66 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



distasteful to him, and when the call for his services became 

 less urgent he gladly retired from this field. His life affords 

 an admirable example of exemplary devotion to his duties 

 as a clergyman, combined with keen enthusiasm and great 

 ability as a naturalist, in the truest sense of the term. To 

 him no part of natural science was without interest ; but 

 most of all did he delight in its study in the field. Few parts 

 of Scotland, if any, have been investigated with such loving 

 devotion by any single observer as he bestowed on his native 

 district of Moray, alike as regards the native animals and 

 plants, and the most interesting but perplexing Red Sand- 

 stone geological formations, with their very remarkable as- 

 semblages of fossil fishes and reptiles. 



Dr. Gordon's physical energy was very great. Indeed, in 

 his later years he looked much younger than his real age ; 

 and he retained his love and his fitness for outdoor exercise 

 till almost the close of his well-spent life. Even when over 

 eighty years of age he enjoyed boating among the Shetland 

 Islands. He explored Moray thoroughly ; and extended his 

 excursions, usually with some definite investigation in view, 

 to various parts of the Highlands of Scotland. He noted 

 what he observed ; and his published papers, as will be more 

 fully noticed below, relate to a wide range of topics, though 

 mostly connected with the natural history of Morayshire. 



This width of interests prevented the narrowness of view 

 into which specialists are sometimes apt to fall, and rendered 

 him a delightful companion. No one that ever enjoyed the 

 pleasure of spending a little time in his company in Birnie 

 or Elgin can forget the pleasure, or the thoroughness of his 

 knowledge of Morayshire. He delighted alike in showing 

 hospitality, and in giving freely of the fruits of his wide ex- 

 perience to all students of natural history who visited the 

 district, attracted not seldom by the desire to learn from him. 

 His scientific investigation of Morayshire began with the 

 plants, which he sought out most diligently, often in company 

 with the late Mr. Stables of Cawdor, who fully shared his 

 love for Botany, and whose name is very frequently quoted 

 in A. Murray's "Northern Flora," published in 1836. In 

 this work the author refers also to " Mr. Gordon, minister of 

 Birnie," in connection with the discovery of Pingnicula alpina 



