274 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



gust had torn it from its moorings, and though 

 pursuit was made, it was never more seen or heard of. 

 In the following letter to Dr. Dohrn reference is 

 made to the visit of the Bradys : 



" MY DEAR DOHRN, 



" You will be thinking that I am negligent 

 in not writing to you before now. I have been 

 wishing to do so for some weeks past, but have been 

 waiting till I was able to write you something definite 

 regarding the stones for your tank. Shortly after 

 you wrote I engaged a person well experienced in 

 that way to procure them for me, and with the 

 prospect of having them without delay I was very 

 happy. After nearly two weeks' delay he sent word 

 that he could not find the proper kind ; that last 

 autumn a great many had been taken away for 

 garden rockeries, and that no good ones were left. 

 However, I have lighted on an out-of-the-way place, 

 where I have got some that I think will suit very 

 well, and with another party went and selected the 

 best we could find, at the same time bringing a small 

 boat-load with us. I had to leave that night (Monday 

 last) for Glasgow, but gave instructions that those 

 left were to be brought over to Millport pier and laid 

 beside the others. David is looking after a vessel to 

 take them from Glasgow to Naples. I doubt that 

 none will be found going from Glasgow in ballast, 

 but we shall do the best we can. 



" We have just had G. S. Brady and family with 

 us the last ten days. We were wishing that you had 

 been with us. We would have had a jolly house. 



