NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND LTD. P.0. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. CIA 8C1

MEETINGS are held of the first Tuesday of the month (except 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 ClA 8C1 (phone 629-1393).

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.

2000 Executive: President .............................. ..Ben Hoteling, Tryon 658-2036 Vice-President .................. ..Jim Jenkins, Sherwood 566-1289 Past President .............. ..Ray Cooke, Charlottetown 894-9695 Secretary ......................... ..Lois Doan, Rocky Point 675-2070

Treasurer & Publicity ..... ..Michelle Johnston, York 629-1393 Directors - Program.....Meike Keunecke, Red Head 961-2737 - Program. ..Eric Marcum, East Royalty 675-3 056

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.I. ClA 7J8 E—mail: nhspei@isn.net

The next deadline for articles, sightings or other newsletter information is February 21, 2001.

Illustrations: The Society extends a special thanks to Dover Colouring Books for their illustrations and to Bill Glen of the RBI. Department of Agriculture & Forestry for the new CBC map.

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 acknowledgment must be provided to the Island Naturalist, the author and illustrator.

Cover Illustration: The cover illustration features the Common Razor Clam (Ensis directus). When young, these clams will usually have a light brownish color. As they mature, the outer shell will be covered with a periostracum, which has

a greenish cast. Very old clams will have a dark brown, almost black, covering. This may vary depending if the clam is found in sand or muddy bottoms.