PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 37 



addition to the Italian grass family, which, inappearance, it very much resembles, 

 with this in its favour over the Italian of evidently being much hardier." 



Mr Robertson's report is in the following terms : — " In reply to your favour 

 of this date (30th March), regarding the Columbian grass seeds which I re- 

 ceived from the late Mr Hall Maxwell, I had them all sown on carefully pre- 

 pared ground iii April 1866, and the following is the result : — 1st, Grass from 

 Lake la Hache came up pretty well, produced broad, short, soft leaves in 

 abundance, came into flower in August, appeared to be a species of Bromus ; 

 the panicles grew to a height of 1 to It? feet, but had no fertile seeds. The 

 plants had no covering during last winter, and they are looking very fresh and 

 healthy at present. I notice that the growth made by the leaves at this date 

 is far earlier than our ordinary grasses, and looks as if it would be nearly as 

 early as Bromus Schraderii. I intend to separate the stools during April to 

 increase the plants, and to see if the second year's herbage be stronger than 

 the first year's. 2d, Timothy grass, from same lake as above — only three or 

 four plants of this parcel grew ; these did not flower last year, are at present 

 quite healthy, and resemble the common Timothy in every respect, but that 

 they are growing much earlier. I purpose to divide the plants of this also, 

 and as it belongs to a more promising family than the Bromii as a forage 

 grass, I have a hope it may be worth attention. 3d, Fescue Grass. — Grew 

 w r ell, leaves long, very narrow, is distinct from any of the cultivated sorts, the 

 herbage scanty, no flowers produced, and about half of the plants killed during 

 the winter. I suspect this parcel contained two species. The seeds did not 

 look different, but the result as to hardiness seems to indicate a mixture. Of 

 the other parcels none grew with me, and I fear that no further germination 

 can be expected this year." 



Native Sheep of British Columbia. — Mr Cormack added, in his letter 

 of the 8th February 1866, that he had been endeavouring to obtain a living 

 lamb or two of the native sheep of British Columbia to send to the Society, 

 with the view of experimenting for the improvement of the wool or carcass, or 

 both, of some of the breeds of Great Britain ; and if he was fortunate enough, 

 he was to devise some means of sending them to Edinburgh ; but from a letter 

 recently received (dated 20th November 1866), it appears he did not succeed 

 in procuring any. He promises, however, to spread his endeavours next 

 spring to more localities where these animals are met with, when he hopes for 

 better success. The nearest mountains to New Westminster for the sheep lie 

 about one hundred miles to the eastward. Mr Cormack states that the mutton 

 of these wild sheep is admitted by all who have partaken of it to be superior 

 to any in Europe ; while the fleece or hair is very coarse, somewhat similar to 

 that of the rein or other deer, and of a brown-grey colour. 



The California Quail. — Mr Cormack further mentions in his last letter 

 that the California quail has of recent years been successfully introduced into 

 British Columbia, and offers to send specimens to the Society. It is stated to 

 be a hardy, handsome, and good-sized bird. It is first placed with domestic 

 poultry (with which it agrees and feeds, and breeds from choice) outside of 

 the yard, and then soon spreads over the country. In British Columbia, even 

 in districts covered almost entirely with dense pine forests, where the winter 

 is as long and severe as in Scotland, it thrives seemingly as well as in parts of 

 California, where forest trees are widely scattered, and under an almost per- 

 petual summer. The birds propagate very fast, and would seem to breed in 

 California throughout nearly the year. They are esteemed the most delicate 

 bird there for the table. They like to harbour near the habitation of man, 

 as if for security against beasts of prey, which devour them in immense 

 quantities. They will lay eggs though deprived of their liberty, but will not 

 hatch them in confinement. 



The Secretary was instructed to thank Mr Cormack for the interest he had 

 taken in procuring seeds, &c. ? for the Society. 



