Canada, vol I, 1885, p. 51E. 1901 | WuitE—TuHE GENUS WHITTLESEYA. 99 and by Dr. Ami, the conclusion is reached that the formation is sately 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. ' Paleeobotanists have been disposed to refer this formation to a still higher 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, 7.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 Asterophyllites, Calamites, Sphenopteris, Aneimites, Neuropteris, Alethopteris, Cordaites and Cardiocarpon, 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 Waz¢tleseya material in hand for description in- cludes a single specimen from the ‘‘ fern ledges,” Lancaster form- ation, at St. John, New Brunswick. On examining one of the specimens of WMeuropteris Selwyn, 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 Whizttleseya. The removal of the rock from the remaining portion of the specimen brought to light a new and very interest- 1 Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Sci., vol. X, 1900, pp. 167-175. 100 THE Ottawa NATURALIST. [July ing species, Whzttleseva Dawsontana, 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 of Whizttleseya 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 Wiiliam Dawson, but it is also corroborative of the correlation of both of these formations with the Pottsville. * * 1 Sir William Dawson, Fossil Plants of the Devonian and Upper Silurian formations of Canada; Geol. Surv. Canada, 1871. L. W. Bailey, Observa- tions on the Geology of Southern New Brunswick, 1865, pp. 54-76. Hugh Fletcher, Geological Nomenclature in Nova Scotia, Trans. Nova Scotia Inst. Sci., vol. X, 1900, p. 235. 2 2oth 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 palzeontologists 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, 1894, 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. 1901 | WuitE—THE GEeNus WHITTLESEYA. 101 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. Whittleseya, Newberry, 1853. The genus /Vhizttleseya, established by Newberry! in 1853, embraces a type of narrowly petiolate leaves, more or less flabelli- form ip plan, whose nervation is composed of broad and thick, closely or even densely arranged, fascicles or bands of 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 converge 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 otten 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 bahds 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 costz, 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 Whit¢leseya 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 1 Annals of Science, vol. 1, No. 10, Cleveland, 1857, p. 116. 102 THe Orrawa NATuRALIST. [July terminal portions of the branches, were sustained by apparently lax, often extremely slender petioles, sometimes several times as long as the blade of the leaf. No precise correlation has yet been made between the IVAz¢/tleseye and any of the types of Palaeozoic fruits, one or more genera of which are usually found associated in the same beds. The species already attributed to this genus are: IWzt/leseya elegans,'! IW. crasstfolia,® W. undulata,* JW. microphyvlla,* W. Campbelli,® and IW. Lescuriana.® To these are now added three species from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, as follows : Whittleseya desiderata, n. sp. TABS WHOIS Tener, ins 5 er Leaves of moderate thickness, oblong, slightly cuneate, 9 mm.- 14 mm. in length above the petiole, 6 mm.-1o 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. coste 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, Whzttleseva elegans, the : Cleveland, 1853, p. (16, figs. 1, 2. Les- Newberry, Ann. Sci., vol. 1, quereux, Coal Flora, vol. II, p. 523, pl. IV, f. 1., la. * Lesquereux, Coal Flora, Atlas, 1879, p. 2, pl. IV, f. 2(W. integrifolia, Op: City,, Vol. UL. p.1524,)) 3 (Lesquereux; op cit., vol: Lie pis25s plan Vidns. 4 Lesquereux, op. cit., vol. III, p. 843. Lesley, Dict. Foss. Pa., vol. MI, p. 1256, text-figs. > D. White, 20th Ann. Rept. U.S, Geol. Survey, Pt. II, 1900, p. 867. £ fg broyer Texting 595 telo7e 1go1 | WuiteE—TuHe Genus WHITTLESEYA. 103 vascular bands become more distinct and separate as they ap- proach the teeth. In the middle of the leaf they are often more diffuse, though they are generally recognizable down to near their points of origin. The normal aspect ot [Viitdleseya desiderata is shown in Pl. VII, Fig. 1, an enlargement of whose vascular bands is pre- sented in Fig. 1a. Jn 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 IV. undulata and W. Campbelli, 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 filamentose, as in JI. mzcro- phylla Lx. JWhittleseya desiderata is distinguished from W. Daw- soniana by its proportionately smaller and more elongated form, and especially by the narrow and more numerous vascular bands. The latter, by their number and proximity, suggest IV. mzcrophylla, but they are neither so dense nor so far blended as in the species last named. In JI. microphylla,'! although the dimensions are very similar, the bands are often difficult of 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 Whzttleseya 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 Co., N. S., Station A7; collected by Dr. Ami in 1898. West Bay Shore, Parrsboro, Cumberland Co., N. S.; collected by Dr. Ami in 1896. The specimens are in the collections of the Geological Survey of Canada. SL Vilg bis 7s 104 THe OTTAwA NATURALIST. [July Whittleseya brevifolia, n. sp. Pl. VII, Fig. 3, 3a: 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 of 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 Wttle- 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 Whzt- tleseya microphylla, the only other distinctiy cuneate species, the leaf in hand differs by its very short form, the more distinct costz and the well defined teeth. Locality.—Harrington River beds, Harrington River, Col- chester Co., N.5S.; Station A1r2 of Dr. Ami’s 1808 collections. The type is in the collections of the Geological Survey of Canada. 1901] WuiteE—THE Genus WHITTLESEYA. 105 Whittleseya Dawsoniana, n. sp. Pl. VII, Figs. 4, 4a. 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 costze 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 Neuropleris Selwyni, loaned from the collections of McGill University through 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 Wahittleseya. On carefully removing the matrix from the remaining portion of the fossil, the specimen was found not only to belong to /V/zttleseya, but to represent a new species of that genus’ This leaf, which is illustrated in Pl. 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 distinguished palzobotanist and one of the great palzontologists 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 elegans, 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 A/ethopleris and a fragment of Neuropferis (labelled Neuropteris Selwyni) apparently indistinguishable from a plant 106 THe Ortrawa NATURALIST. [July from the upper Pottsville of the Appalachian province described in manuscript by the writer as a variety of Nexropleris Schlehani Stur. Locality. —‘‘Fern ledges,”’ Lancaster formation, near St. 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 Whztéteseya from Nova Scotia and New Bruns- wick are closely allied to the southern representatives of the same genus. The JWhittleseya desiderata has the aspect of a diminutive W. elegans Newb., an example of which, from the type bed and vicinity, is, for comparison, shown in Pl. 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. The compactness of the fascicles also approaches the nervation of IV. microphylla (Pl. vii, Fig. 7.) In fact, the longer Riversdale species appears, while ranging most closely to IW. elegans and W. undulata, to stand on the side toward the cuneate IV. mzcro- prylla. The Whittleseya brevifolia, though nearest to W. deszderata, suggests by both its form and nervation a position between the latter and the W. microphylla, an example of which, from the Type locality,! is illustrated in Fig 7. Whittleseva Dawsontana, on the other hand, is by far most closely bound to W. elegans, trom the Sharon coal (Upper Potts- ville) of Ohio, though its proportionately broader ribs and less 1 Near Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the ‘‘coal bearing shale,” a formation representing a part of the Upper Pottsville, not far from the Sharon coal, in the Appalachian trough. The species is also present in the Breathitt forma- tion of Kentucky, and the Upper Lykens division of the Pottsville in the Pennsylvania Anthracite region. 1901 | Wuite—TuHE Genus WHITTLESEYA. 107 pointed teeth are comparable to the Sewanee form of W. undulata. 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 IV/zttleseya form! whose narrowest leaves are so similar in size and character to that described above from St. John as to suggest 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 Whittlesevee 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 of 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 /VAittleseya is regarded by most palzobotanists 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 Neggerathiacee, a family typified by Neggerathia. The latter genus, the original species of which resembles Arvcha@opterts, 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 W/zttleseye in the Dolerophyllea, whose type genus Dolerophyllum was put by Dawson in the Neggerathiace. Almost simultaneously, in 1885, in two important palzobotan: ical works published by Saporta,* and Renault,* iin: Sec *hittles seya elegans Newb., var. minor D. Ww. re 20th Ann. Rept. U. Geol. Surv., Pt. II, 1g00, pp. 788, 904. 2 Whittleseva Campbelli D. W., op. cit.. p. 905, pl. CXL, figs. 9-11; and Whittleseva Lescuriana D. W., op. cit., p. 867 (description not yet pub- lished. ) 3 Annals of Science, vol. 1, Cleveland, 1853, p. 116. * Coal Flora, vol. II, 1880, p. 523. Principles of Palaeozoic Palzobotany, 1883, Pe: 97: Can. Rec Sci., vol. IV, No. 1, 1890, pp. 26, 27. erin Zittel’ s Handb. d. Palzont., vol. II, p. 253. 7 Evol. rég. vég., Phanérog., vol. I, p. 144. * Cours Bot. Foss., vol. [V, p- 69. 108 THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. [July was referred to the Salisburiacee@, in which it was ranged with Dicranophyllum,. Rhipidopsts, Trichopitys, Ginkgophyllum, and Baiera, the earlier relatives of the living genus Ginkgo. This reference, which was accepted by Schenck,! appears to find favour with most foreign palzobotanists® 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 Whittleseya, 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 Whzttleseya and those of Gznkgo, 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 Whzttleseya microphylla and in the recent Giwkgo. 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 Gznkgo which is clearly iden- tified in the older Mesozoic, while its antecedents or closer relatives, Batera and Ginkgophyllum, 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 JWhzttleseye with the group illustrations of Ginkgo 1 Die foss. Pflanzenreste, 1888, p. 166. 2 See Zeiller, Elem. de paléobot., 1900, p. 251. Also see Seward and Gowan, in Annals Bot., vol. XIV, 1900, p. 135. * Fossil Botany, 1891, p. 66. 1901 | Wuite—TuHe Genus WHITTLESEYA. 109 relatives and Ginkgo leaves given 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 Whzttleseya 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,” Gzvkgo bzloba. In the judgment of the writer the Whittleseye 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 Rhahbdocarpos, or possibly in Cardiocarpon. The plant from the Upper Coal Measures of Baie de Chaleur described by Dawson® as Neggerathia dispar, although fragmentary and very incomplete, appears by its petiolate development, the basi-marginal nerves, and the banding of the parallel, longitudinal nervation to be also referable to the same stock, if not to the same genus. The Ne@ggerathia dispar may perhaps, without too great an assumption, be regarded as a connecting link between the earlier Whittleseyas and the later Saportea of Fontaine and I. C. White,® from the Dunkard or supposed Permian of the Appalachian trough. Saportea’ through its allied genera, Bazera, 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 Gzzkgo, which is unquestionably present with characteristic flowers and fruits in the earlier Meso- zoic. During this epoch Gznkgo, which in the world of to-day is 1 Evol. rég. vég., Phanérog., vol. I, 1885, pp. 142-146. 2 Science, vol. V, 1885, p. 496. ’ Annals of Botany, vol, XIV, 1900, pp. 109-154. 