NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF PRINCE EDVVARD ISLAJND 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 Margaret Mallett, 53 Fitzroy St., Charlottetown, P.E.I. ClA 1R4 (phone 894-9595). 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 Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) is a common sight on Prince Edward Island, and this time of year is almost pure white as a camouflage against predators, while in the summer it's fur is brown. About 18"

in length, this mammal feeds on twigs (alder, pine and larch seem ‘ to be the favourites around here) and spend quite a bit of time near

the compost pile and bird feeders in the evening.