CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| EARLY YEARS. | |
Edward born at Gosport, Portsmouth—The Fifeshire Militia—Returnto Cupar—Residence at Kettle—Settles at Aberdeen—TheGreen—How Edward became a Naturalist—The sow Bet—Stolenby Gipsies—The Inches, Aberdeen—Fondness for“Beasts”—An incorrigible boy—Imprisoned at home—Sets thehouse on fire—Is laid up by fever—His Recovery—Birds’ Nests—RubislawQuarries—The Wasp’s Nest | Pages [1-20] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS. | |
Edward goes to school—Plays the Truant—The fishwives—BellHill—Grannie’s Plunge—A Kae taken to school—Edward’s expulsion—Sentto his second school—The Horse-leeches—Edwardexpelled—The third school—The Sparrow’s nest harried—Takesthe nest to school—The birds “chirrup”—The Master bit bya Centipede—Edward thrashed terribly—Expelled from histhird school—A night under the logs—Results of his punishment—Huntafter an adder—The adder sold | [21-46] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| APPRENTICESHIP. | |
Goes to work—A Tobacco-spinner—Factory at Grandholm—TheBanks and Braes of the Don—The Brig o’ Balgownie—Spires ofSt. Machar—Working at the factory—The Sedge-warbler—TheKingfisher—Country rambles—Apprenticed to a Shoemaker—CharlesBegg—Shoemakers’ pets—Begg’s brutality—Edward’spets killed—Wishes to be a sailor—Tries in vain | [47-60] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| RUNS AWAY FROM HOME. | |
Sets out for the Kettle—His provisions—His money—Tries to sellhis knife—Ruins of Dunnottar Castle—Bervie—Encounter withtramps—Montrose—Sells his knife—Sleeps in a haycock—Arbroath—Thesailors’ wives—Dundee—The Long-tailed Titmouse—Cupar—Reachesthe Kettle—Reception by his uncle—Sets outfor home—Uncivility of a gamekeeper—Adventure with a Bull—Restsnear Stonehaven—Reaches Aberdeen—His reception athome | [61-74] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| RESUMES WORK. | |
Offers himself as a sailor—Resumes shoemaking—Wild BotanicalGarden—Tanners’ pits for puddocks—The picture shops—ThePenny Magazine—Castlegate on Fridays—Gunmakers’ windows—Triesto emigrate to America as a stowaway—He fails—Joinsthe Aberdeenshire Militia—Chase of a butterfly—Is apprehended—Isreprimanded and liberated—Enlists in the 60th Rifles—Assistsas a pew-opener—Leaves Aberdeen for Banff | [75-86] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| SETTLES AT BANFF. | |
His employment—Finds time to follow his bent—His Caterpillarsamong the workmen—His landlady—Marries a Huntly lass—Settledfor life—Self-education in Natural History—Stuffs birds—Hiswant of education—Want of books—Shy and friendless—Avoidsthe public-house—His love of Nature—The ocean—Theheavens—Makes a collection—His gun and paraphernalia—Hisequipment—Sleeps out of doors at night—Exaggerated rumoursabout him—Frequents Boyndie churchyard—Lies in holesduring rain—Disagreeable visitors—Awful night in Boyndiechurchyard—Moth-hunting at night—Terrible encounter withBadgers | [87-103] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| NIGHT WANDERERS. | |
Animals wandering at night—Their noises and cries—The Roe-deerand hare—The Rabbit—A Rabbit fight—The Fox—The Badger—TheField Mice—The Weasel—Attack by a Weasel—PertinaciousRats—The Otter—The Polecat—Boyne Castle—Fight with aPolecat—The Long-eared Owl—The Brown Owl—A chorus ofFrogs—Birds of prey—Landrail, Sedge-warbler, Rook—Songstersat night | [104-128] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| FORMS A NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION. | |
Situation of Banff—Macduff—Cliffs of Banffshire—Gamrie—Thefishing-boats—Gardenstown—The fishermen—Crovie—Hell’sLum—Troup Head—Pennan—The dens of North Aberdeenshire—Aberdour—Churchof Aberdour—Inland county ofBanff—Ben Macdhui—Edward’s rounds—Pursuit of two Geese—Pursuitof a little Stint—Shoemaking—Edward’s traps—Hiscollection of insects—Collection destroyed—Loss of dried plants—Exhibitshis collection at Banff | [129-152] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| EXHIBITS HIS COLLECTION AT ABERDEEN. | |
Aberdeen his city of expectations—Dramatic bird-stuffing—Collectiontaken to Aberdeen in six carriers’ carts—Exhibited in UnionStreet—The handbills—Appeal to the people—The expectedrush—General visitors—Professional visitors—An interrogator—Edwarddisbelieved—“The thing impossible”—Edward’s vindication—Inviteshis mill mates—Temperance and drunkenness—Edwarda mystery—A lady visitor—Appeals to “The Millions”—Theexhibition a failure—Edward in despair—The beach—Theflock of Sanderlings—The Providential Bird—The collectionsold—Departure from Aberdeen | [153-180] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| RESUMES HIS FORMER LIFE AND HABITS. | |
