162 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Nov. 



Sub-excursion to McKay's Lake. 



This autumn's sub-excursions have been most interesting 

 and enjoyable and the one held on September 26th at McKay's 

 Lake was certainly not an exception. The woods around this 

 charming little sheet of water are beautiful at any time, but the 

 gay colouring of the fall season seemed to lend additional charms. 

 The attendance was not as large as at some former outings, there 

 being only about fifty present, but never has greater interest 

 been shown in the finds of the day. 



Strolling slowly along through the woods on the lake side, 

 the whole topic of conversation seemed to be on the different 

 points of interest in nature about them. 



Some time was spent at the sand pit, and here Mr. McNeill 

 gave much interesting information concerning the sand deposit 

 and also about the formation of marl found in that locality. 



Returning at 4.30 to a pleasant knoll, overlooking the lake, 

 the company listened with much interest and profit to addresses 

 by several of the Leaders. 



Mr. Arthur Gibson presided, in the absence of the President, 

 and first called on Mr. W. T. Macoun, who spoke of the various 

 trees met with during the afternoon, making his talk doubly 

 forcible bv passing around a small branch of each kind, and 

 explaining the difference between closely related species. This 

 created such an interest that quite a discussion followed. 



Mr. McNeill spoke of certain aquatic plants, and of the 

 pleasure to be had from keeping an aquarium. He gave many 

 practical hints of how to manufacture one at a very slight ex- 

 pense. Mention was made that great care should be taken in 

 fiUing the aquarium, so as to have the right balance of animal 

 and vegetable life, or the consequences would doubtless be dis- 

 couraging. 



Mr. J. W. Gibson corroborated what had been said by Mr, 

 McNeill and afhrmicd that lie had found an aquarium a source 

 of great interest as well as profit. He also spoke of the difference 

 to be found among plants at different elevations. 



Mr. H. Groh said a few words about the birds noticed during 

 the afternoon, giving a list of those observed, and Mr. Arthur 

 Gibson showed the very beautiful chrysalis of the Monarch 

 butterflv and described the life-history of the insect. He also 

 told something of the insects that spend the winter in the heads 

 of the common mullein and in the stems of the golden rod. 



E. E. C. 



