1903] Meeting of the Botanical Branch. 93 



On July 22nd of this year, whilst tramping- through a large 

 cedar swamp, I became interested in the actions of a Hudsonian 

 Chickadee. I watched it for some time searching^ for insects, 

 when suddenly it disappeared behind a small cedar with a larva 

 in its bill. I did not expect to find a nest, as the top of the tree 

 was green, but, on going around on the other side, perceived a 

 small almost circular hole with jagged edges, about twelve feet 

 from the ground. On rapping the tree, the bird left and became 

 very much excited, nervously flitting back and forth from the nest. 

 Cutting away a portion of the wood, I found the nest to contain 

 young a few days old, six of them, I think. The spot chosen for 

 the nest site was about the best that could be found in the swamp, 

 situated, as it was, on a small spruce knoll near b}- an ice cold 

 spring which fed a small brook. The tree, as I mentioned, was 

 still green at the top, but from the nest cavity down was decayed 

 and hollow at the core. Returning some time after this, to give 

 the young a chance to vacate, I found the nest to be about ten 

 inches below the entrance hole, which was two inches in diameter. 

 It was composed of particles of moss, lichens and strips of soft 

 inner bark of the cedar, felted together with rabbit's and deer's 

 hair. 



MEETING OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



The eighth meeting of the Botanical branch was held at the 

 home of Dr. James Fletcher, Experimental Farm, on Thursday, 

 May 2 1 St. The meeting was called for seven o'clock instead of 

 eight in order that the members might see the many interesting 

 wild plants growing in Dr. Fletcher's garden, especially the 

 violets, of which he has made a special study and which were then 

 in fine condition. Among the interesting plants growing in the 

 garden were Erythroniuni gnindiflofum, var. minor, and Claytonia 

 sessitifolta from British Columbia, which appeared to be thriving 

 well. The variegated form of Trillium grandifloruiUy mention o'i 

 which was made in a previous number of The Naturalist, was 

 also seen growing here and proved an interesting stud}', also 

 Syndesmon thalictroides, and Ranunculus fascicularis from Hamil- 

 ton, Ont. Most of the time was spent in studying the violets, ot 



