28 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 
The tufts of crimson and orange colored fibres that serve as a 
“nidus ” to the larvee of the gall cynips of the Dog Rose bush, (that, 
a few years since, grew abundantly on the Hamilton commons, not 
far from the Insane Asylum,) may be mentioned in this connection. 
In the prominent white involucre of several of the Dog woods 
(natural order cornacee) and notably in Cornus Canadensis the 
“bluffing” whim seems to come to the surface, and make one think 
of a flourish about one of the capital letters in nature’s penmanship, 
or “splurge” of paper shirt collar in the attire of a “‘ dude,” ex- 
pressing the sentiment, “‘ Beware of spurious imitations,” for ‘all is 
not gold that glitters.” Then the seemingly superfluous amount of 
petalism in the Guelder Rose, Viburnum lantanoides, and in the 
Snowball, V. opudus, as well as the profuse production of rainbow 
hues throughout the domains of Flora, and in autumnal foliage tints, 
leads an observer to surmise that mere utilitarian purposes are not 
the only ones kept in view by the Omniscient Designer of the 
universe. 
Nov. 24th, 1892. 
le 
There are now many indications that the spring season is at 
hand. Although there was this morning severe frost and a keen, 
raw northeast air, yet at sunrise the Robins broke out in cheerful 
song, and the melodious warbling of the Blue-bird seemed con- 
tinuous. ‘The sights and sounds peculiar to the operations of maple 
sugar-making are seen and heard on every hand. ‘The past winter 
was characterized by much snow and cold in its latter half, but I 
think with less frosty winds than in normal Canadian winters. 
Decided signs of a relaxation of the cold were manifested during 
the first week of the present month, and a few Blue-birds appeared 
near here in the mild sunshine of the 8th, although the snow was at 
least two feet deep in the woods. Mild cloudy weather continuing, 
with disposition to fog and rain, Robins made their appearance 
hereabouts on the morning of the 1oth, which is, perhaps, two or 
three days later than last year’s coming of these birds. Although 
there have been several wintry spells since the middle of the month, 
the birds have made good their presence in the woods and orchards 
every day. 
The large Meadow-larks were first reported in song on the 
17th instant, and have been quite musical almost every day since 
