Ixxxlv PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



by Mr. David Robertson, F.L.S., F.G.S.;* '' Gonometa postica, 

 AValker," by Rev. James E. Sonierville, B.D., Corresponding 

 Menil)er, f with specimens of the Cocoons, Pupae, and Moth, 

 from Caffraria ; "Meteorological Notes for 1885, with Remarks 

 on the State of Vegetation in the Public Parks of Glasgow," 

 by Mr. Duncan M'Lellan, Superintendent of Parks ; t "Pollen," 

 by Mr. R. Turner, Vice-President, with diagrams showing the 

 structure of Pollen, and the beautiful forms of the grains in 

 various orders of plants. 



27th April, 1886. 

 Dr. James Stirton, F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 

 Reference was made to the death of Mr. Thomas Edward, 

 A.L.S., Banff, one of the Corresponding Members, and of Mr. 

 James Coutts, who for many years was connected with the 

 Society. 



IN ME MORI AM. 



Thomas Edward was born on 25th December, 1814, at Gos- 

 port, where his father was stationed with the Fifeshire militia 

 dui'ing the absence of the regular troops in the Peninsular war. 

 His father was a native of Fife, and his mother of Aberdeen. 

 On the return of the militia, his father settled for a short time 

 at Kettle, Fifeshire, but soon afterwards removed to Aberdeen, 

 where he carried on his trade of a linen-weaver. 



At a very early age yoimg Edward manifested a strong taste 

 for Natural History ; and the waste-ground, tidal-flats, and muddy 

 pools by the river-side, afforded him an attractive hunting- 

 ground for insects, leeches, &c. These prizes were carried home ; 

 but the escape of the " uncanny beasts " led to perpetual domestic 

 trouble, and the boy was sternly forbidden to engage in his un- 

 couth pursuits. The love of Nature, however, could not be 

 repressed, and threats and frequent ininishment alike proved 

 unavailing. Every spare moment was devoted to hunting by 

 the river side, and the hours of school were too often spent 

 in the same manner. As he was fond of carrying his strange 

 treasures about with him, even when attending school, their 

 frequent escape gave rise to a series of mishaps, by which his 

 school-life was embittered, and himself regarded as an in- 

 corrigible nuisance. Accordingly, at the early age of six years, 

 he had gained the unenviable reputation of having been dis- 

 missed in disgrace from three schools. 



He was then sent to work, in the hope that active employ- 

 ment might cure him of his erratic tastes. After two years 

 spent in a tobacco-spinner's workshop, at a wage of from Is. 2d. 

 to Is. 6d. per week, he obtained more remunerative employment 



* Transactions, I 293. fid., i. 312. Xld., i. 305. 



