CHAPTER XVIII. 



A GOOSE A STRAGGLER IT WAS CRACKIT 

 BEFORE THE SCILLY ISLES. 



DURING the close of 1871 and the beginning of the 

 following year, Robertson was writing long and 

 erudite letters to various scientific friends, Professor 

 Young, Mr. Robert Craig, Mr. James Rennie, Mr. B. 

 Pettigrew, Mr. T. A. Mahony, and others, on the 

 boulder clay, suggesting improvements in nomen- 

 clature, discussing the identity of various species, 

 asking for local details, and reporting progress. To 

 Mr. Kirsop he writes : 



" I should be much delighted ta get samples of the 

 mud of the Nile, or from any of the Chinese rivers. 

 I send a few opaque mounted slides, chiefly forami- 

 nifera from the Firth of Clyde, for your acceptance." 



But that his correspondence did not entirely consist 

 of geological and zoological minutiae will be seen 

 from the following letter to his friend the supervisor of 

 customs in the Shetland Isles : 



" January 13-15, 1872. 



"Mv DEAR MR. GATHERER, 



" You will think me very dilatory in reply- 

 ing to your kindness. As the weather had been very 



