64 



fine impromptu singing, the party reached the city about 8.30, and all 

 agreed, as they dis]>iu-sed, that, in spite of the heat and the mosquitoes, 

 they had thoroughly enjoyed their day's outing. 



The horses employed suffered considerably from the intense heat, 

 but everything possible was done to lighten their labors, the occupants 

 of the vans alighting and walking whenever a hill or a sandy piece of 

 road was reached. 



W. A. D. L. 

 :o: 



EXCUKSION TO MONTEBELLO. 



The second general excursion of the season was, owing to the threat- 

 ening weather of the 22nd June, the day fixed for it, the smallest in 

 point of attendance ever held by the club. Only twelve were present, 

 but of these five were leaders, representing the branches of botany, 

 entomology, ornithology and general zoology. It was intended to go by 

 steamer " Empress " to Buckingham, P. Q., and investigate the natural 

 history of that locality, but it was found impracticable to land there, 

 owing to the high water. Thus the little party, who had braved the 

 rain, were compelled to seek a field for their researches farther down 

 ^^he river, and they chose Montebello. The weather in the meantime 

 had turned out quite fine, and the excursionists, after exploring their 

 lunch baskets with very satisfactory results, set out to do the same by 

 the surrounding country. They found the hill behind the village so 

 picturesque at a distance none the less so on a nearer approach. With 

 its beautiful little brooks tumbling over moss-covered rocks, and winding 

 in and out amongst tangled thickets and open forest glades, its artificial, 

 but apparently natural, fountain, throwing a jet of water thirty feet 

 high, in one of the moat secluded spots of the mountain side, and its 

 wealth of birds, insects, and flowers, all declared it to be one of the most 

 beautiful and interesting collecting grounds ever visited by the club. 

 From the hill-top a fine view can be had of the river and the surround- 

 ing country, with the village, and the Papineau mansion and grounds, in 

 the foreground. Several rare and beautiful plants of the orchid family 

 were found by the botanists, and the workers in the other branches had 

 good reason to be satisfied with the result of their labors. A feature of 



