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In the course of the summer of 1881 the Geological Survey made a remarkable discovery of fossils in the lower Carboniferous rocks of Eskdale in the south of Scotland. A number of new species of fishes were obtained, but the most startling feature of the collection was the presence in it of abundant well-preserved specimens of an ancient type of scorpion. A brief account of this discovery which appeared in Nature brought me a letter from Charles Darwin, which is inserted here as an instance of his keen and watchful interest in the progress of palaeontological research, and his generous

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impulse to further it by contributing to its financial support.

Down, Beckenham, Kent, Nov. 1881.

MY DEAR SIR,

I have been much interested by your account in Nature of the great "find" in the Lower Carboniferous strata. As so many scorpions were found, one might hope for other terrestrial animals and plants, if some new places were searched by blasting away the overlying rocks. But I daresay you would not think yourself justified in employing the officers of the Survey in such work. This leads me to make an offer,—and I hope and trust that you will not think that I am taking a liberty in doing so,—namely to subscribe £100 or £200 if you can find anyone whom you could trust to send, and if you think it worth while to make further search for the chance of fresh and greater palaeontological treasures being discovered. If my offer seems to you superfluous or presumptuous pray forgive me and believe me.

My dear Sir,

Yours sincerely,

CH. DARWIN.

In thanking the great naturalist for this characteristically sympathetic offer, I was able to assure him that we should probably obtain from our own resources the means of completing the investigation. I added that his hope that other animals might be found, had already been partly realised, for we had unearthed two specimens of small amphibians. So well preserved were some of the scorpions that their chitinous tests were still in some degree elastic, and the poison gland was sometimes still recognisable.

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It was a great gratification to all his many friends to see the modest, retiring Francis Darwin in the Chair of the British Association. He gave an opening address full of suggestiveness. At its close I was asked to second the vote of thanks to him. In doing so I pointed out how much help Charles Darwin had it in his power to obtain from his group of gifted sons. If there was any question of physics on which he needed light, he could apply to George, who stood in the forefront of the physicists of his time. If he desired assistance in any

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botanical investigation, Francis was at his side in a moment. If he needed any piece of apparatus to be devised and constructed for his biological enquiries, Horace was an accomplished mechanician ready at hand. Or if ever he had a question of finance to consider, his banker son William was abundantly qualified to advise him.