34 2 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



recommended that it should be sixpence, another 

 thought that threepence would be enough, but Mr. 

 Robertson carried the day for his own view that only 

 a penny should be asked. Yet so much interest was 

 shown in the boat and its contents that five to seven 

 or eight shillings, a day in pennies were received 

 throughout the season, without counting the larger 

 extra donations frequently given to the attendant for 

 his own perquisite. Mr. Robertson sometimes ventured 

 to hint to single visitors that it would be more appro- 

 priate and in accordance with precedent if they came 

 to the Ark in pairs. Since the fee was expressly in- 

 tended to keep out such idlers and disreputable persons 

 as deserve to be classed under the name of ' the Great 

 Unwashed/ he might have gone further and suggested 

 that clean animals should enter by sevens. He is not 

 averse to telling the story that one day, while he was 

 himself working in the Ark, with no other companions 

 but its marine treasures, a stranger came in and looked 

 inquiringly round. The gentleman was invited to, 

 inspect the various curiosities, and he listened with 

 attention to all that was said about them by one who 

 was no unwilling expounder of their various merits. 

 When all the wonders had been duly displayed, and 

 the tale of their virtues fitly told, the stranger ex- 

 pressed himself much pleased, and with very polite and 

 often repeated thanks withdrew. But this was not 

 all, for Mr. Robertson concludes, with a pleasant 

 twinkle, " he slippit also a shilling into my hand." 



To tell the truth, Mr. Robertson would probably 

 allow many shillings to be slipped into his hand by 

 appreciative friends or strangers, if by such means an 



