12 BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



the college, it is quite evident that the larger part of this material was 

 brought with him across the Atlantic, though it may possibly have 

 been supplemented by orders subsequently given. In particular may 

 be mentioned a collection of European fossils, several hundred in 

 number, all duly named and classified, similar collections of minerals 

 and rocks, partly from the continent and partly from Scotland, 

 examples of slags and furnace products, models of iron and soda 

 furnaces, specimens of moulds and utensils employed in the manufac- 

 ture of china and porcelain, Sopwith's geological models, glass models 

 of crystals, etc., etc. In the botanical department, besides numerous 

 flowering plants, are many specimens of mosses, lichens, ferns and sea- 

 weeds, also identified and classified. 



Dr. G. F. Matthew tells me that he remembers Dr. Robb very 

 well, and when the former began to study mineralogy he received 

 much assistance and advice from Dr. Robb. This could only be on 

 the rare occasions when Dr. Matthew visited Fredericton and had 

 time to go up to the college. Dr. Robb took great pleasure in show- 

 ing and explaining the collections in the museum, among which were 

 specimens from the copper mines of Lake Superior, including an 

 example of quartz crystals containing native copper, which Dr. Robb 

 exhibited as a remarkable inclusion, not easily explained. It was 

 from him that Dr. Matthew learned that Rogers had found " Lingulse " 

 in the slates at St. John, and that there were obscure remains of plants 

 at the Barrack Shore in St. John city. 



A somewhat curious specimen is that of a Malay child, which is 

 partly double, having only one face, but four arms and four legs, 

 obtained from a sea-captain, and which so interested its possessor that 

 he sent all the way to Paris for standard works on the subject of 

 monstrosities. It is accompanied by a number of carefully executed 

 drawings, which indicate not only his interest in the subject, but also 

 his skill in the use of pencil and brush. This latter faculty is also 

 evidenced by the large number of pictures, some in pencil, but many 

 in water colours or oils, and embracing views of volcanoes, coral atolls, 

 coal plants, fossil fishes, etc., besides numerous geological sections, 

 which are still in the possession of the university, and which were 

 evidently made by Dr. Robb for the illustration of his lectures. 



A circumstance which must have greatly embarrassed him, as it 

 has his successor, was the want of access to libraries or books of 

 reference. This want he endeavoured to remove, as far as in his 

 power, by additions to the college library, and a review of the works 