4 Eléments de Paléobotanique, 1900, pp. 248-253. > Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. London, vol. XXII, 1866, p. 153, Pl. XIII, fig. ® Permian Flora, pp. 99, 101, 102, pl. XX XVIII. figs. 1-4. ? Saportea, F. and W., antedates and is quite distinct from Saportia, a genus of Tertiary Algze, named by Squinabol in 1891, Contr, Fl. Foss, Terz. Liguria, pt. 1, p. xx. : 110 THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. [July not definitely known in a wild state,! appears to have enjoyed a world-wide distribution including all continents and extending from California to India, from Greenland to Argentina, and from Tasmania to Spitzbergen. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 2 May, 1901. Plate VII.—Canadian types. Figures 1 and 2.—Whittleseya desiderata, D. W., Fig. 1a, enlargement (x4) to show the vascular bands of the leaf. Harrington River, N. S.; Riversdale formation. Figure 3.—Whittleseya brevifolia, D.W., Fig. 3a, detail showing the nervation (x4) Harrington River, N. S.; Riversdale formation. Figure 4.— Whittleseya Dawsoniana, D. W., Fig. 4a, enlargement (x4) to show the vascular bands. St. John, N. B. ; Lancaster formation. Appalachian types. Figure 5.—Whittleseya elegans, Newb., showing the average form and proportions. Roof of Sharon coal, Akron, Ohio; upper part of Pottsville. Figure 6.—Whittleseva undulata, Lx., slightly narrower than the normal form labelled by Lesquereux with this name. Roof of Pratt coal, Dolomite, Ala. ; Pratt group, Upper Pottsville. Figure 7.—Whittleseya microphylla, Lx. Near Fayetteville, Ark. ; Coal-bearing shale, Upper Pottsville. Figure 8.— Whittleseva Campbelli, D. W. Lincoln Mines, Southern Anthracite field, Pa. ; Lower Lykens division, Pottsville. SOME NEW CANADIAN GENTIANS.? By THEO. HOLM. GENTIANA MACOUNIL.—Annual or sometimes biennial, glabrous except the calyx: stem strict, quadrangular, 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, 1-flowered: calyx purplish-green, unequally 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 papilla, especially along the keels : corolla deep bluish, 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 (Adzantum), 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 Crossopetale, Froeel.”’, with four plates, received too late for publication in this number of THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. The complete paper will appear in an early number of this journal. Mr. Holm also proposes G. serrata, var. grandis, and var. holopetala, Gray, as species, viz.: G. grandis (Gray Synopt. Flora, p. 117), Holm, and G. holo- petala (Gray ibid.), Holm.—Epiror. 1901] Ho_tm—CANADIAN GENTIANS. 111 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 papille. 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 Fort 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 1—3-flowered with z or 3 pair of leaves: calyx 1% 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. Macountz: 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 papille. Represented in the Herbarium of the Geological Survey of Canada by specimens from near Sarnia, Ont. (C. A. Dodge); Lake Huron (Dr. Richardson); Stony Mtn., Man. (John Macoun); 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 g 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, 2to 2% cm. long, 4-lobed, the lobes roundish with a very few lateral teeth, but no fringes, 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 papille. Known only from near Salt Lake, Anticosti, Quebec, where it was collected by Prof. John Macoun on low, moist ground; in flower August, 1883. , ee “ec a Iz et rie oe oe a (ape 9) 6 “ce L ce 6r uss gI a3 re) ce QI be “oe fon “ee z AW gz fiudy b Av THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. ce OL or Av Wo ‘eEMEVO It2 oe OI ce "* 11 Ae OT 4 ins oe C1 “ce o- II ce oe 6 “eo SO PANETT ** of pudy * Il oe is oe a8 ce “gz pudy tee ce judy “*2z Judy uO £OJUOIO TL Giss © wis ae (o)\ipie @ Pie ne eB Co ew se | o.8 606 8 see © o MRELAS SSM eyans Gpelel sia “Tt 2SdO812 DIOAPUACT ‘AB{GAe\\ Bug See SNe iss SQ RSUaM [ips 8 tie Seine Sle eels ie son 09 SMYDOLT, “PNG-surUwnpy Poyeomyy-Aqn yy soso 66 iv le wake elexe eilf\e oe es sis els wee 6 Tie, ates" We eam hoa sttygoona DLYIIAJOUOZ ‘mosreds PaUMO.19-911Y \\ Siskel “ce wits (0) phce: (0! /e 16's) Hav olie rete) wy ae! ale) esr es . His eRe sbepei ne PG a Te rseg. et ISIC, SIU DIET *‘parq.-sursy tenes as Ss ehe & ele eve on ||o. « en ei eite 5 8 fave aie: ove ag) SPO (8? by yi Kelana nel REP Ve “+ sud0n1Z2d10 KAUWOYINOG ‘YUlOqog COT 4 “cc Svs i\Wha \alallole ef ei] (a) aie) aliay a! (a /=) cee eee DOO WSO see EDO SAME ET AIDS | {OOAI A PO}LOAYI-AVOTI[A A 2OOVOT, ce Seva) eee) eee’ W\inin) ss) |0 ote Oke lef ah'e! © tency oy eel cl SOPOLMOG SILI AT 2007. ‘aqaryy pel|iq-peld ONC 2 “ec pe 8) s) aw aye) a) 6\)' 8 eee te) 8 ee ole) 6 ws. “* PT Raa Lea bes DILLOULIYT “Ta[qie A oy A pur yori CIR OR ce eoeereereer ete ere eee tere ee eeee Sag" elif Se sha See aan een M's es SPIO ODL ‘Osu A SUITqIe \\ ae) | AVN en ee eee PES wee BOSE Sem Ss CO SE STUUT UAL xpuopidusy ‘Tayo BoA [yy \SvoT OSes EN CeO AE TAT pane gt cr wanes oopmeucimets) oColeT) Sieh slehc ole leecl casei OT OULOLT Rau OUD Lie) alors a lica a ate OS PE GES [ere le mae nce Teena ees cee eens s ses eer en greuauazosma Saadosoajug ‘palqies Bes es = Sip | heringes so cike HENS eilessT ae eh shoe toh isis ToreainVelasclahe eho iekches ye) Mes chal" Sy OOM SIUULOT SOREL TI | LMNAOOO-CIT AAT Oo e 26s Se eee oie oe ao eee ae a SEY ILLIA Eee LOL ae POEMS BREIN\ TEL(KONe eS) AY “. 6z ce fale 0) 0) «8 ewe: . © iste. @ ee ee . mlaheo ies, ofS. est 9) er ege.s “ee eee DQISD DILOAP UIC] “aI qIe MA MOT[OA - 6z a4 et nae ‘ eeeeeee se Ce eee er See SE tat R07 AI LOLOD DILOAPUICT “TIIqIe AN ap4Ayy Bi0g = “s a ce iemmmatea |p ie bine Sao Ano cline eet ed eco tage) hel SOL LO Oa One mOrLd LCA ACU SEMIN skO AN TOS [IG a ee ra ia eles eke ein ie sl Szruedtdias “AdaIGOpLa/arG “MOTTEMS Pesuia-lsnO yy ers e te) 6) 6) faite) ra)| e000) elle) piwiaitel!|is)@)/s)\=) vol s/iwilo) (|e) /erf€i\@) ais) (6) /n) 0) «)ralis) S) Geciicaceny Goecar "* DIIYD SNPANT ‘ysnaq poysoyo-Avay seh OF es oe Speer tehemcal| oink iol ace en age®) IU Rtis cit ao ORS! Lolo iee SOM OTN UN IOUL SLUM 20 7 Sop wOllo Ae sale alc) enor “ 4 focahn) @70)e28)6\8)|Feletesei le nj ee .e/eks/aky e) ese 60) clea ‘els » ele all on eee ew eee ee Didvgit VIONAMI ‘MOTTEMS yueg o. Qz (a9 € (eles) se) Ghelare iS" |/e)eei@)\¢e\/61.¢ :97 6) ele) e) ee) ele se sie 6 6 6 8) «iw e/s.e « « © ve pr.spjag DANJMYD IMS Aouurys OY A mea ali gars Ne esl | aaa Baia oe nial Nahe elisiollees Nise “SIA SS2707 Oat “Nery PocuImMapeord na re pady aie) (oe {hie) e) sue ell st elmye . ec ee CC a ry ON OS EON SNYIUAYAOGAD FT Aoyseay T, UMOIg Pati Oe) Det) eee we wee Se leveruce els) @uese.e @ 1a wees . sinishelintt S82 Me: Sera Rate 2D SNULASIAIY OND “YMPET young ** ZZ [eer iisSes" here ei ress eeee . oe . LG . ai,6) (e) oleae) ee) o/s) .e4ule! (sia) eels) ln e a1 es a inte * 4aQUiL AOJDUIAL) SUOOT *°€1 Awl’: gz Avy] ooo t tt tts: z20sutDMS SnyDINISN SNpANT ‘YSHAYT, POYIVG-dAl[O Se SELLA Ine es Soe e C eee ew eer es Beret e seen ens sls cyosfiun WOpIaYIOd¢Jaq ‘MOTTEMS PD “yuQO “uC t ‘uopuo’T : “IOSPUIA\ ‘SaduID AO IVAINYV AO SAUYOOAYN AHAILVUVdINOS 113 MacouNn—ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 1901 | ‘shvoy “Af ‘AI 4q poysiuing ‘saapunes “ay “Ay ‘Ay JO JSanbasa oy] ye ‘araM Saj]oU UOpUO'] ay} WOW sity “sreAsasqo ay} JO Sowevu 9y} 4AM Sroquinu sun oy) ur peysiyqnd sem sarooeds z9Yy}O aUuO-AIY JO [VALIIY JO SoVep oy Sulars a[qv) avis VY ‘Sunsesojur st spsodoa1 jo uosiivdwos oy} [PALI s10y} Ja]ye UCOS padTjoU Ajqeqoid oem Way} Jo Ayoleu eyy se pur ‘BMPE}O Pu OJUOIOT, ‘UOPpUOT 7B poAsasSqO atoM YIYM JO Jsow ‘spsiq Je saidads xis-AYY JO [BALI JO SAzVBP ay) SEALs g[quvi sIy. ‘peysiyqnd aq Aew sps10de1 Jo a]qv} 2AOGR JY JY} JOPsO UI ADAO Play aav YUOW SIy] 1OJ SOJOU palg [BOO] ayy, ‘SHLON TVOISOTOHLINYO "NOQOOOVIN “LM 4g zi Avy ZI Aw) °° rr & SOR. ROIS AT [CP cmc CR Oe Pie CRON aR oo" ray Ket acavon given, Wms Mace Sle a khislanm ara CS IE I OHO YS “ce ee eee ee ZI ee oa II ee ere gi oe Or ce Seas Ge ARIA fe ES ea ate gt Aepi: 2 Ae :: gz judy 2) 8) le Wed nue fel eee 3m 00 a: Bay Sey BAS eae a + ma & = = 0 700000 0 — - . . wn > w = Xe) ioe) N - _ 2) . x . . - . nN — = L Qa —_ * ie) A = = - oa . . o>) a = > S = -~ - fa era syn ev iu ° rt Aveyy:: 2 Ae Foi (as Yl Ra) Sa tae “~ z _— = Cnntteteunnnn 61 “é i l ai i “e PO Te Pe | cit on A AL eo ry) ceee ““ sever tee eles seece 61 Avy: $ ia tee « were cece elacrecece MT 0 ¢ fa me we | “cc Sree ee Se ls cord Avy)|**** Miarag) 28 stp 8 20a Borer as . hi oe S16 06 228 6 we) > ©) 0 0 0 es. 0 ¢ 0 W se be) 6 6 bis,» “* purasatag myryPoypurmjayy SO [GleA\ YoSSouud J, ‘+ nofiovg vuidjn vsuiay Aodidpueg poyorg-pay "555 SMUDILAIWDY SNZAIINOD ‘OOYIND PPI[Iq-MO]TAA tresses ss yuradiy vovodpuag ‘Aayqiey Avy advg seresseeesessss* s7199021]0 09444 ‘OddlA Podd-pay srreesresesescsessgnaunds sndajzz ‘IJOUO p1eydiC, peressss sess pamamo po0dpuag “Ad}QIVA\ UvaTN.as DPIUUANQYINIG VIOAPUICG, “ADGA AY UBIULAINGyor]g Testes ss span vsSvydojas \avispoy UBoaWwy *SUPISAJNADI DILOAPUICT ‘AQ QAV AY WM] posevoeasq-yovyg Prete esses sss sss 971773dpI0IND SNANIS “PIIG-UaAG “ PUDIIILOPN] VIQVTT ‘YBAQSOAL) POWVO.AY]-ASOYy Teestttess sss sniapzi0s 0adt 4A ‘OdItA Papway-anig porupagdsunad vo1oapuaq, ‘Aa{qav Ay popts-jnuyseyy rorssss sss saqooury vsigsojayy ‘Mosieds s,ujooury] Trees eesereseces © seasie SNZOJUOD ‘ADMIT POOAK terres 9% suagsaasnf snpang SYSnayy, S,UOSTEAY cree eee esse ss eseg UIT IISNUL SNPANT “YSNAYT, POOA, “SUuadIe VIOAPUACT AD|GIE AY UBIID) POVOsy-yoryig sorts panaws mpydorog ‘aayoyeoyeury AviS-an[g sree eeseses qunapupog va10d¢puacy ‘Ad qQav Ay Wie Presses ses sess mgs SNAIT OIC wWounleEg Tresesecsse sess ssuana sagdpopsod 7 ‘UII ASNOP hess ess sugruiao snypidd py “AYO eIATY paysaad “* ayndvoyna vprygoysuiuaz7 ‘Ao|qavAy O[AYSEN sess syyatay SIA] YyJoI4) “YWoayy-MOT[AA puryAsey ‘snppy dao yjAda Sogaaumpayy Aaydadpoo \y papveay-poy rere esses punaaun sigdqyposduoy ‘19\q12,\\ ep. T14 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 NatTurRAListT, I desire to state that whilst | 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 himself ‘‘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 OrrawA NATURALIST for 1900, and an unsigned article in a local journal, all bearing on 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 innomenclature. As regards nicety of diction and literary skill, I do not claim any. Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) H.M. Amt. Ottawa, June 22nd, 1gor. =~ ee C}r a ie % ag se a ae A se. > tw toe bivsy hd reid sik s ‘ waa ; ; ' 7 ' _/* \ ‘7 - ' Py = . = -~ a. 4 ‘ ‘ x A = i ‘ _ ‘ . a a =? x a - f ood a : in ; 7 me 7 f é | @ - ge? y a mW % Ww 2 7 a a a. ‘ * . ~ F . a en or ‘ ai <3 - a be « J ’ = . ¥. a nas hi — = - F zy = a =< : Supa Fact es THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL: XV. PL. VIII TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF RED RIVER VALLEY, FROM MODEL By D. B. DOWLING. * 4, © aos ayy pr 0 Ti,» a S ee wi ge t= seed mi Onsite et. cre sy we, “v2 ted d THE OTTAWA NATURALIST VoL. XV. PL. IX PART OF MANITOBA. Dotted lines show beaches of west side of former lake. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, “AUGUST? agor No@io5.- THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY. By D. B. DowLIne, B. Sc. A critical study of the physical features of any region is not complete nor is its full significance understood it 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. 116 THe Ortrawa NATURALIST. | August To the east is a rugged 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 filled 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 ina 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 1900] DowLinG—Rep 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 sea is 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 economic importance. 118 THe Orrawa NATURALIST. [August After the final emergence from the sea was accomplished, 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 basins 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 Jong period of 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 tace 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. 1901] Dow.inc—Rep River VALLEY. 11g 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, crossing 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 js outlined 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. ODuring 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 120 THe Orrawa 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 of this former lake is of great rnoment. 