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CORNELL LAB of ORNITHOLOGY
LIBRARY

AT SAPSUCKER WOODS

 

 

Illustration of Snowy Owl by Louts Agassiz Fuertes

 

 

 

Ste er
 

CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
All books are subject to recall after two weeks

DATE DUE

GAYLORD PRINTED IN U.S.A

 
ith eren

IVA
LIFE OF A SCOTCH NATURALIST.
 

 

 
LIFE

OF

A SCOTCH NATURALIST:

THOMAS EDWARD,

ASSOCIATE OF THE LINNZAN SOCIETY.

By SAMUEL SMILES,

AUTHOR OF “LIVES OF THE ENGINEERS,” “SELF-HELP,” ‘“‘ CHARACTER,”
“THRIFT,” ETC.

PORTRAIT AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE REID, A.R.S.A.

 

NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,

FRANKLIN SQUARE...

1877.
hoa
QH
“St
E25
SG"
PREFACE.

Tue history of the humblest human life is a tale
of marvels. Dr. Johnson said that there was not a
man in the street whose biography might not be
made interesting, provided he could narrate some-
thing of his experiences of life, his trials, his difficul-
ties, his successes, and his failures.

I use these words as an introduction to the fol-
lowing biography of my “man in the street.” Yet
Thomas Edward is not an ordinary man. Eighteen
years since, I mentioned him, in “Self-Help,” as one
of the most extraordinary instances of perseverance
in the cause of science that had ever come under my
notice.

Nor was he a man of any exalted position in soci-
ety. He was a shoemaker then; he is a shoe-maker
still. For nearly thirty years he has fought the bat-
tle of scientific poverty. He is one of those men
who live for science, not by science. His shyness
prevented him pushing himself forward; and when
he had done his work, he was-almost forgotten.

How he pursued his love of nature; how he sat-
isfied his thirst for knowledge, in the midst of trials,
difficulties, and troubles—not the least of which was
14 Preface.

 

that of domestic poverty—will be found related in
the following book. Indeed, it may be said of him
that he has endured as much hardship for the cause
of science as soldiers do in a prolonged campaign.
He spent most of his nights out-of-doors, amidst
damp, and wet, and cold. Men thought him mad
for enduring such risks. He himself says, “I have
been a fool to nature all my life.” :

He always lamented his want of books. He had
to send his “findings” to other naturalists to be
named, and he often lost them. But books could
not be had without money ; and money was as scarce
with him as books. He was thus prevented from
taking rank among higher-class naturalists. He
could only work in detail; he could not generalize.
He had to be satisfied with the consolation that Mr.
J. Gwyn Jeffreys once gave him. “Working nat-
uralists like yourself,” said he, “do quite as much
good service in the cause of science as those who
study books.” Edward, however, doubted this; for
he considered works on natural science to be a great
help to the working naturalist. They informed him
of what others had done, and also of what remained
to be done.

Those who would know something of what Ed-
ward has accomplished in only one department of
his favorite subject should consult Messrs. Bate
and Westwood’s “ History of the British Sessile-eyed
Crustacea,” where his services to the cause of science
are fully and generously acknowledged. Of the nu-
merous Crustacea mentioned in that work, Edward
Preface. 15

 

collected a hundred and seventy-seven in the Moray
Firth, of which twenty were New Species.

In 1866, Edward was elected an Associate of the
Linnean Society—one ‘of the highest honors that
science could confer upon him. «Since then, how-
ever, he has been able to do comparatively little for
the advancement of his favorite study. He had
been so battered about by falling from rocks in
search of birds, and so rheumatized by the damp,
wet, and cold to which he was exposed at. night—
for he was obliged to carry on his investigations
after his day’s work was over—that he was unable
to continue his investigations in natural history.

In the Appendix will be found a Selection of the
Fauna of Banffshire, prepared by-Edward. I have
been. able to find room for only the Mammals,
Birds, Fishes, and Crustacea. I wish it had been
possible to give the Star-fishes (Rayed Hehinoderma-
ta), Mollusks, Zoophytes, and other objects; but this
would have filled up the book, and left no room for
the Biography.

It was not my intention to have published the
book in the ornate form in which it now appears.
But my friend Mr. Reid, being greatly interested in
the man and his story, and having volunteered to il-
lustrate the work “for love,” I could not withstand
his generous offer. Hence the very fine portrait of
Edward, so exquisitely etched by Rajon; and the
excellent wood-engravings of Whymper and Cooper,
which illustrate the volume.

It is scarcely necessary to say that the materials
16 Preface.

 

of the book have been obtained from Edward him-
self, either by written communication or by “word
of mouth.” Much of it is autobiography. Edward
was alarmed at the idea of what he had commu-
nicated being “put into a book.” He thought it
might do me an injury. “Not a copy,” he said,
“would be bought in Banff.”

However this may be, the writing of the Biogra-
phy has given me much pleasure. It has led me to
seek health amidst the invigorating breezes of the
North; and to travel round the rugged shores of
Aberdeen and Banff, in search of the views of bays
and headlands with which Mr. Reid has so beauti-
fully embellished the book.

It may be objected—“ Why write the life of a
man who is still living?’ To this it may be answer-
ed, that Edward has lived his life and done his work.
With most of us, “Hee jacet” is all that remains to
be added. If the book had not been written now, it
is probable that it never would have been written.
But it may be asked, “Is the life really worth writ-
ing?’ To this question the public alone can give
the answer.

Lonpon, Movember, 1876.
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
EARLY YEARS.

Edward born at Gosport, Portsmouth.—The Fifeshire Militia—Return
to Cupar.—Residence at Kettle—Settles at Aberdeen.—The Green.
—How Edward became a Naturalist.—The Sow Bet.—Stolen by
Gypsies.—The Inches, Aberdeen.—Fondness for “ Beasts.”—An In-
corrigible Boy.—Imprisoned at Home.—Sets the House on Fire.—
Is laid up by Fever.—His Recovery.—Birds’nests.—Rubislaw Quar-
ries.—The Wasp’s Nest ....... 0.0... . cece eee eeereeeee Page 25

CHAPTER II.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

Edward goes to School_—Plays the Truant.—The Fish-wives.—Bell
Hill—Grannie’s Plunge.—A Kae taken to School.—Edward’s Ex-
pulsion.—Sent to his Second School.—The Horse-leeches.—Edward
expelled.—The Third School.—The Sparrow’s Nest harried.—Takes
the Nest to School.—The Birds “chirrup.”—The Master bitten by
a Centipede.—Edward thrashed terribly.—Expelled from his Third
School.—A Night under the Logs.—Results of his Punishment.—
Hunt after an Adder.—The Adder sold.......... shicdirigyzaea wae 42

CHAPTER III.
APPRENTICESHIP.

Goes to Work.—A Tobacco-spinner.—Factory at Grandholm.—The
Banks and Braes of the Don.—The Brig 0’ Balgownie.—Spires of
St. Machar.—Working at the Factory.—The Sedge-warbler.—The
Kingfisher.—Country Rambles.—Apprenticed to a Shoe-maker.—
Charles Begg.—Shoe- makers’ Pets.—Begg’s Brutality.—Edward’s
Pets killed. Wishes to be a Sailor.—Tries in Vain........... 61
18 Contents.

 

CHAPTER IV.
RUNS AWAY FROM HOME.

Sets out for the Kettle.—His Provisions —His Money.—Tries to sell
his Knife.—Ruins of Dunnottar Castle—Bervie—Encounter with
Tramps.—Montrose.—Sells his Knife.—Sleeps in a Hay-cock.—Ar-
broath.—Sailors’ Wives.—Dundee.—Long-tailed Titmouse.—Cupar.
—Reaches the Kettle —His Reception.—Sets out for Home.—Un-
civility of a Gamekeeper.— Adventure with a Bull.—Rests near
Stonehaven.—Reaches Aberdeen.—Reception at Home.....Page 74

CHAPTER V.
RESUMES WORK.

Offers himself as a Sailor—Resumes Shoe-making.—Wild Botanical
Garden.—Tanners’ Pits for Puddocks.—The Picture - shops.—The
Penny Magazine.—Castlegate on Fridays.—Gun-makers’ Windows.-
—Tries to emigrate to America as-a Stowaway.—He fails.—Joins
the Aberdeenshire Militia—Chase of a Butterfly —Is apprehended.
—Is reprimanded and liberated.—Enlists in the 60th Rifles——As-
sists as a Pew-opener.—Leaves Aberdeen for Banff........... 85

CHAPTER VL
SETTLES AT BANFF.

His Employment.—Finds Time to follow his Bent.—His Caterpillars
_among the Workmen.—His Landlady.—Marries a Huntly Lass.—
Settled for Life.-—Self-education in Natural History.—Stuffs Birds.
—His Want of Education. Want of Books.—Shy and Friendless.
—Avoids the Public-house.—His Love of Nature.—The Ocean.—
The Heavens.—Makes a Collection.—His Gun .and Paraphernalia.
—His Equipment.—Sleeps Out-of-doors at Night.—Exaggerated
Rumors about him.—Frequents Boyndie Church~-yard.—Lies in
Holes during Rain.—Disagreeable-Visitors.—Awful Night in Boyn-
die Church-yard:—Moth-hunting at N’ ight.—Terrible Encounter with
Badgers...... ALR TSD Dee Bis Gene meal Puech ea ey tes 94

CHAPTER VII.

NIGHT WANDERERS.

Animals wandering at Night.—Their Noises and Cries. —The Roe-
deer and Hare.—The Rabbit.—A- Rabbit Fight.—The Fox—The
Contents. 19

 

- Badger.—The Field-mice—The Weasel.—Attack by a Weasel.—
Pertinacious Rats.—The Otter.—The Polecat.— Boyne Castle. —
Fight with a Polecat.—The Long-eared Owl—A Chorus of Frogs.
— Birds of ied — Landrail, Canc warbler; Rook. ee at
Night. ancda scare eaten iat mice solateoee . Page 109

CHAPTER VIII.
FORMS A NATURAL-HISTORY COLLECTION.

Situation of Banff.—Macduff.—Cliffs of Banffshire—Gamrie.—The
Fishing - boats. — Gardenstown. —The Fishermen.—Crovie.—Hell’s
Lum.—Troup Head.—Pennan.—The Dens of North Aberdeenshire.
—Aberdour.— Church of Aberdour.—Inland County of Banff.—
Ben Macdhui.—Edward’s Rounds.—Pursuit of two Geese.—Pursuit
of a Little Stint—Shoe-making.—Edward’s Traps.—His Collection
of Insects.—Collection aaah —Loss of Dried, Plants.—Exhib-
its his Collection at Banff. . 1448 had ted Wann aiouncne L380

CHAPTER IX.
EXHIBITS HIS COLLECTION AT ABERDEEN.

Aberdeen his City of Expectations—Dramatic Bird-stuffing.—Collec-
tion taken to Aberdeen in six Carriers’ Carts.—Exhibited in Union
Street—The Handbills—Appeal to the People. —The Expected
Rush.—General Visitors.—Professional Visitors.—An Interrogator.
—Edward disbelieved.—“ The Thing Impossible.”—Edward’s Vin-
dication.—Invites his Mill Mates.—Temperance and Drunkenness.
—Edward a Mystery.—A Lady Visitor.—Appeals to ‘The Mill-
ions.”—The Exhibition a Failure.-—Edward in Despaiz.—The Beach.
—The Flock of Sanderlings.—The Providential Bird.—The Collec-
tion sold.—Departure from Aberdeen...................+.. 148

CHAPTER X.
RESUMES HIS FORMER LIFE AND HABITS.

Re-enters his Desolate Dwelling—Return of his Family.—Begins
again—Redoubles his Zeal.—His . Paraphernalia——Ramble in the
Balloch. Hills.—A Successful Search.—A Furious Storm comes on.
—Crossing the Moor.—A Haven.—The-Chip-boxes destroyed.—A
Terrible Woman.—His Hat and Insect-boxes.—How to Preserve.—
20 Contents.

 

A Referee.—Edward’s Certificate from the TJustices.—Love of Bird-
nesting.—Accident at Tarlair—Falls from a Cliff, and is rescued.
—Draws on his Savings-bank..........--- 2-002 -see ee Page 171

CHAPTER XI.
BEGINS TO PUBLISH HIS OBSERVATIONS.

The Rev. Mr. Smith.—The Bridled Guillemot. — Grammar. — Scraps
from the Newspapers.—The Death’s-head Moth.—Butterflies and
Locusts.—Locustra migratoria.—Saw-flies.—The Spider.—Notes in
Natural History.—Rare Birds.—The Bee-eater.—The Bohemian
Wax-wing.—The Brown Snipe.—Edward’s Pursuit.—The Snipe es-
capes.—Adventure on Gamrie Head.—The Fox’s Lair.—The Preci-
pice.—The Peregrine Falcon.—Feeds upon its Prey.—Flight of the
Falcon.—Slides down the Rocks.—Discovers a Spinous Shark.—
Returns Home iiss 2 scans da.as s sae ogee datas aapedaere tigger see 190

CHAPTER XII.
RAMBLES AMONG BIRDS.

Mr. Smith’s Articles published in the Zoologist—Edward’s Power of
Observation described.iThe Beautiful Heron.—Cries of the Birds
at Ness Bogie—The Motherly Wild Duck.—Burial of the Wild
Duck.—The Pickietars.—The Pickietar Fishing—The Pickietar
shot.—Rescued by his Friends.—Edward’s Closeness of Observa-
tion.—The Turnstone.—Its Description—Its Labers.—The Turn-
stones turn over a Cod.—The Little Auk.—Sea-fowl Nurseries.—
Pennan.—Sleeps in Hell’s Lum.—The Sea-birds at Night..... 212

CHAPTER XIII.
LITERATURE AND CORRESPONDENCE.

Death of the Rev. Mr. Smith.—Mr. Smith’s Helpfulness.—Observation
of the Partridge-—The Rev. Alexander Boyd.—Loch of Strathbeg.
—The Water-fowl at Strathbeg.—Swans.—Geese.—Ducks.— Winter
and Summer Birds—The Ring Dotterel.—A Pursuit.—Mr. Boyd’s
Article-—Encouragement of Native Talent and Genius.—Death of
Mr. Boyd. — Publication of “Birds of Strathbeg” in Naturalist.—
Mr. C. W. Peach.—Writes Articles for the Zoologist—The Gold-
finch and Bullfinch.—Crows and Crab-shells—The Heron and the
Crows.—A Fight in the Air.—Crows, Hares, and Rabbits.—Cold and
Whisky. —Edward’s Health fails.— Again draws on his Savings-
Dat ieacsies ate cealere aaa Send haus aw Gace 8 ae cero ews Ree 280
Contents. 91

 

CHAPTER XIV.
BY THE SEA-SHORE.

Marine Objects on the Shores of Banffshire—Edward’s Sea-traps.—
Captures a Rare Fish, Bloch’s Gurnard.—The Incoming Wave.—
Big Fish the Best Dredgers.—Helped by the Fishermen.—Helped
by his Daughters.—The Cod’s Bill of Fare-—Haddocks.—Advice to
the Fishermen.—The Fishers of Macduff.—The Blue-striped Wrasse.
— The Saury Pike. —Yarrell’s Blenny.— Black Goby. — Equoreal
Needle -fish—Edward’s Self-education.—His Lost Letters.—How
he got his Fishes named.—“ Give him Books !”—Edward’s Enthu-
MAST 55.3 -n0 5 Bye cee el Was ahs ANele neta n Yee Mads oe ah agee: 200

CHAPTER XV.
DISCOVERIES AMONG THE CRUSTACEA.

Mr. Bate, of Plymouth.—His Work on Crustacea.—Praniza Edwardii.
—tThe Anceus.—Edward’s Letter to Mr. Bate-—Entomostracea.—
Parasites from Short Sun-fish.—Present of a Microscope—aA Pos-
sible Sub-curatorship.—Edward Disappointed.—Freemasonry among
Naturalists—Rev. A. M. Norman.—Fish Parasites.— ysis spinife-
ra.—New Species discovered. —Vibilia borealis.— Observation of
Eurydice pulchra.—Edward’s Difficulties —Nest-building Crustacea.
—New Shrimps and Parasites.—The Zoologists in Ecstasies.—The
“Sessile-eyed Crustacea” published.—Mr. Bate’s Eulogiums on Ed-
ward’s Discoveries.—New Crustacea found by Edward in the Moray
RTM ec. 2ichs Geter Sena Gencti Gas Bae Pee aimee nama et 264

CHAPTER XVI.
DISCOVERIES AMONG ZOOPHYTES, MOLLUSKS, AND FISHES.

Edward brings Home Zoophytes to observe.—The Star - fish.— The
Brittle Stars.—A Six-legged Star-fish.— Rosy-feather Star. —The
Great Sea-cucumber.—Dead Man’s Paps.—The Ascidians.—Want
of Observers. —New Ascidian sent to Mr. Alder.—Drummond’s
Echiodon.— Mr. Couch, of Polperro.—The Wrasses.—A Jumping
Wrasse.—A New Midge.—Couchia Thompsonii.—Colonel Monta-
gue.—Montague’s Midge.—Midges in Moray Firth. —Edward’s
Midge (Couchia Hdwardii).—Other New Fishes.—Difficulties with
the Museum.—Edward elected Associate of the Linnean Society.—
Other Societies elect him Member.—The eo without Honor
in his own Country”... .. 2 ....... - iva gana aenewe DBA
22 Contents.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
ANTIQUITIES—KITCHEN-MIDDENS.

Edward’s Iimess,—Studies Galvanism.—Curator of Banff Museum.—
Practices Photography.— Antiquities of Banff.—The Old Town
Cross.—The Drinking-fountain—The Kjékken-médding at Boyn-
die.—Early Population, Lapps or Fins. — Shelly - bush. — Investi-
gates the Shell-mounds at Boyndie——Loch of Spynie——Contents
of the Shell-mounds.—The Stone Period.—The Old Bone.—Conject-
ures about it.—The Old Bone condemned.—Sir Roderick Murchi-
son.—The Bone, Part of the Plesiosawrus dolichodeiras.—Banff Mu-
BCU eet Seesus ane Mo wead he As ew ast ciaked demltt Page 303

CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.

Edward’s Labors drawing to a Close—Still craves after Nature.—His
Wife accompanies him to Huntly.—Traps at Tarlair.—Another Dis-
covery to announce.—Nilsson’s Goby.—His Numerous Discoveries.
—His Observations at last accredited—His Self-reliance and Perse-
verance.—His Sobriety.—His Family.—His Power of Will.—Pride.
—Never Despair.—Money Considerations.—Things he has not done.
—Edward at Home.—His Outside Helpers.—His Failures.—“ Here
TAM STILE sag ka toe fa eudce PAR ee ead Re ees De adale wae 320

FAUNA OF BANFFSHIRE.

MANMANS§: 2c. s50 2452945964 debe Haid whanau een eater meuxauwen BOT
BERD Ss 5 45) 0155, 8-5 48 bie Gotten ao tee Sern aodon satan Blea Wee lata nook 341
FIsHEs.. 367
CRUSTAGER s ccch cn wa wenn teg Renn laek Same eRe Hee Ged Dearndche 381

ADDENDA. eee eee ete eee eee 389
ILLUSTRATIONS.

By GEORGE REID, A.RB.8.A.

Portrait or THomas Epwarp...

Engraved by
Bangs anp Brass 0’ Don...... J. W. Whymper.
AvLtTeN Links, ABERDEEN....... ”
Bria 0’ BALGOWNIE............ s
Tar Sprres or St. Macnar..... *
Caartes Bece’s Sxor, GaLLow- im
Sana ard:
GraNnpBoLM MILES.............
Rus or Dunnortar Castiz.... J. D. Cooper.
Distant View or Montrose..... J. W. Whymper.
CasTLEGATE, ABERDEEN, ON ED, Cones
DAYS io recceros vides wee cee eae
Boynpig CHURCH-YARD......... J.W. Whymper.
Tue Castle or THE Boyye..... J. D. Cooper.
FRASERBURGH ................. J Wo Whymper.
Bay or ABERDOUR............. AD. Cooper.
Movrs or THE Don............ AW. Whymper.
Tue SHorE aT ABERDEEN....... &
TarLain—VIEW OF Nonma eek FD Coop
or BANFFSHIRE,............-
Garam HeaD...............-. J. W. Whymper.

Vutace or Pennan........... SD. Cooper.

Etched by P. Rajon. Frontispiece.

To face page 27
Page 58

To face page 63
“ “a 65

Page 69

“73
“ "65
a oan

“ gg

To face page 102
ac “ 118
Page 128

“ 133

To face page 164
Page 169

To face page 182
“ rtg 200
227

“ “
94 Lltustrations.

 

Engraved by

Rep Heap or PennAN.... .... J. W. Whymper.
Bay or Boynpig, Fro ene: a‘

INKS 3.9.3 bo2008d cea ees Gees
BroaDses, NEAR FRaserpureu... J.D. Cooper.
Spynre CasttE anp Locy....... J. W. Whymper.
Banrr Musevum.. Ab tye ESS in
“Anp Here I am Baia aise as rs
Epwarp’s House, Low Suorr, a TD. Cooper.

BANFR oso yee dee hed

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS.

Map or Norta BANFFSHIRE...............0.00005

“© NortH ABERDEENSHIRE... .........000 0000. eee ee
PraniZaA EDWARDIL........... 00.00 cee eee e eee
Nests or NESsT-BUILDING CRUSTACEA............00...000-
Epwarn’s Mipce (Coucuta Epwarpil)....... ....
Tue “Avtp Been” in Banrr Museum............

Page 228

“

247

259
310
319

To face page 331

Page 390
 

BANKS AND BRAES 0’ DON.
 

LIFE OF A NATURALIST.

 

CHAPTER I.
EARLY YEARS.

Tyomas Epwarp was born at Gosport, Portsmouth, on
Christmas-day, 1814. His father, John Edward, was a pri-
vate in the Fifeshire militia. Shortly after his enlistment at
Cupar, he went to Aberdeen to join his regiment. While
stationed there, he became acquainted with, and afterward
married, Margaret Mitchell, a native of the place.

Not long after John Edward’s marriage, his regiment
was ordered to Portsmouth. Toward the close of the Con-
tinental war, militia regiments were marched hither and
thither, front one end of the country to another. The reg-
ular troops had mostly left England, to meet the armies of
Napoleon in the Peninsula and the Low Countries. The
militia were assembled in camps along the coast, or were
stationed in garrisons to hold watch and ward over the
French prisoners confined there. Hence the appearance of
the Fifeshire militia at Gosport, where the subject of our
story was born.

When the Battle of Waterloo had been fought, and peace
fell upon Europe, the English army returned from abroad.
The militia were no longer needed for garrison duty, and
the greater number of them were sent home. The Fife-
shire militia were ordered to Fife, and took up their quar-
28 The Green at Aberdeen. Lona. I.

 

ters at Cupar. During that time, John Edward’s wife and
family resided at the village of Kettle, about six miles south-
west of the county town. They lived there because John
was a native of the place, and had many relatives in the
village.

At length the militia were disembodied. Edward re-
turned to Kettle, and resumed his trade of a hand-loom
linen-weaver. After remaining there for some time, he re-
solved to leave for Aberdeen. His wife liked neither the
place nor the people. Kettle was a long, straggling, sleepy
village. The people were poor, and employment was diffi-
cult to be had. Hence Edward did not require much per-
suasion to induce him to leave Kettle and settle in Aber-
deen, where his wife would be among her own people, and
where he would be much more likely to find work and
wages to enable him to maintain his increasing family.

Arrived at Aberdeen, John Edward and his wife “took
up house” in the Green, one of the oldest quarters of the
city. Their house was situated at the foot of Rennie’s
Wynd, near Hadden’s “Woo mill.” There was really a
Green in those days, lower down the hill. The Denburn
ran at the foot of the Green. There were also the Inches,
near the mouth of the Dee, over which the tide flowed
daily.

Since then the appearance of that part of Aberdeen has
become entirely changed. Railways have blotted out many
of the remnants of old cities.*¥ The Green is now covered

 

* Some antiquarian writers are of opinion that the Green was
the site of ancient Aberdeen. For instance, Sir Satnuel Forbes, of
Foveran, in his “Description of Aberdeenshire” (17]5), says, “ From
the end of the last-mentioned straight street [the Upper Kirkgate],
there runs another southward and obliquely [the Nether Kirkgate],
leading also to the town churches, and terminates in a pretty broad
street, lying flat, and called the Green, the seat of the ancient city;
where the river Dee receives a small rivulet, called the Denburn,
covered with a bridge of three arches.” —Turrerrs’s Antiquarian
Gleanings, p. 290.
CHAP. I.] The Unruly Child. 29

 

with houses, factories, and the Aberdeen Railway-station—
its warehouses, sidings, and station rooms. A very fine
bridge has been erected over the Green, now forming part
of Union Street ; the Palace Hotel overlooking the railway-
station and the surrounding buildings.

Thomas Edward was brought up in his parents’ o in
the Green, such as it was sixty years ago. It is difficult to
describe how he became a naturalist. He himself says he
could never tell. Various influences determine the direc-

'* tion of a boy’s likings and dislikings. Boys who live in

the country are usually fond of birds and birdnesting; just
as girls who live at home are fond of dolls and doll-keep-
ing. But this boy had more than the ordinary tendency
to like living things; he wished to live among them. He
made pets of them; and desired to have them constantly
about him.

From his birth he was difficult to manage. His mother
said of him that he was the worst child she had ever nursed.
He was never a moment at rest. His feet and legs seemed
to be set on springs. When only about four months old,
he leaped from his mother’s arms, in the vain endeavor to
catch some flies buzzing in the window. She clutched him
by his long clothes, and saved him from falling to the
ground. He began to walk when he was scarce ten months
old, and screamed when any one ventured to touch him.
And thus he went on, observing and examining—as full of
liking for living things as he was when he tried to grasp
the flies in the window at Gosport.

When afterward asked about the origin of his love for
natural history, he said, “I suppose it must have origi-
nated in the same internal impulse which prompted me to
catch those flies in the window. This unseen something—
this double being, or call it what you will—inherent in us
all, whether used for good or evil, which stimulated the
unconscious babe to get at, no doubt, the first living ani-
mals he had ever seen, at length grew in the man into an
30 The Sow Bet. (CHAP. I.

 

irresistible and unconquerable passion, and engendered in
him an insatiable longing for, and earnest desire to be al-
ways among, such things. This is the only reason I can
give for becoming a lover of nature. I know of none
other.”

ae living at Kettle, the child began to walk. He
made friends with the cats and dogs about the house. He
was soon able to toddle out-of-doors. At first he wished to
cultivate the acquaintance of the cocks and hens and ducks,
of which the village was full; but they always ran away
before he could get up to them and caress them.

There was, however, another and a much more danger-
ous creature whose acquaintance he sought to make. This
was a sow called Bet, with a litter of pigs. Whenever he
was missing, he was found looking in at the pigs. He could
not climb over the paling, but could merely look through
the splits.

The sow was known to be ferocious, and she was most so
when she had a litter of pigs. Edward’s mother was afraid
lest the sow should injure him by biting his hands or face
through the bars of the cruive.* Therefore she warned
him not to go near the beast; but her warnings were dis-
regarded. When she asked, “‘ Where’s Tam?” the answer
invariably was, “Oh, he’s awa wi’ the pigs.”

One day the boy disappeared. Every hen-house, every
stable, every pig-sty, and every likely corner of the village;
was searched; but in vain. Tom was lost! He was then
little over a year old. He could not have gone very far.
Somebody raised the cry that he had been “stolen by the

- gypsies!” It was remembered that some tinkers had been
selling their brooms and pans in the village that afternoon;
and it was immediately concluded that they had kidnap-
ed the child. It was not so very unreasonable, after all.
Adam Smith, the author of “The Wealth of Nations,” had

 

* Cruive, a pig-sty.
CHAP. I.] Stolen by Gypsies. 31

 

been kidnaped by a gypsy woman when a child at Kirk-
caldy, many years before; and such things live long in
popular recollection.

A hue and cry was accordingly got up in Kettle about
the bairn that had been stolen by the gypsies. Their camp
was known to be in the neighborhood, about three miles
off. Tom’s uncle and three other men volunteered to go
early next morning. The neighbors went to their homes,
except two, who remained with the mother. She sat by
the fire all night—a long, wretched, dreary night. arly
in the morning the four men started. They found the
gypsy camp, and stated their grievance. They “ wanted
the child that had been kidnaped yesterday.” “ What?”
said the chief gypsy ; ““we never kidnap children: such a
dishonest deed has never been laid to our charge. But,
now that you are here, you had better look for yourselves.”

As the searchers were passing through among the carts
and tents, they were set upon by a number of women and.
girls, and belabored with every kind of weapon and missile.
Those who had neither sticks nor ropes used their claws.
The men were unmercifully pummeled and scratched before
they could make their escape. They reached Kettle in a
deplorable state—without the child!

All hopes of his recovery in that quarter being ended, an-
other body of men prepared to set out in another direction.
But at this moment they were amazed by a scream out-
side the house. All eyes were turned to the door, when in
rushed the pig-wife, and, without the least ceremony, threw
‘the child into his mother’s lap. ‘‘ There, woman, there’s yer
bairn! but for God’s sake keep him awa frae yon place, or
he may fare war next time.” “But whar was he?” they
exclaimed in a breath. ‘ Whar wud he be but below Bet
and her pigs a’ nicht!”*

 

* The question occurred, How did the child get among the pigs?
He could not have climbed over the paling; he must have been lifted
32 Fondness for “Beasts.” [cHAP. I.

 

When the family removed to Aberdeen, young Edward
was in his glory. The foot of Rennie’s Wynd was close to
the outside of the town. He was enabled to roam into the
country by way of Deeside and Ferryhill. Close at hand
were the Inches— not the Inches of to-day, but the beau-
tiful green Inches of sixty years ago, covered with waving
alge. There, too, grew the scurvy - grass, and the beauti-
ful sea-daisy. Between the Inches were channels through
which the tide flowed, with numerous pots or hollows.
These were the places for bandies, eels, crabs, and worms.

Above the Inches, the town’s manure was laid down, at a
part now covered by the railway-station. The heaps were
remarkably prolific in beetles, rats, sparrows, and numerous
kinds of flies. Then the Denburn, at the foot of the Green,
yielded no end of horse-leeches, powets (tadpoles), frogs,
and other creatures that abound in fresh or muddy water.
The boy used daily to play at these places, and brought
-home with him his “venomous beasts,” as the neighbors
called them. At first they consisted, for the most part, of
tadpoles, beetles, snails, frogs, sticklebacks, and small green
crabs (the young of the Carcinus manas); but as he grew
older, he brought home horse-leeches, asks (newts), young
rats—a nest of young rats was a glorious prize—field-mice
and house - mice, hedgehogs, moles, birds, and bird’snests of
various kinds.

The fishes and birds were easily kept; but as there was
no secure place for the puddocks, horse-leeches, rats, and
such-like, they usually made their escape into the adjoining
houses, where they were by no means welcome guests. The
neighbors complained of the venomous creatures which the
young naturalist was continually bringing home. The
horse-leeches crawled up their legs and stuck to them, fetch-

 

over. There was an old sweetheart of the quondam militia-man, whom
he had deserted in favor of Margaret Mitchell. It was believed that
she had maliciously lifted the child over the palings, and put him among
the pigs, most probably from spite against her old lover.
CHAP. I.] An Incorrigible Boy. 38

 

ing blood; the puddocks and asks roamed: about the floors;
and the beetles, moles, and rats sought for holes wherever
they could find them.

The boy was expostulated with. His mother threw out
all his horse-leeches, crabs, birds, and bird’snests; and he
was strictly forbidden to bring such things into the house
again. But it was of no use. The next time that he went
out to play he brought home as many of his “ beasts” as
before. He was then threatened with corporal punishment ;
but that very night he brought in a nest of young rats.
He was then flogged; but it did him no good. The dis-
ease, if it might be so called, was so firmly rooted in him
as to be entirely beyond the power of outward appliances.
And so it was found in the end.

Words and blows having failed to produce any visible
effect, it was determined to keep him in the house as much
as possible. His father, who was a hand-loom weaver, went
to his work early in the morning, and returned late at night.
His meals were sent to him during the day. The mother,
who had her husband’s pirns to fill, besides attending to
her household work, was frequently out of the way; and as
soon as she disappeared, Tom was off to the Inches. When
any one made a remark about her negligence in not keeping
a tighter hold of the boy, her answer was, “ Weel, I canna be
aye at his heels.” Sometimes he was set to rock the cradle;
but on his mother’s arrival at home, she found the rocker
had disappeared. He was also left to play with the younger
children; but he soon left them to play by themselves.

He was occasionally sent a message, though he rarely ful-
filled it. He went to his old haunts, regardless of the ur-
gency of the message. One morning he was sent to his fa-
ther’s workshop with his breakfast; but instead of going
there, he set off for the Stocket, several miles from town,
with two other loons.* Tom induced them to accompany

 

* In the North, loons and gueans are boys and girls.
Q*
34 Imprisoned at Home. (CHAP. I.

 

him. The Stocket was a fine place for birds and bird’s-
nests. They searched all day, and returned home at night.
The father never received his breakfast: it was eaten by
Edward and the loons.

As a punishment for his various misdoings, he was told
one morning that he was to be confined to the house all
day. It was a terrible punishment, at least to him. Only
a portion of his clothes was given him, that he might not
go out; and as a further precaution, his mother tied him
firmly to the table-leg with a thick wisp of thrums. She
also tied his wrists together with a piece of cord. When
she went out on family affairs, Tom’s little sister was set to
watch him. But he disengaged himself from his bonds al-
most as quickly as the Davenport brothers. With a mixt-
ure of promises and threats, he made his little sister come
to his help; and the two together pushed the table close to
the grate, when, putting the rope which confined his legs
between the ribs, it soon burned asunder, and he was free.
He next tried to find his clothes, but his mother had hidden
them too securely. He found a coat of his elder brother’s,
much too big for himself: nevertheless he put it on.

His mother’s feet were now heard on the stair. Tom
hid himself at the back of the door, so that he might rush
out as soon as she entered. The door was opened; his
mother rushed in, screaming, and Tom ran away. The ta-
ble to which the rope had been attached was on fire, and
the house would soon have been in a blaze. In quenching
the flames of the rope attached to the boy’s leg, he had for-
gotten, in his hurry, to quench the burning of the rope
still attached to the table. Hence the fire. But Tom was
now at liberty. He soon got rid of his shackles, and spent
a glorious day out-of-doors. He had a warm home-coming
at night; but the less said of that, the better.

In fact, the boy was found to be thoroughly incorrigible.
He was self-willed, determined, and stubborn. As he could
not be kept at home, and would not go a message, but was
CHAP. I.] Aguwin Escapes. 385

 

always running after his “ beasts,” his father at last deter-
mined to take his clothes from him altogether; so, one
morning when he went to work, he carried them with him.
‘When the boy got up, and found that he had nothing to
wear, he was in a state of great dismay. His mother, hay-
ing pinned a bit of an old petticoat round his neck, said to
him, “I am sure you'll be a prisoner this day.” But no!
His mother went down-stairs for milk, leaving him in the
house. He had tied a string round his middle, to render
himself a little more fit for moving about. He followed
his.mother down-stairs, and hid himself at the back of the
entry door; and as soon as she had passed in, Tom bolted
out, ran down the street, and immediately was at his old
employment of hunting for crabs, horse-leeches, puddocks,
and sticklebacks.

His father, on coming home at night with Tom’s clothes
in his hand, looked round the room, and asked, “Is he in
bed?” “Nal” “Far* is he?” “ Weel, I left him here
when I gaed to the door for milk, and when I came back
he was awa; but whether he gaed out o’ the window or
up the lum,+ I canna tell.” “Did ye gie him ony claes ?”
“No!” “Most extraordinary!” exclaimed the father, sit-
ting down in his chair. He was perfectly thunderstruck.
His supper was waiting for him, but he could not partake
of it. A neighboring woman shortly after entered, say-

 

* The pronunciation of the Aberdeenshire dialect is peculiar. For
instance, far is where; fat, what; tee, to; dee, do; feel, fool; peer, poor ;
byeuk, book ; been, bone, etc. It is said that Jane Maxwell, the hand-
some and beautiful Duchess of Gordon, was in the habit of amusing
George III. by repeating phrases in Aberdonian doric; and that his
majesty plumed himself on his ability to interpret them. The duch-
ess one day tried his mettle with the following: “A gangrel bodie oot
0 the toon 6’ Stanhive was i’ the way o’ wan’erin the kwintra wi’ a
bit basket owre ’er gardie, crying, ‘Fa’ll buy my black doctors fulpit in
a peel?’?” The gangrel bodie was a leech-seller of Stonehaven, and of
course the “ doctors” were “ whelped” in a pool.

+ Lum, chimney.
36 Reception on Return. [omar. I.

 

ing, “Meggy, he’s come!” “Oh, the nickem !”* said Tom’s
mother, “surely he’s dead wi? cauld by this time. Fat
can we do wi him? Oh, Mrs. Kelmar, he’ll break my very
heart! Think o’ him being oot for haill days without ony
meat! Often he’s oot afore he gets his breakfast, and we
winna see him again till night. Only think that he’s been
out a’ the day ’maist naked! We canna get him keepit in
frae thae beasts o’ his !”

“He'll soon get tired o’ that,” said Mrs. Kelmar, “if ye
dinna lick him.” ‘ Never!” roared old Edward; “Tl chain
him in the house, and see if that will cool him.” ‘ But,”
rejoined Mrs. Kelmar, “ye maunna touch him the night,
John.” “T’ll chain him to the grate! But where is he?
Bring him here.” “He’s at my fireside.” By this time,
Tom, having followed at her heels, and heard most of what
was said about him, was ready to enter as she came out.
“Far hae ye been, you scamp ?” asked his mother. “ At the
Tide!” His father, on looking up, and seeing the boy with
the old petticoat about him, bedabbled by the mud in which
he had been playing, burst into a fit of laughter. He leaned
back on his chair, and laughed till he could laugh no more.

““Oh, laddie,” said the mother, “ye needna look at me
in that way. It’s you that he’s laughin’ at, you're sic a
comical sicht. Ye’ll gang to that stinkin’ place, man, till
ye droun yoursel, and sine ye winna come back again.”
Tom was then taken in hand, cleaned, and scrubbed and
put to bed. Next morning his father, before he went out,
appeared at the boy’s bedside, and said, “If ye go out this
day, sir, Pll have you chained.” “ But,” replied Tom, “ ye
hinna a cooch;”+ for he had no notion of any thing being
chained but dogs. ‘Never mind,” said his father, “T’ll
chain you!”

 

* Nickem, a person given to mischievous tricks, The word is also
used as an endearing phrase: my bonnie nickem is eqtfivalent to my
little dear.

+ Cooch, « dog-kennel.
CHAP. I.] Is laid up by Fever. 37

 

The boy had no inclination to rise that day. He was
hot and cold alternately. When he got up in the after-
noon, he was in a “gruize.”* Then he went to bed again.
By the evening he was in a hot fever. Next day he was
worse." He raved, and became delirious. He rambled
about his beasts and his birds. Then he ceased to speak.
His mouth became clammy and his tongue black. He
hung between life and death for several weeks. At length
the fever spent itself, leaving him utterly helpless.

One afternoon, as he was gradually getting better, he
observed his mother sitting by his bedside. “Mother,”
said he, ‘‘ where are my crabs and bandies that I brocht
hame last nicht?’ “Crabs and bandies!” said she; “ye’re
surely gaun gyte;+ it’s three months sin ye were oot!”
This passed the boy’s comprehension. His next question
was, “ Has my father gotten the chains yet?’ “Na, laddie,
nor winna; but ye maunna gang back to yer auld places
for beasts again.” ‘“ But where’s a’ my things, mother?”
“They’re awa! The twa bottoms o’ broken bottles we
found in the entry, the day you fell ill, were both thrown
out.” “And the shrew-mouse ye had in the boxie?”’
“Calton [the cat] took it.” This set the boy a-crying, and
in that state he fell asleep, and did not waken till late next
morning, when he felt considerably better. He still, how-
ever, continued to make inquiries after his beasts.

His father, being indoors, and seeing the boy rising and
leaning upon his elbow, said to him, “Come awa, laddie.
It’s long since ye were oot. The whins, and birds, and wa-
ter-dogst at Daiddie Brown’s burnie will be a’ langin to
see ye again.” The boy looked at his mother and smiled,
but said nothing. In a few days he was able to rise, but
the spring was well advanced before he was able to go out-
of-doors.

 

* @ruize, a rigor, generally preceding a cold or fever.
+ Gaun gyte, becoming insane, or acting foolishly,
+ Water-rats.
38 Rubislaw Quarries. [cHAP. I.

 

He then improved rapidly. He was able to go farther
and farther every day. At first he wandered along the
beach. Then he roamed about over the country. He got
to know the best nesting places—the woods, plantations,
and hedges—the streams, burns, locks, and mill-dams—all
round Aberdeen. When the other boys missed a nest, it
was always “that loon Edward” that took it. For this he
was thrashed, though he was only about four years old.

One of his favorite spots was the Den* and quarries of
Rubislaw. There were five excellent places in the den for

- bird’snests and wild flowers. But he went to the quarries
chiefly to find the big bits of sheep’s silver, or mica, in the
face of the rocks. Edward was much astonished at the
size of the rocks. He knew how birds made their nests;
he knew how flowers and whins grew out of the ground;
but he did not know how rocks grew. He asked his par-
ents for the reason. They told him that these rocks had
existed from the beginning. This did not satisfy him, and
he determined to ask one of the men at the quarry, who
certainly ought to know how the rocks grew. “How do
the rocks grow ?” asked he of a quarry-man one day. “ Fat
say ye?’ Tom repeated the question. ‘To the deil wi’
ye, ye impudent brat, or I'll toss ye owre the head o’ the
quarry!” Tom took to his heels and fled, never looking
back.

Another favorite haunt was Daiddie Brown’s burnie.
There were plantations and hedges near it, and fields close
at hand on either side. Its banks were thickly clothed
with wild raspberries and whins—the habitats of numerous
birds.. The burn itself had plenty of water-dogs, or water-
rats, along its banks. That neighborhood has now been en-
tirely overbuilt. The trees, the hedges, the whins, and even
the burn itself, have all been swept away.

Tom’s knowingness about bird’snests attracted many of

 

* Den, dean, a dingle or small valley.
e

CHAP. I.] A “Byke” in the Wood. 389

 

his boy-fellows to accompany him in his expeditions. He
used to go wandering on, forgetful of time, until it became
very late. On such occasions the parents of the boys be-
came very anxious about them; and knowing that Tam
Edward was the cause of their being kept so long away
from home, they forbade them accompanying him again on
any account. When he asked them to go with him a bird-
nesting, their answer usually was, “ Wha wad gang wi’ you?
Ye never come hame!’ Even when Tom did get any boys
to follow him, he usually returned alone.

On one occasion he got some boys to accompany him to
a wood at Polmuir, about two miles from town, on a bird-
nesting expedition. While they were going through the
wood, a little separated, one of them called out, “A byke,
a byke,* stickin’ on a tree, and made o’ paper!” <A byke
was regarded as a glorious capture, not only for the sake of
the honey, but because of the fun the boys had in skelpin’
out the bees. Before they had quite reached the spot,
one of the youngest boys yelled out, “Oh! I’m stung, I’m
stung!” He took to his feet, and they all followed. After
they had run some distance, and there being no appearance
of a foe, a halt was made, and they stood still to consider
the state of affairs. But all that could be ascertained was,
that the byke was on a tree, that it was made of paper, and
that it had lots of yellow bees about it.

This so excited Tom’s curiosity that he at once proposed
to go back and take down the paper byke. His proposal
was met with a decided refusal; and on his insisting upon
going back, all the other boys ran away home. Nothing
daunted, however, he went back to that part of the wood
where the byke had been seen. He found it, and was tak-
ing it from the under side of the branch to which it was
attached, when a bee lighted upon one of his fingers and
stung it severely. The pain was greater than from any

 

* Byke, a bees’ nest.
40 Secures the Byke. [CHAP. L

 

sting that he had ever had before. He drew back, and
sucked and blew the wound alternately, in order to relieve
the pain.

Then he thought, “What can IJ do next?’ There the
byke hung before him. It was still in his power to remove
it—if he could. To leave it was impossible. Although he
had nothing to defend himself from the attacks of the bees,
nor any thing to put the byke into when he had taken it
down, still he would not go without it. His bonnet could
scarcely do. It was too little and too holey. His,stock- -
ings would not do, because he wished to take the byke
home whole. A thought struck him. There was his shirt!
That would do. So he took off his jacket, and disrobed
himself of his shirt. Approaching the tree very gently,
though getting numerous stings by the way, he contrived
to remove the byke from the branch to which it was hang-
ing, and tucked it into his shirt. He tied the whole up
into a sort of round knot, so as to keep all in that was in.

It was now getting quite dark, and he hurried away with
his prize. He got home in safety. He crept up the stair,
and peeped in at the key-hole to see that the coast was
clear. But no! he saw his father sitting in his chair.
There was an old iron pot in a recess on one side of the
stair, in which Tom used to keep his numerous “ things,”
and there he deposited his prize until he could unpack it
in the morning. He now entered the house as if nothing
had happened. “ Late as usual, Tam,” said his father. No
further notice was taken. Tom got his supper shortly aft-
er, and went to bed. ”

Before getting into bed, he went a little out of the way
to get undressed, and then, as much unseen as possible, he
crept down beneath the blankets. His brother, having
caught sight of his nudity, suddenly called out, “Eh, moth-
er, mother, look at Tam! he hasna gotten his sark!”
Straightway his mother appeared at the bedside, and found
that the statement was correct. Then the father made his
CHAP. I.] The Wasps’ Nest. 41

 

appearance. ‘ Where’s your shirt, sir?’ “I dinna ken.”
“What! dinna ken?” addressing his wife—‘‘ Where’s my
strap?” Tom knew the power of the strap, and found that
‘there was no hope of escaping it.

The strap was brought. ‘“‘ Now, sir, tell me this instant,
where is your shirt?” ‘“‘It’s in the bole on the stair.” “Go
and get it, and bring it here immediately.” Tom went and
brought it, sorrowfully enough, for he dreaded the issue.
“And what have you got in it? ‘A yellow bumbees’
byke.” “A what?” exclaimed his father and mother in a
breath. ‘A yellow bumbees’ byke.” ‘“ Did I not tell you,
sir,” said his father, “only the other day, and made you
promise me, not to bring any more of these things into the
house, endangering and molesting us as well as the whole
of our neighbors? Besides, only think of your stripping
yourself in a wood, to get off your shirt to hold a bees’
byke !”

“But this is a new ane,” said Tom; “it’s made o’ pa-
per.” “Made o’ fiddlesticks!” ‘Na, I'll let ye see it.”
“Let it alone; I don’t want to see it. Go to bed at once,
sir, or I shall give you something [shaking his strap] that
will do you more good than bees’ bykes !”

Before the old couple went to bed, they put Tom’s shirt
into a big bowl, poured a quantity of boiling water over it,
and, after it was cold, they opened the shirt, and found—a
wasps’ nest! .

 
 

CHAPTER II.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.

Epwarp was between four and five years old when he
went to school. He was sent there principally that he
might be kept out of harm’s way. He did not go willing-
ly; for he was of a roving, wandering disposition, and did
not like to be shut up anywhere. He hated going to school.
He was confined there about four hours a day. It might
seem very little to some, but it was too much for him. He
wanted to be free to roam about the Inches, up the Den-
burn, and along the path to Rubislaw, birdnesting.

The first school to which he was sent was a dame’s school.
Tt was kept by an old woman called Bell Hill. It was for
the most part a girls’ school, but Bell consented to take the
boy, because she knew his mother and wished to oblige her.
The school-room was situated at the top of a long stair.
In fact, it was the garret of an ordinary dwelling-house.

We have said that Tom did not like school. He could
not be reconciled to spend his time there. Thus he often
played the truant. He was sometimes arrested on his way
to school by the fish-market. It was then held in the Ship-
row, where the post-office now stands. There were long
rows of benches on which the fish were spread out. The
benches were covered in, and afforded an excellent shelter
on a rainy day.

Tom was well known to the fish-wives. “Here comes
the queer laddie,” they would say as they saw him ap-
proaching. And when he came up, they would ask him,
“Weel, man, fat are ye gaun to speer* the day?” Tom’s

 

* Speer, to ask a question.
CHAP. II] Plays the Truant. 43

 

inquiries were usually about fish—where they came from,
what their names were, what was the difference between the
different fishes, and so on. The fish-market was also a
grand place for big blue flies, great beetles with red and
yellow backs (burying beetles), and daylight rottens. They
were the tamest rats he had ever seen, excepting two that
he used to carry about in his pockets. His rats knew him
as well as a dog knows his master.

But Tom’s playing the truant and lingering about the
fish-market soon became known to his mother; and then
she sent for her mother, Tom’s ‘grannie, to take him to
school. She was either to see him “in at the door,” or ac-
company him into the school itself. But Tom did not like
the supervision of his grannie. He rebelled against it. He
played the truant under her very eyes. When grannie put
him in at the door, calling out ‘“‘ Bell!” to the school-mis-
tress up-stairs, Tom would wait until he thought the old
woman was sufficiently distant, and then steal out, and run
away, by cross streets, to the Denburn or the Inches.

But that kind of truant-playing also got to be known;
and then grannie had to drag him to school. When she
seized him by the “scruff o’ the neck,” she had him quite
tight. It was of no use attempting to lie down or sit down.
Her hand was like a vise, and she kept him straight upon
his feet. He tried to wriggle, twist, turn himself round as
on a pivot, and then make a bolt. She nevertheless held
on, and dragged him to school, into the presence of Bell
Hill, and said, ‘‘ Here’s your truant!” Tom’s only chance
was to go along very quietly, making no attempt to escape,
grannie’s clutches, and then, watching for an opportunity,
he would make a sudden dart and slip through her fingers.
He ran, and she ran; but in rugping, Tom far outstripped
her; for though grannie’s legs were very much longer than
his, they were also very much stiffer.

The boy was sent one morning to buy three rolls for
breakfast ; but after he had bought the rolls, instead of go-
44 Grannies Plunge. [cHap. II.

 

ing home, he forgathered with three loons, and accompanied
them to the Denburn. He got a lot of horse-leeches, and
was in the act of getting another, when, looking in the wa-
ter, he saw the reflection ‘of grannie approaching. When
he felt her fingers touching his neck, he let go the stone un-
der which the horse-leech was, and made a sudden bound to
the other side of the burn. He heard a heavy splash in the
water. His comrades called out, “Tam, Tam, ye’re gran-
nie’s droonin’!” But Tam neither stopped nor looked back.
He flew as fast as he could to the Inches, where he stopped
to take breath. The tide coming in, drove him away, and
then he took refuge on the logs, near the Middens; after
which he slunk home in the evening.

His mother received him thus: “Ye’re here again, ye
ne’er-do-well! creepin’ in like a thief. Ye’ve been wi’ yer
ragamuffins: yer weet duds tell that. That’s wi’ yer Inch-
es, an’ tearin’ an’ ridin’ on the logs, an’ yer whin bushes. But
ye may think muckle black shame ©’ yersel, man, for gaun
and droonin’ yer peer auld grannie.” ‘I didna droon her,”
said Tom. “But she may hae been drooned for you; ye
didna stay to tak her oot.” “She fellin hersell.” ‘ Haud
yer tongue, or I’ll take the poker t’ye! Think shame, man,
to send her hame in sic a filthy state. But where’s the
bread I sent ye for?’ “It’s a’ eaten.” ‘‘ We wad hae had
a late breakfast if we had waited till now, and sine ye’ve
no gottin it after a’. But ye’ll see what yer faither ’ill say
to ye when he gets hame !”

Tom was in bed by that time. He remained awake un-
til his father returned in the evening. He was told the
whole story by his wife, in its most dreadful details. When
he heard of grannie’s plash into the burn, and coming home
covered with “glaur,” he burst out into a long and hearty
laugh. Tom heard it with joy. The father then remarked
that grannie should ‘‘ beware of going so near the edge of
such a dirty place.” Then Tom felt himself reprieved, and
shortly after fell asleep.
CHAP. I1.] A Kae Taken to School. 45

 

The scape-grace returned to school. He did not learn a
great deal. He had been taught by his mother his A B C,
and to read words of three letters. He did not learn much
more at Bell Hill’s school. Bell’s qualifications as a teacher
were not great. Neverthtless, the education that she gave
was a religious education. She prayed, or, as Edward called
it, “ groaned,” with the children twice a day. And it was
during one of her devotional exercises that the circumstance
occurred which compelled Bell Hill to expel Tom Eeeuet
from her school.

Edward had been accustomed to bring many of his
“beasts” with him to school. The scholars were delighted
with his butterflies, but few of them cared to be bitten or
stung by his other animals, and to have horse-leeches crawl-
ing about them was unendurable. Thus Edward became a
source of dread and annoyance to the whole school. He
was declared to be a “ perfect mischief.” When Bell Hill
was informed of the beasts he brought with him, she used
to say to the boy, “ Now, do not bring any more of these
nasty and dangerous things here again.” Perhaps he prom-
ised, but generally he forgot.

At last he brought with him an animal of a much larger
sort than usual. It was a kae, or jackdaw. He used to
keep it at home, but it made such a noise that he was sent
out with it one morning, with strict injunctions not to
bring it back again. He must let it go, or give it to some-
body else. But he was fond of his kae, and his kae was
fond of him. It would follow him about like a dog. He
could not part with the kae; so he took it to school with
him. But how could he hide it? Little boys’ trousers
were in those days buttoned over their vest; and as Tom’s
trousers were pretty wide, he thought he could get the kae
in there. He got it safely into his breeks before he en-
tered the school.

So far so good. But when the school-mistress gave the
word “Pray,” all the little boys and girls knelt down, turn-
46 Sent to his Second School. [CHAP. IL.

 

ing their backs to Bell. At this movement the kae became
fractious. He could not accommodate himself to the altered
position. But seeing a little light overhead, he made for
it. He projected his beak through the opening between
the trousers and the vest. He*pushed his way upward;
Tom squeezed him downward to where he was before. But
this only made the kae furious. He struggled, forced his
way upward, got his bill through the opening, and then his
head.

The kae immediately began to cre-waw! cre-waw!
“The Lord preserv’s a’! Fat’s this, noo?” cried Bell, start-
ing to her feet. “It’s Tam Edward again,” shouted the
scholars, ‘‘ wi a craw stickin’ oot o’ his breeks!” Bell went
up to him, pulled him up by his collar, dragged him to the
door, thrust him out, and locked the door after him. Ed-
ward never saw Bell Hill again.

The next school to which he was sent was at the Den-
burn side, near by the venerable Bow brig, the oldest bridge
in Aberdeen,* but now swept away to make room for mod-
ern improvements. This school consisted wholly of boys.
The master was well stricken in years. He was one of the
old school, who had great faith in “the taws,”+ as an instru-
ment of instruction. Edward would have learned much
more at this school than at Bell Hill’s, had he not been

 

* The Rev. James Gordon, in ‘his “ Description of both Towns of
Aberdeen” (1661), says: “The bruike called the Den Burne runs be-
neath the west side of the citie; upon the brink quhairoff a little stone
bridge, at that pairt wher the brooke entereth the river Dee, the
Carmelites of old had a convert, whoes church and quholl precinct
of building wer leveled with the ground that very day that the rest of
the churches and convents of New Aberdeen wer destroyed. There
remayneth now onlie ane kilne, which standeth in ‘the outmost south
corner of the citie, known this day by the name of the Freer Kilne.”

| The “taws” consist of a leather strap about three fect long, cut
into tails at the end. Sometimes the ends are burned, to make them
hit hard. They are applied to the back, or the “ palmies ”—that is,
the palm of the hand.
cHap.u.|]  Lxpelled from School again. 47

 

so near his favorite haunt, the Denburn. He was making
rapid progress with his reading, and was going on well with
his arithmetic, when his usual misfortune occurred.

One day he had gone to school earlier than usual. The
door was not open, and to while away his time he went
down to the Denburn. He found plenty of horse-leeches,
and a number of the grubs of water-flies. He had put
them into the bottom of a broken bottle, when one of the
scholars came running up, crying, “Tam, Tam, the school’s
in!” Knowing the penalty of being behind time, Tom flew
after the boy, without thinking of the bottle he had in his
hand. He contrived, however, to get it into the school,
and deposited it in a corner beside him, without being ob-
served.

All passed on smoothly for about half an hour, when one
of the scholars gave a loud scream, and started from his
seat. The master’s attention was instantly attracted, and
he came down from the desk, taws in hand. “ What’s
this?” he cried. “It’s a horse-leech crawlin’ up my leg!”
“A horse-leech?” “Yes, sir, and see,” pointing to the
corner in which Tom kept his treasure, “there’s a bottle
fu’ o’ them!’ “Give me the bottle!” said the master;
and, looking at the culprit, he said, “You come this way,
Master Edward!” Edward followed him, quaking. On
reaching the desk, he stopped, and, holding out the bottle,
said, “ That’s yours, is it not?’ “Yes.” “Take it, then;
that is the way out,” pointing to the door; “go as fast as
you can, and never come back;-and take that too,” bring-
ing the taws down heavily upon his back. Tom thought
that his back was broken, and that he would never get his
breath again.

A few days after, Tom was preparing to go out, after
breakfast, when his mother asked him, ‘‘ Where are ye gaun
the day, laddie?” ‘Till my school,” said he. “To your
school, are ye? Where is’t? at the Inches, or the Middens,
or Daiddie Brown’s burnie? where ist?’ “At the fit o’
48 The Third School. [cHap. 1.

 

the Green.” “At the fit o’ the Green! But hoo lang is
it since ye was putten awa frae that school?’ Tom was
silent. He saw that his mother had been informed of his
expulsion.

In a little while she was ready to go out. She took
hold of her son by the cuff of the neck, and took him down
to the Green. When she reached the school, for the pur-
pose of imploring the master to take her son back, she
knocked at the door, and the master at once appeared.
Before she could open her mouth, the master abruptly be-
gan, “Don’t bring that boy here! J’ll not take him back
—not though you were to give me twenty pounds! Neither
I, nor my scholars, have had a day’s peace since he came
here.” And with that he shut the door in her face before
she could utter a single word. She turned and came away,
very much vexed. She kept her grip on the boy, but,
standing still to speak to a neighbor, and her hold getting
a little slacker, he made a sudden bolt and escaped.

As usual, he crept in late in the evening. His father
was at home, reading. On entering, Tom observed that he
stopped, fixing his eyes upon him over the top of his book,
and looked at him steadily for some time. Then, laying
down his book, he said, “And where have you been, sir?”
The boy said nothing. “It’s no wonder that you’re dumb.
You've been putten out of your school a second time.
You'll be a disgrace to all connected wi’ you. You'll be-
come an idler, a ne’er-do-well. You'll get into bad com-
pany. You'll become a thief! Then you'll get into jail,
and end your days in misery and shame. Such is the case
with all that neglect their schooling, and disregard what
their parents bid them.”

Tom was at last ashamed of himself. He said nothing
until supper-time; and then he asked for his supper, as
he was hungry. “Perhaps you are,” said his father; “and
you shall get no supper this night, nor any other night,
until you learn to behave yourself better. Go to bed, sir,
cuap.u.] Zhe Sparrow's Nest harried. 49

 

this moment!’ Tom slunk away, and got to bed as soon
as possible. When the lights were out, and all were thought
to be abed, a light hand removed the clothes from over
Tom’s head, and put something into his hand. He found
it to be “a big dad o’ bread-and-butter.” It was so like
the kind motherly heart and hand to do this. So Tom
had his supper, after all.

He was next sent to the Lancaster School in Harviet
Street. There were two masters in this school. The upper
classes were in the highest story, the other classes in the
lowest. The master of the lower class, to which Tom be-
longed, knowing his weakness, ordered him, on entering,
not to bring any of his beasts to that school. He was to
pay more attention to his lessons than he had yet done, or
he would be punished severely. He did not bring any
thing but his school-books for a long time, but at last his
usual temptation befell him. It happened in this way:

On his way to and from school, along School Hill, he ob-
served a sparrow’s nest built in the corner part of a spout.
He greatly envied the sparrow’s nest; but he could only
feast his longing eyes at a distance. He tried to climb the
spout once or twice, but it was too high, and bulged out at
the top. The clamps which held the spout to the wall were
higher at the top than at the bottom. He had almost given
up the adventure in despair, when one day, on going to
school, he observed two men standing together, and looking
up in the direction of the nest. Boy-like, and probably
thinking that he was a party concerned in the affair, he
joined them, and listened to what they were talking about.
He found that the nest interfered with the flow of water
along the spout, and that it must be removed; and that the
whole water-way along the spout must also be cleaned out.

Tom was now on the alert, and watched the spout close-
ly. That day passed, and nothing was done. The next
day passed, and still the men had not made their appear-
ance. But on the third day, on his way to school, he ob-

3
50 Takes the Nest to School. [CHAP. II.

 

served a man and a boy placing a long ladder against the
house. Tom stopped, and, guessing what was about to be
done, he intended to ask the man for the nest and its con-
tents. The man was about to ascend the ladder, when, aft-
er feeling his pockets and finding that something had been
forgotten, he sent the boy back to the shed for something
or other—most probably a trowel. Then, having struck a
light and set fire to his pipe, the man betook himself to the
church-yard, which was near at hand.

A thought now struck Tom. Might he not take the nest
himself without waiting for it, and perhaps without getting
it, after all? He looked about. He looked into the church-
yard gate, nearly opposite. He saw nobody. The coast
was clear. Tom darted across the street and went rapidly
up the ladder. Somebody shrieked to him from a win-
dow on the other side. It staggered him at first. But he
climbed upward; got to the nest, and, after some wriggling
and twisting, he pulled it away, and got down before either
the man or the boy had returned.

It was eggs that he wanted, but, lo and behold! here was
a nest of five well-fledged birds. Instead of taking the birds
home, Tom was foolish enough to take them with him to
school. He contrived to get the nest into the school unob-
served, and put it below the form on which he was seated,
never thinking that the little things would get hungry, or
try to make their escape. All went on well for about an
hour. Then there was a slight commotion. A chirrup was
heard. And presently the throats of all were opened—
“Chirrup! chirrup!” Before the master could get the
words “ What’s that?” out of his mouth, the birds them-
selves answered him by leaving their nest and fluttering
round the school-room, the boys running after them! ‘“Si-
lence! Back to your seats!” cried the master. There was
now stillness in the school, except the fluttering of the birds.

The culprit was called to the front. “This is more of
your work, Edward, is it not? “ Yes, sir.” “And did I
CHAP. II. ] At Lancaster School. 51

 

not tell you to bring no more of these things here?” “ Yes,
sir; but I only got them on my way up, or I wouldn’t have
brought them here.” ‘TI don’t believe it,” said the master.
“Yes, it’s true, it’s true,” shouted some of the scholars.
“Silence! How do you know?” “We saw him harryin’
the nest as we came up School Hill.” “How?’ “He was
on the top of a long ladder takin’ the nest oot 0’ a spoot.”
“Well, sir,” he said to Edward, ‘ you are one of the most
daring and determined little fellows that I have ever heard
of. It seems you will follow nobody’s advice. If you do
not give up your tricks, you will some day fall and break
your neck. But as you have told me the truth, I will for-
give you this once. But remember! it’s the last time. Now
go, collect your birds, and take them away.”

Edward groped about to collect the birds, but few of
them were left. The windows having been let down, they
had all escaped except one. He got that one, and descend-
ed to the street. There he recovered two other “ gorbals.”
He went home with his three birds; but, his sister being
ill, his mother told him to take them away, because they
made such a noise. In the course of the day he gave them
to another boy, in exchange for a little picture-book con-
taining “The Death and Burial of Cock-robin.”

Next morning he went back to school, and from that
time forward he continued to obey the master’s orders. He
never brought any more “beasts” there. He was at the
Lancaster school about eighteen months, though he was oc-
casionally absent. He did not learn very much. The Bible
was used as the reading-book, and when he left school he
could read it fairly. He could also repeat the Shorter Cat-
echism. But he knew very little of arithmetic, and noth-
ing of grammar. He had only got the length of the rule
of two—that is, he could add up two lines of figures. He
could not manage the multiplication-table. He could only
multiply by means of his fingers. He knew nothing of
writing.
52 The Master bitten by a Centipede. [cHaP. 11.

 

We must mention the cause of his leaving his third and
his last school. He had entirely given up bringing “ beasts”
with him; but he had got a bad name. It was well known
that he had been turned out of all the schools which he
had formerly attended on account of bringing his “ beasts”
with him. Better kill a dog, it is said, than give him a bad
name. In Edward’s case, his bad name was attended with
very serious results.

One morning, when the boys were at their lessons and
the master was at his desk, a sudden commotion occurred.
The master gave a loud scream, and, jumping to his feet, he
shook something from his arm, and suddenly put his foot
upon it. Then, turning in Edward’s direction, he exclaimed,
“This is some more of your work, Master Edward.” Not
hearing what he said, Edward made no reply. Another boy
was called forward, and both stooping down, they took up
something and laid it on a sheet of paper. On rising, the
boy was asked what it was. “It’s a Maggy Monny Feet,”
he said. “Is its bite dangerous? Is it poisonous?’ The
boy could not tell.

Edward was then called to the floor. “You've been at
your old trade, Edward, I see; but Dll now take it out of
you. I have warned you not to bring any of your infernal
beasts here, and now I have just found one creeping up my
arm and biting me. Hold up!” Edward here ventured
to say that he had not brought the beast, that he had not
brought any thing for a long while past. ‘What! a lie
too?” said the master: “A lie added to the crime makes it
doubly criminal. Hold up, sir!’ Tom held up his hand,
and the master came down upon it very heavily with the
taws. “The other!” The other hand was then held up,
and when Tom had got his two hot hands, the master ex-
claimed, “ That’s for the lie, and this for the offense!” and
then he proceeded to bring the taws heavily down upon his
back. The boy, however, did not cry.

“Now, sir,” said the master, when almost out of breath,
cuaP.i.] Hdward thrashed terribly. 53

 

“will you say now that you did not bring it?” “Idid not;
indeed, sir, I did not!” ‘ Well, then, take that,” giving nie
a number of tremendous lashes along his back. ‘“‘ Well,
now?” “TJ did not!” The master went on again: “It’s
your own fault,” he said, “for not confessing your crime.”
“But I did not bring it,” replied Edward. “Tl flog you
until you confess.” And then he repeated his lashes, upon
his hands, his shoulders, and his back. Edward was a mere
mite of a boy, so that the taws reached down to his legs,
and smote him there. ‘ Well, now,” said the master, after
he was reduced to his last effort, “did you bring it?” “No,
sir, I did not!”

The master sat down exhansted. “ Well,” said he, “ you
are certainly a most provoking and incorrigible devil.” The
master had a reddish nose, and a number of pimples on-
his face, which were of the same hue. When he got into a
rage, it was observed that the protuberances became much
brighter. On this occasion his organ became ten times red-
der than before. It was like Bardolph’s lantern in the poop.
Some of the boys likened his pimples to large driblets of
blood.

After resting for a while in his chair, Edward standing
before him, he called to the boy whom he had first brought
to his assistance, “‘ William, bring forward that thing!’ The
boy brought forward the paper, on which lay a bruised cen-
tipede. “ Now, then,” said the master, “did you not bring
that venomous beast here?’ “TI did not, sir!’ The whole
school was now appealed to. “ Did any of you see Edward
with that beast, or any other beast, to-day or yesterday ?”
No answer. “Did any of you see Edward with any thing
last week or the week before?’ Still no answer. Then,
after a considerable pause, turning to Edward, he said, ‘‘ Get
your slate. Go home, and tell your father to get you put
on board a man-of-war, as that is the best school for all
irreclaimables such as you.” So saying, he pointed to the
door. Tom got his slate and his books, and hurried down-
54 A Night under the Logs. [cHAP. 11.

 

stairs. And thus Edward was expelled from his third and
last school.

On reaching home, he told his parents the circumstances
connected with his expulsion. He also added that he
wouldn’t go to school any more; at all events, he wouldn’t
go back to “yon school.” He would rather go to work.
He was told that he was too young to work; for he was
scarcely six years old. His father proposed to take him to
the Lancaster school on the following day, for the purpose
of inducing the master to take back the boy.

The next day arrived. His father came home from his
work for the purpose of taking the boy to school; but
Tom had disappeared. He would not go back. He went
first to the fish-market, where he spent the greater part of
the day. Then he went down to the Inches. From thence
he went toward the logs, and while there with a few more
boys preparing sparrow-traps, one of them called out, “Tam,
there’s yer faither!” Tom immediately got up and ran
away. His father, following him, called out “Stop, sir!
stop, sir! come back, come back, will you!” Tom’s father
was a long, slender man, and could not stand much running.
He soon dropped behind, while Tom went out Dee-side way
like a lamp-lighter. He never stopped until he reached the
Clayholes. Not seeing his father following him, he loiter-
ed about there until it was nearly dark; he then returned,
keeping a close lookout, and ready to run off again. At
length, about dark, he got back to the logs.

It must be mentioned that on the spare ground above
the Inches large piles of logs were laid, some of them of
great size. The logs were floated down the Dee, and were
laid there until the timber merchants found it convenient
to take them away. Little care being exercised in putting
up the piles, there were often large openings left at the
ends. Instead of going home, the boy got into one of
these openings, and crept in as far as he could get. But
though he was in a measure out of sight, he soon found
CHAP. I1.] A Fruitless Search. 55

 

that he could obtain very little shelter for the night. He
was barefooted, and his clothes were thin and raggy. The
wind blew through the logs, and he soon became very cold.
He shivered till his teeth chattered. The squeaking and
jumping of the rats, of whom there seemed to be myriads,
kept him awake. It was so different from being snug in
his warm bed, that he once thought of getting out of his
hole and running home. But he was terrified to do that,
and thus encounter his father’s strap—his back being still
so sore from the effects of his flogging at school. The cold
continued to increase, especially toward the small hours of
the morning. Indeed, he never experienced so bitterly cold
a night in the whole course of his life.

At length morning began to dawn. ‘The first streaks of
light were tinging the eastern sky, when Tom prepared to
get out of his hole and have a run in the open ground to
warm himself. He was creeping out of the logs for the
purpose, when in the dim morning light he thought he saw
the figure of aman. Yes! it was his father. He saw him
moving about among the saw-pits, the logs, and the piles of
wood. Tom crept farther into his hole among the logs;
and, on looking out again, he found his father had disap-
peared. Half an hour later he appeared again; and after
going over the former ground, he proceeded in the direc-
tion of the Inches. In a few minutes he descended to the
channel, doubtless with the intention of crossing, as the tide
was out at the time.

Now, thought Tom, is my opportunity. He crept out of
his hole, went round the farther end of the logs, up Lower
Dee Street, past the carpet-weaver’s, up Carmelite Street,
and then home. Just as he reached the top of the stair,
Mrs. Kelmar, the kindly “ neibour,” who had been kept up
all night by the troubles of the Edward family, took him
by the collar, and said, “Hh, laddie, ye hae gien yer folk a
sair nicht o’t! But bide a wee, I'll gang in wi’ ye!” As
she entered the door, she exclaimed, “ Here he’s again,
56 Lesults of his Punishment. — [cuap. 11.

 

Maggie, a’ safe!” “Ob, ye vagaboon!” said the mother,
‘where hae ye been a’ nicht? Yer faither’s oot seekin’ ye.
I wonder how I can keep my hands aff ye.” ‘No, no,
Maggie,” said Mrs. Kelmar, “ye winna do that. But I'll
tell ye what ye’ll do. Gie him some meat, and let him get
to his bed as fast as he can.” ‘His bed?” said his moth-
er; “he shanna bed here till his faither comes in.” “ Just
gie him something, Maggie, and get him oot o’ the road.”
After some parleying, Tom got something to eat, and was
in bed, with the blankets over him, before his father re-
turned.

“ Weel, John,” said Mrs. Kelmar, “ye hinna gotten him?”
“No.” “Ye hinna gaun to the right place!” “The right
place!” said John, “ who on earth could tell the right place
for such a wandering Jewas he is?” ‘ Well, I’ve got him.”
“Where?” “At the head o’ the stair!’ “And where is
he now?” ‘Where he should be.” “That’s in Bride-
well!” “No, no, John, dinna say that.” “‘ Where, then ?”
“In his bed.” “What! here? And before I have paid
him for his night’s work?” “ Now, John, just sit doun and
have a cup o’ tea wi’ Maggie and me before you go to your
wark; and if ye hae ony thing to say to the laddie, ye can
say it when he gets up.” “ You always take his part, Mrs.
Kelmar, always !”

Tom lay quaking in bed. He heard all that was said.
He peeped out of the blankets; but when he saw his father
sit down he knew that all was safe. And when he had had
his friendly cup o’ tea, and had gone to his work, Tom fell
fast asleep. He did not awake until midday, when his fa-
ther returned to dinner. Being observed to move in his
bed, his father ordered him to.get up. This set him a-cry-
ing, and he exclaimed that “he wudna gang back to yon
school.” His mother now asked the reason why he was
so bitter against going to “yon school.” He then told
them how he had been treated by the master, and how his
back was sore yet.
CHAP. II. | Hunt after an Adder. 57

 

His back was then looked at, and it was found that his
shirt was hard with clotted blood, and still sticking to his
skin. .The wales extended right down to his legs. Means
were adopted to soften the shirt and remove it from the
skin, But while that was being done, the boy fell back
and fainted away. On coming to himself, he found his
mother bathing his brow with cold water, and Mrs. Kelmar
holding a smelling-bottle to his nose, which made his eyes
ron with water. A large piece of linen, covered with oint-
ment, was then put upon his back. His father went away,
ordering him to keep the house, and not to go out that
day. ;

Whatever may have passed between his parents he did
not know. He was in bed and asleep when his father re-
turned at night. But he was never asked to return to the
Lancaster school.

He had now plenty of time for excursions into the coun-
try. He wandered up the Dee and along the banks of the
Don on both sides. He took long walks along shore—
across the Aulten Links to the Auld Brig, and even up to
the mountains, which at Aberdeen approach pretty near to
the coast.

During one of his excursions on the hills of Torrie, near
the commencement of the Grampians, while looking for
blackberries and cranberries, Edward saw something like the
flash of an eel gliding through among the heather. He
rushed after it, and pounced down upon it with both hands,
but the animal had escaped. He began to tear up the
heather, in order to get at it. His face streamed with per-
spiration. He rested for a time, and then began again.
Still there was no animal, nor a shadow of one.

At this time another boy came up, and asked, “ What
are ye doing there?’ “Naething.” “ D’ye call that nae-
thing?” pointing to about a cart-load of heather torn up.
“ Have ye lost ony thing?’ “No.” “What are ye look-
ing“for, then?” “For something like an eel.” ‘Af eel !”

