NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND LTD. P.O. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. C1A 8C1

MEETINGS are held on the first Tuesday of the month (except June, July, August, and September) at 7:30 pm. 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 PO. Box 2346, Charlottetown C1A 801 (phone 566-1289). Annual membership is $16 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.

1999 Executive: President .................... ..Ben Hoteling, Tryon 658-2036 Vice-President ......... ..Mary Beth Harris, Battery Point 569-2665

Past President ................. ..Ray Cooke, Charlottetown 894-9695 Secretary ............................ ..Michelle Johnston, York 629-1393 Treasurer ............................. ..Jim Jenkins, Sherwood 566-1289 Directors - Program ...... ..Meike Keunecke, Red Head 961-2737

- Publicity ............ ..Murray Russell, Valley 659—2340

NEWSLETTERS are normally published quarterly on recycled paper. Articles, notes, reports, drawings, bird sightings, plant records, etc. are welcomed from members and non-members. If 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 sent to:

Dan McAskill, Newsletter Editor, NHSPEI Charlottetown RR # 5, Donagh, P.E.l. C1A 7J8 E-mail: phillips.mcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca

The next newsletter deadline is May 31, 1999.

Illustrations: The Society extends a special thanks to Em LaChance and Dover Colouring Books for their illustrations.

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges support from the Department of Education and Human Resources which enables distribution of newsletters to schools and libraries desiring it. 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:

This month's cover illustration by Em LaChance depicts sea-blite Suaeda maritime. This plant often occurs with the samphire or glasswort. Both are plants adapted to the salt environments of bare areas of the upper tidal zone of salt marshes and bays. The adaptations include protective covering to minimize cellular water loss.