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 particularly 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 timea 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 of 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 of partly wooded country. 1901 | ScupDDER—My First NAMESAKE. 121 MY FIRST NAMESAKE. By SAMUEL H. SCUDDER. In the summer ot 1860 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 Lycena scudderit. 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 an absence from home of just twenty four hours I obtained the material afterward used in my book. Of course the Reporters got wind of 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 and, easily figuring (22 THe Orrawa 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 leafit 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 fs mutual. 1901 | GUILLET—FLOWERING OF WILD PLANTs. 123 ON THE AUTUMN-FLOWERING OF VARIOUS WILD PLANTS IN igo0. By CEpHAS GUILLET, Ph. D. On account of the remarkably mild autumn of last year, one might have gathered nosegays of wild flowers about Ottawa, not only throughout October, 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, otf better color than taste. It is well known that different plants bloom at different 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 Orrawa NATURALIST,” who have been so good as to communicate them to me. Viper’s bugloss or the ‘‘ blue thistle”? (Zchium vulgare)—said by Prof. Harrison in his ‘‘ Weeds of Ontario,” to be imported from Europe—was quite abundant on October 26th, on a limestone ridge 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 (ZLrysimum chetranthotdes) 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 (Achillea millefolium), golden rod (Solidago) 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 ona road in Ottawa East, November 6th ; and near Hemlock Lake, November gth ; and asters near Green’s Creek, October 26th ; while Dr. Fletcher found fresh new speci- mens of Solidago Canadensis, Aster cordifolius and Aster paniculatus at Brittania on November goth. 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 (FR. acris), I found on the roadside in Ottawa East, November 6th ; on Beechwood avenue, November 8th; and at Rockliffe, November 12th; all bright fresh speciments. Dr. Fletcher found it also at Brittania, November gth. 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, for they may be found as early as April, and yet they are also among the last flowers one finds in bloom in the fall. I found strawberry blossoms (Fragaria virginiana) 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 23rd. 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. 1901 | 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 Ir lof ‘‘ Our Lady of the Snows,” is shown by the following Feports|of other observers in northerly regions of our country. a Ma. John A. Dresser of Richmond, Que, sends the following fromm" the phenological observations of 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 brulé 15 miles N.E. of the town of Chapleau (on the C. P. R., N.E. of Lake Superior) I found the blue-berry bushes covered with a pro- fusion of flowers, and in the same brulé 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 brulé 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 above date (2nd October).” On October 16th, Mr. W. J. Wilson, collected the trailing arbutus (Zfzgea 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 (Pof/entzlla sruticosa) 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, Vaccinium Pennsylvanicum, and marsh marigold Caltha 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 Ortawa NATURALIST. [August on the hill sides, a large 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 ithe month. About the rst of November a flower called scarlet- ee: (Castilleta miniata), frequenting marshy lands, was plentiful I bloom. Ihave this on good authority ; some were picked ed brought in. Isn’t this a July August species? I fancy I seen it from the train, when ex 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. 1901] M cCaLttuM—Burr-BrREASTED SANDPIPER. 127 TRINGITES RUFESCENS, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. By G. A. McCatium, M.D., Dunnville, Ont. (Read before the Ornithological Sec. of the Entomological 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 roth 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. MclIlwraith’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 macularia, | 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 BT far north. ‘‘From all this Audubon conjectured rightly ”’ 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 roth, 1879. While walking along the bank of the Grand River below the dam on the evening of June oth 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 hada 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 .g5, 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. ’ 1901] Smitua—Tue Woopcock’s Love Sone. 129 THE WOODCOCK’S LOVE SONG. By L. H. SMITH (Read betore the Ornithological Sect. of the Entomological 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 gleris 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 comparatively few. Any fine warm evening about the middle of April, if 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 woodcgck 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 ‘‘ pate,” ‘‘pdte’’ 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 enough 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 OtTrawa 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 Ua el ty 4 ~ tl a eee ain <2 SOND PRA From Prehistoric Camping Grounds. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. ~- — = oe —---~— ——--— —--—- ——_— VoL. XV. OTTAWA, SEPTEMBER, 1go1. Now. FAT IN THE ANIMAL BODY, ITS FUNCTIONS AND ORIGIN. By ‘A. T. CHARRON, B. A. (Read March 12th, 1go1.) This evening I would invite your attention for a few moments to the discussion of a subject that lies 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 auimal 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 132 THE OtrawaA 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 that 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 what 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 containa 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... 0,5 eee 0.001 Cartilage’ 2. (75a T3 Vitreous humour...... 0.002 Bone 328 20h ieee ate 1.4 SEAN, clatieovid t rokaseg tetas 0.02 Crystalline lens..... 2.0 1S iy. 2 | & beer ears se sn 0.05 Liver e226: «atone eee 2.4 RIV AOV AG. . eo. 0 0 sie laa 0.06 Muscles: .«... «<<. gee aug Miquor ammit: 2 ie... 0.06 Hair’... 2s. 5. 4.2 WEY. ples. asin Ne er eee Brain... 2 oe eee 8.0 MAC ATS I. 0 -Deas hye) Finis VAOk oe 0.3 Heo oS atl 2 eee rag 26 dh SE 0.4 Nerves .):)..2. isc 22.0 ME As Nod Sati 0 aE 1.4 Adipose tissue: .0 en 82.7 GR ss wishes so Rees 4.3 Martow 2.5. «scien 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. 1gor | CHARRON—FAT IN THE ANIMAL Bopy. 133 x 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 1s a simple compound of always exactly the same definite composition ? If so, allow me to inform you that you are mistaken. Fat is nota 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 tenperature of the body, rigor mortrs 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 most powerful heat producer of 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 OTrawa NATURALIST. [September formula C,, H,,4 Og, whilst that of protein is indicated by the formula C,, H,;i2 N;,s SOp:,, and that of carbohydrates by C, H,, O,. From acomparison of these formule 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 following 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 250 grammes of grape sugar. Besides being used as tuel to keep up the body temperature and produce energy, fats 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 glvceride 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 og, 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 1901 | CHARRON—FArT IN THE ANIMAL Bopy. 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 gastric 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 todo. 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. This 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 lining 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 organic 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 great objection to the absorption of fat in the form of soaps has been that the reaction of 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 investigated 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 Tue Ottawa NATURALIST. [September acids. With phenolphtalein the reaction was invariably acid all the way, whilst it was alkaline to methyl orange, 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 z.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 erammes of fat in twenty-four hours. Supposing only 200 grammes are digested and that all this is absorbed as soap and glycérine, about 4o 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 Na, CO,. _ 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 grammes of Na, CO . 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 ? 1901 | CHARRON—FAT IN THE ANIMAL Bopy. 137 There is no difficulty for anyone in admitting that the fat of the body may 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 supportel 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 under water. Wishing to ascertain whether really albumin could be changed into fat, he kept glass tubes, containing pieces of meat, in a’'water bath ata constant temperature of 40°C. for 314 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 cou/d be formed from protein substances. Further investi- 138 THe Orrawa 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 trom fat free substance. A swarm of bees were fed with honey for 32 days with the following results :— Amount of wax produced..... «css IL 515, Stammes, " fat in honey 3-—Flint arrow-head, 34 diameter, of foreign make, from Raymond’s Point, Ont. »» 4.—Flint arrow-head, natural size, from Paris, Ont. Collector, Harold Nelson, Ottawa. »» §5-—Flint arrow-head, natural size, from Raymond’s Point, Lake Des- chénes, Ont. This poimt 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 distinguish them apart. 6.-—-Black flint arrow-head, natural size, from Raymond’s Point, Lake Deschénes, Ont. ” 7.—Dark stone celt, 4 diameter, from beach in front of Hotel Victoria, Lake Deschénes, Aylmer, Que. ” ,, 8.—Buff-coloured flint arrow-head, natural size, from Pointe aux Pins (Queen’s Park), Lake Deschénes. A recent fraction at the tip reveals a rind or crust which encloses a lighter-coloured interior. 4, 8—Dark slate knife, 4 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 DISTRICTS B-E. By ALLAN BROOKS. I spent the winter of 1900-01 in the western portion of the’ Cariboo district, and as ! was in the field the whole season, I had ample opportunities to note the birds of both the Upper Fraser 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 S3ar- tram’s Sandpiper, Tennessee, Black poll and Magnolia Warblers, and Emprdonax alnorum 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 Arctomys monax and Microsorex hoyt. 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 franklini. 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 umbellus umbelloides. Gray Ruffed Grouse. Most of the Ruffed Grouse could be referred to this form, but some specimens were closer to typical wmbellus or to togata. 304. Lagopus leucurus. White-tailed Ptarmigan. Only occurs at high altitudes. The only species of Ptarmigan ob- served. 308. Pediecetes phasianellus. Sharp-tailed Grouse. The form occurring at Quesnelle is apparently 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 atricapillus. American Goshawk. The only hawk observed during the winter months, 1901} BRooks—WINTER Birps. 153 352. Haliaétus leucocephatus. Bald Eagle. 349. Aguila chrysaétos. Golden Eagle. Both eagles occur sparingly. 371. Nyctale richardsoni. Richardson's Owl. 372. Nyctale acadica. Sawwhet Owl. 366. Asio wilsontanus. American Long-eared Owl. 367. Asie accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl. With the probable exception of the last these are resident throughout the winter. 375- Bubo virgianus. Great Horned Owl. 375a. Bubo v. subarcticus. Western Horned Owl. 375¢- Bubo v, saturatus. 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 Parkerviile. 3934. Dryobates villosus leucomelas. Northern Hairy Woodpecker. Tolerably common. 