3*
58 Ineurring Danger. [CHAP. II.

 

 

 

AULTEN LINKS, ABEKDEEN.

quoth‘the lad; “do ye think ye’ll find an eel amang heath-
er? It’s been an adder, and it’s well ye have na’ gotten it.
The beast might have bitten ye to death.” ‘‘No fear o’
that,” said Edward. “How long is it sin’ ye saw it?”
“Some minutes.” “If that’s the case, it may be some
miles up the hills by this time. Which way was it gaun?”
“That way.” ‘ Well,” said the lad, “you see that heap o’
stones up there? try them, and if you do not find it there,
you may gang hame and come back again, and then ye’ll
just be as near finding it as ye are now.” ‘“‘ Will ye help
me?” asked Edward. “Na, faith, I dinna want to be bitten
to death.” And so saying, he went away.

Edward then proceeded to the pile of stones which had
been pointed out, to make a search for the animal. He
took stone after stone off the heap, and still there was no
eel. There were plenty of worms and insects, but these he
did not want. A little beyond the stones lay a large pjece
of turf. He turned it over, and there the creature was!
CHAP. II. ] Takes Home the Adder. 59

 

He was down upon it in an instant, and had it in his hand!
He looked at the beast. It was not an eel. It was very
like an ask, but it was six or seven times longer.

Having tightened his grip of the beast, for it was trying
to wriggle out of his hand, he set out for home. He struck
the Dee a little below where the Chain Bridge now stands,
reaching the ford opposite Dee village, and prepared to
cross it. But the water being rather deep at the time, he
had to strip and wade across, carrying his clothes in one
hand and the ‘‘eel” in the other. He had only one avail-
able hand, so that getting off and on his clothes, and wad-
ing the river breast-high, occupied some time. |

On reaching the top of Carmelite Street, he observed his
mother, Mrs. Kelmar, and some other women, standing to-
gether at the street door. He rushed in among them with
great glee, and, holding up his hand, exclaimed, “See, moth-
er, sic a bonnie beastie P've gotten!” On looking at the ob-
ject he held in his hand, the conclave of women speedily
scattered. They flew in all directions. Edward’s mother
screamed, “The Lord preserv’s! what the sorrow’s that ye
hae noo?” “Oh, Meggy, Meggy,” said Mrs. Kelmar, “ it’s
a snake! Dinna let him in! For ony sake dinna let him
in, or we'll a’ be bitten!” The entry door was then shut
and bolted, and Tom was left out with the beast in his
hand.

Mrs. Kelmar’s husband then made his appearance.
“What's this, Tam, that has caused such a flutter among
the wives?’ “Only this bit beastie.” Kelmar started
back. ‘“ What, has it not bitten you?” “No!” “ Well,”
he added, “the best thing you can do with it is to take it
to Dr. Ferguson as fast as you can, for you can’t be allowed
to bring it in here.”

Dr. Ferguson kept a druggist’s shop at the corner of
Correction Wynd, near the head of the Green. He had a
number of creatures suspended in glass jars in his window.
Boys looked in at these wonderful things. They were the
60 The Adder Sold. [CHAP. II.

 

admiration of the neighbors. Some said that these ex-
traordinary things had come from people’s “insides.” Tom
had often been there before with big grubs, piebald snails,
dragon-flies, and yellow puddocks. So he went to Dr. Fer-
guson with his last new prize.

He was by this time surrounded by a number of boys
like himself. They kept, however, at a respectable dis-
tance. When he moved in their direction they made a
general stampede. At length he arrived at the doctor’s
door. When the doctor saw the wrigghng thing that he
was holding in his hand, he ordered him out of the shop,
and told him to wait in the middle of the street until he
had got a bottle ready for the reception of the animal.
Tom waited until the bottle was ready, when he was told
that when he had got the snake in he must cork the bot-
tle as firmly as possible. The adder was safely got in and
handed to the doctor, who gave Tom fourpence for the
treasure. Next day it appeared in the window, to the gen-
eral admiration of the inhabitants.

Tom hastened home with his fourpence. On entering
the house, he encountered his father, who seized him by the
neck, and asked, ‘‘ Where’s that venomous beast that you
had? “T left it with Dr. Ferguson.” “But have you
no more??? “No.” “That's very strange! You seldom
come home with so few things about you. But we shall
see.” The boy was then taken into the back yard, where
he was ordered to strip. Every bit of clothing was shaken,
examined, and searched; the father standing by with a
stick. Nothing was found, and Tom was allowed to put
on his clothes and go up-stairs to bed.
 

CHAPTER IIL
APPRENTICESHIP.

-Tuz boy was learning idle habits. He refused to go
back to the Lancaster school. Indeed, from the cruel treat-
ment he had received there, his parents did not ask him to
return. He had now been expelled from three schools. If
he went to a fourth, it is probable that he might also have
been expelled from that. It would not do for him to go
scouring the hills in search of adders, or to bring them
home, to the “ terrification” of his neighbors. He himself
wished to go to work. His parents at last gave their con-
sent, though he was then only about six years old. But
poor people can always find something for their children
to do out-of-doors. The little that they earn is always
found very useful at home.

Edward’s brother, who was about two years older than
himself, was working at Craig and Johnston’s tobacco
works. On inquiry, it was found that the firm was willing
to take young Edward at the wage of fourteen-pence a
week. The tobacco-spinners worked in an old house situa-
ted at the end of the flour-mill in St. Nicholas Street. Each
spinner had three boys under him—the wheeler, the pointer,
and the stripper. Edward went through all these grades.
As a stripper he could earn about eighteen-pence a week.

The master was a bird-fancier, so that Edward got on
very well with him. The boy brought him lots of nests
and young birds in summer, and old birds which he trap-
ped during winter. The master allowed him to keep rab-
bits in the back yard; so that, what between working and
playing, attending to his rabbits and catering for their food,
62 Banks of the Don. [CHAP. III.

 

his time passed much more happily than it had done at
school.

After being in the tobacco works for about two years,
Edward heard that boys were getting great wages at a fac-
tory at Grandholm, situated on the river Don, about two
miles from Aberdeen. The high wages were a great attrac-
tion. Tom and his brother took the advantage of a fast-day
to go to the mill and ask for employment. The manager
told the boys that he wanted no additional hands at that
time, but that he would put their names down, and let them
know when he required their services.

They returned, and told their parents what they had done.
Both father and mother were against the change, partly
because of Tom’s youth, and partly because of the distance
Grandholm was from Aberdeen. Tom, however, insisted
that he could both work and walk; and at last his parents
gave their consent.

There was: another reason besides the high wages which
induced Tom to wish to be employed at Grandholm. He
kept this to himself. He had often seen the place before,
though only at a distance. But who that has seen the
banks and braes of the Don, from the Auld Brig* to the
Haughs of Grandholm, can ever forget it? Looking down
from the heights above the Brig of Balgownie, you see the
high broad arch thrown across the deep and dark winding
Don. Beneath you, the fishermen are observed hauling to

 

* The Auld Brig is also called the Brig o’ Balgownie, Byron, who
lived for some years at Aberdeen in his boyhood, says: “The Brig of
Don, near the ‘auld toun’ of Aberdeen, with its one arch and its black
deep salmon-stream, is in my memory as yesterday. I still remember
the awful proverb which made me pause to cross it, and yet lean over
it with a childish delight—being an only son, at least by the mother’s
side:

““Brig o’ Balgownie, wight [strong] is thy wa’;
Wi’ a wife’s ae son on a mear’s ae foal
Down thou shalt fa’.’ ”
 

BRIG 0’ BALGOWNIE.
CHAP. 11. ] Grandholm Factory. 65

 

 

THE SPIRES OF ST. MAOHAR,

the shore their salmon-nets. Westward of the Auld Brig
the river meanders among the bold, bluff banks, clothed to
the summit with thick embowered wood. Two or three
miles above are the Haughs, from which a fine view of the
Don is obtained, with the high wood-covered bank beyond
it; and, over all, the summits of the spires of St. Machar,
the cathedral church of old Aberdeen.

It was to roam through these woods and amidst this
beautiful scenery that young Edward so much desired to
be employed at the Grandholm factory. Nor was he dis-
appointed in his expectations. Scarcely three days had
elapsed ere a letter arrived at the Edwards’ house, inform-
ing both the boys that they would be employed at the mill
at the usual wages. The hours were to be from six o’clock
in the morning till eight o’clock in the evening.

The boys had accordingly to be up by about four in the
morning, after which they had to get their breakfast, and to
walk two miles to their work. They were seldom home at
66 Factory Work. [OHAP. TI.

 

night before nine. It was delightful in summer, but dreary
in winter, when they went and came in the cold dark nights
and mornings. The wages of the boys were at first from
three to four shillings a week each, and before they left the
mill their wages were from five to six shillings a week.

The boys were first put into the heckling shop. They
were next transferred to a small mill at the end of the
larger one. Young Edward worked there. His business
was to attend at the back of a breaker—to take away the
cases when they were full, and put empty ones in their
places. He was next set to attend two carding-machines ;
and from these to the roving or spinning side, three of
which he frequently kept before he left. This was the
highest work done in that room.

“People may say of factories what they please,” says
Edward, “but I liked this factory. It was a happy time
for me while I remained there. It was situated in the
centre of a beautiful valley, almost embowered among tall
and luxuriant hedges of hawthorn, with water-courses and
shadowy trees between, and large woods and plantations
beyond. It teemed with nature and natural objects. The
woods were easy of access during our meal-hours. What
lots of nests! What insects, wild flowers, and plants, the
like of which I had never seen before! Prominent among
the birds was the sedge warbler,* which lay concealed in
the reedy copses, or by the margin of the mill-lades. Oh!
how I wondered at the little thing! how it contrived to imi-
tate almost all the other birds I had ever heard! and none
to greater perfection than the chirrup of my old and special
favorite, the sparrow.”

One day he saw a kingfisher—a great event in his life!
What a beautiful bird! What a sparkling gem of nature!
Resplendent in plumage and gorgeous in color—from the

 

* Called also the English mocking-bird, and the Scottish nightin-
gale.
CHAP. IIL. ] A Nesting Eecursion. 67

 

bright turquois blue to the deepest green, and the darker
shades of copper and gold. Edward was on a nesting ex-
cursion, with some little fellows like himself, along the
braes of the Don, and at some distance above the Auld
Brig, when he first saw this lustrous bird. ‘“I was greatly
taken,” he says, “with its extraordinary beauty, and much
excited by seeing it dive into the stream. I thought it
would drown itself, and that its feathers would eventually
become so clogged with water that it would not be able to
fly. Had this happened—which, of course, it did not—my
intention was to have plunged in to the rescue, when, as
a matter of course, I would have claimed the prize as my
reward. ‘Thus buoyed up, I wandered up and down the
river after the bird until the shades of even came down and
forced me to give up the pursuit; and I then discovered,
having continued the chase so long, that I was companion-
less, and had to return home alone.

“Jt so happened that for a month or two during sum-
mer-time, owing to the scarcity of water, one part of the
factory worked during the night-time and the other during
the day-time, week and week about. This was a glorious
time for me. I rejoiced particularly in the night work,
We got out at six in the morning, and, instead of going
directly home, I used to go up to the woods of Scotston
and Scotston Moor, scour the country round them, and
then return home by the Auld Brig. Another day I
would go up to Buxburn, range the woods and places about
them, and then home by Hilton or Woodside. Or, again,
after having crossed Grandholm Bridge, instead of going
up by Laurie Hillock, I went away down Don side, by
Tillydrone, the Aulten (old Aberdeen), through the fields
to the Aulten Links, whipped the whins there, then over
the Broad Hill, and home by Constitution Street. I would.
reach it, perhaps, about dinner-time, instead of at seven in
the morning, although I had to be back at the mill again
by eight o’clock at night.
68 Apprenticed to a Shoe-maker. [CHAY. II.

 

“Once, on a Saturday, after having visited Buxburn, I
went round by the back of the Dancing Cairns to the
Stocket and the woods of Hazelhead, then down the Rubis-
law road, and home in the evening. Ah! these were hap-
py days. There were no taws to fear, and no tyrannical
dominie to lay them on. True, the farm people did halloo
at me at times, but I generally showed them a clean pair of
heels. The gamekeepers, also, sometimes gave me chase,
but I managed to outstrip them; and although no nests
were to be got, there was always something to be found or
seen. In winter-time, also, when the canal was frozen, a
mile of it lay in our way home, and it was capital fun to
slide along, going to and coming from our work. This was
life, genuine life, for the young. But, alas! a sad change
was about to come; and it came very soon.” :

The boys remained at Grandholm factory for about two
years. Their father thought that they ought both to be
apprenticed to some settled trade. The eldest boy left
first, and was apprenticed to a baker; then Tom, the
youngest, left, very much to his regret, and was bound ap-
prentice to a shoe-maker. He was eleven years old at that
time. His apprenticeship was to last for six years. His
wages began at eighteen-pence a week, with sixpence to be
added weekly in each succeeding year. He was to be pro-
vided by his master with shoes and aprons. The hours
were to be from six in the morning to nine at night, two
hours being allowed for meals.

The name of Edward’s master was Charles Begg. His
shop was situated at the highest part of Gallowgate. He
usually employed from two to three workmen. His trade
consisted chiefly in manufacturing work of the lightest
description, such as ladies’ and children’s boots and shoes.
He himself worked principally at pump-making, and that
was the branch of the trade which young Edward was
taught. 3

Begg was a low-class Cockney. He was born in Lon-
CHAP. I1t.] Charles Begg. 69

 

don, where he learned the trade of shoe-making. He had
gradually wandered northward, until he reached Inverness,
where he lived for some time. Then he went eastward to
Elgin, then to Banff, until at last he arrived at Aberdeen,
where he married and settled. Begg was a good work-
man; though, apart from shoe- making, he knew next to
nothing. It is well, however, to be a good workman, if
one does his work thoroughly and faithfully. The only
things that Begs.
could do, besides
shoe-making,
were drinking
and fighting.
He was a great
friend of pugil-
ism; though his
principal diffi- <
culty, when he
got drunk, was
to find any body
to fight with in
that pacific _
neighborhood.
It was a great
misfortune for
the boy to have
been placed un-
der the charge
of so dissolute a yagsboutt ‘He had, however, to do his
best. He learned to make upper-leathers, and was pro-
ceeding to make shoe-bottoms. He would, doubtless, have
learned his trade very well, but for the drunkenness of
his master, who was evidently going headlong to ruin.
He was very often absent from the shop, and when custom-
ers called, Edward was sent out by his mistress to search
the public-houses frequented by Begg; but, when found,

 

OHARLES BEGGS SHOP, GALLOWGATE.
70 " Shoe-makers’ Pets. [CHAP. III.

 

he was usually intoxicated. The customers would not re-
turn, and the business consequently fell off. When drunk,
Begg raved and swore; and after beating the boy in the
shop, he would go up-stairs and beat his wife.

Shoe-makers are usually very fond of pets, and especially
of pet birds. Many of the craft have singing-birds about
them, and some are known to be highly skilled and excel-
lent bird-fanciers. But Begg had no notion of pets of any
kind. He had no love whatever for the works of nature,
and detested those who had. Edward had been born with
the love of birds and living creatures, and Begg hated him
accordingly. Begg used to rifle his pockets on entering
the shop, to see that Edward had nothing of the kind about
him. If he found any thing, he threw it into the street—
his little boxes with butterflies, eggs, and suchlike. Many
a blow did he give Edward on such occasions. He used
to say that he would “stamp the fool out of him; but he
‘tried in vain. ‘ ‘

One afternoon, when Edward had finished his work, and
was waiting for the return of his master in order to go to
dinner, he was sitting with a sparrow on his knee. It was
a young sparrow which he had trained and taught to do a
number of little tricks. It was his pet, and he loved it
dearly. While he was putting the sparrow through its
movements, the master entered. He was three parts drunk.
On looking at the bird on Edward’s knee, he ddvanced, and
struck Edward such a blow that it laid him flat on the floor.
The bird had fluttered to the ground, and was trampled on.

‘When Edward was about to rise, he saw that Begg was
going to kick him. Raising up his arm to ward off the
blow, Begg’s foot came in contact with it, and, losing his
balance, he reeled, staggered against the wall, and fell back-
ward. He gathered himself together and got up. If an-
gry before, he was furious now. Edward, seeing that he was
again about to resume his brutality, called out that he would
shout for help, and that he wouldn’t be struck again with-
CHAP. III. | Beggs Brutality. 71

 

out a cause. “ Without a cause, you idle blackguard! sit-
ting playing with some of your devils instead of doing my
work!” “Thad no work; it was done three hours ago,
and I was waiting to go to my dinner.” “It’s not near
dinner-time yet.” “It’s four o’clock!” “I didn’t know
it was so late: well, you may go.”

Tom seized the opportunity of picking up his poor and
innocent bird from the floor. He found it was still breath-
ing. He put it tenderly in his bosom, and hastened home-
ward. His mother was not surprised at his lateness, which
was very usual, in consequence of the irregularity of his
master’s hours. ‘But what’s the matter wi ye?” she said;
“‘vour face is bleedin’, and ye hae been greetin’.”  ‘ Look,”
said he, taking the haymless and now lifeless bird from his
breast and holding it up, “that would gar ony body greet ;”
and his tears fell on the mangled body of his little pet.
“T wouldn’t have cared so much for myself,” he said, “if
he had only spared my bird.” Then he told his mother
all that had happened, and he added that if Begg struck
him again without a cause he would cé@rtainly run away.
She strongly remonstrated against this; because, being
bound apprentice for six years, he must serve out his time,
come what would.

On returning to the shoe-maker’s shop in the afternoon,
Edward was met at the door by his master, who first. shook
him, and then searched him ; but, finding there was noth-
ing about him, he was allowed to go to his seat. And
thus three years passed. The boy learned something of his
trade. The man went on from bad to worse. In his drunk-
en fits he often abused and thrashed his apprentice. At last
the climax came. One day Edward brought three young
moles to the shop. The moles were safely ensconced in his
bonnet. When Begg found the moles, he killed them at
once, knocked down Edward with a last, seized him by the
neck and breast, dragged him to the door, and with a horri-
ble imprecation threw him into the street. Edward was a
72 Wishes to be a Sailor. [CHAP. IIL.

 

good deal hurt; but he went home, determined from that
day he would never again servé under such a brute.

Begg called at his mother’s next day, and ordered the
boy to return to his work. Edward refused. Begg then
invoked the terrors of the law. ‘‘He would compel Ed-
ward to fulfill his apprenticeship. He would prosecute his
father, and his two sureties, and make them pay the penalty
for breaking the boy’s indenture.” This threat gave Ed-
ward’s mother a terrible fright, especially when her boy in-
sisted that he would not go back. The family were left in
fear and commotion for some time. But at last, as noth-
ing further was heard of the threatened prosecution, they
dismissed it from their minds. ~

‘What was Edward to do next? He was thoroughly sick
of his trade, and wished to engage in some other occupation
that would leave him freer to move about. He would be
a sailor! He had a great longing to see foreign countries,

-and he thought that the best way of accomplishing this
object was to become a sailor. On mentioning the matter
to his parents, he’ was met with a determined and decided
refusal. They tried to dissuade him by various methods.
“Man,” said his father to him, “do you know that sailors
have only a thin plank between them and death? Na, na!
If you’re no gaun back to Begg, you must find some other
master, and serve out your time. Bide ye at the shoe-
maker trade; and if ye can make siller at it, ye can then
gang and see as mony countries as ye like.”

Such was his father’s advice, but it did not suit young
Edward’s views. He wanted to be a sailor. He went down
to the harbor, and visited every ship there, in order to offer
himself as a cabin-boy. He asked the captains to employ
him, but in vain, At last he found one captain willing to
take him, provided he had the consent of his father. But
this he could not obtain, and therefore he gave up the idea
for a time.

Then he thought of running away from home. He could
CHAP. 11. ] Tries in Vain. 73

 

not get away by sea; he would now try what he could do
by land. He had often heard his parents talking about the
Kettle, and of his uncle who had gone in search of him to
the gypsy camp. Edward thought he would like to see
this uncle. He might perhaps be able to help him to get
some other and better employment than that of shoe-mak-
ing. His thoughts were very undefined about the matter.
But he certainly would not go back to work again with
Charlie Begg, the drunken shoe-maker.

   

WAN PER

GRANDHOLM MILLS.

4
 

CHAPTER IV.
RUNS AWAY FROM HOME.

Art last Edward determined to run away from home, and
from Charlie Begg’s cruelty, and to visit his wonderful un-
cle at the Kettle. The village is situated nearly in the cen-
tre of the county of Fife, about a hundred miles from Ab-
erdeen. Edward did not know a step of the road, but he
would try and do his best to reach the far-off place.

The first thing that he wanted was money. All his earn-
ings had gone into the family purse, and were used for fam-
ily expenses. One day, when his mother had gone out,
leaving Edward to rock the cradle, he went to look at the
money-box, and found only a solitary sixpence in it. He
wanted sevenpence in all—that is, a penny to get across
Montrose Bridge, and sixpence to cross the Tay at Dundee.
He took the sixpence from the box, and fancied that he
might be able to raise another penny by selling his knife.
He took two quartern loaves of bread, put some oatmeal
into a parcel, and, bundling his things together, and giving
the cradle a final and heavy rock, he left the house, and
got away unseen.

He ran up Deeside until he came to.a high bank, near
where the Allanvale cemetery now stands. He went in
among the bushes, took off his working duds, and put his
Sunday clothes on; then, tying the former in a bundle, he
dug a hole among the sand and shingle, and thrust them in,
stamping upon them to press them down. He covered up
the whole with grass, leaves, and shingle. Putting his stock-
ings and shoes together, and swinging them over his shoul-
cHAP. IV. ] Journey to the Kettle. 75

 

der, he set out barefoot for Kettle. He thought he might
be able to accomplish the journey in about two days.

Away he sped. Time was precious. The way was long,
and his provender was small. He had only sixpence. He
soon tried to raise the other penny. He met with two
herd-boys and a girl. He said to the boys, “ Will ye buy
a knife? Tl give it you cheap.” “No.” He passed
through Stonehaven, about sixteen miles from Aberdeen,
and up a steep brae on to Bervie.

Edward was not much influenced by the scenery through

 

RUINS OF DUNNOTTAR OASTLE.

which he passed. He was anxious to push on without loss
of time. But one thing he could ‘not help seeing, and that
was the ruins of Dunnottar Castle. They lay on his left
hand, on a lofty, rock-bound cliff, betwixt him and the sea.
They seemed to be of great extent, but he could not turn
aside to visit the ruins. They reminded him, however, of
the numerous stories he had heard about them at home—
of the Covenanters who had been thrust into the Whigs’
Vault at Dunnottar, where many of them died; of others
who had tried to escape, and been battered to pieces against
76 Encounter with Tramps. [CHAP. Iv:

 

the rocks, while attempting to descend to the sea-shore; and
of the Regalia of Scotland, which had been concealed there
during the wars of the Commonwealth. Thoughts of these
things helped him on his way; but the constant thought
that recurred to him was, how he could sell his knife and
raise the other penny.

As he was approaching Bervie, he met some lads on the
road, and asked them, “ Will you buy a knife?’ ‘“ Where
did you steal it?” said the lads. Off went Edward, fol-
lowed by a volley of stones. He walked on for a long
time, until he got hot and tired. By that time he had
walked about twenty-five miles. Then he sat down by the
side of a spring to eat his oatmeal, and swallow it down
with water. ,

After resting himself for a time, he started up, and set
off at full speed for Montrose. On his way he saw numer-
ous things that he would have liked to take with him, and
numerous woods that be would have gone into and searched
with right good will; but the thought of the journey be-
fore him put all other things aside. Kettle was still a long
way off; and, besides, he still wanted the additional pontage
penny, in order to cross Montrose bridge. He went on and
overtook a girl. He asked her if she would buy a knife.
6 No ee

He next overtook a man and woman with a lot of bairns.
They looked rather suspicious. He tried to avoid them,
and walked faster, but the man addressed him: “Stop a
minute, laddie; ye’re in an awfy hurry!” “Yes,” said
Edward, “I am in a hurry.” “But have ye ony baccy ?”
“No, I have no baccy.” “Try if he has ony clink,” said
the woman. “ Have ye ony brass?’ “No.” “Take him,
ye sheep,” said the woman to her husband, “and squeeze
him.” Tom, on hearing this, immediately betook himself
to his heels, and, being a good runner, soon left them far
behind. .

At length he reached Montrose. Secing some boys gaz-
CHAP. Iv.] Montrose. U7

 

ing in at a shop-window, he went up to them and asked
if they would buy a knife. “No!” Edward thought he
would never get rid of his knife. He must raise a penny
to get over Montrose bridge, and yet he had nothing but
his knife to sell. He could not break into his sixpence.
Then he bethought him of offering the knife to the bridge-
keeper; and if he refused to buy it, he would try and run
the blockade. He went up to the bridge, looked at the en-
trance, and felt that he could not run across with success.

 

DISTANT VIEW OF MONTROSE.

He went away from the bridge, and determined again to
sell his knife. Walking up the river, he came to some men
working at a large building. He asked if any of them
wanted a knife. After a little bargaining, one of the men
said he would give a penny for it. Edward was delighted.
He rushed back to the bridge, gave the bridge-keeper the
- penny, and crossed in double-quick time on his way to Ar-
broath.

It was now getting dark. He had walked all day, and
78 Sleeps in a Hay-cock. [CHAP. Iv.

 

was now very tired. He was desirous of putting up some-
where for the night. But first he must have his supper.
He sat down by a little rill, and, with the help of the wa-
ter, eat some more of his meal and a piece of his quartern
loaf. After he had refreshed himself, he thought he could
walk a few more miles. He had now walked forty miles.
The twilight being long in the North, and the month being
July, he went on until he came to what he thought would
be a good beild* for the night. This was a field in which
there were a number of hay-cocks. He crossed the wall,
went up to a hay-cock, pulled a lot of hay out, then en-
sconced himself inside, and soon fell fast asleep.

Toward morning he was wakened up by something
scratching at his brow. On putting his hand up, he found
it was a big black beetle, trying to work its way in between
his skin and his bonnet. He wished he had had his box
with him to preserve the beetle, but he could only throw it
away. As he lay awake he heard the mice squeaking about
him. It was still dark, though there was a glimmering of
light in the east. Day was about to break. So he got out
of his hole, shook the hay from him, crossed the wall, and
resumed his journey.

Though he felt stiff at first, he soon recovered his walk-
ing powers, and reached Arbroath by daylight, Every
body was in bed excepting one woman, whom he saw stand-
ing at the end of a close-mouth. He went up to her and
asked which was the road to Dundee. When she be-
gan to speak, he saw that she was either drunk, or daft, or
something worse. He went away, walked through several
other streets, but found no one astir. The town was asleep.
Then he sat down on a door-step and eat some of his loaf.
He was just beginning to fall asleep, when some men who
passed woke him up. They told him the road to Dundee,
and he instantly set off in that direction.

 

* Beild, shelter.
CHAP. Iv. ] The Sailors’ Wwes. 79

 

As he went on his way, he came up to a man who was
tramping along like himself. He belonged to Dundee,
was a weaver by trade, and had been traveling through the
country in search of work. The man asked Edward where
he had come from, whither he was going, where he had
slept, and what money he had to carry him to the end of
his journey. On hearing that he had only enough to car-
ry him across the ferry at Dundee, the weaver gave him a
penny, saying that he would have given him more but that
the penny was all the change he had.

Shortly after, they overtook two women, who turned out
to be two sailors’ wives. They had come from Aberdeen.
The ship in which their husbands sailed had been chartered
to Dundee, and would not enter the port of Aberdeen for
some time; hence the journey of the wives to Dundee.
The weaver, on hearing where they came from, pointed to
his little companion, and said, ‘‘ Here’s a laddie that comes
frae the same place, and as his wallet’s no very weel filled,
perhaps ye might gie him a copper or two.” One of the
women looked hard at Edward, and said, “T’ve surely seen
ye before, laddie. Did ye ever frequent the fish-market 7
the Shipraw?” “Yes.” ‘And ye had sometimes tame rot-
tens wi’ ye?” “Yes.” “Ah! I thocht sae. I used to help
my mother wi’ her fish, and was sure that I had seen ye
i? the market.”

Then they asked him where he was going? “Till the
Kettle,” he said. “Till the what did ye say, laddie?”
“The Kettle!” How they laughed! They had never heard
of such a place before. But when their laughter had set-
tled down, they gave the boy twopence; and as they part-
ed, one of the women said, “ Tak’ care o’ yer feet, laddie,
when ye step intil the Kettle.”

On reaching Dundee, Edward crossed the Firth of Tay
by the ferry-boat, and reached Newport, in the county of
Fife. From thence he walked on to Cupar. He was very
much bewildered by the manner in which the people told
80 The Long-twiled Titmouse. [cBAP. Iv.

 

him the direction of the roads. They told him to go south
or north, or east or west. He had no idea of these geo-
graphical descriptions. One man told him to “gang east
a bit, then turn south, syne haud wast.”

He went in the direction indicated, but he could proceed
no farther. He sat down on a stone at the side of the
road, and fell fast asleep. A gentleman passing in a gig,
called out to him, “Boy! boy! get up! Don’t lie sleeping
in the sun there; it’s very dangerous.” On wakening up
he was much dazed, and he did not at first remember where
he was. When he finally got up, he asked the gentleman
the road to Cupar. On being properly directed, he set off
again.

The road along which.he passed lay for some time
through a wood. Among the various birds which he saw
and heard, he observed a group of little round birds not
much bigger than a hazel-nut, with very long tails. They
squeaked like mice, and hung to and went round about
the slenderest twigs. He had never seen such little birds
before. He did not know their names, but he afterward
found that they were the long-tailed titmouse. The little
things were the young brood of the parent bird, which
was, no doubt, hanging or flying somewhere near them.

Edward went into the wood to see them and follow
them. As he passed along he was called to from behind,
and a man came up and seized him by the collar. The
man, doubtless a keeper, roughly asked him where he was
going. “Naewhere.” ‘‘ What are you doing here, then?”
“Naething.” “What's that in your bundle?” “ My stock-
ings and shoes.” “Let me see.” His bundle was then
overhauled, and nothing being found in it but his stockings
and shoes, he was allowed to depart, with the injunction
“never to return there again, unless he wished to be sent
to jail.”

After walking a few miles, he reached Cupar, and, pass-
ing through it, went on toward Kettle. Coming to a small
CHAP. IV. | Arrives at the Kettle. 81

 

burn, he washed and dried his feet, and put on his stock-
ings and shoes, rubbing the dust from off his clothes pre-
paratory to arriving at his destination. He reached Kettle
in the evening, and soon found his uncle. But the recep-
tion he met with did not at all meet his expectations: it
was any thing but cordial. After some inquiries, the uncle
came to the conclusion that the boy had done some mis-
chief, and had run away from his parents to hide himself
in the Kettle. He could not believe that the boy had come
so far merely to see him. The old man’s relations were all
dead, or had removed from the place. He was merely
lodging with a friend. The house in which he lodged was
full, and there was no spare bed for Edward. At length
the woman of the house said that she would make up a bed
for him in the place where she kept her fire-wood.

When the boy had got his supper, he was asked if he
could read. ‘“‘A little.” The Bible was got, and he was
asked to read two chapters. He was next asked if he could
sing. “No.” He was then told that he might go to bed.
The bed was soft and sweet to the tired boy. As he went
to sleep he heard the people of the house reading the Bible
and singing a psalm.

He slept very sound, and would have slept much longer
but for his being wakened up next morning for breakfast.
The rain fell very heavily that day. The boy began to feel
very weary and lonesome, and wished again to be at home.
He had taken no thought, until now, of the results of his
leaving so suddenly. He thought of what his father and
mother might think of his disappearance. He wondered
whether he might now get away to sea.

But how was he to get home? He had now only a poor
half-penny left. However, he had still a gully; perhaps he
might be able to sell that. After considering the matter,
he resolved to set out for Aberdeen, rather than be a bur-
den to the people at the Kettle. He told his uncle that he

would leave next day. The uncle said nothing. The boy
4
82 Returns Home. [ CHAP. IV.

 

was up early next morning, got his breakfast, and also a
big piece of bread, which he put into his bundle. His uncle
accompanied him a little way along the road, and at part-
ing gave him ecighteen-pence. Edward was overjoyed. He
would now be able to get home with money in his pocket.

As he approached Newport, he came up’to three men
standing on the road. Two of them were gentlemen, and
the third seemed to be a gamekeeper. He was showing
them something which he had shot in the adjoining wood.
Edward went forward, and saw that it was a bird with blue
wings and a large variegated head. “ What do you want ?”
said the gamekeeper to Edward. “To have a sight of the
bird, if you please.” “There, then!” said the gamekeep-
er, and he swung the bird in his face, nearly blinding him.
Wher the water was out of his eyes, and he could see, he
found that they had gone along the road. He followed
them, still expecting to see the bird, and to have it in his
hand; but the gamekeeper was relentless.

At length he reached the pier, just as the ferry-boat was
reaching the landing-place. He had another pleasant voy-
age across the ferry to Dundee. His object now was to
push on to the field where he had slept among the hay.
He arrived at the place, but there were no hay-cocks, The
field was cleared. He found some whins in the neighbor-
hood, and went in among them, and slept there until the
sun was well up the sky. He started up, and went rejoi-
cing on his way. He passed through Arbroath, and was
speeding on briskly to Montrose, when he came up to a
man standing in the middle of the road, holding a bull by
arope. He asked the boy if he would hold the bull for a
few minutes until he went to a house, which he pointed to,
near at hand. “Twill give you something if you do,” said
the man. “Yes, I will,” Said Edward, “if you'll not be
long.” “No,” said the man, “T’'ll not be long.”

On getting hold of the rope, Edward found that he was
likely to have a difficult job. Scarcely had the man disap-
CHAP, IV.] Adventure with a Bull. 83

 

peared ere the bull began to snort, and kick, and jump. The
brute threw up its head, and bounded backward with such -
force that the boy was nearly upset. Instead of holding
the rope short, as he had been told, he let it go, though he
still held by it at the far end. Away went the bull along
the road, dragging the boy after him. So long as the full
stretch of rope lay between them, Edward did not care so
much; but when the animal rushed into a field of corn, he
let go altogether, and resumed his journey.

He had not gone far before he found, on looking back,
that he was hotly pursued by the animal. Observing his
danger, Edward rushed into a clump of trees standing by
the roadside, and, throwing down his bundle, he proceeded
to climb one of them. He had only ascended a few yards
when the brute came up. The bull snorted and smelled at
his bundle, threw it into the ditch with his horns, bellowed
at the boy up the tree, gave a tremendous roar, then dashed
out of the wood, and set off at full speed down the nearest
by-way. Edward was flurried and out of breath: he rested
in the tree for a short time, then descended, and ran along
the road for some miles, until he thought that he was out
of reach of further danger.

This was the only adventure that he met with on his
homeward journey. He passed through Bervie without
molestation. But instead of reaching Aberdeen that night,
as he had intended, he rested near Stonehaven. He went
through the town, and got into a corner of the toll-bar dike,
where he sat or lay until day-break. He then got up, and
commenced the last stage of his journey..

On reaching the neighborhood of Aberdeen, he went to
the hole in the bank by Deeside where he had left his week-
day clothes, and found them all right. But before going
home he went down Deeside and turned up Scraphards io
look at a laverock’s nest, which was still there. Then he
went past Ferryhill House, through Dee village, and struck
the water-side by the path now known as Affleck Street,
84 Arrives at Aberdeen. [CHAP. Iv.

 

and got home at breakfast-time, after an absence of a
week,

His mother was in. “ Where hae ye been now, ye vag-
aboon?” “At my uncle’s.” “Where?” “ At the Kettle.”
“And hae ye been a’ the way to Fife, you vagrant ?”? Tom
then told his story; his mother following it up with a long
and serious lecture. She reproached him for the dishonesty
which he had committed, in taking the sixpence out of the
box when he went away. ‘ Weel, mother,” said he, “ here’s
the sixpence for the one I took.” He had saved the six-
pence out of the eighteen-pence his uncle had given him
when he left Kettle. ‘‘ No,” she replied, “the crime is the
same, after all, and you are sure to be punished for it yet.”

Then she urged him to go back to his trade, for he was
far better at work than stravaigin* about the country like
an evil-doer. Edward asked if his father would not con-
sent now to his going to sea. She did not think he would;
she thought that to go back to his work was the best thing
of all. She herself would not hear a word more about his
going to sea.

 

* Stravaigin, idle, wandering, or strolling.

 
 

CHAPTER V.
RESUMES WORK.

IvstEap of going directly back to his work, Edward
went down to the harbor to ascertain whether any of the
captains would accept of his services as a sailor. He went
from ship to ship for three days. Some captains were will-
ing to take him with an indenture, which would have to
be signed by his father. Others were willing to take him
without his father’s consent; but in that case they required
two sureties to sign the indenture. These were serious ob-
stacles—too serious to be got over—and on the third aft-
ernoon he left the harbor with a sorrowful heart. There
were several skippers of coasting vessels, and of lime and
coal hulks, who would have taken him for four years; but
these were not the kind of ships that he wished to sail in.

Being thus forced, though very reluctantly, to give up
all thoughts of going to sea, he now considered whether it
might not be possible to learn some other trade less hateful
to him than that of a shoe-maker. But his parents would
not hear of any change. They told him that his former
master was willing to take him back, and to give him a
shilling a week more during the ensuing year, and two shil-
lings more during his last, or fifth, year. But Edward
strongly objected to return to the master who had so cru-
elly used him.

Not wishing, however, to withstand his parents’ advice
any longer, he at last consented to go on with his trade,
But, instead of serving out his time with his former master,
he found a pupil-master in Shoe Lane, who was willing to
86 Wild Botanical Garden. CHAP. V.]

 

employ him, and to improve him in his business. , Edward
agreed to give the master, for his trouble, a percentage of
his earnings, besides his pupil- money, and a share of the
fire and light. ’

Edward’s work at this place was mostly of the lighter
and smaller sort. His employer was of a much kindlier
nature than the last, and he got on very well with him.
Edward was also, in a measure, his own master. He could
still look after his birdnesting. That was his strongest
attraction out-of-doors. He did not rob the birds of their
eggs. His principal pleasure was to search for their nests,
and to visit them from time to time. When the eggs were
hatched, and the little birds were grown and ready to fly,
he would take one or two, if they were singing-birds, and
rear them for himself, or for other bird-fanciers.

It was about this time that Edward began what he called
his Wild Botanical Garden. His parents had left the
Green, and removed to another quarter of the town. Be-
hind the house, and behind the adjoining houses, was a
piece of waste ground about ten feet wide. It was covered
with stones, bits of bricks, and broken tiles. Edward re-
moved these from the ground, and put them in a corner by
themselves, covering them with earth. He dug over the
ground, manured it, and turned it over again. Then he di-
vided the space into compartments for the reception of
plants and flowers. These were brought from the fields,
the woods, and the banks adjoining the Dee and the Don.
He watered and tended them daily; but, alas! they would
not flourish as they had done on their native soil. He re-
newed them again and again. The rasp, the wild straw-
berry, the fox-glove—or dead men’s bells, as it is there
called —the hemlock, some of the ferns, and many of the
grasses, grew pretty well; but the prettiest and most deli-
cate field flowers died away one by one.

His mother, who delighted in flowers, advised him to
turn the ground into an ordinary garden. Now, although
[CHAP. v. The Picture-shops. 87

 

Edward loved garden flowers, he very much preferred those
which he found in the woods or growing by the way-side,
and which he had known from his infancy. Nevertheless,
he took his mother’s advice; and knowing many of the
places near the town where the gardeners threw out their
rubbish, he went and gathered from thence a number of
roots, flowers, and plants, which he brought home and plant-
ed in his garden. The greater number of them grew very
well, and in course of time he had a pleasant little garden.
He never planted more than one specimen of each flower,
so that his garden was various in its beauty. The neigh-
bors, who had at first sneered at him as a fool, on seeing
his pretty garden, began to whisper that the “loon” was
surely a genius, and that it was a pity that his father had
not made him a gardener, instead of a shoe-maker. Ed-
ward himself often wished that his parents had been of the
same mind as the neighbors.

Near the back of the house in which Edward lived was
an old tannerv, with a number of disused tanning-pits, full
of water. These, he thought, would be a nice place for
storing his powets and puddocks.* He pot a large pail,
went to a place where these creatures abounded, and brought
back a large cargo, heaving them into the pit. But they
did not thrive. They nearly all died. He next put about
thirty newts there, but he never saw them again, dead or
alive. At last he gave up this undertaking.

About the same time he used to make a tour among the
book-sellers of the town, to inspect the pictures which they
had in their windows. These visits proved a source of
great profit and pleasure to him. He learned something
from the pictures, and especially from the pictures of ani-
mals. He found that there was more to be gained from a
visit to the picture-shops than from a visit to the public-
house. When he saw a book that he could buy, he bought
it, though his means were still very small.

s

* Tadpoles and frogs,
88 The Castlegate. [CHAP. Vv.

 

It was in this way that he became acquainted with the
Penny Magazine. He bought the first number,* and liked
it so well that he continued to take it. He especially liked
those parts of it which related to natural history. Among
the other publications which he bought was one called the
Weekly Visitor. It cost only a half-penny. It had good
pictures, and gave excellent stories, which were usually of a
religious tendency. He read this little publication over and
over again. Nor did he ever lose the opportunity of going

 

[

 

 

OASTLEGATE ON FRIDAYS.

to the Castlegate on Fridays, to see the pictures and pict-
ure-books, which were usually exposed for sale on market-
days. ,

The gun-makers’ windows were also a source of attrac-
tion, for they often had stuffed birds exhibited in them.
There was also a window devoted entirely to stuffed birds

 

* The Penny Magazine was published in 1832, when Edward would
be about eighteen years old.
CHAP. V.| Tries to Emigrate. 89

 

near the entrance to the police-office in Watch Lane, and
another in Meal Market Lane, both of which attracted a
large share of his attention. The sight of these things
first gave Edward the idea of preserving animals. The first
beast he stuffed was a mole, and he was very proud of it.

The shoe-making trade having become very flat, Edward
left Shoe Lane, after having been there for about twenty
months. He then went to work at a shop on the Lime
Quay, near the harbor. He had steady work there for
some time, at set wages. Though he had less time to at-
tend to his natural-history pursuits, he still managed to at-
tend to his garden and his “ family,” as his mother termed
his maingie* of beasts. Trade again recovering, he went
back to work at the old place. But this did not continue
long. The men had to be paid off; and then Edward did
not know what to do.

At that time, emigration to America was the rage. Trade
was very depressed throughout the country. There were
bread. riots in many of the manufacturing towns. Num-
bers of laborers were without work, and without the means
of living. Aberdeen shared in the general depression; and
many persons emigrated to the United States, where there
was a better demand for labor. Edward wished to emi-
grate too, but he had no money. He had only a few shil-
lings to spare. But might he not contrive to emigrate as a
stowaway ?

This course is frequently adopted at the ports from which
ships sail for America. A boy gets on board, conceals him-
self in the hold, and after the ship has got out of sight of
land he makes his appearance on deck, usually half starved.
Edward determined to try this method of escaping from
Aberdeen, and more especially from his shoe-making trade.
He knew one of the sailors on board the ship which he had
selected; and although the sailor was strongly opposed to

 

* Maingie, many— a great lot.” From the German word Menge.
90 Aberdeenshire Militia. [cHaAP. v.

 

the project, Edward prevailed upon him to make an open-
ing in the cargo, so as to admit him into a hole near the
bow of the ship. Here, amidst some boxes and coils of
rope, Edward deposited three dozen biscuits and two bot-
tles of water. o

He waited outside, hovering about the quay, until the
day of sailing arrived. But the ship did not sail until five
days after the advertised time. When the emigrants went
on board, Edward went with them. For three days and
nights he lay among the coils of rope, feeding upon his bis-
cuits and water. On the forenoon of the fifth day he was
in his berth; and just as the vessel was about to be loosed
from her moorings, Edward’s friend came along the hold in
breathless haste, and inquired (for he was in the dark) “ if
he was there.” “Surely,” replied Edward. “For the love
of God,” said the sailor, “come out at once, and get on
shore. You have time yet. Simon Grant [the town’s offi-
cer] and a lot of his sharks have come, and they are about
to rummage the ship from stem to stern for runaways. So
make haste and come out; you have no chance now.”

Edward still delayed. He did not like to leave his hole.
But hearing an unusual commotion going on, amidst a great
deal of angry speaking, and fearing the worst, he at last
very unwillingly crept from his berth, went on deck, and
leaped on shore just as the ship was leaving the quay. He
afterward learned that the town’s officer was in search of
another class of stowaways, who, it seems, had been carried
on board in boxes or barrels. Edward found that he could
not see the world after this method; and he returned home,
defeated and mortified.

The Aberdeenshire militia having been called out in 1831,
Edward enlisted in the regiment. He was only about eight-
een years old at the time. When the men assembled, they
were found to be a very bad lot—mere riffraff—the dregs
of the neighborhood. ‘They were regardless both of law
and order. Seldom a night passed without the patrol bring-
CHAP. V.] Lies after a Butterfly. 91

 

ing in numbers to the guard-house for being drunk and dis-
orderly. Even during parade many of the men were put
under arrest for insubordination, chiefly because of the in-
sulting language they used toward their officers.

The militia were only embodied for four weeks. During
the first fortnight, the awkward squads were drilled with-
out arms of any sort. It was only during the last fort-
night that they were provided with muskets and bayonets.
The company to which Edward belonged was drilling one
day on the links. It was a bright, sunny afternoon. The
company was marching along near the lower part of the
links, when a large brown butterfly flitted past. Edward
saw it in an instant. He had never seen the like of that
butterfly before!* Without thinking for a moment of
what he was doing, he flew after it—among the bents and
sand hillocks, grasping after it with his hand.

“A very hunter did he rush
Upon the prey: with leaps and springs
He followed on from brake to bush.”

The butterfly eluded him; it flew away before him.
Again he rushed after it, losing his bonnet in the hunt.
He was nearing the spot where it had alighted. He would
catch it now, when suddenly he was gripped by the neck!
He looked round, and saw it was the corporal of his com-
pany, with four militiamen behind him.

_ Looking Edward sternly in the face, the corporal said,
“What's up, Edward?” “Nothing.” ‘The deuce!” “No,
it wasn’t that—it was a splendid butterfly.” ‘A butter-
devil!” “No! it was a butter-fy/”’ “Stuff!” said the
corporal; “are you mad?’ “No; I don’t think I am.”
“You look like a madman; and I'll tell you what it is,
you'll have to pay for this.” ‘For what? “For break-
ing away from the ranks during drill. I am sent to arrest
you and take you to the guard-house: so come along!”

 

* It proved to be a brown fritillery,
92 He is Apprehended. [cHAP. Vv.

 

And away they marched—two militiamen before, two be-
hind, and Edward and the corporal in the centre. By this
time a number of persons had collected, the younger peo-
ple calling out to their companions to come and see the
mad militia-man.

On crossing the links, the prisoner and his escort encount-
ered one of the officers of the regiment, accompanied by a
group of ladies. ‘“ Where are you going with that boy?”
said the officer, addressing the corporal. “To the guard-
house!” “ What! more insubordination?’ “Yes.” “This
is most dreadful; what has he done?’ “He broke the
ranks during drill, and although Sergeant Forbes called him
back, he ran away after what he calls a butterfly.” There
was a short silence, after which the ladies were observed
tittering and laughing. “What did you say, corporal ?”
“He ran out of the ranks after a butterfly.” “What! ran
away from his exercise for the sake of an insect! Most
extraordinary. Is he mad, corporal?” ‘ Well, the sergeant
thinks so; and that’s the reason why I have got four men
to help me to take him; but I don’t think thatshe’s mad.”
“ He must be drunk, then?” “No, I don’t think he’s drunk
either.” “He must be either mad or drunk: did he ever
behave so before?” “‘ No, not to my knowledge.”

The officer and the ladies retired, and talked together.
After about five minutes had elapsed, the officer returned,
and said to the corporal, “ Are you quite sure that the pris-
oner behaved himself properly before his ridiculous chase
after the butterfly?” “I know of nothing whatever against
hin, sir.” “Call him forward.” Edward advanced toward
the officer. “ Well, sir, what have you to say about break-
ing the ranks during drill, and running after the butter-
fly? Are you subject to fits of insanity?’ Edward did
not reply. “Can't you speak, sir?’ cried the officer, an-
grily. “Yes, sir,” replied Edward; “but you have asked
questions that I can not answer.” “ What induced you to
leave the ranks, and run after a harmless insect?” “TI re-
CHAP. V.] Einlists in the Rifles. 93

 

ally do not know, unless it was from a desire to possess the
butterfly.”

Looks were exchanged between the officer and corporal,
when the former, calling Edward aside, said to him, “I
dare say, young man, you are not aware that the crime
which you have committed against military discipline is a
very severe one. This constant disobedience to orders
must be put a stop to. But as this is your first offense,
and as these ladies have interceded for you, I shall endeay-
or to obtain your acquittal, in the hope that you will close-
ly attend to your duty in future.” Addressing the corpo-
ral, he added, “Take him back to the ranks, and tell Ser-
geant Forbes that I will speak to him about this affair.”
This was Edward’s first and last military offense, and he
served out the rest of his time with attention and dili-
gence.

Edward disliked returning to his trade. His aversion to
it was greater even than before. He disliked the wages,
which were low; but he still more disliked the manner in
which the masters treated their men. They sometimes
kept them idle for days, and toward the end of the week
they would force them to work night and day in order to
finish their jobs. Edward liked his militia life much bet-
ter; and, in order to get rid of the shoe-making, and con-
tinue his soldier’s life, he enlisted in the 60th Rifles. When
his mother heard of the decision he had come to, she ex-
pressed herself as strongly opposed to it; and, working
upon the young man’s feelings, which were none of the
hardest, he at last promised not to go, and arrangements
were made to get him off. Thus ended Edward’s military
career.

Before he left Aberdeen, he assisted his father as beadle
(or pew-opener) in the North Church, King Street. He
continued in this office for about two years. He liked the
occupation very well, and was sorry to leave it, when he
finally left Aberdeen to settle at Banff.
 

CHAPTER VI.
SHTTLES AT BANFF.

Epwarp was about twenty years old when he left Aber-
deen and went to Banffto work at his trade. He found a
master there willing to employ him. Shoe-making had not
improved. Men worked long hours for little wages. The
hardest worker could only earn a scanty livelihood. Though
paid by the piece, the journeymen worked in the employ-
ers’ shops. Their hours were from six in the morning till
nine at night. They had scarcely an interval of time that
they could call their own.

Edward found the confinement more miserable than the
wages. And yet he contrived to find some time to follow
his bent. He went after birds, and insects, and butterflies.
He annoyed his shopmates almost as much as he had an-
noyed his school-fellows. In summer-time, he collected a
number of caterpillars, and put them in a box beside him
in the workshop, for the purpose of watching them, and ob-
serving their development into the chrysalis state.

In spite of his care, some of the caterpillars got out and
wandered about the floor, sometimes creeping up the men’s
legs. Some of the workmen did not care, but one of them
was almost thrown into convulsions when he knew that
a “worm was out.” The other men played tricks upon
him. When any of them wanted a scene, they merely said,
“Geordie, there’s a lad oot!” Then Geordie would jump
to his feet, and would not sit down again until he was as-
sured that all the worms were fast in their boxes.

Edward was forced to keep his caterpillars in the work-
CHAP. VI. | Marries a Huntly Lass. 95

 

shop, as the landlady with whom he lodged would not al-
low any of his “ vermin,” as she called them, to enter her
house. He had one day taken in about a dozen caterpillars
of the puss moth, and asked her for a box to hold them in.
The landlady told him at once to get out of the house with
his “ beasts.” She never could understand her lodger. Sle
could not fathom “ fat kin o’ a chiel he was. A’body tried
to keep awa frae vermin but himsel’ !”

The idea again recurred to Edward of saving money
enough to enable him to emigrate to the United States;
but this was prevented by his falling in love! Man pro-
poses: God disposes. He met with a Huntly lass at the
farm of Boyndie. He liked her, loved her, courted her,
married her, and brought her home to the house which he
had provided for her in Banff.

Edward was only twenty-three years old when he brought
his wife home. Many may think that he was very impru-
dent in marrying so early. But he knew nothing about
“ Malthus on Population.” He merely followed his natu-
ral instincts. What kept him would keep another also. It
turned out, however, that he had married wisely. His mar-
riage settled him for life. He no longer thought of emigra-
ting to America. Then, his marriage gave him a happy home.
His wife was bright and cheerful, and was always ready to
welcome him from his wanderings. They were very poor,
it is true; but mutual affection makes up for much. Per-
haps they occasionally felt the bitterness of poverty; for
Edward’s earnings did not yet amount to more than about
nine shillings and sixpence a week.

Another result of Edward’s marriage was, that it enabled
him to carry on his self-education in natural history.
While he lived in lodgings, he had few opportunities for
collecting objects. It is true, he explored the country in
the neighborhood of Banff. He wandered along the sands
toward Whitehills, and explored the rocky cliffs between
Macduff and Gamrie. He learned the geography of the in-
96 Want of Education. [CHAP. VI.

 

land country and of the sea-coast. He knew the habitats
of various birds and animals. Some of the former he pro-
cured and stuffed; for by this time he had acquired the art
of preserving birds as well as insects. But while he lived
in lodgings he had no room for stuffed birds or preserved
moths and butterflies. It was only when he got a home of
his own that he began to make a collection of these objects.

It was a great disadvantage to him that his education
should have been so much neglected in his boyhood. He
had, it is true, been at three schools before he was six years
old; but, as we have already seen, he was turned away from
them all because of his love of “beasts.” He had learned
comparatively little from his school-masters, who knew
little themselves, and perhaps taught less. He was able
to read, though with difficulty. Arithmetic was to him a
thing unknown. He had not even learned to write. It
was scarcely possible that he could have learned much in
his boyhood, for he went to work when he was only six
years old,

An attempt was made to teach him writing while he was
apprenticed to Begg, the drunken shoe-maker. He asked
leave to attend a writing-school held in the evening. His
master could not, or would not, understand the meaning of
his request. ‘“ What!” said he, “learn to write! I sup-
pose you will be asking to learn dancing next! What busi-
ness have you with writing? Am I to be robbed of my
time to enable you to learn to write?” Edward’s parents
supported the application, and at last the master gave his
consent. But there was always some work to do, or some-
thing to finish and carry home to the master’s customers, so
that Edward rarely attended the writing-school; and at the
end of the quarter he knew very little more of penmanship -
than he did at the beginning.

Edward had to begin at the beginning with every thing.
As we have already said, he knew next to nothing of books.
He did not possess a single work on natural history. He
CHAP. VI.] Shy and Friendless. 97

 

did not know the names of the birds and animals that he
caught. For many years after he had begun his researches
his knowledge of natural objects was obtained by chance.
He knew little of the nature and habits of the creatures
that he went to seek; he scarcely knew where or how to
find them. Yet his very absence of knowledge proved a
source of inexhaustible pleasure to him. All that he learned
of the form, habits, and characteristics of birds and animals
was obtained by his own personal observation. His knowl-
edge had been gathered and accumulated by himself. It
was his own.

It was a misfortune to Edward that, after he had attained
manhood, he was so shy and friendless. He was as solitary
as Wordsworth’s Wanderer. He had no friend of any sort
to direct him in his studies; none even to lend him books,
from which he might have obtained some assistance. He
associated very little with his fellow-workers. Shoe-makers
were a very drunken lot. Edward, on the contrary, was
* sober and thoughtful. His fellow-shoe-makers could not
understand him. They thought him an odd, wandering,
unsettled creature. Why should he not, as they did, enjoy
himself at the public-house? Instead of doing this, Ed-
ward plodded homeward so soon as his day’s work was
over.

There was, however, one advantage which Edward pos-
sessed, and it compensated him for many difficulties. He
was an intense lover of nature. Every thing that lived
and breathed had charms for him. He loved the fields, the
woods, the moors. The living presence of the earth was
always about him, and he eagerly drank in its spirit. The
bubbling brooks, the whispering trees, the aspects of the
clouds, the driving wind, were all sources of delight. He
felt himself free amidst the liberty of nature.

The ocean in its devious humors—sometimes peacefully
slumbering, or laving the sands with murmuring kisses at
his feet; then, full of life and motion, carrying in and out

5
98 A Lover of Nature. (CHAP. VI.

 

the fishermen’s boats along the shores of the Firth; or,
roaring with seeming agony, dashing itself in spray against
the rock-bound coast—these sights and scenes were always
a source of wonderment. As his wanderings were almost
invariably conducted at night, he had abundant opportuni-
ties of seeing, not only the ocean, but the heavens, in their
various aspects. What were these stars so far off in the
sky? Were they worlds? Were they but the outposts of
the earth, from which other worlds were to be seen, far be-
yond the ken of the most powerful telescope ?

To use Edward’s own words, “I can never succeed in
describing my unbounded admiration of the works of the
Almighty; not only the wonderful works which we our-
selves see upon earth, but those wondrous and countless
millions of orbs which roll, both near and far, in the end-
less immensity of space—the home of eternity.

“Every living thing that moves or lives, every thing that
grows, every thing created or formed by the hand or the
will of the Omnipotent, has such a fascinating charm for
me, and sends such a thrill of pleasure through my whole
frame, that to describe my feelings is utterly impossible.”

Another advantage which Edward possessed, besides his
intense love of nature, was his invincible determination.
Whatever object in natural history he desired to possess,
if it were possible to obtain it, he never rested until he had
succeeded. He sometimes lost for a time the object of
which he was in search, because he wished to observe its
traits and habits. For this purpose, he would observe long
and carefully before obtaining possession of it. By this
means he was enabled to secure an amount of information
in natural history such as no book, except the book of
nature, could have supplied him with.

Edward proceeded to make a collection of natural objects
early in the spring of 1838. He was then twenty-four years
old, and had been married about a year. He had, a short
time before, bought an old gun for four and sixpence; but
CHAP. VI.| Ils Equipment. 99

 

it was so rickety that he had to tie the barrel to the stock
with a piece of thick twine. He carried his powder in a
horn, and measured out his charges with the bowl of a
tobacco- pipe. His shot was contained in a brown - paper
bag. A few insect bottles of middling size, some boxes for
containing moths and butterflies, and a botanical book for
putting his plants in, constituted his equipment.

As he did not cease shoe-making until nine at night,
nearly all his researches were made after that hour. He
had to be back to his work in the morning at six. His
wages were so sinall that he could not venture to abridge
his working hours. It was indispensably necessary for him
to husband carefully both his time and his money, so as to
make the most of the one and the best of the other. And,
in order the better to accomplish this, he resolved never to
spend a moment idly, nor a penny uselessly.

On returning home from his work at night, his usual
course was to equip himself with his insect boxes and bot-
tles, his botanical book, and his gun; and to set out with
his supper in his hand or stowed away in his pocket. The
nearest spring furnished him with sufficient drink. So long
as it was light, he scoured the country, looking for moths,
or beetles, or plants, or birds, or any living thing that came
in his way. ;

When it became so dark that he could no longer’ ob-
serve, he dropped down by the side of a bank, or a bush,
or a tree, whichever came handiest, and there he dozed or
slept until the light returned. Then he got up, and again
began his observations, which he continued until the time
arrived when he had to return to his daily labor. It was no
unusual circumstance for him—when he had wandered too
far, and come upon some more than usually attractive spot
—to strip himself of his gear, gun and all, which he would
hide in some hole; and, thus lightened of every thing ex-
cept his specimens, take to his heels, and run at the top of
his speed, in order to be at his work at the proper time.
100 His Work at Night. [CHAP. VI.

 

On Saturdays he could only make his observations late
at night. He must be home by twelve o’clock. Sabbath-
breaking is an intolerable sin in Scotland, and Edward was
never a Sabbath-breaker. It was a good thing for his men-
tal and physical health that there was a seventh day during
which he could not and would not work. But for his sev-
enth day’s rest, he would have worked night and day. On
Sundays he went to church with his wife and family. Aft-
er evening service he took off his best clothes, and donned
his working dress. Then he took a few hours’ sleep in his
chair or lying across his bed, before setting out. He thus
contrived to secure a few hours’ observation on Monday
mornings before six o’clock.

His neighbors used to say of him, “It is a stormy night
that keeps that man Edward in the house.” In fact, his
neighbors were completely bewildered about his doings.
They gave vent to all sorts of surmises about his wander-
ings by night. Exaggerated rumors spread about among
the towns-people. He went with a gun: Surely he
couldn’t be a poacher or a burglar?) That was impossible.
It was well known that he lived soberly and honestly, de-
nying himself many things, and never repining at his lot,
though living a life of hardship. But what could he mean
by wandering about at night among wild, lonely, and ghost-
haunted places? They wouldn’t have slept in Boyndie
church-yard for worlds! And yet that was one of Ed-
ward’s favorite spots!

He went out in fine starlit nights, in moonlight nights,
and in cold and drizzling nights. Weather never daunted
him. When it rained, he would look out for a hole in a
bank, and thrust himself into it, feet foremost. He kept
his head and his gun out, watching and waiting for any cas-
ualties that might happen. He knew of two such holes,
both in sand-banks and both in woods, which he occasional-
ly frequented. They were foxes’ or badgers’ dens. If any
of these gentry were inside when he took up his position,
CHAP. VI.] His Ambuscades. 101

 

they did not venture to disturb him. If they were out, they
did the same, except on one occasion, when a badger endeav-
ored to dislodge him, showing his teeth. He was obliged
to shoot it. He could often have shot deers and hares,
which came close up to where he was; but they were for-
bidden animals, and he resisted the temptation. He shot
owls and polecats from his ambuscades. Numbers of moths
came dancing about him, and many of these he secured and
boxed, sending them to their long sleep with a little drop
of chloroform. When it rained heavily, he drew in his
head and his gun, and slept until the first streaks of light
appeared on the horizon; and then he came out of his hole
and proceeded with his operations.

At other times he would take up his quarters for the
night in some disused buildings—in a barn, a ruined castle,
or a church-yard. He usually obtained better shelter in
such places than if he were seated by the side of a stone, a
bush, or a wall. His principal objection to them was, that
he had a greater number of visitors there than elsewhere—
such as polecats, weasels, bats, rats, and mice, not to speak
of hosts of night-wandering insects, mollusks, beetles, slat-
ers, centipedes, and snails. Think of having a polecat or a
weasel sniff-sniffing at your face while asleep! or two or
three big rats tug-tugging at your pockets, and attempting
to steal away your larder! These visitors, however, did not

-always prove an annoyance. On the contrary, they some-
times proved a windfall; for, when they came within reach,
they were suddenly seized, examined, and, if found necessa-
ry, killed, stuffed, and added to the collection.

The coldest places in which Edward slept at night were
among the rocks by the sea-side, on the shingle, or on the
sea-braes along the coast. When exposed to the east wind,
these sleeping-places were perishingly cold. When he went
inland, he could obtain better shelter. In summer-time, es-
pecially, he would lie down on the grass and sleep soundly,
with the lock of his gun for his pillow and the canopy of
102 Church-yard of Boyndie. —[cuap. vL

 

heaven for his blanket. His ear was always open for the
sounds of nature, and when the lark was caroling his early
hymn of praise, long before the sun had risen, Edward would
rise and watch for day-break—

“When from the naked top
Of some bold headland he beheld the sun
Rise up, and bathe the world in light.”

In the course of his wanderings inland he was frequently
overtaken by storms in the hills. He carried no cloak, nor
plaid, nor umbrella, so that he often got completely soaked
before he could find shelter. ,

One of the most remarkable nights Edward ever spent
was under a grave-stone in the church-yard of Boyndie.
The church of this parish was at one time situated in the
midst of the church-yard; but as it was found inconven-
ient, and at a considerable distance from the bulk of the
parishioners, it was removed inland, leaving but a gable-end
of the old church standing. The church-yard, however, is
still used as a burying-place. It stands on a high piece of
ground overlooking the sea, about two miles west of Banff.
In clear days, the bold, rugged, precipitous coast is to be
seen, extending eastward as far as Crovie Head. But the
night of which we speak was very dark; the sky was over-
hung with rolling clouds; the sea was moaning along the
shore. Edward expected a wild night, as he had seen the
storm brewing before he left home. Nevertheless, he went
out as usual.

He had always regarded a thunder-storm as one of the
grandest sights. He rejoiced in the warring of the ele-
ments by day, and also by night when the inhabitants of
the earth were wrapped in sleep. As he approached old
Boyndie, the storm burst. The clouds were ripped open,
and the zigzag lightning threw a sudden flood of light over
land and sea. Torrents of rain followed, in the midst of
which Edward ran into the church-yard, and took shel-

~
 

BOYNDIE CHURCH-YARD,
CHAP. VI. ] A Terrible Night. 105

 

ter under a flat tombstone supported by four low pillars.
There was just room enough for him to lie down at full
length. The storm was not yet at its height. The thun-
der pealed and crashed and rolled along the heavens, as if
the universe were about to be torn asunder and the mighty
fragments hurled out into infinity. It became louder and
louder—nearer and nearer. The lightning flashed in red
and yellowish fiery streams; each flash leaving behind it a
suffocating, sulphurous odor. Then followed torrents of
rain and hail and lumps of ice.

After the thunder-storm the wind began—lightly at first,
but, increasing rapidly, it soon blew a hurricane. The sea
rose, and lashed its waves furiously along the coast. Al-
though Edward had entertained no fear of the thunder, he
now began to fear lest the tremendous fury of the wind
would blow down the rickety gable-end of the old church
of Boyndie; in which case it-would have fallen upon the
tombstone, under which he lay.

The hurricane lasted for about an hour, after which the
wind fell. Midnight was long past, and morning was ap-
proaching. Before leaving the tombstone, Edward endeav-
ored to obtain a few minutes’ sleep. He had just begun to
doze, when he was awakened by a weird and unearthly moan-
ing. He listened. The moaning became a stifled scream.
The noise grew louder and louder, until it rose into the
highest pitch of howling. What could it be? He was in
the home of the dead! Was it a ghost? Never! His
mind revolted from the wretched superstition. He looked
out to see what it could be, when something light in color
dashed past like a flash, closely followed by another and a
darker object. After the screaming had ceased, Edward
again composed himself to sleep, when he was wakened up
by a sudden rush over his legs. He looked up. The mys-
tery was solved! Two cats—a light and a dark one—had
been merely caterwauling in the grave-yard, and making
night hideous, according to their usual custom.

5x
106 Moth-hunting. [CHAP. VI.

 

By this time the day was beginning to break, and Ed-
ward prepared to leave his resting-place and resume his la-
bors. He felt very stiff as he crept from under the tomb-
stone, where he had been lying in a cramped position. He
was both cold and wet; but his stiffness soon wore off;
and after some smart running in the open air his joints be-
came a little more flexible, and, shortly after, he returned
home.

Edward had frequent mishaps when he went out on these
nocturnal expeditions. One summer evening he went out
moth-hunting. The weather was mild and fair, and it gave
promise of an abundant “take” of moths. He had with
him his collecting-box under his arm, and a phial of chloro-
form in his pocket. His beat lay in a woody dale, close by
the river’s side. He paced the narrow footpath backward
and forward, snapping at his prey as he walked along the
path.

The sun went down. The mellow thrush, which had
been pouring forth its requiem to the parting day, was now
silent. The lark flew to its mossy bed, the swallow to its
nest. The wood-pigeon had uttered its last coo before set-
tling down for the night. The hum of the bee was no
longer heard. The grasshopper had sounded its last chirp ;
and all seemed to have sunk to sleep. Yet nature is never
at rest. The owl began to utter its doleful and melancholy
wail; the night-jar (Caprimulgus Huropeus) was still out
with its spinning-wheel-like birr, birr ; and the lightsome
roe, the pride of the lowland woods, was emitting his fa-
vorite night bark.

The moths continued to appear long after the butterflies
had gone to rest. They crowded out from their sylvan
homes into the moth-catcher’s beat. These he continued
to secure. A little drop of the drowsy liquid, and the in-
sect dropped into his box, as perfect as if still in nature’s
hands. Thus he managed to secure a number of first-rate
specimens — among others, the oak egger moth, the uni-
CHAP. VI. | Terrible Encounter. 107

 

corn hawk-moth, the cream-spot tiger-moth, the angle-
shades, the beautiful China-mark, the green silver-line, and
various other specimens. He hoped to secure more; but
in the midst of his operations he was interrupted by the
approach of an extraordinary-looking creature.

He was stepping slowly and watchfully along his beat,
crooning to himself, -“‘ There’s nae luck aboot the house,”
when, looking along the narrow footpath, he observed some-
thing very large, and tremendously long, coming toward
him. He suddenly stopped his crooning, and came to a
standstill. What could the hideous-looking monster be ?
He could not see it clearly, for it had become dark, and the
moon was not yet up. Yet there it was, drawing slowly
toward him. He was totally unarmed. He had neither
his gun nor even Itis gully knife with him. Fear whisper-
ed, “Fly! fly for your life!” but courage shouted, “No!
no! stand like a man and a true naturalist, and see the
worst and the best of it!” So he stood his ground.

At length the animal gradually approached him. He
now observed that it consisted of three large and full-
grown badgers, each a short distance behind the other, the
foremost being only about sixteen yards from where he
stood. He had for some time been on the lookout for a
badger to add to his collection, and now he hoped to be
able to secure one. He rushed forward; the badgers sud-
denly turned and made for the river along-side of which his
beat had extended. He wrapped a handkerchief round his
hand to prevent the animals biting him, threw off his hat,
and bolted after the badgers. He was gaining on them
rapidly, and as he came up with the last, which was bolting
down into the river, he gave it a tremendous kick; but, in
doing so, he fell suddenly flat on his back in the midst of
the path. When he came to himself, he began to feel if
his legs were broken, or if his head were still on. Yes, all
was right; but, on searching, he found a tremendous bump
upon the back of his head as big as a turkey’s egg.
108 Confused by his Falt. {CHAP. VI.

 

Such was the end of his night’s moth-hunting. But his
head was so full of badgers, and he was so confused with
his fall, that when he reached home and went to sleep, he
got up shortly afterward, loaded his gun for the purpose of
shooting a badger, and as he was in the act of putting a
cap on the nipple, he suddenly awoke!

 
 

CHAPTER VIL.
NIGHT WANDERERS.

A.ttHovuaH it is comparatively easy to observe the habits
of animals by day, it is much more difficult to do so at
night. Edward, as we have already said, was compelled by
circumstances to work at shoe-making by day, and to work
at natural history by night.

“Tt would have been much easier work for me,” said
Edward, in answer to an inquiry made as to his nocturnal
observations, “had it been my good fortune to possess but
a single trustworthy book on the subject, or even a single
friend who could have told me any thing about such mat-
ters. But I had neither book nor friend. I was in a far
worse predicament than the young and intending communi-
cants at the parish church of Boyndie were, who, when asked
a question by the good and pious minister, and returning
no answer, were told that they were shockingly in the dark
—all in the dark together. Now, they had a light beside
them, for they had their teacher in their midst; but I had
no light whatever, and no instructor. It was doubly dark
with me. It was decidedly the very blackness of darkness
in my case. The only spark or glimmer I had was from
within. It proceeded from the never-ceasing craving I had
for more knowledge of the works of nature. This was the
only faintest twinkle I had to lighten up my path, even in
the darkest night. And that little twinkle, together with
my own never-flagging perseverance, like a good and earnest
pilot, steered me steadily and unflinchingly onward.”

Although Edward was frequently out in winter-time, es-
pecially in moonlight, his principal night-work occurred be-
110 Midnight Roamers. [CHAP. VII.

,tween spring and autumn. The stillest, and quietest, and
usually the darkest, part of the night—unless when the
moon was up—was from about an hour after sunset until
about an hour before sunrise. Yet, during that sombre
time, when not asleep, he seldom failed to hear the sounds
or voices, near or at a distance, of midnight wanderers
prowling about. In the course of a few years he learned
to know all the beasts and birds of the district frequented
by him. He knew the former by their noises and grunt-
ings, and the latter by the sound of their wings when fly-
ing. When a feathered wanderer flew by, he could tell its
call-note at once, and often the family as well as the spe-
cies to which it belonged. But although he contrived to
make himself acquainted with the objects of many of these
midnight cries and noises, others-cost him a great deal of
time and labor, as well as some dexterous mancuvring.

The sounds of the midnight roamers, as well as the ap-
pearance of the birds and animals, were invariably more nu-
merous during the earlier part of the year. In the spring
and early part of summer they were always the most live-
ly. Toward the end of summer the sounds became few-
er and less animated; and the animals themselves did not
appear so frequently. Woods were the principal lodging-
places of birds and animals. There were fewer in the
fields; still fewer among the rocks or shingle by the sea-
shore, except in winter; and in the hills, the fewest of all.

‘When he made his first night expeditions to the inland
country, the hoarse-like bark of the roe-deer, and the timid-
like bleak-bleak of the hare puzzied him very much. He
attributed these noises to other animals, before he was able,
by careful observation, to attribute them to their true
sources. Although the deer wanders about at all hours of
the night, occasionally grunting or barking, it does not usu-
ally feed at that time. The hare, on the other hand, feeds
even during the darkest nights, and in spring and the early
part of summer it utters its low cry of bleak-bleak. This

 
CHAP. VIL] The Rabbit. 111

 

ery is very different from that which it utters when snared
or half shot. Its cry for help is then most soul-pitying:
it is like the tremulous voice of an infant, even to the quiv-
ering of its little innocent lips.

While Edward found that the deer and the hare were
among the animals that wandered about a good deal in the
dark, he did not find that the rabbit was a night-roamer, al-
though he occasionally saw it moving about by moonlight.
He often watched the rabbits going into their burrows at
sunset; and he also observed them emerging from them a
little before sunrise. But there was one thing about the
rabbit that perplexed and puzzled him. It did not emit any
ery, such as the hare does; but he often heard the rabbit
tap-tap in a particular manner. How was this noise caused ?
He endeavored to ascertain the cause by close observation.

Early one morning when he was lying under a whin-
bush, about twenty yards from the foot of a sandy knoll,
where there were plenty of rabbits’ holes, he was startled
by hearing a loud tap-tapping almost close to where he lay.
The streaks of day were just beginning to appear. Parting
the bush gently aside and looking through it, he observed
a rabbit thud-thudding its hind feet upon the ground close
to the mouth of another rabbit’s hole.

Edward continued to watch the rabbit. After he had
finished his tapping at the first hole, he went along the
hillock and began tap-tapping at another. He went on
again. He would smell the ground about the hole first,
and would sometimes pass without tapping. At last he
got to a hole where his progress was stopped. After he
had given only two or three thuds, out rushed a full-grown
rabbit, and flew at the disturber of the peace. He rushed
at him with such fury that they both rolled headlong down
hill, until they reached the bottom.

