46 



in their liabits, which were seen in great abundance around the trees 

 in blossom, suc'.i as apple, cherry, hawthorn, &c. The President then 

 made a short address, urging the claims of the Club to support from the 

 members, and from all those who take an interest in science and educa- 

 tion. The'Club had endeavoured by the publishing monthly of the Ottavja 

 I[aturaUst,l9i\\^'^y excursions, classes, &c., to foster a love of nature 

 and arouse and'strengthen the. faculties of observation in those it could 

 reach,J and, therefore, deserved encouragement. At 5.30 a start was 

 made and the homeward trip was pleasantly made, conversation, instruc- 

 tive and interesting, with in^^ervals of song enlivening the way, until 

 the city was reached about 8 p.m. This, as already stated, was the 

 nuQst successful excursion of the Club, and all present were well satisfied 

 and pleased^with their holiday. 



SiJB-EXCURSIONS. 



First. The Saturday afternoon " outings" commenced on the 7th 

 May, when the attendance reached the very encouraging number of 

 thirty-three, including a majority of the Council and many active 

 workers, among whom were several ladies. Starting from the Post- 

 Office at two o'clock the party proceeded to New Edinburgh by the 

 street car. Here the Geological section separated temporarily from the 

 Botanists and Entomologists, who proceeded to the woods beyond 

 Rideau Hall, popularly known as McKay's Bush or Beechwood. Along 

 the shaded road and under the cedars there were still heavy bants of 

 snow, but in the open spaces and hai'dwcod groves the ground was 

 quite di'y, and such flowers as Claytonia abundant. The list of plants 

 collected in flower was, however, small, while insects were very scarce, 

 only the species usually found about fungus, sappy stumps, &c., being 

 taken. About 4.30 the party re-assembled near Rideau Hall, to listen 

 to the "talks "upon the collections in the various branches. The 

 President, Mr. Pv. B. Whyte, took up the plants and in an interesting 

 manner explained the leading peculiarities and relations of the principal 

 species. Of these the rarest were Daphne mezereum and Viola Selkirkii, 

 for\thich the only locality recorded was that just visited. Mr. Whyte's 

 remarks were listened to with much pleasure, especially by a number 



