63 



when the foot of the mountain was reached, they did not forget that it 

 was lunch time, and before long had reduced the weight of their baskets 

 to such an extent that they could easily be carried up the steep moun. 

 tain road to the rendezvous at the west end of Kingsmere. 



After a short rest, a large number of the excursionists ascended the 

 mountain by the winding path prepared for the Princess Louise, while 

 two of the more adventurous climbed the face of the hill, a steep and 

 arduous climb, especially on svich a hot day. Here, spread out before 

 them, and stretching for miles to the east, south and west, lay the beau- 

 tiful Ottawa Valley, diversified by hill and plain, woodland and open 

 country, and dotted with scattered villages, hamlets, and homesteads. 

 Like molten silver under the now hazy sunlight, ran the Ottawa, sweep- 

 ing in grand curves across the landscape, here widening out into a 

 majestic lake, and there stretching its tributary arms to the north and 

 south. In the middle distance rose the towers and spires of Ottawa 

 and her twin sister, Hull, and to the north, as far as the eye could 

 reach, lay the " everlasting hills," their rugged deformities of outline 

 but little softened by their enfolding mantle of green forest. 



After enjoying to the full the many beauties of the scene, as well 

 as the delightfully cool breeze wafted from the lake at Aylmer, the 

 party started for the rendezvous and found it a good deal easier coming 

 down than going up. 



When all had assembled at the foot of the hill, they were photo- 

 graphed by Mr. Jarvis, who is a member of the club, after which the- 

 President, Dr. R. W. Ells, made a short but pithy address, which was 

 received in a manner that showed the popularity of the new president 

 of the club. He was followed by Mr. Jas. Fletcher, who, as leader of 

 the entomological branch, made some very interesting remarks on the 

 insects collected during the day. Mr. H. M. Ami then spoke in his 

 usual interesting way of the rocks which form the Laurentian Hills, 

 and which belong to the oldest geological formation known ; and Mr. E. 

 B. Whyte brought the proceedings to a close with a short but clear 

 account of the structure and habits of some of the most noteworthy 

 plants found in bloom. 



A start was made for home, by way of Chelsea, at 5.30 p.m., and 

 after a pleasant drive in the cool air of the evening, enlivened by some 



