66 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Aug. -Sept. 



The third excursion was held on May 11th. A fair number 

 of members and friends assembled at the terminus of the Britan- 

 nia ear line. From there one party went with Mr. Wilson to 

 study some of the geological features of the locality as shown in 

 sections exposed in a neighbouring gravel pit, another with Mr. 

 Halkett to search the pools in an area of swampy land for 

 animals, while the remainder made their way to a wood at 

 Britannia Highlands. Here the various spring flowers were met 

 with in great numbers, and although nothing of special botanical 

 interest was noticed it was very pleasant to see once again so 

 many woodland favorites not noticed previously this season. 

 Trilliums, both white and red, were in profusion, the former 

 being gathered in great quantity, while the ill perfume of the 

 latter, with its flesh-coloured petals, caused it to be eschewed. 

 Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) and Dog's Tooth Violet (Eryth- 

 ronium americanum) were also verv plentiful and amongst other 

 flowering plants noticed were the Blue Cohosh, Jaek-in-the- 

 Pulpit, Squirrel's Corn, Golden Corydalis (C. aurea). Twisted 

 Stalk (Streptopus roseus), Wild Strawberry, False Mitrewcrt, 

 Small-flowered Crowfoot (Ranunculus abortivus) , and the Dwarf 

 or three-leaved Ginseng, also known as Ground Nut (Panax tri- 

 folium). The Crinkle-Root or Pepper Root (Dentaria diphylla) 

 was almost in bloom and one specimen was gathered with its 

 leaves covered with the White Rust of Crucifers (Cystopus 

 candidus), not previously noticed this season. The foetid or 

 Skunk Currant (Ribes prostratum) was also plentiful in moist 

 places and is noteworthy not only for its odour but also on 

 account of its erect racemes of flowers. Barren Strawberry 

 (W aid stein ia) and June berrv (Amelanchier canadensis) were 

 also seen in flower, and a little further away a swamp of Spiraea, 

 probably the Hardtack (5. tomentosa), was observed. The 

 Oak Fern was just opening out its fronds, while the Marsh Shield 

 Fern was rather further advanced. The Sensitive, Christmas, 

 and Shiny Shield Fern were also noticed and four species of 

 Horsetail (Equisetum arvense. E. scirpoides, E. sylvaticum and 

 E. hyemale). On returning, a pool covered with a floating 

 Liverwort (Ricciocarpus natans) was also found. Two interest- 

 ing species of fungi were seen, the Scarlet Cup (Peziza coccinca) 

 and the Earth Star (Geaster). The former bears its cup-like fruit 

 bodies, one or two inches in diameter with the interior of a 

 brilliant scarlet colour, on the ground, but on carefully re- 

 moving the soil from around them each will be found to be 

 furnished with a stalk by which it is attached to a decaying 

 branch buried below the surface of the soil. 



At five o'clock the several parties reunited in the park, and 

 the leaders gave a brief account of what had been observed oi 



