Between tJie Two Cmnbracs. 273 



first visit to Millport, for a long letter to Brady, dated 

 November 25, 1871, in which Robertson discusses 

 the distribution of ostracoda, and the mistakes that 

 may arise from only examining prolific ground and 

 favourite spots, concludes as follows : 



" We are glad to hear that Florry is better, and we 

 hope she is still progressing. We trust when the 

 season comes round that we will again have the 

 pleasure of seeing you all at Millport ; and tell them 

 all, including Master Llewellyn, what a jolly time we 

 will have in the boat on the smooth bays round 

 Cumbrae." 



Many an older friend than Dr. Brady's little boy 

 has had " a jolly time " with David Robertson in the 

 boat on those smooth bays. But in the interest of 

 mariners who, like the great Lord Nelson, are liable 

 to be squeamish at sea, it should be added that those 

 bays are not always smooth. Let them not, therefore, 

 incautiously make a pilgrimage from the Muckle 

 Cumbrae to the Lesser, or they may be stranded for 

 the night, perhaps for more nights than one, on an 

 almost uninhabited island, with very disagreeable 

 waves and a daunting wind interposed between them 

 and their changes of raiment. 



Even those who are superior to the qualms of 

 sea-sickness, and who are skilled in navigation, may 

 meet with an unpleasant experience. Thus, in 1878, 

 Mr. Robertson's two sons had been cruising about 

 in a little yacht belonging to the elder, called the 

 Ripple. Shortly after they had landed, leaving their 

 vessel properly secured, they were surprised, in looking 

 from the hotel windows, to see it loose. A sudden 



T 



