a The Ottawa Naturalist. [April 



herself and are shown how they may most profitably pursue their 

 studies. It is not the aim of the leaders to store the mind with 

 scientific names of specimens or mere facts about them, but 

 rather b)' suggestion to enable the students to find out facts for 

 themselves, and thus become independent of teachers. 



There were four general excursions. The first was on May 

 28th to Gilmour's Grove, Chelsea. It was attended by 175 mem- 

 bers and their friends and was a complete success. 



The second on June 25th to Chats F"alls was largely attend- 

 ed and' though the rather unfavorable weather prevented much 

 work being done, all agreed that an enjoyable and profitable day 

 was spent. 



The third was to Aylmer, Sept. 24th, when a party of 

 twenty-five attended. 75 species of Fungi were collected, and 

 riotwithstanding the lateness of the season twenty species of 

 flowering plants were found. 



The fourth and last excursion, Oct. 1st, to Chelsea was 

 attended by about one hundred. 



These general excursions are conducted in much the same 

 way as the sub-excursions already described. The whole party 

 however, usually assembles at some convenient spot an hour 

 before leaving for home, when the leaders give short addresses 

 on the salient features of the locality visited and the specimens 

 collected. 



During the winter the following papers and reports were 

 read at the regular monthly soirees of the Club. 



1898. 

 Dec. 14. -" Inaugural Address," by I'rof. John Macoun, M.A., F. L.S. 

 " N'ote^ on some Local Violets " l^y Mr. James M. Macoun. 



Report of the Botanical Branch. 

 1899. 

 Jan. \0— ''The Minerals of the Ottawa Valley,'' by R. W. Ells, LL.D., F.R.S.C. 

 "■Notes on a herbivorous Dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Western Canada" 

 by Mr. Lawrence M. Lambe, F.G.S. 

 Report of the Geological Branch. 



Fel). 7. — '' Some N-xtive Herbaceous Perennials -worthy of cultivation,''' \)y Mr. W. 

 T. Macoun. 

 " On the Burrowing Habits of Cainbaius— the Cray-fish," by H. M. Ami, 

 M.A., F.G.S. 



