158 The][Ottawa Naturalist. [November 



known to exhibit a wide range of variation in individual plants. 

 It was decided to secure further information on this subject and 

 discuss it at a future meeting. 



Dr. Fletcher told of the efforts that were being made in 

 Argenteuil Co. to prevent the further encroachment of drifting 

 sand on cultivated lands there, and exhibited branches of Cana- 

 dian balsam which had thrown out roots when the sand reached 

 th(jm. These roots would not only serve to add to the food supply 

 ot the tree but in the event of its being killed young trees would 

 grow from them. Spircea salicifolia, which grows in the depressions 

 among the sand was mentioned by Dr. Fletcher as being an evidence 

 that the " drifting sand " is dry only on the surface. 



Mr. W. T. Macoun exhibited specimens of apetalous apple 

 blossoms. About a dozen flowers were received hy him, May 26th, 

 in clusters averaging three flowers each. The calyx was very 

 similar to that of ordinary apple blossoms but the petals were 

 abortive, very small and hidden by the sepals The flowers were 

 evidently all pistillate. There were 15 stigmas on each flower. 



Bird Migration. — With reference to the note on Bird Migra- 

 tion which appears on page 144 of The Ottawa Naturalist 

 for October, I can fully confirm Mr. Wright's observation as to 

 the immense flocks of evidently small birds passing over the city 

 on the morning of glh Oct. Sleeping in an upper room with my 

 window wide open I was awakened by their notes and listened to 

 them for a long time. While they were passing I heard the 

 clock in the Parliament Buildings strike three. About an hour 

 later I again heard them for some time. My scanty knowledge of 

 bird-notes did not enable me to recognize the species. — W. H. H. 



