24 BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



we had ever seen it before. Its fronds are usually a foot 

 or so in height but one frond measured three feet in height. 

 The deep green color of this fern and the light brown 

 chaffy scales of the stipe and rachis make it one of the 

 most beautiful and desirable of our ferns. The most 

 common Ranunculus along the Restigouche was Ranun- 

 culus septentrionalis, especially on its upper waters, but 

 R.fiammula var. reptans was met with commonly on sandy 

 shores, and R. tricophyllus in the shallow water of the 

 ponds or bogans, where it is found with the Arrow-head 

 {Sagittaria variabilis) and its many varieties, their white 

 flowers covering the waters in greatest profusion. Hun- 

 ter's Brook, about five miles below the Waagan, invited 

 an exploration. It flows into the Restigouche from the 

 south through a rocky gorge whose shelving and precipi- 

 tous sides of calcareous slates were clothed with mosses 

 and ferns of the most luxuriant growth. The common 

 Rock Fern {Poly podium vulg are) which has been considered 

 rare in northern countries is very abundant here. One 

 frond measured eighteen to twenty inches in height. 

 The green Spleenwort {Asplenium viride), the Bladder ferns 

 {Cystopteris bulhifera and C. fragilis) and the Spleenwort 

 {Asplenium thelypteroides) were growing here in unwonted 

 size and variety. 



The trees along the Restigouche are largely evergreen 

 which would give a sombre character to the deep valley, 

 but for the sparkling waters and the numerous windings 

 which bring other characteristics rapidly into view. Of 

 evergreens the White Spruce {Picea alba) is the most 

 abundant. The Black Spruce {Picea nigra) is much rarer, 

 while very few pines, and these only of one species, the 

 White Pine {Pinus Strobus), are to be seen along the river. 

 The Cedar {Thuya occidentalis), is quite common, so also 

 is the Balsam Fir {Abies balsamea), whose lon^, slender 



