168 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Mar. 



The most conspicuous difference between V. conspersa and 

 V. rostrata is, as is well known, that the spur of the former is less 

 than 8 mm. long and comparatively stout, whereas the spur of 

 the latter species is 10-12 mm. long and slender. The hybrid 

 -found at Chats Falls is characterized by having a spur the size 

 and shape of which is just intermediate between those of the 

 parent species. All other morphological characters, which it is 

 hardly- necessary to describe in detail, are also intermediate 

 between those of V. conspersa and V. rostrata making 

 it quite certain that the plants referred to are natural 

 products of a spontaneous crossrfertilization between the 

 species in question. That this really is the fact, is further- 

 more proven beyond doubt by the condition of the pollen as 

 developed in its petaliferous flowers. Ninety-five to one hundred 

 per cent of the pollen grains are imperfectly developed, shrunken, 

 deformed and empty. Consequently they are sexually impotent 

 and incapable of fertilizing the ovules of either the hybrid itself 

 or of the parent plants. 



What has been written must be considered as only an 

 introduction to a more complete and detailed study of the genus 

 Viola but it is hoped that enough has been said to encourage 

 local botanists to undertake similar work in this genus within 

 easy walkinof distance of their homes. 



AUGUST BIRD LIFE AT PLEASANT POINT, ONT.* 



By Melville Dale. 



During the past three summers it has been my privilege to 

 spend part of the month of August at a little summer resort 

 called Pleasant Point, situated on Sturgeon lake, some ten 

 miles from Lindsay, and some seventy miles north-east of 

 Toronto. The Lake is one of the Kawartha group and is part 

 of the Trent Valley canal system. It is about fifteen miles long 

 and from one to two miles wide. A dam at Bobcaygeon has 

 raised the level of the lake to some extent, and formed a 

 considerable area of "drowned land" at the mouth of the 

 Scugog river. This marsh is composed of the usual growth 

 of wild rice, bulrushes, pickerel weed, white and vellow pond 

 lilies, etc., while many lagoons both large and small are found 

 within its confines. In certain localities numerous stumps 

 rise a foot or so above the water and form a favorite roosting 

 place for the gulls, terns and herons. 



*Read before the Mcllwraith Ornithological Club of London. 



