2 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Here, amid delightful rural surroundings, his early years were 

 spent. Long afterwards, when looking back to youthful ex- 

 periences, and their effect in forming the tastes and stimulating 

 the keen love of nature which so greatly influenced his life, he 

 wrote : "I consider it one of the most favourable things in my life 

 that I was brought up in the country." 



Mr. James King was twice married. Of the first marriage one 

 daughter survived, while the children of the second marriage were 

 five in number. Thomas, the third son, is the subject of the 

 present notice. In evidence of the afiectionate relations which 

 existed between the members of the family, it may be mentioned 

 that for the last thirty years Mr. Thomas King and his brother 

 Robert corresponded regularly every week. 



During childhood his constitution remained very weak, so his 

 earliest instruction was received at home. But although feeble 

 in health, he was always so bright and cheerful, and his disposi- 

 tion so aff'ectionate and amiable, as to make him universally be- 

 loved. Regarding this period of his life he has written : " I 

 was a delicate child, and did not go to school till rather late. 

 My first teacher was Mr. Ferguson, Glenhead, or Newton of Bell- 

 trees. This place is known for two or three things. Belltrees 

 was the home of three poets — Semples of Belltrees — grandfather, 

 father, and son. The son is the reputed author of the song, 

 ' Maggie Lauder.' It was also the native place of Mary Semple, 

 one of Queen Mary's Maries. The old mansion has entirely dis- 

 appeared, but a yew-tree marks the site of the old garden. Of 

 course, nobody told us of these things, but I read of them after- 

 wards." 



In 1854 the farm was sold, and the family removed to Glasgow, 

 where, for the next three years, Mr. King studied in the Normal 

 Training College of the Free Church of Scotland, with the view 

 of qualifying himself for the teaching profession. He taught 

 English in schools at Paisley, Chryston, and other places, from 

 1858 till 1862, and devoted his leisure hours to his favourite 

 study of botany. He was afterwards appointed teacher of 

 English and Botany in Garnet Bank Academy, Glasgow ; but 

 under the strain of this work his health completely broke down, 

 and it became apparent tliat recovery could not be looked for 

 unless in a more genial climate than that of his native land. 



