47 



of new members who have evidenced an active interest in botan3\ Mr. 

 Harrington made a few remarks on the habits of the humble-bees, 

 several of which chiefly Bovibus ternarius had been observed. These 

 were all females which had survived the winter and were new searching 

 for suitable spots for the foundation of colonies. Some nests of leaf- 

 cutting bees (Megachile) were exhibited, and the method of their 

 construction explained. Mr. H. M. Ami reported the proceedings of 

 the Geological section. Along McKay Street, near tho south-east 

 corner of the Ridean Hall grounds, an outcrop had been examined of a 

 band of impui'e limestone, ten to twelve inches thick, which was highly 

 bituminous, and fossiliferous, both overlaid, and underlaid by soft, 

 friable shales, all of Utica age. It contained the following species: 

 Leplcena sericea, Orthis emacerata, 0. testuditiaria, Zijgospira moJesta, 

 Metoptoma sp., Calymene senaria, and Asuphus Canadensis, of which 

 the Metoptoma is new, not only to this foroiation but perhaps to science, 

 the genus not having; l>een recorded from this formation either in the 

 United States or Canada. At excavations on Creighton Street strata 

 were examined which also belonged to the Utica, and which consisted 

 of five bands of impure bituminous limestone, alternating with five 

 bands of shales, the whole aggregating over six feet in thickness. The 

 following were among the most interesting fossils : Lejitograptus 

 Jlaccidus, LeptoholuH insignis, Schizocraniajilosa, Conularia Tventonensis, 

 and Leperditia sp. (pei-haps ne.v). An outcrop of Trenton limestone 

 yielded Slreptelasma corniculam, Murchisonia gracilis, Strophomena 

 alternata, kc. An interesting fault occurs near this outcrop, which 

 brings the Trenton and Chazy formations into contact. Some crinoidal 

 limestones near the tobogan slide werd also examined but yielded no 

 specimens. The party then returned to the city, having derived much 

 l)leasure and instruction from their outing. 



Second. On the 14th May Billings' Bridge was visited. A party 

 of forty-seven was conveyed from and to the city by two large vans, 

 while a group of eight geologists proceeded by boats to Hog's Back, thus 

 making in all fifty-five; the largest sub-excursion yet held by the club. 

 The Botanical section was, as usual, very strongly represented, and the 

 collections were much laiger than those of the previous outing, although 

 vegetation was found to be still very backward. After exploring the 



