356 facts and inferences, grave and gay. 



interesting and instructive, might easily be compiled, and 

 they would bring out the chai'acteristics of his mind 

 better than these can be described in any words of ours. 

 In the meanwhile, as it has been our lot to go over his 

 very extensive authorship for ourselves, and as we can 

 scarcely hope that the leisure of many readers will permit 

 a similar exploration, it may be an acceptable service if 

 we bead together on one string a few pearls and bits of 

 amber — a few of his poetic fancies, as well as of those facts 

 which carry a grotesque idea or good lesson in them. 



TEE CRABS OF ARRAN. 



Although crabs, lobsters, and other edible shell-fish, are 

 more or less distributed over all parts of the Arran coast, 

 they are most numerous in the southern district near 

 Pladda. We remember, during a former visit, beii: ; 

 witness to what was to us a novel mode of catching crabs. 

 We hap] ened to be astir in a small boat in Brodick 1 . 

 about three o'clock one beautiful summer morning. Our 

 chief object was to watch the soft uprising of those " fleecy 

 folds, voluminous and vast," which during early twilight 

 hours brood over the yet sombre valleys at the basj of 

 Goat-fell, and to watch the rosy tints as they descended 

 from peak to peak, while 



" Fair Aurora, lifting up her head. 

 All blushing rose from old Tithonus' bed," 



