96 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 



BIOLOGICAL REPORT FOR THE SESSION 

 1898-1899. 



The work of the Biological Section has been almost wholly 

 confined to botany during the last session. A few new species have 

 been added to our list, but, with the necessary time at the disposal of 

 our more active members, much could be accomplished in the study 

 of forms scarcely known to us. The past winter, owing to the very 

 light snowfall, has been an exceptionally severe one throughout Ontario 

 and adjoining provinces and states^ many cultivated trees, shrubs 

 and herbaceous perennials, usually considered hardy, succumbing 

 to the abnormal conditions. Wild plants also seem to have suffered 

 to some extent, Cypripedium acaula, for instance, being com- 

 paratively scarce compared with the number noted in 1898. Toads, 

 so commonly found in our gardens and under electric lamps on the 

 streets, seem almost to have disappeared. A few young ones only 

 have been seen at edges of pools. Have the adults perished 

 from frost ? 



The additions to local flora are : 



Draba verna — L. 

 Viola cucullata — Ait. 



" populifolia — Greene. 



" Dicksonii — Greene. 



" vagula — Greene. 

 Stellaria graminea — L. 



Convolvulus spitham?eus — L. The plant listed by us under 

 this title is, according to Dr. Greene, Convulvulus stans — Michx. 



Nasturtium sylvestre — R. Br. This plant, which can be found 

 in low meadows near the town of Dundas, taken and Hsted about 

 20 years ago by J. M. Buchan, has recently been collected at Ball's 

 Mills, Lincoln Co., Ont., but it can scarcely be considered "new to 

 Canada." 



J. M. DICKSON, H. S. MOORE, 



Chairman, Secretary. 



