Changes of Residence. 151 



after being out all day in the fields, " with Thestylis 

 to bind the sheaves," the two gentle swains had 

 solaced their evenings with Buffon and with Homer. 



At the later period the winter climate at Udding- 

 ston did not suit his own health, and for this reason 

 he parted with the house there to his eldest son, and 

 determined to live the year round at Cumbrae, only 

 making excursions from it as convenience and in- 

 clination might direct. Under these circumstances 

 some additions had to be made to Fern Bank, which 

 the builder agreed to execute in four months, and 

 which he managed to complete very satisfactorily in 

 twelve. He has ever since congratulated Mr. Robert- 

 son on the good effect of his dilatory proceedings. 



These migrations have here been enumerated to- 

 gether, not for any special importance or interest 

 that they have in themselves, but to make the story 

 complete in its geographical and economic details. 



It will be observed that the principal place of resi- 

 dence was more than once determined by the require- 

 ments of the children, not by the pleasures of the 

 parents, and it may also be noticed that a change of 

 abode, which is a very insignificant detail on paper, 

 may mean considerable anguish of mind to the pos- 

 sessor of a fine and varied natural history collection. 



The inconveniences that did in fact arise from 

 time to time by the transfer from place to place of 

 Mr. Robertson's numerous specimens, were reduced 

 within moderate compass by the methodical habits 

 of a business man, and were borne with as much 

 equanimity as an enthusiastic naturalist can be ex- 

 pected to display. 



