3i8 



LIFE IN MONTREAL. [Chap. VII. 



he visited with her the jails at Montreal, Kingston, and Brant- 

 ford. At Brantford they were much interested in the work among 

 the Indians of Mr. Gilkinson, the Government agent. After 

 taking his wife and sister to Niagara, he accompanied the latter 

 to New York and Boston, whence she sailed for England. He 

 then went, at the invitation of Professor Baird, who was at the 

 head of the United States Fish Commission, to Peak's Island, 

 near Portland, where their little dredging steamer was then 

 stationed. His young helper, Andrew, met him there, and 

 was very useful in picking out shells from the hauls. Philip 

 wrote : — 



" I stop at the 1 laboratory/ which is the U.S. name for a 

 scientific workshop, not specially for chemistry, and work up 

 the things. Not that I like it at all : the fumes of alcohol and 

 stinking crabs and echinoderms all day long are more hurtful 

 than the sea-air is beneficial. However, I can't loaf, so I may 

 as well do this as anything else. ... Of course, every one 

 wants to come up and look round, and no one dares say No ! 

 It was thought extraordinary when I walked off an inquiring 

 youth of some six summers, who made two unattended explora- 

 tions. They have also the usual American propensity, to poke 

 over you as you work, handle your things, and expect you to 

 talk to them. The others are much more good-tempered than 

 I, over the infliction. When the steamer comes in, the things 

 are brought upstairs, and quickly sorted into departments, and 

 put in fresh sea-water. . . . Figures from the life are carefully 

 drawn. We make the mollusks sit on the backs of their shells, 

 so as to see the under side. One very precious Chiton, not 

 before examined alive, I have been treating to-day to a glass y to 

 which having duly stuck, we turned him up (in the water) and 

 have been studying his way of living with great care. Of two 

 species, both very rare, we have found the largest specimens 

 known ; and have observed some things not before known, and 

 important to the history of the group. It has been worth my 

 while coming for that, and for talking over arrangements with 

 Professor Baird. They intend to begin printing my Chiton 

 paper this autumn, and I shall have to rewrite part of it, and 

 recast the whole. . . . 