Re-enters his desolate dwelling—Return of his family—Beginsagain—Redoubles his zeal—His paraphernalia—Ramble in theBalloch Hills—A successful search—A furious storm comes on—Crossingthe moor—A haven—The chip-boxes destroyed—Aterrible woman—His hat and insect boxes—How to preserve—Areferee—Edward’s certificate from the Justices—Love of birdnesting—Accidentat Tarlair—Falls from a cliff, and is rescued—Drawson his Savings Bank | [181-202] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| BEGINS TO PUBLISH HIS OBSERVATIONS. | |
The Rev. Mr. Smith—The Bridled Guillemot—Grammar—Scrapsfrom the newspapers—The Death’s-head Moth—Butterflies andlocusts—Locusta migratoria—Saw-flies—The Spider—Notes inNatural History—Rare birds—The Bee-eater—The BohemianWaxwing—The Brown Snipe-Edward’s pursuit—The Snipeescapes—Adventure on Gamrie Head—The Fox’s lair—Theprecipice—The Peregrine Falcon-Feeds upon its prey—Flightof the Falcon—Slides down the rocks—Discovers a SpinousShark—Returns home | [203-229] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| RAMBLES AMONGST BIRDS. | |
Mr. Smith’s articles published in the Zoologist—Edward’s powerof observation described—The beautiful Heron—Cries of theBirds at Ness Bogie—The motherly Wild Duck—Burial of theWild Duck—The Pickietars—The Pickietar fishing—ThePickietar shot—Rescued by his friends—Edward’s closeness ofobservation—The Turnstone—Its description—Its labours—TheTurnstones turn over a Cod—The little Auk—Sea-fowlnurseries—Pennan—Sleeps in Hell’s Lum—The sea-birds atnight | [230-251] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| LITERATURE AND CORRESPONDENCE. | |
Death of the Rev. Mr. Smith—Mr. Smith’s helpfulness—Observationof the Partridge—The Rev. Alexander Boyd—Loch ofStrathbeg—The Waterfowl at Strathbeg—Swans—Geese—Ducks—Winterand summer birds—The Ring Dotterel—A pursuit—Mr.Boyd’s article—Encouragement of native talent and genius—Deathof Mr. Boyd—Publication of ‘Birds of Strathbeg’ inNaturalist—Mr. C. W. Peach—Writes articles for the Zoologist—Finches—Crowsand Crab-shells—The Heron and the Crows—Afight in the air—Crows, Hares, and Rabbits—Cold andWhisky—Edward’s health fails—Again draws on his SavingsBank | [252-278] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| BY THE SEA-SHORE. | |
Marine objects on the shores of Banffshire—Edward’s sea-traps—Capturesa rare fish, Bloch’s Gurnard—The incoming wave—Bigfish the best dredgers—Helped by the fishermen—Helped byhis daughters—The Cod’s bill of fare—Haddocks—Advice to thefishermen—The fishers of Macduff—The Blue-striped Wrasse—TheSaury Pike—Yarrell’s Blenny—Black Goby—EquorealNeedle-fish—Edward’s self-education—How he got his fishesnamed—“Give him books!”—Edward’s enthusiasm | [279-296] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| DISCOVERIES AMONG THE CRUSTACEA. | |
Mr. Bate of Plymouth—His work on Crustacea—Praniza Edwardii—TheAnceus—Edward’s letter to Mr. Bate—Entomostraca—Parasitesfrom short Sun-fish—Present of a Microscope—A possibleSub-curatorship—Edward disappointed—Freemasonryamong naturalists—Rev. A. M. Norman—Fish parasites—Mysisspinifera—New species discovered—Vibilia borealis—Observationof Eurydice pulchra—Edward’s difficulties—Nest buildingcrustacea—New Shrimps and Parasites—The Zoologists inecstasies—The “Sessile-eyed Crustacea” published—Mr. Bate’seulogiums on Edward’s discoveries—New Crustacea found byEdward in the Moray Firth | [297-323] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| DISCOVERIES AMONGST ZOOPHYTES, MOLLUSCS, AND FISHES. | |
Edward brings home Zoophytes to observe—The Star-fish—TheBrittle Stars—A six legged Starfish—Rosy-feather Star—Thegreat Sea-cucumber—Dead Man’s Paps—The Ascidians—Wantof observers—New Ascidian sent to Mr. Alder—Drummond’sEchiodon—Mr. Couch of Polperro—The Wrasses—A jumpingWrasse—A new Midge—Couchia Thompsoni—Colonel Montague—Montague’sMidge—Midges in Moray Firth—Edward’sMidge (Couchia Edwardii)—Other new fishes—Difficulties withthe Museum—Edward elected Associate of the Linnean Society—Othersocieties elect him member—The “prophet withouthonour in his own country” | [324-349] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| ANTIQUITIES—KITCHEN-MIDDENS. | |
Edward’s illness—Studies galvanism—Curator of Banff Museum—PractisesPhotography—Antiquities of Banff—The old TownCross—The Drinking Fountain—The Kjökken Mödding at Boyndie—Earlypopulation, Lapps or Fins—Shelly-bush—Investigatesthe shell mounds at Boyndie—Loch of Spynie—Contentsof the shell-mounds—The Stone period—The Old Bone—Conjecturesabout it—The old bone condemned—Sir RoderickMurchison—The bone, part of the Plesiosaurus dolichodeiras—BanffMuseum | [350-372] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| CONCLUSION. | |
Edward’s labours drawing to a close—Still craves after Nature—Hiswife accompanies him to Huntly—Traps at Tarlair—Anotherdiscovery to announce—Nilsson’s Goby—His numerousdiscoveries—His observations at last accredited—His self-relianceand perseverance—His sobriety—His family—His powerof Will—Pride—Never despair—Money considerations—Thingshe has not done—Edward at home—His outside helpers—Hisfailures—“Here I am Still” | [373-388] |