142 THE OTtTawa NATURALIST. [ October 
GENERAL EXCURSION TO CHELSEA. 
On Saturday afternoon, September 23rd, the third General 
Excursion of the season was held at Chelsea. The outing was 
fairly well attended, many of the Normal School students being 
present. The President, Dr. Sinclair, was in charge. 
On arriving at Chelsea, most of the party went into the 
grove, and then down to the rapids. Here the water was very 
low. Large boulders and rocks usually covered, but now bare, 
formed an interesting study.. The other division of the party, 
under the guidance of Dr. Ami, went up the railroad track, to 
examine geological conditions, and to see a cutting in which sea- 
shells were in great abundance. At 4.30 p.m. the party assembled 
in the beautiful grove contiguous to the railway station. Here 
short addresses were given by some of the leaders of the Club. 
Mr. W. T. Macoun gave a practical taik on the identification 
of forest trees, showing specimens of the foliage of many kinds, 
which he had collected during the afternoon. Mr. Shutt drew 
attention to the fact that the unwise denudation of our forests, if 
continued, must eventually deprive Canada of one of her most 
valuable assets, viz. her magnificent water falls. The present 
reduced condition of the Chelsea rapids was pointed out as an 
object lesson illustrating this fact. 
Dr. Ami gave a briet sketch of the geology of the district 
and showed some interesting specimens which he had collected. 
He mentioned that the oldest and the youngest, or newest, rocks 
which composed the earth’s crust, were to be found at Chelsea in 
immediate contact. 
Rev. Mr. Eifrig gave an interesting talk on the migration of 
birds, instancing in special the migrating habit of our beautiful 
robin. Mention was also made of many of the common birds of 
the district, and songs of some of the species were mimicked. 
Mr. Haikett showed specimens of spiders, insects, etc. which 
he had captured during the afternoon, and gave interesting de- 
scriptions of some of these. A fine specimen of the large milli- 
pede, /ulus canadensis, was exhibited. 
Mr. Clark, the Secretary of the Club, spoke on some of the 
plants which he had seen during the afternoon, mentioning parti- 
cularly some of the ferns to be found about Chelsea. 
Mr. Cameron, of London, Ont., formerly of the Toronto 
Globe, in a few well chosen words congratulated the Club on the 
value and efficiency of its work. A. G. 
