1902] Report OF THE Council. h 



sub excursions, note^ bearing- on the stratigraphy and character 

 of the rock formations were made and a number of interesting- 

 photographs prepared which show the nature of the strata at 

 many points where they had not previously been observed. Some 

 of these photog-raphs are used in illustrating- points of interest in 

 the geology of Ottawa and vicinity in Dr. R. W. Ells' Report on 

 the Geology of the Ottawa District. The report mentions many 

 interesting features in connection with the geology of this district, 

 and gives a list of fossils from the Utica formation, also a list of 

 fossil sponges from geological formations about Ottawa, and a 

 list of Pleistocene shells from the sand-pit about two miles above 

 Hog's Back on the Rideau River. Reference is made to the Geo- 

 logical Map of Ottawa and Vicinity just issued by the Geological 

 Survey Department, and the report points out how useful such a 

 map will be to working naturalists. 



The Botanical Section reports that as usual the Club's excur- 

 sions were well attended by those interested in Botany. At all of 

 these excursions one or more of the botanical leaders was present 

 and assisted in the determination of the different species collected. 



Several new species have been added to the local list 

 during the year. These include four violets new to science, of 

 which descriptions have appeared in The Ottawa Naturalist. 

 It is proposed to complete the publication of Dr. Fletcher's Flora 

 Ottawaensis this spring. 



In the report of the Zoological Branch it is pointed out that 

 "it is difficult to present new matter annually in the field of local 

 zoology, and that it is hardly to be expected that many additions 

 to the vertebrate fauna excepting in the lower orders, such as 

 fishes, reptiles, etc., can be made. However, some interesting 

 facts have been placed on record." Among these may be men- 

 tioned Mr. Halkett's study of a Dipnoid fish [Protopterus annec- 

 tens), a full account of which will be found on page 184 of The 

 Ottawa Naturalist. Reference is also made to specimens of 

 the bow-fin and gar-pike from the Bay of Quinte, which were pre- 

 served in formaline, thus preventing the disappearance of the 

 natural colours of the fish. A quantity of Pacific herring was ob- 

 tained for the purpose of investigating a remarkable case of 

 mortality in these fish near Nanaimo in January last. It is stated 



