40 The Ottawa Naturalist. [May 



during- the previous season and elaborated in the following' spring. 

 The girdle made it impossible tor sap from below to ascend. 



Mr. J. M. Macoun showed specimens oi Aqiiilegia Canadensis 

 and A. coccinea and expres-ed the opinion that the latter would 

 be found m the Ottawa district. The ripened fruit is the best 

 distinguishing feature of tlie two species. On A. Canadensis the 

 follicles have spreading tips wh'le in A. coccinea the follicles are 

 straight and about Yi longer. The flowers of A. coccinea are 

 much larger than those of A. Canadensis and the spur is twice as 

 long. Specimens of Spircea latifolia were also exhibited which 

 showed this species to be quite distinct from S salicifoha ; both 

 species are found near Ottawa. The crucial test of a species was, 

 after some discussion, decided to be the continuous reproduction, 

 without variation, of plans from seed. 



Prof. Macoun strongly recommended more specialized work 

 on the part of the members and several expressed their willing- 

 ness to assume responsibility in particular phases of botanical 

 work : Dr. Fletcher, Violets and Carices ; Prof. Macoun Fungi ; 

 Dr. Guillet, Phenological observations : T. E. Clarke, Ferns of 

 the Ottawa district ; VV. T. Macoun, Shrubs, w'ith special reference 

 to the genus Spiraa ; A. E. Aitwood, Trees and noxious weeds. 



The fourth meeting was held at the residence of A. E. Att- 

 wood. 



A number of twigs of shrubs and trees were identified and 

 discussed. It was demonstrated that with a little stud}' and care, 

 trees can be determined as readily from twigs and buds as from 

 flowers and fruits. 



Dr. Fletcher read an interesting article from " Science " on 

 the effect ufon animals of eating " Sleepy Grass." He also spoke 

 of the serious met hanical injury caused to the stomachs of sheep 

 by their eating of the so-cjiI!ed prairie crocus {Pulsatilla hir- 

 sutissima). This anemone is the first green thing found on the 

 prairies in spring and is freely eaten by sheep. The hairs of the 

 leaves and stem are indigestible and become felted together in the 

 animal's stomach frequently causing death. 



The remainder of the evening was spent in listing the 

 localities at which the different species of orchids growing in this 

 region had been found. 



