Ixxxvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



In 1858, an attack of rheumatic fever forced hin\ again to sell 

 part of his collection. He then abandoned the idea of forming 

 another collection, but turned his attention to the Banff Museum, 

 which he enriched with many valuable additions. In Marine 

 Zoology, to which his leisure hours were about this time de- 

 voted, he succeeded in finding many interesting species ; and 

 these discoveries brought him into correspondence with Messrs. 

 Couch, Spence Bate, Norman, and many other distinguished 

 naturalists, who have in their works made frequent acknowledg- 

 ment of information and specimens obtained from him, and have 

 named several species in recognition of his attainments. 



He was elected an Associate of the Linnean Society in 1866, and 

 a correspondent of numerous provincial societies. On 26th March, 

 1867, he was elected a Corresponding Member of this Society. 



In 1868, his health, undermined by exposure and unremitting 

 work, became seriously impaired, and for a time his attention 

 was directed to antiquarian pursuits. A large "kitchen midden," 

 discovered by him at Boyndie, yielded many interesting and 

 remarkable relics. 



The publication of his biography by Dr. Smiles in 1876,* led 

 to a favxmrable change in his circumstances. In addition to 

 the receipt of a life-pension of £50. and numerous sums of 

 money sent by readers of the biography, he was in the follow- 

 ing year presented with £333 in Aberdeen. On resigning the 

 curatorship of the Banff Museum, with which he had been con- 

 nected for thirty years, he was presented with a piece of plate 

 in recognition of his services to that institution. 



During his later years he turned his attention to Botany, and 

 was successful in discovering many rare and local plants. 



He died on 27th April, 1886, leaving a family of one son and 

 ten daughters, eight of whom have been married. 



The well-known incidents of his eventful life, as graphically 

 narrated by his biographer, afford a remarkable instance of a 

 stedfast devotion to Science amid the most unfavourable external 

 circumstances ; and they show that the pursuits of Nature are 

 as freely open to the humble as to those whose lot has fallen 

 in the privileged spheres of rank and culture. 



James Coutts was one of the members of the Glasgow 

 Naturalists' Society, of which he was Treasurer at the date of 

 its amalgamation with the Natural History Society of Glasgow, 

 24th April, 1866. 



During the period of his membership, which extended over 

 seventeen years, he took an active part in the work of 

 the Society, and frequently contributed to the business of 

 the meetings. He was on several occasions elected a Member 

 of Council. 



* Dr. S. Smile?, The Life of a Scottish Naturalist. 



