2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



evinced little predilection for any of the professions, and 

 until i 846 he remained at home, busying himself about the 

 farm, but all the time improving himself by close and 

 attentive reading. In that year, what seemed a favourable 

 opportunity of opening an Academy for higher education 

 presented itself at Gateshead-on-Tyne, and he went there 

 and laboured, not unsuccessfully, for a few years ; but, his 

 health again giving way, he was compelled once more to 

 return to the parental roof. From this time forward, up to 

 the date of his death, he continued to reside in his native 

 parish, ostensibly engaged in farming, but neglecting no 

 opportunity of making himself thoroughly acquainted with 

 the Natural History, and Antiquarian lore, of the Border 

 Counties, and extending his reading to a great variety of 

 subjects. During his residence in Gateshead he became 

 acquainted with many of the leading scientific men on 

 Tyneside, and joined the Literary and Philosophical Society 

 of Newcastle, as well as the Newcastle Antiquarian Society, 

 and he was one of the earliest members of the Tyneside 

 Naturalists' Field Club, formed in 1846. In 1848, in con- 

 junction with his friend the late T. J. Bold, he undertook 

 " A Catalogue of the Insects of Northumberland and 

 Durham," which was published, with Hardy as its editor, in 

 the " Transactions " of the Tyneside Club. 1 The Catalogue 

 extended to the order Coleoptera only, and, including, as it 

 did, 353 genera, and I I/O species, was marvellously exhaust- 

 ive, taking into account the somewhat meagre attention 

 which had, up to that time, been paid to the Beetles of the 

 district. Many other papers from his facile pen appeared 

 from time to time in different scientific journals, always 

 written with that accuracy, and careful regard to fact, which 

 ever distinguished him ; and he was soon recognised, not 

 merely as an authority on all local subjects, but as one well 

 versed in some of the least-known branches of Botany, and 

 Entomology. The pages of the earlier numbers of the 

 " Border Magazine " were frequently enriched by his essays, 

 not always confined to prose work, and the Folk Lore Society 

 was equally indebted to him. Amongst his contributions 

 to the last-named Society may be mentioned his " Popular 



1 Vol. i. pp. 37-96, and vol. ii. pp. 21-97, and 164-287. 



