176 
THE CANADIAN NATURALIST 
seasoned^ it becomes of a light brown hue : it does not warp 
like the resinous woods^ and is often sawed into boards for 
many purposes. The young trees are sometimes cut into 
poleS;, which are set up as rails for a temporary fence, but 
they are not at all durable. It is almost useless as firewood 
when green;, being too full of sap. The basswood grows abun- 
dantly in this country, and is found in all situations, but 
most affects a low, and often a marshy soil. 
C. — I observe the red currant bushes in the garden are 
putting out their leaves ; and many other garden plants are 
beginning to shoot into active life (if vegetation can be called 
active) ; the bulbs of the Orange Lily f Lilium Canadense ) 
are above the surface of the ground. What very 
large bird is that sitting on yonder hemlock. Is it an owl ? 
F, — Yes ; and one that is much oftener heard than 
seen ; it is the Great Horned Owl ( Strix Virginiana^) a 
HORNED OWL. 
Strix Virginiana. 