400. Picoides arcticus. Arctic three-toed Woodpecker. Scarce thronghout 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. : yor Picoides americanus. American three-toed oe ce Much commoner than the last. Both species are among the hardest of birds to coliect; 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 toa 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; though killed quite dead it did not drop. On examination I found the feet were five inches apart and the tzil firmly braced. The head and body falling backwards had brought considerable pressure on the tail. It required considerable force to detach the bird. 405. Hylotomus pileatus. Pileated Woodpecker. Scarce. This is probably the northern limit of its range. 475. Pica hudsonica. American Magpie. Tolerably common. 486a. Corvus principalis. Northern Raven Common. The first crows were observed early in March. 478. Cyanocitta stelleri anectens, Black-headed Jay. Common. 484a. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. Rocky Mountain Jay. 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 about 25th March. 5156. Pinicola enucleator alascensis. Alaskan Pine Grosbeak. Common, 154 THe Ottawa NATURALIST. [September 22. Loxia leucoptera. White Winged Crossbill. The latter the most abundant. Both species seemed to migrate from the district before the close of the winter. Both were common during summer of 1900. : s24a. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis. Hepburn’s Leucosticte. 521. Loxia curvirestra minor. American Crossbill. 5 Typical examples taken during the winter. The form -hat breeds in the high mountains near Barkerville is typical tephrocotis. 527a. -Acanthis exilipes. Hoary Redpoll. 528. Acanthis linaria. Mealy Redpoll. I carefully examined all flocks of Redpolls seen and only secured one specimen that showed any apprvuach to evz/ipes. During former winters Mr. Sidney Williams has taken several fairly typical exzlipes at Quesnelle. I did not observe the Pine Siskin during the winter months. 534. Plectrophenax nivalis. Snowflake. zo. Cinclus mexicanus. American Dipper. Found in the neighbourhood of open water throughout the winter. 726b. Certhia a. montanus. Rocky Mountain Creeper. Tolerably common throughout the winter. 728. Sitta canadensis. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Less common than the last. 735a. Parus a. septentrionalis. Long-tailed Chickadee. Common. 738. Parus gambeli. Mountain Chickadee. Occasionally observed at Quesnelle. 7406. Parus hudsonius columbianus. Columbian Chickadee. Abundant in the heavy spruce timber and on high elevations. 748a. Regulus satrapa olivaceus. Western Kinglet. A few of these delicate little birds remained throughout the coldest weather. The birds enumerated in the foregoing list were all actual winter residents with the possible exception of the Short-eared Owl. Bohemian Waxwings were observed in large 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 region to the northeast of Ques- nelle about that date [ had not much chance to observe the migration of the spring birds, which did not begin to show up there till well on in April, the Winter Wren on the 6th being followed by a considerable influx of migratory Goldcrests and Tree Creepers. First Geese (canadensis) were seen on 9th April, Snowfinches (/uncos,) and a Pigmy 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 Varied Thrushes on the 17th. The big rush of spring arrivals came in after the 2oth April, when the winter had fairly broken up. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. — — a _—_ ~ — = _ —_—. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, OCTOBER, 1901. No. 7. SOME OF THE BIRDS OF ALGOMA. (Read before the Ornithological section of the Entomological Society of Ontario.) ; By C. T. Scott, Aylmer, Ont. We were a party of four who had planned to spend our summer vacation in the wilderness of Algoma. 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 men: of the boat, we did not forget these birds, but invariably carried off some tid-bits to make sport tor them. Whena 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 ora 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. “x 156 Tue Ottawa NATURALIST. [October When at Killarney we learned why the Ontario Government have imposed a fine of $20 upon anyone convicted of killing a gull. Along the shores of Georgian 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 gulls and the almost equally numerous ravens, which are ready to dis- pute title to the dainty feast. These two birds form the natural scavengers to this region, and doubtless are to be credited with helping to preserve the splendid fisheries around Georgian Bay. We stayed just long enough 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 oh 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. After breakfast, and the more difficult task of dish washing, we strolled over the trail into wooded gullies and up ascending terraces 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 was a wood-duck, and 1gor| Scotr—Birps or ALGoMA. 157 we concluded it might 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 distingvished 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 ona 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 miles up the inlet, and whilst gathering some blue- 158 Tue Orrawa 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 of 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 iunch 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 litcle clearing where we were trying to get some wet wood to burn, was literally choked with mosquitoes. No wonder the 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, 1901] Scotr—Birps oF ALGOMA. 159 From this point on for several days we had uniform experience of travel through lakes and portages, 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 got lost in the forest and had spent the greater portion of the day without food, we counted it a providential thing 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 trom 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 entereda 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 tracing 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. 160 THe Ottawa NATURALIST. | October Two days more and we reached the C. P. R. line. We put our canoes on the 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 for 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 tho 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 bya 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 1901 | Scotr—Birps oF ALGoMA. 161 close to the shore to get a better look. As he sat ona 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 { saw two flycatchers plying their calling. A dull haze made accurate observation impossible, from size and form I 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 inthe 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 tor 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 (Pers profodice, 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. 162 THe Otrrawa 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, for instance, Purshia tridentata as well as various members of the Arvéemista 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 ina 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, Crotalus 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 Doré. It appears that the Indians from superstitious motives do not kill snakes, anc from the same motives do not go near their dens. Mr. Webster, 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 1go1] RATTLESNAKES AND SCORPIONS. 163 was too late in the season, 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), Pztyophis catenifer, 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 vouck. 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 Hutenia, 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., 1go:. 164 THe Orrawa 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 OrrawaA NaTurRALIstT. On the following dates the tree was fairly well covered with blossoms : 1895—April 18th. 1896— 1 16th. 1897— 1 ith. First flowers April 8th. 1898— 1 2nd. 1899— 1 20th. Ig00—. 1 15th. 190I— wu 15th. W. J. WILSON. A New MeEaApow-RvuE.—Mr. M. L. Fernald examined the Geological Survey specimens ot Zhalictrum afew months ago and among them found a new species which he has named 7. confine, 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. TZ. 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. dioicum and 7. polygamum are common. The meadow-rues - should always be collected in fruit. AGRIMONY.—The two species of Agrimony, A. Azrsuta 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. hirsuta has short, turbinate fruit, the dilated marginal rim of the convex disk bearing numerous reflexed spreading hairs ; in A. Brittonzana 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. 1901] 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 protessedly 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 any one familiar with the reports, now somewhat venerable for 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 * 166 THe Orrawa NATURALIST. [October the 271 pages of this work only those who have attempted taunistic lists can realise. True, it is largely drudgery: but it is pioneer work without which no future progress is possible. That a large proportion of the species of Sponges, 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 Spzzvorbis, the sedentary, almost ectoparasitic, habits of this Polychzte, 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 Spzrorbrs 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- The Marine Biological Station founded in 1898 by the Dominion Government, freely opening its doors to ” termined satisfactorily. 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 1GOl, are not referable to any recognized Canadian species, and will of necessity be announced as additions to oar marine fauna. A Priapulus 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 Priapulus cau- datus. Lmk. (p. 89). 1901 | 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. Whiteaves list : No. of species. PROTOZOA. Prmedeoritends OS SPECIES stot /ciste dated <2 sc syne St cise att wisi sieieicis ioe Radiolaria, Te On Roa Se en Re ld. eee ete 64 SPONGES. 26 (exclusive of 2 Hudson Bay species.).........--:..05--+> : 36 CGLENTERATA. Hydromedusz, 66 species ..... ...-.-. PESTER Dt cs ed ed Petar OUI ny ks OUD) Sack. tate. ) [cing ish ke SEES Seeks ees bale ote Anthozoa, ryt 5 NE eee es Posy «ha dad aad epier eeicieya say eg= Ctenophora Ze a ee Sit er ee ee SES ABS Beer —-- 11g ECHINODERMATA., Crinoidea, BESDECICS st joi ace Inhofe ne edie state Mouren casket VESPA ENTONG CMS ee tet ore Sn oe Mover eiseaieiei ol 2 «Ska 0) Sivbe bia eiagd She al sie Asteroidea 29 Oh ai tee Sk, Pps NS a oe Ophiuroidea Fah) (MUNIN cine cee ais Peart Crete Restle ei aoa Onc Echinoidea 8 Rene Pema et SE AAA, ROGER ee ae Soh ; 71 MARINE WORMS. MEMEVYEHERMINTIHES,.......000s0++-- bats.) RR et dS EM Sed Alena tN Pee E 4 oo SATE ORAS A ioe ak Se eee in rl te a ee ea a Se BaP 21 MP MNDEDMETALS DS 565 5) 2 y1- = 1c. 31h = elaic opel lan aije teSleld. vie vie Wield bat av ble sla blobla Ds « 106 PNET PI 0 Me oe eye Petre SE tol Shyajn aia) s's ofaje etmnpyee « mp eyevestapere eek a LES BSTC sos 5 Sela tacit ELGG tks nee OS RAR A ae are Seed 428 os 2S eee Reet ee ee 3 SE uk aie otadied Now Pn aie aia 0 ae ei cee Bite ee Ah ee em rie 115 Pelecypoda, UAVS PCELES Ae )s aac ci 8a ctatolele * nytha clays. Mate ce tei Scaphopoda, 5 Eo oa oo Bale Dish, « Meera cise ice ER SES 05 Ge i aa ne reer einer em tore cry -t Cephalopoda, Tete PRS PIE af as fete sac eet Ae tear» Cees ae 282 ARTHROPODA. ITEC Es SOP Cia ce tie durisit ia 1S cy caine oly aia clevpie o'ey ofa a. ceayiats OI of Cyl 198 CERI GUERRA ES a he a PSs cela aan alote ie vie rin luia sida, CAMO «ial ty. gett iI CHORDATA. i (J edichte oil eis ET nS He eae a rt SP Pa APL ice 27 1064 168 THe OtTTawA 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, slimy 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, andthe 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 minuta of Verril, a species first distinguished as Cucu- maria minuta by Otto Fabricius in 1780, but which there is every reason to believe, now, is the small immature stage of P. 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,” Lophothuria Fabrictz, 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 1901 | REVIEWS. 