1898] 47 



SUB-EXCURSIONS. 



No. I. The first Sub-Excursion of the season was held on 

 Saturday afternoon, April 16, to Rock'cliffe. The President 

 Prof Prince and Messrs. Wilson, Halkett and Fletcher, were 

 present as leaders The party was rather small, but a most en- 

 joyable and instructive afternoon was spent in the woods at 

 Rockcliffe, around Hemlock Lake and at Beechwood. Flowers 

 were few but on sheltered warm knolls, particularly near the 

 gates of Beechwood cemetery, several kinds of flowers were 

 found. Mr. Wilson explained the nature of the rocks found in 

 situ as well as of the various boulders observed. Mr. Halkett 

 captured many a hapless insect, spider, or reptile, and descanted 

 admiringly on their beauties. Dr. Fletcher drew attention to 

 the staminatc and pistillate flowers of the hazel, poplars and red 

 maples. On one tree of aspen both staminate and pistillate 

 flowers were found. This is an unusual occurrence. Owing to 

 the remarkably early season, many plants were found in blossom 

 which, as a rule, do not occur till much later in the season. The 

 swamp alder, the silver and red maples, the American elm, the 

 aspen and the large-toothed aspen were in full flower. The 

 hazel catkins were shedding their pollen and the little crimson 

 tufts of pistillate flowers were very conspicuous. At Rockcliffe, 

 fresh green fronds were found of Polypodiuvi vulgare and Aspi- 

 dium mar o^ina/e, which had passed the winter beneath the snow. 

 Capsella Bursa-pastoris caught by the winter before it had ex- 

 panded its flowers, now pushed up its head again, to go on with 

 its work of life after 6 months' sleep. On the sunny knoll near 

 Beechwood, Hepatica acutiloba with pink, blue, and white flowers 

 was found in profusion, together with Claytonia Caroliniana, 

 one or two fully expanded flowers o{ Erythroniuni Aniericanum 

 and sturdy clumps of Caulophyllmn t/ialictroidea. One or two 

 less advanced but open flowers of Uvularia grandijiora and 

 Dicentra Cuciillmia were also found and red and white trilHums 

 just opening. In the swamp at the foot of the hill Salix discolor 

 was in full bloom. In all 18 different plants were collected in 

 flower, a surprising number for the i6th of April. — J. F. 



