12 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



Ox\ Nature Study. 



1 . "The Importance of Nature Study with some sup:gestions 

 as to methods," J. F. Power, M.A. 



In addition to the above-named papers, this volume con- 

 tains reports of excursions, meetings of the Branches, and meet- 

 ings of the Council. It also includes an unusually large number 

 of short noLes contributed from collectors and observers in dif- 

 feren': parts of Canada. 



Reports of Branches. 

 The Branches again report an active year. No better 

 evidence could be furnished to show the all-round activity 

 manifested by the Club than the fact that every Branch has 

 contributed materially during the year either to the pages of 

 The Ottawa Naturalist or to the lecture programme. 



The Geological Branch. 



The Geological Branch reports that collections of fossils have 

 been made during the year from the vicinit}'' of Ottawa, and that 

 several new species have been described from one of these made 

 by Mr. Walter Billings. One or more of the leaders have attended 

 the field excursions and have given what assistance they could in 

 the study of the rock in the localities visited The leaders point 

 out the grand opportunities for live students who are willing to 

 take up this subject systematically, both in collecting fossils and 

 studying out the boundaries and relations of the different 

 formations which outcrop within easy reach of the city. 



The Botanical Branch. 



Meetings have been h^ld at the homes of various members 

 of the Branch throughout the winter. It is the custom of the 

 host of the evening to present a paper, after which there is a 

 discussion of it by the members present. The following subjects 

 discussed during the past winter will give some idea of the work 

 done by this department. 



"Methods of Forestry," at residence of Mr. E. R. Cameron; 

 "Meanings of Some Common Plant Names," bv Mr. A. E. 

 Attwood; "Mendel's Law," by Mr. J. M. Macoun;"The Habitat 

 of Wild Plants," by Prof. Macoun; "Some Inter-relations 

 of Soils and Plants," and "Recent Work on the Longevity of 

 Seeds," by Mr. G. H. Clark ; "The Origin of our Cultivated FruitsL' 

 by Mr. R. B. Whyte. 



Prof. John Macoun is at present collaborating a Flora 

 Ottawaensis. This will include the names of all species that have 



