her finger and a drop of blood landed in the centre of the 
     
     lace pattern. 
     
    

    
     As the flower clusters mature they fold inward forming 
     
     a structure somewhat resembling a bird's nest. This explains 
     
     another name of the plant - "bird's nest". When the seeds 
     
     mature they can be easily gathered, rubbed out be hand, and 
     
     blown clean. These seeds can be an addition to your spice 
     
     collection. they can be ground in a food grinder or blender. 
     
     I have not tried this myself but hope to in the coming sum- 
     
     mer. Euell Gibbons, an authority on wild foods, is the author— 
     
     ity for this statement and he wrote of nOthing that he had 
     
     not tried himself. 
     
    

    
     The root of the Wild Carrot, though white in color, is 
     
     quite edible, and is an excellent source of vitamin A. Again, quoting 
     
     Euell Gibbons, it is possible to select over a period of time, a carrot 
     
     resembling a cultivated one. Gibbons tells of a lady in Maine who did ex— 
     
     actly that and came up with an excellent carrot that she said was sweeter 
     
     tasting that the commercial varieties. 
     
    

    
     For those who wish further information on Wild Carrot there are many 
     
     sources of information. I would suggest "Stalking the Healthful Herbs" by 
     
     Euell Gibbons; "A Sampler of Wayside Herbs; by Barbara Pond; "Magic and 
     
     Medicine of Plants" published by Reader's Digest. If a really complete 
     
     story is required, it will be found in "The Biology of Canadian Weeds", 
     
     Canada Agriculture publication 1693. Oddly enough, this very complete ar— 
     
     ticle does not mention the red or purple floret. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Nohxral Hlsfory SOCIETY updofe 
     
    
   
   
    
     The last meeting of the Natural History Society before the summer 
     
     break, held on Tuesday, May 5, saw some new faces among the 36 people in 
     
     attendance. Bruce Smith gave members a rundown on the meeting to be held in 
     
     St. Peters on the proposed Greenwich development. The Island Nature Trust 
     
     has been saying all along that they are not against development — they 
     
     are against the location of the development, and are trying to avoid con- 
     
     flicts between conservationists and the people in the area. There are 
     
     serious concerns about the development site and the Nature Trust is trying 
     
     to arrange a land swap with the developers for nearby government—owned 
     
     land. 
     
    

    
     May 15 marked the launching of NHS member Patrick Wootton's "Islands 
     
     of Silence touched by the Healing Hand". The celebrations for the book 
     
     took place at the Harris Gallery in the Confederation Centre of the Arts 
     
     and were opened by the Honourable Tom McMillan. 
     
    

    
     Ian Scott of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation told members that 
     
     he would like to see a Birds of PEI published, similar to Robie Tufts book 
     
     'on the birds of Nova Scotia. Included would be nesting records, migration 
     
     records, colour plates, etc. NHS members supported the idea, and Dan 
     
     McAskill suggested putting something about enhancement for each bird in 
     
     the book. 
     
    

    
     The society renewed itS'membership in the Canadian Coalition on Acid 
     
     Rain and postcards to be send to politicians to protest the proposed 
     
     LePreau II nuclear power plant were handed out at the meeting. 
     
    

    
     As always, the highlight of the May meeting was the slide competition, 
     
     this year judged by Glen MacEachern, an acomplished Island photographer. 
     
     The quality was again very high, and Mr. MacEachern's insights gave mem— 
     
     bers a better idea about what actually makes up a top quality slide.. 
     
     Jennifer Taylor scenic slide took lst place. Geoff Hogan and Dan McAskill' 
     
    
   
   
    
     took second and third respectively. Dan and Rosemary Curley took top honours 
     
     in the Wildlife category. 9