78 ARDENMOHR, 



Progress' d (as shown by retrospection, 

 And Darwin's process of selection) 

 Frog, fish, bat, bear, and chimpanzee, 

 Gorilla, bush-man, you and me ; 

 Then this grand progress drops the veil 

 Just when our grandsires drop their tail. 

 ' ' Is this my faith, sweet sages ? No, no ; 

 Think I'm an ape ? Why, cui bono ? " 



S. ABBOTT. 



I HAD been telling Major Duncan of some curious 

 stones which I had seen on the hill, and as he 

 expressed a desire for a specimen, I, this morning, 

 rose early, and went off before breakfast to find 

 some pieces of these stones. 



Although a bad riser, when I can conquer slug- 

 gishness I do enjoy an early stroll. And this 

 morning was perfection grey and still, yet no 

 mist ; and as I joyfully breasted the hill, feeling the 

 cool dry air, and breathing oxygen, ozone, or what- 

 ever stimulating gases do most abound on the hills 

 on early morn, I felt a sort of remorse for past 

 inaction, and even made resolves alas, too fleeting ! 



The grouse were flying hither and thither, and 

 crowing on the heather knolls ; while overhead 

 great flights of garrulous jackdaws were coming from 

 the rocks for their day's thieving and mischief. 



Sad miscreants, these dwarf corbies; they pry 



