10 The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



Botanical Branch. 



There have been eight meetings of this branch held during 

 the past year. Two meetings have been held at the 

 residences of the following members: Messrs. W.T. Macoun, R. B. 

 Whyte and G. H. Clark; and one at the residences of Messrs. A. E. 

 Attwood and J.J. Carter. A synopsis of three of these have been 

 published, one will appear next month, and one will be published 

 ' in full. It is hoped that a report of the other meetings will be 

 obtained and published. 



The subjects presented at these meetings were: Problems 

 in Horticulture of Interest to Botanists, by W. T. Macoun; 

 A Summer in Britain, illustrated with lantern slides, by R. B. 

 Whyte; Nature Studv of Plants in Relation to their Identifica- 

 tion, by Dr. M. Oscar Malte; The Ottawa Flora from an Ecologi- 

 cal Point of View, by J. M. Macoun; A Trip to Bermuda in 

 January, bv R. B. Whyte; Common Fungi on Wood, by J. W. 

 Eastham; Elevator Screenings as a Means of Plant Dispersal, 

 by J. R. Dymond; The Shade Trees of Ottawa, by Dr. E. H. 

 Blackader; The Effect of Temperature on Fruit and Trees, by 

 W. T. Macoun; Hardiness from a Physiological Standpoint, by 

 L. H. Newman. 



The attendance has been good and the interest sustained at 

 all these meetings. 



Entomological Branch. 



During the past year considerable field work was accom- 

 plished by members interested in this branch of the Club's 

 activities. Large numbers of insects were collected throughout 

 the Ottawa District and some of these have been found to be 

 new to science. Certain groups were sought after particularly, 

 and many of these have been determined, and definite records 

 for the locality obtained. 



The most important outbreak of an insect which has 

 occurred for manv years was that of the Forest Tent Caterpillar, 

 Malacosoma disstri'a, which devastated miles of forest country in 

 the Gatineau Valley, north of Ironsides. The foliage of certain 

 trees, particularlv poplar and birch, was entirely eaten by the 

 caterpillars and for a certain period the trains leaving Ottawa 

 for Kazabazua and Maniwaki were unable to make the grade 

 between Ironsides and Chelsea, owing to the thousands of cater- 

 pillars which were present on the rails. 



The Treasurer's report shows a balance on hand of $9 . 79. 



The thanks of the Club are due to Principal White for the 

 use of the Normal School Hall, to the Library Board and the 

 Librarian of the Carnegie Library for the use of the lecture and 