There they had a rare set-to—a regular rabbit -fight.
Rabbits are fools at fighting. Their object seems to be to
leap over each other, and to kick the back of their enemy’s
112 Rabbits —The Fox. (cHAP. VI.

 

head as they fly over; each trying to jump the highest and
to kick the hardest. It is a matter of jumping and kick-
ing. Yet rabbits have an immense power in their hinder
feet. They often knock each other down by this method
of fighting. They also occasionally fight like rams—knock-
ing their heads hard together. Then they reel and tumble,
until they recover, and are at it again, until one or the other
succumbs.

Edward is of opinion that the method pursued by the
male rabbits, of tapping in front of their neighbors’ holes,
is to attract the attention of the females. When the male
comes out instead of the female, a fight occurs, such as that
above described. At other times, the rabbit that taps is
joined by other rabbits from the holes, and a friendly con-
ference takes place. But, besides this loud beating with
their heels, the rabbits possess another method of commu-
nicating with their fellows. They produce a sound like
tap-pat / which is the sign of danger. Edward often saw
numbers of them frisking and gamboling merrily about the
mouths of their burrows; but when the sound of tap-pat
was heard, the whole of the rabbits, young and old, rushed
immediately to their holes.

Among the true night-roamers are the fox, the otter, the
badger, the polecat, the stoat, the weasel, the hedgehog, the
rat, and almost the whole family of mice. These are, for
the most part, nocturnal in their habits. No matter how
dark or tempestuous the night, they are constantly prowl-
ing about. Even at the sea-shore, the otter, the weasel, and
the mice often paid Edward a visit. When on the hills or
moors, he often saw the weasel, and sometimes the fox;
but the fields and the sides of woods were the places where
they were most frequently met with. All these animals,
like the deer and hare, have their peculiar and individual
calls, which they utter at night.

Thus the fox may be known by his bark, which resem-
bles that of a poodle-dog, with a little of the yelp in it;
cHaPp. vit] Cries of Night-roamers. 113

 

and he repeats this at intervals varying from about six to
eighteen minutes between each, When suddenly surprised,
the fox gives vent to a sharp, harsh-like growl, and shows
and snaps his teeth. “I once,” says Edward, “put my
walking-staff into the mouth of a fox just roused from his
lair—for foxes do not always live in holes—to see how the
fellow would act. He worried the stick, and took it away
with him. I have, on three different occasions, come upon
two foxes occupying the same lair at the same time—twice
on the cliffs by the sea, and once among the bushes in an
old and disused quarry. In one instance, I came upon them
in midwinter, and in the other two cases during summer.”

The badger utters a kind of snarling grunt. This is
done in quick succession. Then he is silent for a short
time, and again he begins in the same strain. The otter,
and most of the other night-roamers, have a sort of squeak,
which they utter occasionally. But though there is a dif-
ference between them, which Edward could distinguish, it
is very difficult to describe it in words. Their screams,
however, differ widely from their ordinary call. The scream
is the result of alarm or pain, perhaps of a sudden wound ;
the call is their nightly greeting when they hold friendly
converse with each other; but the difference in the screams
can only be learned by the ear, and can scarcely be described
by words.

The field-mice—the “ wee timorous beasties ” of Burns—
besides their squeaking, lilt a low and not unmusical ditty
for hours together. Edward often heard them about him,
sometimes quite near him, sometimes beneath his head.
He occasionally tried to clutch them, but on opening his
hand he found it filled with grass, moss, or leaves. The
result of his observations was, that several, if not the whole,
of the mouse race are possessed, more or less, of the gift of
singing.

The otter, polecat, stoat, and weasel have a knack of
blowing or hizzing when suddenly come upon, or when
114 Impertinence of Weasels. CHAP. VII.

 

placed at bay. The three latter stand up on their hind
feet in a menacing attitude. Sometimes they suddenly dart
forward and give battle when they see no other way of es-
cape. This is especially the case with the females when
they have their young about them. Edward once saw a
weasel, after hiding her family among a cairn of stones, as-
cend to the top, and, muttering something all the while, by
her threatening attitude and fierce showing of her teeth
dared any one to approach her under penalty of immediate
attack.

A bite of a weasel, or polecat, or badger, or otter is any
thing but agreeable. The bites of the weasel and the pole-
cat are the worst. There seems to be some poison in their
bites, for the part bitten soon becomes inflamed, and the
bite is long in healing. The whole of this group of animals
are of the same bold, fearless, and impetuous disposition.
They are also remarkably impertinent and aggressive, not
hesitating to attack man himself, especially when they see
him showing the slightest symptoms of cowardice. Take
the following illustrations, communicated by Edward him-
self :

“ Returning one morning from an excursion in the Buchan
district, when between Fraserburgh and Pennan, I felt so
completely exhausted by fatigue, want of sleep, and want
of food (for my haversack had become exhausted), that I
went into a field near the road, lay down by a dike-side,
and fell fast asleep. I had not slept long, however, when I
was awakened by something cold pressing in betwixt my
forehead and the edge of my hat. There were some small
birds in my hat which I had shot, and they were wrapped
in wadding. On putting up my hand to ascertain the
meaning, I got hold of a weasel, which had been trying to
force its way in to the birds. I threw him away to some
distance among the grass, and went to sleep again. The
fellow came back in a few minutes, and began the same
trick. I gripped him hard this time, and tossed him across
CHAP. VII. | Attack by a Weasel. 115

 

the dike* into another field, but not before he had bitten
my hands. I began to close my eyes once more, when
again the prowler approached. At last, despairing of peace,
I left the spot where I had been seated, and went into a
small plantation about a hundred yards off, and now I
thought I would surely get a nap in comfort. But the
weasel would not be refused. He had followed in my
track. I had scarcely closed my eyes before he was at me
again. He was trying to get into my hat. I awoke and
shoved him off. Again he tried it, and again he escaped.
By this time I was thoroughly awake. I was a good deal
nettled at the pertinacity of the brute, and yet could not
help admiring his perseverance. But thinking it was now
high time to put an end to the game, instead of falling
asleep, I kept watch. Back he came, nothing daunted by
his previous repulses. I suffered him to go on with his
operations until I found my hat about to roll off. I then
throttled, and eventually strangled, the audacious little
creature, though my hand was again bitten severely. After
getting a few winks of sleep, I was again able te resume my
journey.”

Edward was once attacked by two pertinacious rats in a
similar manner. He was making an excursion between
Banff and Aberdeen, and had got to a place near Slains
Castle, beyond Peterhead. It had been raining all day.
It was now growing dark, and he looked about for a place
to sleep in. He observed a dilapidated building, which
looked like the ruins of a threshing-mill, as it stood near
a farm-steading. He entered the place, and found only a
small part of the roof still standing. It was, however, suffi-
cient to protect him from the rain, which was still falling.
There was a pile of stones and rubbish immediately under
the roof, and having gathered together as much dry grass

 

* Dike or dyke, in the north, means a stone or earth wall, not a
ditch, as it means in the south.
116 Pertinacious Rats. [CHAP. VII.

 

as he could find, and spread it on the stones, he lay down
in a reclining position. In this position he soon fell fast
asleep.

How long he had slept he did not know, but he was
awakened by a quivering sort of motion about his head.
He at first thought it was caused by the sinking of the
stones, and that his head was going down with them. He
sat bolt-upright, clutched his gun and wallet to save them,
and felt the stones with his hands to ascertain whether they
had sunk or not. They were quite undisturbed. He again
lay down, thinking that he had only been dreaming. But
before he could fall asleep, the movement under his head
again commenced. Thinking it might be a weasel, and not
wishing for his company, he moved to one side, adjusted
his bedding, moved the grass, and prepared to lie down
again. ;

His sleep this time was of very short duration, for the
tug-tugging again commenced. He now raised his hand, at
the same time that he opened his eyes, and seized hold, not
of a weasel; but of a rat. He threw him away, thinking
that that would be enough. Being assured that there were
no weasels there—for rats and weasels never associate—he
now thought he should be able to get a little sleep. He had
no idea that the rat would return.

But in this he was disappointed. He was just beginning
to sleep, when he heard the rat again. He looked up, and
found that two rats were approaching him. So long as
there were only two, he knew he could manage them. He
allowed them to climb up the stones and smell all about
him. One of them mounted his face and sat upon it.
They next proceeded to his wallet, and endeavored to pull
it from under his head. They had almost succeeded in do-
ing so, when he laid hold of his wallet and drove them off.

Being now in a sort of fossilized state, from wet and
cold, Edward did not attempt to sleep again, but rose up
from his bed of stones, secured all his things, and march-
CHAP. VII. | The Otter. 117

 

ed away to recover his animal heat and resume his explora-
tions.

Speaking of the otter as a night-roamer, Edward ob-
serves: “TI am not aware who first burlesqued the otter as
an amphibious animal. He must have known very little
of the animal’s true habits, and nothing at all of its ana-
tomical structure. The error thus promulgated seems to
have taken deep root. That the otter is aquatic in habits,
is well known. He goes into the water to fish, but he is
forced to come up again to breathe. In fact, a very small
portion of the otter’s life is spent in the water. There are
many birds that are far more aquatic than the otter. There
are some, indeed, that never leave the water night nor day ;
yet no one calls them amphibious birds. I have seen the
otter, in his free, unfettered, and unmolested condition, both
in the sea and the river, go into the water, and disappear
many a time, and I have often watched for his re-appear-
ance. The longest time that he remained under water was
from three to four minutes; the usual time was from two
to three minutes. I have also watched numbers of water
birds, who have also to descend for their food, and I must
say that the greater number of them exceed the otter in the
time that they remain below water. Some of them remain
double the time. I once saw a great northern diver re-
main below water more than nine minutes. A porpoise
that I once watched remained down about ten minutes;
and so on with other sea-birds and animals.”

Many of these night-roaming animals—such as the weasel,
rat, badger, otter, and polecat—are seen during the day; but
these may. only be regarded as stray individuals, their prin-
cipal feeding-time being at night. The rat may forage in
the day-time, and the weasel is sometimes to be seen hunt-
ing when the sun is high. But there was one circumstance
in connection with the manners and habits of these creat-
ures which surprised Edward not a little, which was, that al-
though he very seldom saw any of them in the evening, or
118 Boyne Castle. [cHaP. VII.

 

until after it was dark, he never missed seeing them in the
morning, and sometimes after it had become daylight. The
same remark is, in a measure, applicable to many of the
night insects, to land crustaceans, beetles, many of the larger
moths, sand-hoppers, and slaters.

One of the most severe encounters that Edward ever had
with a nocturnal roamer was with a polecat or fumart* in
the ruined castle of the Boyne. The polecat is of the same
family as the weasel, but it is longer, bigger, and stronger.
It is called fumart because of the fetid odor which it emits
when irritated or attacked. It is an extremely destructive
brute, especially in the poultry-yard, where it kills far more
than it eats. Its principal luxury seems to be to drink the
blood and suck the brains of the animals it kills. It-de-
stroys every thing that the gamekeeper wishes to preserve.
Hence the destructive war that is so constantly waged
against the polecat.

The ruined castle of the Boyne, about five miles west of
Banff, was one of Edward’s favorite night haunts. The
ruins occupy the level summit of a precipitous. bank form-
ing the eastern side of a ravine, through which the little
river Boyne flows. One of the vaults, level with the ground,
is used as a sheltering place for cattle. Here Edward often
took refuge during rain, or while the night was too dark
to observe. The cattle soon got used to him. When the
weather was dry, and the animals fed or slept outside, Ed-
ward had the vault to himself. On such occasions he was
visited by rats, rabbits, owls, weasels, polecats, and other ani-
mals.

One night, as he was lying upon a stone, dozing or sleep-
ing, he was awakened by something pat-patting against his
legs. He thought it must be a rabbit or a rat, as he knew
that they were about the place. He only moved his legs a
little, so as to drive the creature away. But the animal

 

* Fumart from ful merde, old French.
 

op
THE CASTLE OF THE BOYNE.
CHAP. Vi. | Waits for the Polecat. 121

 

would not go. Then he raised himself up, and away it
went; but the night was so dark that he did not see what
the animal was. Down he went again to try and get a
sleep; but before a few minutes had elapsed, he felt the
same pat-patting: on this occasion it was higher up his
body. . He now swept his hand across his breast and thrust
the intruder off. The animal shrieked as it fell to the
ground. Edward knew the shriek at once. It was.a pole-
cat.

He shifted his position a little, so as to be opposite the
door-way, where he could see his antagonist betwixt him
and the sky. He also turned upon his side in order to have
more freedom to act. He had in one of his breast-pockets
a water-hen which he had shot that evening; and he had
no doubt that this was the bait which attracted the pole-
cat. He buttoned up his coat to his chin, so as to prevent
the bird from being carried away by force. He was now
ready for whatever might happen. Edward must tell the
rest of the story in his own words:

“Well, just as I hoped and expected, in about twenty
minutes I observed the fellow entering the vault, looking
straight in my direction. He was very cautious at first.
He halted, and looked behind him. He turned a little, and
looked out. I could easily have shot him now, but that
would have spoiled the sport; besides, I never wasted my
powder and shot upon any thing that I could take with
my hands. Having stood for a few seconds, he slowly ad-
vanced, keeping his nose on the ground. Onhe came. He
put his fore-feet on my legs, and stared me full in the face
for about a minute. I wondered what he would do next—
whether he would come nearer or go away. When satisfied
with his look at my face, he dropped his feet and ran out
of the vault. I was a good deal disappointed, and I feared
that my look had frightened him. By no means. I was
soon re-assured by hearing the well-known and omiaous

squeak-squeak of the tribe. It occurred to me that I was
6
122 Light with the Polecat. [CHAP. VIL.

 

about to be assaulted by a legion of polecats, and that it
might be best to beat a retreat.

“T was just in the act of rising, when I saw my adversa-
ry once more make his appearance at the entrance. He
seemed to be alone. I slipped quietly down again to my
former position, and waited his attack. After a rather
slow and protracted march, in the course of which he sev- -
eral times turned his head toward the door—a mancuvre
which I did not at all like—he at last approached me. He
at once leaped upon me, and looked back toward the en-
trance. I lifted my head, and he looked full in my face.
Then he leaped down, and ran to the entrance once more,
and gave a squeak. No answer. He returned, and leaped
upon me again. He was now in a better position than be-
fore, but not sufficiently far up for my purpose. Down
went his nose, and up, up he crawled over my body toward
the bird in my breast-pocket. His head was low down, so
that I couldn’t seize him.

“T lay as still as death; but, being forced to breathe, the
movement of my chest made the brute raise his head, and
at that moment I gripped him by the throat. I sprung in-
stantly to my feet, and held on. But I actually thought
that he would have torn my hands to pieces with his claws.
I endeavored to get him turned round, so as to get my
hand to the back of his neck. Even then, I had enough
to do to hold him fast. How he screamed and yelled!
What an unearthly noise in the dead of night! The vault
rung with his howlings. And, then, what an awful stench
he emitted during his struggles! The very jackdaws in
the upper stories of the castle began to caw. Still I kept
my hold. But I could not prevent his yelling at the top
of his voice. Although I gripped and squeezed with all
my might and main, I could not choke him.

“Then I bethought me of another way of dealing with
the brute. I had in my pocket about an ounce of chloro-
form, which I used for capturing insects. I took the bot-
cuap. vil.] Zhe Polecat Chloroformed. 123

 

tle out, undid the cork, and thrust the ounce of chloroform
down the fumart’s throat. It acted as a sleeping draught:
he gradually lessened his struggles. Then I laid him down
upon a stone, and, pressing the iron heel of my boot upon
‘his neck, I dislocated his spine, and he struggled no more.
I was quite exhausted when the struggle was over. The
- fight must have lasted nearly two hours. It was the most
terrible encounter that I ever had with an animal of his
class. My hands were very much bitten and scratched,
and they long continued inflamed and sore. But the
prey I had captured was well worth the struggle. He wasa
large and powerful animal—a male; and I desired to have
him as a match for a female which I had captured some
time before. He was all the more valuable, as I succeeded
in taking him without the slightest injury to his skin.”*

The birds that roam at night are more easily described.
Although the bat comes out pretty early in the evenings,
it is not on night insects that he chiefly feeds: it is rather
on the day insects which have not yet gone home to their
rest. The bat flies mostly at twilight, and inhabits ruins
and buildings as well as hollow trees in the woods.

 

* An encounter between an eagle anda polecat in the forest of Glen
Avon, Banffshire, is thus described in the ‘New Statistical Account
of Scotland :” “The eagle builds its aerie in some inaccessible rock,
and continues from year to year to hatch its young in the same spot.
One of these noble birds was killed some years ago which measured
upward of six feet from tip to tip of the wings. One of the keepers
of the forest being one day reclining on the side of a hill, observed
an eagle hovering about for his prey, and, darting suddenly down, it
caught hold of a polecat, with which it rose up, and flew away in the
direct of an immense cliff on the opposite hill. It had not proceed
ed far when he observed it abating its course, and descending in a
spiral direction until it reached the ground. He was led by curiosity
to proceed toward the spot, which was about a mile distant from him,
and there he found the eagle quite dead, with his talons transfixed in
the polecat. The polecat was also dead, with its teeth fixed in the ea-
gle’s gullet.”
124 The Long-eared Oul. [CHAP. VII.

 

The owl is a nocturnal bird of prey. It flits by, as the
twilight deepens into night, and hoots or howls in hollow
and lugubrious tones. Though Edward was by no means
given to fear, he was once scared at midnight by the screech
of a long-eared owl (Strix otus). It was only about the
third or fourth night that he had gone out in search of
specimens. When he began his night-work he was some-
times a little squeamish; but as he became accustomed to
it, he slept quite as soundly out-of-doors as in bed. He was
as fearless by night as by day. No thought of ghosts,
hobgoblins, water-kelpies, brownies, fairies, or the other sup-
posed spirits of darkness, ever daunted him. But on this
particular night he had one of the most alarming and fear-
ful awakenings that he had ever experienced.

There had been a fearful thunder-storm, during which
he had taken shelter in a hole in the woods of Mountcoffer.
He had fallen asleep with his head upon the lock of his
gun. Before he entered the burrow, he had caught a field-
mouse, which he wished to take home alive. He therefore
tied a string round its tail, attaching the other end of the
string (which was about six feet long) to his waistcoat.
The little fellow had thus the liberty of the length of his
tether.

While Edward was sleeping soundly, he was awakened
by something tug-tugging at his waistcoat; and then by
hearing a terrific series of yells, mingled with screeches,
close at his head. He was confused and bewildered at
first, and did not know where he was, or what the dread-
ful noises meant. Recovering his recollection, and opening
his eyes, he looked about him. He remembered the mouse,
and pulled back the string to which it had been attached.
The mouse was gone: nothing but the skin of its tail re-
mained. He looked up, and saw an owl sitting on a tree
a few yards off. He had doubtless begun to scream when
he found that his capture of the mouse was resisted by the
string attached to its tail. Edward emerged a little from
cuap. vi.] An Orchestra Disturbed. 125

 

his burrow, and drew out his gun for the purpose of shoot-
ing the owl; but before he could do this, the owl had taken
to his wings and fled away with his booty.

Besides the long-eared owl, Edward also met with the
brown owl—the only two species that he met with in his
district, or of which he can speak from personal observation.
Both of these owls uttered a too-hoo when sinking down
upon their prey; and after they had secured it, they would
fly away without any further noise; but if obstructed, they
would both set up a loud screech. Edward had many op-
portunities of witnessing this trait in their characters. The
best instance occurred in the wood of Backlaw.

_ “Near the centre of this wood,” he observes, “‘and not

far from the farm of the same name, there is a small piece
of stagnant water. I was reclining against a tree one night,
listening to a reptilian choir—a concert of frogs. It was
delicious to hear the musicians endeavoring to excel each
other in their strains, and to exhibit their wonderful vocal
powers. The defect of the concert was the want of time.
Each individual performer endeavored to get as much above
the concert-pitch as possible. It was a most beautiful
night—for there are beautiful nights as well as days in the
North—and I am certain that these creatures were enjoying
its beauty as much as myself. Presently, when the whole
of the vocalists had reached their highest notes, they be-
came hushed in an instant. I was amazed at this, and be-
gan to wonder at the sudden termination of the concert,
But, looking about, I observed a brown owl drop down,
with the silence of death, on to the top of a low dike close
by the orchestra.

“ He sat there for nearly half an hour, during which there
was perfect silence. The owl himself remained quite mo-
tionless, for I watched him all the time. Then I saw the
owl give a hitch, and move his head a little to one side.
He instantly darted down among the grass and rushes, after
which he rose with something dangling from his claws. It
126 Night Birds. [cHAP. VIL.

 

was a frog: I saw it quite distinctly. He flew up to a tree
behind the one against which I was leaning. I turned
round a little, and looked up to see how the owl would
proceed with his quarry—whether he would tear him in
pieces, or gobble him up whole. In this, however, I was
disappointed. Although I moved very quietly, the quick
eye or ear of the owl detected me, and I was at once greet-
ed with his hoolie-gool-oo-oo as loud as he could scream. I
might have shot him; but my stock of powder and lead
was very low, and I refrained. Besides, he soon put it
out of my power by taking wing and flying off with his
prey.”

There were two other birds which Edward often observed
prowling about in the twilight in search of food—namely,
the kestrel and merlin. On one occasion he shot a speci-
men of the latter, when it was so dark that he could scarce-
ly see it. He did not know that it was a hawk. He
thought it was a goat-sucker by its flight. Many of the
birds of prey roamed about by night as well as by day. The
harsh scream of the heron, the guack of the wild duck, the
piping of the kittyneedy (common sandpiper), the birnbeck
of the moor-fowl, the wail of the plover, the curlee of the
curlew, and the boom of the snipe, were often heard at night,
in the regions frequented by these birds. Then again, by
the sea-side, he would hear by night the shrill piping of the
redshank and ring-dotterel, and the pleck-pleck of the oys-
ter-catcher, as they came down from their breeding-grounds
to the shore, to feed or to hold their conclaves.

The coot and water-hen sometimes get very noisy after
sunset. The land-rail craiks the whole night through, until
some time after the sun rises. The partridge, too, either
moves about or is on the alert during spring and summer,
as may be known by its often-repeated twirr-twirr. “The
only bird we have here,” says Edward, “‘ that attempts to
give music at the dead hours of night is the sedge-warbler.
It appears to be possessed of the gift of song during the
CHAP. VII. | The Fook. 127

 

night as well as the day, and it is by no means niggardly in
exercising its vocal powers.

“Well do I remember,” he continues, “how the little
mill-worker, of scarcely ten years of age, was struck with
admiration and almost bewildered with delight at the first
of this species he had ever heard exhibiting its mimicking
powers; whereas now I considered this to be neither more
nor less than the bird’s own natural melody. And if there
be any change in the delight with which I hear the sedge-
warbler, although I have now turned the corner of ten times
six, and have become an old cobbler instead of a juvenile
factory operative, yet when I hear the little songster, I drink
in the pleasure with even greater delight than I did in those
long-past years.”

The rook, too, is in a measure nocturnal in his habits dur-
ing a certain term of the year, especially when building his
nest or when bringing up his progeny. From the time
when the foundation of the nest has been laid to the end of
the matrimonial proceedings for the year, and until the last
chick has left the nest, the rookery is in a state of continual
caw-cawing from morning till night. As the young brood
of rooks grow up, their appetites increase, and hence the in-
cessant labor of their parents in scouring the country for
worms and grubs to furnish them with their late supper or
their early morning breakfast.

“T once,” says Edward, ‘during one of my country ex-
cursions, slept beside a very large rookery in the woods of
Froglen. Slept? no, I could not sleep! I never was in the
midst of such a hideous bedlam of cawings. I positively
do not believe that a single member of that black fraternity
slept during the whole of that night. At least I didn’t. If
the hubbub slackened for a moment, it was only renewed
with redoubled vehemence and energy. I found the rook-
ery in the evening in the wildest uproar, and I left it in the
morning in the same uproarious condition. I took good
care never to make my bed so near a rookery again. Still,
128 The Songsters at Night. (omar. vm.

 

in all justice, I must give the rook the very first and highest
character for attention to its young. It is first out in the
morning to search for food, and the last to provide for its
family at night. The starling is very dutiful in that way ;
but the rook beats him hollow.”

“As arule,” says Edward, “so far as I have been able to
observe, the sky-lark is the first songster in the morning,
and the corn-bunting the last at night. It was no uncom-
mon thing to hear the lark caroling his early hymn of praise
high up in the heavens before there was any appearance
of light, or before I thought of rising to recommence my
labors. Nor was it unusual to hear the bunting stringing

 

FRASERBURGH.

together his few and humble notes into an evening song
long after sunset, and after I had been compelled to suc-
cumb from want of light to pursue my researches. So far
as I can remember, I do not think that I have heard the
sky-lark sing after sundown.

“ Among the sylvan choristers, the blackbird is the fore-
most in wakening the grove to melody, and he is also among
the latest to retire at night. As soon as the first streaks
of gray begin to tinge the sky, and break in through the
branches amidst which he nestles, the blackbird is up, and
from the topmost bough of the tree he salutes the new-born
day. And when all the rest of the birds have ended their
cuap. vu.] Morning Service of Song. 129

 

daily service of song and retired to rest, he still continues
to tune his mellow throat, until darkness has fairly settled
down upon the earth.

“ After the sky-lark and blackbird have heralded the com-
ing day, the thrush rises from her couch, and pours out her
melodious notes. The chaffinch, the willow-wren, and all
the lesser songsters then join the choir, and swell the cho-
rus of universal praise.”

6*

 
 

CHAPTER VIII.
FORMS A NATURAL-HISTORY COLLECTION.

*Banrr was the central point of Edward’s operations.
Banff is a pleasant country town, situated on the southern
shore of the Moray Firth. It lies on a gentle slope inclin-
ing toward the sea. In front of it is the harbor. Although
improved by Telford, it is rather difficult of access, and not
much frequented except during the fishing season. West-
ward of Banff, a low range of hills lies along the coast.
The burns of the Boyne, Portsoy, and Cullen cross the
range, and run into the sea.

The fishing town of Macduff, which may be considered
the port of Banff, lies about a mile to the eastward. To
reach it, the river Deveron is crossed by one of Smeaton’s
finest bridges. The harbor of Macduff is more capacious
and more easy of entrance than that of Banff. Many for-
eign vessels are to be seen there in the fishing season, for
the purpose of transporting the myriads of herrings which
are daily brought in by the fishermen.

Eastward of Macduff the coast becomes exceedingly
rocky. The ridges of the hills, running down toward the
sea, seem to have been broken off by the tremendous lash-
ings of the waves at their feet, and thus the precipitous
rocks descend in several places about six hundred feet to
the shore. The coast scenery at Gamrie is unrivaled on the
eastern shores of Scotland. The cliffs are the haunts of
myriads of sea-fowl. ‘On a fine day,” says Edward, “and
under the mild influence of a vernal and unclouded sun, the
scene is particularly beautiful. The ocean lies tranquil, and
CHAP, VIII. | Cliffs of Gamrie. 131

 

stretched out before the spectator like an immense sheet of
glass, smiling in its soft and azure beauty, while over its sur-
face the kittiwake, the guillemot, the razor-bill, and the puf-
fin, conspicious by the brilliant orange and scarlet of its bill
and legs, are beheld wheeling with rapid wing in endless
and varying directions. On firing a gun, the effect is start-
ling. The air is immediately darkened with the multitudes
of birds which are roused by the report. The ear is stun-
ned by the varied and discordant sounds which arise. The
wailing note of the kittiwake, the shrill cry of the tammy-
norie, and the hoarse voice of the guillemot, resembling, as
it were, the laugh of some demon in mockery of the intru-
sion of man amidst these majestic scenes of nature—all these
combined, and mingled occasionally with the harsh scream
of the cormorant, are heard above the roar of the ocean,
which breaks at the foot of these tremendous and gigantic
precipices.”

The view from the heights of Gamrie on a summer even-
ing is exceedingly fine. The sea ripples beneath you. Far
away it is as smooth as glass. During the herring season,
the fishing-boats shoot out from the rocky clefts in which
the harbors are formed. Underneath are the fishing-boats
of Gardenstown ; to the right those of Crovie. Eastward
you observe the immense fleet of Fraserburgh vessels, about
a thousand in number, creeping out to sea. Westward are
the fishing-boats of Macduff, of Banff, Whitehills, Portsoy,
Cullen, Sandend, Findochtie, and the Buckies, all making
their appearance by degrees. The whole horizon becomes
covered with fleets of fishing-boats. Across the Moray
Firth, in the far distance, the Caithness Mountains are re-
lieved against the evening sky. The hills of Morven and
the Maiden’s Pap are distinctly visible. The sun, as it de-
scends, throws a gleam of molten gold across the bosom of
the firth, A few minutes more, and the sun goes down,
leaving the toilers of the sea to pursue their labors amidst
the darkness of the night.
132 Gardenstown and Crovie. [cHAP. VIIt

 

Gamrie Head is locally called Mohr Head.* The bay of
Gamrie is a picturesque indentation of the coast, effected
by the long operation of water upon rocks of unequal so-
lidity. The hills, which descend to the coast, are composed
of hard graywacke, in which is deeply inlaid a detached
strip of moldering old red sandstone. The waves of the
German Ocean, by perpetual lashing against the coast, have
washed out the sandstone, and left the little bay of Gamrie
—the solid graywacke standing out in bold promontorics
—Mohr Head on the one side, and Crovie Head on the
other.

The fishing village of Gardenstown lies at the foot of the
Gamrie cliffs. It is reached by a steep winding path down
the face of the brae. The road descends from terrace to
terrace. The houses look like aeries, built on ledges in the
recesses of the cliff. As you proceed toward the shore,
you seem to look down the chimneys of the houses be-
neath. The lower and older part of the village is close to
the sea. The harbor seems as if made in a cleft of the
rocks, The fishers of this village are a fine race of men,
with a grand appearance. They are thorough Northmen;
and but for their ancestors having settled at Gamrie, they
might have settled in Normandy, and “come in with the
Conqueror” at the. other end of the island.

A little eastward of Gardenstown is the little fishing
village of Crovie, containing another colony of Northmen.
Farther out to sea is the majestic headland of Troup. It
is the home of multitudes of sea-birds. Its precipices are
penetrated with caves and passages, of which the most re-
markable are Hell’s Lum and the Needle’s Eye. Hell’s
Lumft consists of a ghastly opening on the slope of the hill
near Troup Head. From this opening to the sea there is
a subterranean passage about a hundred yards long, up
which, on the occasion of a storm, the waves are forced

 

* The Celtic name for Big Head. + Lum, or chimney.
CHAP. VIII. ] The Northern Dens. 133

 

with great fury, until they find their escape by the “Lum”
in the shape of dense spray. The other opening, the Nee-
dle’s Eye, runs quite through the peninsular rocky height.
It is about a hundred and fifty yards long, and is so nar-
row that only one person at a time can with difficulty make
his way through it.

Eastward of Troup Head, the scenery continues of the
same character. The fishing village of Pennan, like Gar-
denstown, lies at the foot of a ledge of precipitous rocks,
and is inclosed by a little creek or bay. From the summit
of the Red Head of Pennan, the indentations of the coast

   

BAY OF ABERDOUR.

 

are seen to Kinnaird’s Head in the east, and to the Bin Hill
of Cullen in the west. ;

The scenery of this neighborhood, besides its ruggedness
and wildness, is rendered beautiful by the glens or dens
which break through the ridges of rock and form deep ra-
vines, each having its little streamlet at the bottom, wind-
ing its way to the sea. The water is overhung by trees or
brush-wood, sometimes by bowlders or gray rocks like but-
tresses, which seem to support the walls of the den. These
winding hollows are rich to luxuriance with plants and
flowers—a very garden of delight to the botanist. Heaths,
134 Den of Aberdour. [CHAP. VIII.

 

furze, primroses, wild rasps, wild strawberries, whortleber-
ries, as well as many rare plants, are to be found there;
while the songsters of the grove—thrushes, blackbirds, and
linnets—haunt the brush-wood in varying numbers.

The most picturesque and interesting of these dens are
those of Troup, Auchmedden, and Aberdour. The dens,
when followed inland, are found to branch out into various
lesser dens, until they become lost in the moors and mosses
of the interior. The Den of Aberdour is particularly beau-
tiful. At its northern extremity, near where it opens upon
the sea, the rift in the glen is almost overhung by the ru-
ins of the ancient church of Aberdour,* said to have been
founded by St. Columbanus, who landed on this part of the
coast to convert the pagan population to Christianity. The
Bay of Aberdour, with its bold headland, forms the sea en-
trance to this picturesque valley.

The coast-line of Banffshire, without regarding the inden-
tations of the bays, extends for about thirty miles along the
southern shores of the Moray Firth. This was the princi-
pal scene of Edward’s explorations. His rounds usually ex-
tended coastwise, for about seven miles in one direction,
and about six in another. He also went inland for six

 

* The modern church is at New Aberdour, nearer the centre of the
population; but the church-yard at Old Aberdour is still used as the
parish burying-ground. Nothing can be more disgraceful than the
state of some of the country burying-places in Scotland. The graves
at Aberdour are covered with hemlocks and nettles! And yet some
money seems to have been spent in “ornamenting” the place. The
ruins of the ancient church have actually been “harled’”—that is, be-
spattered with a mixture of lime and gravel! Think of “harling”
Melrose Abbey! The money spent in whitewashing the ruins would
certainly have been better expended in removing the bits of old cof-
fins, cutting down the hemlocks and nettles, and putting the burying-
ground into better order. The queen has shown a good example in
ordering the church-yard of Crathic to be improved. But that of
Braemar is still in a wretched state, being covered with hemlocks
and nettles.
oHaP. vil.}  Coast-line of Banffshire. 135

 

miles. But he very often exceeded these limits, as we shall
afterward find. ‘

Having referred to the coast-line, we may also briefly re-
fer to the inland portion of the county. Banffshire is of
an irregular shape, and extends from the southern shores of
the Moray Firth in a south-westerly direction toward Cairn-
gorm and Ben Macdhui—the highest mountain knot of the
Grampians. The middle portion of the county is moder-
ately hilly. Glen Fiddick, Glen Isla, and Strath Deveron
follow the line of hills which descend in a north-westerly
direction from the Grampians toward the sea. -

The county generally is under cultivation of the highest
order. The valleys are intersected with rich meadows and
pasture-lands, which are stocked with cattle of the choicest
breeds. There are numerous woods and plantations, both
luxuriant and verdant, though there is a great want of
hedges. Agriculture is gradually extending upward toward
the mountains. Moors and morasses are fast disappearing.
In places where the wail of the plover, the birr of the moor-
cock, and the scream of the merlin were the only sounds,
the mellow voice of the lark, the mavis, and the blackbird
are now to be heard in the fields and the woods throughout
the country.

In the extreme south-western district lies the great mount-
ain knot to which we have already referred. The scenery
of this neighborhood can scarcely be equaled, even in Switz-
erland, though it is at present almost entirely unknown.
Cairngorm, Benbuinach, Benaven, and Ben Macdhui sur-
round Loch Avon and the forest of Glen Avon. The Banff-
shire side of Ben Macdhui forms a magnificent precipice of
fifteen hundred feet, which descends sheer down into the
loch. This lonely and solemn lake is fed by the streams
flowing from the snows that lie all the year round in the
corries of the mountains above. These streams leap down
from the bare and jagged cliffs in the form of broken cat-
aractg. One of these falls has a descent of nine hundred
136 Parish of Kirkmichael. [cHAP. vim.

 

feet. - The parish of Kirkmichael, in which this scenery oc-
curs, is almost unpeopled. It has only one village—Tomin-
toul—the highest in Scotland. The people who inhabit it
and the other hamlets of the parish are of a different race
and religion, and speak a different language, from those who
inhabit the middle and lower parts of the county.*

To return to the labors of our naturalist. For about fif-

 

 

 

 

 

MAP OF BANFFSHIRE

teen years Edward made the greater part of his researches
at night. He made them in the late evening and in the
early morning, snatching his sleep at intervals between the
departing night and the returning day.

 

* Their race is Celtic, whereas the inhabitants of the sea-shore are
for the most part Scandinavian. Their language is Gaelic, whereas
that of the rest of the county.is Scoto-English. Their religion is Ro-
man Catholic, whereas that of thé lower part of the county is Protest-
ant. There are many districts in Scotland where, in consequence of
the inaccessibility of the roads, the Reformation never reached. °
CHAP. VIII. | Edward’s Rounds. 137

 

His rounds, we have said, extended coastwise along the
shore of the Moray Firth, for about seven miles in one di-
rection and about six in another. His excursions also ex-
tended inland for about five or six miles. He had thus
three distinct circuits. Although he only took one of them
at a on he usually managed to visit each district twice a
week,

 

  
  

 

  

D 2 Sie a Fries D
es eas Peterhead
amy | { Focerhead Bay:
( vos (ciernet ty Bity
my.43 ee ep oor Buchan Ness
" OS AMordow HS

\, (Bitleagl mre

Wee
dh ie ors. Bo Vihenso tt
a a Z *

 

 

Ct Cas.
oh finned Bee

 

AND NORTH ABERDEENSHIRE,

Having sometimes wandered too far, as he frequently
did, he divested himself of his hunting paraphernalia, rolled
them up together, hid them in a hole or some convenient
place, and then ran home as fast as he could, in order to be
at his work at the proper time. He once ran three miles
in twenty minutes. He measured the time by his watch—
for he had a watch then, though, like himself, it is worn out
now.

Occasionally, when kept late at work, he was prevented
from enjoying his evening ramble. After going to bed,
138 The Two Geese. (CHAP. VIII.

 

and taking a short sleep, he would set out in the dark, in
order to be at the place where he had appointed, from
whence he worked his way homeward in the morning to-
ward Banff.

But though he made it a general practice during his
nightly excursions to return home in time for the morning’s
work, he occasionally found it necessary to deviate a little
from this rule. When he was in search of some particular
bird, he was never satisfied or at rest until he had obtained
it. On one occasion two geese, the first of their kind that
he had ever seen, caused him to lose nearly a whole week
before he could run them down.

He saw them while walking out one Sunday afternoon.
They were swimming about on a piece of water near the
town. He went out before daylight next morning to the
same place. But he saw no geese. He waited for an hour,
and then they made their appearance. They alighted on
the water within a short distance of the bar where he was
sitting. Had his object been to secure them at once, he
could easily have shot them, for they were both within
reach of his gun. But he wished to observe their habits,
and he waited for some time. Having satisfied himself on
this head, he next endeavored to possess them. He shot
one of them; the other flew away.

He now desired to possess the other bird; but it was
with extreme difficulty that he could accomplish his object,
Though the goose returned, it was so extremely shy that it
could scarcely be approached. It was only by making use
of many precautions, and resorting to some very curious
stratagems, that Edward was able to capture the bird. A
week elapsed before he could secure it. He shot it on Sat-
urday, but he did not recover it until the following morning.

On another occasion a little stint (the least of the sand-
pipers) cost him two days and a night. It was the first
bird of the kind he had ever seen—and it was the last.
Though he was occasionally “within a mile or two of Banff
CHAP. VIII. | The Little Stint. 139

 

during the pursuit of the bird, and though he had not
tasted food during the whole of his absence, lying during
part of the night among the shingle on the sea-shore, yet
he never once thought of leaving the chase until final suc-
cess crowned his efforts. We must allow him to tell the
story in his own words:

“T once had a desperate hunt after a little stint (Tringa
minuta). Returning home one evening along the links,*
I heard a strange cry coming, as it seemed, from the shore.
I listened for some time, as I knew it was the season (Sep-
tember) for many of our migratory species to visit us.
Never having heard the try before, I was speedily on the
beach. But it was growing dark, and I had not cat’s eyes.
The sound, too, ceased so soon as I had gained the beach.
After groping about for some time, I thought I espied a
rather large flock of birds at some distance along the shore.
I approached cautiously, and found that I was correct;
the flock consisting chiefly of ringed plovers, dunlins, and
sanderlings. From the latter circumstance, and from the
fact that the cry wa8 that of a sandpiper, I was pretty sure
that a stranger was among them. Although I could see
well enough that the birds were on the wet sand between
me and the water, I could not make them out distinctly.
Once or twice I thought I could distinguish one consid-
erably smaller than the others, but I soon felt that I had
been mistaken. I was now in a state of great excitement.
Every limb shook like an aspen-leaf, or a cock’s tail on a
windy day. What wasI todo? True, I might have fired
at them, but the odds were greatly against my being suc-
cessful.

“Tt was now fairly dark, and the birds had retired to rest
on a ridge of rocks witich intervenes between the sands
and the links. Instead of returning home, as any one else

 

* Links, sandy, flat ground, sometimes covered with grass, lying
along the sea-shore.
*

140 Gunners from Banff. — [OHAP. VII.

 

would have done, I laid myself down in a hollow till morn-
ing, to wait their first appearance, in the hope of attaining
my object. It proved a wet and windy night ; but daylight
brought with it a fine morning. With it also came two gun-
ners from Banff, striding along the beach on a shooting
excursion. This vexed me to the very heart. The birds
were not yet astir, but I knew they would rise at the ap-
proach of the men, who would doubtless attempt to shoot
them. Just as I anticipated, up went the birds; crack!
crack! went the shots; and down fell several birds. Rising
from my stony couch, I rushed at once to the spot to see
the victims, and found them all to consist of sanderlings,
dunlins, and one ringed plover. The gunners were stran-
gers to me, but I ventured to ask them to abstain from fir-
ing until I had satisfied myself about the bird I sought;
but they seemed unable to understand why one bird could
be of more interest than another, and they told me that, as
there were plenty of them, I could fire away and take my
chance, I declined to shoot with them, but eagerly watched
each time they fired; and if a bird fell, I went and exam-
ined it; but I did not meet with the one I sought. The
men at last got tired and went away.

“It was now my turn; but, unhappily, the birds, from
being so often fired at, had become extremely shy, so that
to get near them for my purpose was all but impossible.
By perseverance, however, I at length made out one, as I
thought, a good deal smaller than the others. I succeeded
in creeping a little nearer. They rose; I fired, and down
fell four. I rushed, breathless, hoping to pick up the bird
in which I took such interest. But, alas! no. It was not
there. Away went the remaining birds to the sea; then,
turning, they rounded a point or headland called Blackpots,
and disappeared from view. From this, and from their not
returning, I knew that they had gone to the sands at White-
hills, about three miles distant, to which place I proceeded.
But no sooner had I reached there, than back they flew

”
cHAP. vit.] Shoots the Little Stint. 141

 

in the direction from which they had come. Back I went
also, and found them at the old place.

Just as I reached them, away they flew once more, and,
of course, away I went likewise. In this way we continued
nearly the whole day—they flying to and fro, I following
them. Toward evening my strength beginning to fail, and
feeling quite exhausted, I gave up the chase, and once more
took up my abode among the shingle, in the hope that they
might again return there for the night. Just as I wished
and expected, and while it was yet light, they came and
alighted about thirty yards from where I lay. Away went
fatigue, hunger, and thoughts of home! In fact, the sight
of this object of my day and night’s solicitude made me a
new creature. Off went-the messengers of death. Two of
the birds fell; the rest fled once more to the sea. I fol-
lowed, but had not proceeded far when I observed one
falter. Leaving its companions, it bent its course toward
where I stood, and suddenly dropped almost at my feet.
As I picked up the little thing, I could not but feel thank-
ful that my patience and perseverance had at last been
crowned with success. It was the first little stint I had
ever shot, and the only one I have ever seen in this neigh-
borhood.”

In thus pursuing his eens Edward lost much of his
time, and, in proportion to his time, he also lost much of
his wages. But his master used to assist him in making
up his lost time. Jt was a common remark of his, “ Give
Tam the stuff for a pair of shoes at night, and if he has
any of his cantrips in view, we are sure to have them in the
morning ready for the customer.” Edward took the stuff
home with him, and, instead of going to bed, worked at the
shoes all night, until they were finished and ready for de-
livery. He had another advantage in making up for lost
time. His part of the trade was of the lightest sort. He
made light shoes and pumps. Mle was one of those who,
among the craft, are denominated ready. He was thus able
142 Edward's Traps. [CHAP. VIII.

 

to accomplish much more than those who were engaged at
heavier work. This, together with his practice of spending
not a moment idly, was much in his favor.

He also contrived to preserve his specimens during his
meal hours, or in his idle times “betwixt pairs’ — while,
as shoe-makers would say, they were “on the hing.” Dur-
ing the long winter nights he arranged the objects preserved,
and put them in their proper cases. In order the better to
accomplish this work, he did not go to bed until a very late
hour. As he was not able to afford both fire and light, he
put out the lamp when engaged upon any thing that could
be done without it, and continued his labors by the light of
the fire.

When forced to go to bed, he went at once, and, having
slept at railway speed for an hour or an hour and a half, he
was up again and at work upon his specimens. He felt
as much refreshed, he said, by his sound sleep, as if he had
slept the whole night. And yet during his sleep he must
have had his mind fixed upon his work, otherwise he could
not have wakened up at the precise time that he had pre-
viously appointed. Besides stuffing his own birds, he also
stuffed the birds which other people had sent him, for
which he was paid.

One of the objects which he had in view in making his
“rounds” so frequently was to examine the traps he had
set, in order to catch the beetles, grubs, and insects which
he desired to collect. His traps were set with every im-
aginable organic material — dead birds, rats, rabbits, or
hedgehogs; dead fish, crabs, or sea-weed. He placed them
everywhere but on the public roads—in fields and woods,
both on the ground and hung on trees; in holes, in old
dikes; in water, both fresh and stagnant. Some of these
traps were visited daily, others once a week, while those set
in water, marshy places, and in woods, were only visited
once a month. He never ‘passed any dead animal without
first searching it carefully, and then removing it to some

ae
CHAP. VIII. | Collection of Insects. 143

 

sheltered spot. He afterward visited it from time to time.
Fish stomachs, and the refuse of fishermen’s lines, proved a
rich mine for marine objects. By these means he obtained
many things which could not otherwise have been obtained ,
and. he thus added many rare objects to his gradually grow-
ing collection.

He was, however, doomed to many disappointments.
One of these may be mentioned. Among his different
collections was a large variety of insects. He had these
pinned down in boxes in the usual manner. He numbered
them separately. When he had obtained the proper names
of the insects, his intention was to prepare a catalogue. He
knew that there were sheets of figures sold for that and
similar purposes, but he could not afford to buy them. He
accordingly got a lot of old almanacs and multiplication-ta-
bles, and cut out the numbers. It was a long and tedious
process, but at length he completed it.

When the insects were fixed and numbered, Edward re-
moved the cases into. his garret preparatory to glazing them.
He piled them one upon the other, with their faces down-
ward, in order to keep out the dust. There were twenty
boxes, containing in all nine hundred and sixteen insects.
After obtaining the necessary glass, he went into the garret
to fetch out the cases. On lifting up the first case, he found
that it had been entirely stripped of its contents. He was
perfectly horrified. He tried the others. They were all
empty! They contained nothing but the pins which had
held the insects, with here and there a head, a leg, or a
wing. A more complete work of destruction had never
been witnessed. It had probably been perpetrated by rats
or mice.

His wife, on seeing the empty cases, asked him what he
was to do next. ‘‘ Weal,” said he, “it’s an awfu’ disap-
pointment; but I think the best thing will be to set to
work and fill them up again.” To accumulate these nine
hundred and sixteen insects had cost him four years’ labor!
144 New Collection of Insects. [cHAP. vim.

 

And they had all been destroyed in a few days, perhaps in
a single night!

It will be remembered that Audubon had once a simi-
lar disappointment. On leaving Henderson, in Kentucky,
where he then lived, he left his drawings, representing near-
ly a thousand inhabitants of the air, in the custody of a
friend. On returning a few months later, and opening his
box, he found that a pair of Norway rats had taken pos-
session of the whole, and gnawed up the drawings into lit-
tle bits of paper. Audubon did what Edward now deter-
mined to do. He went out into the woods with his gun,
his note-book, and pencils, and in the course of about three
years he again filled his port-folio. |

Edward duly carried out his purpose. He went moth-
hunting as before; he hunted the moors and the woods,
the old buildings and the grave-yards, until, in about four
more years, he had made another collection of insects; al-
though there were several specimens contained in the for-
mer collection that he could never again meet with.

Edward had now been observing and collecting for about
eight years. His accumulations of natural objects had there-
fore become considerable. By the year 1845, he had pre-
served nearly two thousand specimens of living creatures
found in the neighborhood of Banff. About half the num-
ber consisted of quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishes, crustacea,
star-fish, zoophytes, corals, sponges, and other objects. He
had also collected an immense number of plants. Some of
the specimens were in bottles, but the greater number were
in cases with glass fronts. He could not afford to have the
cases made by a joiner; so he made the whole of them
himself, with the aid of his shoe-maker’s knife, a saw, and a
hammer.

In order to make the smaller cases, he bought boxes from
the merchants; and in breaking them up, he usually got as
many nails as would serve to nail the new cases together.
To make the larger cases, he bought wood from the car-
CHAP. VIII. | Brandon Fair. 145

 

penters. He papered the insides, painted the outsides, and
glazed the whole of the cases himself. The thirty cases
containing his shells were partitioned off, each species hav-
ing a compartment for itself. This was a difficult piece of
work, but he got through it successfully. There were about
three hundred cases in all.

His house was now filled with stuffed birds, quadrupeds,
insects, and such-like objects. Every room was packed with
the cases containing them, his shoe-making apartment in-
cluded. What was he to do with them? He had, indeed,
long had a project in his mind. In the first place, he wish-
ed to abandon the shoe-making trade. He was desirous of
raising money for the purpose of commencing some other
business. He also wished to have some funds in hand, in
order to. prosecute his investigations in natural history.
How could he raise the requisite money? He thought that
he might raise a part of it by exhibiting his collection.
Hence his large accumulation of specimens, and his large
collection of cases.

There was a feeing fair held twice a year at Banff, on
market-days, called Brandon Fair. Young lads and lasses
came in from the country to be feed, and farmers and their
wives came in to fee them. It was a great day for Banff.
All the shows and wild beasts, the dwarfs and giants, the
spotted ladies and pig-faced women, accompanied by drums
and trumpets, converged upon Banff on that day. The
town, ordinarily so quiet, became filled with people—partly
to hire and be hired, and partly to see what was to be seen.
The principal streets were kept in a continual row until the
fair was over.

Edward gave an exhibition of his collection at the Bran-
don Fair in May, 1845. He took a room in the Trades’
Hall, and invited the public to inspect his “Collection of
Preserved Animals, comprising Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes,
Insects, Shells, Eggs, and other Curiosities.”

The local paper called the public attention to the rare

7
146 Naturalists not “Made.” [cu ap. VIII.

 

and beautiful objects contained in Edward’s Collection
—“the results of his own untiring efforts and ingenuity,
without aid, and under discouraging circumstances which
few would have successfully encountered..... Our young
friends especially should visit the collection: it will both
amuse and instruct them. They will learn more from see-
ing them in half an hour than from reading about them in
half a year.”

Edward took the inhabitants by surprise. They Had nev-
er been able to understand him. His wanderings by night
had been matter of great wonderment to them. The ex-
hibition fully explained the reason of his frequent disap-
pearances. When his public announcement was advertised,
some of the better classes called at his house in Wright’s
Close, to ascertain if it was true. True, indeed! He point-
ed to the cases of stuffed birds and animals which near-
ly filled his house. Then the question came, “ What made
you a naturalist ?”

“When I was first asked this question,” says he, “I was
completely dumfoundered! I-had no notion that a natu-
ralist could be made. What! make a naturalist, as you
would make a tradesman! I could not believe that people
became naturalists for pecuniary motives. My answer to
those who put the question invariably was, and still is, J can
not tell. I never knew of any external circumstance that
had any thing to do with engendering in my mind the nev-
er-ceasing love which I entertained for the universal works
of the Almighty ; so that the real cause must be looked for
elsewhere.”

In preparing for the exhibition of his collection, Edward
brushed up his specimens and cleaned his cases, before re-
moving them to the Trades’ Hall. But in looking over his
collection, he found that he had sustained another serious
loss. He regarded it at the time as a heart-rending catas-
trophe. Some time before, he had put nearly two thousand
dried and preserved plants into a box, which he had placed
cuap. vul.] <Lixhibits his Collection. 147

 

at the top of the stair, in order to be out of harm’s way.
The plants were all‘dried and preserved. They were the
result. of eight years’ labor employed in collecting them.
But when he went to overhaul the box, he found that the
lid had been shoved to one side, and that numerous cats
had entered it and made it their lair. The plants were
completely soaked, and rendered utterly worthless. The
box smelled so abominably that he was under the necessity
of making a bonfire of it in the back-yard.

All this was exceedingly disheartening. Nevertheless, he
removed his remaining collection to the place appointed for
exhibiting it. He had no allurements, no music, no drums
nor trumpets, as the other show-people had. His exhibi-
tion was held in an upper room, so that the sight-seers had
to mount a long stair before they could see the collection.
Nevertheless, many: persons went to see it; and the result
was, that Edward not only paid his expenses, but had some-
thing laid by for future purposes.

‘He went on collecting for another exhibition, and in-
creased. his specimens. He-replaced, to a certain extent,
the plants which had been destroyed by the recklessness of
the cats. He obtained some wonderful fishes and sea-birds.
His collection of eggs was greatly increased. He now pre-
pared for a second exhibition at the Brandon Fair, 1846.
On that occasion he was able to exhibit many old coins
and ancient relics. .

This exhibition was more attractive and more successful
than the first. It yielded a better remuneration; but, what
was more satisfactory, Edward was much complimented by
those who had inspected his collection. It excited general
applause. In short, it was considered by Edward himself
to be so successful as to induce him to remove the collec-
tion to Aberdeen, for exhibition in that important city.
 

CHAPTER IX.
EXHIBITS HIS COLLECTION IN ABERDEEN.

Banrr was a comparatively small and remote town,
whereas Aberdeen was the centre of Northern intellect and
business. At Banff, comparatively few persons knew much
about natural history or science; while Aberdeen had two
universities, provided with professors, students, and all the
accompaniments of learning. It also contained a large and
intelligent population of educated business men, tradesmen,
and artisans.

Edward was sanguine of success at Aberdeen. It was
his City of Expectations. He was now doubly desirous of
giving up shoe-making, and devoting himself to natural
history. For this purpose he wanted means and a settled
income. He intended to devote the proceeds of his exhi-
bition in several ways. He had, indeed, almost settled them
in his own mind. He would, in the first place, make ar-
rangements for opening a coffee-house or provision-shop
for the employment and support of his family. He would
next purchase some works on natural history by the best
authors. He would probably also buy a microscope and
some other necessary scientific instruments. Alnaschar, in
“The Arabian Nights,” with the basket of glass at his feet,
did not dream more of what he would do with his forth-
coming income than Edward did of what he would do with
the successful results of his exhibition at Aberdeen.

But Edward must now be up and doing. The cases had
to be put in order; new objects had to be added to the col-
lection; new birds had to be stuffed; some of the groups
cuAP.1x.] LHdward leaves for Aberdeen. 149

 

had to be arranged in dramatic form. One of these con-
sisted of the Death of Cock Robin. There was the spar-
row perched upon a twig, warrior-like, with his bow in one
of his feet, and his arrow-case slung across his back. There
was the redbreasted robin lying on a green and mossy
knoll, with the arrow shot by the sparrow sticking in his
little heart; and in a burn meandering close by, there was
a silvery fish with its little dish, catching Robin’s life-blood.
There was also a great black beetle, with a thread and needle,
ready to sew his shroud.

In another case, the Babes in the Wood were represent-
ed—two robin-redbreasts covering their tender bodies with
leaves. There was a case of mice, entitled “‘ Pussy from
Home:” the mice, large and small, were going into and
coming out of a meal-bag, which they were rifling. There
was another large case, containing a number of small birds
in a state of great excitement, darting and pecking at an
object in the middle of the case, which proved to be a wea-
sel, attempting to rob a yellow bunting’s nest, containing
six eggs, one of which the weasel had rolled out. Perhaps
the best case was the one containing a pheasant, with six
young birds, all beautifully stuffed. For this Edward was
offered three guineas before he left Banff.

At length all was ready, and Edward, with a light heart,
left Banff for Aberdeen. The collection was taken in six
carriers’ carts—the largest that could be found. Edward
could not take it by railway, for there were no railways
then in Banff. The whole family accompanied the collec-
tion. It consisted of Edward, his wife, and five children.
They set out early in the morning of Friday, the 31st of
July, 1846—a memorable day in Edward’s history. The
six cart-loads arrived safe at Aberdeen on the evening of
the following day.

Edward had previously taken the shop No. 182 Union
Street, for the purposes of his exhibition. This street is
the finest in Aberdeen—perhaps the finest in Scotland. It
150 The Advertisement. (CHAP. Ix.

 

is wide and broad, and about a mile long. The houses are
of hewn granite, some of them of massive and noble archi-
tecture. Union Street is the representative street of the
Gray City.

Handbills were issued, and advertisements published in
the local journals, announcing the opening of the exhibi-
tion. In the handbill it was stated that “the objects com-
prising this collection have been collected in the counties
of Banff and Aberdeen, and preserved by a single individ-
ual, and that individual a journeyman shoe-maker. They
have been exhibited by him in Banff, to the delight and ad-
miration of every visitor—all being surprised at the beauty,
order, and multitude of the various objects—some going so
far as to doubt the fact of the proprietor being a shoe-
maker, saying that it was impossible for a person of that
trade being able to do any thing like what they saw before
them.

“Thomas Edward takes the liberty of stating that the
collection is allowed by eminent naturalists to be one of
the greatest curiosities ever offered for public inspection in
this quarter, amounting, as it does, to, above two thousand
objects; and being the work of one individual, who had to
labor under every disadvantage, having none to tell how or
where to find the different objects; none to teach him how
to preserve these objects when found; no sound of prom-
ised reward ringing in his ears to urge him on in his singu-
lar course; no friend to accompany him in his nightly wan-
derings; help from none; but solely dependent on his own
humble abilities and limited resources.

“Were it possible for words to describe, in adequate
terms, the unexampled assiduity and unwearied persever-
ance with which Thomas Edward has labored in the for-
mation of his collection, it would surprise every individual
capable of reflection. Such not being the case, a visit to
the exhibition can alone enable the public to form any idea
of the extent of his labors. The ocean, the rocky shore,
CHAP. IX.] Terms of Admission. 151

 

the shingly and sandy beach; the meadows, the cultivated
fields, the whinny knowes, the woods; the running brooks,
the stagnant pools, the muddy and unsavory ditches, the
marshy flats; old walls, ruined towers, and heath-clad hills
—have all been visited and anxiously searched in order to
procure the objects which compose the collection.”

Such was Edward’s appeal to the people of Aberdeen to
come and see his collection. The terms were very mod-
erate——‘‘Ladies and Gentlemen, 6d.; Tradespeople, 3d. ;
Children, half-price.” The Aberdeen Journal thus noticed
the collection: ‘“ We have been particularly struck with
the very natural attitudes in which the beasts and birds of
prey are placed; some being represented as tearing their
victims, others feeding their young, and some looking side-
ward or backward, with an expression of the eye which in-
dicates the fear of interruption. The birds are very beau-
tiful, and the entomological specimens will be found ex-
ceedingly interesting.”

On the Thursday following his arrival in Aberdeen, Ed-
ward opened his collection. He was in hopes that there
would be a rush to see the objects which he had collected
with so much difficulty during the last eight years. He
believed in himself, though others did not yet believe in
him. But there was no rush—no eager multitude crowd-
ing the door of No. 132. Indeed, very few persons called
to see the collection. These might, however, tell their
friends of its interest, and the rush might still come. But
he waited in vain. The rush never came.

The principal people who called upon him during the
first ten days were stuffed-bird sellers, and persons who
pestered him to buy nearly every thing of a bestial kind,
alive or dead. Some of the articles offered were monstros-
ities or delusions, such as double chickens, double mice, a
kitten with a rat’s head, a double-headed dog, a rat with
two tails, both curled up like a pig’s, and such-like objects.
These people were all bowed to the door.
152 Visitors of the Collection. — [OHAP. Ix.

 

Several ladies called upon Edward to consult him about
their favorite pets. One had a lap-dog that was sick; an-
other a bird that was lame; others had crippled or diseased
cats. He was asked to come and see a pig that had broken
one of its legs. A gentleman called upon him one day
about an old and favorite rabbit whose front teeth had
grown so forward that it could not eat—‘‘ Would he come
ahd cut them off?’ ‘No! he had not time. He must at-
tend to his exhibition.”

Very few people came. Those who did come knew very
little about natural history. Their ignorance of the works
of nature seemed to Edward surprising. Only a few knew
any thing, excepting about the commoner sorts of animals.
As to the number, and nature, and habits of living creat-
ures, they appeared to know next to nothing. The trans-
formation of insects was a mystery to them. They could
not see how it was possible for an ugly caterpillar to be-
come transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Edward felt
very much for the ignorance of men of his own class: it
was simply deplorable. ;

Dr. Macgillivray, Professor of Natural History in Mari-
schal College, Aberdeen, called upon Edward, and was much
pleased with his collection of Banffshire fauna. The pro-
fessor told him that the inhabitants of Aberdeen were not
yet prepared for an exhibition of this kind. There was
not even a public museum in the city; no collection of nat-
ural objects; no free library; nothing for the enlighten-
ment of the higher and nobler faculties of man. To this
cause Edward, in a great measure, attributed the failure of
his exhibition. Some of the professors who afterward call-
ed to see the collection told Edward that “the people of
Aberdeen were not yet prepared for such an exhibition, es-
pecially as it had been the work of a poor man. .He had
come several centuries too soon.”

Several of the persons who examined the exhibition did
not believe that it had been the work of Edward at all.
CHAP. IX. ] A Severe Interrogator. 153

 

Among his better-class visitors was a gentleman who fre-
quently came in as he passed, and carefully examined the
specimens. He sometimes gave Edward half a crown, and
would not take any change back. The gentleman was an
inveterate and persistent interrogator. His questions were
usually of a personal character. But Edward had by this
time prepared a bag of forgetfulness, into which he put all
the disagreeable things that were said to him; and, once
there, he remembered them no more. Edward believed
that his visitor belonged to the medical profession, and
that he was connected with a neighboring dispensary.*

One day the visitor arrived, and, without looking at the
specimens, he went directly up to Edward, and asked, “ Well,
how are you getting on?’ ‘“ Very poorly,” was the answer.
“And no wonder!” said the visitor. “How?’ “How!”
he almost shouted, ‘‘ because the people here don’t believe
in such a thing. I am sure of it, from what I know and
have heard myself.”

“ But if they would only come!”

“Come? that’s the very thing. It seems they'll not
come. And although they did, what satisfactory evidence
is there that what they see is the result of your own unaid-
ed and individual labor? You are quite a stranger here.
You should have had some persons of high standing in the
city to take you under their patronage—say the professors
of both colleges, or the provost and town-council. Ob!
you needn’t shake your head and look at the floor. It
would have been much better.”

“T never considered myself in a position,” said Awan,
“to ask such a favor.”

“Then you'll not succeed here unless you do something
of the sort.”

“In that case, then,” said Edward, “Til be plain enough
to tell you that I never will succeed.”

 

* Tt was afterward found that the visitor was Dr. Cadenhead, one of
the principal physicians and oculists of the city.

ae
154 Edward Disbelieved. [CHAP. Ix.

 

“You are too stiff—too unbending,” said the doctor.
“Then, you know very well that you have nobody in Aber-
deen to confirm your extraordinary statement. You say
that the whole of this collection is entirely the work of your
own hands, and that it is your own exclusive. property !”

“Yes. I bought the game birds; and as regards the
others, I procured the whole of them myself — preserved
them and cased them, just as you see them.”

“And had you to work for your living all that time ?”

“Yes; and for the living of my family too.”

“Then you have a wife and a family ?”

“Yes, I have five children.”

“The devil !” ;

“No, sir; I said children.”

“Ah yes, I know; I beg your pardon. But do you
mean to say that you have maintained. your wife and fam-
ily by working at your trade all the while that you have
been making this collection ?”

eV ag?

“Oh, nonsense! How is it possible that you could have
done that?”

“By never losing a single minute, nor any part of a min-
ute, that I could by any means improve.”

“Did you ever hear of any one else who had ever done
the like before ?”

“No. But thousands might have done it, and much
more too.”

“Well, I don’t believe it. I have never heard of such a
thing, and I have never read of such a thing !”

“But I never thought,” said Edward, “that I was doing
any thing that any one else might not have done. I was
quite unaware of the fact that I was doing any thing in
the least way meritorious. But if I have, as a journeyman
shoe-maker, done any thing worthy of praise, then I must
say that there is not a working-man on the face of the earth
that could not have done much more than I have done; for
cuap.1x.] The Thing “Impossible.” 155

 

of all the occupations that are known, that of shoe-making
is surely the very worst.”

“Had you been an outside worker, I would not have
thought so much about it; but even then it would have
been surprising. But having to work from morning. to
night in a shoe-maker’s shop—where these things can nei-
ther be seen nor found—the thing is perfectly inconceiva- _
ble. I'll give my oath that, so far as Aberdeen is concern-
ed — or, I believe, any other place — there is not a single
working-man who could, by himself, have done any thing
of the sort. -I tell you that there is no person who knows
the laboring people and their cireumstances better than I
do; and I tell you again, that, situated as they are, the
thing is quite impossible. They have neither the learning
nor the opportunities necessary for scientific pursuits; nor
yet the time nor the money to spare for the purpose. No,
poor devils! they need all their time and all their money
to eke out their bare and half-starved existence.”

“TI quite agree with you,” replied Edward, “in some of
your remarks ; but I am sorry to say that the wretchedness
you allude to is in too many cases attributable to themselves,
and also to their slatternly and improvident wives. They
do not go into the fields to drink in the sweets of nature,
but rush unthinkingly into the portals of hell, and drown
their sorrows in whisky. In this way they beggar them-
selves and pauperize their families.”

“There is doubtless something in that,” said the doctor,
“but I spoke in general. Of course, there are exceptions.
It would appear that you are one, and a most extraordinary
one too. And here it is that I am most puzzled. I can’t
understand how you have done all this single-handed. Be-
sides, you must have read a great deal. You must have had
access to the best scientific works; and you must also have
possessed sufficient means to enable you to collect and ar-
range these things as they now are.”

“Permit me to say, sir,” said Edward, “that I am not
156 Edward’s Real Teachers.  [cHap. 1x.

 

a book- learner, nor have I ever read any scientific works.
I never had any access to them. Nor do I possess any
means besides those that I have earned by hard and con-
stant work.”

‘‘What! have you no education? no access to scientific
works ?”

“No, sir.”

“Then how the deuce did you manage?”

“Well, I think I have told you that several times before.
But I'll tell you again—this time in a few words. My
chief school was the earth, and my principal teacher was
nature. What I have been able to do, has been done by
economizing every farthing of money, and every moment of
time.”

“Do you mean to say that you got no education, and had
no money, but what you worked for ?”

“T do; and—”

“ Confounded nonsense !”

“Allow me to proceed. It is not always those who have
the most money and the best education that do the most
work, either in natural history or any thing else.”

“Oh yes! That’s all very well; but it’s not to the point.
But [looking at his watch] I findI must go. I'll call again;
for I am determined to be at the bottom of this affair.”

The next time he called, Edward was standing at the door.
“‘ Well,” said he, “TI can’t wait to-day, for I have to go into
the country, and I can’t be home for a week. But here’s
your fare.” “No, no,” said Edward; “ you haven’t been
in.” “Very well, here goes!” and he pitched the fare in
among the birds. When Edward went to look at the fare,
instead of a penny, he found a crown-piece. The gentleman
never called again. By the time he returned from the coun-
try the exhibition was at’ an end.

As Edward had announced in his handbill that he had
been an inhabitant of Aberdeen, and worked at the Grand-
holm Mills in his boyhood, some of his old companions
CHAP. Ix. ] Invites his Mill-mates. 157

 

called upon him at the exhibition. The paragraph in the
handbill was as follows: ‘“‘The idea of having a collection
of the works of nature was first formed by him (the ex-
hibitor) in very early life, and while traversing the coun-
try in the vicinity of Aberdeen, but more particularly when
wandering among the delightful haughs of Grandholm,
where he went to work when little more than nine years of
age. Should this come under the notice of any of those
who were mill-mates with Thomas Edward, they perchance
may remember the boy they all wondered at so much be-
cause he would not, join in their youthful sports, but rather
chose to wander alone through the woods or by the banks
of the Don, in quest of those objects, the pursuit of which in
after-years cost him so much labor, time, and expense.”

As nearly twenty years had passed: since ‘Edward had
worked at the spinning-mills, he failed to recognize his ear-
ly companions when they called, until they mentioned some
circumstance or conversation which brought them to his rec-
ollection. Some walked round the collection before they
made themselves known to him, while others did so as they
entered. But one and all agreed that though they might
have imagined that Edward had done something toward
-making the collection, they could not believe that he had
done it all-by himself while working at his trade. They
were working-men themselves, and knew what they had
to contend with, in the form of want of time, want of
means, and difficulties of all sorts. These considerations
only tended to heighten their sense of astonishment the
more.

Some of Edward’s other acquaintances also called, and
they, like the others, declared that it was perfectly impossi-
ble for any working-man to have made such a collection by
himself without any extraneous aid. One of his old shop-
mates called frequently, and Edward endeavored to convince
him that the thing was quite feasible; but he insisted that
he must have got assistance or help in some way or another.
158 Vindicates his Wife. [CHAP. Ix.

 

“Well,” said Edward, “ you remember how I worked be-
side you in the old garret in Shoe Lane; how I was never
idle, and was always busy at something, whether I had shoe-
making to do or not. Very well. I continued the same
practice after I left you; and when I got a wife, instead of
growing lazier, I became more ardent than ever. I squeezed
the pith and substance out of every moment to make the
most of it; and raxed and drew every farthing out like a
piece of india-rubber, until I could neither rax nor draw it
any more. I have thus endeavored to make the most and
the best of every thing.”

A new idea seemed to strike the man. ‘But did ye no
get some bawbees wi’ yer wife?”

“No,” said Edward, “not a bawbee. But, though poor
in cash, she brought me a dowry worth more than all the
money ever coined !”

“Trash, man! trash! Fat could be better than siller till
a puir man ?”

“Well, ll tell you. She brought me a remarkably sound
and healthy body, strong bones, and a casket well filled
with genuine common sense, or, rather, a mind far superior
to that usually possessed by the majority of her sex. Now
that’s what I call better than money. And I can tell you,
also, that if young men were to look out for such wives,
they would be able to lead their lives to much better pur-
pose than they now do. Your tap-rooms, and dram-shops,
and public-houses would then have fewer and far less eager
customers. And, if I am not much mistaken, there would
be many more happy homes and happy families, especially
among the poor; instead of the miserable, heart-sickening,
disease-engendering hovels, which are a curse and a stain
upon our so-called civilization.”

“Ye’ll be a temperance-man, then, are ye?”

“Yes; I’m temperate enough. And if wives would look
more to their husbands’ comfort, as well as to the interests
of their own families, there would be far more temperance-
CHAP. Ix. ] Edward “A Mystery.” 159

 

men, as you call them, than there are now. I’m not a mem-
ber of the Temperance Society ; nevertheless, I am in favor
of every thing that would make people more sober and dil-
igent, and tend to man’s good, both here and hereafter.”

“ But,” continued the man, “are ye satisfied that ye got
nae help in the way I hinted ?”

“None whatever.”

“But far did ye learn the wrightin’ [carpentering], the
paintin’, and the glazin’ ?”

“At my ain fireside, where every thing good should be
learned. My teachers were —first, ‘ Necessity ;’ and, sec-
ondly, another teacher, of whom you may not have heard,
called Wit.”

“Ye’re a mystery,” said the man.

“Perhaps I may be,” answered Edward’; “but I'll just
tell you three things, whether you may understand the
‘mystery’ or not. My neighbors in Banff say of me that
‘that man surely means to tak’ the world by speed o’ fit.’
My shopmates say that ‘Tam is just the lad for taking time
by the forelock;’ and many of the inhabitants say, ‘ Who-
ever may be seen lounging about at the lazy corners, you'll
never see Edward among them.’ Now, these are three lit-
tle nuts which I hope you will crack among your shopmates ;
and I hope they will do them good.”

One day two ladies came to see the exhibition. They
looked over the collection, and one of them came up to Ed-
ward and looked him straight in the face. She asked him
if he belonged to Aberdeen,

“Well,” he replied, “although I was not born in Aber-
deen, still I may say I belong to it. My mother was an
Aberdeen woman, and I was brought up here until I went
to Banff.” “Ah,” said the lady, “I thought so. Your
countenance and appearance are very much the same as
they were when I last saw you.” “Indeed !”

“Were you not at one time a private in the Aberdeen-
shire militia?’ “I was; but what of that?’ ‘“ Allow me
160 Refuses to be a “Lion.” [CHAP. IX.

 

to explain: do you remember running out of the ranks one
day while at drill, and flying after a butterfly?’ “TI do,”
said Edward.

“And of being pursued and taken prisoner by a corporal
and four men of your company, when you were brought up
before the officer, who gave you your liberty ?”

“Yes,” said Edward, “all that is true.” “And perhaps
you remember that there was a group of ladies with the
officer?’ ‘Oh yes, J remember that.” “ Well, then, I was
one of those ladies; and I first proposed to the others that
we should intercede with the captain to let you off.”

The lady then proceeded to explain that she herself -was
an entomologist, and had been greatly pleased with the col-
lection. Edward, on his part, thanked her most cordially
for the good service she had been able to do for him on the
links that day, now so long past. ‘“ But, now,” she added,
“as one good turn deserves another, will you come and take
your tea and supper with us some evening?’ Edward was
thunderstruck at this proposal, for he was an exceedingly
shy and bashful man, though he had been such a “ hempy”
in his youth. “Oh no!” said he, “I can not venture on tak-
ing such a liberty.” “I'll have no denial,” said the lady;
“there will be only a few friends who wish to make your
acquaintance.”

The idea of being exhibited as a lion was perfectly re-
volting to Edward ; so he again protested that he could not
accept the invitation, however kindly it was meant. ‘“ No,
no; you must come. There’s my card and address, and
when I have fixed the day, I'll send you an invitation.
Good-day. Now remember! one good turn deserves an-
other!” And away she went, leaving Edward looking rath-
er sheepish, and fumbling in his hand a piece of elegantly
got-up and highly aromatic pasteboard.

