PREFACE. 



WHEN it was first proposed that the late Mr H. D. Graham's MSS. 

 should be resuscitated and saved from oblivion, the present Editor 

 had by that time devoted a large share of personal attention to 

 the Natural History of the West of Scotland and the Isles. But 

 as he was aware that Mr H. D. Graham's Notes and Letters were 

 then under able editorship, and had been announced for publica- 

 tion, he considered his time and opportunities would be better 

 bestowed upon other districts which were not receiving so much 

 attention. Although a few occasions did permit of his visiting 

 portions of Mull, and he kept a few notes of such facts as he met 

 with, no special care was given to Mull until it became surely 

 ascertained that the volume on lona and Mull was not going to 

 appear under the editorship of Mr Kobert Gray ; nor were any 

 steps taken until after that gentleman's death to again communi- 

 cate with the family of Mr Graham regarding the Manuscripts 

 and Sketches, of which latter the present Editor retained a vivid 

 recollection, having seen them in Mr Gray's house in Glasgow. 

 A correspondence ensued with Mr Charles W. Graham, which 



