[page] 21

ANECDOTE OF THE LATE CHARLES DARWIN.

BY REV. E. M. GELDART, M.A.

AS an instance at once of the modesty and penetration of this greatest of English naturalists, now alas no more, I may relate the following anecdote, for the truth of which I can vouch:—Some boys found first a Dytiscus, and afterwards some frogs, with small fresh water mussels clinging to their hind legs. Puzzled by the phenomenon they made bold to write to Mr. Darwin asking him if he could throw any light upon the subject. In return they received a very kind answer thanking them for the very great light which they had thrown on a problem which had long puzzled him, viz.:—How it came about that mussels which can neither fly nor walk can migrate from one pond to another. Let this be an encouragement to all young naturalists, not only to observe but to record their observations.