XXI. 



Ardrishaig, 24:th February 1860. 



It gave me very great pleasure to receive your letter. It 

 recalled to my memory the pleasant correspondence we had years 

 ago. I have been always proposing either to write to you or to 

 call next time I should be in Glasgow ; but alas ! the causeway 

 paved with good intentions leads to — nothing, as it turned out in 

 this case. I am thankful to you for having broken the charm, 

 and as you have spoken first, I hasten to speak in reply- — after 

 the manner of ghosts in such cases. 



I know that you are an enthusiastic naturalist, and that your 

 favourite department is that most fascinating one, Ornithology, 

 which offers the combination of science and sport, of out-of-door 

 intellectual exercise and amusement, in a greater degree than any 

 of its sister " ologies." I used to consider myself when slaughter- 

 ing the lona Sea-fowl as doing a little in this way, and instead 

 of being a mere animated ramrod, taking aim and loading up 

 again as fast as it can, I persuaded myself that I was doing a 

 little of what I might call the " Sport ornithologomancy." My 

 experiences have been very limited since I left lona. Certainly 



