46 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov. 



ly hard and hazardous undertaking and occupies a full half hour 

 at least. 



On May 28th five nests were examined containing three 

 fresh eggs each. One was on top of a dead poplar 45 ft. up ; two 

 in live pine, about 60 ft. up, and one each in dead tamarack and 

 balsam 50 ft. up. The following day two other nests were 

 examined and they contained two fresh eggs each. On June 14th 

 nine nests were located all containing three eggs each which 

 were on the point of hatching. A number of other trees were 

 unclimbable. The birds apparently begin laying in this locality 

 about May 24th. All of the sets taken were nicely marked as is 

 usual with this species, the ground color being almost covered 

 bv the reddish coloration. 



FALL EXCURSION. 



An excursion of the Club was held to the Experimental 

 Farm on Saturday afternoon, October 9th, when a fair number 

 of mem^bers and others were present to inspect the fine grounds 

 and Arboretum of this institution Among the features especially 

 attracting attentionweie the extensive hedges, demonstrating the 

 value of various shrubs and trees for this purpose; the group of 

 cedars or Arbor Vitae showing what a range of horticultural 

 types may be obtained; the curious Maiden- hair tree Ginkgo 

 hiloba; some Japanese Anemones, which were still in the height 

 of bloom, after most other flowers were out of season, etc. 



An object lesson of con.siderable interest was the collection 

 of wild, unimproved apples. The Old World Pyrus bauala, with 

 its tiny fruits scarcely larger than peas, and the native American 

 crab apple Pyrus coronaria, with somewhat larger, but extremely 

 unpleasant fruits were strikingly in contrast with the large, fleshy, 

 attractively colored and flavored apples which we know, fortima- 

 tely, so much bettei. 



Following the copious rains of a few days previous, mush- 

 rooms of several kinds were much in evidence. The characteristic 

 circular colonies of the "Fairy ring" mushroom, Afarasmius 

 oreades, were especiallv noticeable in the thick sod of the 

 Arboretum. 



The majority of the trees had already lost the brilliance of 

 their autumn foliage, but those which w^ere stili in this con- 

 spicuous garb, together with the scarlet fruits of the barbeny^ 

 the burning bush, and others, were much appreciated. Remarks 

 were made by the leaders on the cause of autumnal coloration, 

 and on such other topics as were suggested by the observations 

 of the afternoon. H. G. 



