EDWARD FORBES 17 



microscopic examination. Another year he spent some time 

 in Paris, and the following summer made an expedition to 

 Algeria. In 1839, he and Goodsir were dredging in the 

 Shetland seas, with results which Forbes made known to 

 the meeting of the British Association at Birmingham that 

 summer with such good effect that a " Dredging Committee " 

 of the Association was formed to continue the good work. 



It was at this meeting of the Association that Forbes and 

 his friends founded the " Red Lion Clubbe," which still 

 meets, not with the regularity of its early days, but on 

 occasions, for jovial dinners and good-fellowship— the old 

 " Lions," and even the youngsters or '' Cubs," under the 

 presidency of the " Lion King," roaring and growling their ap- 

 proval and disapproval, and even getting up and waving their 

 (coat-) tails, while some make witty speeches and others sing 

 amusing songs, generally specially composed for the occasion, 

 and as often as not parodying in a good-natured way some of 

 the serious papers or addresses given to the Association at the 

 meeting. Just as some of Forbes's best work was expounded 

 in successive years to the British Association, so some of the 

 happiest of his lighter efforts first made their appearance at 

 the " Red Lion " dinners. In this particular year (1839), when 

 he gave the scientific results of his Shetland dredgings to the 

 Section, he sang or chanted to the " Red Lions " his " Song of 

 the Dredge," of which I may quote a few verses here : — 



Hurrah for the dredge, with its iron edge, 



And its mystical triangle. 

 And its hided net with meshes set 



Odd fishes to entangle ! 

 The ship may move thro' the waves above, 



'Mid scenes exciting wonder, 

 But braver sights the dredge delights 



As it roves the waters under. 



Chorus : Then a -dredging we will go, wise boys 

 A- dredging we will go ! 

 A-dredging we will go, a-dredging we will go, 



A-dredging we will go, wise boys, wise boys, 

 A-dredging we will go ! 



O 



