NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 9.0. BOX 2346, CHARLOTTETOWN ClA 8C1

MEETINGS are held on the first Tuesday of the month (except June, July, August and September) at 8:00 p.m. at the Farm Centre on University Ave- nue, Charlottetown. Members and non-members are welcome.

MEMBERSHIP is open to anyone interested in the natural history of Prince Edward Island. Membership is available at any meeting or by contacting Dan McAskill, RR#5, Charlottetown, P.E.I. ClA 7J8 (phone 569—4351). Annual rates are as follows: regular - $4; student - $2; family - $5. Renewals are due in early January.

1989 EXECUTIVE: President . . . . . . . . . ...Susan Stephenson, Winsloe 368—2789 Vice-President..Patrick Wootton, Charlottetown 892-5761 Past-President....Rosemary Curley, Summerville 838-4309

Treasurer..... . . . . . .......Dan McAskill, Donagh 569—4351 Secretary . . . . .....Gerald MacDonald, Monticello 687-3314 Directors. . . . . . .....Ruth Richman, Baldwin Road 838-2678

........Jean Ouellette, Charlottetown 892-5276

NEWSLETTERS are published bi-monthly. Articles, notes, reports, drawings, 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 observa- tions recorded so that others may learn from them. "Today's notations become tomorrow's history". All contributions should be sent to:

Gary Schneider,

RR#6,

Cardigan, P.E.I. COA 1G0

Phone: 838-2678

The Natural History Society gratefully acknowledges financial assistance from the Department of Transportation and Public Works which enables the newsletters to be distributed to schools and libraries and to members.

The Natural History Society of P.E.I. is a member organization of the Can— adian Nature Federation. The Society is a registered, non-profit organi- zation. Editors of other newsletters are welcome to reprint articles from the Island Naturalist (except when copyrighted) but acknowledgement would be appreciated.

ThIS month's cover

The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) ranges in size from 24—40" and its ' distinctive black "mask" makes it easy to identify. It is red-

dish brown (with black) above and grayish below, and the tail

has white and black rings. This mammal is common on Prince "'zj‘” Edward Island, often seen in evening near bird feeders, and v v frequents wooded areas near streams.

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