96 
The Scottish N aturalist. 
Anchovies will ever become of commercial importance within the limits of our 
Firth, still if they should be ascertained to visit the deeper parts of the 
Galloway coast with any regularity in future for the purpose of spawning, their 
systematic capture might soon prove remunerative. — Robert Service, Max- 
welltown. 
REVIEW. 
The Naturalist of Cumbrae. — A True Story, being the Life of 
David Robertson. By his friend the Rev. Thomas R. R. Stebbing, 
M.A. London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner & Co. 1891. 
In the Rev. Mr. Stebbing, David Robertson, the Cumbrae Naturalist, has 
found an able and appreciative biographer. He has gathered together a large 
body of facts in the life of his friend, and if he has erred in marshalling too 
many before the public, the error may be ascribed to his anxiety to do his friend 
full justice. Though left without education in his boyhood," David Robertson 
has become, in mature age, " a distinguished votary of science." His remark- 
able life is another example of the success and distinction which the poorest 
may achieve. He was well advanced in life before his mind took a bent for 
Natural History, and his biographer places before the reader, who is assumed 
to be ignorant of the subject, a popular account of the pursuits and investiga- 
tions of a Naturalist. 
The leisure of the last thirty years or so of his life has given Mr. Robertson 
opportunity for continued and fruitful scientific work. Among the Cumacea, 
Copepoda, Ostracoda and Foraminifera he has done specially good work. 
Among these lowly forms of marine life he has discovered several species new 
to science, and a genus, as well as numerous species, has been named in his 
honour. His large collection of microscopical forms of the marine fauna, 
found round the Cumbrae islands, has frequently been referred to by well- 
known scientists, several of whom have had to appeal to him for living speci- 
mens of some of the raier species. Mr. Robertson, however, is no mere 
collector of specimens, although his collections have tended greatly to advance 
scientific knowledge. He has solved several problems of biological interest 
in the life-history of the Echinoderms, Crustaceans, and Molluscs. His ex- 
plorations, too, have not been confined to the Clyde, but have extended to 
England, Ireland, and the coasts of Norway. 
Mr, Robertson's first publication seems to have been a contribution in 
1858 to the Annals and Magazines of Natural History On the Habits of the 
Common Mussel." Since then he has been a frequent contributor to scientific 
periodicals, includinij the Quarterly Journals of the Geological and Micro- 
scopical Societies. Even now, entering on his 85th year, Mr. Robertson's 
zeal for Natural History pursuits is unabated, for "he is still ready to observe 
and to record." 
The pleasant way in which the story is told makes the biography full of 
interest from beginning to end. It is a most enjoyable book, and one which 
will do everyone good to read, whether interested in Natural History or not. 