169 that the much more familiar Psolus phantapus is recorded only from Grand Manan, at 4o 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 eight species, Dr. Whiteaves rightly concurring in the view that the huge specimens of ‘ Five fingers,” measuring 12 or 15 inches across are simply overgrown As/erias 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 polaris Mill. and Trosch, and range from 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 rocks upon which Ottawa stands and testify to their abundance in the old-time seas. It 1s impossible 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 avery general interest. It bears directly on the fascinating problems of animal distribution. A great proportion of species named in this list are Unistoniam, 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 A. 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 ot our shores though called Buccinum undalum, L., may 170 THe OrtrawaA NATURALIST. | October ultimately justify Reeves’ name B. /abradorense, for features shown in the egg-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 lapillus, L.) arouses such question. Its adult stage as well as its characteristic vase-shaped egg cases are identical with those of the European form, nor does the periwinkle (Zztorina 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) séems 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 Lzvorzna 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 salar, L.), so our 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 Phyllodocidz to European forms have yet to 1go1 | REVIEWS. r7t 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, rgot) Prof. Mclotosh 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 Phyllodocidz only one species is in every detail identical with a European form, viz., the ubiquitous Phyllodoce grentlandica, CErsted,” taken abundantly on Bradelle Bank and 15 miles south- east of Bonaventure Island. Other specimens closely resembled P. laminosa, Sav., and others again differed from both. Of three species of Eteone, one, £. spefsbergensis, Mgrn., was unquestion- able, but two other species approached either Z. /entigera, Mern., or £. cinerea, Webs. and Bened. An appropriate means of escape from the dilemma so often presented by Canadian species is to call them Cauadens7s or to do as Professor McIntosh did in the case of the graceful Polynoid worm, Walmgrenia whiteavesiz, or as Professor Verrill did in naming a pretty shell Cerzthiella whiteavesii, and a unique zoophyte Actinopsis whiteavesiz. 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 Chetognath Sagz/fa does not occur in the catalogue, though pelagic Ctenophores like Pleurobrachia, Bolina and Tdyia are mentioned on the authority of certain United States observers, and the interesting occurrence of the lovely sea-butterfly (C/zone limacina, 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. 172 THe OtTrawa 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 of 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 Scomberoids and other fish belonging to a southern range almost Mexican in its limits, sufficiently 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 of Eastern Canada. It is a work in Canadian Zoology worthy to mark the first year of a new century. ES Ear 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 areas of loess so large and so level that wind 1901] 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. Wright states was deposited ‘‘at a very recent geologidal 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 alsoexamined. _ It is surrounded by moun- tains ‘‘rising from 3c00 to 4000 feet above it, except at one narrow depression through which the Angara River carries off its surplus waters.” was present. Lake Balkash, 1000 feet above sea, and the Sea of Aralhave no outlets. The waters of 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. Around Samarkand and west, evidence of a submergence 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 Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. [October On A NEW OstRACODERM (Zuphanerops longe@vus) FROM THE UPPER DEVONIAN OF SCAUMENAC Bay, PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, Canapa. By A. Smith Woodward. Annals and Mag. Nat. Hist., 7th Ser., Vol. V, No 29, pp. 416-419, pl. X, figs. 1, 1a, 15, May, 1goo. This new Ostracoderm is based on an imperfect specimen in the Jex collection from the Scawmenac formation (Neo-Devonian) . of Gaspé Peninsula, at present in the Britis: Museum. Of the appear to indicate orbits. ’ head, ‘‘a pair of small skeletal rings’ 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 szales disposed as in abdominal region, scarcely overlapping, ‘‘ invested with enamel and marked with a few antero—posterior'y—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 ‘‘Euphaneropidz usually referred either to the Osteotraci or to the Anaspida.”’ H.' Meas Buttercups.—The only typical specimens of Ranunculus acris in the herbarium of the Geological Survey 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 2. acrzs the leaf segments are linear; in R. Stevend they are broad. Both species may be common in Canada but among thirty sheets examined only the two mentioned above were typical, R. acrts. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. — —— = = - = Vor. XV. OTTAWA, NOVEMBER, 1got. No. 8. ON SOME CANADIAN SPECIES OF GENTIANA: SECTIO CROSSOPETALA:, FRGEL. By THEO. HOLM. (With four Plates.) That very natural group of North American species of Freelich’s section Crossopetale', 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 exainined 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 Gentiane 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 (l. c.) given as ‘‘ Newfoundland, Canada and N. W. New York to Saskatchewan and northward, and west to Colorado and W. 1 Froelich, Joseph Al. De Gentiana dissertatio Erlangen, p. 109. 1796. 2 Gray, Asa. Synoptical Flora of North America, Vol. 2, p. 116, New York. 1886. 176 THe Ottawa NATURALIST. | November Nevada, Siberia, Norway and Greenland.” Two varieties, grandis and holopetala, are said to occur in S, E. Arizona, Cali- fornia and Oregon,. and since Pallas’ G. czlzata* 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. serrata 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 question of considering the Rocky Mountain plant as a mere 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 ” ‘© serrata ’’ as any way be considered as belonging to the species 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. 1, p. 101, plate 92, fig. 2. igor] Ho_tM—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 Gray 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 Gentzana 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 learn 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 Freelich (I. c.), Bunge*® and Grisebach® * Wahlenberg, G. Flora Suceica, Vol. 1, p. 153. Upsala. 1824. ® Fries, Elias. Summa vegetabilium Scandinaviz, Sectio I, p. 190. Upsala. 1846. ® Blytt, M. N. Norges Flora, Vol. 1, p. 712. Christiania. 1861. 7 Hartman, C. J. Handbok i Skandinaviens Flora, p. 57. Stockholm. 1870. § Bunge, A. Conspectus generis Gentianz, imprimis specierum Rossi- carum, Nouveaux mém. soc. imp. natur. de Moscou, Vol. 1, p. 225. Moscou. 1829. ® Grisebach, A. H. R. Genera et species Gentianearum, p. 256. Stutt- gart. 1839. 178 THe OtTrawa NATURALIST. [ Noverr ber are of special interest in regard to the supposed synonyms, and Pallas’ work (I. c.) gives an excellent description and figure of his G. ciliata, which is known now as G. darbata Freel. A very com- prehensive treatise of the various sections of Gend¢zana is presented by N. Kuznezow in Engler and Prantl’s Natuerliche Pflanzen- familien. But as we have stated above, the diagnosis of G. serrata Gunn. does not seem to have been fully appreciated, and more- over there are some salient points in its floral structure which have not heen 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, 1-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 % 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 papille. Said tu 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- beell as G. detonsa.'° * Hartman (I. c.) describes the flower as tetramerous or, but seldom, pentamerous. None of the Scandinavian authors mention nectariferous glands 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.) 1go1| HotmM—CANADIAN SPECIES OF GENTIANA. 179 If we compare now the Canadian allies of G. serrata, formerly considered as representing this species, we might point out at once some of the most conspicuous characters possessed by these : the frequently carinate and scabrous calyx, the very veiny and fringed 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 following species : GENTIANA Macount, Holm. (Plate XI, Figs. 1 and 2.) Annual or sometimes biennial, glabrous excepting the calyx : stem strict, quadrangular, 5 to 30 cm. high, 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 papillae, especially along the keels; corolla (fig. B) deep bluish, 1% to 3 cm. long, cleft to about ™% 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 papille. The specimens examined are from Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan ; Bow River at Blackfoot Crossing, Lees Creek, Waterton Lake and Banff, Alberta (JZacoun), and Red Deer, Alberta (7. H. Gae/s). Habitat given 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. high, branched above: lowest leaves spathulate or 180 THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. [Novemter oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, the upper linear-lanceolate, acute: branches 1-3 flowered with 2 or 3 pair of leaves: calyx (fig. G) 1% 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. Macouniz: 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 papille. 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, 1-flowered, with 2 or 3 pair of leaves: calyx (fig. K) glaucous and wholly glabrous, about 1% 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 2% cm. long, 4-lobed, the lobes roundish with a very few lateral teeth, but no fringes, erosely denticulate across the summit, nectariterous 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 papille. 1gor] HotM—CANADIAN SPECIES OF GENTIANA, 181 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 some years 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, Figs. 7 and 8.) Annual, glabrous excepting the calyx, very robust: stem erect, angled, 20 to 4ocm. in height, branched from near the base: leaves forming a rosette, broadly spathulate, the upper lanceolate, obtuse: peduncles often numerous, until 20, erect, 1-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 papille. ; Collected in Wyoming at g—10,000 feet elevation and in Middle Colorado near Long’s peak at 8,00 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. ; 11 Nelson Aven. New plants from Wyoming. (Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. Vol. 25, p. 276. 1898.) 182 THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. [ November Var. BREVICALYCINA Wettstein (77 Jzt¢eris). Differs from the type by its much shorter calyx and by the very deep purple colour of the corolla, the lobes of 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 : grandis and holopetala, 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 Cvossopetale Freel., 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. procera 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. 1go1 | HoL_M—CANADIAN SPICIES OF GENTIANA. 183 EXPLANATION OF PLATES. Plate XI. Fig. 1.—Gentiana Macounzi, natural size. Fig. 2.—Same, a small specimen, natural size. Fig. 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 XII. 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. I.--Pistil of same. Plate XIII. 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.—Flower 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. 184 THE OTTAwA NATURALIST [ November AN AFRICAN DIPNOID FISH. ( Protopterus annectens. ) By ANDREW HALKETT. In an issue of the Fzshing 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 Vergel 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, iri 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 : ““Tn regard to the ‘new fish’ ‘credited tothe 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 rudimentary 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 : “« Lepidosiren paradoxa, a very rare fish of the River Amazon.* 1 The Fishing Gazette [203 Broadway, N. Y.] Saturday, Jan. 7, 1899. 8 3 ) 2 2 Ibid, Saturday, Feb. 4, 1899, p. 71. * During my visit in Great Britain I learned of a fifth (a recently dls- covered) Dipnoid, but am not yet in possession of any particulars about it. * “Tepidosiren has recently been found in abundance in swampy localities of the Chaco, Paraquay.” Guide to the Galleries of Reptiles and Fishes, British Museum, 1808. 