‘When the servant came with the invitation two days
later, Edward returned a message that it was impossible for
him to accept the invitation, because he could not leave his
cHap.1x.] Appeals to “The Millions.” 161

 

collection. The servant again returned, and invited him to
attend the party after the exhibition had been closed for the
night. He again politely refused.

The lady never returned to the exhibition ; and Edward
felt that he had grievously offended her by refusing her in-
vitation. Yet, had she known of his position at the time,
her heart would have melted with pity at his sufferings.
But this was of too touching and too delicate a nature to
be explained to her. By that time, although Edward’s
doom was not altogether sealed, still he knew, human-
ly speaking, that his fate was inevitably fixed, and that
he had no visible means of escape from his lamentable po-
sition.

We have said that when Edward opened his exhibition
in Aberdeen, he expected that there would be a large influx
of visitors to see the collection of objects in natural histo-
ty, which he had made with so much labor and difficulty.
But there was no rush whatever. The attendance was al-
ways very small. The exhibition-room was for the most
part empty. Edward at first thought that he had fixed the
price too high; but he could remedy that defect. The
better classes had failed him; now he would try the work-
ing-people. He would call “the millions” to his aid. Ac-
cordingly he reduced the entrance-price to a penny.

But “the millions” never came. So far as Edward’s col-
lection was concerned, their minds seemed as hard and im-
penetrable as the adamantine houses in which they lived.
Their hearts, he thought, were made of their native granite.
Still he would make another effort. He now advertised
more widely than before, thinking that extended publicity
might prove successful. He had bills printed by the thou-
sand; he employed sandwichmen to carry them about, to
distribute them in the market, in the principal thorough-
fares, at the gates of the factories and principal working-
places, and in every place resorted to by working-people.
To accommodate them, he opened the exhibition at eight
162 The Exhibition a Failure. [CHAP. Ix.

 

instead of ten in the morning; and kept it open until ten
o’clock at night. 3

It was of no avail. The millions did not come. The at-
tendance even fell off. Some days only a few pence were
taken; on other days nothing. Days, weary days, went
on, and still there was no success. Yet Edward had plen-
ty of advisers. Some thought that the collection should
have been exhibited near the centre of the town, where the
working-classes lived. Edward was fain to think that there
might be something in this. He found a large room which
he thought would answer the purpose; but he was required
to pay the rent beforehand, and to give security for ten
pounds, This was entirely out of the question, for he could -
not give security for “ten bawbees.” One person, who had
been a showman, advised him to have immense placards
outside, and to have a band of music to attract the people.
He must have show and hubbub. “That was the thing
that attracted folk; whereas his exhibition was all in the
inside.” But Edward would not have any of such attrac-
tions.

In short, the exhibition was fast approaching its end.
The rent of the shop had to be paid, and he had no money
to pay it. His wife and family had to be maintained, and
he had no means of maintaining them. All that he took
at the door was required to pay the cost of the bills and
advertisements. By the end of the third week he was deep
in debt. Though he had been earning small wages, he had
never before been in debt. To think of being in debt was
in itself an agony. What was he todo? He was sinking
deeper and deeper, with no prospect of deliverance.

By the Friday of the fourth week he had altogether lost
hope. He had taken nothing in the shape of money that
day. His exhibition was entirely deserted. He sunk into
the lowest state of despondency. About three o’clock he
received a letter from his master at Banff, telling him that
if he did not return immediately to his work, he would be
CHAP. IX. ] Edward in Despair. 163

 

under the necessity of giving his employment to another.
“ Return immediately!” That was impossible. What was
he to do with his collection? How was he to defray his
debt ?

It is scarcely to be wondered at, if, under these deplora-
ble circumstances, despair—despair of the worst description
—should have got the better, at least for a time, of his over-
taxed and oversensitive brain. He was in a strange place
—a place which had once known him, but knew him no
more. His wife and his five children were altogether de-
pendent upon him, though they were at present living with
his aged and infirm parents. He was deep in debt, for
which, if not liquidated, his collection would be seized—a
collection, rather than part with which he would have sac-
rificed his life. At the same time, the loss of work, starva-
tion, and ruin stared him in the face. Is it surprising that,
thus situated, despair should for a time have got the mas-
tery over his better and sounder judgment ?

The afternoon was far advanced. His dinner, which had
been brought to him an hour before, still lay untasted. He
was pacing up and down the apartment, pondering over his
miserable position, when his father entered. Edward was
looking so agitated that the old man inquired what ailed
him? He said he was going out, and went toward the
door, fearing lest his wife or any of his children might ap-
pear. His father stepped between him and the door, re-
monstrating with him, and saying that he was not fit to go
out in such a state. But a woman entering attracted his
father’s attention, and Edward was thus allowed to slip
away unobserved.

Edward rushed down Union Street, on his way to the
sands. At first he thought of going to the Dee at the
Craiglug; but he bethought him that it would be better to
go to the sea-shore, where it might be thought his death
was accidental. From the time of his leaving the shop in
Union Street until about four hours after, when he recovered
164 The Flock of Sanderlings. [cuap. 1x.

 

his senses, his memory remained almost a complete blank. He
had a vague idea of crossing the links, and seeing some sol-
diers at the foot of the Broadhill. But beyond that he re-
membered next to nothing. Unlike a dream, of which one
remembers some confused ideas, this blank in his mental
life was never filled up, and the purpose for which he wan-
dered along the sands left little further impression upon his
memory. He remembered, however, the following circum-
stances : :

He had thrown off his hat, coat, and waistcoat before
rushing into the sea, when a flock of sanderlings lighted
upon the sands near him. They attracted his attention.
They were running to and fro, some piping their low, shrill
whistle, while others were probing the wet sand with their
bills as the waves receded. But among them was another
bird, larger and darker, and apparently of different habits
from the others. Desirous of knowing something of the
nature of this bird, he approached the sanderlings. They
rose and flew away. He followed them. They lighted
again, and again he observed the birds as before. Away
they went, and he after them. At length he was stopped
at Don mouth. When he recovered his consciousness, he
was watching the flock of birds flying away to the farther
side of the river. He had forgotten all his miseries in his
intense love of nature. His ruling passion saved him.

How long the chase lasted he never could tell. It must
have occupied him more than an hour. He found himself
divested of. his hat, coat, and vest; and he went back to
look for them. He had no further desire to carry out the
purpose for which he had descended to the sea. His only
thought was about the strange bird among the sanderlings :
“What could it be?” Perhaps the bird had been his Prov-
idence. He tried to think so.

In the mean time he was very cold. He found his coat,
vest, and hat a long way down the beach. On his return,
he found that he had been followed by some people, who
 
CHAP. Ix. | The Providential Bird. 167

 

were watching him. When he returned, they followed him
until he reached his clothes; and when they saw him
dressed and ready to depart, they disappeared. Not wish-
ing to cross the links again that night, he turned and went
up Don side to the new bridge, and took the road from
thence into the town.

It was late before he got home. Being still very much
depressed, and feeling very unwell, he went almost immedi-
ately to bed, thinking that he might be able to hide his
grief yet a little longer from those who were near and dear
to him—dearer to him now than ever. But, alas! the or-
deal he had passed through during the day had been most
dreadful, and he was racked by conflicting and torturing
thoughts during the whole of his sleepless night.

Morning, anxiously wished-for morning, came at last. Al-
though still feverish from excitement, and very unsettled in
his mind, he got up, dressed, and went down to the sea-shore
a little after daylight, eagerly searching for the strange bird
of the preceding evening. But, although he walked several
times along the sands, from the bathing- machines to the
mouth of the Don, he never saw it. He saw its compan-
ions, the sanderlings; but the providential bird had gone.
So far as Edward knew, he never saw the like of that bird
again. ;

Although chdgrined at his disappointment, he felt. him-
self, on the whole, more refreshed and settled in his mind
than when he left home. After breakfast —the first food
he had taken since the previous morning—he went to Union
Street to open his exhibition. As he was not disturbed by
visitors, he had plenty of time for reflection. He had now
to consider how he could honorably extricate himself from
the trap into which he had so unwittingly and so unfortu-
nately fallen.

The only way which presented itself was by making a
terrible sacrifice—namely, by selling the whole of his col-
lection. It took him many long and bitter heart-pangs be-
168 The Collection Advertised. [CHAP. Ix.

 

fore he could arrive at this conclusion. But force, stern
force, prevailed over all other considerations. He must, so
far as he could, get honorably out of debt, although not a
farthing of balance might remain. Yes: his eight years’
collection of birds and natural objects must go, so that he
might stand upright before the world. Accordingly, an
advertisement appeared in the newspapers offering the col-
lection for sale.

After the announcement appeared, several gentlemen
called and told him that he was quite wrong in offering his
collection for sale. He had several letters from Banff to
the same effect. Some of his correspondents there offered
their suggestions and advice. They said that as the col-
lection had been made in Banffshire, it properly belonged
to Banffshire ; and that it would be an everlasting slur upon
the county if it were allowed to go elsewhere. One gentle-
man of influence requested Edward to delay the sale for a
few days, in order that he might be enabled to obtain sub-
scriptions, so as to secure the collection for Banff. Twenty
pounds could easily be collected in Banff for such a purpose.
If the subscribers did not themselves buy it, there was a
scientific society in Banff that would certainly buy it, to
form the nucleus of a collection of Banffshire fauna.

Edward accordingly postponed the sale for some days.
He had great faith in his correspondent, wh was himself a
member of the society in question. The gentleman had
considerable influence in the district, and would doubtless
do what he could to raise the requisite money to purchase
the collection. But, alas, how futile are promises! Words!
mere words! Days passed, and no further communications
arrived. Edward was now pressed for his debts, and he

‘could no longer postpone the sale of the collection. The
spark of hope that had been kindled in his breast died out.
All hope of salvation from any quarter had fled. He must
meet his difficulties as he best could. It was now the mid-
dle of the sixth week, and his expenses were increasing
cHap.1x.] Zhe Collection Destroyed. 169

 

daily. Accordingly, he accepted the offer of twenty pounds
and ten shillings for the whole of his collection !

It was a bitter pang to part with it; but the thing must
be done. Howling was of no use. Edward was even glad
to get that paltry sum, in order to be at last set free. The
gentleman (Mr. Grant) who bought the collection wished it
for his boy, who had a taste for natural history. The
specimens were removed to his house at Ferryhill. They
were afterward packed up and sent to his place in St.
Nicholas Street, where they were stored up in some damp

 

THE SHORE AT ABERDEEN.

and unsuitable room; and, being otherwise neglected, it is
believed that the whole collection eventually went to ruin.

Perhaps Edward might have got more money for his
collection if he had broken it up and offered it in lots.
Professor Dickie was willing to buy a number of his speci-
mens, and to pay a good price for them; but this would
have involved a considerable loss of time, and also a con-
siderable increase of expense. He was therefore under the
necessity of disposing of the whole at once.

“Whatever,” says Edward, “may have been the real
cause of my ruin and want of success, I must say that, al-
though I was not supported and encouraged, I had no real

8
170 Edward’s Apology. (CHAP. Ix.

 

claim upon the inhabitants of Aberdeen. I certainly do
owe many of them— particularly those of the upper and
middle classes of society—a deep debt of gratitude for their
courteous attention and their offered hospitality. Although
circumstances did not allow me to avail myself of their
kindness, I have never forgotten the unfeigned favors which
they proffered me. I know that some of them were deep-
ly offended at my refusing their invitations; but had they
known of my deplorable position at the time, I feel certain
that their feeling of offense would have given place to the
deeper and softer feeling of pity for the unfortunate.”

 
 

CHAPTER X.

RESUMES HIS FORMER HABITS.

Epwarp had left Banff on the 31st of July, 1846, full
of hope; after six weeks, he returned to it full of despair.
He had gone to Aberdeen with his collection, accompanied
by his wife and family; he returned from it alone and on
foot, without a single specimen of his collection, and with-
out a penny in his pocket that he could call his own. He
felt ruined, disappointed, beggared—his aims and hopes in
life blasted. He was under the necessity of leaving his
wife and children at Aberdeen; for they could not travel
fifty miles to Banff on foot.

Edward felt terribly crushed on re-entering his desolate
home. A strange-like heaviness of mind came over him.
The place was drear and lonesome. It was so different
from what it had once been. It was no longer enlivened
by the prattle of his children, or the pleasant looks of his
wife. There was neither fire, nor food, nor money. The
walls, which only a few weeks before had been covered
with his treasures—the results of the hard labor of years—
were bare and destitute. The house was desolation itself.

After remaining there for a short time, a neighbor came
in and asked Edward to come to his house and get some
food. He most gladly assented to the proposal. He aft-
erward went to see his master, and arranged with him as
to the re-commencement of his work. This was easily ac-
complished, as Edward was considered a Don at his trade.*

 

* Master shoe-makers, in those days, employed Men’s men (that is,
men who made men’s shoes), Women’s men, Boot men, and Pump
172 Edward Returns Home. [CHAP. x.

 

After this had been settled, he went to pay a short visit to
a friend at Gardenstown, until his wife and family had re-
turned from Aberdeen. Edward could not bear to remain
in his house until they had come back: nor could he yet
pay for their journey. But the carrier, who had taken the
collection and the family to Aberdeen, cheerfully consented
to bring the latter back free.

It was during this interval that Edward lived for a few
days with his friend, Mr. Gordon, of Gardenstown. The
place had long been one of Edward’s favorite haunts. He
was able, in a sort of way, to enjoy the coast scenery, to see
the busy fishermen going out to sea in the evenings, and to
listen to the noisy clamor of the sea-fow] at Gamrie Mohr.

When Edward knew that his wife and family had reached
Banff, he returned home, and was joyfully met by his wife
and bairns. Home had already begun to look more homely.
There was a fire to sit down beside, and a family circle to
converse with. Care, despondency, and despair had already,
to a certain extent, been cast aside. There would yet be
peace and plenty about the fireside. Edward threw off
the showman’s garb, and donned that of the hard-working
sutor.* Next morning he was busy at his trade, sewing,
hammering, and “skelping away at the leather.”

During the ensuing autumn and winter he passed his
time at his ordinary daily work. He refrained from going
out at night. He had parted with all his objects in natu-
ral history, and he did nothing, as yet, to replace them.
But his mind had been at work all the while. As spring
advanced, he found it impossible to check his ruling pas-

 

men, according to the branch they worked at. Those who excelled in
proficiency were called Dons. Edward was a Don Pump man. Few
excelled him at that part of the business. It was for this reason that
his master objected to his leaving the shop so often on his natural-
history excursions, as he could find no one else to do this part of the
work so well.

* Sutor, shoe-maker.
CHAP. X.] Mis Zeal Redoubled. 173

 

sion. His day’s work done, he again started with his gun
on his shoulder, his insect-boxes and appendages slung
round his back, his plant-case by his side, and a host of pill-
boxes, small bottles, and such-like, packed in his pockets.
Away he went, with heart as light as a feather, to search,
as long as light remained, for tenants of the woods, the
fields, and the sea-shore.

‘When daylight faded into darkness, he would sit down,
as usual, for a nap—it did not matter where—by the side
of a rock, on a sand-bank, in a hole in the ground, in a dry
ditch, under the cover of a bush, behind a dike, in a ruined
castle, or by the side of a tree: it was all the same to him.
There he lay until the first peep of morning appeared,
when he started up and was at work again. He continued,
until he thought he had just sufficient time left to get to
his workshop by the appointed hour.

His zeal was more than renewed. It was redoubled.
He proceeded with even greater perseverance than before.
His few friends warned him in vain. They thought he
might spend his energies to some better purpose. If their
advice staggered him, it was only for an instant. ‘One
look,” he says, ‘‘at my cobbler’s stool dispelled every con-
sideration. My wish was, at some time or other, to wrench
myself free from my trade.”

He adopted the self-same plan that he had formerly em-
ployed. As soon as his day’s work was over, he started on
his nightly expedition. During five months of the year he
slept out— excepting on Saturday and Sunday nights, or
when the weather was stormy. To his former equipment
he added a small trowel for digging up plants and grubs,
and a hammer for splitting fossils or chipping off parts of
any rock that he might wish to preserve.

At first he used chip-boxes, to carry the insects which he
collected during his tours; but he found them such a worry
that he was obliged to use something else. He once
bought so many chip-boxes from a druggist, that he refused
174 Ls Paraphernalia. [CHAP. x.

 

to sell him any more until his stock had been replenished.
Edward carried in them slugs, caterpillars, snails, worms, spi-
ders, shells, various sorts of insects, eggs of small birds, and
every other little knickknack that he wished to preserve.
Here is his description of his hunting paraphernalia:

“My coat had eight pockets, four outside and four in-
side. The two lower inside ones were ‘meal-pocks’ for
size. My waistcoat, too, had four rather big receptacles :
the term ‘waistcoat-pockets’ could scarcely describe them.
Besides these, I had a number of bags or wallets hung over
my shoulders, or tied round my middle, or under my coat,
according to their intended uses. I had also several queer-
looking things which I carried in my hands, and called ‘ac-
cessories ;’ for there is no other specific name for the ar-
ticles. Nevertheless, all had their quota of chip -boxes,
except my butterfly and moth case, and my plant-book.
These were generally kept sacred for their respective pur-
poses.”

On one occasion Edward went out for a three days’ ram-
ble among the Balloch hills, between Keith and Huntly,
about twenty miles south-west of Banff. The purport of
his journey was to collect butterflies, moths, and various
objects. He had not his gun with him, but he had many
more chip-boxes than usual. A friend of his had often
urged him to bring him a lot of ants for some birds, and
Edward determined to satisfy him. He had been very suc-
cessful in his search, and had also filled many boxes for his
friend.

On the afternoon of the third day, while he was busily
engaged on a wild, wide, and desolate moor, he was startled
by a sudden flash of lightning. Had he been attending to
the weather instead of to his own pursuits, he might have
seen the brooding clouds wending their way toward him
from the south. He might then have found some conven-
ient shelter from the impending storm. But after the first
flash of lightning, it broke upon him almost at once. He
CHAP. x.] A Furious Storm. ATS:

 

had scarcely got his things put in order, and the ant-boxes
deposited in his coat-pocket, when down came the deluge.
None but those who have been under the influence of hill-
rains can have any idea of their tremendous force. It is
like the downpour of a cataract. The rain falls in sheets,
in waves, almost solid. Nothing but the stiffest weather-
proof can keep the water out.

Edward’s first thought was shelter! But where could he
find it? Not a house was to be seen; nota wall, not a tree,
not a bush. He could not find even a hole in a sand-bank.
There was nothing that he could see around him but a
dreary, bleak, wide-spread moor. Nevertheless, he set off,
running as fast as he could, in the hope of at length reach-
‘ing some friendly haven. After having run a long time
amidst thunder and lightning, through water, moss, and
heather, he stopped for a moment to consider where he
was running. There was still no sign of a house, or hut,
or shealing. The place where he stood was crossed by nu-
merous paths, but he knew just as much of the one path as
he did about the other. The country round him was one
wide expanse of moor-land. There was nothing before him
but moor, moor, moor! He saw no object that could serve
to guide him. He merely saw the outlines of the nearest
hills faintly visible through the watery haze; but he did
not recognize them. He began to feel himself lost on a
lonesome moor.

He was now at his wits’ end. Having been for some
time without food, he was becoming faint. And yet he
could not remain where he was. He again began to run.
The sky was now almost as black as night, and the sheets
of rain were falling as heavily as before. Only the vivid
flashes of lightning enabled him to trace the direction in
which he was going. He plunged into bog after bog, ex-
tricated himself, and then ran for life. Sometimes he came
to a likely track and followed it; but it led to nothing—
only to a succession of tracks which led off in various di-
176 Edward Reaches a Haven. [cuap. x.

 

rections across the moor. At last he ran straight forward,
without paying any regard to tracks. By continuing in
this course he eventually came to a road—a gladsome sight,
because it must lead to some dwelling or other. But which
way should he go? He knew nothing of the direction of
the road, for he had altogether lost his reckoning, and ev-
ery landmark was invisible.

After a few moments’ consideration, he bethought him
of the direction in which Huntly might possibly lie; and
as that town was his intended destination, he faced about,
as he thought, in that direction, and commenced running
again at full speed. After having run for about a mile, he
came in sight of his destined haven—a house. It stood on
a slight elevation, with its back to the road, and was sur-
rounded by a turf-and-stone wall. Collecting his remain-
ing strength, he ran up the slope, cleared the dike at a
bound, and rushed into the house without further cere-
mony.

He found two little maidens inside, who looked rather
frightened at his sudden appearance. And no wonder!
He must have looked more like a lunatic than a naturalist.
Being completely exhausted, he threw himself right down
on a seat without speaking a single word. When he re-
covered his breath, he asked pardon of the little damsels for
running in so unceremoniously; “he had been overtaken
by the storm.” He asked them if he might be allowed to
rest there until the storm ceased ?

“J dinna ken,” said one of the girls; “oor mither’s nae
in. She’s oot breakin’ sticks; but,” she added, “I dare
say ye may.”

There was a good fire of sods and peats on the floor.
Edward went toward it, with his dripping clothes, to dry
himself. He now began to look at his belongings. He
first took off his hat, which was the hiding-place for many
of his treasures. He found that the bundles of rare moss
which he had picked up on the moor, and also the flies
CHAP. X.] Mis Wallets Emptied. 177

 

which he had pinned into the crown of his hat, were all
right. His hat was usually two-storied; we wish we could
have given a section of it. The lewsr part contained his
head, and the other, above it, separated by a thin piece of
board, contained mosses, birds’ eggs, butterflies, insects, and
such-like.

He next proceeded to take off some of his wallets; but,
just as he had begun to remove them, he heard the girls be-
hind him twittering and giggling. Turning round, he saw
one of them pointing to his back, and trying to suppress
her mirth. He could not imagine the reason. Another
and yet another stifled laugh! On his looking round
again, they rushed out of the room; and then he heard
them exploding with laughter. The cause of their merri-
ment was this: the storm of rain had soaked Edward to
the skin. Every pocket and wallet was full of chip-boxes
and water. The glue of the boxes had melted; the ants,
worms, slugs, spiders, caterpillars, and such-like, had all
escaped, and were mixed up in a confused mass. They
shortly began to creep out of the innumerable pockets in
which they had been contained. It was because the girls
had seen the mixture of half-drowned spiders, beetles, ants,
and caterpillars creeping up the strange man’s back, that
they rushed from the place, and laughed their full out-of-
doors.

Edward was now left to himself. The girls had doubt-
less gone to fetch their mother. He began to think of
beating a retreat, as he seemed to have been the cause, in
some way, of the girls leaving the house. But at that mo-
ment a woman of prodigious size and attitude appeared at
the threshold. She stood stock-still, and looked at the
stranger furiously. He addressed her, but she gave no re-
ply. He addressed her again, louder; but she was still si-
lent. He looked at her again. In one hand she grasped
a most formidable-looking axe, while in the other she held
what looked like the half of a young tree, She was tall,

g*
178 The Chip-boxes Empty. [CHAP. x.

 

stout, and remarkably muscular; her hair was of a carroty-
red color, and thickly matted together ; her dress was scanty ;
she was bare-legged, but wore a pair of old unlaced boots,
such as are usually worn by plow-men. With her axe in
one hand and her pole in the other—with her clenched
teeth and fierce aspect—Edward could entertain no other
idea of her than that she was mad, and that her intention
was to brain him with her axe! He could not rush past
her—her space filled the door-way. He could not over-
power her, for she was much more powerful than he was.
His suspense was dreadful.

At last she moved one step forward; then another, until
Edward thought he might plunge past her and escape. But
no; she opened her lips and spoke, or rather yelled, ‘‘ Man,
fat the sorra brocht ye in here, an’ you in siccan a mess?
Gang oot o’ my hoose, I tell ye, this varra minit! Gang
oot!” This appeal brought Edward to himself again. He
apologized to her for entering her house, and begged her to
let him remain until the rain had ceased. “ Not a minit!”
was the sharp rejoinder; “ye'll pit my hoose afloat. Be-
sides yer vermin, ye’ll pit’s a’ in a hobble if ye dinna gang
oot !”

He protested that he had nothing to do with vermin;
but as he spoke he lifted up his hand to wipe something off
his cheek. It was a hairy oobit! He was in a moment
alive to the woman’s expostulations. On Jooking to his
clothes, he found that he was a moving mass of insect life.
He cleared the room in a bound, regardless of the woman’s
axe and cudgel. He went into an old shed, threw off his
coat and waistcoat, and found them a mass of creeping
things. On searching his pockets, he found that all the
chip-boxes had given way, and that the whole of the collec-
tion which he had made during the last three days was lost.
He might have collected the insects from his clothing, but
he had nothing to put them in. He now found that he
was the lunatic, and not the woman. Before he departed,
CHAP. xX. | How to Preserve. 179

 

he apologized to her for the trouble he had caused her,
and then he departed homeward—a sadder if not a wiser
man.

After this adventure he never again resorted to chzp-
boxes. He used little bottles for holding beetles and vari-
ous insects. He had also a light, flat box, about nine
inches square, for containing the more fragile portion of
the insect tribe, such as butterflies and moths. Before he
pinned them down, he gave them a drop of chloroform to
put them to sleep, and prevent them destroying their beau-
tiful plumage. When he met these tender creatures repos-
ing on a flower, he would always, if possible, drop a little
chloroform upon them, and thus end their struggles. Then
he boxed them. By this means he secured many splendid
specimens.

His hat was also an excellent insect-box, and a convenient
receptacle for many things. He had a false crown put in
the upper part of it, well stored with pins. And even when
he went out to walk with his wife and children, he would
occupy part of his time in looking for and storing up moths
and butterflies, so that not an opportunity nor a moment’s
time was lost..

He carried his caterpillars in a tin box, with several com-
partments; and his snails in a similar box of smaller di-
mensions. His eggs, after being emptied, were put into a
sort of canister; and being well packed with cotton wool,
they very seldom broke, although he carried them about
with him for days together.

Whenever he shot a bird or animal, his first business was
to fill up the mouth and nostrils with cotton wadding, and
then to search for the wounds and fill them up. By this
means he always got his specimens home clean. This he
found to be indispensably necessary with sea- birds, if he
wished to bring them home unsoiled.

Being unable to purchase presses for his plants, he used
heavy flat stones, and boxes filled with gravel and dry sand.
180 Edward a Referee. [CHAP. x.

 

These answered very well, and were all the presses he ever
had.

After his first exhibition at Banff, Edward became a gen-
eral referee as to all natural and unnatural objects found in
the district. People of all sorts brought “ things” to him,
to ascertain what they-were. Sometimes they were rare
objects, sometimes they were monstrosities. His decision
did not always satisfy the inquirers; and then they sent
the objects to some other person, who, they thought, knew
better. They always found, however, that Edward had
been right in his decisions. When he knew with certain-
ty, he gave his opinion. When he did not know the ob-
ject, he said he could not give an opinion. And this was,
doubtless, the best course to adopt.

Several of his friends told him that he ought to extend
his investigations into Aberdeen, and even into Elgin.
They did not offer to help him, but they advised him to
go. He had now eight of a family, and his wages, allow-
ing for extra work, only amounted to about fifteen or six-
teen shillings a week. To range the counties of Aberdeen,
Banff, and Elgin, in search of objects in natural history,
while he was maintaining his family on such slender wages,
was therefore an altogether impossible task.

His wife was his best helper. She bound all his upper
leathers, and also the upper leathers of several of the other
workmen. The wages paid to her were distinct from the
wages paid to Edward. Very often, instead of spending
her earnings on clothes or bringing the money home, she
would buy for her husband bottles for his insects, wood for
his bird-cases, or powder and shot for his gun. None of
his advising friends ever helped him in this way.

And yet Edward did extend his investigations farther
into Banffshire, and even into Aberdeenshire. With that
view he obtained a certificate, drawn up by the clerk of
the peace, and signed by sixteen justices of the peace, en-
abling him to go over the country with his gun, in search
CHAP. X.] Edward’s Certificate. 181

 

of birds and other things. He always carried this certifi-
cate with him; and when he presented it to a gamekeeper,
he was allowed to go wherever he pleased. The certificate
was as follows:

“These are to certify that the bearer, Thomas Edward, shoe-maker,
who is in height about five feet six inches, has dark eyes and hair,
much pock-pitted, round-shouldered, and about thirty-five years of age
—is, in addition to his other calling, engaged in collecting and pre-
serving various objects of Natural History, particularly those objects
which relate to Ornithology (Birds), Oalogy (Eggs), Entomology (In-
sects), Helminthology (Worms, etc.), and Conchology (Shells) ;—That,
for the purpose of procuring Ornithological Specimens, he is under
the necessity of using a Gun, but in doing so, We, the undersigned,
have never heard of a single case of poaching being brought against
him; and, as far as we know, he is not in the habit of killing Game of
any sort, nor of destroying property of any description, which, were
he in the practice of so doing, being so frequently out with his Gun,
he could not, we think, have escaped public notice so long—having
resided in this town for a period of sixteen years, during which time
he has borne an unimpeachable character.

[James Dorr, J.P., etc, ete.]

“ Banrr, March, 1850.”

Edward was now in the prime of life, yet he was draw-
ing very heavily upon his constitutional powers. Sleeping
out-of-doors nightly, whether the weather “was fair or foul,
subjected him to many attacks of cold and rheumatism.
Yet he had no sooner recovered than he was out again at
his nightly work. He was still as wild a birdnester as he
had ever been in his youth. He would go to any distance
or to any place to find a bird or a bird’snest that was new
to him. He would run up a tree like a squirrel, and come
down again with the birds or the nest.

He would also walk or climb up a precipice when a nest
was to be had. Of course, he had many falls. But what
of that, if the object was gained? The most dangerous
fall that he ever had was at Tarlair. The circumstance
may be described, as a specimen of the dangers which Ed-
ward ran in his pursuit of natural history. The author
182 Tarlair. [CHAP. x.

 

went to see the place, and was afraid to look down into
the chasm among the rocks into which the naturalist had
fallen.

The little valley of Tarlair is about three miles east of
Banff: it,is not far from Macduff. The road to Tarlair is
along the bare bluff coast; and when you reach the top of
a lofty point, you see beneath you a green grassy valley in-
denting the rocks. At the inner end of the valley is a lit-
tle well- house, where inland people come during summer-
time, to drink the mineral waters.** Eastward of Tarlair
the rocky cliffs ascend higher and higher—rising to their
loftiest height in the almost perpendicular cliff of Gamrie
Mohr.

The place at which Edward met with his accident is at
the projecting point of the valley above mentioned, where
the rocks begin to ascend. Not far from the mouth of the
valley there is, in the face of the rock, a very large, high,
and wide-mouthed cave or chasm, fronting the sea. The
back wall of the cave, as well as the sides, contain a num-
ber of strange-like openings, and fantastical projections, one
of which is called “the pulpit.” Edward often sat in the
cave, and also slept in it; but he never preached in it, though
he several times brought down sea-gulls and hoodie-crows
with his gun. The bottom of the cave is thickly covered
with stones and bowlders thrown in by the sea, which, in
storms, dashes with great fury into its innermost recesses.

In the roof, and neat” the front of the cave, a few mar-
tins build their nests every season. As Edward was com-
ing home one morning from his night’s work, and while he
was walking under the cliff, intending to come out at Tar-

 

* This is the place so well described in “ Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk.”
“There was a little house, too, at the foot of the north bank, where a
drop of whisky could be got somehow in cases of emergency, as when
the patient got ‘hoven’ with the liberal libations of salt-water pre-
viously swallowed, or when the taste lay strongly in that direction ; but
this was no part of the recognized regimen,”
 

TARLAIR—-VIEW OF NORTH COAST OF BANFFSHIRE,
 
CHAP. X.] Ascends a Precipice. 185

 

lair, he observed one of the martins flying out of the cave,
and shot it. Instead of dropping at his feet, it fell on the
top of the cliff. How was he to get at the bird? He
might have gone round a considerable way, and thus reach-
ed the top of the rock; but this would have involved the
loss of considerable time, and he was anxious to get home
to his work.

There was another way of getting at the bird, and that
was by scrambling directly up the face of the cliff. He de-
termined on adopting the latter course. Usually, when as-
cending rocks, he used to tie his gun to his back, as both
hands were required to grip and clutch the edges of the
rock above him. But on this occasion, not wishing to lose
further time by buckling on his gun, he determined, dan-
gerous though it was, to ascend the precipice gun in hand.
By grasping the stones above him with his hands and nails,
and putting the tips of his shoes into the crevices of the
rocks, or sometimes only on to a little tuft of grass, he con-
trived to haul himself up. He managed very well until he
reached about the middle of the ascent, where a bend oc-
curs in the rocks. There he became fixed. To come down,
unless headlong, was impossible; and to go up seemed
equally impracticable. In that case he would have had to
drop his gun, and smash it to bits on the rocks below. This
he could not afford to do. Still, he could not stay there.
With bated breath and steady eye, he clutched a little pro-
jection of rock standing out far above him. He caught it,
clambered a little way up, then secured a firmer footing,
and at last reached the summit in safety.

His troubles were not over. They were only beginning.
He looked about for the bird. It lay only a few yards
from him. It was on the edge of the cliff, and seemed ap-
parently dead. On stooping to pick it up, it fluttered, raised
one of its wings, and went over the precipice. In his ea-
gerness to catch it, or perhaps from the excited state in
which he was from mounting the cliff, Edward grasped at
186 Falls from a Cliff. [CHAP. x.

 

the bird, missed it, lost his footing on the smooth rock, and
fell over the precipice. His gun fell out of his hand and
lodged across two rocks jutting out from the beach below.
Edward fell upon his gun and smashed it to pieces; but it
broke the force of the blow, and probably saved his life.
A fall of at least forty feet on rocks and stones would cer-
tainly have killed most men, or at least broken many of
their bones. When afterward endeavoring to recall his
feelings on the occasion, Edward said, “I remember that
on losing my balance my gun slipped from my hand, and
I uttered the exclamation, ‘Oh God! Then my breath
seemed to be cut by a strong wind which made me com-
press my lips. I shut my eyes, and felt a strange-like sen-
sation of a rushing sound in my ears; and then of coming,
suddenly and violently, with a tremendous thud, upon the
stony rock.”

His breath was gone, and it was long before he could re-
cover it. He was for a time utterly senseless. On slightly
recovering consciousness, he thought he was under the in-
fluence of a nightmare. He seemed to be in bed, and saw
before him hideous faces, grinning and grimacing, like so
many demons. He tried to shake them off, to shut them
out. But no! the monsters were still there in all their hid-
eousness, and still he was utterly helpless.

At length two plow-men, who had been working in the
adjoining field, and seen Edward fall over the cliff, came for-
ward to its edge, and looked down upon him wedged among
the rocks. ‘“Ye’re no dead yet, are ye?” said one of the
men. Edward was unable to make any answer. “Fa is’t?”
said the other man. “Ou! it’s that feel chiel* that’s aye
gaun aboot wi’ his gun and his wallets!” The men looked
down again in consternation, with eyes that seemed about
to leap from their sockets. Edward at length began to feel
about him. He felt himself wedged in as in a vise, between

 

* Feel chiel, foolish fellow.
CHAP. X.] Dragged out of his Vise. 187

 

two long and oval pieces of rock, and quite unable to set
himself free. The two countrymen went round by the Tar-
lair pathway, in order to get Edward out of his fixture. It
seemed to him an age before they arrived.

They at first took him by the shoulder and tried to lift
him out; but this was so painful to him that at last they
desisted. They then tried to remove one of the rocks be-
tween which he lay clasped : this also proved fruitless. Ed-
ward then observed that the other rock, which they had not
yet tried to remove, consisted of a loose shale. It had ei-
ther dropped from the cliff, or been tossed inshore by the
sea. Edward desired them to try and move it a little; but
their joint efforts proved unavailing. Many attempts were
made to no purpose. A stout fisherman then appeared on
the scene. He put his shoulder to the rock, and the block
was at last moved sufficiently far so as to enable Edward
to be dragged out of the vise.

He sat down and felt himself all over. His left shoulder
and left side were extremely sore. The back of his head
was also very painful. But he was thankful to find that
neither his arms nor his legs were broken. He was not so
sure about his left ribs. He was very much bruised and cut
on that side. One of the splinters of the gun-stock was
found sticking through his coat. An old copper powder-
flask, which he had in his left pocket, was as flat as a floun-
der: allits contents were dashed out.

Edward entreated the men to help him to get to the cave.
He thought that, if left there for a time, he would soon re-
cover. He got upon his feet with difficulty, and found that
his spine had been hurt. With the help of two of the men,
he was at last able to walk very slowly to the cave. They
urged him to allow them to carry him to the cottage near
the mineral well. But he preferred to rest in the cave.
They prepared a bed of sea-weed for him, on which he lay
down. His protectors then left him, and, spite of his pain,
he fell asleep. He must have slept some time, for he was
188 Leaving the Cave. [cHAP. x.

 

awakened by the murmuring of the sea, which was fast ap-
proaching the cave.

Finding that his sickly feeling had left him, and that he
was on the whole much better, although his left side and
shoulder were still very painful, he gathered himself to-
gether and rose to his feet. He staggered about a little at
first; but he was at last able to return in search of his gun.
He found it in a woful plight. The stock was broken to
bits, and the barrel and lock were laid in the hollow. He
gathered up the fragments of the companion of his travels
for so many years; and, divesting himself of the heaviest
af his wallets, he left them in a corner of the cave. Then,
keeping hold of the rocks, he contrived to reach the inner.
side of the Tarlair valley. From thence he had a weary
walk to Banff. He took many rests by the way, and at
length reached home in the afternoon, sore, sick, and weary,
and went to bed. His wounds were then looked to. It was
found that none of his ribs were broken, and that he had
only sustained some severe contusions. It was, however,
nearly a fortnight before he could do any work. A month
elapsed before he could walk to Tarlair for the wallets and re-
mains of his gun, which he had left in the hollow of the cave.

To support his family during his illness, he was forced to
sell a considerable portion of the collection which he had
made during the last few years. Although it was not so
large as that which he had exhibited at Aberdeen, it con-
tained many rarer birds, insects, crustacea, zoophytes, and
plants; and it was, on the whole, much better got up. He
sold about one hundred cases at this time, consisting chiefly
of preserved birds, insects, and eggs. He also sold about
three hundred plants, and more than two hundred zoophytes,
besides about one hundred minerals or fossils. Among the
plants were a great number unnamed. He had as yet no
botanical books, and the friends to whom he applied could
not supply the names. They considered them very rare, if
not new and unnamed.
cHap. x.] Draws upon his Savings-bank. 189

 

It was a great blow to him to sell a portion of his second
collection. But he had no help for it. It was his only
savings-bank. When other means failed him, he could only
rely upon it. He had no friends in his neighborhood to
help him. His specimens went to many places, far and
near. A considerable portion of them went to Haslar, near
Southampton, where one of the hospital surgeons was mak-
ing a collection of objects in natural history.

 
 

CHAPTER XI.
BEGINS.TO PUBLISH HIS OBSERVATIONS.

Suorttiy after Edward’s return from Aberdeen, he made
the acquaintance of the Rev. James Smith, of the manse of
Monquhitter, about eight miles south-east of Banff. Mr.
Smith had some works on natural history, which he lent to
Edward; and they enabled him to ascertain the names of
some of the birds which he discovered in the neighbor-
hood.

One day, while walking along the sea-coast, Edward shot
a bridled guillemot (Uria lachrymans), a bird not before
known to frequent the district. When he informed Mr.
Smith of the circumstance, the reverend gentleman thus
wrote to him: ‘The discovery of the bridled guillemot at
Gamrie is very interesting, and affords another confirmation
of the remark that there are many things yet to be found
out, almost at our doors, by those who have a relish for the
works of nature, and who will make a good use of the
faculties which the Almighty has bestowed upon them.
In my own case, I have now almost no opportunity in my
power for prosecuting researches in natural history out-of-
doors; and, even if I had, there is so little sympathy for
any proceedings of this nature, that I should to a certainty
be regarded by almost all my parishioners as half-mad, or
at least as childish, and neglecting my more serious duties.
Still, I always feel a strong interest in the subject, and in
any discovery which is made in regard to it.”

As Edward had no narrow-minded parishioners to en-
counter, he went on with his researches. Mr. Smith strong-
CHAP. XI. | Edward and Grammar. 191

 

ly encouraged him to persevere. He also advised him to
note down the facts which came under his notice, and to
publish the results of his observations. This surprised Ed-
ward. “Why,” said he, “I can not write for the publih:
ers.” “You must learn to write,” said Mr. Smith; “and
in order to write correctly you must study grammar.”

He importuned Edward so much, that at last he said he

“had no use for grammar.” “You can not write without
it,” said Mr. Smith. “ But,” returned Edward, “I have no
intention of writing.” “You must write,” said Mr. Smith.

“You must write down all that you learn respecting the
objects you are collecting. It isa duty that, you owe to so-
ciety, and it will be very selfish on your part if you do not
publish the results of your observations.”

After about half an hour’s arguing, Edward asked, “ How
long do you think it would take me to learn grammar?”
“Well,” said Mr. Smith, “I do not think you would take
very long to learn it. But,” he added, “ you will require to
relinquish your outdoor pursuits during that time.” “If
that be the case, Mr. Smith, I am afraid that I can not be-
come a pupil. But if I have any time left after I have
done with nature, then perhaps I may begin to study gram-
mar; but not till then.”

Mr. Smith’s advice, however, was not without its good
results. Edward did begin to note down his observations
about natural objects, and he published them from time to
time in the local paper, the Banffshire Journal. When
the present author asked for a sight of the articles, Edward
replied, “I think I could supply you with scraps of a good
number, although, on looking over my stock, I find that a
great many have disappeared. My family and friends have
dealt very freely with them. In fact, they were found good
for ‘kinlin’.’* The most of what I wrote in the local pa-
pers is lost, forever lost.”

 

* Kindling fires,
192 The Death’s-head Moth. [CHAP. XI.

 

Among the articles which he was able to collect, we find
descriptions of rare moths, rare birds, and rare fishes. Per-
haps one of the first articles which he published was a de-
scription of a “ death’s-head moth” found in the parish of
Ruthven— one of the most wonderful, as it is one of the
most extraordinary, of insects.

“Tn its caterpillar state,” says Edward, “it has the power
of making a pretty loud snapping-like noise, which has
been compared by some to a series of electric sparks. The
chrysalis squeaks, but more particularly when about to
change; and as to the perfect insect itself, it is gifted
with a voice which it has the power of modulating at pleas-
ure, being sometimes of a plaintive nature, then mournful,
then like the moaning of a child, then again like the squeak-
ing of a mouse. This, together with the fact that it car-
ries on a portion of its back—that part called the thorax—
an impression of the front view of a human skull (hence
its name of death’s-head), has made it an object of the
greatest terror and dislike among the ignorant and super-
stitious. It is looked upon, not as the handiwork of the
Almighty, but as the agent of evil spirits. The very shin-
ing of its large bright eyes, which sparkle like diamonds,
is believed to represent the fiery element from which it is
supposed to have sprung. On one occasion these insects
appeared in great abundance in various districts of Bretagne,
and produced great trepidation among the inhabitants, who
considered them to be the forerunners, and even the causes,
of epidemic diseases and other calamities. In the Isle of
France it is believed that any down or dust from their
wings falling on the eyes causes immediate blindness.
All this is, of course, merely the result of superstitious
prejudice.

“The death’s-head is said to be the largest moth we
have, and is, in fact, the largest found inhabiting Europe,
save the peacock moth. Be this as it may, it is a very
large insect, measuring from five to six inches across the
CHAP, XI.] Butterflies and Locusts. 193

 

wings, and having a body proportionately long and thick.
The caterpillar, which is smooth, and of a greenish yellow,
with minute black dots all over, and with seven or eight
bluish stripes on the sides, having a horn above the tail, is
likewise very large, being, when full grown, about six inches
long. It feeds on the potato, the deadly -nightshade, the
jasmine, and the Lycium barbarum, and other plants of as
dissimilar a nature.”

In another article he mentioned the herald moth (Sca-
liopteryx libatrix), a specimen of which was presented to
him by Mrs.G. Bannerman. He describes this beautiful in-
sect as occurring in great profusion in some of the South-
ern parts of England, but as very rare in the North. It is
called the “ herald” moth, because it is said to indicate the
approach of winter. |

The peacock butterfly (Papilio Jo) was caught in Duff
House garden, close to Banff. Although common in En-
gland, this butterfly is very rare in Scotland. Morris makes
no mention of its ever having been seen in the North. A
great flock of these butterflies passed over a part of Switz-
erland in 1828, when they were described as a swarm of
locusts. This circumstance led Edward to insert some ob-
servations regarding that destructive insect, the Locusta mi-
gratoria, which passed over this country in the year 1846,
the ever-memorable potato-famine year.

“Great numbers,” he says, “ were found in the counties
of Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray. Several were also got in
the sea at Aberdeen, as well as near Banff. Some of those
found were very large, being two and a half inches long,
and nearly as thick as one’s little finger; their wings ex-
panding to about four inches in breadth. Nine of this size
were found by one individual in a turnip-field at the Stock-
et, near Aberdeen. They were brought to me while I was
there with my first unfortunate collection. But, large
though this may seem, it is nothing to others. We are
told that in India there are locusts of a yard in length. I

9
194 Destructive Power of Locusts. [CHAP. XI.

 

do not vouch for the fact; it is no story of mine. Pliny
tells it; and from him we have it. Some found in the sea
at Aberdeen were offered there for sale as ‘ fleein’-fish,’ and
no less a sum than ten shillings was sought for them.
Strange sort of flying-fish this! Truly it may have been
said that the entomological and ichthyological school-mas-
ters were both abroad in those days. It may, however,
be remarked that something of a similar kind took place
among ourselves not very long ago, so that we have little
room to laugh at the Aberdonians. A person having
picked up a galerite (a species of fossilized sea-urchin of
the cretaceous system), near by our harbor, was showing it
to some individuals, when one of them, no doubt puzzled,
said, ‘Oh! it’s just something that somebody has made.’
But to return to the locusts. Those of which we have
been speaking arrived in the month of August and the be-
ginning of September. Now, this year it would appear
that something of the same kind had taken place, as num-
bers have been picked up in various parts of the country.
Three have, at least, been found with us, viz., two near the
Moss of Banff, and one at Cornhill; another at Mintlaw,
Aberdeenshire. I have also one from Lerwick, where it is
said they have been rather plentiful in the corn-fields; as
also in the Zetland Islands, in Unst, and the rest of the bare
and isolated Skerries. In some of the Western isles, I be-
lieve, they have actually proved a complete pest.

“As may be expected, there are many species of this
creature, as there are of every thing else; but those here
alluded to are perhaps the most redoubtable of them all,
as being the most destructive, the best known from their
migratorial flights, and being, as already hinted, the species
that constituted one of the awful plagues of Egypt in the
days of Moses. They were doubtless the same that wasted
the land of Canaan, and caused such a terrible famine, of
which we read in the book of Joel. A wind drove them
into the sea; their dead bodies were again cast on shore in
CHAP. XI.] Saw-flies. 195

 

such heaps that the Hebrews were obliged to dig large pits
in which to bury them. In this country, we have about
twenty-five different kinds belonging to the same family,
of which the foregoing is one; but, of course, they are all
of small size, and therefore may be said to be comparative-
ly harmless.”

In another article Edward mentions another insect al-
-most equally destructive. A friend of Edward at Turriff
found four saw-jlies in a piece of a fir-tree that was being
cut up for fire-wood. They are called saw-/lies “from the
fact that the female possesses, posteriorly, an instrument
by which she perforates, or rather saws, holes in trees, into
which she drops her eggs. From this it will be seen that
the larve are wood-feeders. In this country they are by
no means numerous, and it is well that they are not, or our
forests would shortly disappear; for in places where they
abound, such as in Norway, they destroy hundreds of thou-
sands of trees in a season. It is only the growing, and not
the dead, wood that they attack. The young grubs, as soon
as they emerge from the egg, cut their way right into the
very heart of the solid timber, and there they gnaw and
bore in every possible direction. By this means, the tree
is either killed, ov so injured, that ultimately it pines and
dies. The fly itself has no English name, but is known to
entomologists by the term of Sirex juvencus.”

In another article, Edward mentions the fact of a spider
(Aranea domestica) having lived in one of his sealed-up
cases for twelve months without food. He had before
written to his reverend friend on the subject, but Mr. Smith
informed him that he had no books on entomology, and
could give him no information. Edward says of his spi-
der, that, after the case had been sealed up, he saw him
walking over the birds contained there, until at last he be-
came stationary in one of the corners. ‘Toward noon of
the second day of his incarceration he commenced opera-
tions, and by breakfast-time of the day following his web
196 “The Patient Spider. [CHAP. XI

 

was completed. The little artisan was then observed to
walk slowly and very sedately all over the newly formed
fabric, seemingly with the view of ascertaining if all was
secure. This done, the aperture was next examined, and
with more apparent care than was bestowed upon the rest
of the structure. This wonderful mechanical contrivance—
which serves at least the fourfold purpose of store-house,
banqueting-hall, watch-tower, and asylum in times of dan-
ger—being found all right, the artificer then took up his
station within it, no doubt to await the success of the net
which he had spread, and from whence, had fortune proved
kind, he would boldly have rushed out to secure his strug-
gling prey. There was, however, no fly to be caught with-
in the case. He was the only living thing in it; and there
the patient creature remained without food for the space
of more than twelve months.”*

The notices on natural history, which appeared from time
to time in the local journal, had the effect of directing gen-
eral attention to the observation of natural objects; and
numerous birds, fishes, insects, caterpillars, shells, and plants
were sent to Edward for examination. ,

In one of his notes he mentions a cinereous shearwa-
ter (Pufiinus cinereus) found on the beach near Portsoy.
This led him to give a very vivid account of the stormy
petrel. Another of the specimens sent to him was a Dy-

 

* “The superstitious notion that a spider shut up without food for
a year is transformed into a diamond has probably cost many of these
insects their lives; and if the eradication of ancient prejudices be as
serviceable to science as the discovery of new truths, the poor spiders
may console themselves with the honor of martyrdom as justly as the
innumerable frogs, who betrayed, amidst their tortures, the mystery of
galvanism. In this, as in other things, people have obtained a very
different and perhaps more important result than they had expected.
It appears that though spiders do not turn to diamonds, they can live
a long time without food: An insect of this species, inclosed in a box
for this rational purpose, was found alive after the poor sufferer had
been forgotten for five years."—Ackermann’s Repository, Jan., 1815.
CHAP. XI. ] Rare Birds. 197

 

phalcanthus longispinus, from the fossil diggings of Gam-
rie. “ How strange!” he says. “ Here we have an animal,
or perhaps I should rather say a stone, part of which had
once been a creature enjoying life, but now how changed!
How long is it since it lived, died, and became thus trans-
formed? Years ago, nay ages, many ages, long anterior to
the creation of man. How wonderful, and yet how true!” |

Of another specimen he says:

“ Here, again, is a black, pink, yellow, and brown creature,
with crests and ornaments like a duchess—just, in fact, like
a lady of the olden time dressed up and decorated for a
ball, with her head stuck full of feathers, her ribbons flying,
and fan in hand; in other words, a caterpillar of the vaporer
moth, found in a garden at Buckie.

“ And, lastly, though not least, a specimen of the mount-
ain bladder fern (Cystopteris montana), found on Benrinnes
by a gentleman from England, and sent to me as a rarity.
It was only in 1836 that this fern was made known as Brit-
ish, having then been for the first time met with by a party
of naturalists on Ben Lawers. Since that time, however, it
has been found in a ravine between Glen Dochart and Glen
Lochy, Perthshire. It is also found on the mountains of
North Wales, on the Alps, and on the Rocky Mountains of
North America.”

Many rare birds were sent to him for examination, no-
tices of which he recorded in the local paper. Thus, he ob-
tained the little crake (Crex pusilla), a bird that had not be-
fore been found in the neighborhood, from a land-surveyor
at Whitehills. The mountain finch (Fringzlla montifringil-
a) was sent to him from Macduff, where it had been driven
ashore during a recent storm. A greater shrike or butcher-
bird (Lantus excubitor)—a bird that had not before been
found in Scotland—was found dead at Drummuir Castle,
and sent to him for preservation. The spoonbill (Platalia
lucordia) and bee-eater (Merops apiaster)—very rare birds—
were also found at Boyndie.
198 “Accurate Observers wanted. [CHAP. XI.

 

Of the latter bird, Edward says, “ This is a splendid bird,
as rare as the last, if not more so. If we except the breast,
which is of a bright yellow, encircled by a black ring, and
some other orange and brown scattered here and there, it

- may be said to be of a beautiful verdigris green. The two
middle tail feathers are about an inch longer than the oth-
ers. The bill is longish and pointed. Though termed
bee-eaters, they also feed on beetles, gnats, grasshoppers,
flies, etc. The most of these they capture on the wing,
somewhat after the fashion of the goat-sucker and swallow.
Although a scarce bird with us, they are common in their
native countries. In Asia Minor and the adjacent lands to
the north, and in Northern Africa, they are said to be so
abundant as to be seen flying about in thousands.”

Among the rarer birds found in the district were thé Bo-
hemian wax-wing, or chatterer (Bombycilla garrula), whose
native home is Bohemia—the black redstart (Phenicu-
rus tithys), a bird that had never before been met with in
Scotland. Edward, in describing this bird, says, “ It is quite
possible that it may have visited the country before; but,
from the neglect, or rather contempt, with which natural
science is regarded in this part of the country, it may have
visited us, and even bred among us, unknown and unrecord-
ed. There is plenty of work among us for naturalists. A
great deal has yet to be learned regarding the various
branches of natural science. There is nothing better calcu-
lated for the purpose than attentive and accurate local ob-
servers.”

On one occasion, when out shooting on the sands west
of Banff, Edward brought down a very rare bird. It was
a brown snipe (Macrorumphus griseus), a bird well known
in North America, but not in Britain. Here is Edward’s
story :

“Taking a stroll the other day to the west of the town,
with my gun in hand, to get the air, I crossed the sands
at the links, and, looking along them, I observed a pretty
cap. x1.] A Strange Bird observed. 199

 

large group of my old and long-loved favorites — birds.
Wishing, instinctively as it were, to know what they were,
I went cautiously forward to take a nearer view. I found
that they consisted for the most part of ring-dotterels and
dunlins, with a few golden plovers. I was somewhat as-
tonished at seeing the plovers, for they are by no means a
shore bird with us at this season of the year—nor, in fact,
at any time, except when driven by snow. But there they
were, and no mistake. Not yet satisfied, however — for I
thought I could distinguish one that did not exactly belong
to any of those already mentioned—I wished to go a little .
nearer, and on doing so was glad to find my conjectures
fully confirmed; but what the stranger was I could not tell.
I saw enough, however, to convince me that it was a rare
bird. There is no getting an easy shot at a stranger. The
dotterels are constantly on the lookout for squalls; and
when any thing suspicious appears, they immediately rise
and fly away. A shot, however, after a good deal of wind-
ing and twisting, was fired, and, although at rather long ©
range, broke one of the stranger’s legs. This had the effect
of parting him from his companions—they flying seaward,
and he to the shingle which intervenes betwixt the sands
and the links. Here he dropped, seemingly to rise no
more.

“ Having reloaded, in case of need, I then ran, as well as
I was able, to pick him up. I gained the place, and after
some difficulty, having passed and repassed him several
times, I at last found my bird lying stretched out at full
length among the pebbles, and to all appearance a corpse.
It was now that I ascertained with satisfaction and pride
that the great rarity I had met with was neither more nor
less than a specimen of the brown snipe, and a splendid
one it was too, being evidently an old bird. Being almost
intoxicated with delight, I sat down, and, having taken
some cotton wadding from my pocket to wrap round the
injured leg, and stop up any other wound that he might
200 The Snipe escapes. [cHap. XI.

 

have received, I took him up for that purpose. But, alas!
there is many a slip between the cup and the lip.

“ Away flew the bird just as I was about to lay him on
my knee; he actually slipped out from among my very
fingers. I fired both barrels as soon as I could get hold
of my gun, sitting though I was. But on the bird went,
whistling as he flew, despite the dangling of his shattered
limb, but whether in derision at my stupidity, or exulting
in his own miraculous and fortunate escape, I can not tell.
Reaching the burn mouth of Boyndie, he again alighted
among the tumbling waves there. It was now gloaming,
and what between one thing or other, I was rather like an
aspen-leaf than any thing else. Follow, however, I did; I
searched the place, and was just on the eve of giving up
the pursuit as hopeless — having, as I thought, beat the
ground over and over again to no purpose—when up rose
the bird from among my very feet. Both barrels were
again emptied, but with little apparent effect. The last
one made him scream somewhat harshly, and falter a little
in his flight, but that was all. On he sped. Darkness now
put an end to any further operations for that day. Next
day, however, and for many days after, I was out; but, al-
though I searched the coast as far as the sands of White-
hills on the one side, and the burn of Melrose on the other,
I could find no traces of the bird. And thus I lost perhaps
one of the greatest ornithological rarities that have ever vis-
ited the district.”

One of the most vivid descriptions which Edward insert-
ed in the Banffshire Journal was a narrative of a day’s ad-
ventures on Gamrie Head. The editor, in introducing it to
his readers, said that it reads not unlike a chapter of Au-
dubon or Wilson. The reader will judge for himself:

“ Having promised to visit some friends in Gardenstown,
to partake of their hospitality during the festive season of
the new year, I left home with that object on the morning
of the 3lst of December, 1850. I passed through Mac-

4
=== SSS SSS

 
CHAP. XI. ] Excursion to Gamrie. 208

 

duff, and took the path which leads along the cliffs, hoping
thereby to meet with something rare or strange in the or-
nithological world, and worthy of my shot. In this way I
had nearly reached the highest point of Gamrie Head with-
out meeting with any thing but the common tenants of
these rocky braes, when my attention was attracted by the
screaming of a number of birds at the bottom of the cliff.
On looking over, I observed that they consisted of several
hooded and carrion crows, together with two ravens, two
Iceland gulls (Laurus Icelandicus), and a number of other
dark-colored gulls, apparently immature specimens of the
great black-backed species, one of which, in perfect plum-
age, was standing and picking at an object floating in the
water close to the rock, and about which all the other
birds were screaming. It appeared to me, and it afterward
proved to be the case, that they were making food of the
object about which they were fighting; but the black-back-
ed bird kept them all at bay, allowing none to approach,
not even the ravens themselves.

“ Having feasted my eyes for a while on the Icelanders,
the thought struck me that I would descend the cliff in
order to procure one of them, if possible, and also to get
a nearer view of the object which had drawn the various
birds together. Accordingly, observing a narrow track
near me, I commenced my descent, but I had only pro-
ceeded a short distance when I found myself on the brink
of a precipice. I was about to return, when, accidentally
looking over, I observed a portion of the rock jutting out
a little beyond the one on which I stood, and about four
feet and a half below it. I now concluded that, if I could
gain this rock, I would still find the path to enable me to
continue downward. With these hopes, and having laid
down my gun, I swung myself down upon the rock. I
had no sooner done so than I heard a low growl, as if pro-
ceeding from a rabid dog; and on looking along the rock,
I was a good deal surprised at seeing two foxes standing in
204. A Foas Lair. [cHAP. XI.

 

a rather slouching attitude at the other end of the shelf,
apparently very much discomfited at my unwarrantable in-
trusion.

Another look at the place and its surly occupants was
enough to convince me of the unmistakable truth that, in-
stead of having met with a path leading to the bottom of
the cliffs, 1 had only found one to a fox’s lair. My first
impulse was to ascend the rocks, but in this I was com-
pletely baffled. The brow of the cliff to which I wished
to ascend was fully as high as my breast, and overhung the
rock on which I stood. I had nothing of the nature of a
step to put my foot on to aid myself up, and nothing to
lay hold of with my hands but small tufts of withered
grass and some small stones, all of which gave way as soon
as any stress was put upon them. The last and the only
remaining object within my reach was a stone about twice
as large as my head, and partially imbedded among the
grass. I took hold of the big stone with both hands, and
succeeded in drawing myself about half-way up, when it
suddenly gave way. The stone came into collision with
my right shoulder, and would in all likelihood have borne
me along with it to the bottom of the cliff, had it not been
that at that instant I got hold of a short tuft of heath with
my mouth, by the aid of which, and by using my fingers as
a beast would its claws, I was enabled to regain my former
position. :

“Tt was now quite evident that I would require to de-
scend the cliff by some means or other; but how? That
was a matter for deep consideration. I was standing on
the brink of a precipice—had two cunning fellows to deal
with—had to hold on, at least with one hand, to the ‘rock
above in order to maintain my equilibrium—and had to
keep a steady eye on my companions, for fear lest they
should rush at me and throw me over the cliff.

“Such being the case, was I not in a pretty fix? If
there were any means of escape, it was from the point near
CHAP. XI. ] Drives out the Foxes. 205

 

which the foxes were. But how could I dislodge them to
get at that point? The space on which we stood was only
from about two feet and a half to one foot broad, and
about nine feet long, projecting to some distance over the
cliff beneath. To have shot them, and rid myself of their
presence in that fashion, was, from my position, utterly im-
possible.

“At length a thought struck me, and, with the view of
putting it in execution, I laid down my gun close to the
back of the shelving, out of harm’s way; then crouching
down with my feet toward my shaggy friends, who kept
up a constant chattering of their teeth during the whole
time, and pushing myself backward until I reached the
nearest, I gave him a kick with my foot on the hind-quar-
ters, which produced the desired effect; for I had no soon-
er done so than I felt first the feet of one, and then of the
other, passing lightly along my back, and, before I had
time to lift up my head, they had bolted up the precipice,
and disappeared.

“T was now master of the place, though not of the situa-
tion; On looking over the cliff, I found that there was no
way of getting down but by leaping into a crevice of the
rocks, more than eight feet beneath me, and in a slanting
direction from where I was. This was a doleful discovery,
but there was no help now; so, taking off my coat, shot-
belt, and powder-flask, that I might be so much the lighter,
and have the free use of my arms, I threw them down to
the bottom of the rock. I next bound the gun to my back,
having previously emptied it of its contents. I then crawled
over the edge of the rock, and hung dangling in the air for
a little, like the pendulum of a clock. I would have given
all that I ever possessed in the world to have been again in
the foxes’ den, stinking though it was. For then, and not
till then, did I discover, to my sorrow, that a rugged por-
tion of a rock projected over the entrance to the aperture
to which I wished to descend, and that, in leaping, I would
206 Makes the Leap. [cHaAP. xi.

 

require to go beyond it in order to reach the landing un-
derneath. To accomplish such a feat seemed to me im-
possible.

“T hung thus, being afraid to make the leap, though up
I could not get, until my hands began to give way; when,
mustering all my remaining strength, and having taken the
last swing with some force, I let go my hold to abide by
the dreadful alternative, for I had little hope of gaining the
desired haven. Most fortunately, however, I did gain it;
but, in doing so, I received a severe blow on the left temple
from the rock I had so much dreaded. I also lost my cap,
which fell off when my head struck the rock. From this
cavity or chink, which was the worst that I ever had to deal
with, I managed—by leaping and swinging from one rocky
shelf and cavity to another, and by crawling from crag to
crag, alternately, as circumstances required it—to reach a
huge stone, which evidently had once formed a part of the
higher portion of the cliff, but had, at a by-gone period, by
some means or other, become detached from it, and on roll-
ing down had found a temporary resting-place there.

“Beyond this stone I found my leaping was at an end, for
I had now arrived at the top of a rather rough and almost
perpendicular declivity, fully fifty feet from the bottom, and
bounded on both sides by steep and overhanging cliffs. Be-
fore me was the sea; behind and above me was an insur-
mountable barrier of three hundred feet of cliff. Although
I had descended thus far, there was no human possibility of
my being able to re-ascend by the same path. In such a
place — alone, and almost powerless — bruised and nearly
worn out with exertion—what could Ido? Throw myself
down, and meet my fate at once, or wait till help should ar-
rive? But where was help to come from? Two boats had
already passed from Gardenstown, both of which I hailed,
but they sailed along on their way. Perhaps they were too
far out at sea to hear my cries, or to notice my signals of
distress.
CHAP. XI. ] The Peregrine Falcon. . 207

 

“ Despairing of success, I sat down to consider what, was
next to be done. While thus resting, I observed a falcon
(Falco peregrinus) sailing slowly and steadily along, bearing
something large in his talons. On he came, seemingly un-
conscious of my presence, and alighted on a ledge only a
few yards from where I sat. I now saw that the object he
carried was a partridge. Having fairly settled down with
his quarry on the rock, I could not help wondering at and
admiring the collected ease and cool composure with which
he held his struggling captive (for it was still alive) until
death put an end to its sufferings. There was no lacerating
with his beak at the body of the poor and unfortunate pris-
oner, in order, as it were, to hasten its termination; no ex-
panding of the wing to maintain his equilibrium ; although
the last and dying struggle of the bird caused him to quiver
a little.

“All being now over, with one foot resting upon his
game and the other on the rock, silent and motionless as a
statue, the noble captor stood, with an inquiring eye gazing
at the now lifeless form of his reeking prey, seeming to
doubt the fact that it was already dead. But there was no
mistake. The blood, oozing from its mouth and wounds—
its body doubtless pierced by the talons of the conqueror—
already began to trickle down the sides of the dark cliffs,
dyeing the rocks in its course. Satisfied at last that life
was fairly extinct, an incision was then made in the neck
or shoulder of the victim, and into this the falcon thrust
his bill several times, and each time that it was withdrawn
it was covered with blood. This being done, and having
wrenched off the head, which he dropped, he then began
not only to pluck, but to skin his food, from the neck down-
ward; and, having bared the breast, commenced a hearty
meal by separating the flesh from the sternum into portions,
with as much apparent ease as if he had been operating
with the sharpest surgical instrument. I should have liked
well to have seen the end of the work thus begun; but, un-
208 Flight of the Falcon. [CHAP. XI.

fortynately, a slight movement on my part was detected by
the quick eye of the falcon, and my nearness was discovered.
Having gazed at me for a few, and only for a few, seconds
with an angry and piercing scowl, mingled with surprise,
he then rose, uttering a scream so wild and so loud as to
awaken the echoes of the surrounding rocks; while he him-
self, with the remains of his feast, which he bore along with
him, rounded a point of the cliff and disappeared ; and there
is no doubt that he ended his repast in unmolested security.

“T was glad—nay, proud— of this unlooked-for occur-
rence, as I had never before, on any occasion, had the pleas-
ure of witnessing any of those noble birds in a state of nat-
ure, or while engaged in devouring their prey, and that, too,
among the rugged fastnesses of their natural retreat. In con-
sequence of having paid particular attention to the move-
ments of the falcon, I was enabled to bring to maturity an
opinion, the seeds of which were sown many years ago—
viz., that if painters, engravers, and preservers of animals
would endeavor to get lessons from nature, and work ac-
cordingly, the public would not be so often duped as they
are, by having to pay for false representations and carica-
tured figures, instead of the genuine forms of these noble
birds.

“The falcon had no sooner fled than the reality of my
own situation again burst upon my mind. I had as little
prospect of relief from passers-by as ever; and, becoming
a prey to evil forebodings, I felt cold and sick at heart. It
was now afternoon, and daylight would soon be on the
wane. I had no time to lose, for it was necessary that
something should be done to extricate myself, if possible,
before dark. The only way of doing so was by sliding
down the declivity, be the consequences what they might.
Accordingly, I unloosed the gun from its place on my back,
and having taken my garters, which were very long, from
my legs, I tied them together, then attached one end of
them to the gun, and holding the other end in my hand, I
CHAP. XI. | Slides Down the Rocks. 209

 

dropped it as far as the string would allow, and then, let-
ting go, I heard the gun clash to the bottom. I next took
the two napkins which had bound the gun to my back, and
wound them round my head, in order to save it as much as
possible from the edges of the rocks. I then stretched my-
self upon the rocky slope, with my feet downward, and was
ready for the descent, when, repenting, I would again have
drawn myself up. But the scanty herbage which I held by
gave way, and I was hurled down, whether I would or no,
and with such violence that, on landing among the rocks, I
became quite unconscious.

“On recovering, I found myself lying at the foot of the
cliff, sick and very sore. I found that I had bled profuse-
ly from the nose and one of my ears. My first impulse, on
recovering, was to move my limbs to ascertain if any of
them were broken, when, to my inexpressible joy and thank-
fulness, I found them whole, though somewhat benumbed.
Becoming thirsty, and observing a pool of water at a short
distance, I attempted to rise, but my spine pained me so
much that I was obliged to lie down again without being
able to reach the desired spot. The thirst increasing, I
dragged myself to the water, I thrust my mouth into it,
and had partaken of a draught before I discovered that, in-
stead of fresh, I had swallowed salt, water!

“Tf I was ill before, I was worse now. Having sickened
and vomited again, I revived a little; and after I had washed
the blood from my face and head, I was enabled to sit up
with my back against a rock. While thus seated, I ob-
served all the articles which had been dropped, except my
cap, which, however, I afterward found. After sitting for
about half an hour, I made another attempt to rise, and
succeeded, though I reeled about like a drunken fellow,
and could scarcely stand steady without the’aid of my gun,
which I found was not so much bruised as I had expected.
Having again assumed my coat and other appendages, I
then endeavored to load my gun, with the view of procur-

*
210 The Spinous Shark. [OHAP. XI.

ing one of the Icelanders which I had seen from the top of
the cliff. This, however, proved a very difficult matter;
and when I had loaded the gun, I found, to my disappoint-
ment, that I could not bring it to bear upon the object. I
made the attempt several times, but was at last obliged to
abandon the hope I had entertained of obtaining either of
the birds.

“T was vexed at this, for both came several times within
easy shot. All my hopes of procuring the birds being at an
end, I then proceeded to view the object in the water round
which the birds were hovering, and I was surprised to find
it to be the carcass of an animal of a very singular appear-
ance. It was not until I had looked at it for some time
that I could bring my memory to bear upon it. I then
thought, and I have since been fully confirmed in the opin-
ion, that I discovered in it a specimen, or rather the putrid
remains, of the spinous shark. It wanted the head, which
had been broken off by the fish having been dashed against
the rocks by the waves. The tail was also broken off, but
still hung by a filament to the body. In shape it some-
what resembled the tail of the common dog-fish ; but there
evidently had been two fins on the back, nearer to the pos-
terior than the anterior portion of the animal, though these
had been broken or rubbed off. The skin, which was of a
dark-blue color, and had a leathery appearance, was thickly
beset with curved thorns or spines (whence the animal’s
name), nearly all of which were more or less damaged. I
Imow of nothing that I could liken these thorns or spikes
to but the thorns or spikes which may be seen on the stem
of an old rose-bush—with this exception, that the spikes of
the fish are larger. From its position in the water, though
close to the rocks, I could not make out its girth in any
part whatever; but from where the head had joined the
body to the tip of the tail it was about two yards in length.
Having fully satisfied myself that the present specimen,
from its decomposed state and the holes perforated in it by

.
CHAP. x1. ] Returns Home. 911

 

the gulls, was beyond the state for preservation, I again left
it, that the impatient: birds might once more descend and
recommence their banquet.

“JT now wished to get to a sandy beach at some distance
to my left, known as Greenside, from which I knew that a
path led to the top of the cliff. On my way thither I met
with a very serious obstacle in the form of a huge rock,
whose base extended into the sea; and, as a matter of
course, as I could not get round it, I required to get over
it. Iwas then far from being in a condition to climb a
rock. However, I had no alternative. The tide, then
about to come in, would have shown me no mercy. Ac-
cordingly, my gun was once more on my back, and on
hands and knees, for feet here were of no use, and with the
aid of my mouth, I succeeded in crawling over, and, with
some further difficulty, I contrived to reach Greenside. In-
stead of holding on to Gardenstown, I turned my face to-
ward home, where I arrived betwixt five and six in the
evening, with the impression of the last day of 1850 so
deeply stamped upon my body and mind, that it will not
easily, if ever, be obliterated from either.”

 
 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XIL
RAMBLES AMONG BIRDS.

Tue Rev. Mr. Smith must have felt surprised at the
graphic manner in which Edward described the birds of the
district. The truth is, that Edward, though he had ac-
quired his principal knowledge from observation, had also
learned something from books. Mr. Smith had lent him
such books as he had in his library, and also referred him
to the articles on natural history in the Penny Cyclopedia.
Although Edward did not accept his friend’s ‘advice as to
the study of grammar, yet he learned enough for his pur-
pose. It is not so much by recollecting the rules of gram-
mar that one learns to write, as by the careful reading of
well-written books. After that, grammar comes, as it were,
by nature. Besides, if a man feels keenly, he will be sure
to write vividly. This was precisely Edward’s position.

Mr. Smith thought it unfortunate that Edward’s contri-
butions to natural history should be confined to the local
newspaper. He asked permission to send an account of
his observations to a scientific journal. Edward expressed
his fears lest his contributions might not be found worthy
of notice. He was always shy and modest: perhaps he
was too modest. There are cases in which shyness is al-
most a misfortune. A man may know mucb; but, because
of his shyness, he declines to communicate his information
to others. He hides his secret, and nobody is the wiser for
his knowledge. He is too bashful. He avoids those who
might be friendly to him, and who might help him. Ed-
ward often stood in his own light in this way.
cHAP. x] Observations Published. 913

 

Mr. Smith, however, persevered. He obtained from Ed-
ward some notes of his observations, and, after correcting
them, he offered to send them to the Zoologist, and publish
them under his own name. “I have no doubt,” he said,
“that the articles would be acceptable to the editor; but,
if you do not approve of this plan, I hope you will not for
a moment allow me to interfere with you. At all events, I
trust that you will have no objection to let the information
be known to a much wider circle of readers, and especial-
ly of zoologists, than are likely to consult the pages of the
Banffshire Journal.”

Edward at last gave his consent; and in the Zoologist
for 1850* Mr. Smith inserted a notice of the sanderlings
which had been shot by Edward on the sands of Boyndie.
In the following year Mr. Smith inserted in the same maga-
zine a notice of the spinous shark which Edward had seen
under Gamrie Head.+ “In order,” says Mr. Smith, “to de-
termine whether it was the spinous shark or not, I sent
Mr. Edward the 39th volume of the ‘ Naturalist’s Library,’
which contains an account, by Dr. Hamilton, of Edinburgh,
of the Squalida, or family of sharks, and in which there is
a colored engraving of this particular shark. In reply, Mr.
Edward observes, ‘I have now no doubt whatever that the
animal discovered and examined by me was the spinous
shark.’ ”

In another article Mr. Smith described Edward in the
following terms: “I have oftener than once made men-
tion in the Zoologist of Mr. Thomas Edward, shoe-maker in
Banff, who is a zealous admirer of nature and an excellent
preserver of animals. Occasionally he tears himself, as it
were, from the employment to which necessity compels
him, and slakes his thirst for the contemplation of zoologic-
al scenes and objects by a solitary ramble amidst the mount-
ains and hills which so greatly abound in the upper portion

 

* Zoologist, 1850: 2915. + Zoologist, 1851: 8057.
214 The Beautiful Heron. [CHAP. XII.

