XVI BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 



colours, all of whom he seems to know by name ; and anon he picks 

 up strange shells with curious markings, and creeping things which 

 we pretend to admire at his suggestion, although the very sight of 

 them in reality makes us 'grue and scunner.' Odd fellows, I trow, 

 are these same naturalists, with their * books in running brooks,' and 

 their 'sermons in stones/ and all that sort of thing. But now our 

 friend has found some extraordinary prize, and calls us loudly to his 

 side, that we may share in his rapture. ' What a beauty we have 

 here ! ' he cries as we approach ; and hastening forward we find in 

 his hand (What dost thou think gentle reader? but we need not 

 ask thee, for thou wouldst never guess) Why, as we live, a huge 

 bloated toad, ugly and venomous, having a jewel in its head. We 

 venture at last to gaze with the air of a connoisseur upon the panting 

 Batrachian, as we think he calls it, and pretend to see great beauty 

 in the eye of the animal, which he explains is the ' jewel' alluded to 

 by the immortal deer-stealer. A full, true, and horribly particular 

 account of the monster's habits and mode of living is next inflicted 

 upon us, when the loathsome creature is at length, to our infinite 

 relief, permitted to crawl away." As Hugh had a good knowledge 

 of flowers himself, as well as of other sciences, his good-natuied 

 chaff, in this case, will be understood. 



As Mr. Kennedy's study of Botany advanced it brought him into 

 contact with the late Professor Walker Arnot, of the Glasgow 

 University, with whom he made many excursions, particularly for 

 dredging purposes, and in the collection of diatoms. Mrs. Kennedy 

 still retains a large accumulation of letters, the dates of which extend 

 over a period of twenty years, written to her husband by Professor 

 Arnot. These papers are of considerable scientific value as bearing 

 on the more advanced branches of Botanical investigation. Mr. 

 Kennedy also corresponded with most of the authorities on these 

 recondite matters in England and Ireland as well as in Scotland. 

 Amongst the names of Botanists with whom he was in communica- 

 tion may be mentioned, in addition to that of Arnot, the names of 

 Smith, Gregory, Greville, and Rylands. 



While studying diatoms, he came upon one or two which had 

 only been found once before, and in addition to that he was so 

 successful as to meet with at least two species which had never been 

 found by any other botanist. One of them was named by Wm. 



