The Scottish Naturalist. 151 



elementary school, while the nights were devoted to literary work, 

 leaving him little time for sleep. The microscopic drawings were 

 by himself, as was also the letterpress. The illustrations were nature 

 printed. It may be here added by way of note that this beautiful 

 process has been lost to science by the death of its inventor, Mr. 

 Bradbury. 



Although Mr. Croall had at an early age manifested a love for 

 natural science, it was not until he was a teacher that he began in 

 real earnest the study of botany, incited thereto by hearing a 

 journeyman gardener read a paper on ' Plants.' From that time, 

 until the end of his days, he prosecuted the study with great ardour. 

 As a member of the ' Montrose Scientific Institute ' already re- 

 feired to, he took charge of the botanical, while Dr. Gilchrist, 

 afterwards of the Crichton Institution, Dumfries, took charge of the 

 geological department. Mr. Croall had also charge of the entomo- 

 logical department, and made a valuable collection of insects, 

 which, on leaving the place, he presented as a free gift to the Mon- 

 trose Museum. In 1863, he. was appointed librarian to the City 

 of Derby Library and Keeper of the Museum and Herbarium. So 

 long as he remained in England, he, when time allowed, prosecuted 

 his favourite studies, and during his holidays took excursions into 

 Cornwall, and other counties, gathering treasures wherever he 

 went." 



" In 1873, he was appointed curator of the Smith Institute, 

 Stirling, which with its picture gallery, its Museum, and latterly its 

 extensive library, situated in a district rich in objects of natural 

 science and of archaeology, was most congenial to his tastes. 

 Never was there a happier appointment, and never was a man 

 more happy in his situation. The trustees, to their credit, placed 

 unbounded confidence in him, and so thoroughly did he identify 

 himself with the place that his name and that of the Institute had 

 become, in the popular mind, almost synonomous terms. People 

 from all parts consulted him on many subjects — objects rather — 

 of natural science and of archaeology, and he met them in such a 

 genial spirit that he seemed really to thank them for giving him 

 the trouble. No one consulted him on such occasions without 

 being impressed with the extent and accuracy of his information, 

 and with his kindly obliging disposition. 



"From what has been said a fair idea may be obtained of Mr. 

 Croall's scientific enthusiasm ; and it only remains that we give a 