 

of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff. Of some of his ad-
ventures during a ramble of this description he has sent
me an account. This I consider so interesting that I have
rewritten it, and now submit it for insertion in the Zoolo-
gist. The facts, the ideas, and the reflections are all his
own, and in many parts I have retained his own impres-
sions. Upon the accuracy and the minuteness of his ob-
servations, and upon his veracity of character, the utmost
reliance may at all times be placed.”

The paper that follows consists of the description of a
ramble, extending over several days, in the hill districts
near Noth and Kirnie. It is not necessary to transcribe
the whole paper; but we may select the following passages
as showing the keen observation as well as the character of
the man. Edward had entered a narrow glen, at the bot-
tom of which runs the burn called Ness Bogie. He was
listening to the voice of the cuckoo, and the clap-clap of
the ring-pigeons, which rose in great. numbers, when an ab-
rupt turn of the road brought him, suddenly and unexpect-
edly, within a few.yards of a beautiful heron.

“T immediately stood still,” he says. “The upright and
motionless attitude of the bird indicated plainly that he had
been taken by surprise; and for the moment he seemed, as
it were, stunned and incapable of flight. There he remained,
as if fastened to the spot, his bright yellow eye staring me
full in the face, and with an expression that seemed to in-
‘quire what right I had to intrude into solitudes where the
human form is so farely seen. As we were thus gazing at
each other, in mutual surprise at having met in such a place,
I observed his long slender neck quietly and gradually dou-
bling down upon his breast. His dark and lengthened -
plumes were at the same time slightly shaken. I knew by
this that he was about to rise; another moment, and he was
up. Stretching his long legs behind him, he uttered a
scream so dismal, wild, and loud that the very glen and hills
re-echoed the sound, and the whole scene was instantly filled
CHAP. XII. The Wild Duck. 215

 

with clamor. The sandpiper screamed its kittie-needie ; the
pigeon cooed ; the pipit, with lively emotion, came flying
round me, uttering all the while its peeping note; the moor-
cock sprung with whirring wing from his heath lair, and
gave forth his well-known and indignant birr birr-bick ; the
curlew came sailing down the glen with steady flight, and
added to the noise with his shrill and peculiar notes of poo-
elie poo-elie coorlie coorlie wha-up ; and, from the loftier parts
of the hills, the plovers ceased not their mournful wail, which
accorded so well with the scene of which I alone appeared
to be a silent spectator. But I moved not a foot until the
alarmed inmates of the glen and the mountain had disap-
peared, and solemn stillness had again resumed its sway.”

On the following day, while crossing the Clashmauch, on
his way to Huntly, Edward observed a curlew rise from a
marshy part of the hill, to which he bent his steps in hopes
of finding her nest. In this, however, he was disappointed ;
but, in searching about, and within a few feet of the re-
mains of a wreath of snow, he came upon a wild duck ly-
ing beside a tuft of rushes. It may be mentioned that there
had been a heavy snow-storm, which had forced the plovers
and wild ducks to abandon their nests, though then full
of eggs, and greatly interrupted the breeding season in the
Northern counties. Edward proceeds:

“ As I imagined she was skulking with a view to avoid
observation, I touched her with my stick, in order that she
might rise; but she rose not. I was surprised, and on a
nearer inspection I found that she was dead. She lay raised
a little on one side, her neck stretched out, her mouth open
and full of snow, her wings somewhat extended, and with
one of her legs appearing a little behind her. Near to it
there were two eggs. On my discovering this, I lifted up
the bird, and underneath her was a nest containing eleven
eggs; these, with the other two, made thirteen in all: a few
of them were broken. I examined the whole of them, and
found them, without exception, to contain young birds.
216 Maternal Affection. [cHAP. XII.

 

This was an undoubted proof that the poor mother had sat
upon them from two to three weeks. With her dead body
in my hand, I sat down to investigate the matter, and to as-
certain, if I could, the cause of her death. I examined her
minutely all over, and could find neither wound nor any
mark whatever of violence. She had every appearance of
having died of suffocation. Although I had only circum-
stantial evidence, I had no hesitation in arriving at the con-
clusion that she had come by her death in a desperate but
faithful struggle to protect her eggs from the fatal effects
of the recent snow-storm.

“T could not help thinking, as I looked at her, how deep
and striking an example she afforded of maternal affection.
The ruthless blast had swept with all its fury along the
lonesome and unsheltered hill. The snow had risen higher,
and the smothering drift came fiercer, as night drew on;
yet still that poor bird, in defiance of the warring elements,
continued to protect her home, and the treasure which it
contained, until she could do so no longer, and yielded up
her life. That life she could easily have saved, had she
been willing to abandon the offspring which nature had
taught her so fervently to cherish, and in endeavoring to
preserve which she voluntarily remained and died. Occu-
pied with such feelings and reflections as these, I know not
how long I might have sat, had I not been roused from my
reverie by the barking of a shepherd’s dog. The sun had
already set, the gray twilight had begun to hide the distant
mountains from my sight, and, not caring to be benighted
on such a spot, I wrapped a piece of paper, as a winding-
sheet, round the faithful and devoted bird, and, forming
a hole sufficiently large for the purpose, I laid into it the
mother and the eggs. I covered them with earth and moss,
and over all placed a solid piece of turf; and having done
so, and being more affected than I should perhaps be will-
ing to acknowledge, I left them to molder into their orig-
inal dust, and went on my way.”
CHAP. XII. | The Pickietars. 217

 

Having thus related an instance of maternal affection on
the part of the wild duck, let us cite a still more remarka-
ble instance of brotherly sympathy and help on the part of
the common tern (Sterna hirundo), called pickietars in the
neighborhood of Banff.

“Being on the sands of Boyndie one afternoon at the
end of August, I observed several parties of pickietars busi-
ly employed in fishing in the firth, As I was in want of
a specimen of this bird, I loitered about on the beach, nar-
rowly watching their motions, and hoping that some of
them would come within range of my gun. The scene
around was of no common beauty. In the azure heaven
not a cloud was to be seen, as far as the eye could reach ;
not a breath of wind was stirring the placid bosom of the
firth. The atmosphere seemed a sea, as it were, of living
things; so numerous were the insects that hummed and
fluttered to and fro in all directions. The sun, approach-
ing the verge of the horizon, shot losg and glimmering
bands of green and gold across the broad mirror of the
deep. Here and there several vessels were lying becalmed,
their whitened sails showing brightly in the goldened light.
An additional interest was imparted by the herring-boats
which were congregating in the bay; their loose and flag-
ging sails, the noise of the oars, and the efforts of the row-
ers, told plainly enough that a hard pull would have to be
undergone before they could reach their particular quarters
for fishing, in the north-eastern part of the firth.

“While I stood surveying with delight the extended and
glorious prospect, and witnessing with admiration the inde-
fatigable evolutions of the terns in their search for food, I
observed one of them break off from a party of five, and
direct his course toward the shore, fishing all the way as he
came. It was an interesting sight to behold him as he ap-
proached in his flight—at one moment rising, at another
descending —now poised in mid-air, his wings expanded
but motionless, his piercing eye directed to the waters be-

10
218 The Pickietar Fishing. — [cHAP. XII.

“

 

neath, and watching with eager gaze the movements of their
scaly inhabitants—and now, as one of them would ever and
anon come sufficiently near the surface, making his attack
upon the fish in the manner so thoroughly taught him by
nature. Quick as thought, he closed to his side his out-
spread pinions; turned off his equilibrium with a move-
ment almost imperceptible; and, with a seeming careless-
ness, threw himself headlong into the deep so rapidly that
the eye could with difficulty keep pace with his descent.
In the least space of time he would be seen sitting on the
water, swallowing his prey. This being accomplished, he
again mounted into the air. He halts in his progress.
Something has caught his eye. He lets himself down; but
it is only for a little, for his expected prey has vanished
from his sight.

“Once more he soars aloft on lively wing; and, having
attained a certain elevation, and hovering, kestrel-like, for a
little, with quick-repeated strokes of his pinions he rapidly
descends. Again, however, his hoped-for victim has made
its escape; and he bounds away in an oblique direction,
describing a beautiful curve as he rises without having
touched the water. Shortly after, he wings his way nearer
and nearer to the beach; onward he advances with zigzag
flight, when suddenly, as if struck down by an unseen hand,
he drops into the water within about thirty yards of the
place where I am standing. As he righted and sat on the
bosom of the deep, I was enabled distinctly to perceive
that he held in his bill a little scaly captive, which he
had snatched from its home, and which struggled violent-
ly to regain its liberty. Its struggles were in vain; a few
squeezes from the mandibles of the bird put an end to its
existence.

“Being now within my reach, I stood prepared for the
moment when he should again arise. This he did so soon
as the fish was dispatched. I fired, and he came down with
a broken wing, screaming as he fell into the water. The
cup. xu1.} Wounded Pichetar Rescued. 219

 

report of the gun, together with his cries, brought together
the party he had left, in order that they might ascertain
the cause of the alarm. After surveying their wounded
brother round and round, as he was drifting unwittingly to-
ward the shore with the flowing tide, they came flying in a
. body to the spot where I stood, and rent the air with their
screams. These they continued to utter, regardless of their
own individual safety, until I began to make preparations
for receiving the approaching bird. I could already see
that it was a beautiful adult specimen; and I expected in
a few moments to have it in my possession, being not very
far from the water’s edge.

“While matters were in this position, I beheld, to my
utter astonishment and surptise, two of the unwounded
terns take hold of their disabled comrade, one at each wing,
lift him out of the water, and bear him out seaward. They
were followed by two other birds. After being carried
about six or seven yards, he was let gently down again,
when he was taken up in a similar manner by the two who
had been hitherto inactive. In this way they continued
to carry him alternately, until they had conveyed him to
a rock at a considerable distance, upon which they land-
ed him in safety. Having recovered my self- possession, I
made toward the rock, wishing to obtain the prize which
had been so unceremoniously snatched from my grasp. I
was observed, however, by the terns; and instead of four,
I had in a short time a whole swarm about me. On my
near approach to the rock, I once more beheld two of them
take hold of the wounded bird as they had done already,
and bear him out to sea in triumph, far beyond my reach.
This, had I been so inclined, I could no doubt have pre-
vented. Under the circumstances, however, my feelings
would not permit me; and I willingly allowed them to per-
form without molestation an act of mercy, and to exhibit
an instance of affection, which man himself need not be
ashamed to imitate. I was, indeed, rejoiced at, the disap-
220 Closeness of Observation. [CHAP. XII.

 

pointment which they had occasioned, for they had thereby
rendered me the witness of a scene which I could scarcely
have believed, and which no length of time will efface from
my recollection.”

On another occasion Edward exhibited the same close-
ness, minuteness, and patience of observation with regard
to the turn-stone (Strepsilas interpers), a bird which is an
inhabitant of the sea-shore, and has a wide geographical
range, though it has rarely been seen on the shores of the
Moray Firth. In Edward’s ornithological excursions, it was
not so much his object to kill birds as to observe their man-
ners and habits. He very often made his excursions with-
out a gun at all. In a letter to the author, he observes:
“Tn looking over my printed articles, you will find a great
number of notices of the habits and workings of various.
species. I spent so much time in observation, that I had
little time to spare to write out the results; and what I did
write did not seem to be much appreciated. Perhaps this
is not to be wondered at. It appears that the compilers of
works on natural history in this country do not care for
details of the habits of the animals they treat of. They
rather glory in the abundance of technical descriptions they
can supply. These may seem scientific, but they are at the
same time very dry. In fact, natural history is rendered de-
testable to general readers. We want some writers of the
Audubon and Wilson class to render natural history accessi-
ble to the public at large.”

If Edward himself could have been rescued from his
shoe-maker’s seat, we might probably have had the book
which he indicates. He was full of love for his subject;
he was patient and persevering in his observations; and,
notwithstanding his great disadvantages, it will be observed
that his style of writing was vivid and graphic. With re-
spect to the turn-stone, which Edward described in 1850,*

* First in the Banffshire Journal, December 31st, 1860; and after-
ward copied by Mr. Smith in the Zoologist, April, 1851.

 
guap. xu1.] Description of the Turn-stone. 221

 

it does not appear that any ornithological writer, excepting
Audubon, had particularly described it, although Edward
had never read Audubon’s work. The Rev. Mr. Smith ob-
served: “It is consistent with my knowledge that Mr. Ed-
ward has never read the account given by Audubon of the
habits of the turn-stone. I mention this as a proof, among
others, of the accuracy and minuteness with which he makes
his observations. He is the only European, so far as I have
the means of ascertaining, who has described the efforts
which are put forth by the bird in question in cases of dif-
ficulty, not only with its bill, but with its breast also.” The
following is Edward’s description of the bird:

“The turn-stone is a very interesting bird, from its pecul-
iar form and singular habits. It is a strong, thick bird, with
rather short, thick legs ; long expanded toes; and full, broad
breast. Its bill is in the form of an elongated cone, strong
at the base, on the culmen rather flattened, and with a curve
inclining upward toward the tip. The habits of the bird
are singular, more particularly with respect to the method
which it adopts to procure food—which is, as its name de-
notes, by turning over small stones in search of the insects
beneath them, on which it feeds. When the object which
it wishes to turn over is too large for the bill to do so, the
breast is applied; and it would seem that the birds are will-
ing to assist each other, just as masons or porters will do in
turning over a stone or a bale of goods. I may here take
the liberty of mentioning an incident concerning the turn-
stone which came under my own observation.

“ Passing along the sea-shore to the west of Banff, I ob-
served on the sands, at a considerable distance before me,
two birds beside a large-looking object. Knowing by their
appearance that they did not belong to the species which
are usually met with in this quarter, I left the beach and
proceeded along the adjoining links, an eminence of shingle
intervening, until I concluded that I was almost opposite to
the spot where the objects of my search were employed.
222 Observation of the Turn-stone. (CHAP. XY.

 

Stooping down, and with my gun upon my back prepared
for action, I managed to crawl through the bents and across
the shingle for a considerable way. At length I came in
sight of the two little workers, who were busily endeavor-
ing to turn over a dead fish which was fully six times their
size. I immediately recognized them as turn-stones. Not
wishing to disturb them, and anxious at the same time to
witness their operations, I observed that a few paces nearer
them there was a deep hollow among the shingle, which I
contrived to creep into unobserved.

“T was now distant from them about ten yards, and had
a distinct and unobstructed view of all their movements.
In these there was evinced that extraordinary degree of sa-
gacity and perseverance which comes under the notice only
of those who watch the habits of the lower creation with
patience and assiduity, and which, when fully and accurate-
ly related, is not unfrequently discredited by individuals
who, although fond of natural history, seem inclined to be-
lieve that every thing in regard to animals must necessarily
be false, or at least the result of ignorance, unless it has
been recorded in books which are considered authorities on
the subject.

“But to return. Having got fairly settled down in my
pebbly observatory, I turned my undivided attention to the
birds before me. They were boldly pushing at the fish
with their bills, and then with their breasts. Their endeav-
ors, however, were in vain: the object remained immova-
ble. On this they both went round to the opposite side,
and began to scrape away the sand from beneath the fish.
After removing a considerable quantity, they again came
back to the spot which they had left, and went once more
to work with their bills and breasts, but with as little ap-
parent success as formerly. Nothing daunted, however,
they ran round a second time to the other side, and recom-
menced their trenching operations with a seeming deter-
mination not to be baffled in their object, which evidently
cua. xut.] Joined by a Brother Turn-stone. 223

 

was to undermine the dead animal before them, in order
that it might be the more easily overturned.

“While they were thus employed, and after they had
labored in this manner at both sides alternately for near-
ly half an hour, they were joined by another of their own
species, which came flying with rapidity from the neighbor-
ing rocks. Its timely arrival was hailed with evident signs
of joy. I was led to this conclusion from the gestures
which they exhibited, and from a low but pleasant mur-
muring noise to which they gave utterance so soon as the
new-comer made his appearance. Of their feelings he
seemed to be perfectly aware, and he made his reply to
them in a similar strain. Their mutual congratulations be-
ing over, they all three set to work; and after laboring
vigorously for a few minutes in removing the sand, they
came round to the other side, and, putting their breasts
simultaneously to the fish, they succeeded in raising it some
inches from the sand, but were unable to turn it over. It
went down again into its sandy bed, to the manifest disap-
pointment of the three. Resting, however, for a space, and
without leaving their respective positions, which were a lit-
tle apart the one from the other, they resolved, it appears,
to give the work another trial. Lowering themselves, with
their breasts close to the sand, they managed to push their
bills underneath the fish, which they made to rise to about
the same height as before. Afterward, withdrawing their
bills, but without losing the advantage which they had
gained, they applied their breasts to the object. This they
did with such force and to such purpose that at length it
went over and rolled several yards down a slight declivity.
It was followed to some distance by the birds themselves,
before they could recover their bearing.

“They returned eagerly to the spot from whence they
had dislodged the obstacle which had so long opposed them;
and they gave unmistakable proof, by their rapid and con-
tinued movements, that they were enjoying an ample repast
224 The Litile Auk. [CHAP. XII.

 

as the reward of their industrious and praiseworthy labor.
I was so pleased, and even delighted, with the sagacity and
perseverance which they had shown, that I should have
considered myself as guilty of a crime had I endeavored to
take away the lives of these interesting beings at the very
moment when they were exercising, in a manner so happily
for themselves, the wonderful instincts implanted in them
by their Creator. When they appeared to have done and
to be satisfied, I arose from my place of concealment, On
examining the fish, I found it to be a specimen of the com-
mon cod. It was nearly three feet and a half long, and it
had been imbedded in the sand to the depth of about two
inches.”

One of Edward’s greatest pleasures was in rambling along
the sea-shore, to observe the habits of the sea-birds. The
multitude of birds which frequent the shores of the Moray
Firth are occasioned by the shoals of herrings, which afford
food not only for thousands of fishermen, but for millions
of sea-birds. To show the number of birds that frequent
the coast, it may be mentioned that during the storm that
occurred in December, 1846, Edward counted between the
Burn of Boyne and Greenside of Gamrie, a distance of
about nine miles, nearly sixty of the little auk, which had
been driven ashore dead, besides a large number of guille-
mots and razor-bills. Numbers of these birds were also
found lying dead in the fields throughout the county.

And yet the little auk has a wonderful power of resisting
the fury of the waves. ‘‘It isa grand sight,” says Edward,
“to see one of these diminutive but intrepid creatures
maneuvring with the impetuous billows of a stormy sea.
Wave follows wave in rapid succession, bearing destruction
to every thing within reach; but the little auk, taught by
nature, avoids the threatened danger, either by mounting
above the waves or by going beneath them, re-appearing un-
hurt as they spend their fury on the shore. The eye for a
time wanders in vain among the turbulent surge to catch an-
 

VILLAGE OF PENNAN.
cHap. xi.] The Seafowl Nurseries. 227

 

other sight of the little sailor bird. One unaccustomed to
such a scene would be apt to exclaim, ‘ Poor little thing! It
is buried amidst the foam!’ Have a little patience. See!
there it is, once more, as lively as ever, and ready to master
the approaching billow. Its descent among the waves may
have been merely in search of food, for it is only betwixt
the waves, while inshore during a storm, that the bird can
descend for that purpose. The bird is known in our locality
by the curious term of the ‘nor-a-wa-wifie,’ from the sup-
position that it comes from Norway.”

The rocky coasts along the east shore were the most
attractive scenes for our naturalist. Not only the wildest
scenery, but the wildest birds, were to be found in that
quarter. Gamrie Mohr and Troup Head were especially
favorite places. We have already described Edward’s ad-
ventures near the former headland. Here is his description
of his visit to Troup Head:

“Sailing in a little bark, with a gentle breeze blowing, I
had ample opportunities of viewing the various birds as
they approached, and as they flew past. Passing in front
of the several sea-fowl nurseries of Troup, I beheld scenes
truly magnificent—scenes which could not have failed to
create feelings of the deepest interest in a mind capable of
appreciating the sublime and beautiful workings of nature.
Having landed at the most famed of these nurseries, in or-
der to view the scene with advantage—here, I thought, as
I gazed at the white towering cliffs which had , laughed to
scorn the angriest scowl of the most mighty wave that ever
spent its fury at their base, and defied the stormiest blast
from the icy north; where the largest gull in its midway
flight appears no larger than the smallest of its kind; where
the falcon breeds beside and in perfect harmony with the
other inhabitants of the rocky cliffs; where multitudes of
birds, of various forms and hues, from the snowy whiteness
of the kittiwake to the sable dye of the croaking raven,
have found a resting-place whereon to build their nests and
228 Neighborhood of Pennan.  [owar. x1.

 

deposit their young—here, I thought, as I was about to leave
the busy throng—even here, man, the noblest creature,
though too often degrading himself beneath the lowest of
animals, might learn lessons of industry and affection from
these humble monitors of nature.”

During breeding-time the clamor of the sea-birds is tu-
multuous, though the lashing of the sea at the foot of the
cliffs tends to a great extent to lull their noise; but toward
evening all becomes still again. Edward frequently ascer-

 

tained this by personal experience. Being in the neighbor-
hood of Pénnan one day, he went along the Head, in or-
der, if possible, to get a sight of the far-famed eagles of the
promontory. He was unsuccessful on the occasion. He had
loitered by the way, and the declining day at length warned
him to leave the place without seeing the coveted sight.
His road westward lay along the coast. With disappointed
hopes, he trudged along, scarcely thinking how the hours
were flying. At length it became dark as he approached
the broom braes of Troup. He found himself fairly be-
CHAP. XII. | Sleeps in Hell’s Lum. 229

 

nighted. At the same time, he was tired and weary. He
had endured many outs and ins, ups and downs, that day.
His intention was to have gone to the house of his old shop-
mate at Gardenstown and spend the night; but now he felt,
from his worn-out condition, that it would have taken him
nearly two hours’ walking to reach the place. He therefore
determined to stay where he was, or rather, to go down toa
sleeping-place near Troup Head, to ascertain how his feath-
ered friends conducted themselves during the night-time.

His sleeping-place was a very wild one. It was no other
than Hell’s Lum. He knew the place well. He had en-
tered it both from the sea-side and from the land-side. He
had been in it in storm and calm, in clouds and sunshine.
And now he was about to spend the night in it. The
weather was, however, calm; the sea was like a sheet of
glass; so that he had little fear of getting a wetting during
his few hours’ stay. While in the “ Lum,” he was at the
back of the cliffs, and in close proximity with the breeding-
places of the myriads of sea-fowl. It was now the busiest
part of the season. The birds had been very clamorous
during the day, but as night came on their clamor ceased.
With the exception of a few screams—while, perhaps, the
birds were being displaced in their nests—the night was
silent, though Edward kept awake and listened for nearly
the whole time.

But with the first glimmerings of daylight, and just as he
was beginning to move and to creep out of the pit, Edward
thought that he heard some of the birds beginning to whim-
per and yawn, as if ready for another day’s work; and by
the time he had rounded Crovie Head, he beheld the cliffs
alive, and the multitude of sea-birds again in full operation.
 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XIIL
LITERATURE AND CORRESPONDENCE.

A ereat misfortune befell Edward in 1854: his friend,
the Rev. Mr. Smith, died. He was a man whose richly cul-
tivated mind and warm heart endeared him to all with
whom he came in contact. He was almost the only man
of culture in the neighborhood who appreciated the charac-
ter of Edward. He not only made himself his friend, but
became his helper. Edward was under the impression that
people looked down upon him and his work because he was
a poor shoe-maker. There were other persons who knew
of Edward’s perseverance, self-denial, and uncomplaining-
ness, and also of his efforts to rise into a higher life; but
they did not help him as Mr. Smith did. The true Chris-
tian gentleman treated the poor man as his friend. He
treated him as one intelligent man treats another. The
shoe-maker from Banff was always made welcome at the
minister’s fireside at Monquhitter.

Mr. Smith helped Edward with books. He lent him such
books as he had from his own library; and he borrowed
books from others, in order to satisfy Edward’s inquiries
about objects in natural history. He wandered about the
fields with him, admiring his close observation; and he
urged him to note down the facts which he observed, in or-
der that they might be published to the world.

In one of the last letters addressed by Mr. Smith to Ed-
ward he observed: “‘It is, I conceive, the great defect in
the natural sciences that we know so little of the real habits
and instincts of the animal creation. In helping to fill up
CHAP. XII. | The Partridge. 231

 

this gap, your personal minute and accurate observations
will be of no little service; although individuals, solemn
and wise in their own conceit, may look upon some of them
as so strange as to be altogether fabulous; and that for no
better reason than because during all their lives— having
exercised their faculties only in eating, drinking, and sleep-
ing—the things related have never come under the notice
either of their eyes or their ears.”

We find, from a letter of Professor Dickie, that Mr.
Smith endeavored to obtain employment for Edward as a
preserver of British birds for the natural history collection
in King’s-College, Aberdeen. Many kindly letters passed
between Edward and the minister of Monquhitter, some-
times about newly discovered birds, at other times about
the troubles and sicknesses of their respective families. Mr.
Smith’s suggestion that Edward should note down his ob-
servations for publication was not, as we have seen, without
effect, as the latter afterward became a contributor to the
Naturalist, the Zoologist, the [bis, the Linnean Journal,
and other natural history publications.

In one of Edward’s articles in the Zoologist, he thus re-
fers to a circumstance which happened during one of the
last excursions he took with his reverend friend. He is re-
ferring to the partridge (Perdrix cinerea). “A very cun-
ning and faithful mother is the female; for when she has
eggs, she never leaves her nest without hiding them so
carefully that it is almost impossible to detect their where-
abouts; and if you take her by surprise, away she hobbles
on one leg, and a wing trailing on the ground, as if wound-
ed!.... Wandering about the Waggle Hill one day with
my friend, the Rev. Mr. Smith, I chanced to observe a moor-
fowl squatted on the ground among the heather, close to
my feet; in fact, I stood above her before I noticed her.
Being summer-time, I at once guessed the nature of the
case. On my friend coming up, I drew his attention to
the bird over which I stood. ‘Oh,’ he said, ‘she’s surely
932 The Loch-of Strathbeg.  [cuap. xm.

 

dead, Mr. Edward.’ ‘Oh, no,’ said I; ‘there are eggs or
young beneath her.’ ‘ Well,’ he answered, ‘if so, it is cer-
tainly a very wonderful circumstance; but we shall see.’
Then, stooping down, he touched the bird, but she did not
move. ‘She must be alive,’ he said, ‘because she is warm;
but she must be wounded, and not able to rise or fly.’
‘Oh no,’ I once more said; ‘she has something beneath
her which she is unwilling to leave.’ The bird allowed him
to stroke her without moving, except turning her head to
look at him. On my friend’s dog Sancho coming up and
putting his nose close to her, she crept away through the
bushes for some distance, and then took to flight, leaving a
nest and fifteen eggs exposed to our gaze. Before leaving,
we carefully closed up the heather again, so as to conceal as
much as possible the nest and its beauteous treasure; and I
need not say that we were both delighted with what we had
seen, Mr. Smith was particularly struck with the incident,
as he had never seen any thing of the kind before; and he
remarked, ‘I verily believe that I could not have credited
the fact if I had not seen it myself,’ and he afterward spoke
of it with the greatest admiration.”

Edward also numbered among his friends the Rev. Alex-
ander Boyd, of Crimond. It was through the Rev. Mr.
Smith that Edward was first introduced to him. Mr. Smith
was anxious that Edward should examine and observe the
birds of Strathbeg, near which the village of Crimond is
situated. Crimond is about thirty-five miles from Banff, ten
miles from Peterhead, and about seven from F; raserburgh.

The loch of Strathbeg was at one time of limited extent.
It was connected with the sea at its eastern extremity; but
a hill of sand having, about the beginning of last century,
been blown across the opening during a furious east wind,
‘the connection between the loch and the sea was closed, and
it became a fresh-water loch, as it remains to this day. The
scenery in the neighborhood is by no means picturesque;
but the loch is very attractive to sportsmen, in consequence
CHAP. XIII. | The Rev. Mr. Boyd. 233

 

of the number of wild fowl that frequent it, or that breed
among the islands and marshes at its western extremity.

The Rev. Mr. Boyd was the parish minister of Crimond.
His hospitable manse was always open to Edward when he
visited the neighborhood. In one of Mr. Boyd’s letters to
Edward, he said: “We have exactly the sort of room that
will suit you, and you will be left at liberty to pursue your
researches at your convenience; the room being so situated
that you can go out or come in at any hour of the day or
night, without any one being the wiser. There will always
be something in the cupboard to refresh you before start-
ing at day-break, or when you come home at night, though
every one in the house may be asleep. And you may con-
tinue with us the whole week, if you be so disposed. My
coble will always be at your service, and I hope to be able
to accompany you on some of your rambles, though I am
not nearly so agile now as I have been..... Mrs. Boyd is
now quite well, though she had a long illness after you were
here; and we have a young specimen of zoology to show
you which is worth all the rare birds of Strathbeg put to-
gether !”

The number of water-fow] that Edward found about the
loch was very great. During winter-time it was the haunt
of birds from far and near, in prodigious numbers. In
sumnmer-time it was the breeding-place of numerous birds
of a different kind. The people of the neighborhood say
that “all the birds of the world come here in winter.” In
angry weather, when the ocean is tempest-tossed, the sea-
birds fly in, and, mingling with the natives, constitute a very
motley group. The number of birds is so great that when
a gun is fired they rise en masse, and literally darken the air,
while their noise is perfectly deafening.

The swans are among the largest birds that frequent the
loch. Edward found the beautiful white hooper (Cygnus
ferus), and the no less fair and elegant Polish swan (Cyg-
nus immutabilis). The geese were innumerable: the bean
234 Ligyptian Goose. [CHAP. XIII.

 

goose (Anser segetum), the pink-footed goose (A. brachy-
rynchus), the white-pointed goose (A. erythropus), the bar-
nacle goose (A. leucopsis), the brent goose (A. brenta), the
Canadian goose (A. Canadensis), and even the Egyptian
goose (A. Hgyptiacus). The last mentioned was first de-
tected by Mr. Boyd himself. In a letter to Edward, dated
the 24th of November, 1853, he said: ‘‘One morning
lately I was informed that there was a strange bird of the
goose tribe in my mill-dam. I sallied forth with a telescope
in one hand and a double-barrel, loaded with No. 1, in the
other. I first took a leisurely look at him with the former
at less than one hundred yards distance, when I made the
following observations: Size and appearance those of a
small wild goose; head, brown and gray mixed; back, rich
‘brown, lightish ; breast and neck, gray; tail, dark or black;
tips of wings, ditto, and glossy; legs and bill, reddish; a
dark ring round the neck, and a dark spot right on the cen-
tre of the breast. He was nibbling the tender grass on the
dam banks. I then approached nearer. Instead of flying,
he merely swam away to the other side of the pond, and
seemed either very tired or else accustomed to the pres-
ence of man. I was quite within shot of him, but, from
his tameness, I conjectured that he was some fancy animal
escaped from a gentleman’s demesne. I then went for
some corn, and scattered it on the banks, and as soon as I
moved away he came to eat it. When startled, he gener-
ally makes a circuit of a quarter of a mile and returns
again; but. latterly he goes to the loch of Strathbeg all
night, and returns in the morning for his corn. Iam afraid
he will not be spared long, although I have sent word in
several directions that he is not to be shot. I should be
glad if he would become domesticated. I wish you would
look over some of your books and tell me what he is. I
have not seen a bird of the same kind before.”

From Mr. Boyd’s minute description of the bird, Edward
was enabled to inform him that it could be nothing else
CHAP. XIII. | The Winter Birds. 235

 

than a specimen of that rare species, the Egyptian goose.
After about two months’ sojourn in Mr. Boyd’s mill-pond,
the bird flew away on the day preceding the great snow-
storm of January, 1854, and never returned. Mr. Boyd
was afterward enabled to ascertain the correctness of Ed-
ward’s information. He was in Liverpool, and while visit-
ing a poulterer’s yard, he observed a bird exactly like the
one that had taken shelter in his mill-pond. On inquiring
its name, he was informed that it was an Egyptian goose.

The mallard, the widgeon, the teal, the garganey, the pin-
tail, the ferruginous, the harlequin, the shoveler, the shicl-
drake, and the eider-duck, visited the loch in vast numbers.
The ducks were ten times more numerous than the geese.
There were the scaup (Fuligula marila), the tufted (F.
cristata), the red-headed pochard or dun-bird (F. ferina),
and the golden-eyed garrot (Clangula garrotta). The red-
necked grebe and the black-chinned grebe also bred in
the loch. Herons, bitterns, spoonbills, glossy ibises, snipes,
woodcocks, green sandpipers, ruffs, dotterels, gray phala-
ropes, were also to be seen. These were the birds that
mostly frequented the loch in winter. There were numer-
ous flocks of gulls of various species, and other shore-birds,
which only made visits to the loch for shelter during
storms.

When spring approached, the birds became restless. The
flocks began to break up, and flights of birds disappeared
daily. At length the greater part of the winter birds left,
except a few stragglers. An entirely different set of birds
now began to make their appearance. You could now hear
the shrill whistle of the redshank, the bright carol of the
lark, the wire-like call of the dunlin, the melancholy note
of the wagtail, the boom of the snipe, and the pleasant
peewit of the lapwing. There were also the black-headed
bunting, the ring-dotterel, the wheat-ear, the meadow pipit,
the reed warbler, the rose. linnet, the twite, the redshank,
the black-headed gull, and the arctic tern, which bred in
236 The Ring-dotterel. [CHAP. XIII.

 

suitable localities round the loch. Among the remaining
birds were several specimens of the skua, coots, water-hens,
swifts, and several kinds of swallows. The whimbrel, green-
shank, water-rail, pied wagtail, roseate tern, and water-ouzel
also frequented the neighborhood of the loch, but did not
breed there.

In an account of “The Birds of Strathbeg,” which Ed-
ward afterward published in the WVaturalist, he mentioned
the curious manner in which the ring-dotterel contrives to
divert attention from her nest.

While strolling along the sands in the month of July, a
friend who was with him fired at a tern. Without know-
ing what he had fired at, Edward saw a ring-dotterel before
him, which, he thought, must be the bird. It was lame,
and dragging its wing behind it as if it had been sorely
wounded. It lay down, as if dead. Edward came up, and
put his hand down to secure it. The bird rose and flew
away. Then it dropped again, hobbled and tottered about,
as if inviting him to pursue it. “I stood a few seconds,”
says Edward, “considering whether I would follow or not;
then off I started, determined to have it. Away went the
bird, twiddling and straddling, and away I followed in hot
pursuit. Round and round the sand-hillocks we scrambled
until I was perfectly wearied. Nothing but the novelty of
the affair could have kept me in pursuit of the wounded
bird.

“Tn this way we continued, until I saw that I could make
nothing of it by fair means; so I doubled round and met it
fair in front. J was about to take hold of it, when, to my
amazement, it rose and flew. Its flight, however, was of
short duration, as it again suddenly dropped down, and lay
on the sand as if dead. ‘You are mine now at last,’ said I,
as I observed it fall. I accordingly proceeded to take it up,
in order to put it in my pocket. But, lo! it rose again and
flew away; when once more it suddenly dropped behind
one of the larger hillocks. It was a beautifully marked
cHap.xut.] Zhe Pursuit Defeated. 237

 

specimen, and, fearing: lest I should lose it altogether, I de-.
termined to put a stop to the wild-goose chase. Having
put my gun in readiness, I proceeded in the direction in
which the bird fell. But it did not rise. I searched all
round, but there was no bird! I met my friend, and in-
quired if he had fired at a ring-dotterel. No; he had only
shot at a tern. ‘But, by-the-bye,’ he added, ‘I found a
nest and the young of that bird as I came along.’

“In a few minutes we stood beside the young ones.
The spot I found to be only about three yards in advance
of where my attention was first attracted to the apparently
wounded bird. Having collected the little downy things,
and placed them in a hollow among the sand, we again took
our departure. In doing so, what should we meet but my
old friend the dotterel, which again commenced its former
pranks! But, no! It was too late; the truth had oozed
out. The bird had completely deceived me, and my friend
laughed heartily at my mistake.”

During one of Edward’s visits to Crimond Manse, to
which some gentlemen of the neighborhood had been in-
vited to meet him, Mr. Boyd, after dinner, when the ladies
had left the room, expressed his surprise that something
had not been done to enable Edward to obtain more time
to pursue his researches in natural history. The gentlemen
present cordially agreed with him. Mr. Boyd then pro-
posed to insert a notice in the Fraserburgh Advertiser, and
to circulate it extensively in the neighborhood. The fol-
lowing forms part of the article :

“ During the past month our district has been visited by
Mr. Edward, from Banff, a naturalist of no mean attain-
ments, and one who, we doubt not, will soon bring himself
into public notice, both by his indefatigable researches into
natural science, and his valuable contributions to various
scientific periodicals..... While there are few branches of
natural history in which he does not take an interest, it
is in ornithology that he shines most conspicuously, and in
238 Mr. Boyd’s Proposal. [cHap. xm.

 

this he was much encouraged by the late Rev. Mr. Smith,
of Monquhitter..... We cordially wish Mr. Edward ev-
ery success in the various fields of research upon which he
has entered. It is but justice to a most deserving person
to draw attention to his praiseworthy endeavors, in the
midst of many difficulties, to perfect his knowledge of nat-
ural history, and to recommend it to all around him, espe-
cially the young. Happy would it be if our tradesmen
were to take a leaf out of Mr. Edward’s book, and, instead
of wasting their time, squandering their means, and imbit-
tering their existence in the haunts of dissipation, they
would sally forth in these calm summer evenings to rural
scenes and sylvan solitudes, to woo Nature in her mildest
aspect; to learn a lesson from the moth or the spider; to
listen to the hum of the bee or the song of birds; to mark
the various habits and instincts of animals, and thus to en-
rich their minds with useful and entertaining knowledge.”

Mr. Boyd’s object in publishing this notice was to at-
tract the attention of the working-classes to the study of
natural history; and with this object he was of opinion
that Edward should endeavor to disseminate among them
the information which he had acquired during his long ex-
perience. He proposed that Edward should get up a series
of rudimentary lectures on natural history, illustrated by
specimens of birds and other objects. The lectures were
first to be delivered in Banff, and, if they succeeded there,
they were afterward to be delivered in Fraserburgh and
other towns. Edward proceeded to prepare his illustra-
tions. About two hundred were put in readiness. He was
also negotiating for the purchase of a powerful magnifying
glass, so that his patrons might better see the minute won-
ders of Nature as exhibited in her works,

As there was then an institution at Banff, which had
been formed, among other purposes, “For the Discovery
and Encouragement of Native Genius and Talent,” Mr.
Boyd believed that the members would at once give their
CHAP. XIII. ] Death of Mr. Boyd. 239

 

hearty co-operation to his proposed scheme. He proposed
the formation of a local committee, in order that the rudi-
mentary lectures might be brought out under their patron-
age. Edward was requested to name some gentlemen in
Banff with whom Mr. Boyd might communicate on the
subject. This was a poser; for Edward knew only a few
hard-working men like himself. Nevertheless, he did give
the name of a gentleman who, he thought, might give his
assistance. When the gentleman was applied to, he po-
litely declined. Edward was asked to name another. He
named another, and he also declined. Thus the proposal,
from which Mr. Boyd had expected so much, fell to the
ground, and it was no more heard of.

Shortly after this event, Mr. Boyd died suddenly. Ed-
ward thus refers to the event: “It was but yesterday, at
noon,* that my friend the Rev. Mr. Boyd, of Crimond—
while full of life and strength, and with every prospect of
enjoying many, many long years to come—left his young
and courteous partner and two blooming little ones, to en-
joy a short walk with a neighboring gentleman. Alas!
short was the walk indeed, and, woe is me! never to return.
A few paces, and he dropped down and almost instantly
expired. Alas! another of my best friends gone. Cruel
death! if thy hand continues to strip me thus, thou wilt
soon, very soon, leave me desolate; and then who will take
notice of the poor naturalist? Well may the parish of
Crimond say, ‘We have lost that which we may never
again find.’ Well might Mercy weep, and Religion mourn
his premature departure, for in him they have lost a friend
on earth; and I, alas! a friend too, and a benefactor.”

Edward completed his article on “The Birds of Strath-
beg” only two days after Mr. Boyd’s death. It had been
written out at his instance, and was afterward published in
the Waturalist. It was one of the first papers to which
Edward subscribed his own name.

* August 22d, 1854.

 
240 Edward’s Correspondents. [cHap. xt.

 

So soon as Edward’s name and address appeared in the
Naturalist and Zoologist, he was assailed by letters from
all parts of the country. English dealers asked him to ex-
change birds with them. Private gentlemen offered ex-
changes of moths and butterflies. Professors, who were
making experiments on eggs, requested contributions of
eggs of all kinds, A naturalist in Norfolk desired to have
a collection of sternums, or breast-bones, of birds. “TI
have no doubt,” says Edward, “that many of my corre-
spondents thought me unceevil, but really it would have
taken a fortune in postage-stamps to have answered their
letters.”

But although Edward received many applications from
naturalists in different parts of the country, he himself ap-
plied*to others to furnish names for the specimens which
he had collected. We find a letter from Mr. Macdonald,
secretary to the Elgin Museum, referring to eighty - five
zoophytes which Edward had sent him to be named. Ed-
ward had no other method of obtaining the scientific names
for his objects. “The naming of them,” said Mr. Macdon-
ald, “has cost me some time and trouble..... Some of
the zoophytes are fine specimens; others are both fine and
rare. One or two have not as yet been met with on-our
shores. They seem to be quite new.” We also find Ed-
ward communicating with Mr. H. F. Staunton, a well-known
London naturalist, relative to moths, butterflies, beetles, and
other insects.

But Edward could not live on zoophytes and butterflies.
His increasing family demanded his attention; and shortly
after his article on “‘ The Birds of Strathbeg” had appeared
in the Waturalist, we find him applying in different direc-
tions for some permanent situation. He was willing to be
a police-officer, a tide-waiter, or any thing that would bring
in a proper maintenance for his family. With this object,
one of his friends at Fraserburgh made an application to
Mr. Charles W. Peach, then an officer of customs at Wick.
CHAP. XIII] Mr. Peach's Letter. 241

 

Mr. Peach was a well-known naturalist, and he has since
become distinguished in connection with recent discoveries
in geology. Mr. Peach had once visited Edward, in com-
pany with Mr. Greive, the customs officer at Banff. In
answer to the application made to him from Fraserburgh,
he said:

“TZ do know our friend Mr. Edward, of Banff, and I have
thought a great deal about him of late. I have wondered
how he was getting on in bread-and-porridge affairs. Oh,
these animal wants! How often do they ride rough-shod
over the intellectual’man, not so much on his own account,
as for those dependent on him. I have been thinking of
Edward’s excellent wife and her flock of seven girls, which
I saw when at Banff. They were all neat and clean, and
well cared for, in a wee bit roomie—the walls covered with
cases. of birds. When we called, there was a sweet-cake
and a glass of wine for myself and Mr. Greive. I was un-
happy at refusing his wine—for you know I am an out-and-
out teetotaller— but I took his cake with thankfulness.
And now, what can I do for that good man and his wife
”

Mr. Peach went on to say that a great’ many Glut-men
were employed at Wick harbor, to patrol the shore night
and day, and prevent the landing of brandy, tobacco, and
other excisable articles; that he could give. Edward em-
ployment for a time at that work, but that it could not be
permanent. His age was beyond that which would allow
of his being appointed a tide-waiter. Mr. Peach added, “I
will not lose sight of the appointment of subcuratorship.
This would be the very thing. If forty or fifty pounds a
year could be obtained, that would be glorious!”

These suggestions ended in disappointment. Edward
could not remove to Wick to accept a temporary appoint-
ment; and the subcuratorship could not be obtained. He
therefore went on with his old work—natural history and
shoe-making. But he must have been pressed by the grow-

11
242 Birds of Banffshire. [CHAP. XIII.

 

ing wants of his family, as we find his collection of birds
advertised for sale at the beginning of 1855. Again he had
recourse to his savings-bank; and again it relieved him,
though he parted with the resulta of his work during many
’ laborious years.

He still went on writing for the periodicals. At the end
of 1855 we find an article of his in the Zoologist, entitled
“Moth-hunting; or, An Evening in a Wood;” and in the
following year he commenced in the same periodical “A
List of the Birds of Banffshire, accompanied with Anec-
dotes.” The list was completed in eight articles, which ap-
peared in 1856 and the two following years. Although his
publications were received with much approval, they did
not serve to increase his income, for he never received a
farthing for any of his literary contributions.

Before parting with Edward’s descriptions of birds, a few
extracts may be given from his articles in the Zoologist.
And first, about song-birds :

“The song thrush or mavis (Turdus musicus). Who is
there that has ever trod the weedy dale or whinny: brake in
early spring, and, having heard the mellow voice of this mu-
sician of the grove, was not struck with delight, and en-
chanted at the peculiar richness and softness of his tones?
For my own part, I must say that of all the birds which
adorn and enliven our woods, I love this one the most.
There is to me a sweetness in his song which few, if any,
of the other song-birds possess. Besides, he is one of the
first to hail with his hymn of praise the young and opening
year.

“Next to the mavis, the lark or the laverock is the bird
for me, and has been since I first learned to love the little
warblers of the woods and fields. How oft, oh! how oft, ,
has the lark’s dewy couch been-my bed, and its canopy, the
hich azure vault, been my only covering, while overtaken by
night during my wanderings after nature! And, oh! how
sweet such nights are, and how short they seem—soothed
CHAP. XII. | The Finches. 243

 

as I have been to repose by the evening hymn of the lark,
and aroused by their early lays at the first blink of morn!

“The goldfinch is also a good singing-bird. If any one
wishes to have a cage-bird to cheer him with its song, let
‘him get a male hybrid between this species and the canary,
and I am sure he will not be disappointed..... The gold-
finch’s nest is one of nature’s masterpieces. What a beau-
tiful piece of workmanship! how exquisitely woven togeth-
er! how light, compact, soft, and warm in its internal lining !
and how complete! What hand could imitate the woolly,
feathery, mossy, cup-formed, half-ball-like structure? How
vain the attempt!

“The bullfinch, though much admired as a cage-bird, can
not be said to be much of a songster. It is kept more for
its beauty than its music, though it is sometimes able to
‘pipe’ a very pretty tune. Now, with respect to its food.
Great numbers of bull-finches are annually destroyed by our
gardeners and nursery-men because they are supposed to be
destructive. Now, it is a fact well known to ornithologists
that although the sparrow, greenfinch, chaffinch, wren, bull-
finch, and other birds, do not themselves actually live on in-
sects, yet these form the chief food for their young. Such
being the case, what an enormous and countless number of
noxious and destructive creatures must they destroy! But
we poor short-sighted mortals do not know this. We are
all in the dark as regards the good they do us. Let them
meddle with any of our seeds or fruits, and the hue and cry
is, ‘Get guns and shoot every one of them.’ I hope a bet-
ter day will soon arise for these lovely little birds, when
they will be cherished and encouraged rather than hated
and destroyed.”

The story is told of an ancient philosopher having been
killed by an eagle that dropped a tortoise upon his head for
the purpose of breaking its shell. The story seems to be
confirmed by the practice of the carrion and hooded crows,
thus described by Edward: ‘“‘ They are to be found on cer-
944 The Heron and the Crows. (omar. x1.

 

tain parts of our coast all the year round. Our keepers de-
stroy them whenever the opportunity occurs. I wonder
that our fishermen do not destroy them also, as they feed
upon a certain crustacean (Careinus menas) which is often
used for bait. One would think that the crab’s shell would
be proof against the crow; but no. He goes aloft with
the crab, and lets it fall upon a stone or a rock chosen for
the purpose. If it does not break, he seizes it again, goes
up higher, lets its fall, and repeats his operation again and
again until his object is accomplished. When a convenient
stone is once met with, the birds resort to it for a long time.
I myself know a pretty high rock that has been used by
successive generations of crows for about twenty years.

“ Besides being fond of crabs, these carrion crows are
fond of fish, and though they are good fishers themselves,
they seldom lose an opportunity of assailing the heron
when he has made a successful dive. They rush at him im-
mediately, and endeavor to seize his food from him. Early
in the summer of 1845, while loitering about the hills of
Boyndie, I observed a heron flying heavily along, as if from
the sea—that rich and inexhaustible magazine of nature—
and pursued by a carrion crow, followed at some distance
by two magpies. They had not proceeded far when two
hooded crows made their appearance, and quickly joined
their black associate. The heron had by this time got into
an open space between two woods, and it would appear that
his enemies intended to keep him there until he had satis-
fied their demands. During the whole time that the affray
lasted, or nearly half an hour, they did not suffer him to
proceed above a few yards in any way, either backward or
forward, his principal movements being in ascending or de-
scending alternately, in order to avoid the assaults of his
pursuers. Having chosen their battle-ground, I crept be-
hind a whin-bush, from whence I had an uninterrupted view
of the whole affair.

“The manceuvring of the crows with the heron was most
CHAP. XII. | The Heron Attacked. 245

 

admirable. Indeed, their whole mode of procedure had
something in it very remarkable. So well did each seem
to understand his position, that the one never interfered
with the other’s point of attack. One, rising higher than
the heron, descended upon him like a dart, aiming the blow
in general at his head; another at the same time pecked at
him sideways and from before; while the third assailed him
from beneath and behind. The third crow, which pecked at
him from behind, seized hold of the heron’s feet, which, be-
ing extended at full length backward, formed a very tempt-
ing and prominent object for the crow to fix on. This
movement had the effect, each time, of turning the heron
over, which was the signal for a general outburst of exulta-
tion among the three black rogues, manifested by their loud-
er cawings and whimsical gesticulations—no doubt laugh-
ing (if crows can laugh) at seeing their opponent turning
topsy-turvy in the air, which, from his unwieldy propor-
tions, was.rather a comical sight.

“During one of his somersaults, the heron disgorged
something, but, unfortunately for him, it was not observed
by any of the crows. When it fell to the ground, the mag-
pies, which were still chattering about, fell upon it and de-
voured it. Finding no relief from what he had dropped,
and being still hard pressed, he again disgorged what ap-
peared to be a small fish. This was noticed by one of the
hooded crows, who speedily descended, picked it up, and
made off with it, leaving his two companions to fight the
battle out. The heron, having now got rid of one of his
pursuers, determined to fly away in spite of all opposition.
But his remaining assailants, either disappointed at the
retreat of their comrade, or irritated at the length of the
struggle, recommenced their attack with renewed vigor. So
artfully did they manage, that they kept the heron com-
pletely at bay, and baffled all his endeavors to get away.
Wearied at last of the contest, he once more dropped some-
thing, which, from its length, seemed to be an eel. On its
246. The Heron Robbed. [CHAP. XIII.

 

being observed by his opponents, they quickly followed it.
In their descent, they fell a fighting with each other. The
consequence was that the eel, falling to the ground, was set
upon by the magpies. The crows gave up fighting, descend-
ed to the ground, and assailed the magpies. The latter were
soon repulsed. Then the crows seized hold of the eel with
their bills, and kept pulling at it until eventually it broke in
two. Each kept hold of its portion, when they shortly rose
up and flew away among the trees. In the mean time, the
heron was observed winging his way in the distance; sick
at heart, because he had been plundered by thieves, and
robbed of the food which he had intended for his fam-
ily.”

The carrion and hooded crows also attack hares and
rabbits. “ While walking one morning along the Deveron
with a friend, our attention was attracted by what seemed
to us to be the faint cries of a child in distress. On look-
ing in the direction from which the sounds proceeded, we
beheld two crows pursuing and tormenting a hare, by every
now and then pouncing down upon it. Each blow seemed
to be aimed at the head; and each time that one was given
the hare screamed piteously. The blows soon had the ef-
fect of stupefying the creature. Sometimes they felled it
to the ground. We eventually lost sight of the crows, but
doubtless they would at last kill and devour the hare. I
remember, while out on the hills at Boyndie, witnessing an-
other though a less daring attack. Concealed among some
trees and bushes, waiting for a cuckoo which I expected
to pass, I observed a half-grown rabbit emerge from some
whins, and begin to frolic about close by. Presently down
pops a hoodie, and approaches the rabbit, whisking, pran-
cing, and jumping. He seemed to be most friendly, court-
eous, and humorsome to the little rabbit. All of a sudden,
however, as if he meant to finish the joke with a ride, he
mounts the back of the rabbit. Up springs the latter, and
away he runs, But short was his race. A few sturdy
CHAP. XIII. Cold and Whisky. 247

 

blows about the head from the bill of the crow laid him
dead in a few seconds.”

By the year 1858 Edward had accumulated another
splendid collection. It was his third, and probably his best.
The preserved birds were in splendid order. Most of them
were in their natural condition—flying or fluttering, peck-
ing or feeding—with their nests, their eggs, and sometimes
their young. He had also a large collection of insects, in-
cluding many rare beetles—together with numerous fishes,
crustaceans, zoophytes, mollusks, fossils, and plants.

 

i ee Tp ae
|
|

  

 

WUITEHILLS AND BAY OF BOYNDIE, FROM BANFF LINKS,

Although Edward still continued his midnight explora-
tions, he felt that he must soon give them up. Lying out
at night can not be long endured in this country. It is not
the cold, so much as the damp, that rheumatizes the muscles
and chills the bones. When going out at night, Edward
was often advised to take whisky with him. He was told
that, if he would drink it when he got wet or cold, it would
refresh and sustain him, and otherwise do him a great deal
of good. Those who knew of his night-wanderings won-
dered how he could ever have endured the night air and
been kept alive without the liberal use of whisky. But Ed-
ward always refused. He never took a drop of whisky
248 Edward’s Health Foils. [cuar. xi.

 

with him; indeed, he never drank it, either at home or
abroad. “TI believe,” he says, “that if I had indulged in
drink, or even had I used it at all on these occasions, I could
never have stood the cold, the wet, and the other privations
to which I was exposed. As for my food, it mainly con-
sisted of good oatmeal cakes. It tasted very sweet, and was
washed down with water from the nearest spring. Some-
times, when I could afford it, my wife boiled an egg or two,
and these were my only luxuries. But, as I have already
said, water was my only drink.”

In 1858 Edward had reached his forty-fourth year. At
this age, men who have been kindly reared and fairly fed
are usually in their prime, both of mind and body. But
Edward had used himself very hardly; he had spent so
many of his nights out-of-doors, in the cold and the wet;
he had been so tumbled about among the rocks; he had so
often, with all his labors, to endure privation, even to the
extent of want of oatmeal—that it is scarcely to be won-
dered at if at that time his constitution should have begun
to show marks of decay. He had been frequently laid up
by colds and rheumatism. Yet, when able to go out again,
he usually returned to his old courses.

At last his health gave way altogether. He was com-
pelled to indulge in the luxury of a doctor. The doctor
was called in, and found Edward in a rheumatic fever, with
an ulcerated sore throat. There he lay, poor man, his mind
wandering about his birds. He lay for a month. He got
over his fever, but he recovered his health slowly. The
doctor had a serious talk with him. Edward was warned
against returning to his old habits. He was told that,
although his constitution had originally been sound and
healthy, it had, by constant exertion and exposure to cold
and wet, become impaired to a much greater degree than
had at first been supposed. Edward was also distinctly in-
formed that if he did not at once desist from his nightly
wanderings, his life would not be worth a farthing. Here,
cuap. xur.] | Sells his Collection. 249

 

it appeared, was to be the end of his labors in natural his-
tory.

Next came the question of family expenditure and doc-
tor’s bills. Edward had been ill for a month, and the debts
incurred during that time must necessarily be paid. There
was his only savings-bank—his collection of birds—to
meet the difficulty. He was forced to draw upon it again.
Accordingly, part of it was sold. Upward of forty cases
of birds went, together with three hundred specimens of
mosses and marine plants, with other objects not contained
in cases. When these were sold, Edward lost all hopes of
ever being able again to replenish his shattered collection.

Although Edward’s strength had for the most part been
exhausted, his perseverance was not. We shall next find
him resorting to another branch of natural history, in which
he gathered his most distinguished laurels.

11*

 
 

CHAPTER XIV.
BY THE SEA-SHORE.

Epwarp had for some time been extending his investi-
gations to the tenants of the deep. His wanderings had
for the most part been along-shore in search of sea-birds.
But as early as 1856 we find him corresponding with Mr.
Macdonald, of Elgin, as to zoophytes; with Mr. Blackwood,
of Aberdeen, as to algae; and with Mr. C. Spence Bate, of
Plymouth, as to crustacea. Now that he had to abandon
his night wanderings, and to give up his gun, he resolved
to devote himself more particularly to the natural history
of the sea-shore.

Here was a great field open for him. The Moray Firth
had never been properly searched for marine productions.
It was full of fish, and also of the various marine objects
that fish feed upon.

When Professor Macgillivray called upon Edward, at
Banff, he expressed his surprise at the meagreness of the
list of crustacea and testacea found along the Moray coast.
In fact, the catalogue of fishes (excepting herring, cod,
haddock, and the other edible fishes) was almost barren.
There was no want of marine objects; the principal want
was in careful observers. To this extensive field of ob-
servation Edward now proposed to devote his special at-
tention.

He had considerable difficulty to encounter in proceed-
ing with this branch of scientific work. He had no dredge
of any sort. He had no boat, nor could he obtain the loan
OHAP. XIV.] Edward’s Sea-traps. 251

 

of one. How, then, did he proceed? He gathered together
all the old pots, pans, pails, and kettles which he could pro-
cure in his neighborhood. He filled these with straw, grass,
bits of old clothes, or bits of blankets. A coat and trou-
sers cut down were found very useful. These were Hd-
ward’s sea-traps. Having put a heavyish stone at the bot-
tom of the trap to weigh it down, and attached a rope to
the upper part, he lowered his traps into the deeper rock-
pools along the coast. Some of them he threw into the
sea from the point of a rock, attaching the rope to a stone,
or to some strong alge.

When the traps were drawn up, Edward obtained from
them small fishes, crustaceans, mollusks (with or without
shells), star-fish, worms, and the smaller kinds of sea-mice.
He took them to a shallow pool and shook out the con-
tents; and when he had picked out what he thought might
be useful, he packed the traps again and set them in their
old places. He usually visited his sea-traps once a month;
but in winter he visited them less frequently, as he rarely
took any thing at that time of the year.

Edward visited the rocky shore for many miles east and
west of Banff. He turned over the loose stones, turned up
the algze, peeped in beneath the corners and shelves of the
projecting rocks. He went to the pools, and often had the
pleasure of seeing the inhabitants working in their native
element. If he observed something that he wanted, he
would make a dive at it, though the water might get up to
his head and shoulders. Sometimes he fell in bodily; but
that did not matter much if he secured his object.

Here is the manner in which he once caught Bloch’s
gurnard (Zrigla Blochi:). Edward observed one of them
swimming in a rock pool. It had, by some means or other,
come pretty close inshore during high water, and had got
entangled among the rocks, so that it had been unable to
make its way out again with the receding tide. The pool,
though not deep, was pretty large, so that it gave Edward
252 The Incoming Wave. [cHaP. XIV.

 

a great deal of trouble and occupied a considerable time to
capture the fish. “If it had not,” says he, “ been a rarity,
I should most certainly have given in and acknowledged
myself beaten long before my object was accomplished ; for,
between water and perspiration, I was in a pitiable plight
before I gained the victory. As it was, however, I was
well repaid in the end, besides the fun; that is, if there is
any other person than myself so foolish as to call splashing
up to the shoulders and eyes among brine, sea- weed, and
slippery rocks, ‘fun.’ Although the fish is not large, mine
is a splendidly marked specimen. In the water, and while
shooting across and athwart the pool, its bright colors had
a most beautiful appearance. The spot on the first dorsal
is rather of a dark-purplish color than black, and very con-
spicuous when the animal is swimming. IJ am not aware
of this species ever before having been detected on this
part of the coast.”

Knowing from observation that many marine objects are
cast on shore at the rising of each tide, especially when the
weather is stormy, Edward walked along the margin of the
incoming wave, ready to pick up any thing that might be
driven ashore. Sometimes he would observe some object
in the water—a fish or a shrimp of some unusual kind—
which he desired to capture. He followed it into the sea
with a piece of gauze tied on a small hoop; and fished for
it until he had caught it. He discovered many new objects
in this way.

It is almost incredible what may be got along the sea-
margin by carefully searching the incoming wave. This,
however, required unwearied assiduity. Edward discovered
many of his rarest insects among those driven ashore by the
wind. It was thus that he obtained most of his rare crus-
taceans. He himself had no doubt that, had his health
been prolonged, he would have discovered many more.

Besides these methods for collecting marine objects, he
found that tangle roots were a special hiding-place for many
cHap. xiv.] Lishes the Best Dredgers. 258

 

species that were beyond the power of the dredge, and that
never entered the traps set by him along shore. They were
not, however, beyond the power of the elements, But for
the tempest, that tears them from the rocks and dashes
them on shore, such objects would never have been found.
Whenever a storm occurred in the Moray Firth, Edward
immediately went out, collected the tangle which had been
driven in, cut off as many roots as he could carry with him,
and carefully examined them at home.

He was also greatly helped by the fishes themselves, as
well as by the fishermen. It is true that he had no dredge
and no boat. But big fish were themselves the best of all
dredgérs. They fed far out at sea, at a depth where the
dredge could scarcely reach. The fishermen caught them,
and brought them into port, full of what they had swallow-
ed. Edward therefore endeavored to obtain the contents
of their stomachs. For this purpose he sent some of his
daughters to the neighboring fishing villages. They went
to Macduff and Whitehills twice a week, and to the Banff
fishermen daily. The object of their visits was to search
the fishermen’s lines, to bring away the sea-weed and all the
stuff that was attached to them, and to secure as many of
the fish stomachs as they could find. One of his daughters
was sent to Gardenstown, where she lived with a friend.
From thence she sent home her collection of fish stomachs
twice a week by the carrier. All this rubbish (as most
people called it) was carefully examined by Edward. From
these searchings he obtained most of his rarest crustaceans.
“Tt is quite wonderful,” he says, “ what is to be got in this
way. Indeed, no one would believe it who has not made
the experiment.”

Take, for instance, the cod’s bill of fare. ‘It is to the
stomach of this species,” says Edward, “that I am most in-
debted for many of the rarest of the testaceous and crusta-
ceous specimens that I possess. I will only mention what
T have myself seen: crabs and lobsters of almost every de-
254 Cods and Haddocks. [CHAP. XIV.

 

scription (except Homarus vulgaris, which I have never yet
found), from the prickly stone crab (Lithodes maia) up to
the hard parten (Cancer pagurus), and the larger the better.
Shells of every sort, particularly Fusus antiguus and Buc-
cinium undulatum ; no matter whether inhabited by their
original possessor, or by a hermit in the form of a pagurus,
it is no obstacle to the voracious cod. Shrimps, fish-lice, sea-
mice (Aphrodita aculeata), sea-urchins, with now and then a
star-fish ; ‘dead men’s paps,’ as they are called here (Alcyo-
nium), and actinias—no matter what they may be attached
to, whether a shell or a stone,* provided these are not them-
selves fixtures—all are gulped by this most unceremonious
fish. The eggs, capsules, or purses of the dogfish (Scylli-
um) and the skate, with the roe and the ova of other spe-
cies, particularly when deposited on sea-weed; the alge
and the zoophytes also walk down the cod’s gullet, so that
nothing may be lost. As for the Holothuride, or sea-cu-
cumbers, few, if any, of them escape. Now and then frag-
ments of the medusee are swallowed; feathers, with the re-
mains of sea-fowl; and, on one occasion, the skeleton of
a partridge, with the wings, feet, legs, and head adhering.
Pieces of pewter and of cloth occasionally; and once a
cluster of beech-nuts, with part of a domestic fowl. As for
fish !—why, the fish does not swim that the cod, when hun-
gry, will not attack, and, if successful, swallow. In short,
nothing seems to come amiss. But this outline of the
cod’s bill of fare does not include all that the animal preys
upon and devours. It is enough, however, to show its ep-
icurean propensities. The cod is extensively fished for
along this part of the coast, and may be termed the poor
man’s salmon. Great numbers are salted and dried, and in
that state are sent to the Southern markets. The haddock,

 

* “Tt is only about nine months since I took from the stomach of a
cod a stone which weighed above three pounds, to which the remains
of an actinia were still attached,”
cHap. xiv.] Appeal to the Fishermen. 255

 

like the cod, is extensively taken, and largely cured and
‘forwarded South. Like the cod, the stomach of this spe-
cies is also a rich mine for the naturalist, as the reader may
already have anticipated from the foregoing list.”*

In order to obtain all these products of the sea, Edward
went round among the fishermen from Crovie to Portsoy,
and pressed them to help him in his researches. He told
them that many an object of great interest to naturalists
was daily thrown away. Though it might be of no use to
them, it might prove of great use to science. “Oh!” said
the fishermen, ‘we canna tell what the fellow wants: we
get’ so muckle trash upon our lines. Are we to keep it
all?”

“Yes,” replied Edward, “keep it all. Lay it carefully
aside, and I or my daughters will call for it.” A few of
the fishermen did what Edward told thent to do; but the
others “ couldna be fashed.”

Edward published his advice to the fishermen in the
Banffshire Journal. ‘ How little trouble,” he said, ‘‘ would
it be for any fisherman who might find a rare fish, crab, shell,
or zoophyte, or such-like object attached to his lines, to
get it examined and named, so that its occurrence might be
recorded! This could be done, and then he could, if so
minded, dispose of it to the best advantage. Or what
great ‘fash’ could it be for them to keep the cleanings of
their lines for a like scientific purpose ?

“Tt is quite astonishing what amazing numbers of minute
creatures are at times to be found among the refuse of only
one boat’s lines. No one would believe it, except those
who are in the habit of carefully examining such things.
The ocean is, as it were, one vast and boundless expanse of
life, and the inhabitants thereof about as numberless as the
sands by the sea-shore. I have myself, and that, too, under
the most disadvantageous circumstances, picked off from a

 

* Naturalist, 1855.
256 The Fishermen help Him.  [cwar. xiv.

 

dead valve of Cyprina Islandica nine distinct species of
shells, three different kinds of star-fish, and five separate
sorts of zoophytes, besides worms and a number of other
parasitical animals. Yet this is nothing to what is at times
to be met with; and yet such things are, I may say, all but
universally thrown away for no other or better purpose than
that of being trod upon and destroyed. I will now, in order
to show the truthfulness of my statement, enumerate a few
of the objects which have thus been cast aside by those
who had brought them on shore, but which were again
picked up by my gleaners, and thereby redeemed, as it were,
for a time from destruction, by being deposited in my col-
lection—Anomia patelliformis, Circe minuta, Venus casina,
Venus fasciata, Tellina proxima, Tellina crassa, Mangelia
linearis, Pentunculus glycimeris, Psammobia tellinella, As-
tarte compressa, Corbula nucleus, Hmarginula reticulata,
~Thracia villosinsinla, Chiton lovis, etc., etc.

“Now, I don’t say that these are all new species, but I
say that they are among the rarest of our shells. The two
first named are, if I mistake not, new, not only to us, but
new to this northern part of the island. In works on con-
chology, no mention is made of either having been previous-
ly found on the shores of the Moray Firth, although they
are not unfrequent on other parts of the British coast.”

The fishermen of Macduff helped him greatly. Among
the rare fishes caught by them were the sandsucker (Plates-
sa limandaides); the small spotted dogfish (Scyllium cani-
cula); the blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus), a very
rare fish; a specimen of the cuttle-fish (Loligo vulgaris),
the length of which was four feet, with a splendid gladius
of, above fifteen inches long. In enumerating these fishes
brought to him by the fishermen of Macduff, Edward ask-
ed, “What are our own Banff fishermen and those of
Whitehills about, that they never bring in any rare objects
of this sort? Do they never get any thing attached to their
lines worthy of notice—worthy of a place in a naturalist’s
CHAP. xIv.] The Saury Pike. 257

 

cabinet, or in a corner of the Museum? Why won’t they
help us? Just because of their want of will. They, like
many more, go about in what might be termed a state of
daylight somnambulism—that is, with eyes and ears both
open, and yet they neither see nor hear of any of these
things.

Edward’s appeal was at length responded to. The fish-
ermen began to collect things for him, and they allowed his
girls to strip their nets of the “rubbish” they contained.
One evening some unknown fishermen sent him a present
of a saury pike (Scomberesox saurius). Edward’s family
were surprised at hearing some person, very heavily shod,

ascending the stairs. One said it was a horse and cart; ”

another said it was the Rooshians. The door was sudden-
ly opened and flung bang against the wall, when in rushed
—neither the horse and cart nor the Rooshians—but a lit-
tle urchin, out of breath, with his mouth wide open. There
he stood, staring bewildered round the room, but with a
fish of a silvery hue dangling from his hand. After he
had regained his breath, he roared out, “Is Tam in?”
“No.” “?Cause I ha’e a beast till him.” “Fa gi’ed ye’t ?”
“Aman.” “Fatnaman?” “ Dinna ken!” “ Fat like was
he?’ “Canna tell.” ‘Fat had he on?’ “Dinna mind;
only that he had a coat ower his airm.” “Fat said he t’ye
when he gi’ed ye the beast?” “Oh, he bade me take it till
Tam Edward, and get a penny for’t till mysel.”

The fish was accepted, the penny was given, and the boy
tramped down-stairs again. On returning home, Edward
found a splendid specimen of the above rare fish. The
next number of the Journal acknowledged the receipt of

the fish. In the article describing it, Edward said: “By

whom the fish was sent, or where it was found (though
doubtless in the neighborhood, from its freshness), remains
as yet a mystery. However, thanks to ‘the man with the
coat ower his airm’ in the mean time, and to many others
whose kindness and attention, though their gifts are not

+
258 Edward’s Girls help Him. [cuap. x1v.

 

particularized here, are nevertheless duly appreciated. Like-
wise, and in an especial manner, thanks to the fishermen
generally of the district, particularly to our own and those
of Whitehills, not only for their now unremitting attention
in securing whatever they deem worthy of notice them-
selves; but also, and above all, for their very valuable as-
sistance given, and their warm-hearted kindness shown to
my young folks when they go a-gleaning among them.”

Indeed, Edward’s young folks were of great help to him
at this time. Several of his eldest girls went about from
place to place in search of rare fish, and they were some-
times very successful. For instance, one of them, while
living with Mr. Gordon, at Gardenstown, went on a zoolo-
gizing excursion toward the village of Crovie. As the two
were rounding the Snook, they observed a small fish being
washed ashore. Mr. Gordon kicked it with his foot, think-
‘ing it was of no use, and remarking that it was a young
sea-cat. ‘‘Na,” said Maggie, “it’s nae sea-cat; it’s ower
thin for that. I dinna ken fat it is; but I'l] take it, and
send it hame to my father, for he bade me never to miss
naething o’ this kine.” So the fish was sent home, and it
proved to be a very fine specimen of Yarrell’s blenny.

On another occasion she sent home a specimen of the
black goby, or rock-fish (Gobius niger), which had been
taken from the stomach of a friendly cod. This was the
first fish of the kind found in the Moray Firth; and of the
six species of gobies found along the coasts of Great Brit-
ain, it is the one most seldom met with. Maggie also made
a good “find” at Fraserburgh, while on a zoological tour
with her father. She was rummaging about among the
sands, near Broadsea, accompanied by some of her acquaint-
ances, when she observed something sticking up out of the
sand. At first she thought it was a piece of tangle. She
was about to leave it, when, prompted by curiosity, she
gave it a pull, and, lo and behold! instead of a sea-weed,
she brought out a long spindle-like fish. She at once took

*
cHap. xiv.]| The Equoreal Needlejish. 259

 

it to her father, who found it to be a splendid specimen of
the equoreal needle-fish (Syngnathus equoreus), a fish that
had never before been found in the Moray Firth.

A thought may here strike the reader. How was it
that Edward knew that there were six gobies found along
the coasts of Great Britain? How did he know that the
equoreal needle-fish had never been found in the Moray
Firth before? And, last of all, how was it that he knew
the scientific names of the fishes, the zoophytes, and the

 

BEROADSEA, NEAR FRASERBURGH.

crustacea, which he collected? The names were, for the
most part, Latin. Yet he had never learned Latin. He
must, then, have learned them from books. No: he had
no books. He often ardently desired books, but he was
too poor to buy them. His earnings were scarcely sufii-
cient to enable him to feed and clothe his children. Under
such circumstances, a man can not buy books. Sometimes
his children fared very badly, especially when he was laid
up by illness. At such times they had almost to starve.
How was it, then, that under these difficult circumstances,
and amidst his almost constant poverty, Edward was en-
abled to carry on the study of science without the aid of
books? He did so by the help of correspondents at a dis-
260 How to help Him. [CHAP. XIV.

 

tance. When he had collected a batch of objects, he sent
them off by post to naturalists in different parts of the coun-
try, for the purpose of obtaining from them the proper
names. They referred to their scientific works, and fur-
nished him with the necessary information.

Edward sent his specimens of crustacea to Mr. Spence
Bate, of Plymouth, Devonshire; his fishes to Mr. Couch,
of Polperro, Cornwall; and many other objects to corre-
spondents in Norwich, York, Newcastle, Birmingham, and
London. The Rev. George Gordon, of the manse of Birnie,
Elginshire, was one of his first correspondents respecting
the crustacea. Mr. Spence Bate was then engaged (in con-
junction with Professor Westwood) in writing the “‘ Histo-
ry of the British Sessile-eyed Crustacea.” Mr. Gordon first
forwarded to him some of Edward’s specimens, and Edward
afterward corresponded directly with Mr. Bate. Thus he
obtained his scientific knowledge, not from the books in
his own neighborhood, but from the books of gentlemen
sometimes living at the opposite ends of the island.

There was, indeed, some talk of supplying Edward with
books, to enable him to pursue his scientific researches. At
a public dinner in Banff, the principal speaker, after pay-
ing a high compliment to Edward for his wonderful per-
severance, and his devotion to natural science, proceeded to
describe the great influence which books exercised in de-
veloping the powers of the human mind. After informing
his audience that they did not know the value of the.man
they had got among them, he said: “ Assist and encourage
him by all the means in your power, but ”—here he paused,
and all eyes were turned upon him—“ but,” he continued,
“give him no money [loud cheers]. I know him, as you
all do, to be no drunkard, no idler, but a sober, hard-work-
ing man. But still, I again say, give him no money. Give
him sooxs; provide him with the means of reading, and
he is just the man to make money for himself.” The au-
ditors thought that they had done sufficient justice to Ed-
cHap. x1v.} Hdward’s Enthusiasm. 261

 

ward by cheering the proposal of the orator; but it was
words—mere words; for Edward got neither a book, nor
even the leaf of a hook, from any of his local admirers.

