149 



manner as to ni:tke the audience wish they coulJ at once go to the 

 woods and put the president's precepts into practice. The germination 

 of seeds and the important part played by the cotyledons was illustrated 

 by a good supply of young plants of turnips, peas and wheat, which 

 had all been grown specially for the purpose. 



The interest shown in the subjects presented by the full attend- 

 ance at these afternoon lectures is a soui-ce of great encouragement io 

 the council, who trust that a lasting result will be shown by increased 

 efforts during the coming season to work up the natural history of the 

 district. 



REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGICAL AND COLOGICAL 

 BRANCH FOR THE YEAR 1888. 



READ ON THE EVENING OF 2StH FEBRUARY. 



To the President and Council of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club. 



Gentlemen, In making up the report of this branch for the past 

 year the leaders have adopted a new plan, and instead of publishing 

 the usual list of arrivals and departures of the birds they have thought 

 it advisable to substitute the following synoj)sis of the year's work : 



There were five observers at work who made reports of their 

 observations, viz. : the leaders (Prof. Macoun and Mr, Geo. R. White), 

 Mr. J. F. Bowerman, Mr. N. Ballantyne and Mr. W. Lees. Prof. 

 Macoun's list of 106 species (most of which were shot) was made 

 during the months of April and May. Mr. White's list of 98 species 

 extends from 28th Jan. to 28th May, and was published in the spring 

 report of the Club in the July number of the Naturalist. Mr. 

 Bowerman shot at Ottawa, between 2nd April and 19th June, 47 

 species, besides 20 others in Prince Edward County not included in 

 this report. The skins of these were, however, not preserved. The 

 observations of Messrs. Ballantyne and Lees, who worked together, and 

 whose lists of lOl each are almost identical, began with February and 



