support approximately 10,000 muskoxen and have archaeological sites from 3,400 years ago to the present. (Canada's Green Plan News Release., PR—HQ-92-4l)

The honey mushroom Armillaria bulbosa is the fruiting body of a fungus which has an underground network of strands called rhizomorphs which are 'composed of bundles of microscopic filaments called hyphae. Two biologists from Erindale College, Myron Smith and James Anderson, who were studying these mushrooms in a hardwood woodlot in Michigan discovered that a 0.5 hectare area had genetically identical mushrooms indicating they were from a single fungus. Further testing showed that it covered 15 hectares (37 acres) and they estimated that it could be 1,500 years old. (Adapted from Toronto Field Naturalist 429:21)

The Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island has assisted the Island Nature Trust in the conservation of a piece of Herring Island, one of the Murray Islands near Murray Harbour, through the purchase of an Honorary Deed. Honorary Deeds make an excellent gift idea and are available from the Island Nature Trust at 566-9150. (adapted from Guardian September 19, 1992)

Mr. and Mrs. Randall Breitwisch saw sparrows opening the automatic doors at the main bus station in Hamilton, New Zealand by flying slowly past the sensors that work the doors, hover briefly in front of the sensors, or stick their head in front of the sensors. The goal was to open the door to allow foraging for food inside the station. (adapted from the Halifax Field Naturalists' Newsletter # 67, June to August 1992)

The Baillie Birdathon's support of bird conservation reached deep into the Maritimes to help support Piping Plover conservation through grants from 1990 to 1992 to Roland Chiasson, Sabine Dietz, and their colleagues in northeastern New Brunswick and in 1991 to Stephen Flemming who worked on stewardship, status, and nest-site selection in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. (adapted from Long Point Observatory Newsletter Vol. 24 #2)

ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR

Dec. 27 - This is the date for the Hillsborough Christmas Bird Count. A pot-luck for the counters will be held after the count (starting time approximately 6:00 p.m.). Please contact Dan McAskill at 569-4351 in the evening to register as a field counter (there is a small charge) or a feeder watcher (no charge).

Jan. 5 - A different venue will be featured at the Annual General Meeting with members giving 5 minute show and tell presentations and a maximum of 5 slides.

Jan. 14 - The Lady Slipper Naturalists will host an illustrated talk by Brenda Penak on Raptor Identification. The talk commences at 8:00 p.m. at the library in Summerside.

Jan. 16 - Dan McAskill will provide an illustrated talk on the Birds of Prince Edward Island starting at 10:00 a.m. at Mill River Resort overlooking their new bird village.

Feb. 2 - David MacKinnon will speak on the effect of herbicide spraying of forest songbirds in Nova Scotia at the Society's monthly meeting. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm Centre.

Feb. 15 - Heritage Day

Mar. 2 - Coastal Birds and Waterfowl will be the topic of Wayne Barrett's presentation for the Society's monthly meeting which commences at the Farm Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 6 - Dr. Lawson Drake will be our monthly meeting speaker and he will be offering a presentation on insects. The meeting commences at 7:30 p.m.

May 4 - The last Society meeting before the summer break will feature the Society's slide contest. The deadline for slide submissions will be

/ ’ - 11 -