152 The Scottish Naturalist. 



general statement of his scientific attainments, and in doing so I 

 am almost entirely indebted to one who knew Mr. Croall intim- 

 ately, and is himself no mean naturalist. Before going further, 

 however, I may say that Mr. Croall, latterly at least, took a deep 

 interest in archaeology — the archaeology of this district es- 

 pecially — and knew not a little of it as a science. But he was 

 most at home in the region of nature. He knew something of 

 mineralogy, and in geology he was anything but a tyro, although 

 he had not given the same attention to it as to some other branches 

 of science. As we have been told already, he was a good zoologist,, 

 especially in conchology and entomology. He was, however, 

 strongest in botany. He had made a special study of the fungi 

 and lichens, and he was an expert in mosses, and his name frequently 

 appears in Dr. Braithwaite's ' British Moss Flora,' now in course 

 of publication. His great work on ' British Sea Weeds ' has al- 

 ready been referred to. His knowledge of the flowering plants was 

 most extensive, and he may fairly be regarded as one of the best 

 of British botanists. He has left a valuable scientific collection 

 behind him. The specimens belong to this district — and he had 

 explored the country round, and made himself especially acquainted 

 with its flora — the specimens so acquired he has bequeathed rx> 

 this Society, and I am sure we receive them with gratitude, and 

 will treasure them not only for their own value, but for their 

 donor's saKe. However the other specimens may be disposed of, 

 I am certain they will be treated with more respect than the 

 valuable collection of Robert Dick, which I saw lying like so 

 much rubbish in a public room in Thurso.* Mr. Croall has also 

 left a garden of wild flowers gathered in various parts, some of them 

 not to be found in Scotland. It is well worthy of a visit, and 

 botanists may regard it as worthy of preservation. 



"Mr Croall, I need hardly say, was a man of shrewd and patient 

 intellect, keen to observe, to analyse and generalise, but slow to 

 speculate. He was a man of facts, not of fancies. He never 

 bridged a chasm by conjecture, but waited until it was filled up by 

 facts. He deprecated the putting forth of mere hypotheses as if 



*This is not so now. Dick's collection, we understand, has since been 

 properly arranged under the superintendence of Mr. Gunn, a subscription 

 having been raised for that purpose. The Stirling Natural History and Arch- 

 aeological Society can claim some credit in the matter, one of its members 

 being a prominent subscriber. — Ed. S. /. &* A. 



