478 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



North Pole, at that time but recently returned from 

 his celebrated expedition. One evening, just before 

 retiring to rest, we chanced, innocently enough, to 

 express a wish to procure some Razor-shells muskins, 

 as they are there called, and were informed that the 

 nearest point where they were obtainable was on 

 some sand-banks in the vicinity of Glenluce ; " how- 

 ever," said Sir John, "I will consult the almanac as to 

 the state of the tides (the muskins being only obtain- 

 able at very low water), and shall be happy to drive 

 you over." Of course, after expressing our obligations, 

 we went to our chamber, and were soon soundly 

 asleep, in blissful ignorance of the fate we had so 

 inadvertently brought upon ourselves. Our slumbers 

 did not last long ; about half-past two in the morning 

 we were hailed by the stentorian voice of Sir John at 

 our bed-side, informing us that he found it would be 

 low- water in the bay of Luce at half-past five o' clock 

 that he had ordered the pony-chaise to be at the 

 door at three, and that there was only half an hour at 

 our disposal to dress and get some breakfast. 



I cannot say that the morning was particularly 

 inviting for a ride, or that I looked upon the prospect 

 before us with very pleasurable emotions. The month 

 of November is at the best but ill-adapted to a na- 

 turalizing excursion; and, on the present occasion, 

 not only was it intensely dark, but a Scotch mist 

 hung around us like a London fog, through which 

 the snow, as it came down in broad flakes, descended 

 in silent profusion. However, as Sir John said that 

 was of no consequence, off we drove, my teeth chat- 

 tering with cold, as if in a fit of the ague ; but it was 



