NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND LTD. P.O. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. CIA 8C1

MEETINGS are held of the first Tuesday of the month (except June, July, August, and September) at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown. Members and non-members are welcome. Please bring your coffee cup so that we will contribute as little as possible to the waste stream.

Membership is open to anyone interested in the natural history of Prince Edward Island. Membership is available at any meeting or by contacting the Treasurer at P.O. Box 2346, Charlottetown clA 8C1 (phone 569-3142). Annual membership rates are $12 and renewals are due in January. Membership expiry dates are shown in the top right hand corner of the mailing label.

The Society is directed by a volunteer Executive elected from its members.

1994 Executive: President........Ray Cooke, Charlottetown 894—9695 Vice-President . . . . ..Mary Beth Harris, Battery Point 569-2665 Past President . . . . . . ..Barbara Currie, Charlottetown 894—9297 Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Jean Watts, North Wiltshire 621—0202 Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Alma Steeves, Crossroads 569—3142 Directors — Program.....Linda Thomas, Charlottetown 892—7750 — Publicity ..David Cairns, Charlottetown 368—6080 NEWSLETTERS are normally published bi—monthly on recycled paper. Articies, notes, reports, drawings, etc. are welcomed from members and non—members. f you have seen anything unusual, please share it with us. It is important to have

your observations recorded so that others may learn from them. All contributions should be send to:

Dan McAskill, Newsletter Editor Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island Ltd. Charlottetown RR # 5, Donagh, P.E.I. ClA 7J8

The next newsletter deadline is June 8, 1994.

Illustrations: The Society extends a special thanks to Jacqueline Badcock, Dover

Colouring Books, Kate Poole, and Connie Gaudet for their illustrations for this issue.

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges support from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Department of Education and Human Resources which enables distribution of newsletters to schools and libraries and to members.

The Natural History Society is an affiliate of the Canadian Nature Federation and has representation on the board of the Island Nature Trust. The Society is a registered, non—profit organization (Part 2, Companies Act). Tax receipts are

issued for donations to the Society and these funds are used to further the work of the Society.

Reprinting: Editors of other newsletters and teachers wishing to copy classroom materials are welcome to reprint articles from the Island Naturalist (except when

copyrighted). Due acknowledgement must be provided to the Island Naturalist, the author and illustrator.

cover Illustration:

The false morel (Gyromitra esculanta) pictured on the cover is found in early spring in conifer stands and is considered poisonous. The reasons why some people can eat them without symptoms of poisoning while others are poisoned or why a collection

was edible one day and poisonous the next are still being discussed.