ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 9 



the natural history pursuits of his pupil. The friendship that sprang 

 up between them did not cease with the school-days of Robert Ball, 

 but continued in after life. There is now before me a letter of Mr. 

 White's to him, dated " 1st Mo. 19, 1835," stating that he had sent 

 him by a carrier some living specimens of a lamprey (Petromyzon), 

 the species of which appeared doubtful. Mr. White also asks where he 

 shall find a description of the urchin (Echinus), " that hollows for itself 

 a hemispherical lodgment in stone," adding, ° I have sought it in vain 

 in Cuvier, Blumenbach, &c." The schoolmaster who was directing 

 his attention to such inquiries showed an appreciation of zoological 

 science far in advance of what was usually met with at that period. 



Of those who were the companions of Robert Ball at Mr. White's 

 school, few now remain; but among those few is Dr. Longfield, one of the 

 Commissioners of the Incumbered Estates Court. That gentleman, in 

 answer to an inquiry respecting the appearance and habits of his school- 

 fellow, has most kindly furnished the following note : — 



" He did not remain long at that school after I entered it That 

 circumstance, combined with the length of time (nearly half a century) 

 which has since elapsed, makes me unable to give much information 

 about his pursuits and habits there. I remember, however, that he 

 was about my own age, was very slight and tall for his years. He was 

 a pleasant companion, from the good temper and fairness with which he 

 played tops, balls, marbles, and all other childish games. He used also 

 to entertain us with stories of cranes, seals, and other animals. He was 

 the only one of our class of little boys who had ever seen a seal, and he 

 was never tired of telling stories about these animals, nor we of listen- 

 ing to them." These are " the trivial, fond records" of early life, the 

 recollections preserved by relatives and friends; yet the biographer 

 would be justly blamable if, because of their being trivial, they should be 

 blotted out. They shadow forth, even in their triviality, the future 

 man ; they demonstrate the existence in him of tastes and habits which 

 were rare at that time, but which, happily, are so no longer. 



The ability which Ball displayed at Ballitore recommended him to 

 his teachers, and the genuine kindliness of his disposition made him a 

 favourite with his school-fellows. He is described as having been gentle 

 and docile, fond of making experiments on birds, frogs, &c, retreating 

 sometimes to his own room for that purpose, and when interrupted by 

 tho boys, driving them away with his bolster ! He was blessed with 



ZOOL. 6 BOT. SOC PBOC — VOL. I. C 



