Philip Henry Gosse. 369 



great activity and pertinacity, all these combined to make 

 Philip Gosse a technical observer of unusually high rank." 



Notes on the Flora of St. Helen's Island, 

 Montreal. ' 



By D. P. Penhallow. 



In the latter part of June of the present year, a visit was 

 paid to St. Helen's Island, not so much in the expectation 

 of discovering any striking features in the flora of that 

 delightful park, as for a quiet afternoon's enjoyment. It 

 was, therefore, a matter of considerable surprise to find not 

 only a rather rich flora for so small an area, but several 

 species not found elsewhere or but rarely, growing in con- 

 siderable abundance. Mr. Henry Mott has recently drawn 

 my attention to a little book on St. Helen's Island, by A. 

 Achintre and Dr. J. A. Crevier, '-' in which an account of 

 the plants is given. The list comprises ninety species for 

 the entire season, a number probably much below what 

 would actually be found by careful examination. So far as 

 we are aware this is the only list published up to date. It 

 is much to be hoped that the short list now given may be 

 extended and made complete in the near future. It com- 

 prises some plants not noted in the list above referred to. 



It may be noted that the peculiar situation of the 

 Island, surrounded as it is by a large body of water, undoubt- 

 edly tends to more equable conditions than obtain on the 

 main land, and hence favor the establishment there of 

 species which might not be found elsewhere in the neighbor- 

 hood of Montreal. The former occupation of the Island as 

 a military post by the British troops, would also sorve in 

 large measure to account for the presence of several species 

 which do not flourish elsewhere. 



As we follow the main walk leading from the landing to 

 the band stand, and about two thirds way across the Island, 



1 Contribution from the Botanical Club of Canada. 



3 L'Isle Ste. Helene, passe\ present et avenir, par MM. A. Achintre et .1. A. 

 Crevier, M.D., Montreal, des ateliers du journal Le National, 1876. 



