244 COMMENT AND CRITICISM 



COMMJENT AND CRITICISM. 



The fifteenth and sixteenth meetings of the Maynard Chapter were par- 

 ticularly interesting, and a number of highly instructive papers were given. 

 Among these Avas an account of the cone bearing trees by Miss A. S. Weeks. 

 The species of pines, spruces, hemlocks, etc. were clearly denned and the 

 differences between them noted. 



Miss Genevieve Doran gave an excellent account of the pines, showing 

 how the environment had produced different habits of growth, peculiar leaves, 

 roots, etc. 



Miss Margaret Haskell spoke of the winter berries, showing the differ- 

 ent species and brought out the idea that, although many of these berries 

 were, from their peculiar acid, or bitter quality, unfit for food of birds du- 

 ring the beginning of the fall, this condition was, in a great measure, changed 

 by the action of frost and then the fruit was eagerly eaten by the birds. 



Mr. Walter Gerritson showed specimens of the evergreen ferns and gave 

 an interesting account of their habits. The speaker showed that the fruiting 

 fronds became broken down early in the season and by thus lying prone 

 on the ground, afforded better protection to the spoors. 



Miss Helen M. Noyes gave one of her interesting talks upon mush- 

 rooms, the late fall species being described and their habits noted. 



The faunal areas of Mexico Avas the title of an interesting communica- 

 tion by Mr. L. R. Reynolds. The changing fauna, with the elevation of 

 the land from the coast into the interior, formed the substance of the paper. 



A fox sparrow was shown that was brought in by Mr. Greenleaf. This 

 bird had been found lying dead with three others, and a post mortem ex- 

 amination showed that it had been killed by striking some hard object, like 

 a telegraph wire, the carotid artery having been ruptured. 



A bittern was mentioned by Mr. Maynard that had also been killed by 

 a wire. Mr Quincy Pond remarked that in some parts of England the mor- 

 tality was so great among tde grouse from flying against the wires, that the 

 telegraph companies had been obliged to suspend wooden blocks from the 

 wires at intervals in order that the birds might see the wires and avoid them. 



