1913] The Ottawa Naturalist 127 



From time to time birds of usually more southern latitudes 

 extend their range northward and for a time at least become 

 domicile, occasionally permanently so, as the Square-tail, or 

 Prairie Chicken of the south, which is now even more numerous 

 than the native Sharp-tailed Grouse in the open country. The 

 Bluebird, on the other hand, for a few years became fairly 

 numerous and then gradually decreased again, though it is yet 

 found breeding in small numbers. The Purple Martin is another 

 fluctuating species. Yet another that has recently moved north 

 and eastward is the Arkansas Kingbird. Dr. Speedily records 

 two pairs as nesting at Pilot Mound both this year and last, 

 while we at Aweme have seen two, and a pair are breeding only 

 a few miles away in the village of Treesbank in some trees 

 surrounding a house. The bird is not uncommon in the southern 

 portions of the provinces to the west of us. 



MEETING OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



The first meeting for this winter of the Botanical Branch 

 was held at the residence of Mr. R. B. Whyte, 370 Wilbrod St., 

 on Saturday evening, November the 30th. There were present 

 the following members: Dr. Malte, Messrs. J. M. Macoun, W. T. 

 Maeoun, L. H. Newman, E. D. Eddy, James Lawler, A. Eastham, 

 J. W. Gibson, A. E. Attwood, J. J. Carter, J. W. Eastham, 

 W. Dreher, H. A. Honeyman, F. T. Shutt, T.E. Clarke and Dr. 

 E. H. Blackader. 



The subject was "A Summer in Britain", by the Chairman 

 for the evening, Mr. Whyte. He illustrated his observations by 

 lantern views taken during the course of his trip; and he had 

 about seventy-five very interesting photographic plates that 

 were thrown on the screen by Mr. J. W. Gibson. 



He travelled in company with Prof. Hutt of the Ontario 

 Agricultural College, Guelph, and they went direct to London, 

 where they made their headquarters during the five weeks they 

 spent in England. From there they made daily trips in and 

 outside of London, wherever they had an opportunity of study- 

 ing the methods of horticulture and of decorative gardening as 

 practised there. 



Their first visit was to Co vent Gardens Market, where they 

 were amazed at the extent and variety of the fruits and flowers 

 for sale. One section was entirelv devoted to wild plants and 

 flowers, natives of Great Britain. Other sections were devoted 

 to small fruits such as strawberries, gooseberries, currants, 

 raspberries and loganberries, and he remarked on the fineness 

 of their quality, especially of the strawberries. One producer 