How different from this cold counsel was the enthusiasm
of Edward when speaking of his favorite science! In an ar-
ticle which appeared in the WVaturalist on the rayed echin-
odermata of Banffshire, after regretting the small amount
of observation and research which had been made along the
shores of the Moray Firth, he said: “It is a great pity that
the Moray Firth was never dredged by naturalists, as I am
led to believe it never was, on a scale worthy of its waters.
If such were done, and done as it should be, I am quite
sure, from what I know, that many a valuable rarity, and, I
have no doubt, many new species, would be procured, and
better got than those already known. If I were but pos-
sessed of half the means that some are, it should not long
be so. Wind and weather permitting, I should have it
dredged from the one end to the other, over and over again.
Alas that Nature, that fair and comely damsel, whom I su-
premely admire and love so well, should have called me into
existence at the very moment when want and starvation
stood hand-in-hand, ready to stamp the unconscious heir of
immortality with their accursed brands! Money, it is said,
is the root of all evil; but tell me, ye who know, what the
want of it is!”

‘We have already said that Edward, because of his want
of books on natural history, obtained the principal knowl-
‘edge of the objects which he discovered from gentlemen
at a distance. But even.this was not accomplished without
difficulty. It. was not always a pleasant task, and some-
times it was rather expensive—expensive at least for a poor
man. He occasionally encountered disagreeable rebuffs.
Some complained that they could not read his writing, and
that what he said was unintelligible. Another hinderance
was, that when he sent a number of new specimens to nat-
uralists at a distance, they were often kept, and thanks only
262 His Lost Letters. (CHAP. XIV.

 

were returned. But he was scarcely in a position to resent
this conduct. At last he sent none but those of which
he had duplicates, preferring to keep them without a name
rather than run the risk of losing them altogether.

Mr. Edward Newman, of London, editor of the Zoologist,
was one of those who helped Edward with books. He also
named many of Edward’s beetles and other insects, which
were sent to him for identification. The correspondence*
between them originated in Edward’s articles on the birds
of Banffshire, which began to appear in the Zoologist in
August, 1856. Mr. Newman sent Edward several books
on natural history, together with his own “ List of British
Birds.” In February, 1858, we find Mr. Newman sending
Edward a copy of the “Insect Hunters,” his most successful
book. Mr. Newman said to Edward, “I think it really won-
derful that you should have acquired the great knowledge
you have obtained under the circumstances in which you
have been placed.” Mr. Newman asked for some informa-
tion about fishes, which Edward promised to supply. The
result was, that many new fishes were found in the Moray
Firth, simply from Edward’s determination to search, col-
lect, and preserve them.

 

* Most of Edward’s correspondence has been lost, destroyed, or used
for “kindling.” He never had the least idea that old letters could be
useful. When the author made inquiry about them, Edward said, “I
fear there will be a great blank there. I am not aware when I began
to correspond; and as for keeping letters, I had no reason for that >
still, I may have some, and I will try and find them.” After about a
week, he said, “I have found no old letters yet; but my wife tells me
that she saw a box, about two years ago, in an old lumber garret, which
she thinks may contain some useless old papers of mine. I will try
and get it out,and make a search. I might have had many hundreds,
if not thousands, if I had kept them. The postman, as well as my
master and shop-mates, were all surprised at the great number of let-
ters I received for many years.” At last the box in the garret was
discovered, and a small collection of letters was found in it, which the
author has made use of in writing the latter part of this memoir.
cuap. xiv.] Ldward’s Correspondence. 263

 

Edward had also much correspondence with Mr. Alex-
ander G. More, with respect to the distribution of birds in
Great Britain during the nesting season. Edward was ap-
pointed the observer for Banffshire and the northern part
of Aberdeen. He communicated a great deal of informa-
tion about birds and birdnesting, which was afterward pub-
lished in the periodical called The Lbis.

But his most important communications were with Mr.
Couch as to fishes; and with Mr. Spence Bate, and the Rev.
A. Merle Norman, as to crustacea; which will form the sub-
jects of the following chapters.

 
 

CHAPTER XV.
DISCOVERIES AMONG THE CRUSTACEA.

Tue reader will find this chapter, as well as the next,
rather uninteresting. But it is necessary that the chapters
should be written, in order to show the contributions which
Edward made to the scientific discoveries of his day.

Mr. C. Spence Bate, of Plymouth, the well-known zool-
ogist, entered into correspondence with Edward in 1856,
while the latter was engaged in collecting marine objects
along the sea-coast of Banff. It appears that Mr. Bate had
sent to Edward some publications on natural history, and
that Edward requested Mr. Bate to name the various crus-
taceans which he sent him. To this Mr. Bate willingly as-
sented, and a correspondence began between them, which
continued for many years. Most of the letters have been
lost, and those which have been preserved “in the box in
the lumber garret’” are not of very great interest.

Edward seems to have been particularly busy between
the years 1861 and 1865. Multitudes of bottles were sent,
during that interval, from Banff to Plymouth. The Bottles
were often smashed in passing through the post. Some-
times there was only a mass of débris to examine. In one
batch there was a new species of Leucothoii; in another,
part of an Eusirus—“ the jirs¢ British specimen.”

In one of his letters Mr. Bate says: “There are two mi-
nute specimens of a prawn which I do not recognize. They
are too much damaged for examination; but if you can
find any perfect ones like these, I should like you to send
OHAP. XvV.] The Anceus. 265

 

them to me. I will send you shortly a paper that I have
recently published in the “‘ Annals of Natural History” on
the “‘ Nest,building Crustacea.” If you know or meet with
any anecdotes relative to these animals, I should be glad if
you would communicate them to me, as I am endeavoring
to collect all of that kind that I can. I assure you that
your letters are always welcome, and much valued.”

 

PRANIZA EDWARDII.

In the midst of Edward’s explorations, he discovered a
new Isopod, which he forwarded to Mr. Bate. It was spe-
cifically named, in honor of the discoverer, Praniza Hd-
wardii.* On subsequent examination, and after compar-
ing it with the Anceus, Messrs. Bate and Westwood changed
the name into Anceus Hdwardii.t

The Anceus is only about a sixth of an inch in length.
But, in natural history, size goes for nothing. The mi-

 

* “ Annals of Natural History,” vol. ii.
+ “History of the British Sessile-eyed Crustacea,” vol, ii., p. 201.
12
266 Praniza Edwardii. (CHAP. Xv.

 

nutest animal is equal to the largest, in point of value and
interest. The Anceus creeps on the bottom of the sea, but it
swims with great rapidity—propelling itself forward by the
quick motions of a series of ciliated fins placed beneath the
tail. The Anceus, in its young state, is parasitical, and is
furnished with a sharp process at the apex of the anterior
lip, to form a strong lanceolate organ, with which the ani-
mal cuts its way through the skin of the fish on which it
preys. It was at first thought that Praniza Hdwardit was
a female, and that the male had not yet been discovered.
On seeing this stated in the number of the “ Sessile-eyed
Crustacea” in which the Praniza was noticed, Edward wrote
the following letter to Mr. Spence Bate:

“My pear Sm,—Some considerable time ago, I sent you, among
other things, what I believed to be two distinct species of Anceus, the
one being considerably smaller than the other. Of the lesser, there
were several specimens; but of the larger, only two. The answer
which you gave me was, that they were Anceus mazillaris. At this I
was somewhat disappointed. I admit that the larger were of that
species, but not the smaller. And since I received your last number,
which treats on this subject, I am now more than ever convinced that
they are distinct. I consider the smaller specimen to be the male of
the Praniza Hdwardii. I may be wrong, but that is my conviction. .
I need not, of course, attempt to point out the distinctions to you;
but perhaps you will allow me to state u few words on the subject,
and what makes me think that he is the male of Praniza Edwardii.

“In the first place, I would say that this little fellow is decidedly a
deep-sea species—that is, so far as my experience goes. I have never
found him but on the old shells and stones brought up by the fisher-
men’s lines. There he seems to prowl about seeking what he may
devour—prying into every crevice and corner in search of food, and
also into the tenantless worm-cases with which these old shells and
stones are generally incrusted. Now these are exactly the habitats
and manners of the Praniza Edwardii when adult. Where I find the
one, I am almost sure to find the other. I have found them together,
and taken them out of the same worm-tube. But though this does not
amount to an entire proof, still it helps to strengthen my conjecture
that they are male and female.

“Tn the second place, besides the diane disparity in size, the
mandibles in this species appear to me to differ considerably from
CHAP. Xv.| The Crustacea. 267

 

the same organs in the Anceus mazillaris. Here I have never seen
them to overlap each other as they do in the one just named. And,
having frequently kept them alive, I have seen their mandibles open
and shut times without number; and, so far as I could make out,
they never crossed each other in the least. Indeed, I do not think
they could have done so, from their construction. They seem to me,
when they do shut, to go together in the fashion of a rat-trap when
closed. And, besides several other distinctions which I have been able
to discern, there are two or three small bunches of stiff hairs or spines
projecting from the front of the head which I do not see in Anceus
mazxillaris and the others which you describe. I would also point out
that there is a most remarkable similarity in the tail or hind-part of
this species and the same portion of the Praniza Edwardii.”

In support of his views, Edward forwarded some further
specimens of the supposed male to Mr. Bate for his in-
spection. We have not been able to find Mr. Bate’s an-
swer. It has doubtless been lost, like many of the missing
letters. But we gather from a future letter of Edward that
Mr. Bate considered the specimens to be Anceus rapam.
“ Never having seen a description or plate of that species,”
said Edward, “I can say nothing as to that matter.....
But, call him what you like, I am more than ever persuaded
that he is the tight little husband of Praniza Hdwardii ;
and, as such, I now intend to place them together, and to
name them accordingly.”

Many of the crustacea which Edward collected did not
belong to the sessile-eyed order, which Mr. Bate was study-
ing and classifying. These crustaceans he sent to other
observers. For instance, when Mr. Bate was about to set
out for Paris to examine Milne-Edward’s typical crustacea,
he received from Edward a letter containing some ento-
mostracea which had been collected from the stomach of
a mackerel. ‘I do not,” replied Mr. Bate, “study the
entomostracous crustacea myself; so I gave some of those
you sent me to Mr. Lubbock, and some to Dr. Baird, of the
British Museum, from both of whom I hope you will hear.”

In a future letter, Edward sent Mr. Bate some worm-like
268 The Microscope. [cHAP. XV.

 

parasites found on a short sun-fish taken near Banff. “The
genus,” said Edward, “is very little known in this country.
It has hitherto been found only on the flying-fish. It seems,
however, to frequent the sun-fish. This was not previously
known. When once these creatures take a firm hold, it is
impossible to shake them off or get rid of them, they sink
so deep into the animal’s body. There are from two to
three longish barbs which protrude from the neck, close to
the head, and which appear to serve exactly the same pur-
pose as the barb does on the hook. One which I cut out
—and no easy matter it was—had its head sunk at least
an inch and a half into the fatty ridge of the fish. In
the Lilustrated London News of July 10th, 1858, there is
an illustration given of a flying-fish with a parasite attached
to its back, and having a lot of barnacles adhering to it.
The fish here figured is said to have leaped from the sea
into the mizzen chains of the East-Indiaman Monarch, while
on her homeward voyage from Calcutta, The parasite in
that case was quite different from the one I obtained from
the sun-fish. It was there called Pennella Blanvillii.”

In one of his communications, Edward sent Mr. Bate
some parasites which he had taken from the gills of a crab.
Many of the crustaceans found by him were so minute that
they could scarcely be examined in detail with the naked
eye. Mr. Bate accordingly,.with great kindness, made Ed-
ward a present of a microscope to enable him to carry on
his minute investigations. “It is,” said Mr. Bate, in his
letter announcing the departure of the parcel, “what we
call a simple microscope, and I think you will find it adapted
for examining things out of or in doors. It is made porta-
ble, and can be used upon the rocks as well as in a parlor.
It is similar to one which*I use myself for every thing, ex-
cepting when I examine into structural anatomy. I was
not able,” added Mr. Bate, “to have it prepaid farther than
Bristol; so I beg to inclose a few stamps, which I hope will
cover it for the remainder of the way.”
cuap. xv.] A Possible Sub-curatorship. 269

 

Edward at first found a difficulty in managing the micro-
scope, on which Mr. Bate sent him a long letter illustrated
by diagrams, informing him how he was to use it. “Iam
sure,” he said, “you are too sharp a fellow not to under-
stand it thoroughly after these few hints have been given
you..... I will also send you a pocket lens, which you
will find very useful..... You will find it convenient dur-
ing this cold weather (November 24th) to bring home any
thing, and then look at it at your leisure, rather than study
it upon the sea-shore.”

Mr. Bate must have been a thoroughly kind and good-
hearted man. He may possibly have heard something of
the circumstances of Edward, and he was now on the look-
out for some higher vocation for the naturalist than that
of “ ladies’ shoe-maker.” The Rev. George Gordon, also
a zoologist, who was in constant communication with Mr.
Bate, may have probably informed him of Edward’s am-
bition, which was to be appointed curator or subcurator of
some important museum. Hence Mr. Bate’s letter to Ed-
ward. After informing him that Mr. Lubbock would short-
ly ask him to make a collection of crustacea, and advising
him to send certain fishes in proof-spirit to the British
Museum, he proceeded :

“T have one thing more to say; but I write in ignorance
of your circumstances, and therefore, if I tread upon a corn,
pray forgive me. I have been asked if I can recommend a
person to the College of Surgeons, whose duty will be to
attend upon the curators and professors, and make prepara-
tions, and do other work in natural history. The salary
is one pound ten shillings a week. If such a thing will
suit you, let me know, and I will write to propose you.
If the place is not filled up, I think it might be got.”

This letter raised a glimmer of hope in Edward’s breast.
Was he really to be rewarded at last for his efforts in natu-
ral history, by an appointment which would bring him into
communication with scientific men? It may be mentioned
270 Edward’s Disappointment. [CHAP. Xv.

 

that Edward had already been appointed keeper of the
Scientific Society’s Museum at Banff, at a salary of two
pounds two shillings per annum. This was, of course,
merely a nominal remuneration, and the occupation did not
tend to feed Edward’s thirst for further knowledge in nat-
ural history. He was therefore most willing to accede
to Mr. Bate’s proposition; and he sent in his application,
accompanied by testimonials, to Professor Quekett, of the
Royal College of Surgeons.

Unfortunately, Mr. Bate had been misinformed as to the
nature of the proposed appointment. ‘I am fearful,” said
Professor Quekett, in his letter to Edward, “that some of
your kind friends have misinformed you as to the nature of
the appointment which is vacant. It is only that of fourth
museum porter. The duties are: to keep the room clean,
dust bottles, etc., at the wage of a guinea a week. Now,
from what I learn of you through your testimonials, and
from what I have heard of your reputation and high stand-
ing as a naturalist, I think such an appointment is far be-
neath your notice.”

Edward’s hopes were once more blighted. Science could
do nothing for him, and he returned again to his cobbler’s
stool. He had become accustomed to disappointment;
nevertheless, he continued to pursue his work as a natu-
ralist. In fact, he went on working harder than before.
As Mr. Bate was only engaged with one branch of the
crustacea—the sessile-eyed—and as other naturalists were
engaged in investigating other branches of marine zoology,
Edward was referred to these gentlemen, more particular-
ly to the Rev. A. Merle Norman, of Sedgefield, Ferry hill,
County of Durham; Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, of London; and
Mr. Joshua Alder, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, all of whom were
great sea-dredgers.

Zoologists usually take up some special subject and work
it up. They freely correspond with their fellow-zoologists
in different parts of the country with the object of obtain-
CHAP. XV.] Rev. A.M. Norman. 271

 

ing their help, which is rarely or never withheld. There is
a sort of freemasonry among naturalists in this respect.
Thus, when Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys opened his correspondence
with Edward, he said, “ No introduction can be necessary
from one naturalist to another.” While artists and literary
men form themselves into cliques, and cut each other up in
social circles and in newspapers, naturalists, on the contrary,
seem to be above such considerations of envy and unchari-
tableness.

There is also a fellow-fecling among them, and they are
ready to help each other in various other ways. Thus, when
Edward was informed by Mr. Spence Bate that the Rev. Mr.
Norman was working up the British entomostracous crus-
tacea, including the fish parasites, Edward immediately be-
gan to scour the coast, and wade along the waves as the
tide came in, plunging into the rock-pools, in order to pro-
cure the animals of which Mr. Norman was in search. He
did this regardless of his health, and also regardless of his
pocket.

A long correspondence had already taken place between
Edward and Mr. Norman; but in the midst of it Edward
was again laid up by illness, which lasted for about six
weeks. The correspondence dropped for a time, but it was
afterward renewed. Mr. Norman, in his letter of May 12th,
1862, observed: ‘‘I have been absent from home ever since
I received your last note, or I should have answered it be-
fore. I am extremely sorry to hear of the cause, your seri-
ous illness, which prevented your answering my two last let-
ters, and seemed to end a correspondence from which I had
derived so much pleasure, finding in yourself such a kin-
dred, nature-loving spirit. Iam rejoiced, however, that God
has mercifully raised you up again after so much suffering,
and that you are recovering the blessings of health and
strength.

“Many thanks for the promise of your kind offices for
me in procuring fish parasites. Our knowledge of them is
272 New Species discovered. — [CHAP. Xv.

 

at present but limited, and a large number of species new to
our Fauna may, I am satisfied, be found, if properly looked
after. I trust, therefore, that you may extend your knowl-
edge of the crustacea of the Moray Firth to this branch of
the subject.”

Tt would occupy too much space to detail the contents
of the letters which Edward received from Mr. Norman
and Mr. Spence Bate while their respective works were in
process of publication. But there are several facts in them
worthy of being noticed. There was one crustacean about
which some difficulty had arisen. It was the Mysis Spinife-
ra, which Edward had first found in the Moray Firth in the
year 1858. He had sent it to one of his correspondents, in
order that he might give it its name. But it remained un-
noticed and unknown for a period of about four years, when
it was rediscovered in Sweden by M. Goes, who at once
published the fact. “Thus,” says Edward, “the first find-
er, as well as the country in which this crustacean was first
found, have both been ignored in the records of science.”

Edward discovered many new species, some of which had
never been met with before, and others which had not been
met with in Britain. Some were recognized and named,
but others were not. “The number of specimens I collect-
ed,” says Edward, “‘was immense. It must have been so
from the various methods I adopted to procure them, and
from the fact that I never lost a single opportunity of ob-
taining even but one object when it could be got. Labor,
time, cold, wet, privation, were nothing, so that I could but
secure the specimen that I sought for. .... There are still
several new species which I discovered and sent to gentle-
men years ago. All I knew about them, from letters I re-
ceived in return, is that they were new; but whether they
have ever received names, or whether the discoveries have
been made public, I do not know.”

Mr. Spence Bate did every justice to Edward in the dis-
coveries which he made of new species, in connection with
.

CHAP. XV.] Vibilia Borealis. 273

 

his branch of the sessile-eyed crustacea. In one case, Ed-
ward caught only the anterior moiety of a small crustacean
(Protomedeia hirsutimana), and yet Mr. Bate includes it in
his list, and gives a drawing of it. Mr. Bate also did every
justice to the accurate description of the habits of the spe-
cies which Edward forwarded to him. For instance, Ed-
ward discovered the Vibilia borealis, a new species, in the
Moray Firth, on which Mr. Spence Bate observes:

“ Hitherto the species of this genus have been taken only
as pelagic, in tropical or subtropical latitudes. It is an in-
teresting fact that this species should have been taken off
the coast of Banff, from whence it was sent us by that very
successful observer, Mr. Edward, who, in writing, says: ‘I
can say little as to its habits. I took eleven, and kept a
few alive for a short time, but observed nothing in their
manners beyond that which may be seen in the majority of
species. I supplied them with plenty of sand, and also
with a few marine plants, but they seemed to be neither
burrowers nor climbers, as they never went into the one, nor
appeared to care for the other. They, however, swam a
little. This they do somewhat after the manner of Calli-
soma crenata; in other words, they rise gradually from the
bottom until they reach the top; then, putting.on more
power, they swim round and round the vessel. With close
observation, I observed that the superior antenne were kept
pretty well up and very widely apart, whereas the inferior
were always directed downward. All the legs were kept
doubled up. Inever saw them stretched out. They would
then sink once more to the sand at the bottom. There
they would rest, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes
longer, when they would again repeat their voluntary evo-
lutions. They did not, however, always rise to the surface:
the journey was sometimes performed to about mid-water.
They are, when alive, a most beautiful colored species, va-
riegated not unlike Urothroé elegans, and rivaling that ani-
mal in brightness of tints. I took one, however, that was

12*
a4 Edward’s Difficulties.  [cuap. xv.

 

all over a most brilliant red. I have been told that this
species has never been found outside the medusa. How-
ever this may be, all mine were. And what appears to be
most extraordinary is, that we have had no meduse here
this season. During the months of July, August, and Sep-
tember, I have seen them, generally, by hundreds and thou-
sands.’” Mr. Bate proceeds to say, “ Mr. Edward informs
us that he has seen specimens of these crustaceans thrown
on the shore in extraordinarily large quantities. After a
storm one night, he saw them forming a band an inch and
a half deep for thirty yards along the beach.”’*

Mr. Bate so much admired Edward’s enthusiasm in the
cause of natural history, that he more than once urged him
to publish his observations: “I received from you,” he says,
“a few days since, a parcel of Hurydice pulchra, in sand,
one of which only was alive. I have been much interest-
ed in watching its active habits, and the manner in which it
buries itself in the sand..... I wish that you would write
some papers on the habits of these creatures. Keep a few
at home under as favorable conditions as possible. I am
sure much is yet to be learned about them. I know no one
better fitted to work out the subject than yourself. For
instance, get some of the Podocerus capillatus, and find out
how it spins the web that makes the nest; and closely
watch all their ways.”

Edward might no doubt have written and published
many papers in the scientific journals. He might have
gained praise, fame, and honor. But what mattered these
to him? The principal thing that he wanted was time—
time not only for his investigations, but to earn money for
the maintenance of his family. He had now a wife and
eleven children to support. He earned nothing by science :
he earned every thing by his shoe-maker’s awl. What

 

* “History of the British Sessile-eyed Crustacea,” by C. Spence
Bate and J. 0. Westwood, vol. ii., pp. 525, 526,
cHar.xv.]  Lest-bwilding Crustacea. 275

 

could the Podocerus capillatus do for his family? Noth-
ing whatever! His entire labors were gratuitous. Prop-
erly speaking, naturalists should be gentlemen of independ-
ent fortune. At all events, they should have some profes-
sion to live by; while Edward had nothing but his wretch-
edly paid trade of shoe-making. The wonder is, that, with
all his illnesses, arising for the most part from the results
of exposure, he should have done so much, and continued
his self-sacrificing investigations so long. But he seems to
have been borne up throughout by his scientific enthusiasm,
and by his invincible determination,

      
      
 
 
  

    

\ Uae
We

y

We
WZ

NESTS OF NEST-BUILDING OBUSTAOEA.

The Podocerus capillatus, to which Mr. Bate repeatedly
directed Edward's attention, is a very interesting crustacean.
It is about a quarter of an inch long. It is beautifully va-
riegated, and builds its nests in a very bird-like manner in
submarine forests. Edward found it in the rock-pools off
Banff, where it built its nests on Corallina officinalis, The
nest consists chiefly of a fine thread-like material woven
and interlaced. The form of the nest is somewhat oval,
276 New Species Found. [cHAP. Xv.

 

the entrance being invariably at the top. ‘These nests,”
says Mr. Bate, “are evidently used as a place of refuge and
security, in which the parent protects and keeps her brood
of young until they are old enough to be independent of
the mother’s care.” The preceding illustration is taken
from Messrs. Bate and Westwood’s book. In this case, the
nests were built in Plumaria, off Polperro, Cornwall.

A few extracts from Mr. Norman’s and Mr. Bate’s letters
will serve to show the numerous new species which Ed-
ward continued to forward to these eminent zoologists.

Mr. Norman (September 24th, 1862) writes: “The Mysis
I referred to in my last letter is undescribed; and I pro-
pose to call it Mysis longicornis. Might I be allowed to
keep the specimen? I retain it, at any rate, for the pres-
ent, in order to draw up a description and figure.

“T have made a most important discovery since I last
wrote. On looking again at the specimens [of the Para-
sites taken by Edward from the sun-fish], I find that I had
confused two species together as Lemargus muricatus, and
had passed by as the male of that species (looking at them
only with the naked eye) a distinct species, which is new to
Britain, and which TI am at present unable to name.”

Mr. Norman wrote again (January 3d, 1863): “Thanks
for the Hyperia, which belongs to a different species from
those you previously sent me. At present I can not name
them. The Annelid—a very curious fellow—I know noth-
ing of. I will name the sea-spider Vympham. The treas-
ure of the bottle was, however, the little white shrimp. It
is new to Britain, and possibly to science. We will call it,
at any rate for the present, Thysanopoda ensifera, new spe-
cies. The genus is a very interesting one; and only one
species, Thysanopoda Couchii, was previously known in our
seas.”

A few days later, Mr. Norman wrote to Edward: “I
gladly accept your suggestion that the Thysanopoda should
be called 7. Batei (instead of ensifera), and I am as glad as
cHAY.xv.] Shrimps and Parasites. 277

 

you are to pay the compliment to Mr. Bate..... Your ob-
servations on the habits of the Thysanopoda are very inter-
esting.”

Edward evidently supplied his correspondent with abun-
dant examples, for on the 27th of January, 1863, Mr. Nor-
man writes: “The parasite on the fin is Anchorella rugosa
—not a common species. I hope you will procure more.
The Pagurus cuanensis bore on its back an example of a
highly interesting genus of parasitic crustacea, Peliogaster.
The specimens do not belong to the species hitherto recog-
nized in our seas; perhaps they are still undescribed.”

Mr. Bate also wrote to Edward during the same month
of January: “TI think that your last long-legged shrimp
may be a new genus. If so, I propose calling it Polledac-
tylos..... There are other things of much interest also.
Do try what you can do in the way of collecting specimens
of the young of crabs, etc. Your species of Stenothoé cly-
peatus is new to Britain.”

During the next few months Edward was in constant
communication with Mr. Bate and Mr. Norman, who named
for him an immense number of crustacea, Many of them

“ were new to Britain; some of them were new to science.
On March 6th Mr. Bate writes: ‘‘ The little fellow was a
Pettidium purpureum. The long-legged Mysis are hand-
some chaps. The second is, I think, Wdiceros sasignatus :
if so, it is the first taken in Britain.” Again, shortly after,
Mr. Bate asks: “Do you recollect a little fellow just like
this? [giving a diagram]. I never saw the like of it before.
Where did you get it? Do get me more! Is it a wood-
borer? I am afraid that you will scold me when I tell you
that I have not yet examined the green bottle which you
sent me previously. I am just in the midst of describing.
a number of crustacea put into my hands, belonging to the
Boundary Commission between America and British Co-
lumbia. When I finish this work, I will write to you again.”

A few days later Mr. Bate examines the green bottle, and
278 Puzzling Shrimps. [CHAP. XV.

 

writes a letter to Edward, in which he gives him the names
of seventeen crustacea which it contained. Mr. Bate was
as voracious for further discoveries as Edward himself was.
In a letter of December 10th, 1863, after giving an account
of the various works on which he was engaged, he says:
“Now, because I am working hard in the path that you
love so well and labor so industriously in, and so adding to
your own fame, do not say that I don’t deserve the results
of your researches.”

Fame! that “imagined life in the breath of others!”
What could fame do for poor Edward? What about his
bread-and-cheese ?

Curiously enough, the letter last mentioned did not at
first reach Edward. It was reposted by Mr. Bate, with the
observation, ‘‘ This has just come back to me as a returned
letter, because Banff was unknown at the post-office.”

Mr. Norman also continued to furnish Edward with the
names of his various crustacea, though he could not name
some of them. For instance, on the 13th of May, 1863, he
wrote to Edward: “ The shrimps you have sent completely
puzzle me. I must wait for a time until I can solve the
mystery. I believe that they all belong to one species, yet
there are three, if not four, distinct forms. The general
characters are so much the same, that I can not think there
are two species..... But the curious thing is, that I have
not yet seen a single specimen of the species carrying eggs.
I hope that you will yet find some, as it will be most inter-
esting to clear up not only the question of sex, but also to
find out the manner in which the eggs are carried. These
forms are among the most interesting things I have seen
for a long time, because it would almost seem as though
we had a crustacean with three phases, just as the bee has
—male, female, and worker.” After giving a number of
names, Mr. Norman proceeds: “ And, lastly, the parasite from
the common gurnard is a species new to Britain.”

Tn his next letter Mr. Norman informs Edward that he
CHAP. Xv.] Zoologists in Hestasies. 279

 

is again going to Shetland on a dredging expedition with
his friend, Mr. Jeffreys. They are to go in a steamer, and
“ought to do good work.” How Edward envied them—
going dry-footed, well fed, well clad, and in a steamer, while
he was working along-shore, with no tools but his hands
and his bag-net !

Mr. Norman returned from Shetland in July, and im-
mediately recommenced his correspondence with Edward.
“One of your shrimps,” he said, “is Caligus isonyx, new to
our fauna, and a very interesting one it is. The male is
as yet unknown. I hope you may succeed in meeting with
it.” Toward the end of the year Edward forwarded a num-
ber of species new to Britain—among others, Hurycercus
hamellatus (obtained from the stomach of the perch), Chon-
dracantha solex, Mysis miata, and others. In one bottle of
crustaceans three new species were found. The zoologists
were evidently in ecstasies. Mr, Norman exhibited the re-
sults of his researches at the next meeting of the British
Association. In a letter, dated the 15th of September, 1863,
he observed: “TI inclose a list of fifteen Moray Firth Am-
phipoda, which you have found, and which are unknown to
me. If you now, or at any future time, should be able to
favor me with specimens of any of them, I shall be extreme-
ly obliged.” The specimens were afterward sent to Mr.
Norman.

On the 6th of February, 1864, Mr. Bate wrote to Edward:
“You will be glad to learn that your little specimen is Opis
Essichtii, and that it has not been found previously in Brit-
ain. I have reconsidered the little Hyperia, and think that
you are right; your remarks convince me that my first opin-
ion was the more correct. You will therefore call it Hyperia
medusarum.”

Mr. Bate was then publishing in parts his work on “The
Sessile-eyed Crustacea.” He sent Edward the several parts
as they appeared. About the beginning of 1855, Mr. Bate
says: “You will soon get a new part of ‘ Crustacea,” and
280 Ldward’s Industry. [CHAP. xv.

 

then you will find that all my time and attention have been
occupied with the isopods. So do try and look out for
some of these, and leave the Amphipods alone for a little
while.”

And again: “Please never apologize for writing to me
about natural history. We have now been such long cor-
respondents, that. unless I hear from you now and then, I
begin to fancy myself forgotten. Your letters always give
me pleasure. The crustacea that you speak of is a Vibilia,
the first taken in the British Islands. Please let me know
its habitat, and as much of its habits as you can.”

In the mean time Mr. Norman was appealing to him for
specimens of the Echinoderms, as he was about to prepare
a paper on the subject. “TI want your aid,” he said; “I
know you will kindly give it me. The Urothoés are ex-
tremely difficult, and I want specimens from as many parts
of the coast as possible, of all varieties and sizes, and from
all depths of water. Will you collect for me some from
your neighborhood, from young to the largest size of all
you can meet with, keeping distinct those from the shore
and those from the deep water? It is important that they
should be well preserved..... Please get the specimens as
soon as possible, and send them to me by rail.”

Edward obeyed the behests of his several correspond-
ents. He searched the rock-pools, fished with his bag-net
along the shore, and found various new specimens, which
he sent to his friends. But he could not find the Echino-
dermata in deep water, for he had no means of reaching
them. He had no boat, no dredging apparatus. Perhaps
his correspondents forgot—perhaps they never knew—that
he was a poor hard-working man, laboring at his trade dur-
ing the day, with only a few hours in the early morning
and a few hours at night which he was able to employ in
their service.

Not only did he work for his correspondents so industri-
ously, but he also worked for others to whom they referred
CHAP. Xv.] Mr. Bate’s Eulogiums. 281

 

him. Thus Mr. Norman desired him to send his Sponges to
Mr. Bowerbank, and his Ascidians to Mr. Alder, of Newcas-
tle, who were engaged in working up these subjects. The
investigators did not know—for none of them had ever seen
him —that Edward had the greatest difficulty in earning
money enough to maintain his large family. Sometimes,
in fact, he was on the brink of starvation. And yet he
worked for his naturalist friends as willingly and as hardly,
perhaps more hardly, than if he had been a gentleman of
independent fortune.

When the “ History of the Sessile-eyed Crustacea” came
out, the assistance which had been rendered by Edward to
Mr. Bate was fully and generously acknowledged. Let any
one look over the book, and he will find of how much serv-
ice Edward was to Mr. Bate while he was preparing the
work for publication. Mr. Bate frequently speaks of Ed-
ward as “our valued, able, and close observer.” In addi-
tion to the references to Edward already mentioned, we
may subjoin the following: In speaking of the Lysianassa
longicornus, Mr, Bate says that it “has been forwarded to
him by that obliging and indefatigable naturalist, Mr. Ed-
ward, of Banff;” that his only specimen of Anonyz obesus
has been sent to him by Mr. Edward; that the Phorus Hol-
belli has been sent to him from Banff “ by that -indefatiga-
ble lover of nature, Mr. Edward ;” that the species of Dar-
winia compressa was first taken, by Mr. Edward, at the en-
trance to the Moray Firth; that the first species of the Cal-
liope Ossiani had been received from Mr. Edward, “from
which specimen the original description in the catalogue in
the British Museum has been drawn up.” Mr. Bate also
stated that he only knew of the genus Eurisus through an
imperfect specimen which had been taken by Mr. Edward
in the Moray Firth, “the first and only British representa-
tive of the genus that we have seen.” So, too, with the
genus Protomedia, of which “ only two specimens were col-
lected at Banff by Mr. Edward.” A moiety was obtained
282 Edward’s Discoveries. [CHAP. xv.

 

of the first species, which was called Protomedeia hirsuti-
mana. In the second case, the entire crustacean was obtain-
ed, of which Mr. Bate made a drawing and description, and
he named it Protomedeia Whitei, “‘in compliment to Mr.
Adam White, author of a popular history of the British
crustacea.” Only a single specimen of the Cratippus te-
nuipes was sent him by Mr. Edward, who knew nothing
of its habits. Mr. Bate also stated that he “had only seen
three specimens of the Phoxus fusticaudatus, which were dis-
covered by his valued correspondent, Mr. Edward, of Banff,
attached to the brachiz of the common soldier-crab.”

Besides these discoveries, Edward found an immense ya-
riety of crustaceans of other orders in the Moray Firth,
which had never been found before. Some of these were
new to Britain, some of them new to science. But we will
not bewilder the reader by introducing the jaw- breaking
names of the newly discovered crustaceans. We have
thought it right, however, to mention a few of those in-
troduced in Messrs. Bate and Westwood’s “ History of the
Sessile-eyed Crustacea,” for the purpose of confirming the
statements which we have made as to the indefatigable en-
thusiasm of: Edward in the pursuit of natural history. It
must also be mentioned that the sessile-eyed crustacea con-
stitute only a single order, and that on the one side of them
there are the Stalk-eyed crustacea, and on the other the En-
tomostracous crustacea.

There is one point, however, that must be referred to be-
fore we conclude this heavy chapter. The impression pre-
vailed at one time that the Hyperioide were parasites of the
Medusa, or Jelly-fish. In 1862 Mr. Bate acknowledged the
receipt of a crustacean, which he denominated Ayperia
medusarum. He said, “If I am correct, this is the first
time that I have known it as British.’ In a subsequent
letter (December 23d, 1863), Mr. Bate said: “It is an in-
teresting circumstance that you should have found the Hy-
peria and Lestrigonus free on the shore; inasmuch as they
CHAP. Xv. | New Crustacea Found. 283

 

have previously only been known as inhabitants of the float-
ing Medusa. I wish you would direct your attention fur-
ther to the subject..... Hunt and be successful.”

The Rev. Mr. Norman also communicated with Edward
about the same time, and informed him “that the atylus is
not a parasitical species, though there are some crustacea
(Hyperia) which are parasitical upon Medusa.”

Upon further investigation, Edward came to the conclu-
sion that the Hyperia is no more the parasite of the Medusa
because it is sometimes found upon it, than a crow is the
parasite of a tree because it sometimes lights upon it. As
Edward’s name was now frequently quoted in matters of
zoology, he thought that it might be of some use to give
the results of his observations to the world on the subject.
Hence the appearance of his “Stray Notes on Some of the
Smaller Crustaceans,” which shortly after appeared in the
Journal of the Linnean Society.*

It is probable that the facts in that paper, as stated by
Edward, had some influence on the minds of Professor
Westwood and Mr. Spence Bate; as Hyperia medusarum
does not appear in their list of sessile-eyed crustacea, the
last part of which was published at the end of 1868.

To give an idea of the indefatigable industry of Edward
in his researches among the crustaceans, it may be mention-
ed, that of 294 found in the Moray Firth, not fewer than
twenty-siz new species were added by Edward himself!

 

* Linnean Society’s Journal (Zoology), vol. ix., p. 148-147.

 
 

CHAPTER XVI.

DISCOVERIES AMONG ZOOPHYTES, MOLLUSKS, AND
FISHES.

Ar the same time that Edward was occupied in searching
out new species of crustaceans for Mr. Spence Bate and Mr.
Norman, ke was also collecting marine objects for other
naturalists. He found numerous star-fish, zoophytes, mol-
lusks, and sponges, which he sent to his naturalist corre-
spondents to be named.

Edward always endeavored to bring home the fishes,
crustaceans, and other sea objects that he captured, alive;
for the purpose of watching their manners and habits. He
had always plenty of dishes in readiness, filled with sea-wa-
ter—some having sand on the bottom, some mud, some bits
of gravel, and others bits of rock—the latter being covered
with Alge or Zoophytes. Into one of these vessels he
would put his living specimens, in. order that he might
watch and learn something of their various characteristics.
Some of his observations were published in the Zoologist,
and were regarded as highly interesting, many of them be-
ing new to science.

This could hardly have been otherwise, for it was his
habit, first to observe, and then to kill. He never had any
mercenary object in view in wandering about with his gun
and his traps; he only desired to obtain knowledge; and
what he observed he told as plainly and clearly as he could,
without knowing whether his observations had been printed
before or not. He only regretted that he had so little time
CHAP. XVI] The Starfish. 285

 

to publish his descriptions of the habits of animals, fishes,
and crustaceans.

One of Edward’s most delightful studies was that of the
star-fish. He published an article on the subject in the
Zoologist. His object in doing so, he said, was to induce
others to employ their spare time in discovering the star-
fishes found along the Banffshire coast, and to make them
publicly known. “If this,” said he, “‘ were done generally
throughout the country, we might, ere long, be able to form
something like an adequate notion of what we really do
possess; but until that be done, we can not expect to arrive
at any thing like a perfect idea of what our British fauna
consists of, or where the objects are to be found. Let nat-
uralists, then, and observers of nature everywhere, look to
and note this, that all who can may reap the benefit.”

Edward was as enthusiastic about the star-fish as he was
about any other form of animated being. He would allow
none of them to be called “common.” They were all wor-
thy of the most minute investigation, and also worthy of
the deepest admiration. Of the daisy brittle stars ( Ophio-
coma, bellis) he says: ‘“‘They are the most beautiful of this
beautiful tribe which I have ever seen. Their disks differ
considerably from the star-fishes ordinarily met with, being
of a pyramidal or conical form, sometimes resembling the
well-known shell Zrochus tumidus. In color they are like
the finest variegated polished mahogany ; their disks exhib-
iting the most beautiful carved work. The rays are short
in proportion to the size of the disk—strong, and closely
beset with short, thick, hard spines. I may add that the
specimens I allude to were procured from that heteroge-
neous repository of marine objects, the stomaeh of a cod,
which was taken about thirteen miles out at sea.’

Edward’s children also helped him to procure star-fishes.
“T remember,” he says, ‘‘my young friend Maggie, and
three of her sisters, once bringing me a large cargo of the
granulated brittle star (Ophiocoma granulata)—nearly two
286 The New Star-fish. [CHAP. XVI.

 

hundred of them, which they had gathered up where the
fishermen clean their lines. I remember being particularly
struck with the numerous and brilliant colors displayed by
the cargo, exhibiting, as they did, all those tints—perhaps
more than it is possible to name—from the brightest scarlet
down to the deepest black, scarcely two being alike. Their
disks, too, were remarkably varied ; some were of a perfect
oval, while others were pentangular; some were flat, while
others were, in a measure, pyramidal, and what, in truth,
may be termed triangular in form.”

Of all his daughters, Maggie seems to have been the
most helpful. She went down to Gardenstown to obtain
the refuse from the fishermen’s lines, to collect fish, crusta-
cea, and such-like, and send them home to her father by the
carrier. She sometimes accompanied him along the coast
as far as Fraserburgh and Peterhead. One evening, while
Edward was partaking of his evening meal, Maggie entered,
and accosted him joyfully, “ Father, I’ve got a new star-
fish ? ye, wi’ sax legs!” “I hope so, Maggie,” he answer-
ed, “but I doubt it.” After he had finished his supper, he
said, “ Now, Maggie, let’s see this prodigy of yours.” After
looking at it, “Just as I thought, Maggie,” said he; “it’s
not a new species—it’s only an Ophiocoma Ballit, but rather
a peculiar one in its way, having, as you said, ‘sax legs’ in-
stead of five.”

Of the rosy-feather star (Camatula roseacea)—which Ed-
ward had long been searching for, and at last found—he
says: “ What a pretty creature! but how brittle! and oh,
how beautiful! Does any one wonder, as I used to do,
when he hears of a stone-lily or of a lily-star, as applied to
this genus? Then let him get a sight of a crenard-star, and
sure I am that his surprise will give place to admiration.
And how curious! It was once supposed to have been the
*most numerous of the ocean’s inhabitants,’ whereas now
there are only about a dozen kinds to be found alive—one
only in the British seas, and that but rarely met with.
cHap. xvi.] The Great Sea-cucumber. 287

 

Well, I am proud to be able to record its occurrence on
the Banffshire coast. The specimen I allude to was taken
from the stomach of a cod.”

But still more wonderful is that rare species, the great
sea-cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa), the king of the Holo-
thuride family, found on the Banffshire coast. Edward’s
specimen was brought up on the fishermen’s lines. ‘ When
at rest,” he says, “it is fully sixteen inches long. It is of
a very deep purple on all except the under side, which is
grayish. It is a most wonderful, and at the same time a
most interesting, animal. What strange forms and curious
shapes it assumes at will! Now it seems like a pear, and
again like a large purse or long pudding. Sometimes it
has the appearance of two monster potatoes joined end-
ways, from which it diverges into a single bulb, with no
suckers visible; and again it looks as long as my arm, rough
and warty-looking. Its tentacula too, how curious they are!
Simple to appearance, yet how complete and how beautiful
withal. What strange forms and what beauteous creatures
and inconceivable things there are in the ocean’s depths!
What a pity it is that we can not traverse its hidden fields
and explore its untrodden caverns !”

Edward found numerous zoophytes along the coast, which
excited his admiration almost as much as the star-fish. Of
one species, called ‘‘dead-men’s paps,” “sea-fingers,” etc.
(Alcyonium digitatum), he says, “It is frequently brought
ashore by the fishermen, attached to shells and stones. It
is curious to observe the strange and fantastic forms which
these creatures at times assume. They are loathed by the
generality of people when found on the sands. But were
they to be seen in their proper element, with the beautiful
leaf-like tentacula of the little polyps, thousands of which
compose the living mass, these feelings of loathing would
give place to wonder and delight. Touch one of those
polyps, and it instantly contracts and withdraws its tenta-
cles, while the others continue their movements. But
288 The Ascidians. (CHAP. XVI.

 

touch them again and again, and they will shrink and hide
themselves in their fleshy home, which becomes greatly re-
duced in bulk. Wait a little, and you will observe the pap
assume its natural size, and the surface will appear roughish
and covered with small protuberances. From these asperi-
ties the numerous polyps may now be noticed, slowly, and
almost imperceptibly, emerging one by one; and having
gained a sufficient height, their slender and fragile arms, or
tentacula, will also be observed catitiously expanding, which,
when nearly fully developed, gives to the whole mass the
enchanting appearance of a bouquet of flowers of the rich-
est dye, or of a gaudy-colored wreath of beautiful and deli-
cate blossoms, combined in one cluster, enough to excite
wonder and admiration even in the dullest mind.”
Without following Edward farther in his description of
the zoophytes, we may proceed to state that he was for
some time engaged in collecting mollusks for Mr. Alder, of
Newcastle, who was engaged in writing a paper on the sub-
ject. Having observed the great number of tunicata, or
acephalous mollusks, found upon the fishermen’s lines, Ed-
ward proceeded to collect and examine these lower pro-
ductions of marine life. As usual, he wished to have them
named, and he sent a large number of specimens to Mr.
Alder for the purpose. Some of Mr. Alder’s letters have
been preserved, from which a few extracts are subjoined :
“T have received yours of the 16th inst. (October, 1864),
and also two parcels of Ascidians. I shall be most happy
to receive and name for you any Tunicata you may send.
Our communications may be mutually advantageous, as I
should like to have information concerning the Tunicata of
your coast, being engaged upon a work on the British
species. In the first parcel that came I could only find one
specimen, though you mentioned parts of two or three. It
was, I think, a Botryllida incrusting the stem of a sea-weed,
but of what species I can not say. In the second parcel,
received this morning, there is a piece of Leptoclinum
CHAP. XVI.] Want of Observers. 289

 

punctatum, and also part of an ascidian which appears to
be A. parallelograma. The Botryllida are very difficult to
distinguish unless they are quite fresh. I have never heard
of Aplidium lobatum being found in this country. It is
a Red Sea and Mediterranean species..... I am much
obliged to my friend Mr. Norman for recommending you
to send specimens to me, and I shall be glad to hear from
you again.”

The specimen of Aplidium lobatum which Edward sent
to Mr. Alder was cast ashore at Banff; though its usual
habitat is the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Mediter-
ranean.

In a future letter Mr. Alder says: “I received your box
containing a specimen of Ascidia sordida (young), and also
a Zoophyte, the Alcyonidium gelatinosum, for which accept
my thanks. I see that you have been very successful in
discovering small fish. Your account of them is very in-
teresting. JI wish any one on our coast would pay atten-
tion to these things, but we have no one living permanent-
ly on the coast that cares any thing about natural history.”

Edward afterward discovered a fine specimen of the
Onychoteuthis Bartlingii or Banksii. Tt was the first met
with in Britain—the range of the species being said to be
from Norway to the Cape and Indian Ocean. This speci-
men was found on the beach betwixt the mouth of the
river Deveron and the town of Macduff. Doubtless many
other specimens of this and other marine animals had been
cast upon the beach before, but no one had taken the trou-
ble to look for or observe them. Many, also, of the fishes
and marine objects which Edward was the first to discover
had probably been haunting the Moray Firth for hundreds
or thousands of years; but science had not yet been born
in the district, and there were none who had the seeing eye
and the observant faculties of our Banffshire naturalist.

Edward also discovered a specimen of the Leptoclinum
punctatum, which had been thrown on shore during a se-

13
290 Mr. Couch, of Polperro. (CHAP. XVI.

 

vere storm. It was of a most beautiful greenish color, va-
riegated with steel-blue. This specimen he sent to Mr.
Alder, who answered him in the following letter: “The
Ascidian which you have sent me is a Leptoclinum, and
may probably be a new species. There are few of that ge-
nus with star-shaped calcareous crystals imbedded in them.
The species that you have sent has the star-shaped crystals,
and differs in color from any I have seen, being of a green-
ish-blue color. I put it into water to moisten it after it
came, and it stained the water of a blue color. I presume,
therefore, that it would be of that color when fresh. It
seems, from the sea-weed to which it is attached, to be a
littoral species. I shall be glad of any other information
which you can give me about it.”

This was the last letter Edward received from Mr. Alder.
As he was about to send off another large cargo of Tunicata
to Newcastle, containing three new species, he received no-
tice of Mr. Alder’s sudden death; and knowing of no other
person who could name his: Ascidians, he ceased collecting
them, although there is still a rich field for students of Mol-
lusca along the Banffshire coast. “It is young, ardent, and
devoted workers,” said Edward, “that are wanted to bring
such things to light.”

We next proceed to mention Edward’s researches as to
new fishes. Having discovered a specimen of Drummond’s
Echiodon—the first that had ever been found in the Firth
—Edward published an account of it in the Zoologist for
April, 1863, and offered to afford naturalists the opportu-
nity of examining it. The article came under the notice
of Mr. Jonathan Couch, of Polperro, in Cornwall, who was
then engaged in writing his celebrated work on British
fishes ; and he entered into a correspondence with Edward
on the subject. The first letter that Mr. Couch wrote to
Edward did not reach him. It was returned to Polperro.
Banff seems not to have been known at the General Post-
office. Another letter, with ‘“ N. B.” added, reached its ad-
CHAP. XVI. ] The Wrasses. 291

 

dress. Mr. Couch requested an inspection of the curious
fish, together with an account of its exact color when fresh
from the sea, and also the particular circumstances, of
weather or otherwise, under which so large a number of the
fishes had been taken. The information asked for was at
once furnished by Edward. Dr. Gray also requested a
specimen for the British Museum, which was forwarded to
London.

Now that Edward had found another opening for his
discoveries, he proceeded to send numerous new specimens
of fish for Mr. Couch’s identification. Mr. Couch having
informed him that he was then employed upon the wrasses,
Edward immediately began to search for wrasses, and short-
ly after he dispatched numbers of them to Polperro.
Among the specimens of Wrasse latrus which Edward sent.
to Mr. Couch, there was one which Cuvier described as be-
ing found only in New Guinea, on the farther side of the
world. ‘And yet,” said Mr. Couch, after examining the
fish, “I can not suppose that fishes from New Guinea can
chave visited you.” The finding of this fish at New Guinea
and at the Moray Firth furnished only another illustration
of the scarcity of observers in natural history; for it must
certainly, like most other species, have existed in numerous
other parts of the world besides these.

In describing his little fish, Edward says: “ Although I
can not say much of importance concerning the traits of
our little friend, still there is one which can not be passed
over in silence. It is this: on coming out of the water
after I took the prize, I had occasion to lay it down upon
the sand until a bottle was prepared for its reception and
exclusive use, as I was anxious to take it home alive, so
that I might see and learn as much of its habits as possi-
ble. While thus employed, I was rather surprised at see-
ing it frequently leap several inches at a time. Thinking
that the damp sand might have in some way or other aided
the operation, when I got home I placed it on a dry board
292 Jumping Wrasses. [CHAP. XVI.

 

to see how it would perform there. It did just the same.
Away it jumped, jump after jump, until I was fully satis-
fied that there was no difference as to place; after which I
put him again into his little aquarium. I now observed,
however, that the tail, which is pretty large, was the chief
and most important object used. The head and shoulders
were first raised a little, and then, by a doubling of the tail,
which acted as a kind of spring, the animal was, by a slight
jerk, enabled to raise and propel itself forward, or to either
side, and not unfrequently right over. In the water, too,
when touched with any thing, instead of swimming away,
as fish generally do, it merely leaped or jerked to one side
in order to avoid the annoyance. I am not exactly aware
whether this gymnastic performance is a common propen-
sity with this family of fishes or not, but it was so with
this specimen.”

After further observations, Edward came to the conclu-
sion that these little fishes were inhabitants of our own
seas, but that they differed from those which Cuvier had
described. He was of opinion that, from the differences
which he had observed between the true wrasses and the
fish in question, it might yet be necessary, after further in-
vestigation, to place it in a new or sub-genus. In that case
a portion of the name would require to be changed, and
until then Edward held that its name should be the “ mi-
croscopical wrasse of the Moray Firth.”

Another batch of little fishes which Edward sent to Mr.
Couch led to an interesting correspondence. Edward no
sooner found an opening for further work on the sea-shore,
than he went into it with enthusiasm. As Mr. Couch was
approaching the conclusion of his work, Edward seemed
to become more energetic than before. Thus Mr. Couch
had written out and sent off his history and description of
the Echiodon to be printed, before he knew of Edward’s
discovery. And now there arrived from Banff another batch
of specimens, containing a little fish, which Mr. Couch de-
CHAP. XVI. ] Couchia Thompsons. 293

 

clared to be a new species, and even a new genus. At first
he supposed it to be the mackerel midge, but, after a care-
ful examination, he declared it to be entirely new. Mr.
Couch concluded his letter containing his views as to the
new fish with these words: “You will perceive that I set
a-great value on your communications, and I shall take
care to acknowledge them when I speak of these different
species.”

Edward, in his reply to Couch, observed: “I was aware
that the new fish was not the mackerel midge, for I have
examined it. But this is a far more splendid species; in
fact, its colors and resplendence equal, if they do not excel,
those of the pretty argentine. The one I sent you first, I
kept alive for two days. It was one of the most restless
and watchful fishes I had ever seen. I took it with a small
hand-net, which I used for taking the smaller crustaceans.
I only took one at first; but a few days after, I took sev-
eral together. I also found some cast ashore on the sands.
Those that I send now are old and young. There is a lit-
tle thing just out of the egg; it has the ovary sac still at-
tached. Be kind enough, when you write me, to let me
know the name of the fish.” ‘

In replying to Edward, Couch said: “ Your last box has
reached me, with its contents in good order, for which I
heartily thank you. I have already written an account of

‘the fish. My intention is to give it the name of Couchia
Thompsoni ; and as I shall particularly refer to you, I think
it may prove to your advantage to obtain as many speci-
mens as possible, to answer any demands that may be made
upon you..... The reason why I have not answered you
sooner is, that I have been much distressed by the loss of
my eldest son—an eminent surgeon living at Penzance, in
attendance on whom IJ was at that town for a fortnight.
‘He was eminent in many departments of science, and was
only forty-six years of age when he died. You may judge
from this that I have.had but little disposition to active ex-
294 The New Fish. [CHAP. XVI.

 

ertion for some time past. I submit, as he was able to do,
to the will of God, but there is difficulty in saying from the -
heart, ‘His will be done.’ ”

Edward discovered the above new fish in May, 1863.
After a few weeks it disappeared from the coast, and noth-
ing further was seen of it until the following May, when
Edward took a few specimens. It disappeared again, and
re-appeared toward the end of August. “As this,” he says,
“was a lucky chance, and one not to be lost, I took a con-
siderable number, not with the intention of destroying the
beautiful little creatures—as beautiful they truly are—but
for the purpose of ascertaining how they now stood as to
size. Being satisfied as to this, 1 committed the most of
them again to their native element, and right glad they were
to be set once more at liberty. I found that, although late
in the season, they had not in any way increased in bulk,
as compared with those which were taken in spring. From
this importatit and opportune circumstance, too, it is now
my firm-and decided belief that their average length does
not exceed an inch. It would seem that they are a deep-
water fish, and, herring-like, only visit the shore occasional-
ly. Like that fish, too, they are gregarious—that is, they
go in small shoals. They seem to be about the fleetest,
most active, and most vigilant of the finny tribes. Besides
what I observed in the sea itself, I kept a number of them
alive, placed in the window before me when at work, so
that I had both the pleasure as well as the satisfaction of
observing their habits at my leisure; and I was well repaid
for my time and patience.”

So soon as this discovery became known to the scientific
world, numerous inquiries were made to Edward for spegi-
mens of the “ new fish ;” and, among others, Dr. Gray sent
for some specimens for the Home Department of the Brit-
ish Museum.

Edward continued to. ply Mr. Couch with new species of
fish, Qn the 5th of September, 1864, he said: “I herewith
CHAP. XVI.] Colonel Montagu. 295

 

send you another small fish, which I hope you will give me
your opinion upon at your leisure. I freely confess that I
am at a loss about it. Although small, it is so well pro-
portioned in every respect, so firm, and so compact, that I
can not believe it to be a young specimen. . I took it about
a fortnight since, in a small shoal of Thompson’s Midge;
and though I have been netting each day since then, I have
not yet met with another.”

Mr. Couch was equally at a loss with Edward. At first
he said, “It appears to be a Wrasse labrus, but it is not
exactly like any of the known kinds.” In his next letter
he said, “I think your little fish is the young of the rock
goby.” This did not satisfy Edward. He answered that
“the fish, though little, was a full-grown fish ; and that it
might possibly be one of Thompson’s Irish fish.” ‘“ No,”
replied Couch ; “it will be plain to you that it is not Irish,
from Mr. Thompson’s own description,” which he then
gave. At last he thought it to be “the true mackerel
midge.” He examined the little fish again, and finally
came to the conclusion that it was a long-lost fish—Mon-
tagu’s Midge, or the silvery gade.

Colonel George’ Montagu was an old soldier and sports-
man, who had flourished in Devonshire some seventy years
before. Living in the country and by the sea-shore, his at-
tention was directed to the pursuit of natural history. At
first it was his hobby, and then it became his study. He
observed birds carefully: this was natural to him as a
sportsman. He published an “ Ornithological Dictionary
of British Birds.” But his range of study broadened. The
sea-shore always presents a great ‘attraction for naturalists.
The sea is a wonderful nursery of nature: the creatures
that live in and upon it are so utterly different from those
which we meet with by land. Then, every thing connected
with the ocean is full of wonder.

Colonel Montagu was an extraordinary observer. He
was a man who possessed the seeing eye. He forgot noth-
296 Montagu’s Midge. [CHAP. XVI.

 

ing that he once clearly saw. He was one of the best nat-
uralists, so far as logical acumen and earnest research were
concerned, that England has ever seen. The late Professor
Forbes said of him that, “had he been educated a physiol-
ogist, and made the study of nature his aim and not his
amusement, his would have been one of the greatest names
in the whole range of British science. There is no ques-
tion about the identity of any animal that Montagu de-
scribed..... He was a forward-looking philosopher; he
spoke of every creature as if one exceedingly like it, and yet
different from it, would be washed up by the waves next
tide. Consequently his descriptions are permanent.” We
might also say of Edward, that, although comparatively un-
educated, he possessed precisely the same qualities of ob-
serving and seeing. Nothing that once came under his
eyes was forgotten. He remembered, and could describe
fluently and vividly, the form, habits, and habitats of the
immense variety of animals that came under his observa-
tion.

Now, this Colonel Montagu had, in 1808, discovered on
the shore of South Devonshire the same midge that Edward
rediscovered in 1864 on the shore of the Moray Firth.
Colonel Montagu had clearly and distinctly described the
fish in the second volume of the “Memoirs of the Werne-
tian Natural History Society ;” but he had not given any
figure of it. He named it the silvery gade (Gadus argen-
teolus). The colonel passed away, and with him all further
notice of his fish. It was never again observed until, fifty-
six years later, it was rediscovered by Edward. Future
writers on British fishes ignored it. They believed that
Colonel Montagu had been mistaken, and had merely de-
scribed the young of some species already known. Even
Mr. Couch, the most accomplished ichthyologist of his time,
had swept it out of his list of British fishes. But Montagu
was too close an observer to be mistaken. As Professor
Forbes had said of him, “There is no question about the
cHap. xvi.] Edward its Rediscoverer. 297

 

identity of any animal that he described... .consequently
his descriptions are permanent.”

Hence the surprise of Mr. Couch on receiving from Ed-
ward the identical fish that had so long been lost. ‘‘ There
is one of your little fishes,” he said in his reply to Edward’s
letter, “that I am satisfied about, and the history of which
is a matter of much interest. You are well acquainted
with the little mackerel midge, first made known by my-
self, and which has been denominated Couchia glauca by
Thompson. But, previously to this, Colonel Montagu had
published an account of a species much like it, but differing
in having only two barbels on the snout. It does not ap-
pear that any figure was given, but he speaks of them as
occurring in Devonshire, where he lived. No one has seen
a fish which answers to his description since that time—I
suppose more than fifty years ago; and it has been judged
that some mistake was made, especially as he never gave a
notice of the midge with four barbels. Yet Montagu was
a good naturalist, and a correct observer. He calls his fish
silvery gade; for he wrote before Cuvier made these fishes
into a new genus, termed Motella. But your fish answers
closely to Montagu’s lost fish, When I inform you that
Montagu gives the number of rays in the fins, you may
judge how closely he examined this fish, When my ‘ His-
tory of British Fishes’ is ended, I intend to give a few as
a supplement, and as ascertained too late to fall into the
regular order. This little fish will find a place there, when
I shall take care to mention your name as its rediscoverer.”

In a notice which Edward afterward gave of the fish he
observed : “I may mention that this genus of little fishes,
designated with the appellation of midges from their small
size, and containing three species, are now authentically
known to be inhabitants of the Moray Firth, all three, both
young and old of each, having been procured here—a cir-
cumstance which perhaps ean be said of no other single
district but our own. This, not so much for the lack of the

13*
298 Ldward’s Midge. [cHAP. XVI.

 

fish themselves, as from the want of searchers for these
things ; for we can not allow ourselves to think for a single
moment that they could be found in so widely distant lo-
calities as Cornwall, Belfast, Devon, and here, and not be
met with at intermediate places. Such a thing appears to
me to be one of those affairs called impossibilities. Let
those, then, who live on the coast, and have time and a mind
for these things, or whether they have time or not, if they
have the will—let such, I say, look better about them, and I
doubt not but they will find many of these little gems, as
well as other rarities of a similar and kindred nature.”

Edward had not yet finished his discovery of midges
in the Moray Firth. In November, 1865, he sent to Mr.
Couch a specimen of a little fish which he had caught, and
which seemed quite new to him. Mr. Couch replied that
it was not only new to him, but new to science. Mr.
Couch expressed his regret that the midge “had come too
late to find a place by the side of its near relation, Mon-
tagu’s Midge, in his work, the last number of which had
just been published.” He also added: “As your little fish
is certainly new, I have thought of sending an account of
it to the Linnean Society, in which case I should think
it only a piece of justice to affix your name to it.”

 

EDWARD'S MIpgE—Couchia Edwardii.

Mr. Couch accordingly prepared a paper for the Linnzan
Society,* in which he embodied Edward’s description af
the fish, and of its habits and habitat. He also attached to
it the name of Edward’s Midge, Couchia Hdwardiz. In the
course of Mr. Couch’s paper he says:

 

* Linnean Society's Journal ; “ Zoology,” vol. ix., p. 38.
CHAP. XVI] Coucha EKdwardiz. 299

 

“Long before the discovery of the mackerel midge as a separate
species, an account had been given by Colonel Montagu of a kindred
fish, which he supposed to be common to the coast of Devonshire, and
which he described as being distinguished by the possession of a pair
only of the frontal barbs ; and yet for more than half a century this
species of midge had remained in obscurity, until it was again brought
to light by the diligent and acute observation of Mr. Thomas Edward,
of Banff, who found it in some abundance in the Moray Firth, and
kindly supplied the writer with examples, which enabled him to give
an account of it, with a figure, in the concluding portion of the fourth
volume of his ‘History of the Fishes of the British Islands.’ The
five-bearded species had been already represented in a colored figure
in the third volume of the same book, as also in Mr. Yarrell’s well-
known volumes. But a vacancy still existed in the analogy between
the species of the nearly allied genera Motella and Couchia ; and it is
this, again, we are able to supply through the persevering diligence
of Mr. Edward, whose intelligence enabled him to detect the existence
of another species, and whose kindness has, with an example, com-
municated materials which enable the writer to produce, with a satis-
factory likeness, a somewhat extended notice of its actions, the latter
of which will be described, as far as can be, in this attentive observ-
er’s own words. The length of the example from which my notes
were taken is an inch and five-eighths; and as half a dozen others
were about the same size, it. may be judged to be their usual magni-
tude, as it does not differ much also from that of C. glauca and C.
Montagui. Compared with the latter, its shape is more slender, the
pectoral fin rather more lengthened and pointed, the ventral fins long-
er and Slender, the cilia on the back, along the edge of the membrane,
more extended, apparently more numerous, and very fine; barb on
the lower jaw long; but what especially marks this little fish as dis-
tinct from the other species is, that, besides the pair of barbs in front
of the head, there is a single one of much larger size in front of the
upper lip, and which points directly forward with a slight inclination
downward, thus analogically answering to the middle barb that pro-
jects from the snout of the four-bearded rockling (Jfotella cimbria).
It is probable that there are teeth in the jaws, but they can scarcely
be seen, and there is a row of pores along each border of the superior
maxillary bone. Some further particulars of this fish I prefer to give
in the words of its discoverer, who describes its color as a beautiful
deep green along the back when caught, the sides brilliantly white ;
but when it reached me, preserved in spirit, it was blue, with a tinge
of the same along the lateral line. In some examples in Mr. Edward’s
possession the color on the back was a faint yellow, with a narrow
300 Other New Fishes. [CHAP. XVI.

 

stripe of bluish purple on the side, and in all of them the silvery hue
of the lower portions of the body is found to rise nearer the back
than in the other species of this genus. The back also and head
were thickly covered with very small, dark, star-like spots, which, to-
gether with two narrow yellow streaks extending from the top of the
head, above the mouth, and diverging to the eyes, had disappeared
when subjected to my examination. Iris of the eye silvery, the pupil
bluish green; the fins dull gray, as also the pair of barbs; but the
single one on the lip at its root is almost of as deep a color as the top
of the head and back.....

“T regard it as no other than an act of justice to the discoverer of
this fish to assign to it the name of Edward’s Midge (Couchia Ed.
wardit), of which the specific character is sufficiently obvious.”

Mr. Edward followed up this paper by a fuller description
of the midge, after he had had an opportunity of observing
a much larger number of specimens.* :

It is scarcely necessary to describe at length the large
number of new fishes belonging to the Moray Firth which
Edward for the first time recognized and described. For
instance, the bonito, the tunny—fishes for the most part
found in the Mediterranean—the pilot-fish, the bear-fish, the
short sun-fish, the bald-fish, the scald-fish, and several species
of sharks. Strange fishes such as these had occasionally
been found before; but Edward never missed the opportu-
nity of carefully observing them and describing their hab-
its, sometimes in the Zoologist and the Naturalist, and at
other times in the Banffshire Journal. He also endeavored
to secure as many specimens as possible for the Banff Mu-
seum, of which he was curator.

When Edward informed Mr. Couch of the struggles and
difficulties he had to encounter in the formation of a mu-
seum, the latter replied: “I can sympathize with you, with
a smile, at your annoyances and disappointments as regards
your attempts at a museum; but a real love of nature, and

 

* “A few Additional Particulars regarding Couchia Hdwardii. By
Thomas Edward, A.L.S.” Linnean Society's Journal ; “Zoology,” vol. x.
cuap. xvi.] Best Authorities Mistaken. 301

 

even a wish for any thing beyond a very slight acquaint-
ance with it, is rare, and can scarcely be infused into any
one not naturally endued with so great a blessing. With
your museum there ought to be a collection of books on
natural history..... What you say about the new midge
reminds me of what occurred when I first announced the
discovery of the mackerel midge. A paper on it was read
before the Linnean Society, but they hesitated to publish it
—thinking, I believe, as in the present case, that the fish
was a young condition of some other known species. ....
There is much in the internal structure of fishes that is not
known generally, but which can only be ascertained by dis-
section. In fact, the riches of nature are inexhaustible; but
if we can not discover all, there is no reason why we should
not continue our search after more of them. The most
unsatisfactory part of the subject is, to find how greatly in
some instances our best authorities are mistaken.”

The works of Mr. Couch and Mr. Spence Bate being now
published, and both of these gentlemen having been so much
indebted to the investigations of Edward, it occurred to
both of them to endeavor to get him elected an Associate
of the Linnwan Society, as a reward for his labors. Mr.
Couch, in his letter to Edward of the 1st of November,
1865, says: “ There is another thing which I think worthy
of your notice; for, as the world goes, honor is of some
value; and the honor I refer to is of intrinsic value, at the
same time that it will cost you nothing. In the Linnean
Society there is a company of associates (A.L.S.), limited
to thirty; but at this time I think there are no more than
twenty-eight. These associates are entitled to several priv-
ileges in the society ; and in order to be elected, it is neces-
sary to obtain the recommendation of at least three of the
Fellows, which I suppose you can procure. I shall feel a
pleasure in signing the necessary application, and, if applied
to, I have no doubt Dr. Gray will do the same.”

Mr. Bate warmly concurred in the proposal. The appli-
302 Prophet without Honor.  [cuap. Xvt.

 

cation was drawn up, signed, and sent to the Linnzan So-
ciety. Dr. Gray was of opinion that a similar application
should have been made to the Zoological Society for Ed-
ward’s admission as an associate. But this does not seem
to have been done. At length the day of the election ar-
rived, and on the 5th of April, 1866, Edward was unani-
mously elected an associate.* Mr. Couch wrote to con-
gratulate him. He said, “The number of associates is
now limited to a few, so that it is very difficult to get elect-
ed; but, then, it is a greater honor.”

It never rains but it pours. A few months later, Edward
was unanimously admitted a member of the Aberdeen Nat-
ural History Society, at its monthly meeting, held in Mari-
schal College; and in March, 1867, he was furnished with
the diploma of the Glasgow Natural History Society.

“But a prophet is not without honor, save in his own
country.” Although Banff possessed an “Institution for
Science, Literature, and the Arts, and for the Encouragement
of Native Genius and Talent,” the members did not even
elect Edward an honorary member. The Linnean Society
—perhaps the most distinguished association of naturalists
in the world—had discovered Edward’s genius and talent,
and elected him an associate. But the scientific men of
Banff fought shy of the native shoe-maker. It may, how-
ever, be added that the Banff Institution, finding no native
nor any other genius and talent to encourage, became de-
funct in 1875, and handed over their collection to the cor-
poration, whose property it now is.

 

* On looking over the records of the Linnean Society, we find that
on the 1st of February, 1866, Thomas Edward was proposed as an as-
sociate by C. Spence Bate, Jonathan Couch, A. Hancock, W. N. Brady,
J. E. Gray, and M. W. Baird. He was elected by ballot on the 5th of
April, 1866.
 

CHAPTER XVII.
ANTIQUITIES—KITCHEN-MIDDENS.

Epwarp had now been working for about ten years along
the sea-shore—collecting crustacea, mollusks, fish, and ma-
rine objects. He had won his honors, and lost his health.
His medical attendant had often warned him to give up
night-work, and avoid exposure of all kinds. But though

- Edward had given up night-work, and partly recovered his
health, he would not give up the study of nature.

He was now, however, compelled to abandon it altogeth-
er.* The doctor was called in again, and found him utterly
prostrate. It was the old story—fever and sore throat, the
results of exposure, and perhaps of insufficient sustenance.
His illness was more serious now than it had been before.
In course of time, however, he recovered. The doctor again
had a serious talk with him. He even threatened him with
a lunatic asylum if he did not altogether abandon his out-
door researches.

‘When Edward was able to move about, he learned, to his
unutterable grief, the truth, which he would fain have con-
-cealed trom himself, that his career was at an end as re-
garded his further researches into the mysteries of nature.
Though his mind remained as vigorous as ever, his bodily

 

* This must have been about the beginning of 1868. The last let-
ter which Edward received from Mr. Spence Bate was dated the 3d of
March, 1868. In that letter Mr. Bate referred to some specimens of
the Eisclados and Themisto which Edward had sent him about three
months before. The correspondence then ceased.
304 Studies Galvanism. [CHAP. XVII.

 

constitution had been seriously injured. He had lost the
elasticity of manhood, and never recovered it again.

Edward was so completely broken down, that he was in a
great measure disabled from working at his trade. What,
then, was he to do? His doctor thought that it would be
better for him to give up the trade of shoe-making, and try
something else. He advised him to study electricity, with
the view of. setting up a galvanic battery. He gave Ed-
ward books for the purpose of studying the subject. But,
on considering the matter, Edward came to the conclusion
that he did not know enough of the mechanism and econo-
my of the human system to apply the power medicinally.
Still the doctor urged him. Numerous patients came to
him to be galvanized, and he had not time to attend to
them himself; he would send all his customers to Edward.
But Edward had no desire to be a quack, and to pour gal-
vanism, of which he -knew little, into a body of which he
knew less. At length he came to the determination not
to take up the system of treating disease by electrical
methods.*

He was next advised to obtain some situation in connec-
tion with natural history—such, for instance, as the cura-
tor of a museum. He was already the curator of the Banff
Museum, but the remuneration was almost nominal. In
1852 he had been appointed curator, at a salary of two
guineas a year. After about twelve years’ service, his sal-
ary was increased to four guineas a year.+ Even that was
but a nominal consideration. Edward naturally desired to
obtain some position with a salary sufficient to maintain
him. But he possessed no influence; he was too shy to

 

* Of the mischievous results of treating disease by electricity with-
out medical knowledge, a remarkable instance is to be found in the
“Life of the Rev. F. W. Robertson, Brighton.”

+ We are glad to find that, since the Museum has been handed over
to the corporation, the Provost and Council of Banff have been a lit-
tle more liberal to their distinguished townsman.
cHaP. xvu.] Antiquities of Banff. 305

 

push himself forward; he had no one to help him to ob-
tain any situation; and he eventually gave it up as a hope-
less project. ;

His attention was next turned to photography. He ob-
tained a treatise on the subject; he read and studied it;
and then he purchased chemicals and a camera. To obtain
these, he again drew upon his savings-bank by selling an-
other portion of his natural-history collection. He found
the practice of photography very agreeable, and he was at
length enabled to take a very fair portrait. But he found
that really good portraits could not be taken except in a
glass-windowed apartment provided for the purpose. He
had no such apartment, and he had not money enough to
build one. His portraits were taken in the open air. Per-
haps, too, he wanted that deftness of hand and delicacy of
treatment which, had he been younger, he would more read-
ily have mastered. For by this time Edward was growing
old and stiff-handed. Besides, there were other photogra-
phers in the town, better provided with capital and ma-
chinery, and it is scarcely to be wondered at if his trade in
photographie pictures should have been but small. Yet
some of his portraits, more particularly of himself and his
family, are exceedingly well done.

In the mean time, however, the activity of his mind and
the closeness of his observation would not allow him to re-
main at rest. He had done what he could for science.
But there were other things to be thought over and writ-
ten about. One of the subjects that attracted him was
antiquities; and he began with the antiquities of Banff.
Several articles on the subject appeared in the Banffshire
Journal, which were thus introduced by the editor: “‘We
recently mentioned that our townsman, Mr. Thomas Ed-
ward, was engaged in preparing notes on the antiquities of
the town and neighborhood. We have pleasure in giving
the following extract from his MSS, The extract, it will
be seen, embodies two important practical suggestions—one
306 The Cross of Banff. [CHAP. XVIL

 

as to the obtaining and re-erecting in the town the Old
Cross of the burgh; and the other as to the erection of a
drinking-fountain.”

