118 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct. 



EXCURSION TO GREEN'S CREEK. 



The first fall excursion of the season was held to Green's 

 Creek on Saturday afternoon, September 24th. The outing was 

 most enjoyable in every way. The party, although only seven- 

 teen in number, left the Post Office in a large van at 1.45, and 

 arrived at the destination an hour later. The coolness of the 

 afternoon undoubtedly kept many from attending. It is many 

 years since the Club used buses for an excursion, and although 

 the result was not a financial success in the present instance, the 

 experiment is well worth a repetition another year. In the old 

 days of the Club many an enjoyable outing was held in such 

 conveyances, and given warmer weather there is no reason why 

 similar excursions in the future could not be held successfully to 

 nearby places not reached by any of the railways. 



Green's Creek is about six miles from the Post Office, out 

 on the Montreal road. In the spring of the year when the water 

 is higher and when there are more flowers, birds and insects 

 about, the Club should, in the opinion of the writer, arrange to 

 hold another outing to the same locality. 



Mr. Alex. McNeill, Chief of the Fruit Division of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, piloted the party to the satisfaction of 

 everyone. On leaving the bus we first of all went along the 

 Canadian Northern Railroad track a short distance and examined 

 an interesting cutting where our Leader told us much of geological 

 interest. 



Although nothing uncommon in the way of botanical 

 specimens was collected, still many plants of interest were 

 observed. Large beds, so to speak, of beautiful autumn asters 

 were abundant; Aster puniceus was particularly admired. Mr. 

 McNeill found a fine example of giant puff ball {Lycoperdon 

 giganteum). The specimen was 41 inches in circumference; it 

 was still in a growing condition and possibly might have ex- 

 ceeded even that size if it had been left longer. It was found 

 growing at the base of a very rotten pine stump. The roots of 

 the stump were examined and found to be permeated in every 

 direction with the mycelium. This is a comparatively rare find, 

 although Mr. McNeill reported that he had found a similar puflf 

 ball a few weeks previously about 200 yards from the spot where 

 the above specimen occurred. When taken home and cut it was 

 found to be in perfect condition, and when cooked proved 

 excellent eating to those who tasted this delicacy. Practically 

 all of the family of puff balls are edible. Many are fairly 

 abundant, and, for want of information, large numbers are 

 allowed to go to waste. Those who have tried puff balls, either 



