to The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



for rare species The more active botanical workers have met 

 twice a month for the purpose of discussing methods of work and 

 other matters of interest, and it is expected that the>e meetings 

 will result in a more systematic prosecution of botanical work in 

 the vicinity of Ottawa. 



The Itntomologic.'il f^ranch reports a continuance of useful 

 work both in the field and in the study. Many adilitions were 

 jnade during the year to our f;iimal li>ts, especially in the order 

 Lepidoptera, and the life histories of many species have been 

 ascertained l^y breeding specimens. The branch has been holding 

 fortnightly meetings during the winter, with a satisfactory attend- 

 ance, and the proceedings have been both interesting and profit- 

 able to the members. The quickened interest in the subject will 

 doubtless result in increased collecting during the coming .season, 

 and of greatly enlarged knowledge of our insects and their habits. 



The Ornithological Branch reports that although there was a 

 fair amount of interest manifested in the study of birds there were 

 few who did much systematic work. The dates of arrivals of 

 birds were recorded as usual by several of ihe members. An in- 

 teresting feature of the report is the list of birds which breed a' 

 the Central Experimental Farm. When the farm was taken over 

 by the Government in 1886, comparatively few birds bred there, 

 but the planting of the trees in the belts and ornamental grounds 

 has increa-sed the number to thirty-eight, The Ott.-vwa Natur- 

 alist was well supplied with ornithological notes but unfortunately 

 few of these were written by local members. 



The Report of the Zoological Branch recommends the study 

 of the smaller mammalia as likely to afford a useful field of re- 

 search. This would embrace insectiverous maminals, such as 

 moles and shrews ; rodents, such as mice, voles and squirrels ; 

 and cheiropterous mammals, or bats. A black squirrel and a 

 silver fox were mentioned as having been recently exhibited alive 

 in shop windows on Sparks street. In regard to batrachians the 

 observations of Mr. VV. S Odell concerning Spelerpes bilineatus 

 were referred to and Mr. Andrew Halkett exhibited at the meet- 

 ing at which the report was read three living so-called mud- 

 puppies. The principal part of the report deals with the collecting of 