What Edward said about the ancient cross of Banff and
the proposed drinking -fountain may best be given in his
own words:

“ Banff, like every other town, had its ‘cross,’ Where
this ancient relic of ours had stood during the various revo-
lutions of the burgh, we are not aware. We are told, how-
ever, that its last stance was on the Low Street, nearly op-
posite the foot of the Strait Path. From this we believe
it was suffered to be removed (to our praise as a communi-
ty be it spoken) to adorn the top of a dove-cote about a
mile from the town, and on ground with which the public
have nothing to do. On inquiry, we learn that it is still
the property of the town. If this is correct, then we say,
Get it back. Yes, we say, Get back our venerable and
time-honored cross. No one can fail to observe the almost
universal restoration of the old works of antiquity which
is going on throughout the country. Although nothing of
this kind has yet taken place here, our ancient cross must
be redeemed, and the sooner it is done the greater will be
the credit due to those who accomplish it.

“Our charitable bequests, as is well known, are many
and valuable. Still, we lack at least one—one which would
cost but little, and at the same time be a universal good.
There are many very wealthy individuals in and belonging
to the burgh, some of whom may yet be persuaded to give
us this desideratum. We allude to a drinking- fountain.
These things, too, be it remembered, are becoming univers-
al, although we have none of them. We maintain that it
would be a great and an inestimable boon to the place.

‘But some may ask, What has this to do with antiqui-
ties? Well, perhaps not much yet, but we trust it will
soon have. We have said that a drinking-fountain would
cost but little. Once erected, the interest of a small sum
CHAP. XVII. ] Kjikken-midding. 307

 

annually would pay for the water, and keep the place in
repair; and besides tending to be a blessing to thousands,
it would be an interesting and conspicuous ornament to the
town, and one of the most refreshing which modern inge-
nuity and gratitude could devise or rear. Supposing that
some of our philanthropic friends, who may wish to have
their names carried down to future generations as being
benefactors and lovers of their species, might yet think well
of our suggestion, and give us a fountain, could not our
cross be placed upon it as a crowning stone? We think
so. And sure we are that no better emblem, nor one more
expressive, could be given to a place of the kind. But al-
though nothing of this kind may take place, still we would
urge the restoration of our old and venerable cross.”

The article produced no results. The suggestion about
the cross trod upon the toes of some person of local in-
fluence, and the idea of its restoration was soon stamped
out. The drinking-fountain also remains to be erected.

Edward was more successful in his investigations of the
Kjékken-médding at Boyndie—a much more interesting
piece of antiquity. Kitchen-middens, or refuse heaps, have
been discovered in large numbers along the shores of the
Danish islands. Not less than a hundred and fifty have al-
ready been found in Denmark. They consist chiefly of
castaway shells, of the oyster, mussel, cockle, and periwin-
kle, intermixed with the bones of quadrupeds, birds, and
fish. Some of them also contain fragments of pottery and
burned clay, and rude implements of stone and bone, which
were evidently dropped by those who took their meals
in the vicinity of the heaps, or who threw them away as
useless,

These shell-mounds vary in height, in breadth, and in
length. They are from three to ten feet high, and some-
times extend to a thousand feet in length, while they vary
from a hundred to two hundred feet in width. It is evi-
dent, from these remains, that some prehistoric people were
308 The Lapps or Finns. [CHAP. XVII.

 

accustomed to live along the sea-shore, or to frequent it
when food failed them in the interior, and live upon
mollusks and fish. That they ventured out to sea in canoes
hollowed out of the trunk of a single tree (such as are oc-
casionally found in Danish peat-bogs) is obvious, from the
fact that the bony relics of deep-sea fish, such as the cod,
the herring, and the skate, are occasionally found in the
shell-heaps. No remains of any agricultural produce, nor
of domesticated animals (excepting the dog), have been
found in them; so that it is probable that the people who
then occupied the land were exclusively hunters and fish-
ers, and that they knew nothing of pastoral or agricultural
pursuits.

Who these ancient people were has been the subject of
much conjecture. It is not improbable that they were
Lapps or Esquimaux. The most ancient skulls which have
been found in Denmark, near the shell-mounds, are small
and round, indicating the small stature of the people. Sir
Charles Lyell says that they bear a considerable resemblance
to those of the modern Laplanders. It is probable that a
great part of Europe was originally peopled by Lapps, and
that they were driven north by the incoming of a more civ-
ilized race from the east. There are still remnants of the
Lapps in the island of Malmén, off the coast of Sweden;
in North Connaught, and the island of Arran in Ireland; in
the island of Lewis, off the western coast of Scotland; and
in several of the Shetland Islands.*

When the discoveries in Denmark came to light, and
were republished in this country, investigations began to
be made as to the existence of similar shell-mounds on the

 

* Dr. Beddoes, in his “Stature and Bulk of Man in the British
Isles,” says, “The black-haired Shetlanders are of low stature, with
features approaching the Finnish type, and of a melancholic tempera-
ment” (p. 13). The island of Lewis also, in the Hebrides, indicates
an aboriginal substratum of population of Finnish type and short
stature,
cHap. xvu.] Kitchen-midden at Boyndie. 309

 

British coast. We do not know whether the first investi-
gations were made along the shores of the Moray Firth, but
they are the first of which we have any account. Numer-
ous shell-heaps had long been observed along the coast.
They were raised above the level of the highest tides; and
the impression which prevailed was, that they had been
collected there at some early period by an eddy of the
ocean. The shelly deposits were also adduced in proof of
a raised sea-margin.

The kitchen-midden at Boyndie, near Banff, had long
been known as a famous place for shell. Hence, probably,
its name of Shelly-bush. About forty years since, Edward’s
attention was drawn to it by a man who had picked up
shells from it when a boy. Edward set it down in his
mind as an old sea-margin, and although often passing it in
his journeys by the sea-side, he never thought of it as any
thing else. When Professor Macgillivray, of Aberdeen, was
walking with Edward along the links, about the year 1850,
the latter pointed out to him the shell-bank. The professor
remarked that it did not look like any other raised beach
that he had ever seen.

Years passed; but what with cart-wheels going over it,
and rude hands picking at it, the shells and bones which it
contained at length became more clearly exposed. Still it
was held to be but an ancient sea-beach. Then came the
news from Denmark about the kitchen-middens. A paper
by Mr. (now Sir John) Lubbock appeared in the Watu-
ral History Review for October, 1861, which had the effect
of directing the attention of archologists to the subject.
“Macgillivray’s remark,” says Edward, “instantly flashed
upon me. I looked at the Shelly-bush shells in our col-
lection, and compared them with the raised beaches of King
Edward and Gamrie. I saw the difference in a moment,
and smiled at my own stupidity. Away I went to the
Bush, and the happy result was, that before I returned I
had the inexpressible delight of ascertaining that the old
310 The Loch of Spymie. (CHAP. XVII.

 

sea-beach was neither more nor less than a veritable kitch-
en-midden.”

The Rev. Dr. Gordon, of Birnie, near Elgin, had already
found a similar accumulation of shells on the old margin
of the Loch of Spynie, formerly an arm of the sea. The
mound is situated in a small wood on the farm. of Brigzes,

 

SPYNIE OASTLE AND LOOH.

It had been much diminished by its contents having been
carted off from the centre of the heap, as manure or top-
dressing for the adjoining fields) The mound—or rather
couple of mounds, for it has been cut into two parts—must
have been of considerable extent. It measured about a
hundred yards in length by about thirty in breadth. The
most abundant shell found was the periwinkle, or the edi-
ble ‘‘buckie,” as it is usually called. Next in order was
the oyster; and magnificent natives they must have been.
The Bay of Spynie was then a productive dredging-ground.
On the extensive flat around it, wherever a canal or ditch is
dug up, the shells of oysters are yet, to be met with, seem-
cHap. xvul.] Contents of Boyndie Mound. 311

 

ingly on the spots where they lived. Yet the oyster, as
well as the primitive people who fared on it, have long
since passed away.

The third shell in order, in this bank of shells, is the mus-
sel, and then the cockle—all edible. ‘There is evidence
enough in these mounds,” says Dr. Gordon, “ to show that
they have been the work of man, and not the effect of any
tidal current, or any other natural cause. The shell-fish
which the remains represent are, with scarcely an excep-
tion, edible, and continue to be eaten to this day. In all
deposits by the sea, there is abundance of species that have
ever been rejected as food. The shells are full-grown, or
adult shells. In collections made by the sea, the young
animals are abundant, and often predominate. Now, no
movements of wind and water could have thus selected the
edible and the adult, and left behind the noxious and the
young. They must have been gathered by man, and for
the purpose of supplying his wants. Many other argu-
ments have been brought forward to prove this, so that no
doubt is now entertained about the matter. One strong
proof is, that the oyster and the periwinkle are never found
living and mingled together in the same part of the sea.
The former exists between tide-marks, the other in deep
water. The cockle delights in sand; the mussel must be
moored to a rock or hard bottom. In different parts of the
masses of shells at Brigzes, there are to be seen many stones
that have been subjected to considerable heat. They prob-
ably have been used in this state for cooking, as is known
to be the case among people of primitive habits to this
day.” ‘

The shells found by Edward in the kitchen-midden at
Boyndie corresponded in a great measure with those found -
by the Rev. Dr. Gordon at Brigzes. Thus, he found the
periwinkle, the highly esteemed buckie, the limpet, the
horse buckie (in some places called the dog periwinkle),
the mussel; bones of various kinds of wild animals, such
312 Boyndie Kitchen-midden. [cuap. Xvi.

 

as the deer, the hare, and the rabbit; the remains of sev-
eral species of fish, such as bones of the skate; a few of
the crab family; fragments of pottery,.and small bits of
charred wood and ashes. The ashes are just like those left
from a wood or peat fire. Small ‘stones, also, were got,
partially blackened, as if they had been used for cooking
purposes. One very common ingredient among the fish
was that part of the head known as the “lug been” —a
bone usually given to the children of the family to pick.

“A remarkable fact,” says Edward, in his account of the
Boyndie kitchen-midden, “and one not mentioned in any
account of a similar place is, that while some of the shells
crumble to dust almost with the least touch, others are still
so hard that they would require the fingers of a giant to
pound them. The enameling of some of the limpet and
mussel shells is still as beautiful as almost to persuade one
that the animal had been but newly taken out. On the
other hand, some are so far gone and so soft as to feel like
a piece of wet blot-sheet. But what appears to be the most
remarkable péculiarity in these two very opposite extremes
is, that the shells thus spoken of may be found in the same
handful and from the same spot. Another very striking
feature is, that in handling the old ‘muck,’ one’s fingers
soon get nearly as black as ink. Here, also, as in all the
other shell-accumulations, the larger bones are broken—not
cut, but broken up longitudinally, or what might rather be
called splintered. This has been done, it is thought, to get
at the fat or marrow, of which these early people seem to
have been very fond. They broke the bone, just as we break
up with some heavy instrument the large toes of a lobster
or parten, in order to reach the food.”

M. Engelhardt, in describing the kjékken-méddings of
Denmark, says that no human bones have been found
among the shell-heaps. Sir John Lubbock has also said
that “the absence of human remains satisfactorily proves
that the primitive population of the North were free from
CHAP. XVI. | Human Bones. 318

 

the practice of cannibalism.” Recent. investigations have,
however, cast some doubts upon this statement. For in-
- stance, Mr. Laing, M.P., read a paper before the Ethnolog-
ical Society on the 14th of December, 1864, in which he de-
scribed the results of his investigations of the kitchen-mid-
dens at Keiss; in Caithness, about eight miles north of Wick.
Large masses of periwinkle and limpet shells, mixed with
bones, flint splinters, and bone instruments of the rudest
sort, were found. Among the bones, part of the jaw of a
child was discovered, which had been broken as if to get
at the marrow ; and affording ground for presumption that
cannibalism was prevalent, or, at least, was occasionally: re-
sorted to among the race to which the remains refer.

No human bones were found in the shell-heaps of either
Boyndie or Brigzes; so that Mr. Laing’s remarks: may, aft-
er all, prove to be a mere conjecture: “One thing,” says
Edward, “must be observed—that no implements have as
yet been found mixed up with our shells; but whether this
would indicate an earlier or a later date, it would be prema-
ture even to hint. Flint flakes, a portion of’a flint knife,
and a stone axe or hatchet, have been found near some of
the Morayshire mounds, but not in them. They are, how-
ever, considered to belong to the same period. In the same
way, the flint flakes, arrow-heads, elfshots, found in the low-
er part of Banffshire, as also the two curious rough-looking
bits of stones formed like knives, lately dug up near Banff,
and now placed in the Banff Museum, doubtless belong to
the same by-gone days. Of this, however, we have a proof
beyond doubt, that those who had for a time sojourned at
Boyndie had, like the men of Denmark, gone out to sea-
fishing. This we learn from the fact that spines of large
rays or skate, bones of other big fish, such as the cod, ling,
and haddocks, bits of old sponge-eaten shells, as the scallop
(Pecten maximus and opercularis), the cow shell (Cyprina
Islandica), and the roaring buckie (/usus antiquus), are
found in our shell-mound. Now’these can not be got ex-

14
#

314 Antiquity of Shell-mounds. [cHAP. XVII.

 

cept in pretty deep water; and although no traces of any
of their vessels have as yet been met with near the mound,
still one, a canoe—very similar to the ancient Danish canoe
—was dug up some years ago from a piece of marshy
ground betwixt Portsoy and Cullen.

“During a recent excavation of the mound in the pres-
ence of a clerical friend, we came upon the two following
species of shells not previously noticed —the flat-topped
periwinkle (Littorna littoralis), and the gray pyramid shell
(Trochus cinerarius). These shells are both very common
among the rocks at the present day. -As the list indicates,
the periwinkle was the most frequent shell in the mound ;
but we went deeper down, and the farther we went into the
bank, the limpet was most predominant, and, in fact, was
almost the exclusive shell.

“Taking all these circumstances into account, and weigh-
ing the matter carefully over, we can not come to any other
conclusion than that the kitchen-middens must be of a very
remote age. We know nothing of the people who formed
these mounds of shells and bones. Tradition and history
are altogether silent. Archwology seems powerless to help
us, and ethnology’s vision fails to penetrate the depths of
obscurity. It would appear to be one of those mysteries of
the past which baffle even the wisest.”

Edward collected further samples of articles taken from
kitchen-middens for the museum, including a series of shells
—the oyster, the cockle, the periwinkle, and the brown
buckie, or whelk—gathered from the shell-heaps on the
farra of Brigzes, near Elgin. He had also several other
fragments of antiquity collected in the museum, one of the
most interesting of which was the joint-bone of some ex-
tinct animal. The story connected with this bone is rather
curious.

Before Edward had any official connection with the mu-
seum, he visited it one day in company with his master, and
there he first saw this particular bone. He was struck by
CHAP. XVII. ] An Old Bone. 315

 

its size, thickness, and peculiar shape. The idea flashed
across his mind that he had seen something like it in a pict-
ure, but he could not remember where. Seeing his intent
glance, the curator asked him if he knew any thing about
it? “Nothing,” said he, “except that it appears to me to
‘be a semi-fossilized bone of some of the pre-Adamite mon-
sters that are dug up now and then; but what it is I can
not tell.” “It looks to me,” said the curator, ‘to. be noth-
ing more than the root of a tree: in fact, I am sure it is.
If it were a bone, as you say, surely some of the gentlemen
composing the Scientific Society would know.” “Give it
time,” replied Edward, “and some one will yet be able to
tell us all about it.” “Time, indeed!” said the curator;
“we have had it lying here far too long. I have often
thought of throwing it into the fire, and I will do so when
I have next the opportunity. It would never have been
here but for that old fool [naming a previous curator],
whose only aim seems to have been to get the place filled
up with useless trash.”

In the mean time the previous history of the bone may
be given. Some sixty years before, when a mill-dam was
being enlarged at Inverichny, in-the parish of Alvah, near
Banff, one of the workmen came upon a dark-looking ob-
ject imbedded in the bank among clay and shingle, about
six feet from the surface. After being disengaged, it was
found that the object was very like a large hour-glass,
though not tapering so much toward the middle. There
were differences of opinion among the workmen about the
nature of the thing. One said it was a “been,” another said
it was “an auld fir knot.” One man tried to break it into
pieces with a spade, but he failed. The hard bone turned
up the edge of the spade. It was handed about, to ascer-
tain if any body could make any thing of it. At last it got
into the hands of Captain Reid, of Inverichny. He showed
it to the three most important persons in his neighborhood
—the minister, the doctor, and the dominie.
316 - The Old Bone Condemned. [ouar. xvu.

 

The minister, though he could say nothing about the
bone, knew that there were great leviathans in the waters,
for he had read about, them in the Scriptures; but he had
never seen aty notice of such things being found in clay-
banks. The doctor, after looking at it, and turning it
round and round, said that if it was a bevtes at least it did’
not belong to the human structure. The dominie, like his:
other learned friends, could throw no greater light upon the
subject. He did not think it was a bone at all, but. only
a monstrous piece of petrified bamboo! Then the men of
science of the Banff Institution were applied to, but they
could make no more of the object than the minister, the

doctor, and the dominie. Finally Captain Reid. presented. .

it to the museum of the Banff Scientific Society, and there
it remained until Edward first saw it.

It would appear, however, that the curator had become
tired of the bone, or whatever else it was, and wished to
get rid of it. He removed it from the case in which it was
deposited, and threw it among the rubbish of the museum.
When Edward was appointed. sub-curator of the museum,
about nine years afterward, his first natural impulse was to
go to the table where the bone had been deposited, but, lo!
it had beén removed. He searched the whole place, but no
bone was to be found. He feared lest the curator had car-
ried out his intention, and burned it.

Next morning Edward received orders to destroy a lot of
useless stuff which lay on the floor, consisting of broken-
down astronomical and philosophical instruments, moth-
eaten beasts, birds, and fishes, together with other wrecked.
specimens of the long-neglected museum. Edward went
to work, and while grouping among the rubbish at the bot-
tom of the heap, he came upon a round dark object. He
brought it up, and, lo! it was the “auld been”—im other
words, the old bone! It had not been burned! “He cleaned
it and put it in the old place.

‘When the curator next made his appearance to ascertain
CHAP. XVII. ] The “Auld Been.” a 317

 

how far the burning had gone, he gave a glance at the case
where the bone had been replaced. He stood aghast.
“You have put this thing on the table again!” he shouted.
“Yes,” replied Edward. ‘‘Do you know,” rejoined the cu-
rator, ‘‘that by so doing you are insulting myself, and the
gentlemen of the society, who requested all objectionable
matter to be removed from the collection?” “Iam very
sorry for that,” said Edward. ‘Then remove it at once,
and burn it with the rest.” Edward removed it according-
ly, but he did not burn it. He took it home, and kept it
there until he was able to replace it in the museum.

 

TUE ‘AULD BEEN.”

When the curator next entered the apartment, he glanced
at the place where the bone had been, and seeing that it
had been removed, he said nothing further about it. Short-
ly after, Edward was himself appointed curator, and, having
the control of the collection in his own hands, he restored
the bone to its former place. He was still most anxious to
know of what animal the bone had constituted a part. He
never failed to direct the attention of visitors to the bone,
and to inquire of them whether they could give him any
information about it. Thus time rolled on, and, despite of
all his endeavors, the bone still remained unknown and un-
named,

At last Sir Roderick Murchison and Professor Ramsay
318 Sir R. Murchison. (CHAP. XVII.

 

honored the museum with a visit, in September, 1859.
Edward was sure that Sir Roderick would be able to tell
him all that he wanted to know respecting the bone. It
was the first thing that he put into Sir Roderick’s hands.
“Can you tell me what that is, sir?’ He took it up, turn-
ed it round and round, and over and over, and remarked,
“That is a most extraordinary bone;” and then he asked
when and where it had been found. Edward told him all
the facts he knew respecting it, and added, “ But can you
tell me to what animal it belonged?” “ No, I can not tell,”
replied Sir Roderick. Neither did Professor Ramsay know
any thing about the bone. ‘“ You see,” said Sir Roderick,
“this does not lie in my way. This is not exactly a geo-
logical specimen. .I am more a stone man than a bone man.
Besides, it is often a difficult matter to distinguish small
fragments or single bones of a skeleton, especially such a
remarkable one as this, and to determine with certainty to
what creature it belonged. But,” he added, “if you have
any stones in your collection unnamed, or any particular
rock in your neighborhood that you can show us, and
which you and the stone men of the district are in any
doubt about, my colleague and I will be most happy to sort
them out for you. As regards the bone, I'll tell you what
to do. Send the bone to London, to Professor Owen.
He’s your man. He’s made up of bones. He’ll soon tell
you all about it. And more, you can give him my compli-
ments, say you saw me, and that I told you to send it.”
Edward did not, however, send the bone to London.
He knew, from experience, that such things, when sent so
far away, rarely came back. That had been the case with
many of his crustacea. He therefore kept the bone at
home, and continued his inquiries of the savans who from
time to time visited the museum; but he never succeeded
in obtaining any favorable answer to his questionings.
Years sped on, and still the bone remained unknown.
At last, when. Edward was rummaging over some old books,
cHap. xvi] Plesiosaurus Dolichodeiras. 319

 

he came upon the second volume of the Penny Magazine.
While turning over the pages by chance, he saw a picture
of old bones which had much puzzled his brains some thir-
ty years before. And now he remembered that it was the
picture of the bones here drawn that had first given him
the idea that this bone in the museum was the remnant of
some extinct animal. And here was the creature itself
from which the bone had been taken. It was the Plesio-
saurus dolichodeiras ; the bone in the museum being one of
the femurs of the fore-paddle of that long-extinct monster.

To make assurance doubly sure, Edward took a photo-
graph of the bone, and sent it to a scientific correspondent
in London; when he had the pleasure of being informed
there was no doubt whatever that the bone was one of the
femurs of the fore-paddle of the Plesiosaurus. Here, then,
was a discovery well worth all the care, the trouble, and the
anxiety which the bone had occasioned. It may also be
mentioned that, so far as is known, no other fragment of
the Plesiosaurus has yet been found in Scotland. They
have been met with in England in the secondary strata, and
on the Continent, principally in the Oolite and Lias. -The
bone in question is now one of the most cherished relics of
the Banff Museum. ;

 

BANFF MUSEUM.
 

CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.

Epwarp’s labors were now drawing to a close. He had
fought the fight of science inch by inch, until he could
fight no more. He had also fought the fight of honest_pov-
-erty—a great triumph and a great glory.

“The honest man, though e’er sae poor,
Is king o’ men, for a’ that.”

It is said that the man who can pay his way is not poor.
Edward could always do that. He was in no man’s debt.
He had lived within his means, small though they were.
Toward the end of his life he could-only earn about eight
shillings a week. But his children were now growing up ;
and as he had helped them in their youth, they now helped
him in his age.

He had become prematurely old. His constitution had
been seriously injured by. his continuous exposure to the
night air. He had repeated illnesses—inflammations of the
throat and lungs, inflammations of the stomach and bowels
—each attack rendering him weaker than before, until at
last he altogether gave-up his researches, and confined him-
self to shoe-making — occasionally attending as curator at
the museum.

Yet he never could get rid of his love of nature. He
continued to admire the works of the Creator as much as
ever. On recovering from one of his illnesses, he went to
Huntly for a change of air. His wife accompanied him.
cuap.xvi.}] Traps at Tarlaer. 321

 

‘When she proposed doing so, he asked the reason. “Oh!”
she replied, “just to keep ye company, and to help ye.”
Accordingly she went with him. While at Huntly, he felt
his old craving for nature returning upon him. He wished
to go out and search the woods, the mosses, and the burns,
as before; but his wife never left him.

Whenever he indicated an intention of penetrating a
hedge or leaping a wall, she immediately interfered. The
* hedge would tear his clothes, and she could not accompany

him in jumping dikes. He demurred, and said: that if he
went across he would ‘‘come back again.” But that did
not suit her purpose, and she would not let him go. As
evening approached, she said, “ We’ll awa back noo.” He
protested that he would rather stay out. ‘“ No, no,” said
she, “I’m no gaun intill a hole a a wild beast ; and, be-
sides, the nicht air would kill me.” In fact, as he ticoyattl
observed, “he had fallen into the hands of the Philistines.”

_Edward still took pleasure in wandering along the coast,

and surveying the scenes of his former exploits. One day
he took a friend round to Tarlair, to look at the rock from
which he had fallen. Standing on the high ground above
the shore, and looking down upon the rock: -pools beneath
the promontory, he observed: “I set many of my traps
down there. [I filled them with sea-weed, and sometimes
with a piece of dead fish. The sea came in and filled my
traps, and sometimes brought in many rare crustacea. I
set my traps along the coast for about ten miles, from Port-
soy to Melrose Head. Many a time have I scrambled
among these rocks. But when I took ill, and the inflam-
mation went to my brain, I had to leave all my traps, and
there they are still.”

“ What a fine chance that will be for some future ichthy-
ologist,” said his friend; “ he will find the traps ready-made,
and perhaps full of new species of crustaceans!” “ Weel,”
said Edward, “it may be sae; but I dinna think there’ll be

sic a feel as me for mony a lang year to come!”
14*
322 Nilsson’s Goby. [oHap. xvuItI.

 

Although he had long given up searching along - shore
for new specimens of fish, crustaceans, or mollusks, yet he
had still another discovery to announce. . There was a new
fish remaining in his possession which had been entirely
lost sight of. “He had taken it in 1868, while searching
among the rock-pools at the links. He kept it alive for
two days, and when it died he put it into a bottle, intend-
- ing to send it to Mr. Couch; but, somehow or other, the bot-
tle got lost, and, though he turned the house almost upside
down, he could never find it.

Only about a year ago, while turning over his papers to.
find the letters referred to in the preceding pages, he found
the bottle containing the new fish at the bottom of the box.
How great was his delight! But what was he to do with
it? Mr. Couch was dead, all his fish friends were dead, and
he did not know to whom to apply to name the new fish.
But as he was about to proceed to Aberdeen to see Mr.
Reid, who was so kind as to offer to paint his portrait, he:
took the fish with him. Mr. Reid procured an introduction

for him, through Dean of Guild Walker, to Professor Nicol,

of Marischal College. The professor did not at first recog-
nize the fish, but, on referring to his works on ichthyology,
he found that it was a specimen of Nilsson’s goby, a species
not before known to have been taken in British seas.

Notwithstanding the thousands of specimens and the
hundreds of cases that Edward had been obliged to part
with during his successive illnesses, * he has still sixty cases
filled with about two thousand specimens of natural objects.

 

* After parting with the greater part of his third collection in 1867,
Dr. Gray of the British Museum wrote to him: “I-wish I had known
that you had one or more collections to dispose of, as I should have .
been very glad to have purchased specimens of the Mollusca, Annelids,
star-fish, Holothurea, Echina, and small fishes of the coast of Banff-
shire, as I like to get specimens from the different parts of the coast.
Should you have any.more, please let me know.” But the request
came too late.
-oHap. xvun.] Hdward’s Discoveries. 323

 

Dating his life-time he has made about five hundred cases
with no other tools than his shoe-maker’s knife and ham-
mer, and a saw; and he papered, painted, and glazed them
all himself.

As to the number of different species that he has accu-
mulated during thirty years of incessant toil, it is, of course,
impossible to form an estimate, as he never kept a log-book ;
but some idea of his persevering labors may be formed from
the list of Banffshire fauna annexed to this volume.

Many of his discoveries have already become facts in his-
tory; but a large proportion of them can never be known.
His specimens were sent to others to be named, but many
of them were never afterward heard of. This was particu-
larly the case with his shrimps, insects, zoophytes, corals,
sponges, sea- slugs, worms, Tunicata, or ‘leathern-bag mollusks,
fossils, and plants. “Had any one,” he says, ‘‘taken pity
on me in time.(as has sometimes been done with others),

and raised me from the dirt, I might have been able to name
my own specimens, and thereby made my own discoveries
known myself.”

Many of Edward’s friends told him that he should have
extended his inquiries into Aberdeenshire and the Northern

“counties; and that he should have explored the coasts of
the Moray Firth in all directions. Others told him that he
should have written and published much more than he did,
or was ever able to do; and that he should have given
many more facts to the public. The only reply that he
gave to such advisers was, that he had neither the opportu-
nity nor the means of doing, so, having to work for his daily
bread all the time that he was carrying on his researches.

He had another difficulty to contend with, besides his
want of time and means. When he did publish what he
had observed with his own eyes, and not in books through
the eyes of others, his facts were often disputed by the high-
er class of naturalists. He was under the impression that
this arose fom the circumstance that they had never been
324 Self-reliance. [CHAP. XVIII.

 

heard of before, and that they had now been brought to
light by a poor shoe-maker—a person of no standing what-
ever. ‘This deterred him, in a great measure, from publish-
ing his observations, as he did not like his veracity to be
ealled in question; and it was not until years after, when
others higher up the ladder of respectability had published
the same facts, that his observations were accredited—sim-
ply because they could no longer be denied.

Toward the close of his labors, Edward, on looking back, .
was himself surprised that in the midst of his difficulties—
his want of learning, his want of time, his want of books—
he should have been able to accomplish the little that he
did. He had had so many obstructions to encounter. His
bringing-up as a child, and his want of school education,
had been very much against him. Then he had begun to
work for daily bread at six years old, and he had contin-
ued to labor incessantly for the rest of his life. Of course,
there was something much more than the mere manual la-
borer in him. His mind had risen above his daily occupa-
tion; for he had the soul of a true man. Above all, he
loved nature and nature’s works.

We need not speak of his stern self-reliance and his in-
domitable perseverance. These were among the prominent
features of his character. Of his courage it is scarcely nec-
essary to speak. When we think of his nightly wander-
ings, his trackings of birds for days together, his encount-
ers with badgers and polecats, his climbing of rocks, and
his rolling down cliffs in search of sea-birds, we can not but
think that he taxed his courage a great deal too much.

A great point with him was his sobriety. For thirty-six
years he never entered a public-house nor a dram-shop.
He was not a teetotaler. Sobriety was merely his habit.
Some of his friends advised him to take “a wee drap whis-
ky.” with him on cold nights; but he never did. He him-
self believes that had he drunk whisky he never could have
stood the wet, the cold, and the privations to which he was
CHAP. XVIII. ] Edward’s Family. 825

 

exposed during so many years of his life. When he went
out at night, his food consisted for the most part of plain
oatmeal cakes; and his drink was the water from the near-
est brook.

He never lost a moment of time. When his work for
the day was over, he went out to the links or the fields
with his supper of oatmeal cakes in his hand; and after
the night had passed, he returned home in time for his
next day’s work. He stuffed his birds, or prepared the
cases for his collection, by the light of the fire. He was
never a moment idle.

Another thing must be mentioned to his credit — and
here his wife must share the honor. He brought ‘up his
large family of eleven children respectably and virtuously.
He educated them much better than he himself had been
educated. They were all well clad and well shod, notwith-
standing the Scottish proverb to the contrary.* Both par-
ents must have felt hope and joy in the future lives of their
children. This is one of the greatest comforts of the poor
—to see their family growing up in knowledge, virtue, in-
dustry, well-being, and well-doing. We might say much of
Edward’s eldest daughter, who has not only helped to keep
her parents, but to maintain her brother at school and col-
lege. It is families such as these that maintain-the char-
acter and constitute the glory of their country.

But to return to Edward and his culture. In one of the
earliest letters which the author addressed to him, he made
inquiry as to the manner in which he had become acquaint-
ed with the scientific works which are so necessary for the
study of natural history. ‘You seem to wonder,” he said
in his reply, “‘ why I did not mention books in my memoir.
You may just as well wonder how I can string a few sen-
tences togetiter, or, indeed, how I ean write at all. My

 

* “The smith’s meer and the shae-makers’ bairns. are aye the worst
shod.” .
326 His Power of Wu. [car. XVII.

 

books, I can tell you, were about as few as my education
was brief and homespun.

“T thought you knew—yes, I am sure you knew—that
any one having the mind and the will need not stick fast
even in this world. True, he may not shine so greatly as
if he were better polished and better educated; but he need
not sink in the mire altogether.

“You may very likely wonder at what I have been able
to do—being only a poor souter,* with no one to help me,
and but few to encourage me in my labors. Many others
have wondered, like yourself. The only answer I can pive
to such wonderers is, that I had the wit to do the little
that I have accomplished.

“If what I have done by myself, unaided and alone, and
without the help of books, surpasses the credulity of some,
what might I not have accomplished had I obtained the
help from others which was so often promised me! But
that time is past, and there is no use in saying any thing
more about it. If I suffered privations, I had only myself
and my love of nature to blame.”

He was sometimes told that it was his “ pride” which
prevented him from being assisted as he should have been.
His answer was, that he did not know any thing about
pride. But if it consisted in not soliciting aid when in
want, and in endeavoring to conceal his poverty even when
in need of help, in order that the world might not know of
the misery which himself, his wife, and his family suffered,
then he did not hesitate to say that he and his wife were
proud. -They never refused a kindly gift, but they always
refused public charity. '

“ Although,” he says in a recent letter, “I have not
known the pangs of want for some time, thanks to my
children, I could scarcely have failed to do. so in the years
that are past: it would have been beyond the common run

 

* “ Souter, a shoemaker. Ne sutor, ete.
cHap. xvi.] Money Considerations. 327,

 

of things if I had not. What working-man, especially
what journeyman shoe-maker, could have brought up and
educated a large family without at times feeling privation
and the pressure of poverty? There are other trades which
have their dull seasons; but, unlike most other tradesmen,
shoe-makers are not, from their low pay, able to lay any
thing by, even when they have plenty of work. And, asa
matter of course, this made the struggle, when it did come,
all the worse to bear.

“From these facts and others which I have told you be-
fore, I say, and am ready to maintain against every oppo-
sition, that no one who steps this earth, or even crawls upon
it, need ever despair, after what I have done, of achieving
whatever of good they have once set their minds on. Firm-
ness of purpose and the will to do and dare will accom-
plish, I may say, almost any thing. The will is the key
that opens the door to every path, whether it be of science
or of nature, and every one has it in his power to choose
the road for himself.” _

Notwithstanding Edward’s power of will and indomita-
ble perseverance, and the amount of useful scientific work
which he has accomplished, it was easy to see that he was
rather disappointed at the results of his labors. It is true
that his zoological labors did not enable him to earn mon-
ey: indeed, he had not worked for money considerations.
Natural science is always unremunerative, especially to those
who have to work for their daily bread.* Nor had his self-
imposed labors lifted him above his position in any way.
He began life as a shoe-maker, and he continued a shoe-
maker to the end. Many called him a fool because he
gave himself up to “beasts.” He himself says, “I have
been a fool to nature all my life.”

 

* We are sorry to observe that the late Mr. Jonathan Couch, for
whom Edward made so many of his researches at Banff, died in re-
duced circumstances, rendering it necessary for his daughters to go
out in search of employment.
328 Things he has not done. (CHAP. XVIII.

 

“Tf it had not been for the industry of my children,” he
says, “my wife and myself would have been in starvation
these many years back, as all that I have been making
could scarcely have kept myself in bread. So that is some-
thing. But if ever I complained about my life, I never
meant it to be in that way. Had the object of my life
been money instead of nature—had I pursued the one with
half the ardor and perseverance that I did the other—I
have no hesitation in wayne, that by this time I would have
been a rich man.

“But it is not the things I have done that vex me so
much as the things that I have not done. I feel that I
could have accomplished so much more. I did not want
the will, but I wanted the means. It is that consideration
that hurts me when I think about it, as I sometimes do. I
know what I have done, and from that I can conceive how
much more I might have done had [ got but a little help.
Think yourself—only think for a few moments—of a poor,
illiterate working-man struggling against every sort of pri-
vation for so many years, with no other object in view but
simply to gain a little knowledge of the works of creation
—think of that, and say if I can be blamed because I oc-
casionally grieve that I had no help, when it would have
enabled me to do so much more than I have already done.
For these reasons I sometimes consider my life to have been
a blasted one—like a diamond taken from the mine, and,
instead of being polished, crushed to the earth in a thou-
sand fragments.”

Still, Edward must, to a great extent, have enjoyed a
happy life. He was hopeful and cheerful. He had always
some object to pursue, with a purpose. That constitutes
one of the secrets of happiness. He had an interesting
hobby: that is another secret. Natural history is one of
the most delightful of hobbies.. He had the adventure, the
chase, the capture, and often the triumph of discovery. He
must have found great delight in finding a new bird, a new
CHAP. XVIII. | Edward at Home. 329

 

star-fish, a new crustacean, a new ascidian. It. must also
‘have been a pleasure to him to be in correspondence with
some of the most enlightened men of the time; to have
received their congratulations upon his discoveries; and to
have been rewarded with the titular honors which they had
to bestow.

But what did they think of him at home? A man may
be a well-disposed man out-of-doors, yet altogether differ-
ent in his domestic ¢ircle. _ Follow him home, and see what
he is there. We have seen that Edward was a happy fa-
ther and a happy husband. His children, as we have said,
‘were brought up well and virtuously. There was no better-
conducted family in Banff. When young, they assisted him
in his labors among his fishes and crustaceans; and, when
old, they were proud to help him in all ways. Is not this
a great feature in a man’s character? -

What did his wife say of him? When reminded of his
wanderings about at night, and asked what she thought of
them, she replied, “‘ Weel, he took such an interest in beasts,
that I didna compleen. Shoe-makers were then a very
drucken set, but his beasts keepit him frae them. My
man’s been a sober man all his life; and he never negleckit
his wark. Sae I let him be.” Wise woman!

Scotch people are very reticent. They rarely speak of
love or affection. It is all “understood.” It is said that
a Scotchman will never tell his wife that he loves her, until
he is dying. But you can always tell, from the inside of
a house, what the woman is, and how her husband regards
her. In these respects, it may be said that Edward, though
poor. and scrimp of means, has always enjoyed a happy
‘home; and that is saying a great deal.

It is not, however, the amount of love and respect with
which aman is regarded at home that satisfies him, so
much as the esteem with which he is regarded by his fel-
low-men. When a man works gratuitously for science, and
labors for the advancement of knowledge, he seems entitled
330 His Failures. [CHAP. XVIII.

 

to admiration and respect. But Edward did not think that
his labors had been properly recognized. This seems to
have vexed him very much. He had often been promised
aid in the shape of books, but no such aid ever came. “All
my honors,” said he, “have come from a distance. I have
kept the museum of the Banff Institution for about twenty-
one years, for, I may say, almost nothing; and though the
Linnzan Society thought me worthy of: being elected an as-
sociate, the people here did not think me worthy of being
an honorary member of their society. Still, am not com-
plaining. The people of Banff had no right to make me a
gentleman.”

The truth is, that it was a misfortune for Edward to have
lived so far from the centre of scientific pursuits. Banff
was a place comparatively unknown. In the pursuit of sci-
ence a man requires fellowship: he especially, requires the
fellowship of books. Banff could do little for him in this
respect. Had he lived in a larger town, with a library at his
command, he could have acquired the friendship of scientif-
ic men, who are rarely disposed to be narrow in their “ en-
couragement of native genius and talent,” however poor the
student may be. :

But it was difficult for Edward to remove to any other
place. He had his family to provide for, and he had not
the means of removing them elsewhere. He was tied like
a limpet to its rock. Still, he did all that he could to im-
prove his position where he was. He tried to secure an’
appointment in connection with the police; but having no
influence, he failed. He applied to the London College
of Surgeons for a curatorship; but Mr. Quekett having in-
formed him that it was only a fourth portership that was
vacant, he failed there too. Then he studied electricity, for
the purpose of assisting a doctor in electrifying his patients;
but, thinking that he might kill more than he could cure,
he gave up the idea of proceeding further. He next tried
photography, but, not being ‘provided with sufficient capital,
 

i “AND HERE I AM STILL.”
CHAP. XVIII. | Resignation. 383

 

he gave up that too. The last application he made was for
an appointment as subéurator of the City Industrial Mu-
seum of Glasgow, but he received no encouragement.

After abandoning photography as a means of subsistence,
he returned to his old trade. “As a last and only remain-
ing resource,” he said, in June, 1875, “I betook myself to
my old and time-honored friend—a friend of fifty years’
standing, who has never yet forsaken me, nor refused help
to my body when weary, nor rest to my limbs when tired
—my well-worn cobbler’s stool. Anp HERE I am sTILL on
the old boards, doing what little I can, with the aid of my
well-worn kit, to maintain myself and my family; with the
certainty that instead of my getting the better of the lap-
-stone and leather, they will very soon get the better of me.
And although I am now like a beast tethered to his pastur-
age, with a portion of my faculties somewhat impaired, I
can still appreciate and admire as much as ever the beau-
ties and wonders of nature, as exhibited in the incompara-
ble works of our adorable Creator.”
THE FAUNA OF BANFFSHIRE.
[Only a selection of the Fauna is given in the following pages.
Had the insects, reptiles, star-fishes, zoophytes, mollusks, plants, etc.,
which Edward found in Banffshire been given, it would have more
than filled the present volume.] :
SELECTIONS FROM
THE FAUNA OF BANFFSHIRE,

By THOMAS EDWARD, A.LS,

 

MAMMALS.

Metzs taxus [Badger or Brock]. See p. 107.
Sparingly met with in our wooded districts.

Musrzya martes [Pine Martin].

Found chiefly in the higher parts of the county. One was ibsenved,
in 1848, to descend from a tree in the hills of Boyndie, and go
into a rabbit’s hole. The hole was stopped up, and a spade was
brought to dig the animal out. It had, however, escaped by an-
other outlet from the burrow.

Mousre.a purorius [Polecat or Fumart].
See p. 118.

Mustena vuiearis [ Weasel or Whitret].

More frequent than the polecat. While the latter would seem to
delight more in plantations and whins, the other would appear to
think more of old dikes, grassy hillocks, and small cairns of
stones. Both are very destructive, killing much more than they
devour. See p. 112.

Musre.a erminea [Lrmine or Stoat].

This species is often mistaken for the weasel. They are very simi-
lar during summer, their colors being then the same. In winter,
however, the ermine changes to a pure white, excepting in a por-
tion of the tail, which is always black. In this state they are all
but universally called “White,” or rather “Fite Futrates.’ The

true weasel never changes.

Lurra vonearis [ Otter]. -
Often met with in suitable localities along the sea-shore, as well as
by many of our streams and streamlets. See p. 117.

15
338 Banfishire Fauna. [ APPENDIX.

 

Canis vuures [Fox, Tod Lowrie, or Reynard].

A well-known animal, especially in the country districts. See pp.
112, 205.

Fexis catis [Common Wild Cat].

The wild cat is now, perhaps, extinct with us, though at one time it
was frequently found in the woods and rocky glens of the more
alpine portions of the interior. One which I had the pleasure of
seeing, and which was killed in Glen Avon, measured over four
feet in length, and was well proportioned in every other respect.
It was altogether a very formidable-looking animal.

Tapa Evrop2 [Mole or Mowdiewort].
This harmless creature is often met with. It is very useful to agri-
culturists by turning up the fertile soil, yet they constantly wage
war against it. Pure white varieties are sometimes met with.

Erivaceus Evropaus [ Hedgehog].

Ever since I remember, “ hedgey” was altogether unknown, or, at
least, very seldom seen, in Banffshire. Now he is plentiful, and
seems to be still on the increase. See p. 112.-

coe PIPISTRELLUS tr Bat or Backié].

ESPERTILIO DAUBENTIONII

These are both to be found here. The first is the most common.
It appears that we have another species of bat here. It is larger
than either of the other two. I have met with it in our woods.

Scrurus vuuearis [Squirrel].
It is only of late that this agile and tricky little quadruped has be-
come domiciled in this county.

Myoxvs arveLLanarivs [Dormouse].
Tam not quite sure whether we have this animal or not. I think I
have taken it, but am not able to ascertain the fact with certainty.

Mus muscutus [Common Mouse]. _

There is no doubt about this sly little domestic. Specimens of va-
rious colors—such as white, gray striped with white, reddish, and
yellow—sometimes occur. Musical individuals of the genus are
not infrequent. See p. 118.

Mos sytvaticus [Long-tailed or Wood-mouse].

Is to be found in almost every conceivable situation, except in
towns.

Mus messortus [Harvest Mouse].

This sleek little’ thing, the smallest of British quadrupeds, is now
well ascertained to be a native of Banffshire. I have myself taken
it several times.
APPENDIX. | Mammals. 339

 

Mus rarrus [Black Rat].

This, the native British rat, though at one time very abundant, is so
no longer. It has been expelled or driven back, as the Celts have
been by the Scandinavians, by the Norway rat. The black rat is
seldom seen now. Pure white varieties have been found.

Mus pscumanus [Norwegian Rat or Rottin].
Very plentiful, and bids fair, ere long, to extirpate his weaker rela-
tive, the black rat. See p. 115.

Arvicota amputsius [ Water-rat].

To be found on the banks of all our streams. It is sometimes
turned up with the plow, at a considerable distance from the wa-
ter. It is a curious circumstance that the water-rats of England
are mostly of a light-brown color, while those of Scotland are
usually jet-black.

ArvicoLa acrestis [Short-tailed Field Mouse].
Plentiful, and very destructive to young trees.

ARVICOLA PaRTENSIS [Meadow Mouse].
Like the last in appearance and habits. It is recognizable by its
much longer tail.

Sorex aranzus [Common Shrew].
Plentiful.

Sorex ropiens [ Water Shrew].
Found along burnsides, and occasionally in ditches.

Sorex remirer [Black Water Shrew].

Not so frequently found as the last. The water shrew is very diffi-
cult to be taken. I never could manage to trap any of them:
they baffled all my ingenuity. My only resource was the gun,
and even with it I have often had enough to do. I have sat for
from six to seven hours without moving, watching for an oppor-
tunity of shooting the water shrew, and been doomed to disap-
pointment at last.

Lepus roapus [Common Hare or Maukins]. Ps
Very plentiful in the low grounds. See pp. 110, 246.

Lepus vartaBiLis [Blue or Alpine Hare].

This species is only to be met with in the hills and mountains, ex-
cept when driven down by stress of weather. In very severe win-
ters they occasionally descend in great numbers to the lower part
of the county, at which time they are of a pure white.

Lepus canicutus [Rabbits].
Very plentiful, in every conceivable spot, from the rocky shore, the
340 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

sand-bank, the quarry hole, the stony cairn, the old dike, the gar-
den, the orchard, and the open field, to the thickest woods.
White, black, cream-colored, striped, and pied varieties occur.
See pp. 111, 246.

Cervus exapHus [ Stag, Red or Highland Deer].
This, perhaps the fleetest, as he is the noblest, of our wild animals,
still holds his place in the county, though not now so numerous
as he used to be.

Cervus capreoLus [Roe Deer].

The roe seems to be more widely distributed than the red deer; and
while the latter usually inhabits the more sequestered heath,
grassy dells, and wooded glens of the higher lands, the other is
mostly found in the plantations and copses of the lower levels.
See p. 110.

Pxoca virutina [Seal or Selch].
Stray individuals of this aquatic tribe pay us a visit now and then.
They are common in Cromarty Firth.

DeLpHinus pHocana [Porpoise or Sea-hog].
This is another watery visitant, much more frequently seen than
the seal.

Detpainus pELputs [Striped Porpoise or Dolphin].
A specimen of this beautiful porpoise was taken here in 1853.

Dexrainus Tursi0 [ Bottle-nosed Porpoise].
This species is said to have been taken here, though there are some
doubts as to the fact.

Detrainus pepuctoR [Pilot Whale].

Several of these have from time to time been met with. There are
other species of whales which have been captured here. One,
reported to have been a monster for size, is said to have been
found among the rocks, so far back as about the beginning of
last century, betwixt the Boyne and the point known as the King’s
Head, but of what species is not accurately known. It is stated
in the “ Statistical Account of the Parish of Rathven,” which ex-
tends about ten miles along the coast west of Cullen, that the
porpoise, the grampus, and the spermaceti-whale are frequently
seen along the shore.
APPENDIX. | Birds. 341

 

BIRDS.

Aguia carysaEtos [The Golden Eagle].
The eagle breeds in the highest parts of the county, in the rocky
heights near Ben Avon (see p. 128). They have also been seen
hovering about the sea-braes between Banff and Portsoy.

Aquita aLprcitLa [The Erne or Sea-eagle] has also been found.

Aguita HALiaEtus [ The Osprey, Fish-hawk, or Fishing Eagle] has also
been found. A very fine male specimen was shot among the
high cliffs of Gamrie Head. Another was seen at Melrose, a few
miles from where the other was obtained.

Fatco perecrinus [The Peregrine Falcon, Blue or Hunting Hawk].
The peregrine is one of our native hawks, and breeds annually,
though very sparingly, and usually in inaccessible places in some
of our highest headlands. Peregrine falcons have been taken
from their nests in Troup Head. As to the manner in which
they devour their prey, see p. 207.

Fatco asaLon [The Merlin].

A daring little fellow that breeds on several of our hills, more par-
ticularly on the Knock, the Bin (Huntly), Auchindoon, and Ben-
vennis. When strolling along our sea-braes early one morning,
I heard a tremendous noise of rooks and jackdaws ahead of me,
and on coming to the spot I found them attacking a little merlin.
One would have thought that such a host would have smothered
the little creature in a twinkling. But such was not the case.
The crows did not assail him all at once, nor yet singly; but
three, four, and as many as seven, would be on him at a time,
the main body keeping at a short distance, encouraging their
companions, as it were, with their cawings. After a while one of
these storming parties would retire, and then another would sally
forth to the charge. The merlin, however, being of lighter met-
tle and swifter of wing, managed, with wonderful dexterity, gen-
erally to avoid their attacks; now rising, now descending, and
now turning in a zigzag direction, first to one side, then to the
other; and succeeding, while doing so, in giving one or other of
his adversaries a pretty severe peck, which had the effect of send-
ing him screaming away. At last, however, a crow, which seem-
ed more courageous than the rest, rushed at the merlin with such
fury that I actually thought he would have swallowed him up at
once, or sent him headlong into the sea. But no! the merlin
withstood the shock, and contrived to deal his assailant a thrust
as he approached and passed him. The merlin now rose consid-
342 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

erably higher, and was followed only by this single opponent, who
returned with redoubled fury to the combat. Up, up they soar,
fighting as they go. They close, they scream, they grapple, and
their feathers fly like dust. Down they come, locked in deadly
embrace. I run to catch them both. But no! See! they part,
mount again and again, scream, close, and, as before, fall, but not
this time to the earth; they part and mount again. But ’tis now
their last time; for the hawk, rising several yards above his bold
and venturous antagonist, rushes down upon him with a yell,
such as hawks alone, when irritated, know how to utter, and with
such force that both fell right down into the sea, above which
they were then fighting. I looked to see them rise again, but
they did not. After a little splashing, all was over with the crow,
but not with the hawk: he was still alive, although in a very
precarious situation, from which he made several unsuccessful
attempts to rise, but could not. It would seem that in dealing
the death-blow to his tormentor he somehow or other got himself
entangled, perhaps by his talons entering some of the bones of
the crow, from whence he could not extract them. Both met
with a watery grave, for on my leaving the place they were both
fast drifting seaward, a breeze blowing off the land at the time,
with the crows hovering over them and still cawing.

Fatco wisus [The Sparrow-hawk].

This is another daring individual. When standing on our links
not long since, and speaking to one of our keepers, something
struck me on the breast and fell to the ground. Instantly, and
like a flash of lightning, down rushed a sparrow-hawk, and picked
up a thrush from betwixt us; it rose with its booty, and was out
of sight before we could raise our guns to fire at it. The keeper
grumbled a great deal at our seeming stupidity.

Fatco tinnuncutus [ The Kestrel].

This mouse, insect, and caterpillar eating bird —or hawk, if you
will—is very common with us. When a boy, I kept, among a
host of others, several of this species. I remember that when
a mouse, a young rabbit, a leveret, and a middle-sized rat were
presented at the same time, either of the former was sure to be
pounced upon, while the latter usually lay unheeded. Since then,
during my thirty years of taxidermal practice, I have often dis-
sected this bird, and found in its stomach the remains principally
of the smaller quadrupeds, insects (chiefly beetles), and caterpil-
lars. Yet this poor bird is persecuted with as much severity as
birds of the most destructive kind,
APPENDIX. | Birds. 348

 

Fatco paLumparius [The Goshawk].

One was shot at Tomintoul a short time ago, and two others—one at

Hillton, the other at Macduff. It is rather a rare bird.
Fatco mitvus [The Kite].

This bird was once plentiful here, but itis now rarely seen. A splen-
did specimen was recently shot at Eden, about four miles from
Banff.

Fatco sureo [The Buzzard]. :

Occasionally met with.

Faico Lagorus [Zhe Rough-legged Buzzard].

More frequent than the last. One in my collection was killed on
the hill of Dunn, and another in the museum was shot at For-
glen. The nests of this species have also been found in the
neighborhood, though rarely.

Faico aprrorus [The Honey Buzzard].

A still rarer species. A splendid specimen was shot at Gamrie a

few years ago. They are usually termed “ Gleds” with us.
Fatco £rucinosvs [The Marsh Harrier’.
Specimens of these birds are occasionally shot in this neighborhood.

Fatco cyangus [The Hen Harrier].
Occasionally met with. The male is known here by the names of
gray, blue, and lead hawk; the female by the name of ring-tail.

Fatco crnerascens [Ash-colored Harrier].

I have only met with one of this species here. It was a first-rate

specimen—a male, and a very pretty bird.
Srrrx orus [The Long-eared Horned Owl].

Plentiful. I once found a nest of this bird with eggs about the
middle of March. See p. 124.

Srrrx pracuyorus [ Lhe Short-cared Owl, Woodcock, or Grass Owl].

A migrating species with us. Specimens are frequently met with
by sportsmen when out shooting snipes, woodcocks, ete.

Srarx ruamuEa [The Barn Oul].

This bird, though common in England, is very rare with us. I know
of only four being procured within twenty-four years. One is in
my own collection.

Srarx atuco [The Tawny or Brown Owl].
Almost equal in numbers to the long-eared owl, which is plentiful.

Srarx nycrea [The Snowy Owl].
One of the most magnificent of the owl tribe. What a splendid and
showy bird! I think the term “glistening” or “spangled” might,
344 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

with all truth and justice, be applied to this shining species. What
a noble-looking bird! What beautiful eyes! the pupil dark, and
the iris like two rings of the finest burnished gold, set, as it were,
in a casket of polished silver. I am glad, nay, proud, of being
able to give this king of British owls a place in my list, and of
being able, perhaps for the first time, to say that at least one pair
have been known to breed within the district. A few miles west
of Portsoy, and not far from Cullen, stands the bold and towering
form of Loggie Head. In connection with this rocky promontory,
and about midway up its rugged height, there is a narrow cave or
chasm called “Dickie Hare.” In this cave a pair of these owls
bred in 1845. Unluckily, however, for them, a party of fishermen
belonging to Cullen, returning one morning from their vocation,
discovered their retreat by observing one of the birds go in. This
was too good to lose sight of, so up the dangerous and jagged
precipice scrambled one of the crew, and managed to reach the
aperture where the bird disappeared; but instead of only one, as
he expected, he was not a little surprised to find that he had four
to deal with—two old and two young ones well fledged; and the
apartment was so narrow that only one person could enter at a
time, so that help was out of the question ; and his ambition grasp-
ed the whole. What was he to do, or what couldhe do? Turn?
—then the birds would have flown. No! but, just as I would
have done had IJ been in his place, he set upon them all; and,
after a prolonged and pretty severe battle, in which he got him-
self a good deal lacerated and his clothes torn by the claws of the
birds, he succeeded in capturing them all alive, except one of the
young ones, which fell a sacrifice to the struggle. The state of
excitement which the little town was in as the man landed with
his prizes, and the news of his morning’s achievement spread, may
in some measure be imagined, but can hardly be described.

Srraix passerina [The Litile Owl].
I gave this bird a place on the authority of a Mr. Wilson, who in-
forms me he saw one in a wood near this place.

Moscicapa ertsota [The Spotted Fly-catcher].

It is somewhat strange, but not less strange than true, that this syl-
van and garden-loving species should also be found nestling and
inhabiting our wild and rocky ravines; yet such is the case. I
have met with them twice.

Muscicapa atricapiLua [ Zhe Pied F'ly-catcher].

T have a specimen of this bird, a male, in my possession, which was
shot about thirteen miles from this place.
APPENDIX. | Birds. 345

 

Cinctus aquaticus [The Dipper or Water Cockie].

Every means has been put in requisition to destroy this little bird.
It was abundant thirty years ago; but it is now rarely to be seen.
It was supposed to destroy the young salmon, hence it has been
shot down wherever found. But I have never, as yet, found any
thing appertaining to fish in its stomach, and I have dissected
about forty; water insects and their larve being what I have
most frequently observed.

Turpvus viscrvorus [Zhe Missel Thrush].
About twenty years ago such a bird was scarcely known among us,
but now it bids fair to outnumber the common species; for, as the
one gains ground, the other seems to lose it.

Torpus pitaris [ The Fieldfare].
A winter visitor, We call them “ Hel-in-piets;” that is, “Highland
piets.” They arrive in October, and depart in April. Some sea-
sons they occur in thousands, but in others only sparingly.

Turpus musicus [The Song Thrush or Mavis].

Usually very common in this neighborhood, but becoming super-

, seded by the missel thrush. (For its singing propensities, see p.
242). There is one fact in connection with the rearing of these
birds which I must not omit to mention—namely, that if any of
the young refuse to open their mouths to receive food when of-
fered, the old one knocks them soundly on the head with his bill
until they do so. I have observed this frequently, and was not a
little amused at it.

Turpus iL1acus [The Redwing].
A winter visitor, like the fieldfare, but not nearly so numerous.
Turvus meruLa [Zhe Blackbird, Blackie].

Generally distributed, but not in great plenty in any place. White
varieties have occasionally been met with, as well as pied. When
the winter storms send the thrushes to the sea-shore to seek for
food, this bird betakes himself to farm-steadings and stable-yards,
so that he never suffers so much as the thrushes do.

Turpvus rorquatus [ The Ring-ouzel].

Rare. A few breed now and then among the higher districts of the
county.

Accentor mopuxanis [ The Hedge-sparrow].

Generally distributed, but nowhere in abundance.

Syivia RoBecuLA [Robin-redbreast].

This rather bold, red-breasted gentleman, or cock-robin, as we call

him here, is somewhat more numerous than the last.
15*
346 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

Syivia pHenicurus [The Redstart].
Frequents our gardens, and breeds there.

Sytvia tirnys [The Black Redstart].
I am only aware of two of these birds having been seen in our
county.
Sytvia Rupicoua [ The Stone-chat].

Syztvia rupetra [Zhe Whinchat].

Neither of these birds is very numerous with us; but they may
occasionally be seen in suitable localities. The first is with us
all the year, and the other, though migratory, is occasionally seen
in winter.

Syivra @NnanrHe [Zhe Wheat-ear'].

A summer visitor. Wheat-ears generally appear on the sea-coast
first, from whence they disperse inland. They are called with us
the “Stone chatterer.”

Syztvia pHRacitis [ The Sedge-warbler].

Comparatively rare. It is only of late years that this bird has vis-
ited us. How pleasant and enchanting it is to wander by the
margin of the running stream either at latest even or at earli-
est morn, or even during summer’s midnight hours, and hear the
sedge-warbler pouring forth his long, harmonious song—himself
all the while hid in some neighboring bush. See pp. 66, 126.

Syzvia atricaPiiya [ The Blackcap]. .

Rarer even than the last. A most noble songster, though I prefer
the thrush.

Sytvia cinerea [ The Whitethroat].

More numerous than either of the two last. It arrives about, the
same time.

Sytvia sipitatrix [ Zhe Wood Wren].

Very rare. It is only seen at intervals, though it is supposed to
breed here.

Sytvra trocarLus [Zhe Willow Wren].

Common throughout the whole county. It is found in plantations,
whins, brooms, and in gardens and orchards. It generally nests
on the ground, It is a very lively songster.

Syitvia rora [The Chiffchaf’].

The only bird of this kind that I have seen is one that I took my-
self in the Duff House policies.

Recutus orestatus [The Golden-crested Regulus or Wren].

Wherever there are suitable woods, this bird is to be found among
us in pretty fair numbers.
APPENDIX. | Birds. 347

 

Parus mayor [The Great Titmouse],
Parus caruevs [Zhe Blue Titmouse],
Parus ater [The Cole Titmouse], and

Parus cauputus [ The Long-tailed Titmouse].

These birds all exist in the county in about equal numbers. It is
rather an interesting and pleasant sight, and one which I have
often witnessed, to see small bands of these lively, active little
birds, together with the gold-crests and creepers, all in company,
foraging about among the leafy trees in winter; the tits on the
branches, the creepers on the trunk, and, if there is no snow on
the ground, the gold-crests generally lower down, near about the
roots. All is life, bustle, and animation, each cheering the other
with its tiny note. See p. 80.

Parus paxustris [The Marsh Titmouse].
This bird is very seldom seen among us.

Parus crestatus [The Crested Titmouse].
This rare British tit is an inhabitant of the higher and middle dis-
tricts of the county, where it breeds occasionally.

Bompycitta Garrua [ The Waa-wing].
This bird is an occasional winter visitor. Some seasons large flocks
appear, then only a few; then, again, perhaps none; and this
may be the case for many succeeding seasons.

Moracttra Taree [Pied Wagtail].

Wherever there is a stream or a quarry, you will meet, in summer,
with a pair or two of these active little insect-eaters. During win-
ter they are invariably to be seen on lawns, or about mills and
farm-steadings. They remain with us all the year round.

Moracittta BoaruLa [ The Gray Wagtail].

This is our yellow wagtail, being known by no other name. Though
generally distributed throughout the country, it is not nearly
so abundant. It sometimes breeds in company with the sand
martin.

Moracitia campzstris [Ray’s Wagtail].

Only an occasional visitor with us. They breed plentifully among
the hillocks which stretch along the line of coast between the
Don (Aberdeenshire) and Newborough; then again from Peter-
head to Fraserburgh.

Antaus arporeus [The Tiree Pipit].

This bird is frequently seen; it breeds near Inverkeithnay, Rothie-

may, and Inveraven.
348 ‘ Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

Aytuus pratensis [The Meadow Pipit].
Plentiful throughout the whole county.

Anruus ogscurus [The Rock Pipit].
Known all along our coast.

Anraus Ricarpi [Richard's Pipit].
I have only seen this bird once, at the foot of the Knock Hill.

ALAUDA ARVENSIS [ The Sky-lark or Laverock].

Universally distributed along the whole length and breadth of the
county. It is, I think, the most numerous bird we have, To-
ward the months of October and November a great diminution
of its numbers takes place; but a little after New-year’s-day
they again begin to make their appearance. Where they have
been in the mean time, I have never been able to ascertain; one
thing is certain, however, that I have seen them returning from
the east and from the north, in immenge numbers. See pp. 128,
242,

Axaupa arsorea [The Wood-lark].
Ihave seen but one of these birds—in the avenue of Duff House.
It was alone and in song at the time—May 27th, 1850.

Emperiza nrvatis [The Snow Bunting).

Seen in large flocks during winter, and exhibiting a motley mixture
of pure white, jet-black, dull tawny, and deep chestnut—a beau-
tiful band across the wings being conspicuous only in flight.
They arrive about the beginning of November, and depart about
the first of April. They sing beautifully, in a sweet, low lilt.

EmpBeriza mitiarra [ The Corn Bunting].
This bird is not very numerous with us.

Emperiza scHenicivs [The Black-headed Bunting or Ring Foul].

It frequents the mosses. I have found their nests in bushes, among
reeds, or on the ground. It is called the “ Moss Sparrow” by the
country people. I once saw a black variety of this bird, and an-
other almost yellow.

EMBERIZA CITRINELLA [ The Yellow-hammer].

More numerous than either of the two last, The common name
here is “Skite.” It is not particular as to the place where it
builds its nest. I have seen one built in a rut on a cart-track,
close by the way-side. On passing afterward, I found the nest
had been destroyed by a cart-wheel passing over it.

Emperiza cous [The Coil Bunting].
Very rarely found in this quarter.
APPENDIX. | Birds. 849

 

Frinewia caress [ The Chaffinch].
Abundant. :

FRINGILLA MONTIFRINGILLA [ The Brambling].
A winter visitor. A few may be met with every season.

Frincinta montana [The Tree Sparrow].
To be found in several localities throughout the county.

Frincitta pomestica [ The House Sparrow].
Numerous.

FRINGILLA cHLoRIs [Zhe Greenjinch].
Pretty generally distributed throughout the country, and especially
in woody places. The bird is easily tamed.
Frincitta coccorsraustes [ The Hawyfinch].
A rare bird with us.

Frinewa ciris [ The Painted Finch].
A migratory species. Only one specimen has been seen.
Feineinta carpus.is [ The Goldyinch].
These birds have in a great measure been captured by the bird-
catchers. See p. 243.

Frineitta spinvs [ The Siskin].

Fewer than before. They. have been thinned by the bird-catchers.
A tamable bird.

Frinemia canapina [ The Linnet].

There is no house bird that possesses so many names as this one.
It is the rose lintie so long as it retains its red breast ; but when
that is gone or wanting, it is then the gray lintie, the whin lintie,
the brown lintie, and so on. Cultivation is driving the linties
away, by tearing down every whin, knoll, and brae, where it is
possible for the plow and spade to work their way.

Frinertia Linaria [The Lesser Redpole].

This is found most plentifully in the higher districts of the county ;
but in severe winters large flocks of them descend to the lower
grounds.

Frincruia Borwaris [ The Mealy Redpole).

A rare species.

Faincitia montium [The Twite].

Another mountain as well as sea-shore rocky species. It is the
most elegant of all our linnets.

Loxia prrrauta [ The Bullfinch).
This is another prize for the trapper. But great numbers are an-
350 Banffshire Fawna. [ APPENDIX.

 

nually destroyed by gardeners and nursery-men, who believe that
they are destructive. Yet their principal food consists of insects ;
and insects are also the chief food for their young. I hope a bet-
ter day will arrive for these lovely little birds, when they will be
cherished and encouraged rather than hated and destroyed. The
bullfinch is easily taught to whistle or to “ pipe” familiar tunes,

Loxia curvivosrra [Zhe Cross-bill].
This bird is on the increase. They nest with us, and have done
so for some years. There is a great diversity of color and size
among them.

Loxia prryopsitracus [Parrot Cross-bill].

While walking one morning round the Whinhill, and just as I
reached the south side, I was rather surprised at hearing the
voice of what I knew to be a stranger. On looking to a low,
bare wall, about three or four yards in front of me, I beheld, in
all his pride and beauty, a male parrot cross-bill. This is the
only instance, to my knowledge, of its existence among us.

Loxra Levcoprera [ White-winged Cross-bill].

About fifty years ago, a large flock of these birds suddenly made
their appearance on the “Castle trees,” in this neighborhood.
Their strange appearance and gaudy plumage soon attracted
notice, nearly the whole town flocking to see the “foreigners.”
They appeared quite exhausted, many of them dropping from the
trees,

Srurnus vurearis [ Zhe Starling].
The starling has been rapidly increasing of late years. At one time
single starlings were rarely to be seen, whereas flocks of this
bird now appear toward the close of every season.

Srurnus prepatorivs [The Red-winged Starling].
A pretty bird, which occasionally visits this county.

Pastor RosEvs [Rose-colored Pastor].
This is another rare beauty, occasionally seen in this county.

Corvus corax [The Raven].

A few of these birds inhabit the precipitous parts of the coast,
where they breed in company with the falcon, kestrel, gull, guille-
mot,etc. The raven will tame pretty well; it will talk hoarsely,
and do mischievous tricks,

Corvus corone [ Carrion-crow], and

Corvus cornix [Hooded Crow].
Both occur in about equal numbers. See p. 243,
APPENDIX. | Birds. 351

 

Corvus Fruciteeus [The Rook].
Many large rookeries exist in the county. See p. 127.

Corvus Moneputa [ The Jackdaw].
Very plentiful. See p. 45.

Corvus pica [Magpie].
One of the most bashful of birds. It is very sparingly distributed,
and in some places is scarcely known. Our keepers both shoot
and trap them wherever found.

Picus masor [ Greater Spotted Woodpecker].

Several pairs of this showy bird have been procured within our dis-
trict. It is also found in the higher parts of the county. A
specimen was shot near Banff, and when dissected its stomach
was found crammed with two species of grub, of a creamy or
grayish color. It contained also several beetles and a small
spider.

Picus minor [Lesser Spotted Woodpecker].

More rare than the last. One sent to me, fourteen years since,
from Mayen, where it was shot, and another seen on the Lodge
hills, are all that I am aware of. Very probably others have oc-
curred.

Yunx rorquitya [ Wryneck].

The late Professor Macgillivray, of Marischal College, Aberdeen, in-
formed me that one was taken at or near Portsoy, by a pupil of
his. One, now in the Banff Museum, was taken six years ago,
about fourteen miles from the town.

Cerrata FaMILiarRis [ Creeper].

Wherever there are suitable woods, these birds are sure to be
found. We sometimes read and hear, as extraordinary occur-
rences, that nests have been found in the hearts of trees that
have been sawed up. Now, to those acquainted with the facts,
these occurrences are easily accounted for. I know a tree my-
self which contains two nests, both with eggs. About seventeen
years ago there was in the side of this tree a small aperture,
about six feet from the ground, which led downward to a cavity
in the centre of the trunk. The opening was so narrow out-
wardly that it only admitted two of my fingers, but widened as it
proceeded to the bottom, a distance of about eighteen inches.
In this hole, at the time referred to, a pair of creepers built their
nest and laid eggs, after which they disappeared. Next season a
pair of blue titmice acted in a similar manner; and they also dis-
appeared, doubtless in consequence of being tormented by boys,
352 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

and of the narrowness of the entrance. The growth of the tree
caused the hole to get less and less every year, and it has been
for several years so completely closed that the point of the finest
needle can not be inserted. The tree, a sturdy beech, has the
two nests and eggs in its very core. It is thus evident how easily
these “ extraordinary occurrences” may be accounted for.

Trociopytes Evropavs [ Wren].

The dear little wren, the lion of small birds, with his short, jerking
little tail, I have known and admired from childhood. Who that
has trod the woods in spring or summer has not heard a very
loud though by no means inharmonious song, proceeding from
some bush or bank, and not admired it. And who is there, if he
did not know the bird, that would not be surprised beyond meas-
ure at so small a creature being able to make such a loud noise?
Of all the deserted nests I have ever met with, those of the wren
would, I am sure, count twenty per cent. over any other species.
I am unable to account for this, but perhaps it arises from their
building several before they get one to please them. I once
found one of their nests in an old tin kettle, which had become
fixed among the branches of a holly. The wren, like other birds,
does not sing so well in confinement. When in their native
haunts, there is a pathos in their voice, and a music in their melo-
dy, which makes the heart thrill with pleasure.

Urura Epops [Hoopoe].

Three or four of these pretty birds have occurred here: one was
taken at Duff House, in 1832, by a Mr. Mackay, in such a state
of exhaustion as to allow itself to be captured by hand; another
was seen by myself, a few years back, in the same place; and
two others are said to have been since obtained in other parts of
the county.

CucuLvs canorus [ Cuckoo]. :
This is another sweet and darling gem. Well do I remember, when
only a little fellow, rummaging about the Den of Rubislaw, near
Aberdeen, how surprised I was on hearing the sound of “ Cuckoo,
cuckoo,” from a small plantation close by, and how overjoyed I
was when I obtained a sight of the bird; and now that I am old,
the sweet voice of the harbinger of sunny days still cheers me.
They are not very-numerous with us along the sea-coastg but are
very frequent in the higher districts. They generally appear
about the end of April. It is said that they can retain their eggs
for a number of days after they are ready for extrusion. I will
relate, without comment, a circumstance of this sort which came
APPENDIX. | Birds. 353

 

under my own observation. A female specimen, shot in a garden
here, was brought to me to be preserved. On dissecting it, I was
agreeably surprised at finding in the oviduct an egg as perfect as
if it had been obtained from a nest.

Coracras GarRuLa [Roller].

I am only aware of one specimen of this pretty and rare bird being
obtained in our county: it was a splendid specimen, killed on the
hills of Boyndie.

Merops APIastER [Bee-eater].

I give this species a place here from having heard that a greenish
bird, somewhat less than a thrush, with a longish bent bill, and
with two feathers of the tail longer than the rest, was killed in
a garden between Huntly and Dufftown, about seven years ago.
It has since been found at the hills of Boyndie, about two miles
from Banff.

ALcrpo ispipa [Kingfisher].
Several of these sparkling gems have been taken here at different
times. See p. 66.

Hirunvo rustica [Swallow], and

Hrrvnvo riparia [Jartin].

These birds are in about equal numbers. The latter generally nes-
tle in the corners of windows, the former in barns, etc. ; they also
breed along the sea-shore wherever there is a cave or projecting
rock suitable. White and cream-colored varieties are sometimes
met with.

Hironpo ursica [Sand-martin].

Wherever there is a bank of any height, and not too hard, whether
along the sea-shore or river-side, or a quarry or sand-hole, a col-
ony of these active little creatures is almost sure to be met with
during summer. It is surprising to see how they perforate these
places, and the depth to which they will sometimes go, especially
when we cougider the remarkably feeble instruments with which
they do it—namely, a very small and slender bill, and feet equal-
ly small and tender.

CyeseLus avus [Swift].

Of all our migratory species this is generally the last to arrive, and
the first to depart. Next to the sky-lark, the swift appears to
ascend highest in his aérial flights; and a very beautiful sight
it is to see it, on a clear, still evening, gamboling about so far
above the earth, and, it may be, screaming its farewell requiem to
the departing sun. The swift is the first to depart, toward the
354 . Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

end of August or beginning of September, and it returns about
the middle of May; the sand-martin next, or about the second
or third week in September, and it usually returns about the
third week in April; and the swallow and house-martin com-
monly about the first week or middle of October, and they re-ap-
pear about the Ist of May. Before I part with this interesting
tribe I must become a little arithmetical. We are frequently
told, and justly, of the great benefit swallows and other insect-
feeders do, by the countless herds of noxious creatures which
they destroy. I will relate an instance of my own experience in
this respect. Picking up a swallow which had been shot by a
friend, I found that its mouth was crammed with gnats and flies.
Some of them were alive. They all seemed attached to the mouth
by a glutinous fluid. The bird had apparently been catering for
its young. Being desirous of nfaking a further examination, I
wrapped it in paper and put it in my pocket. On reaching home
I opened the paper, when a number of the gnats buzzed out into
my face, much to my regret; but I succeeded in counting up-
ward of 70, and I am quite sure there were more than 100 in
all. Now, it is a well-known fact that both birds assist in rear-
ing their young. Well, say that they visit the nest every ten min-
utes (which is under the mark), and that every time of doing so
each bird conveys 70 insects; this in an hour amounts to 840;
in a day of twelve hours, which is but a short day for a swallow
at that season of the year, to 10,080; in a week of seven days, to
70,560; and in a fortnight, to 141,120. But if we carry the cal-
culation a little farther, by supposing that the birds rear two
broods in a season, although the number is often three, we have,
at the ratio at which we have been counting, a total of 282,240
insects destroyed in one year by two birds alone, while rearing
their two broods!