1901 | HALKETT— AFRICAN Dipnoip FIsn. 185 “* Ceratodus miolepis and C. forsteri, from the rivers of Queensland, Australia. ** Protopterus annectens, from the rivers of tropical Africa. ““The species alluded to in your columns is the last mentioned, Protop- terus annectens, of tropical Africa. This fish 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 thus 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 breathing 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 Cera/odus in one of the aquaria of the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, London; and one of Protopterus annectens in the. aquarium of the Liverpool Public Museum, which had been ‘successfully transported from Africa in its mud-capsule. Furthermore, Dr. Forbes of the latter institution very kindly gave me a specimen of Profopterus 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, Lepidostren, and Profopterus ; 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- 186 THe Ottawa NATURALIST. | November eton, which is most fully developed in Ceva¢odus; these fins in Lepidosiren and Protopterus being filamentous. The tail, as in Chimeras, is diphycercal; but in at least one extinct species: Dipterus heliodus the tail was heterocercal. The scales are cycloid, and in the several species they differ much in size. In general shape and character Profopterus approaches more closely to Lepz- dosiren than either do to Ceratodus. The scales in the two former venera 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 are 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 of Lepzdosiren in being ‘‘ divided into lateral halves,” and differs in that respect from Cerafodus in which genus the lung is single. 1901 HALKETT—AFRICAN DipNnoip FIsu. 18 7 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 gill-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 annectens is said to attain a length of six feet. Birp MicratTion. —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 ata 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 caretully 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.cMeM, 188 THE OTTAwA NATURALIST. | November BRUE OR SOAP BERRY. 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 cf the article has arrived at ‘‘ Sapoliti,”” 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. {t has really a very pleasant flavour and is relished by almast 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 of 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 ‘‘ ina 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 Qolahan or Oolachan which is about the size of a smelt, very fat and when dry it will burn for atime, but that it was ever used fora light 1901 | REVIEWS. 189 by the natives is purely a traveller’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 roth, 1gor. 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 for 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.” Epiror. 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 Orrawa NATURALIST. Circum- stances, which it is not necessary to detail, necessitated a very hurried 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 ot Brachiopods. The actual number of Brachiopod species is 3, and the Polyzoa 115, the figures 3 and 115 being one line below their proper place. The gth 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 Lztorzma 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 ervafa 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. ” ” 3s" 3 x > (34 TS VanOte gon 35—‘‘ 115” to be elided. 43—After ARACHNIDA insert *‘( Pycnogonida).” bb} MOC wee p- 170 ,, 10—‘‘ arouses such,” to read ‘‘ arouses no such.” 12—-‘‘ litorea” not ‘‘ literea.” ‘7 ,, 22 and 23 to be elided and to read ‘‘not only for our more northern coast extending into Hudson Bay: but is abundant almost every- where on rocks, sea-weeds, &c.” p. 171, line 15—‘‘ spitsbergensis’’ not ‘‘ spetsbergensis.” » » 19—‘' Canadensis” not ‘‘ Cauadensis.” THE REVIEWER. VoL: XV. PL.IX THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. Gentiana Macounii Holm. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. PL. XII Gentiana procera Holm. VoL. XV. PL. XIII THE OTTAWA NATURALIST, Gentiana nesophila Holm. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. PL. XIV Gentiana elegans Nelson. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, DECEMBER, 1901. No. g. CERTAIN CANADIAN VIOLETS. By Epw. 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; herbage wholly glabrous : leaves cordate-reniform and ovate-cordate, % to 3% 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. Muhlenbergit (now called V. Zabradorica) 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 Tue Orrawa 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 trom Ottawa by Mr. Macoun in 1899, were flowering in my gar- den in May, 1900, I took the following notes as to their respective floral structures; and those notes may well be given here. V. Lasraporica, Schrank. In this the flowers are distinctly smaller than in V. deuwcopetala. 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 1-nerved, strongly auricled, the auricles dentate : petals deep-violet, three of 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, rgor. Norte.—The three species referred to above may be found at Ottawa, within half a mile of one another. V. Muhlenbergit 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. leucopetala grows along the road connecting Buena Vista road with the eastern approach to St. Patrick’s bridge. J. M. M. 1901] 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 (Ad/igator Mississip- piensis) and three turtles were placed together 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, and 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 week 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 THe OtTTrawa NATURALIST. | Decemter 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 companions, 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 1901 | Moore—Tue Woopcock’s Love Sone. 195 will tackle everything that comes in their way, and will eat every- thing they can hold. Sagitéaria and lily leaves put in for shade were relished for food, and were supplied while available. Our common turtle (Crysemys picta) is, in many localities, not rare. Its bright red markings along the margin of the shell make it an attractive object. 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 Wo. H. Moore, Scotch Lake, N.B. (Read before the Ornithological Section of the Entomological Society of Ontario. [Transcript from field note-book. ] May 17, 1898.—Woodcocks are about at nights now. They begin their antics soon after sunset. On the ground the male struts about the 2 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 angles to the earth, he again begins the nighthawk call and so on. The 9 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 effect was not so much in evidence. May, 1, 1901—Heard the woodcock singing this evening. The day was cloudless, so I could see him plainly. 196 THE OTTaAwA NATURALIST. [ December A SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION OF THE 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 ofa 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. Once, 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 1901 | ELLioTt—TueE KiNG Erper. 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, if simple, illustration of the correlation of the physical forces. THE KING EIDER IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY. By ROBERT ELLIoTT. Bryanston, Ont. (Read before the Ornithological Section of the Entomological Society of Ontario.) The capture of the first specimen of Somateria spectabzlis known to have been taken in this county was effected under the following circumstances :— On the 24th November, 1900, ny 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 hishome. 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 toa more detailed work on our birds, such as that of Baird, Brewer and Ridgeway, would settle this point. Mr. Hedley further iniorms 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 Cow Ley, Bristol, Que. In the month of October, 1896, my hired man was ploughing near the Ottawa River in the Township of Clarendon, and about nine feet above the level of the water he ploughed upa mud turtle’s nest, which contained about fiftv 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 fall 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 years 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 anegg. 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 1901] BouTELIER—BIrpDs, SABLE ISLAND, N. S. 199 top off the nest or puts down her claws and lifts 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 tor 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., 1gor. 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. Weare 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 raised 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. 1. Kingbird, one, Aug. 3rd. 2. Crossbills, in flocks, Aug. roth. 3. Various kinds of hawks, in numbers, Aug. 3oth. 4. Buff-breasted Sandpiper, in numbers, Sept. 2nd. 5. Flicker, one, Sept. 25th. 6. White-throated Sparrow, in numbers, Sept. 26th. 7. Orchard Oriole, one, Sept. 28th. 8. Pine Warbler, in numbers, Sept. 28th. g- American Pipit, in numbers, Sept. 28th. 10. Knots, (?) in numbers, Sept. zoth. 11. Horned or Shore Lark, one, Sept, goth, 12. Hermit Thrush, one, Oct, tst. 200 THe OtTtTawaA NATURALIST. | December 13. Blackbird, one, Oct. 1st. 14. Slate-coloured Junco, two, Oct. 2nd. 15. House Sparrow, in flocks, Oct. 4th. 16. Yellow-headed Blackbird, one, Oct. 5th. 17. Heron, one, Oct. 5th. 18. Swallows, in numbers, Oct. 5th. 19. Snowflake, two, Oct. 5th. i 20. Connecticut Warbler, one, (found dead), Oct. 6th. 21. Kingfisher, one, Oct. 8th. 22. Robin, one, Oct. 16th. 23. Bluebill, seven, Oct. 18th. 24. Pipits, 25. Warblers, ; in numbers, Oct. 18th. Left the Island. 26. Sparrows, | 27. Semipalmated Sandpiper, in numbers, Oct. 22nd. Leaving the Island. 28. White-rumped Sandpiper, in numbers, Oct. 22nd. Leaving the Island. 29. Long-tailed Squaw, in numbers, Oct. 2oth. 30. Ring-necked duck, five, Oct. 2oth. 31. Golden-eye, three, Oct. 20th. 2. Vesper Sparrow, one, ( These all 33. Juncos, in numbers, | came dur- 34. Golden-crowned Kinglets, in numbers, > Oct. 22nd. < ing astrong 35- Hermit Thrush, one, | N. W. gale 36. King Bird, one, \. (60 miles.) 37. Brown Creeper, one, Oct. 28th. 38. Snowflake, in numbers, Oct. 28th. 39. Kittiwake, in numbers, Oct. 28th. 40 White-winged Crossbill, one, Oct. 28th. 41. Lapland Longspur, one flock, Nov. 2nd. 42. Stormy Petrel, one, (found injured in the Island), Nov. 4th. Sable Island, N. S., ' Nov. roth, 1go1. THE GLAUCOUS GULL IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY. During the last week in January, 1901, a large white gull was seen on the Thames river, six or eight 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 rst, who kindly let me have it, and .it is now in my collection. It proved to be a female glaucous gull 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 gullin 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. © 1901] Tue Orrawa FLora. 201 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 localities 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. The 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 Bark 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, Rockliffe Park and Beechwood are the only localities which have been exhaustively examined by him around the city. Dr. Fletcher, in his /F¥ova Ottawaenszs, intended to include a radius of 30 miles from Ottawa, but outside of five miles trom 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. : Joun Macoun, Nov. 30th, 1gor. 202 THE OtrtrawA NATURALIST. [December BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DR. GEORGE MERCER DAWSON.* By H. M. Ami, of the Geological 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 from 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 geologt- 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 Paleontology 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, 1gor. 1901] 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. vit, 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, 1871. London, Eng. 1874- The Lignite Formations of the West. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vil, No. 5, pp. 241-252, April, Montreal. (Also separately with the next.) Note on the Occurrence of Foraminifera, Coccoliths, etc., in the Cretaceous Rocks of Manitoba. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vil, 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 of Sun Spots. Nature, 4to., pp. 504-506, April, 1874. London. Also in Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vil, No. 6, pp. 310-317, November. Montreal. Report on the Tertiary Lignite Formation in the Vicinity of the Forty- ninth Parallel. (British North American Boundary Commission.) 8vo. pp. 1-31. Montreal. (Abstract, American Journal of Science, 3rd series, Vol. 8, pp. 142-143 tand 1-2 p. 1874.) 1875. Report on the Geology and Resources of the Region in the Vicinity 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 Spongillze. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vii, No. 1, 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, with 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. vil, No. 3, pp. 119-134. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-16,) ; Review of ‘‘Report on the Geol. & Resources, etc., Forty-niath Parallel.’ (Anon-) Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vu, No. 2, p. 118. 1876.) 204 THe Otrrawa NATURALIST. | December Longe Notes on the Appearance and Migrations of the Locust in Manitoba and the North-West Territories, Summer of 1875. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vm, No. 4, pp. 207-226, April. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-20.) Notes on some of the more recent Changes in Level of the Coast or British Columbia and adjacent regions. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vil, No. 4, pp- 241-248, April. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-8.) Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks of British Columbia and Chili. Relation ot Volcanic and Metamorphic rocks. Geological Magazine, 8vo. 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, 8vo. 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, 8vo. pp. 246-253. Ottawa. Report on Explorations in British Columbia. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada. 1875-76. 8vo. pp. 233-280. (Abstract American Journal of Science, 3rd series, Vol. 14, page 70, 1-8 p.) 1878. On the Superficial Geology of British Columbia. Phzlosophical Magazine, Vol. 4, p. 237, 1877. 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. vit, No. 7, pp. 389-399, February. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. I-11.) Notes on the Locust in the North-West in 1876. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. vil, No. 7, pp. 411-417, April. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-7.) Erratics at High Levels in Northwestern America.—--Barriers to a Great Ice Sheet. Geological Magazine, 8vo. pp.'209-212, May. London.’ Report of Explorations in British Columbia; chiefly in the Basins or the Blackwater, Salmon and Nechacco Pivers, and on Francois Lake. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1876-77, 8vo. pp. 17-94. Montreal. Report on Reconnaissance of Leech River and Vicinity. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada. 1876-77, 8vo. 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, 1876-77, 8vo. pp. 103-145. Montreal. (Also separately, same pagination.) Abstract, American Journal 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, 8vo. pp. 69-75, February. London. (Also separately, same pagination. ! 1901] THE LATE GEeorGE M. Dawson—Amt. 205 Notes on the Glaciation of British Columbia. Canadian Naturalist, n. s. Vol. 1x, No. 1, pp. 32-39, March. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-8.) Sketch of the Past and Present Condition of the Indians of Canada Canadian Naturalist, Vol. 1x, No. 3, pp. 129-159, July. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. I-31.) 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 ot British Columbia. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. 1x, No. 6, pp. 321-331, August. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-11.) Reprinted with additions and correc- tions as an Appendix to Report on an Exploration from Fort Simpson, ete. ‘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 and of the Peace River Country. (Appendix 7.) Report Canadian Pacific Railway, vo. pp. 107-151. Ottawa. Report on the Queen 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 Naturalist, Vol. 15, p. 647, (1-3 p-) 1881.) On the Haida Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1878-79. Appendix A to Report o¢ ‘the Queen Charlotte Islands, ete. (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 River Region. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. x, No. 1, pp. 20-22, April, 1881. Montreal. Also in American Journal of Science, 8vo. pp. 391-394, May, 1881. New Haven. Report on an Exploration from Fort Simpson to the Pacific Coast, to Edmonton, on the Saskatchewan, embracing 4 portion of the northern part of ' British Columbia and the Peace River Country, Report of Progress, Geo- 206 THe Otrawa NATURALIST. | December logical Survey of Canada, 1879-80, 8vo. pp. 1B-177B. Montreal, 1881. _ tllus- trated. Meteorclogical Observations in the Northern Part of British Columbia and the Peace River Country. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of 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. Harpers Magazine, Vol. XLV, 8vo. py. 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. 1, Sec. 4, 4to, pp. 39-44, 1883. (Also separately, same pagina- tion. 1883. 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 the Rocky Mountains and British Columbia. Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, Vol. 1, 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 specisl reference to the Coal Deposits. Report of Progress, Geological Survey of Canada, 1680-82, 8vo. pp. 1B-23B. Montreal. Glacial deposits of the Bow and Belly River Conntry. Sczence, Vol. 1, PP: 477-479: List of Elevations. Report of Progress, 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.) (Abstracts, Canadian Naturalist, n. s., Vol. 10, pp. 423-435, Sczence, Vol. 1, Pp. 429-430. 1884. On the occurrence of Phosphates in Nature. Transactions Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, 8vo. pp. g1-98, February. Ottawa, 1901 | THE LATE GEORGE M. Dawson—Ami. 207 (and Selwyn, A. R. C.) Descriptive Sketch or the Physical Geography and Geology of the Dominion of Canada, 8vo., pp. 1-55. Montreal. (and Tolmie, W. F.) Comparative Vocabularies of the Indian Tribes of British Columbia. With a map illustrating distribution, 8vo. pp. 1-131. Montreal. (Abstract. Scéence, Vol. v, pp. 156-157 (4-5 p-) New York City. _ Recent Geological 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. 1-21. Montreal Printing and Publishing Co., Montreal. 1885. On the Microscopic structure of certain Boulder Clays and the Organisms contained in them. Bulletin Chicago 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 vf Canada (Part thus entitled in ‘‘ Macfarlane’s Ameri- can Geological Railway Guide.”) 8vo. pp. 51-83, June. D. Appleton & Co., New York. (Also separately, same pagination. ) The Saskatchewan Country. Sczence, 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, 8vo. 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, 1882-84, 8vo. pp. 1-14. (Abstracts, Science, Vol. 6, pp. 522 (1-8 p.) American Journal of Science, 3rd series, Vol. 29, pp. 408-411, American Naturalist, Vol. 21, pp. 171-172 (with comments by G. M. Dawson). 1886. 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, Geological Magazine, 3rd decade, Vol. 4, pp. 278-289, 1887.) Preliminary Report on the Physical and Geological Features or that Por- tion of the Rocky Mountains between Latitudes 49 degrees and 51° 30’. Annual Report Geological Survey af Canada (N. S.) Vol. 1, 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 208 THE OtTrawa NATURALIST. | December Deer River. Canadian Record of Science, Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 285-300, April, 1887. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. 1-16.) Note on the Occurrence of Jade in British Columbia and its Employment by the Natives. With extracts from a paper by Prof. Meyer. Canadian Record of Science, Vol. u, No. 6, pp. 364-378, April, 1887. Montreal. (Also separately, pp. I-15.) Notes and observations on the Kwakiool People of Vancouver Island. Transactions Royal Society of Canada, Vol. tv, 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. Sczence, Vol. 10, pp. 165-166» 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. 1, 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 the Rocky Mountains. Report of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada, 1886, part R, 62 pp. coloured map; 1887. 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. 11, 8vo. pp. 1B-277B. 1888. Montreal. (Abstracts, ibid., Report A, pp. 4-12; American Geologist, Vol. 5, pp. 240-241 (2-3 Pp.) 3 American 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. 111, 1887-88, 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. 1, 1887-88. Appendix II to Report of an Exploration in the Yukon District, N. W. T., ete. (G. M. Dawson.) Montreal (out of print). — os ee — S.Shl 1901 | THE LATE GEorGE M. Dawson—Ami. 209 Meterological Observations in the same district. Annual Report, Geo- logical Survey of Canada, new series, Vol. 111, 1887-88. Appendix VI to Report of an Exploration in the Yukon District, N. W. T., ete. (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. 111, 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. III, n. s. pp. 60A-66A. Montreal. Note on the Cascade anthracite basin, Rocky Mountains. American Geologist, Vol. 1, pp. 332-333- The Geological Observations of the Yukon Expedition, 1887. Science, Vol. 11, 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.) S8vo. 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 Archzan. Report American Committee, International Congress of Geologists, 1889, 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, 8vo., pp. 350-351, August. London. (Also separately, same pagination.) (Abstracts, Ofawa Naturalist, Vol. 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 (11 lines). Notes on the Ore Deposit of the Treadwell Mine, Alaska. American Geologist, 8vo. pp. -84-93, August. Minneapolis. (Also separately, same pagination.) 1890. Notes on the Cretaceous of the British Columbia Region. The Nanaimo Group. American Journal of Science, 8vo. 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. Otfawa Naturalist, 8vo. pp. 29-40, May. Ottawa. (Also separately, pp. 1-12.) Also printed as Appendix to Pike’s Barren Ground of Northern Canada, 1892, London, 8vo. Pp- 177-289, 1892. Macmillan & Co. London. 210 Tue Ortrawa 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 pagination. ) 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. vill, Sec. 4, 4to. pp. 3-74 (pls. 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. 1B-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. Canadian Record of Science, Vol. 4, No. 1, 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. 7 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 (1-2 p.)} American 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. 1x, Sec. 2, 4to. pp. 3-44. (Also separately, same pagination.) 1892. TERY (and Alex. Sutherland) Geography of the British Colonies, 8vo. pp. 1-XIII, — and 1-330. Macmillan & Co., London. (and Baden-Powell, Sir G.) Report of the British Behring Sea Commis- sioners, London: Government, pp. 1-ViII; 1-241. London, Eng. Notes on the Geology of Middleton Island, Alaska. Bulletin Geological Society of America, Vol. Iv, 8vo. pp. 427-431. Rochester. 1893. Mineral Wealth of British Columbia. Proceedings of the Royal Colonial i THE LATE GEorRGE M. Dawson—Amt. 2k , Se SS eee ee Institute, Vol. xxiv, 8vo. pp. 238-264. Mammoth Remains. (Abstract and notice of papers read before the Geological 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, 12mo. pp. 23 48. Lipsic. 4 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, 8vo. pp. 117-146. February, 1894, Rochester. (Also separately, same pagination.) 1895. Interglacial Climatic Conditions. American Geologist, Vol. 16, No, 1, 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 1824. With map No. 554. (Reprint from Blue Book.) pp. 124. Annual Report Geological Survey ot Canada, new series, Vol. vil. Ottawa. Report on the Area of the Kamloops Map-sheet, British Columbia. With Appendixes I-1V, and Maps Nos. 556 and 557, pp. 427. Report B. Annual Report Geological Survey of Canada, new series, Vol. vil, 1894. Ottawa. Shuswap names or places within the area of the Kamloops map-sheet. