_ LIBR> 



7 ^ 



SOIREES. 



Fifth- On Thursduy, 1st March, the fifth Soiree was held. Mr. 

 T. W. E. Sowter read an excellent paper on the Chazy formations at 

 Ottawa, preliminary to a more complete discussion of these measures 

 at a future time. The paper showed that much valualile work had 

 been accomplished, and that important discoveries had been made. 

 Mr. Billings expressed his pleasure in listening to Mr. Sowter's con- 

 tribution to the palaeontology of the Chazy, which vei-y intere=;ting 

 formation had not hitherto received the attention it merited. Mr. Ami 

 also attested the value of the paper, and hoped that might not be vury 

 long before further information would be given by the writer. 



Mr. J. Ballantyne then read a paper on " Our Squirrels," giving 

 many interesting facts regarding the species of these pretty little 

 rodents which had come under his observation. Through the kindness 

 of Dr. Selwyn, Director of the Geological Survey, tlie Club was 

 enabled to exhibit beautifully mounted specimens of the different 

 j:^pecies. Mr. Stewart gave an account of a squirrel taking to the 

 water and swimming across a lake. Prof. Macoun spokd in high terms 

 of the paper and gave some of his own observations on several species. 

 The scarcity of the larger forms about Ottawa was due to the lack of 

 of the nut-bearing trees, from which their food is obtained. 



Mr. Fletcher gave an account of a flying-squirrel which he had 

 kept for some time as a pet. He a'so explained the habit of a British 

 Columbia species hanging up fungi in the branches of the pine trees 

 [P. ponderosa) as observed by Prof. Saunders. Prof. Macoun, in con- 

 nection with the squirrel's custom of storing up food, stated that in 

 the Rocky Mountains there were small rodents which were actual hay- 

 makers, cutting grass and herbs in small bundles and leaving it until 

 dried before storing it away. Mr. MacLaughlin described the manner 

 in which he had observed squirrels storing butternuts in angles of the 

 branches and crevices of the bark of the large trees upon which they 



grew. 



Sixth. The last Soiree of the winter course of 18S7-88 waS'^ held 

 on Thursday, the i5th March. Mr. A. 0. Wheeler read an exceedingly 

 interesting paper entitled "Autumn on the Ottawa," describing in a 



