65 



the excursion in which much interest was taken was a competition 

 among the younger members of the party in plant collecting, for which 

 three prizes were offered. The first was won by Miss Marion Whyte, 

 with 97 species ; the second by Miss Lillie Ballantyne, with 73 ; and 

 the third by Miss Ida Whyte, with 46. Short addresses were given on. 

 the boat, while returning, by Mr. Whyte on the plants collected during 

 the day, by Mr. MacLaughlin on the insects he had captured, and by 

 Mr. Lees on the birds he had observed. The steamer reached the 

 wharf about 8 p.m., and the party dispersed, somewhat tired, but 

 thoroughly satisfied with their day in the woods and on the water. 



W. A. D. L. 



REPORT OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL BRANCH, FOR THE 



YEARS 1887-88. 

 To the President and Council of the Ottawa Field-N aturalists' Club. 



Gentlemen, — As no report from this branch was presented last 

 year, what I now have the honor to submit covers observations made in 

 1887 as well as 1888. 



The Ottawa was lower in 1887 than in any year since 1881, and 

 as a consequence the many beautiful shells which occur in that river 

 were easily accessible. From August to October numerous visits were 

 paid to Duck Island, the metropolis of the Unionidae in this vicinity, 

 and large collections of fine shells were there obtained. Unio ocoidens 

 was abundant along both shores of the lower half of the island ; and 

 from the thousands of this species visible in the shallow water, selec- 

 tions were made which rival, if they do not surpass, in variety and rich- 

 ness of coloring, any shells procurable from any inland waters in the 

 world. Indeed few sea shells equal in beauty this remarkable species, 

 which exists ia such abundance at our very doors. Why the shell 

 should vary so greatly in color under precisely similar circumstances is 

 a question not easily solved. Other species from Duck Island vary 

 greatly in form, though not in color ; while others again are remarkably 

 constant ; but all the shells found in the vicinity are much finer than I 

 have ever observed the same species to be in other localities. 



Our commonest Unio — the commonest, in fact, of the whole 

 Atlantic drainage ; Unio co'inplanatus — is there found in forms very 