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, new series, Vol. vil, 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 Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. vl, 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, during parts of the years 1885, 1889 and 1890. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. vul, 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 occurrences 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 of Director for the year 1895, pp. 154, (Reprint from Blue-book.) Annual Report, Geotogical Survey of Canada, n.s. Vol. vutt, Report A. Ottawa. 1808. Summary Report of the Director for the year 1896 (Reprint from Blue- book) pp. 144. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, n.s. Vol. Ix, Report A. Ottawa. Annual Report, Geological Survey ot Canada, new series, Vol. 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. 1X, 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, tor 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 ot 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, 1898. Geo- jogical 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 Map No. 639. Annual Report, Geological Survey of Canada, n. s. Vol. xx, 1897. Report A 1899. Ottawa. 1goo. Summary Report of the Geological Survey Department for the year 1899, 224 pp. Printed by order of Parliament. Ottawa, 1900. 1901 | THE LATE GEORGE M. Dawson—Amt. 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. 1goo. 1gOl. On the Geological Record or the Rocky Mountain Region in Canada. Address by the President. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., Vol. x1, pp. 57-92. Rochester, N.Y., Feb., 1901. Abstract of same in Scientific American Supple- ment, No. 1307, pp. 20948 and 20499, Jan. 19th, 1g01. In part published in Science, n.s., Vol. xu. No. 324. pp. 401-407, March 15th, rgo1, under the title: ‘‘ Physical 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 7he Ottawa 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-NATURAEISTS’ Chui UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF MINTO, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA. PROGRAMME OF WINTER SOIREES, 1901-1902. 1gOl. In the Assembly Dec. 10.—-President’s Address, ‘‘ On the Extinction of Useful - Hall of the Animals in Modern Times.” Normal School, Short addresses by Dr. J, A. MacCabe, F.R.S.C., Professor Macoun and others. Conversazione, with exhibition of Natural History objects and Microscope slides, 1902. In ¥.M.C. A. Jan. 14.—‘‘On the Relation of Geology to Geography,” illustrat- Hall. ed by lantern slides, by Professor R. A. Daly. Report of the Geological Branch. In ¥.M.C.A. Jan. 28.—‘‘ Whales and Whale Huntiug,” illustrated bylantern Hall. slides, by Professor E. E. Prince. “The Natural History of Honey Bees,” by Mr. Percy H. Selwyn. Report of the Entomological Branch. In ¥.M.C. A. Feb. 11 —‘‘ Zhe Ferns of Canada,” illustrated by lantern Hall. slides, by Rev. Robert Campbell, D.D., Mon- treal. Report of the Botanical Branch. In the Assembly Feb. 25,—‘‘ Zhe Present Position of the Evolution Theory,” Hall of the illustrated, by Professor E. W. MacBride, Normal School. McGill University, Montreal. Report of the Zoological Branch. In the Assembly Mar. 11.—‘‘ Native Birds : their Characteristics and Habits,” Hall of the illustrated by lantern slides, by W. E. Saun- ders, Esq., London. Report of the Ornithological Branch. Normal School. In ¥.M.C.A. Mar. 18.—ANNUAL MEETING. Reports of Council and elec- Hall. tion of officers. ““Notes on the Arboretum at the Central Experi- mental Farm, Ottawa,” by Mr, W. T. Macoun. The meetings will be held at 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, except 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 OrTAwa NATURALIST, $1.00 per annum, Admission to Lecture Course Free. THE OTTAWA NATURALIST. VoL. XV. OTTAWA, JANUARY, 1g02. NOo..10. FAUNA OTTAWAENSIS. HyMENOPTERA—Superfamily I1.—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 fauina, 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 winter a start was made toward a rearrangement of 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 acommencement. 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 216 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 larve 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 Stizidz (which includes the great cicada-hunters) and the Ampulicidz (rare cockroach-catchers) have representatives in our district. The family Oxybelidz 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 Crabronidz con- tains one-third of all our species, usually in livery of black and yellow. They 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 Pemphredonide are rather small and generally black and their habits are much the same as those of the crabronids. Of the Bembicidz 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 Larridea 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 Philanthide contains a half dozen hand- some species, of which the two species of Cerceris are common. Some members of this genus have been found to provision their cells with beetles. The Trypoxylidz utilize the deserted burrows ot other insects, and store up spiders for their progeny. The only represent- ative of the Mellinidz is very rare and probably supplies flies for its young as an European species is said to prey upon diptera. The Nyssonidz is the second of our families in number of species, 1902 HARRINGTON—FAUNA OTTAWAENSIS. 21 4 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 regard to them. The family Sphegidz 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 onie a brief and imper- fect idea of the diversity of habits to be looked for among the Sphegoidz, 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. 218 10. 12. Tue Orrawa NATURALIST. Family XV.—Oxybelide. Oxybelus quadrinotatus, Say. Our common species from June to Sept.; 6 females and 7 males. Notoglossa emarginatus, Say. Four females; the male not yet captured. Family XVI.—Crabronide. Subfamily 1.—Anacrabronine. Anacrabro ocellatus, Pack. This interesting form is sometimes very abundant on spirzea, and is seen chiefly in July, in which month my 9 females and 12 males were taken. Subfamily II1I.—Crabronine. Solenius interruptus, Lepel. One of our commonest ¢rabronids, occurring abundantly at the end of summer on goldenrods, etc.; 18 females, 12 males. 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 temales and five males collected in July and August. Ectemnius montanus, Cress, Five females and three males. Ectemnius corrugatus, Pack. A _ slightly smaller species; 1 female, 3 males. Crabro maculatus, Fabr. This large and handsome insect is our only representative of the typical genus upon which the family is based. As C. singularis, 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 scutellum 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. Pseudocrabro chrysarginus, Lepel. Another fine large species which is quite common; represented by 4 females and 19 males. Xestocrabro sexmaculatus, Say. One of our commonest and largest species of the subfamily, occurring abundantly throughout the summer ; 12 females, 18 males. Xestocrabro trifasciatus, Say. Very similar in appearance but hardly as large, and much less common ; 3 females, 5 males. Xestocrabro paucimaculatus, Say. One female, captured June 2oth, 1902 | HARRINGTON—FAUNA OTTAWAENSIS. 219 13. 14. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. oy 24. 25. Clytochrysus nigrifrons, Cress. One male at Aylmer, Aug., determined by Fox. Clytochrysus obscurus, Smith. One male, on Kettle Island, Aug. 25, 1894. Subfamily 1V.—7hyreopine. Synothyreopus advenus, Smith. The males of this and of the four following species are remarkable for a curious shield-like expan- sion of the anterior tibiz, 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 1 female, 3 males. Synothyreopus tenuiglossus, Pack, One female. Collected also by Mr. Guignard. Thyreopus cribellifer, Pack. Two males. The tibial shield is very large, about one-third of it spotted and the remainder fuliginous. Thyreopus argus, Pack. Twomales. The shield is smaller but is beautifully mottled with light spots upon a dark ground over its whole surface, from whence the name. Thyreopus latipes, Smith. Two males. The pale yellowish shield bears several radiating dark stripes. Blepharipus Harringtonii, Fox. The type female is in Coll. Fox. I, however, captured another female near Hull on June 9g, 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. Blepharipus nigricornis, Prov. One male in my collection and a female (labelled B. ater, and apparently determined by Prov.) received from Mr. Guignard. Blepharipus ater, Cress. Two females. Easily separated from the foregoing by the enclosed triangular space on metanotum. 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. Blepharipus cinctipes, Prov. Two females and one male. Very similar to nigricornis, but has the hind tibiz distinctly annu- late with white. Blepharipus impressifrons, Smith. Two females and-two males. A pretty little species easily distinguished by the yellow markings on pronotum, scutellum and legs. 220 26. tN sw . 28. 29. 30. 32) 33: 34. 36. 37: 38. THE OrrawA NATURALIST. [January Crossocerus minimus, Pack. Our smallest species of the sub- family. One female and four males, taken in June. Fox in his monograph of the crabronids says that he had not seen the male. It differs little from the female except in being slightly smaller and in having a little more yellow on the legs. 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 1V.—Rhopaline. 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. Rhopalum rufigaster, Pack. Only one female of this small « species, with abdomen partly red. ; Family XVII.—Pemphredonide. Subfamily 1—Pempredonine. Stigmus fraternus, Say. A small species, abundant; 8 female : 5 males. Cemonus inornatus, Say. A common form; 12 females, males. Pemphredon concolor, Say. Very similar in appearance b 11 larger and not so common; 2 females, 2 males. Passalcecus mandibularis, Cress. The triangularly produce ¢ labrum and short petiole distinguishes this genus from Cemonu and Pemphredon. Three females. Passalcecus annulatus, Say. Smaller, with paler legs; 2 females, 2 males. Diodontus americanus, Pack. One female from Dr. Fletcher. Subfamily II.-—Psenine. Mimesa borealis, Smith. Second segment of abdomen red ; females. Mimesa niger, Pack. All black ; 2 females, 1 male. The species much resembles in general appearance the smaller individuals of Pemphredon concolor, but is more slender and has the thorax more polished. Psen trisulcus, Fox. Taken near Hull in July ; 1 female, 1 mal 1902| HARRINGTON—FAuUNA OTTAWAENSIS. 221 39- 40. 42. 43- 45: 46. 47: Family XVIII.—Bembicide. Bembidula ventralis, Say. A common species upon goldenréd in August ; 4 females, 3 males. Bembex spinolz, Lepel. Muchresembles 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. Microbembex monodonta, Say. A smaller and more prettily marked insect, of which [ 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.—Larride. Subfamily I. —Larrine. Ancistromma distincta, Smith. One female captured on 26th July. This species is larger and has the tibize more spinous than the following species. Three basal segments of abdomen red. Tachysphex quebecensis, Prov. Although I have at present only 1 female and 1 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 isa Tachytes. Tachysphex compactus, Fox. One female seems to belong to this species; the abdomen is coloured as in quebecensis, but the metathorax is different. 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, 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. Tachysphex arcuatus, Smith(?) Provancher refers to this species a female received from Mr. Guignard, (Add. Hym., p. 26.) 222 48. 49. 50. n vu 55a. 50. 57: 58. THE OTTawaA NATURALIST. | January Tachysphex sp. A male received from Mr. Guignard cannot be referred to any of the descriptions accessible. It“is black with the exception of the reddish posterior margins of segments 2 and 3 of abdomen. The metanotum is finely striated and the eyes are unusu- ally close together on the vertex. Subfamily II1.—Lyrodine. Lyroda subita, Say. Of this elegant black species 2 females, 3 males. Subfamily I1V.—Pisonine. Pison levis, 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.—Philanthide. Subfamily I1.—Cercerine. 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. Cerceris nigrescens, Smith. The markings of this species are white, instead of yellow, and it is also abundant. 4 females, 6 males. Subfamily Il.—Philanthine. Aphilanthops frigidus, Smith.