CaprimuLeus Evropzus [Wightjar].

Of late years this species would appear to havépecome more nu-

merous, but it is still very far from plentiful. é
CotumBa PaLumBus [Ring-dove]. ‘

Or, as we have it, Cushie Doo. This bids fair to become one of the
greatest pests of the farmers. The wild pigeons have increased
amazingly within the last few years, and the damage they do is
incalculable. This increase is caused by the almost total destruc-
tion of the hawk tribe, which tended greatly to thin their numbers.

CotumBa Livia [Rock Dove].
A few pairs breed in the caverns along our coast, It is a rare case,
APPENDIX. | Birds. 355

 

however, to get a pure specimen ; as domestic pigeons from the
farms near sometimes breed with them. I have seen white spec-
imens, as well as those of a sand color.

CotumBa furtuR [ Turtle-dove].
Three or four specimens of this species are said to have been seen,
and some of them obtained, within the county; but whether wild
ones, or individuals that had escaped, has not been ascertained.

PHASIANUS coLcHICUS [Pheasant].

Introduced, but seems to thrive very well; it is a beautiful ornament
to parks and woods. Partially pied varieties sometimes occur,
and another, called the “silver pheasant.”

Terrao TETRIX [Black Grouse].
Exists chiefly in the higher districts.

Terrao Exoricus [Red Grouse].
Exists on all our moors and hills, but not in great numbers.

Terrao Lacorus [Ptarmigan].

Less frequent than either of the two last. Ptarmigans inhabit the
summits of our highest mountains; they are seldomer seen than
those which frequent the lower ground. Like all others of the
grouse tribe, they are yearly decreasing in number.

Perprix cinerea [ Partridge).

Pretty common. A very cunning and faithful mother is the female;
for when she has eggs she never goes out, if time permits, without
hiding them so carefully that it is almost impossible to detect
their whereabouts; and if you take her by surprise, away she
hobbles on one leg, and a wing trailing on the ground, as if wound-
ed. See p. 231.

Perprix rura [ The Red-legged Partridge].

Commonly called the French partridge: it has been recently found
in Banff.

Prrprix corurnix [ Quail].

That this species is a regular visitor I am not prepared to say; but
that it is an occasional visitor and breeds here is beyond all doubt.
Nests and eggs of this species are sometimes met with in cutting
grass; they are generally passed over as those of the land-rail.

Cuaraprivs pLuvia.is [ Golden Plover’.

Where moor-fowl occur, the golden plover is generally to be met
with. When the hills, heaths, and fields are covered with snow,
the plover comes down from his alpine abode, and stays at the
sea-side, where great numbers fall an easy prey to the gun of the
sea-side fowler. :
356 Banffshire Faana. [APPENDIX.

 

CHARADRIUS MORINELLUS [Dotterel].

Occasionally met with. On once asking an old keeper from the
higher grounds as to where this species breeds, he replied, “On
the gray slopes of the highest mountains, far above all the other
birds, except the ptarmigan.” I am doubtful whether it breeds
with us at all.

CHaARADRIUS HIATICULA [Ringed Plover].

These breed with us, and remain all the year round. I have found
their eggs on the sand by the beach, and forty miles inland. They
likewise nestle on the shingly banks and islands along our river-
courses. They are known here by the names of “sea-lark” and
“sunny liverock.”

VANELLUS MELANOGASTER [ Gray Plover].
Rather rare, and I believe only a winter visitor.

VanELLvs cristatus [ Lapwing].

Found on heaths and moors, and in fields, where they breed. Many
of them leave us toward winter: This is another species which
endeavors to mislead you when searching for its eggs. Of all our
field and heath birds, the lapwing is one of the most useful in de-
stroying destructive insects, such as Zabrus gibbus, etc.

Srrepsinas inTErpres [ Turn-stone].
An occasional visitor, generally in winter. See p. 220.

Caxipris arenaria [Sanderling].

A regular visitor, generally arriving in August, a few of them re-
maining through the winter. I have met with them, too, in sum-
mer, when their predominant color, instead of being whitish, is a
most beautiful reddish fawn. On their first arrival here they are
very tame, allowing you to approach within a yard or two. See
p. 164.

Hamatopus ostratecus [ Oyster-catcher)].

Why this bird is called oyster-catcher, I can ngt understand. Had
it been named “limpet-catcher,” I could have understood it. I
have crawled among the rocks in order to see them feed; when I
have seen the limpet driven from its hold, and scooped out of its
shell with as much apparent ease as I could have picked up a
Gammaris locusta ; but I have never seen it attempt to catch an
oyster. On this part of the coast its food generally consists of
the limpet, and very rarely of Acmeea testitudinalis. I have count-
ed as many as forty-one of the former in the stomach of a single
bird, while of the latter I have not met with more than three or
four examples. The oyster-catcher is a summer visitor with us,
APPENDIX. | Birds. 857

 

arriving here to breed. Now and then it may be seen during
winter. Large flocks visit us some seasons, generally in Septem-
ber, and, after remaining for a day, proceed farther south. ‘“Sea-
piet” is the name the bird is known by here.

ARDEA CINEREA [Heron].

We have some small spots where these birds breed, but which hard-
ly deserve the name of heronries. At one time, however, they
were in greater numbers. I remember taking from the stomach
of one a large water-rat, three middle-sized trout, and fifteen min-
nows. Some time ago, a person belonging to this town, while
passing through one of the streets, was startled at being hit on
the head by something which had fallen from above, and which
proved to be a small fish—the five-bearded rockling—apparently
quite fresh. On looking up, he saw nothing but a “ craigie”’ pass-
ing over the houses, pursued by a number of crows. Of course
the fish had dropped from the heron; but the man could not be
persuaded that it had not dropped from the clouds.

ARDEA PuRPUREA [ Purple Heron].
One of these birds is said to have been shot about thirteen miles
from hence. My late friend, the Rev. Mr. Smith, saw fragments of
the bird some time afterward, and believed it to be of this species.

Arpea EGRETTA [Great White Heron].
Two of these birds were observed to frequent various parts of our
coast about twenty-six years ago; but a specimen has not since
been procured.

Arpra sTELLaRis [Bittern].

Three or four of these birds are known to have paid us a visit.
One in the Banff Museum, a very pretty one, was killed near
Banff about twenty-four years since; another in the moss of
Park, and one or two at Balveny.

PiaTaLEa LEvcoRoprA [Spoonbill].
One of these rarities was found in a ditch in a wood near here, by
a young naturalist; he says it could easily have been shot, for he
approached quite close to it, and it did not appear at all shy. It
has since been found in this neighborhood.

Isis FALcINELLUS [ Glossy Ibis].
On one occasion I perceived three of these birds hovering about
the coast for a whole day, but I could not get a shot at them; it
was in winter, and during a very severe storm.

Nomenrus arquata [ Curlew].
Plentiful in certain localities along the shore in winter; they retire
358 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

in spring to the alpine and sub-alpine districts. Their note in
winter is simply “‘Whaup,” with sometimes a loud scream when
come upon suddenly. In summer, however, and while among
the moors and hills, it is more varied, being then “ Poo-l-ie,
poo-lie,” then “ Coor-lie, coor-lie,” with a long ‘ Wha-a-up” at
the end. They are not then so shy as when seen by the sea-
shore.

Nomenius pazopus [ Whimbrel].

Seldom a summer passes but a whimbrel or two may be met with
along the shore, and sometimes in some of our mosses. I think
they breed with us. They are generally very shy, and not easily
approached. Their call-note at once distinguishes them from
the curlew.

Toranus caipris [Redshank].

We have this red and long-legged gentleman rather sparingly with
us, but we have him all the year. There are certain spots coast-
wise not much frequented, where, for seven or eight months in
the year, you will seldom, if ever, fail to meet- with a few; and
when disturbed, their wild scream accords well with the solitary
places which they frequent, ‘especially where there is a low hol-
low murmuring from the ocean. This is another species, which,
lapwing-like, will flap about you when in the way of their nests,
and for noise they exceed. them completely. They generally
breed in marshy and boggy places, and about the grassy margins
of lochs, but I have also found them among bents and dry sandy
places by the sea-shore.

Toranus HYPOLENCOS [ Common Sandpiper].

The common sandpiper (or, as we have it, “kittie-needie,” from
its ery) is one of our summer birds; there is scarcely one of our
streams but has its “‘kittie-needies” in the season. They breed
on the banks.

Toranus eiortis [ Greenshank].

This is a rarity with us. I have one in my possession, out of two

which were shot in the moss of Banff.
Recurvinostra avocerta [Avocet].

More rare than the preceding.

Limosa meLanura [Black-tailed Godwit].

Only two specimens have been taken here.

Liwosa rura [Bar-tailed Godwit].

A few of these may generally be observed every autumn, either by

the sea-side or in our mosses. They do not stop long with us,
APPENDIX. | Birds. 359

 

a few days at most sufficing. Perhaps we have not suitable
localities for them.

Macueres pucnax [Ruf].
Rare. Three, I think, have been obtained, all birds of the year,
and all in autumn.

Scotopax Rusticona [ Woodcock].

Though a pair or two have been known to breed, the woodcock can
hardly rank with us but as a winter visitor. In some seasons
they are more numerous than in others. Does the snow affect
the coloring of this species? My reason for asking this ques-
tion is because, in very severe and snowy weather, I have seen
many of them of a remarkably light color; but in milder sea-
sons, and when there were little or no storms or frost, I have
never seen any of them with the same gray-like coating.

Scotopax GaLLinaeo [Common Snipe].

Though many of these breed and remain with us all the year, still
we receive great additions annually from elsewhere, and gener-
ally toward the end of autumn; but neither during summer nor
winter are they so plentiful as they were. Drainage is said to
be the cause of their comparative scarcity.

Scotopax erisza [The Brown Snipe].

Some specimens of this bird have been met with near Banff, but it
is rarely seen.

Scotopax GALLINULA [Jacksnipe].

A winter visitor only, so far as Iam aware, and by no means so nu-
merous as the preceding. The jacksnipe would appear to be a
solitary animal; at least, I have never seen more than two of them
together (of course in winter), but more commonly only one; in
fact, they are nearly always seen single. Unlike the others, how-
ever, I have seen them return to the same spot three times, after
being as often fired at.

Trinea suBarquata [Curlew Sandpiper].
I have only met with one specimen of which I can speak with cer-
tainty.
Trinca canutus [Knot].
A few generally visit us every autumn on their southward passage.
They are remarkably easy of approach.
Trinea minvuta [Little Stint]. 5
A very fine little fellow. I once had a desperate hunt after one.
See p. 139.
360 Banffshire Fauna. [ APPENDIX.

 

Trinea Temmincgnt [ Zemminck’s Stint].
Mr. Taylor, gamekeeper to the Earl of Fife, once shot a specimen
on the Deveron bank. :

TRINGA VaARIABILIs [Dunlin].

This bird breeds in a few of our marshy places, and.may now and
then be met with along the coast. Toward autumn large flocks
appear, but they do not remain long. Specimens may be picked
up occasionally, during winter, almost pure white, except the bill,
legs, and feet, which retain their usual color. This species ap-
pears to differ considerably in size, the legs and bills included,
the larger birds often having the shortest bills.

Trinca maritima [Purple Sandpiper].

A rock-loving species while with us, never leaving the rocks unless
from necessity. They are gregarious, and huddle so closely to-
gether that I have known as many as twenty-three killed at one
shot. I have killed them occasionally during summer, their col-
or being then of a rufous or rusty character, or more like that
of the dunlin, the purple gloss and dark-gray plumage of winter
having all but disappeared.

GatiinuLa crex [Land-rail].

“Corn craig” or “crake.” Very sparingly distributed here. It ar-
rives generally at the beginning of May, and departs usually in
September ; but I have seen it as late as December. These birds
often feign themselves dead when hard pressed, rather than fly—
a fact that may seem incredible to those who have paid no atten-
tion to such things. Is it possible that these birds remove their
eggs on its coming to their knowledge that their nests have been
discovered? I knew of a nest which contained seven eggs. I
took one, and, wishing to get all that the hen would lay, left the
remainder untouched; I also carefully obliterated all my foot-
marks, to prevent others from suspecting any thing if the nest
were found. I went back three days afterward, when, although
there were no signs of human foot-prints, all the eggs were gone.

Gatiinuta PusiLa [Little Crake].
Only one of this British rarity has been procured here, so far as I
know. It occurred at a place called Thornton, on the banks of
the Isla.

GaLLinuLa cHLoropus [Moor-hen].
The “water-hen.” In consequence of our having but few lochs,
and those very small, we have not many of this species. As
skulkers, they almost rival the land-rail.
APPENDIX. | Birds. 361

 

Rais aquaticus [ Water-rail].
Far more scarce than the last; in fact, it is almost a rarity. Per-
haps their skulking habits prevent their being oftener seen.

Fotica atra [ Coot].

An occasional visitor. On the loch of Strathbeg (Aberdeenshire),
where they are pretty numerous, they breed, and remain all the
year round, In very wet summers the water of this loch rises
at times considerably above the usual level: on such occasions I
have seen the coot sailing nobly along with her nest beneath her.

PHALAROPUS PLATYRHYNCHUS [ Gray Phalarope)].
Three specimens were procured on the sands of Sandend.

PHALAROPUS HYPERBOREUS [Red-necked Phalarope].

One specimen, a male, was shot on the beach here, in the spring of

1855.
ANSER.

Of the genus Anser we are remarkably scanty. Several kinds of
geese have from time to time been procured, and not an autumn
or spring passes without many large flocks being seen passing
and repassing, but to what species they belong it is difficult to
say. That the Graylag (ANSER FERUS), the Brent (A. BERNICLA),
the Eyyptian (A. Aieyrriacus), and the Spur-winged (A. GAMBEN-
sis), have been met with, is beyond doubt; but that these are all
that have visited us, it is hard to say. The Brent is very numer-
ous in certain seasons along the coast.

Cyenus.

The genus Cygnus is still more scantily represented. Some of them

visit us in passing to and from their breeding-grounds.
Anas Taporna [Common Sheldrake].

This pretty bird is only a winter visitor with us, and then not in
large numbers.

Anas cLypEata [Shoveler’].

This pretty bird is quite a rarity here. In the latter part of the
winter of 1837-38, which was of great severity, a mutilated spec-
imen of the shoveler was found dead among the rocks at Black-
pots.

Anas strepera [ Gadwall].

Another great rarity, so far as Iam aware; one, a female, procured
in the Deveron by Dr. Leslie, about the time the shoveler above
alluded to was picked up, is the only one I know of.

Anas acura [Pintail Duck].
I remember being roused rather early one morning, many years ago,
16
362 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

by a loud knocking at the street-door, and a person calling at the
top of his voice, ‘Rise, man, Tam! I’ve brought a rare bird t’ ye
—a duke.” Being awake, I immediately jumped up. On seeing
the bird, I was delighted to observe a beautiful male pintail. It
had been shot that night on the Deveron.

Anas soscuas [ Wild Duck].

Plentiful, especially in winter. Among the sandy bents almost
close to the ocean’s verge, and on the tops of our heath-clad hills
and moors, I have found this species breeding; as well as on a-
tree about thirteen feet from the ground, and on a rock in the
craigs of Alvah. This latter nest was placed on a ledge fully
thirty feet above the water, and had eight or nine feet of perpen-
dicular rock above it. There is a hill near here, which I believe
they used frequently to nestle on, but which they have now quite
deserted—viz., Fern or Whin hill, better known as Gallow hill.
It was on this hill—or rather piece of ground, for it hardly de-
serves the name of hill—that the celebrated freebooter M‘Pher-
son finished his earthly career. It is 4 rough and stony place
where he lies, covered with heath and whin. The pheasant and
wild duck used not unfrequently to breed on his very grave. On
a small island on the Deveron stood a tall old poplar. About
five feet from the ground it divided into two arms, one stretching
upward, while the other bent over the river, and it is with this one
that I am now concerned. In 1839 the Deveron, like the other
rivers in Scotland, rose far above its usual height, so far, indeed,
that it reached the arm of the tree alluded to, on which it depos-
ited a good deal of rubbish. A female wild duck built her nest,
a few years afterward, among the débris thus left, and succeeded
in rearing a brood of thirteen young ones. Neither nest nor bird,
though known of by some salmon-fishers who had a station close
by, was disturbed. One morning the female was observed by
these men to leave her nest and fly up and down the water in an
unusual manner. Presently she was joined by the male, and both
disappeared beneath a bank a little above where the nest was.
The fishermen, who had watched them, observed the female re-
appear alone, and, after flying up and down once or twice, again
settled down on the water, just below the tree which contained the
nest. After sailing about for a few minutes, she was heard to
give “a quack,” when down went something into the water, and
presently a young one was seen by her side. Away she swam
with it to the bank referred to, consigning it to the charge of the
male; after which she returned, and, having again sailed about
for a short time, gave another “quack,” when down came anoth-
APPENDIX. | Birds. 863

 

er youngster, which she also led away to the bank. In this way
she continued until all were safely removed. The female never
gave more than one “quack,” and she never carried more than
one young one at a time, nor did she return after taking away
the thirteenth.

ANAS QUERQUEDULA [ Garganey].
Two specimens of this species were shot in December, 1840; and
one is said to have been obtained at Cullen, in the spring of 1841.
Anas orecea [ Teal].
Occasionally met with in winter.

Anas Penetore [ Widgeon].
One of our rarest duck visitors. A splendid male specimen was
killed at Boyndie in September, 1853.
Ayas Americana [American Widgeon].
A mutilated male specimen of this rare duck, shot on the Burn of
Boyndie, in January, 1841, was for many years in my possession.

ANas MaRILa [Scaup duck].
Pretty frequent during winter.

Anas FuLicuLa [Zufted Duck].
Very rare.

ANAS CLANGULA [ Golden-eye].
A regular winter visitor, generally coastwise; but they are also met
with on mill-dams some miles inland.

Anas exactaiis [Long-tailed Duck].

Abundant, but always keeping near the coast. I have shot them
when in their full breeding dress, which gives them quite a dif-
ferent appearance. In spring they are very clamorous, pursuing
each other through the water, and diving and skipping about like
Merry-andrews. The noise they make-on such occasions is so
loud that I have heard it, on a still morning, nearly three miles
off. They are generally among the first birds to arrive and the
last to leave.

Merevs cucutiatus [Hooded Merganser’.
I was told by an old gunner and bird-stuffer that he had shot a
specimen of this species, but I can not vouch for his accuracy.

Mereus srrrator [Red-breasted Merganser).
Not very plentiful. All along the coast, in suitable localities, they
are met with, singly, and two or three together, rarely more.

MERGUS MERGANSER [ Goosander'].
A winter visitor. The male is a very showy gentleman. As many
364 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

e
as seven or eight specimens were procured at one shot, on the
Deveron. I have seen as many as five or six together.

Popicers cristatus [Great Crested Grebe].
An occasional visitor.

PopIcEPs RUBRICOLLIS [fed-necked Grebe].
Of more frequent occurrence, but generally in immature plumage.

Popicers auritus [Bared Grebe].
Less frequent than ‘the last.

Popicers minor [Little Grebe].
A winter seldom passes without an opportunity occurring to obtain
this species. It is one of the most expert divers we have.

CotymBus GLactaLis [ Great Northern Diver].
Some seasons pretty plentiful. Splendid specimens arc at times
procured, but they are generally immature.

Cotympvs arcticus [Black-throated Diver], and

CoLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS [Red-throated Diver].

Winter visitors, in about equal numbers. A few of them gradually
fall victims every spring to getting entangled in the bag-nets
set for salmon. They not unfrequently visit our larger streams,
where they make great havoc among the smaller of the finny
tribe.

Uri Brunnicun [Brunnich’s Guillemot].

Has been once met with.

Uria tROILE [Common Guillemot],
Uria Lacurymans [Ringed Guillemot],
Urta GryLie [Black Guillemot),
Mormon rratercuLa [Puffin], and
Axca torps [Razor-bill].

All these species breed with us, but the black guillemot only rarely.
I have procured several ringed guillemots both in winter and
summer; I have also been shown places in the cliffs where the
fishermen say they breed.

Atca atte [Little Auk].

A winter visitor. In December, 1846, a terrific sea-storm raged
here for the greater part of the month. At its termination I
counted between the Burn of Boyne and Greenside of Gamrie,
a distance of about nine miles, nearly sixty of these little birds
lying dead, besides a number of guillemots and razor-bills.
Great numbers were also found dead in the fields throughout
the county.
APPENDIX. | Birds. 365

 

Cargo cormorants [ Cormorant].

Frequent, except for a short time during summer. A pair or two
may breed with us, but that is all. Like the divers, they destroy
great numbers of fish.

Cargo cristatus [Shag].
Only, I believe, an occasional visitor.
Sura Bassana [ Gannet].

A spring and autumn visitor, and occasionally during summer and
winter. When overtaken, as they sometimes are, by strong north
winds, I have known them driven to great distances inland,
where they are frequently seen lying dead. Immature specimens
are now and then procured during their autumnal passage.
From their different plumage, they are looked upon as distinct
from the “solan goose,” as the gannet is here called.

Srerna cantraca [Sandwich Tern].
An occasional visitor, generally in summer.
Sterna Doveatiy [Roseate Tern].
Two specimens have been obtained between Banff and Cullen.-

Sterna Hirunpo [Common Tern].

Sterna arctica [Arctic Tern].

Annual visitors, generally in autumn. During some seasons they
come in immense numbers. Although they do not breed with
us, they do so on part of the sandy shores of the adjoining coun-
ties of Aberdeen and Moray.

Srerwa minuta [Lesser Tern].

This pretty little lady-like bird does not breed with us, but does so
in the places mentioned for the two preceding. It is only an oc-
casional visitor.

Sterna nigra [Black Tern].
I know of only one instance of its having been found here.
Larus Sazint [Sabine’s Gull].
I had an exciting chase after a specimen, but failed in capturing
it. It was the only one I have seen or heard of here.
Larus minutus [Little Gull].
I believe only two specimens have been met with.
Larus capistratus [Masked Gull].

I am informed that two of these birds were killed about thirty

years ago.
Larus Ripisunpus [ Black-headed Gull].
Like the common and arctic terns, this species, although it has
366 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

no breeding-grounds with us, breeds on either side in great num-
bers, and is a frequent visitor here, chiefly in spring and autumn.
Larus TRipacryLus [Kittiwake].
Breeds with us, but not in such numbers as formerly.
Larus EBurnevs [vory Gull].
Several specimens have been shot near Gamrie. It is a polar bird,
almost pure white.

Larus canus [Common Gull].
Abundant during winter and spring. The gull may be met with all
the year round, though I believe it does not breed with us.

Larus Levcoprervs [Jceland Gull].
Sometimes, during winter, a specimen of this Northern bird may be
obtained, but mostly in an immature state of plumage.

Larus Fuscus [Lesser Black-backed Gull].
Met with now and then, but not in great plenty. It does not nestle
here.

Larus arcentatus [Herring Gull].
Breeds at Gamrie Head and at Troup. Numbers are taken when
young by the fishermen and their children, and brought up quite
tame, walking about the villages like poultry.

Larus marinus [ Great Black-backed Gull].
Like his lesser brethren, this gentleman is but a visitor here, and
generally goes before he gets his black coat.

Larus exavcus [ Glaucous Gull].
A female, in an immature state of plumage, was killed in Gamrie.

Lesrris catarractes [Common Skua], and

Larus Ricwarpsoni [Richardson's Skua].
Both are to be met with as visitors, the latter the rarer of the two.

PROCELLARIA GLACIALIS [Fulmar Petrel].

An occasional winter visitor. I had a specimen sent me from Gam-
rie, which approached a boat so closely that one of the fisher-
men knocked it down with an oar: this was several miles out at
sea.

Purrinus masor [Great Shearwater], and

Pourrinus opscurus [Dusky Shearwater].
Only winter visitors.

THaLassipRoMa PELAGICA [Stormy-petrel].
A visitor, like the rest of its kindred, but more frequent, and may
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 367

 

be met with at intervals all the year round. The superstitious
dread of this little bird by sailors and fishermen is well known.

With the stormy-petrel ends my List of the Birds of Banffshire.
Many species given as “rare” may turn out to be of frequent occur-
rence, and many given as “ occasional visitors” may prove to be na-
tives. Species, too, not mentioned in this list may have to be in-
cluded in the birds of the county; and no one will be more pleased to
hear of such additions than myself.

FISHES.

Lasrax Lupus [7'he Bass or Sea-perch].
This is a rare species with us, only three having come under my no-
tice. One of these, a beautiful specimen, was found dead in our
river, the Deveron, not far from its mouth, in 1839.

Acrrina vuLearis [ The Ruff or Pope].
One is said to have been obtained off Troup Head about forty-two
years ago.

Tracuinus praco [The Great Weever].

Occasionally found. The fish is said to be possessed of very poi-
sonous qualities, insomuch that a prick or even a mere scratch
from either of the rays (which are hard and spinous) of the first
dorsal or back fin causes the severest pain imaginable. On the
Continent, where they are more numerous than they are here,
and where they are used as an article of food, there is a very
stringent law which forbids them being brought to market, or
even exposed for sale in any shape whatever, unless these spines
are all cut off; and in order to enforce obedience, parties found
transgressing the law are severely punished.

TRacHinus vipera [ The Little Weever].

Specimens of the little weever are not unfrequently met with ; which
would seem to indicate that they are more numerous in the Firth
than the preceding. ,

Mutivs Barsartus [The Red Surmullet].

This and the striped red mullet (M. surmuLetvs) have both been ob-

tained, the latter being the most frequent.
Tricia cucutus [The Red Gurnard].
Is pretty frequent; as is also

Trieta HrruNDo [The Sapphirine Gurnard].
Some splendid specimens of this latter fish are annually brought on
shore by our fishermen toward the end of autumn.
368 Banffshire Fauna. [ APPENDIX.

 

TrigLa GurNaRDus [The Gray Gurnard]. ;

This is our commonest gurnard; and, judging from the numbers

taken, must be very numerous. They are known here by the

term of “crunack.” They are not much esteemed as an article

of food, even among the peasants; and they are, in consequence,
seldom brought to market.

Triera pacitoprera [The Little Gurnard].
Somewhat rare. I remember once taking one from the stomach of
a great Northern diver, which was shot between Findochtie and
Speymouth, in the spring of 1840, and which was sent me for the
purpose of being preserved.

Corrus scorrius [Zhe Short-spined Cottus].
Pretty frequent.
Corrus suBaLis [ The Long-spined Cottus].
Rather plentiful. I find them in abundance in pools left by the
tide, or beneath stones at low water. Many of them exhibit
some most beautiful markings.

Corrus quapricornis [Zhe Four-horned Cottus].

I have never found this species but in the stomachs of other fish;
which leads me to conclude that they generally inhabit deep wa-
ter, or, at least, that they do not come so near the shore as the
preceding species.

AspiporHorus Evropaus [ The Armed Bull-head].
This is another stomach species. But I have found these, also,
though very sparingly, among the rocks at low tide.
GasreRosTEeUsS TRacHURUS [The Rough-tailed, Three-spined Stickle-
back] and
GastERostevs LeIuRUS [The Smooth-tailed Stickleback] are both plen-
tiful, the former along the coast, and the latter in our streams
and rivulets.
Sprvacura vuuearts [ The Fifteen-spined Stickleback].

Common among the pools along the shore. I have seen this spe-
cies with sixteen and seventeen spines. They are known among
our fishermen by the very peculiar denomination of “ Willie-wan-
beard.”

Curysoparys avrata [The Gilt-head ].

I have only seen two specimens of this fish which have been pro-
cured with us. The one was taken off Buckie in 1841; and
the other was brought on shore at Portsoy in 1839. They ap-
pear to be scarce, from the fact that the fishermen do not know
them. .
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 369

 

PaGELLUS CENTRODONTUS [ 7'he Sea-bream].
This is a more common sptcies—numbers appearing annually.
In some seasons they appear in greater abundance than in others.
They are sold here under the name of “perch.”

Brama Rau [Ray’s Bream].
Rare.

CantHarus eriseus [The Black Bream].
A few of these are generally procured every autumn, or about the

beginning of winter. They are known and sold here under the
term of “old wife.”

Dentex vuLGaris [The Four-toothed Sparus].
Although this species, like many more, bears the name “vulgaris,”
or common, it is not so with us. I am only aware of one speci-
men, which was taken off Troup Head.

Scomper scomsrus [ The Mackerel].
This beautiful and highly prized fish generally appears on our
part of the coast about autumn; in some seasons, in great
plenty ; in others, not so numerous.

Scomper corias? [The Spanish Mackerel ?]

As will be seen, I have placed this species here as doubtful. A
mackerel differing in many respects from the one noted above,
and which agrees very well with Scomber colias, was taken off
Portknockie, but by the time I had the pleasure of seeing it, it
was a good deal disfigured. Still, as I have already said, it ex-
hibited many of the markings and other characteristics of the
Spanish mackerel.

Taynnus vunearis [The Tunny].

Several specimens of this fish have, from time to time, been taken
with us. A very large one was captured in a salmon-net at Port-
soy. It measured over nine feet in length, and six feet in girth.

Xupwias eLaprus [ The Sword-fish].
A small specimen of this fish—rare on this part of the coast—was
caught in our harbor by a shrimper.

Navcrates puctor [ The Pilot-fish],

A very fine specimen of this rare and rather peculiar fish was
taken in our bay some years ago, and was exhibited as a curi-
osity. It was unknown in the place, and also to the person who
took it; but an old tar chancing to see it, who had seen some
service abroad, having hitched up his trousers, and rid his mouth
of a yard or two of tobacco-juice, exclaimed, with something of a

16*
370 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

knowing air, “Well, I'll be blowed if that aint a pilot! and a
pretty one it is, too. We used to see them often when sailing
in the Mediterranean.”

Caranx tracuurvs [Zhe Scad or Horse-mackerel], or, as it is termed
here, the “‘buck-mackerel,” is not very numerous, and is very
seldom used as an article of food. Its appearance here is usu-
ally about the time of herring-fishing. I once found a rather
strange variety of this species. It was about the usual size, but
it was all over of a most beautiful golden yellow, finely striped
and variegated with numerous lines of the brightest blue, except
the fins, which were of the finest carmine.

Lampris eutratus [Zhe Opah or King - fish] has occurred on several
occasions; as off Troup Head, at Black Pots, on the shore near
Portsoy, and at Buckie.

Muew carira [Z'he Gray Mullet].

I am only aware of two specimens of this mullet which have been
procured within our limits; the one at Gardenstown, the other at
Cullen. -

Buiennrus Mowtacui [Montagw’s Blenny].

One specimen taken from the stomach of a haddock.

BLENNIUS GATTORUGINE [The Gattoruginous Blenny].
I have met with this species only on two occasions.

Bienntus YaRRELLu [ Yarrell’s Blenny].
Rarely met with. I have a splendid specimen in my collection,
which was found cast on shore between Gardenstown and Crovie.

Buennivs pHouis [The Shanny or Smooth Blenny),
GuUNNELLUS vuLGaRIs [ The Spotted Gunnel], and

Zoarces viviparus [ The Viviparous or Green Blenny],
Are all to be met with among the low-lying rocks along our line of
shore.

ANARRHICHAS LupUS [The Wolf-fish].
Frequent, but seldom used as food. I find them pretty often cast
on shore dead, after a storm; which would seem to indicate that
their habitat is not always in deep water.

Gosrus nicer [ The Black Goby].

These, inhabiting the rocky parts of the coast, become, at times, the
prey of the haddock, etc. Though they do not seem to be nu-
merous in this arm of the sea, I meet with them occasionally in
the stomachs of fishes.
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 371

 

Gosius minutus [The Frreckled or Spotted Goby].
This is another stomach species ; as also the

Gozrus Rurnersparri [ The Double-spotted Goby], which appears to be
the rarest of the three.

CaLtionymus Lyra [Zhe Gemmeous Dragonet].

This splendidly colored fish is frequently met with; and the so-
called

CaLLionymus pRacuNcuLUs [Sordid Dragonet] is found in about equal
number; for it is a general maxim that where the husband is there
also should the wife be. Ichthyologists cling to the idea that
these fish are distinct species. Out of about one hundred speci-
mens which I have dissected, I have never yet found any thing
like roe or ova in those having the long rays on the first dorsal,
and which are known as the gemmeous; and, in like manner, I
have never yet met with any thing at all pertaining to a mit in
those having the short rays, and which are known as the sordid
dragonet. My conclusion is that they are only male and female
of the same species.

Lopurvs riscatorius [The Angler or Fishing-frog, or, as it is called
here, the “‘Sea-devil”] is frequently met with, but is not used as
an article of food.

Lasrus Bereyira [The Ballan Wrasse].

Pretty frequent during summer.

Lasrus mixtus [Zhe Blue-striped Wrasse].

Rare. A very pretty specimen was taken off Macduff.

CrENILABRUS MELOPS [ The Gilt-head].

Rare.

CRENILABRUS RUPESTRIS [Jago’s Gold-sinny].

I have only seen one of this species in the neighborhood. A heau-
tiful specimen which I found one winter’s day was cast on shore
at the links.

AcanruoLasrus ExoLETus [ The Simall-mouthed Wrasse].

Like the last, only one specimen of this fish has, as yet, come under
my notice, and that one was captured off Troup Head.

Cyprinus auratus [The Gold and Silver Carp, as it is termed] has
been introduced, and has thriven pretty well, as at Macduff, where
it has propagated to an amazing degree.

Levciscus pHoxinus [The Minnow].

This pretty, active little fish is to be found in most of our streams.
It is curious to see it stated in works on ichthyology that this
species is not to be met with north of the Dee, Aberdeenshire.

'
372 Banffshire Fauna. (APPENDIX.

 

Bertone vunearis [The Gar-fish, or, as it is called here, the ‘‘ Green-
been”’] is by no means scarce at certain seasons.

Scomperesox savrus [The Saury Pike].
Not so often met with as the last. In fact, it must be termed rare.

Satmo saLar [Z'he Salmon].

This valuable and highly prized fish is found both along our coast
and in our fresh waters. At one time, they were very numerous
in the Deveron, From a pot or hole which once existed a little
below the bridge which spans the river, at a little distance from
the sea, and not far from the town, as many as one hundred, and
sometimes more, have been taken at a haul. This was before
stake and bag nets were so thickly planted along our sea-shore
as they are now.

Satmo wriox [Zhe Bull or Gray Trout].
Some large individuals of this species are often taken.
Satmo trorra [ The Salmon-trout].

These were at one time believed to be the young of the salmon;
and the tacksman gave orders that they should not be taken.
Previously, they had been fished for with small-meshed nets, and
sold as trout, under the name of “finnock.” Time passed and
the river beheld another tacksman, who, differing from his pred-
ecessor, gave orders that they should be again taken. Accord-
ingly, they are now annually fished for, and are once more sold as
“ sea-trout,” “ white trout,” and “ finnock.”

Satmo rarro [The Common Trout].

In all our streams. These also are taken, and sold with the last-
mentioned.

OsmERUS EPERLANUS [ T'he Smelt].

Rare with us.

Cioupea Harenevs [ The Herring].

This species abounds along this coast toward the middle of summer
and the beginning of autumn. The fry of this fish is met with
nearly all the year round.

Crores Leacut [Leach’s Herring.

A rather smaller-sized herring than the common species. It is gen-

erally met with in small shoals in May and June.

Ciupea spratrus [ The Sprat or Garnel Herring].
This is also met with about the same time, but in smaller numbers.
Atosa rinta [Zhe Twaite Shad].

Rare. A very fine specimen was taken in our river last summer
about a mile from the sea.
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 378

 

Axosa communis [ Zhe Alice Shad].

The same may be said of this species—it is rare. They are termed

“rock herring.” ©
Morrava vuuearis [ Zhe Cod].

It is to the stomach of this species that I am most indebted for
many of the rarer of the testaceous and crustaceous specimens
which I possess. For the cod’s bill of fare, see p. 253. The
cod is extensively fished for along this part of the coast, and may
be termed the poor man’s salmon. Great numbers are salted and
dried, and in that state sent to the Southern markets. I have
occasionally met with a cod of a red color, in all save the fins,
which are generally of a yellowish tinge, and never larger than a
common-sized haddock. They are known here by the name of
“rock codlings.”

Morruva £eLurinus [ The Haddock}.

Like the cod, it is extensively taken and largely cured, and forward-
ed South. Our Buckie haddocks are well known for their excel-
lence, and are famed for their superior qualities. Like the cod,
the stomach of this species is also a rich mine for the naturalist.

Morrava tusca [The Bib or Whiting Pout].

Frequent; but not often brought to market, although they are most
excellent eating. The fishermen generally cut them up and use
them as bait.

Morruva minuta [The Power Cod].

Not known as an inhabitant of the Firth until recently. They are
excellent eating. It is a great pity that they are so small and
scarce.

Merianeus vuiearis [ The Whiting],
Often taken, but not so much admired as the Haddock.

Morruva votiacatus [ The Pollack or Sythe].
Frequent.
Vorrava carsonarius [| The Coal-fish].
Like the last. When young, great numbers of them are occasional-
ly taken in our harbors in small-meshed nets. They are termed
“ gerrocks.””
Meriucius vorearis [Zhe Hotel.
Found occasionally.

Lora mozva [ The Ling].
Fished for with the cod, and cured in the same manner. When
salted and dried, they are called “ kealing.”
374. Banffshire Fauna. [ APPENDIX.

 

Moretra quinquzcirrata [The Five-bearded Rockling].
Frequent in the pools left among the rocks by the tide.

Morsiia crmprta [ The Four-bearded Rockling].
Rare. I have not met with it often.

Brosmivs vorearis [The Torsk or Tusk].
Taken with the cod and ling, and cured in the same fashion.

Puycis rurcatus [The Great Forked Beard].
This fish is of rare occurrence with us, and that only at long inter-
vals.
Puatessa vuLearis [ The Plaice].
Plentiful, and highly prized by many for its very delicate flesh and
agreeable flavor.

Puatessa FuEsus [ The Flounder], or, as it is called here, the “ common
fluke,” and the

Puatessa timanpa [ The Salt-water Fluke], are also pretty frequent.
In the stomachs of these fish I occasionally find, among other
matters, Téellina fabula, T. tenuis, T. punicea (a most beautiful lit-
tle shell), Natica Montagui, N. Alderi, Philine scabra, Cylichna trun-
cata, C. cylindracea, etc.

Puatessa microcePHaLa [ The Smooth Dab] and

Pratessa pois [ The Pole Dab] are not so often met with.
Puarsssa LimanporDes [The Yellow or Rough Dab] and the
Puatessa ELoNGATA [Long Flounder] are of rare occurrence.

HirpoeLossus vuiearis [ The Halibut] and

Ruompus maximus [The Turbot] are both met with, inhabiting deep
water. They are seldom taken near the shore. The former is
the more plentiful. The latter is known here as the “roan fluke,”
and always commands a ready sale and a high price. The other
is called the turbot; and though it sells well, it is not so valua-
ble as the true turbot, nor yet so eagerly sought after by the
higher classes.

Rsomevs voucaris [ The Brill or Pearl-turbot].

This species is occasionally taken along with the two preceding, but
must rank as rare with us.

Ruompus nirtus [Muller's Top-knot] occurs at intervals along our
whole line of coast.

Sorza vuuearis [The Sole] is not so common with us as its name
would seem to indicate.
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 375

 

Sorea Peeusa [7Z'he Lemon-sole].
Rare.

Monocuirvus Linauatutus [ The Solenette] is of more frequent occur-
rence. I have found it in the stomach of the cod and haddock.

Leprpocaster Cornusiensis [The Cornish Sucker].

I remember finding a small fish, on one occasion, where our fisher-
men clean their lines, and which resembled the above in almost
every particular. It is the only specimen that has come under
my notice.

LeprpoGasTER BiMacuLatus [The Two-spotted Sucker].

Brought on shore, now and then, among the refuse entangled in
the fishermen’s lines, and occasionally in old shells, such as Fusis
antiquus, Buccinum undatum, and Cyprina Islandica, ete.

Cyctorrerus Lumpus [ The Lump-sucker ].

Frequent. Known here by the name of “‘ paddle cock.” Not used

as an article of food.

Lrrarius voiearis [The Unctuous Sucker].
Of partial occurrence.

Lrpartus Montacui [Montagu’s Sucker].

I have only once met with this beautiful little fish here, and that
but lately. It was brought on shore in an old shell. I should
think it rare in the Firth.

ANGUILLA acuTirostais [The Sharp-nosed Hel] and
ANGUILLA Latirosrris [The Broad-nosed Hel] are both found. The
former is the most numerous, and brings the highest price.
- Concer vouearis [The Conger or Great Hel].
This large species is often met with, but is not used as food.
Ammopytes Tosranus [The Sand-eel] and
Ammopytes Lancea [The Sand lance].

The latter the most numerous. Both these are used by our fisher-

men for bait.

Synenatuvs acus [Zhe Great Pipe-fish] and

Synenatnus typaus [The Lesser Pipe-fish] are both met with, and are
accounted by the fishermen to be superior to any other bait.

Synenataus Lumpricrrormis [The Worm Pipe-fish] is met with, and
is not so rare as one might expect.

HippocaMPUS BREVIROSTRIS.

This rare and peculiar horse-headed looking creature has been met
with here. Two were found cast on shore at the sands of
Boyndie, near Banff, after a severe sea storm.
376 Banffshire Fauna. [ APPENDIX.

 

Orraacoriscus mota [The Short Sunfish] and
OrTHaGoRiscus oBLoneus [Zhe Oblong Sunfish] have been occasion-
ally met with. Several have been brought on shore by the fish-
ermen of Gardenstown, Crovie, and other places.
ActPrnser sturio [The Sturgeon].
Rare. One has been taken in a salmon-net.
Sertiium canicuta [The Small Spotted Dogfish].
Found occasionally.
GaLevus vuLearis [The Tope].

Iam only aware of two instances in which this fish has been found
within our limits: the one near Buckie, the other in the bay of
Banff.

Acantuias vuearis [ The Picked Dogfish].

Plentiful; often too much so.

Scymnus soreauis [ The Greenland-shark].

In May, 1849, a large specimen of the above shark was captured by
some fishermen belonging to Pennan, off Troup Head. When
brought on shore, it measured thirteen feet nine inches in length,
and eleven feet in circumference where thickest.

Ecuinoruinus sprnosus [Zhe Spinous Shark]. See pp. 210, 211.
Squatiwa vutearis [ The Angel-fish], or, as it is here called (like the
angler), the “Sea-devil,” is sometimes procured. A large speci-
men was cast into our harbor during the winter of 1851.
Torpepo vuiearis [The Cramp-fish or Electric Ray).

A specimen of this fish is said to have been taken about six miles
off Loggie Head, near Cullen, in 1817, Others are stated as hav-
ing been caught.

Rata oxyruynouus [ The Sharp-nosed Skate].

Large individuals of this species are sometimes taken, with the
more frequent of our rays. One measuring upward of seven
feet in length, and over five in breadth, was captured by our fish-
ermen some years ago.

Rata intermepta [ The Flapper-skate]. .

A small skate, agreeing in many essential points with the flapper,
was taken, in a bag-net set for salmon, some years ago, said to be
a young one of the above species, and as such I include it here.

Rara Batis [The Blue or Gray Skate] and
Rata cravata [The Thornback].

Taken, occasionally, in great numbers; the former being the most

numerous and the most prized.
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 377

 

Raia raviata [The Starry Ray].
This small species is picked up now and then.
PerroMyzon marinus [The Lamprey], or, as it is called here, the
“Lamper-eel,” is often met with.
Prrromyzon FLUVIATILIS [ The River Lamprey].

Considered rare. A very fine specimen was taken in the Deveron
some years since.

Perromyzon Pranert [Planer’s Lamprey or Lampern] has also oc-
curred. These fish are generally termed ‘“Nine-ee’d Eels,” and
are by no means held in high estimation.

Gastrosrancuus cz&cus [ The Myxine or Glutinous Hag].

This very curious and singular animal, whether you call it a fish or
a worm, is of frequent occurrence.

ADDITIONS.

Perca FLUVIATILIS [ Perch].
Several of these fishes have been taken in the Deveron.

Tricia Buocat [Bloch’s Gurnard]. In the Moray Firth, at Banff.
An example of this gurnard (or, as we call it, “ crunack”) was
captured here in a rock-pool. See p. 251. I am not aware of
the species ever having been detected on this part of the coast
before.

Sepastes Norvecicus [Norway Haddock].

One taken off Buckie in 1859 is the only instance of this fish hav-
ing been taken on our coasts.

Taynnus PeLAMys [Striped Tunny].

A fine specimen of this tunny is in our Museum, taken off White-
hills in 1867.

Auxis vuLacris [The Plain Bonito].

Several of these have now come under my notice. One taken in a
herring-net off Cullen measured over twenty inches in length and
twelve in circumference behind the first dorsal. One very pecul-
iar feature connected with it was, that if stroked down when wet
it gave the hand all the appearance of having come across a piece
of metal newly black-leaded. I am not aware of this peculiarity
being mentioned in Yarrell or elsewhere.

Zeus FABER [The Dory].
I have now ascertained that many of these fish have been taken
. _ here, chiefly in salmon-nets. It would seem that the dory is by
no means an uncommon summer visitor on this part of the coast.
378 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

Capros PER [Boar sish].

At least one example of this curious-looking fish is now known to
have found its way to our shores. It was taken in a bag-net
near Crovie in August, 1862, and was sent here to be stuffed and
named.

Tricniurus Leprurus [Silvery Hair-tail or Bald-fish].

A very fine specimen of this fish, which is rare in the British seas,
and especially on the east coast of Scotland, was found in the
Firth here in April, 1876. Although the head and tail were a
good deal injured, it measured over twelve feet in length.

Gosrus Graciis [Slender Goby].

Frequent.

Gosrus ausus [ White Goby].

Frequent also. Numbers of these little fish are to be met with in
our rock and sandy pools, while others are only to be found at ex-
treme low water.

Gostus Nitssonu [Wilsson’s Goby]. See p. 822.

Lasrus Donovant [Donovan's Wrasse].

A specimen of this wrasse was captured in the Bay of Boyndie in
August, 1863. The fishermen said that there were more, but they
only managed to hook the one, and looked upon it as a curious
species of mackerel. It was mostly of a beautiful pea-green col-
or, but striped with numerous yellowish lines.

Lasrvs microscoricus [Microscopical Wrasse].

It was during the summer of 1861 that I first observed this minute
species. It was not, however, until 1864 that I had an opportuni-
ty of submitting a specimen for examination to some of our best
ichthyologists, among whom was Mr. Couch. See p. 291.

Tinca vuLearts [Common Tench].

One specimen taken in our bay in 1864 is the only example I have

seen. It is now in our Museum.

ScoreLus Humpoipru [Argentine].

This beautiful little creature would seem to be a regular winter vis-
itor with us. I took it first in January, 1863; and, since then, I
have never missed it during that month. It is of various sizes.
Ihave taken argentines from under one inch to about three inch-
es in length. I have never seen them in summer.

Coucura Graves [The Mackerel-midge].

Of all the little fish that I have yet found, this one resembles the
five-bearded rockling more than any of the midges do the other
rocklings.
APPENDIX. | Fishes. 379

 

Covcuia Tuompsont [Thompson's Midge].

I first took a few of this species in May, 1863. They were new to
me, and as I could not find them in Yarrell, nor in other works of
the same kind which I had an opportunity of consulting, I thought
they might prove an undescribed form. Since that time, how-
ever, I have seen Mr. Thompson's work, and have now no doubt
but that my fish are identical with those taken by that gentleman
in Strangford Lough, County Down, in July, 1838, and named as
above. See p. 293.

Coucuta Montacur [Montagu’s Midge].
I first obtained this species in October, 1864. See p. 296.

Covca1a Epwarou [Hdward’s Midge].
First taken at Banff, November, 1865. See p. 298.

Ranicers truroRcaTus [ Zadpole-fish].
Several of these are now known to have been found in this part of
the Firth.

Ruompus mecastoma [The Whif'].
This species seems to be rather rare with us. I have a very fine
specimen which I found at the place where our fishermen clean
their lines.

RuomBus aRNnocLossus [ The Scald-fish or Smooth Sole].
This would appear to be another very scarce species with us. I
have never met with it but in fish stomachs, and very seldom

there. It is about the smallest of British flat-fish.

Monocuirvs vartecatus [ Variegated Sole].
This species would appear to be met with occasionally. Two pret-
ty large ones were exposed for sale in our market in September,
1860.

Ecmiopon Drummonpu [Drummond's Echiodon].

In March, 1863, I took the first specimen of this strange-looking fish
that I had ever seen. Since then, however, I have met with it
several times, and always in winter—save once, when I obtained
it in summer. They were unknown in the Firth before. Speci-
mens from here are now in the British Museum, London.

Acrstra 2Quores [Equorial Pipe-fish]. This species and the

Acusrra ancurnea [Snake Pipe-fish] are both occasionally found. The
latter, however, are seemingly the most frequent.

<

Cuimara monstrosa [Northern Chimera].
A specimen of this deep-sea and rather rare species was brought
into our harbor in 1859 on board a herring-boat. It was found
380 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

floating, and quite dead. The first dorsal was somewhat injured,
and the cord-like portion of the tail was wanting. It was un-
known to the fishermen who found it, and who, for want ofa bet-
ter name, called it the “devil.”

Scyiirum MELANostomum [Black-mouthed Dogfish].
I am led to believe that this species does occasionally occur with
us. It is generally mixed up with the commoner sorts.

Zyeana mMatieus [Hammer-headed Shark].

A specimen of this strange-looking animal was found dead on the
shore about two miles beyond Whitehills in 1861. It was a
middling-sized specimen, measuring about five feet in length and
about eighteen inches across the head. It had lain some time,
for the skin was blackish, and had the appearance of charred or
burned leather.

Lamna cornupica [Porbeagle].

It is now well known that the porbeagle finds his way here occa-
sionally, and usually about the herring season. There is # very
fine specimen in our Museum.

ALopras vuLpes [Mox-shark].

So far as I have been able to learn, this shark appears to be very

rarely met with here. It has, however, been found.
Normanvs eriseus [Brown or Mediterranean Shark].

A large specimen of this shark was taken in the Firth here, and
brought on shore at Whitehills in December, 1857, After being
exhibited in Banff by the fishermen, its captors, as an unknown
monster, it was bought for the Banff Museum, where it now is.
This shark is the first known to have been found in the British
seas.

Raza miraretus [Homelyn Ray].

Occasionally met with.

Rata spinosa [Sandy Ray].

This species is well enough known to the fishermen, but they do not
often take it.

Ras cuacrinea [Shagreen Ray].
This is also occasionally taken.
AMMOCETES BRANCHIALIS [Pride or Mud Lamprey].

We have, at least, one species of this peculiar genus as an inhabit-
ant of the Deveron.
APPENDIX. | Crustacea. 381

 

CRUSTACEA.
STENORHYNCHUS ROSTRATUS.
ee TENUIROSTRIS,

Inacuus DorsETENSIS.
“ LEPTOCHIRUS.

Hyas ARANEUS.
«  COARCTATUS.

EvryNnoMs aspera. From deep water.

Cancer pacurus [Parten].

PrrimELA DENTICULATA. In rock-pools, and from deep water.
Carcinus MzNas. See p. 244.

Porrumnus Latires. Among sand at low tide.

Potysivs HENSLOWI.

PoRTUNUS PUBER.

ee HOLSATUS.
a CORRUGATUS.
= DEPURATOR.
se MARMOREUS.
i LONGIPES.
oe PUSILLUS. From stomachs of fish.
Pinnorueres Pisum. Inside of Mediola mediolus.
a VETERUM. Once from Gamrie; inside of Pinna pectinata.
EBALIA TUBEROSA.
«  Crancut.

«  pumeEracta or BRYERII.

ATELECYCLUS HETERODON.

DroMia VULGARIS.

Lrrsopes Mata.

Pagurus Bernaarpus. Common in rock-pools when young.
sf PRIDEAUXI.

“ Cuanensis. Both these are brought in from deep water.

bi Levis. Frequent in the stomachs of flukes.

FERRUGINEUS. This little fellow was only added to the list
in 1866.

PoRCELLANA LoNGicorNIS. In rock-pools.

GALATHEA* SQUAMIFERA.
382 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

GALATHEA STRIGOSA.

ee DISPERSA.
ss NEXA,
a ANDREWSII.

Munna Bamrrica. From deep water.
CALLIANASSA SUBTERRANEA.

GEBIA STELLATA.
«  DELTURA,

Catocaris MacanpREI.
Homarus VULGARIS.
Nersrors NorveGicus.
CRANGON VULGARIS.

a SPINOSUS

se SCULPTUS.

se TRISPINOSUS.

- ALLMANNI.
NIKA EDULIs.

ATHANAS NITESCENS.
HIPPOLYTE SPINOSUS.

“e or DorypHorus GoRDONI.
sf VARIANS,

- CRANCHIL.

ee THoMpPsonI.

i PanDALIFORMIS,

PANDALUS ANNULICORNIS.

Mysis FLEXUOSA.
«  Lamorn&.
“VULGARIS.
««  SPIRITUS.
«mixta. First taken as British at Banff, in 1868, by T. E.
SPINIFERA. Burrows in sand. First taken at Banff by T. E. in
1862, and some years afterward in Sweden, by M. Goes.
«  ACULATA.
“aispipa. N.S. Taken at Banff by T. E. in December, 1863.
CynTHILIa FLEMINGII.
THysaNnopopa CoucHII.
ss LONGIPES.
" Norvecicvs.
te ALATA,
APPENDIX. | Crustacea. 383

 

Tuysanopopsa ENSIFERA. N.S. Taken at Banff by T. E. in 1863.
ft Batet. N.S. s sh 1862.

Diastyyis Rataxt.
" ECHINATA.

CuMA SCORPIOIDES.

“ costata. Burrows in sand.

“  yucrrsra. New to Britain. Found at Banff by T. E. in July,

1865.

HALIA TRISPINOSA.
VENILIA GRACILIS.
TALITRUS LOCUSTA.

ORCHESTIA LITTOREA,
* MEDITERRANEA.
“ DESHAYESII.
Brevipieirata. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
ALLORCHESTES NILSSONII.
“s ImBricaTus.

“

Niczs LuUBBOcKIANA.
Opis quaprimana. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.

MonTaGUA MONOCULOIDES.

ts MARINA. With eggs in December.

ef ALDERE.

Be Pottexiana. Eyes red. With eggs, in November and
December, of a greenish color. A most beautiful va-
riegated species.

: Norvecica. First taken at Banff as British by T. E.

Lysranassa Costa.
# AUDOUINIANA.
i ATLANTICA,
o Loneicornis. With young in December.
ANONYX LoNcicornis. Of a straw color, spotted with red. yes
large, oblong; white, with red markings.
«  -Epwarps. Eyes red, with black spots. With eggs in De-

cember. .

“  opgsus. N.S. Eyes red, round, and small. First taken at
Banff by T. E.

ss DENTICULATUS.

e HOo.so.ti.
sf MINUTUS.
384 Banffshire Fauna. [ APPENDIX.

 

Avonyx Puautus, N.S. First taken at Banff as British by T. E.
ie LONGIPES,
“ aMPULLA. Eyes red.

CaLLIsoMA CRENATA. With eggs in November.

LEPIDEPECREUM cARINATUM. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.

AMPELISCA GaimaRDI. With eggs in December of a green color.
. BELLIANA.

PHOCUS SIMPLEX.
“ Horzotu. With eggs in December and March.
“ pLumosus. Two other new species of this genus 2 been
m taken at Banff by T. E., but are not yet named.

WESTWOODILIA CECULA.
ss Hyatina.

Cpiceros parvimanus. With eggs, which are of a bright orange-
color, in September, October, and November. A sand-burrower.

(piceros sacinatus. With eggs, which are reddish, in January.
First taken at Banff as British by T. E.

MonocuLopes Lonermanvus. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
me caninatus, N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
3 Srimpsonr.

Kroyrra ARENARIA. With eggs in August and September.
* ALTAMARINA.

AMPHILOCHUS MANUDENS.
Darwinia compressa. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
SULCATOR ARENARIUS.

Uroraox Barepi. Eyes black ; with eggs in December.
- MaRINUS. With eggs in December.
s ELEGANS. Burrows in sand.

LILsgBoRGIA SHETLANDICA.
PHEDRA ANTIQUA.
Isma Montacut.

IPHIMEDIS OBESA.
a Esiana.

OTUS CARINATUS.

PEREIONOTUS TESTUDO.
APPENDIX. | Crustacea. 3885

 

ACANTHONOTUS OWENII.
DEXAMINE spinosa. With eggs, which are ofa greenish color, in April.

DrxaminE Beptomensis. Color a deep and brilliant orange, occasion-
ally mixed with red and brown. The eyes, which are slightly
raised, are round and of a bright crimson. The female, which is
similar to the male, has eggs, which are of a pea- green, in April
and May, and again in October.

Atytus Swammerpamu, With eggs, which are of a brownish color,
in September.

ATYLUS GIBBOSUS.
“¢ BISPINOSUS.

PHERSUA BICUSPIS.
ee FUCICOLA.

CALLIOPE LEVIUSCULA.
se Osstani. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
st GRANDACULIS.

Evsmrus Herveriz. N.S. Taken at Banff by T. E., the first of the
genus taken in Britain. A burrower, and very sluggish in its
habits,

LEUCOTHOE ARTICULOSA.
“ Furina. First taken as British at Banff by T. E.

Hora GRAcILIs.
STIMPSONIA CHELIFERA.
MICRODEUTOPUS GRYLLOTALPA.

ia “ise WEBSTERII.
- ANOMALUS.
se VERSICULATUS.

PrRoroMEDEIA HirsuTmANA. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
t Warr. N.S. First taken at Banff by T.E. With
eggs, which are of a very dull green, in November.

BaTHYPOREIA PILOSA. Eyes red.
= RoBERTSONI.
ee PELAGICA. Eyes red.

Meira PALMATA,
*f OBTUSATA. =
“  proxima. With eggs, which are of a purplish color, in De-
cember. Eyes brownish.

17
386 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

MELITA GLADIOSA.

EvRYSTHEUS ERYTHROPHTHALMUS.
ne Bispinimanus. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.

AMATHILLA SaBINI.

GAMMARUS MARINUS.
GAMPYLOPS.
ss LOCUSTA.

se TENUIMANUS.
Epwanrpil.
PULEX.

MEGAMDERA SEMISERRATA.

" LONGIMANA,

as OrxonIs.

ke ALDERI.
BREVICAUDATA.

EIscLaDUS LONGICAUDATUS.

AMPHITHOE RUBRICATA.
é LITTORINA.

SUNAMPHITHOE HAMULUS.

PopocEeRUS PULCHELLUS.

Me VARIEGATUS.

cs CAPILLATUS.

ae PELAGICUS. Eyes black.
a octus.

“A FALCATUS.

CERAPUS ABDITUS. 3
es DIFFORMIS.

Dercotnor (CeRapus) punctatus. With eggs in June.

SIPHONDECETES TYPICUS.
a CRASSICORNIS.

Nanra TusercuLosa. With eggs in December. The female has the
palms of the two first pairs much narrower than the male.

NANIA RIMAPALMATA,
Cratiprus Tenures. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.

CoROPHIUM LONGICORNE.
& Boneiin. °
APPENDIX. | Crustacea. 387

 

ViBILIA BOREALIS. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.

THEMISTO CRASSICORNIS. First taken as British at Banff by T. E.
Great hordes of this species occasionally visit this part of the
coast, and large numbers are sometimes destroyed in consequence
of coming too near the land.

LESTRIGONUS EXULANS. Occasionally in vast numbers.
: Kinawani.

Hyrerta Gaupa. :
“ osiivia. In great shoals at certain seasons.
These are the only species of this family which I have ever found
on the Meduse. I consider Lestrigonus exulans to be the male
of Hyperia Galba, and L. Kinahani the male of H. oblivia.

Hyperia Tavriormis. N.S.
a PREHENSILIS. N.S.
& cyanE&. N.S.
All these three new species were first taken at Banff by T. E.; the
males and females of all three being procured. The males differ
but little from the females, except that they are somewhat larger.

DvLicHIA VORRECTA.
s FALCATA.
I look upon these as being male and female of the same species.

Proto PEDATA.
“  GoopsiRi1.

PROTELLA PHASMA.

CaPRELLA ACANTHIFERA,
“s LOBATA,
TYPICA,

Tanais virtatus. On tangle roots.

PaRATANAIS FORCIPATUS.
S RIGIDUS. On tangle roots.

ANCEUS MAXILLARIS.
« (PRANIZA) CHRULEATA.
I consider these two to be male and female of the same species.

Anceus (Praniza) Epwarpu. N.S. First taken at Banff by T. E.
There is another species of Anceus or Praniza found here which I
take to be the male of A. or P. Hdwardii. I find them associated,
and they have precisely the same habits. See p. 265.
388 Banffshire Fauna. [APPENDIX.

 

PHRYXUS ABDOMINALIS.
““ Fusticaupatus. N.S. First found at Banff by T. E. on Pa-
gurus Bernhardus and Cuanensis.

“GGA TRIDENS.
“  PSORA.
((  MONOPHTHALMA,

Crrotana CRANCHII.
s SPINIPES.

EvrRyDICE PULCHRA.
JERA ALBIFRONS.
Munna Kroyert.
JANIRA MACULOSA.
ASELLUS AQUATICUS.
Limworta Lignorum.

ARCTURUS LONGICORNIS.
“= GRACILIS.

IDOTEA TRICUSPIDATA.
et PELAGICA,
( EMARGINATA,
re LINEARIS,

SPHEZROMA RUGICAUDA.
DYNAMENE RUBRA.
NASA BIDENTATA,
CamPECcOPEA CRANCHII.
LiGIa OCEANICA.
PHoscta MUSCORUM.

“ Covcu.
PaHILOUGRIA RIPARIA.
i ROSEA.

PratyarTarus HorrManii.

ONISCUS ASELLUS.
es FOSSOR.
PORCELLIO SCABER.
s PICTUS.
st ARMADILLOIDES,
os PRUINOSUS.

ARMADILLO VULGARIS.
APPENDIX. | Crustacea. 389

 

ADDENDA.

CHEIROCRATUS MANTIS.

HELLERIA COALITA,

Nesta Bires. From deep water. Burrows.
PHOXICHILIDIUM cocciNEUM. In rock-pools.

NYMPHON GRACILE.
< HIRTUM. Sea-spiders.
wt GROSSIPES. :

PALLENE BREVIROSTRIS.

Pycnogonum LitroraLe. In rock-pools.

ANOMALOCERA PatERSONII.

CETOCHILUS SEPTENTRIONALIS.
Both these are occasionally met with during summer in millions.

NoropgeLpHys ascrpicota. Found in the branchial sac of Ascidia
mentula and communis.

PELTIDIUM PURPUREUM. From deep water.

CaLIGUS DIAPHANUS.

« RAPAX,

“  mainura. A variety of the foregoing.

a MICROPUS. .

“ gurrus. All these are found on various fishes.

“Isonyx. On the common gurnard. First taken as British at

Banff in 1864 by T.E.

LEPEOPHTHEIRUS PECTORALIS. On various flounders.
ce Norpmannu. On the short sunfish.

CHALIMUS SCOMBRI.
TReBivus caupaTus. Found on a ling, Lota malua.

Monima Fimpriata, or FIMBRICATA. Qn the short sunfish. First taken
as British at Banff in 1862, by T. E.
La&MaRGUS MERRICATUS. On the short sunfish.

Crcrors Larrreitiu. Attached to the gills of the sunfish, both short
and oblong.

CHONDRACANTHIDE SOLESA. On the gills of Platessa vulgaris. First
taken as British at Banff in August, 1863, by T. E.

Leanentoma cornuta. On gills of Platessa vulgaris.
i ASELLINA. On gills of Trigla gurnardus.
890 Banffshire Fauna. ‘ [APPENDIX.

 

LERNEOPODA SALMONEA. Attached to the gills of the salmon.
BASANISTES SALMONEA. On the gills of the common trout.

BRACHIELLA BIsPINOSA. On gills of Trigla. N.S. First taken at
Banff by T. E. in May, 1863.

ANCHORELLA UNcINAaTA. Attached to various fishes, such as the cod,
haddock, whiting, etc.

ANCHORELLA RUGOSA.
LERNEA BRANCHIALIS. Attached to the gills of the cod and haddock.
PENNELLA FIBOSA? Found on the short sunfish.

 

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Animals. By Pavi B. Du Cuaitte. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $5 00.

DU CHAILLU’S ASHANGO LAND. <A Journey to Ashango Land: and Further
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8vo, Cloth, $5 00.

FLAMMARION'S ATMOSPHERE. The Atmosphere. Translated from the
French of Camiute Frammanion., Edited by James Guatsuer, F.R.S., Su-
perintendent of the Magnetical and Meteorological Department of the Royal
Observatory at Greenwich. With 10 Chromo-Lithographs and 86 Woodcuts.
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és
Valuable and Interesting Works for Public and Private Libraries. 3

 

FIRST CENTURY OF THE REPUBLIC. A Review of American Progress.
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Contents.

Introduction: I. Colonial Progress. By Evarne Lawrenor.—II. Mechanical
Progress. By Epwarp H. Knieur.—III. Progress in Manufacture. By
the Hon. Daviy A. Wetts.—IV. Agricultural Progress. By Professor
Wa. H. Brewrr.—V. The Development of our Mineral Resources. By
Professor T. Sterry Hunr.—VI. Commercial Development. By Epwarp
Arxrnson.—VII, Growth and Distribution of Population. By the Hon.
Feanors A. Warxer.—VIII. Monetary Development. By Professor Wi1-
Liam G, Sumner.—IX. The mepertment of the Union, with its Prepara-
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FORSTER’S LIFE OF DEAN SWIFT. The Early Life of Jonathan Swift (1667-
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GIBBON'S ROME. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
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GREEN’S SHORT HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE. A Short History
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GROTE’S HISTORY OF GREECE. 12 vols., 12mo, Cloth, $18 00.

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‘HALLAM'S LITERATURE. Introduction to the Literature of Europe during
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HARPER’S NEW CLASSICAL LIBRARY. Literal Translations,
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Czsar. —Vireit. —Satiusr.—Horaor: — Croxz0’s Oratrons.— C1cER0’s Or-
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.

HAYDN’S DICTIONARY OF DATES, relating to all Ages and Nations. For
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HILDRETH'S UNITED STATES. History of the United States. First Srrizs:
From the Discovery of the Continent to the Organization of the Government
under the Federal Constitution. Szconp Serrzs: From the Adoption of the
Federal Constitution to the End of the Sixteenth Congress. By Rionarp
Hipreru. 6 vols., 8vo, Cloth, $18 00.

HUME’S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. The History of England, from the Invasion
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new Edition, with the Author’s Last Corrections and Improvements. To
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HUDSON’S HISTORY OF JOURNALISM. Journalism in the United States,
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JEFFERSON’S DOMESTIC LIFE. The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson:
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JOHNSON’S COMPLETE WORKS. The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.
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KINGLAKE’S CRIMEAN WAR. The Invasion of the Crimea: its Origin, and
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LAWRENCE'S HISTORICAL STUDIES. Historical Studies. By Eveznz Law-
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LEWIS'S HISTORY OF GERMANY. A History of Germany, from the Earliest
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LIVINGSTONE'S SOUTH AFRICA. Missionary Travels and Researches in
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of Africa, and a Journey from the Cape of Good Hope to Loando on the West
Coast; thence across the Continent, down the River Zambesi, to the Eastern
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LOSSING’S FIELD-BOOK OF THE REVOLUTION. Pictorial Field-Book of
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MACAULAY'S LIFE AND LETTERS. The Life and Letters of Lord M
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Valuable and Interesting Works for Public and Private Libraries. §

 

M‘CLINTOCK & STRONG'S CYCLOPAIDIA. °* Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theo-
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MOHAMMED AND MOHAMMEDANISM: Lectures Delivered at the Royal
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lege, Oxford. With an Appendix containing Emanuel Deutsch’s Article on
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MOSHEIM’S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, Ancient and Modern; in which the

' Rise, Progress, and Variation of Church Power are considered in their Con-

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of surepe during that Period. Translated, with Notes, &c., by A. MAaoLainE,

a ia ae Edition, continued to 1826, by C. Coorz, LL.D. 2 vols., 8vo,
oth, .

MOTLEY'S DUTCH REPUBLIC. The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History.
By Joun Loturor Mortey, LL.D., D.C.L. With a Portrait of William of
Orange. 3 vols., 8vo, Cloth, $10 50.

MOTLEY'S UNITED NETHERLANDS. History of the United Netherlands:
from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Years’ Truce — 1609.
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via and Destruction of the Spanish Armada. By Jonn Loturop Mottey,
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MOTLEY'S LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN OF BARNEVELD. The Life and
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MYERS'S REMAINS OF LOST EMPIRES. Remains of Lost Empires: Sketches
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NORDHOFEF’S COMMUNISTIC SOCIETIES OF THE UNITED STATES.
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RAWLINSON’S MANUAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY. A Manual of Ancient

istory, from the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire. Com-

: mismy the History of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phenicia,

yria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Parthia, and Rome.

By Grorez Rawriinson, M.A., Camden Professor of Ancient History in the
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RECLUS’S EARTH. The Earth: a Descriptive History of the Phenomena of the
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RECLUS'S OCEAN. The Ocean, Atmosphere, and Life. Being the Second Series
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fusely Illustrated with 250 Maps or Figures, and 27 Maps printed in Colors.
8vo, Cloth, $6 00.

SCHWEINFURTH’S HEART OF AFRICA. The Heart of Africa. Three Years’
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From 1868 to 1871. By Dr. Gzore Sonwerrurrs. Translated ee Eten E.
Fprwer. -With an Introduction by Wrmwoop Reapz. Illustrated by about
130 Woodcuts from Drawings made by the Author, and witlftwo Maps. 2vols.,
8vo, Cloth, $8 00.

SHAKSPEARE. The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare. With Correc-

ie tions and Notes. Engravings. 6 vols., 12mo, Cloth, $9 00. 2 vols., 8vo,
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6 Valuable and Interesting Works for Public and Private Libraries.

 

SMILES'S HISTORY OF THE*HUGUENOTS. The Huguenots: their Settle-
ments, Churches, and Industries in England and Ireland. By Samuny Size.
With an Appendix relating to the Huguenots in America, Crown 8vo, Cloth,
$2 00.

SMILES’S HUGUENOTS AFTER THE REVOCATION. The Huguenots in
France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; with a Visit to the
Country of the Vaudois. By Samurt Smites. Crown 8vo, Cloth, $2 00.

SMILES'S LIFE OF THE STEPHENSONS. The Life of George Stephenson,
and of his Son, Robert Stephenson; comprising, also, a History of the In-
vention and Introduction of the Railway Locomotive. By Samvzx Smruzs.
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STRICKLAND'S (Miss) QUEENS OF SCOTLAND. Lives of the Queens of
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THE STUDENT'S SERIES. With Maps and Illustrations. 12mo, Cloth, $2 00
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Franor.—Gispon.—Greror.—Humz.—Rome (by Lipperz).—Ontp TrsramMEntr
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—Hatiam's Constitutional History oF Enetanp.—Lye.t’s EneMents
or Gro.ogy.—MERIVALE'’s GENERAL History or Romz.—Cox’s GENERAL
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TENNYSON’S COMPLETE POEMS. The Poetical Works of Alfred Tennyson,
Poet Laureate. With numerous Illustrations by Eminent Artists, and Three
Characteristic Portraits. Svo, Paper, $1 00; Cloth, $1 50.

THOMSON’S LAND AND THE BOOK. The Land and the Book; or, Biblical
Illustrations drawn from the Manners and Customs, the Scenes and the Scen-
ery of the Holy Land. By W. M. Tuomson, D.D., Twenty-five Years a Mis-
sionary of the A.B.C.F.M. in Syria and Palestine. With two elaborate Maps
of Palestine, an accurate Plan of Jerusalem, and several hundred Engravings,
representing the Scenery, Topography, and Productions of the Holy Land,
and the Costumes, Manners, and Habits of the People. 2 vols.,12mo, Cloth,
$5 00.

VAN-LENNEP’S BIBLE LANDS. Bible Lands: their Modern Customs and
Manners Illustrative of Scripture. By the Rev. Hrnry J. Van-Lennep, D.D.
Illustrated with upward of 350 Wood Engravings and two Colored Maps,
838 pp., 8vo, Cloth, $5 00; Sheep, $6 00; Half Morocco, $8 00.

VINCENT’S LAND OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT. The Land of the White
Elephant: Sights and Scenes in Southeastern Asia, A Personal Narrative
of Travel and Adventure in Farther India, embracing the Countries of Bur-
ma, Siam, Cambodia, and Cochin-China (1871-2). y Frank VinoEnt,, Jr.
Illustrated with Maps, Plans, and Woodcuts. Crown 8vo, Cloth, $3 50.

WALLACE’S GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS. The Geo-
graphical Distribution of Animals. With a Study of the Relations of Living
and Extinct Faunas as Elucidating the Past Changes of the Earth's Surface.
oy aoa Wattace. With Maps and Ilustrations, In 2 vols., 8vo,

oth, 7

WALLACE’S MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, The Malay Archipelago: the Land of
the Orang-Utan and the Bird of Paradise. A Narrative of Travel, 1854-1862.
With Studies of Man and Nature. By Aurrep Russet Watiacr. With Ten
Maps and Fifty-one Elegant Illustrations. Crown 8vo, Cloth, $2 50.

WHITE'S MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW. The Massacre of St. Bar-
tholomew: Preceded by a History of the Religious Wars in the Reign of
oe Ix. By Henry Wire, M.A, With Illustrations. Crown 8yo, Cloth,

WOOD'S HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. Homes Without Hands: being a Descrip-

tion of the Habitations of Animals, classed according to their Principle of Con-
struction. By J. G. Woop, M.A., F.L.S. Illustrated. 8vo, Cloth, $4 50.

YONGE'S LIFE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE. The Life of Marie Antoinette,

ancen of France. By Cuaurrs Duke Yonar, Regins Professor of Modern

story and English Literature in Queen’s College, Belfast. With Portrait,
Crown 8vo, Cloth, $2 50,
 

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