XC ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Members of the Geological Branch have made special study of some 

 interesting localities in the Ottawa district. The sands and gravels of 

 McKay Lake have been examined and special study has been made of 

 the geology of Strathcona Park, where the excavations in the Utica have 

 afforded an excellent opportunity for studying the formation; the Chazy 

 at Kockcliffe has yielded an excellent series of slabs exhibiting tracks and 

 trails of marine organisms. The most interesting local find, however., 

 was the discovery of a large number of curved hornblende crystals in a 

 vein of mica at Carp by Dr. Ami. These curved crystals were new to 

 the geologists and hitherto unrecorded in Canada. 



The Botanical Branch has held fortnightly meetings throughout 

 the year except during the summer months. The most important matter 

 taken up was the publication of a complete list of the plants of the 

 Ottawa district. Since Dr. Fletcher's " Flora Ottawaensis " was 

 published many new species have been added to the local flora, and the 

 work of specialists has made a thorough study of the local flora necessary. 

 This list is to be issued as a publication of the Greological Survey. The 

 Botanical Branch invite co-operation of all local botanists in this 

 work of revision, and would call special attention to the Eosaceœ; the 

 study of this large order of plants will certainly result in the addition 

 of several species to the local list. 



The Zoological Branch held two very profitable meetings during 

 the winter. At the first meeting Prof. Prince read an interesting 

 paper on the function of the swim bladder of fishes, an outline of which 

 appears in the report of the branch. At the second meeting Prof. 

 Macoim pointed out the great amount of work that can be done in pro- 

 curing specimens of the numerous species of small mammals to be found 

 near Ottawa, and also pointe! out the ease with which this could be 

 done. 



The report of the Zoological Branch contains a list prepared by 

 Mr. Halkett of the fishes of the Ottawa district preserved in the Fisiheries 

 Museum with the localities where they were taken. It also records a 

 number of interesting observations made by members of the branch dur- 

 ing the year. 



The Ornithological Branch, although small, consists of a number of 

 enthusiastic workers. Monthly meetings have been held since early last 

 fall at which much systematic work has been planned. The vicinity of 

 Ottawa is to be /divided among the members of the branch for active 

 field work, and the antiquated local list publiished by the club many 

 years ago is to be thoroughly worked over. Some interesting additions 

 have already been made to the local records, such as the appearance of the 

 short-billed marsh wren, a breedins; record of the screech owl, and the 



