Obituary Notice of the late Br M'Bain. 257 



Survey of the Shetland Islands. This Survey was completed 

 in 1834, and in the autumn of that year the "Investigator" 

 proceeded to the Orkney Islands to commence the Survey of 

 that group. Whilst thus employed, Dr M'Bain, along with 

 Lieutenant F. W. L. Thomas, carried on a system of dredging 

 round the shores of the Orkneys, and in deep water between 

 the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The result w^as, that large 

 and interesting collections of the Marine Invertebrata were 

 made, the rarer specimens being handed over to Messrs Forbes 

 and Hanley, then engaged in preparing their splendid work on 

 the British MoUusca. Fine collections were also made of the 

 British Marine Algse, the rarer specimens of which were sent 

 to Dr Harvey when engaged in bringing out his great work, 

 the "Phytologia Britannica." In this work many of Dr 

 M'Bain's discoveries will be found recorded. 



At this time Dr M'Bain commenced a lifelong friendship 

 with the late Dr Bowerbank, of London, whose constant 

 correspondent he became, supplying him from time to time 

 with many rare and unique specimens of Sponges found in 

 Shetland and the Orcades, and which are mostly figured in 

 Dr Bowerbank's '' Monograph of the British Spongiadae." On 

 this subject, it may be here mentioned, Dr IM'Bain contributed 

 to our Proceedings an able paper, which will be found in Vol. 

 IL, p. 233. 



In 1848, H.M.S. "Mastiff" which had superseded the 

 "Investigator" in 1836, was paid off at Woolwich, having 

 comjoleted the Survey of the Orkneys, and Dr M'Bain did 

 not again serve afloat. 



In 1849, Dr M'Bain took up his residence at Elie, in Fife, 

 where he remained four years. Here he was by no means 

 inactive; Marine Zoology engaging much of his attention, 

 and in the Eev. Mr Wood's work, " The East Neuk of Fife," 

 will be found a most exhaustive list of the MoUusca and 

 other Invertebrata of the Firth of Forth, which forms perhaps 

 the " cream " of his work in that neighbourhood. 



Having been appointed i^aval Medical Agent at Leith, Dr 

 M'Bain removed to Pirniefield there, where he became the 

 intimate friend and constant companion of the late Professor 

 John Flemincr, who then resided at Seaorove in the same 



