56 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June 



out the trees planted twenty years ago by our late friend, Dr. 

 Fletcher, as well as young trees sent last fall by him from British 

 Columbia, namely, of Larix occidentalis. Last year at about the 

 same time he had been with us going over the same places and 

 speaking in his usual kindly, animated way. Let us, who knew 

 him, never forget him, and emulate his noble example. 



Birds were conspicuous by their absence, which in view of 

 the cold wind was not to be wondered at. In general, the first 

 migrants with the exception of the Crow and Prairie Horned 

 Lark were one to two weeks later than usual this spring. Birds 

 like the Junco, Robin, Bluebird, Red-winged and Bronze Black- 

 birds and the Song Sparrow did not come this year until the 

 first week in April, instead of March 21st to 23rd. However, a 

 few Robins and Song Sparrows were seen and heard, and while 

 we were in the Arboretum a Flicker was loudly calling and 

 hammering. Beside these only a small flock of Golden-crowned 

 Kinglets and one Brown Creeper were seen. Had there been no 

 wind a great many more species would undoubetdly have been 

 observed. 



Humor was also not entirely lacking. While all were in- 

 specting a queer-looking bush, with branches recurved to the 

 ground, Picea excelsa inverta, it was found that a hare, our vary- 

 ing species, Lepus americanus , had made its home under it. 

 With admirable generalship, Mr. MacMurray, of the farm staff, 

 had the little tree or bush surrounded by the younger element 

 of the party, in order to catch the rabbit, as it was termed, 

 although we have no rabbit here. However, the frightened 

 animal broke through the cordon and, pursued by Mr. MacMurray 

 with flying coat-tails, made good his escape. To duly impress 

 the difference between hare and rabbit for future occasions, 

 our indefatigable President, Mr. Attwood, quickly drew up this 

 set of differences: 



The Hare. The Rabbit. 



Ears longer than head. Ears equal in length to head. 



Lives above ground. Lives in burrows. 



Young born with eyes open. Young born with eyes closed. 



Solitary. Gregarious. 



Hind legs longer than head. Hind legs not longer than head. 



Fur turning white in winter. Fur not turning white. 



It w^as interesting to note the zigzag course of the hare's 

 flight, which proved rather puzzling for Mr. MacMurray and the 

 two dogs accompanying him. 



At the close of our walk short addresses were made by Mr. 

 McNeill on the weather which, by reason of the poor brand he 

 had supplied for the day, caused more hilarity or resentment 

 than would otherwise have been the case. He, however, made 



