IN MEMORIAM DAVID KOBERTSON. 29 



dredging for seaweeds he had often brought up shells and other 

 marine animals, and, as these had been carefully preserved by 

 him, he gradually brought together an extensive collection. 

 From John Gray and Thomas Gray, two members of this 

 Society, he obtained assistance in the naming of the marine 

 shells, which were then arransied in systematic order, and 

 cabinets provided for their reception. Having now got fairly in- 

 terested in marine zoology, he purchased some standard works on 

 the subject, among which were G. B. Sowerby's Illustrated Index 

 of British Shells, Forbes's British Starfishes, and Bell's British 

 Stalk-eyed Crustacea. From this time onward to 1860, his visits 

 to Millport were as far as possible devoted to searching for the 

 treasures of the sea. He entered into correspondence with the 

 leading authorities on the subjects which engaged his attention, 

 and his discoveries soon attracted the notice of British and Con- 

 tinental zooloorists. Thev also afforded materials for manv 

 communications to this Society. For a long period he con- 

 tinued to be one of the most frequent exhibitors of specimens 

 at the meetings, while the papers submitted by him were also 

 very numerous. Up to that time the information collected 

 regarding the marine fauna and Bora of the West of Scotland had 

 been fragmentary and imperfect ; but, besides furnishing stores of 

 knowledge on these subjects, his communications contained a 

 record of original observations and experiments on the life-history 

 and habits of these organisms which has proved of the utmost 

 value to students of biology. In gratefully acknowledging the 

 influence which these communications have had in raisins: the 

 Society to the position which it has since occupied, it is pleasant 

 for us to remember that the Society itself was largely instrumental 

 in developing Mr. Robertson's taste for natural history, and in- 

 ducing him to engage in those pursuits which he so long followed 

 with marvellous success, and with which his name will continue 

 to be closely and honourably associated. 



But his attention was directed to a much wider field than was 

 afforded by the study of existing animals and plants. He was a 

 keen and accomplished geologist, and was specially interested in 

 the memorials of long-extinct forms of life. 



About the year 1855 he joined the Eev. Henry W. Crosskey, 

 F.G.S., in the preparation of a paper on the Post-Tertiary 



