29*5 The Scottish Naturalist. 



and another west along the coast, and the third inland. Along 

 his routes, he was accustomed to place numerous traps for insects, 

 in the form of dead moles, fish, or other animals : and these 

 yielded him a plentiful return. His collections suffered grievously 

 at times. Nearly 1,000 insects were destroyed by mice or rats on 

 one occasion ; and about 2,000 dried specimens of plants, the result 

 of eight years' work, were ruined by cats, which had got into the box. 

 The preparation of his numerous specimens was carried on at 

 odd times, and in the intervals between jobs ; and in these inter- 

 vals, also, he made cases for holding them. 



He exhibited his collections in Banff on Brandon Fair day, 

 1845. They included animals of all kinds, terrestrial and 

 marine, as well as plants ; all collected by himself in his rambles. 

 The exhibition left him a small profit. He exhibited the collec- 

 tions again next year, and obtained a larger return ; and he 

 resolved to try his success in the same venture in Aberdeen. 

 With this view, he rented a shop in Union Street, and removed 

 his collections, which now filled six carts, to Aberdeen in 1846. 

 The venture failed, owing to the want of appreciation of such 

 objects in Aberdeen. Ruin seemed imminent; and in despair 

 he thought of drowning himself, and went towards the mouth of 

 the Don, along the beach. But on the sands, he observed, almost 

 unconsciously, a bird unknown to him among some sanderlings. 

 Old habits reasserted themselves, and he followed the birds ; and 

 while doing this the despair passed off, never to return. He sold 

 his collections for £20 10s., and returned to Banff. There he 

 resumed shoemaking. In the following year he began again to 

 collect the products of the district. Once more he followed his 

 well-known rounds, and spent such time as he could spare from 

 his trade among the beasts and plants ; and gradually he accumu- 

 lated a new collection. In these expeditions he met with many 

 strange and disagreeable experiences ; and occasionally risked his 

 life ; but space forbids entering on these here. By a fall from a 

 cliff at Tarlair, he sustained injuries that rendered him unfit for 

 work for two or three weeks ; and he had to sell a part of his new 

 collection to obtain a livelihood for himself and his family during 

 this time. He was encouraged by the Rev. James Smith of 

 Monquhitter to publish accounts of his experiences ; and was 

 assisted by him with books and information. He sent frequent 

 short articles to the local papers ; and these brought him speci- 



