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■of one or two, ami even more feet, and that acres of saplings and 

 shrubs were destroyed. It will be a matter of interest to notice if the 

 same conditions prevail this winter, and if so, to ascertain the cause 

 of the increase of these pests. The wholesale destruction of birds of 

 prey may have much to do with it, as disturbing the balance of nature, 

 but there may be other causes at work. 



Mr. Scott, who has closely watched the bats during the past 

 season reports that out of fifteen specimens he secured, all but one were 

 the common bat f Vespertilio suhidatus ). During the Club excursion to 

 ■Oasselman, INTr. Fletcher obtained a specimen of V. noctivagans, and 

 Mr. Gustavus Wickstead, on the IGch December last, found between 

 the windows of his office, in tlie Parliament Buildings, a specimen of 

 tlie Carolina bat (^ T. scroli>nis Juscin). This spacimen was referre.l to 

 Dr. Merriam, of Locust Grove, N.Y., wlu pronounced on its identity, 

 and added that it was a southern species, rarely reaching as far north 

 as New York. 



A seal is reported to have becin seen quite recently off G.itineau 

 Point. Two years ago a seal was shot by Mr. Askwith opposite to 

 New Edinburgh, and solitary individuals have been from time to time 

 seen in former years about the openings in that vicinity formed by the 

 currents of the Ottawa River. It is a matter for enquiry what induces 

 these marine animals to come thus far in our inland wateis ; whether 

 driven up from tide vvater by sLornis they lose themselves, or whether 

 they follow the migration of any particular species of fish. If the 

 latter, it might thnjw some light on the winter movements of our fresh 

 water fish. 



Allusion was made in tlie last report to e.\.p3rim9nts being carried 

 on by Mr. Scott, with two wood frogs (Rana temporaria sylvatica). 

 He now reports that his specimens lived some ten weeks, but refusetl 

 ill! food duiing captivity. He attributes their death, not to want of 

 food, but to placing them too suddenly in the sun, as they began to 

 show great liveliness with the approach of spring. From experiments 

 continued with other frogs, Mr. Scott found they would never eat any- 

 thing already dead, as they absolutely refused anything that did not 

 move. Living insects and butterflies they took greadily. Tlie pickerel 

 frog. ( R. priJtis/rhJ, reported to have been found l)y him iu Patterson's 



