CHAP, xviii. DR. MEIKLEJOHN. 289 



value of his researches into the palaeontology of the 

 Caithness rocks. When Dr. Meiklejohn went to Thurso 

 in 1850, he sought an introduction to Dick through 

 Miss Eussell, bookseller, who had long supplied him 

 with books. "We at once called upon him," he says, 

 " and found him in his bakehouse, having just finished 

 his day's work. I was much struck with his appear- 

 ance. His massive forehead and fine features betokened 

 a man of great intelligence. I regretted that he was 

 not in a position to follow his scientific pursuits, free 

 from the cares of arduous daily labour. 



" On being informed that I wished to know the best 

 places for procuring specimens of fossils which abounded 

 in the rocks of the district, he said he would at once 

 accompany me to some good fossiliferous spots. We 

 walked out to Holborn Head, where, on an exposed 

 surface of the rock, a magnificent cranial buckler of the 

 Asterolepis was imbedded. This was the first example 

 of that fine fossil which I had ever seen, and I examined 

 it with the greatest interest. On our way back, he took 

 me to the bed of a small stream near the Bishop's 

 Palace, where numerous fossil fishes were to be seen. 

 During my stay, we had many walks together. His 

 acquaintance with the Fauna particularly with the 

 insects and shells and the Flora of the district, was 

 very great. I got much information from him on thost; 

 subjects." 



Their acquaintance continued. When Meiklejohn 

 returned to Thurso after his six months' study of sur- 

 gery and medicine at Edinburgh one of the first things 



