. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. 52 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 84 stock, and the local purchase of simple farm machinery almost certainly precludes the intro- duction of Nardiis through these channels. Previous findings of this grass in Quebec were remote from Lac Carre and of small size; 1) on a raised sandy hummock in a bog near Lake Megantic, Megantic County (coll. Frere Marie- Victorin 1935)*, and 2) in a quarter-acre patch in an old field by a stand of cedars at Weedon Centre, Wolfe County (coll. Frere Marie- Victorin and James H. Whyte 1936)**. The single Ontario


. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. 52 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 84 stock, and the local purchase of simple farm machinery almost certainly precludes the intro- duction of Nardiis through these channels. Previous findings of this grass in Quebec were remote from Lac Carre and of small size; 1) on a raised sandy hummock in a bog near Lake Megantic, Megantic County (coll. Frere Marie- Victorin 1935)*, and 2) in a quarter-acre patch in an old field by a stand of cedars at Weedon Centre, Wolfe County (coll. Frere Marie- Victorin and James H. Whyte 1936)**. The single Ontario record was from still further away, a 100 yard long patch at Ilfracombe in the Muskoka district (coll. S. L. Thompson 1943) (Montgomery 1956). The only other Canadian stands, at Clyde River, , and Newfoundland (Dore and Roland 1942) could scarcely be the source of the Nardiis stricla at Lac Carre. How- ever, the few isolated stations in New Hamp- shire, New York, Massachusetts and Michigan are situated along the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways, which have branches over the Montreal area, and are followed by northern flying birds in the spring (Lincoln 1950). Ground-feeding sparrows or woodcock conceivably could have carried the needle-like grains in their plumage. Even one seed deposited in a soil perfectly suit- ed to this grass might have provided for a suc- cessful introduction. Nesting woodcock are quite common in the area from late April through the summer. Another possible avenue of introduction of Nardus stricta would be by European immi- grants who went hunting, and who conceivably could have carried over large numbers of seeds in their hunting clothing, particularly their pant- cufTs. (See Taylor 1968) The grass is very abundant on the well-hunted moors of the British Isles. It is striking that its establishment in continental Canada seems to be confined to wild areas suited for deer hunting or shooting upland game, and that sportsmen often pick up seeds on their


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