298 TJie Scottish Nattiralist. 



In 1876, Dr. Smiles published his biography; and soon circum- 

 stances changed with Edward. He received a pension of £50 

 for life ; and considerable sums were sent to him by readers of 

 the book. In 1877, he was presented with £333 in Aberdeen. 

 For thirty years he was connected with the Banff Museum, and 

 did much to increase the collections in it. His salary in it was 

 little more than nominal ; but on resigning his curatorship, a 

 piece of plate was presented to him in recognition of his services. 



To the last, he retained his keen powers of observation. 

 Latterly, he devoted his attention chiefly to plants, and found a 

 number of local and rare species near Banff and Aberdeen. 



His habits were very temperate ; and he was a good husband 

 and father. He died of bronchitis, on 27th April, 1886, leaving 

 a family of one son and ten daughters, eight of whom have been 

 or are married. 



Abraham Sturrock was an excellent example of those students 

 who struggle successfully with early difficulties, and raise them- 

 selves to honourable positions — a class, fortunately, in which 

 Scotland has never been wanting. He was born in September, 

 1843, at Padanarum, near Forfar. Though one of a family of 

 fourteen, and the son of parents in poor circumstances, he received 

 a good elementary education at Craichie School. He then spent 

 five years as a pupil-teacher in the East Borough School, Forfar. 

 Thence he went to the Free Church Training College in Edin- 

 burgh ; and gained honourable distinction there. To obtain the 

 sum required to pay his expenses during his training as a pupil- 

 teacher, and afterwards, he was accustomed to hire himself out as 

 a scythesman during harvest. Five years were spent as assistant 

 in schools, and in 1866-69 ne attended the Arts Curriculum in 

 the University of Aberdeen. He then got the charge of a school 

 at Ladybank in Fife, and about 1872 he was appointed to the 

 Parish School of Rattray, where he remained till his death. He 

 had never showed any special inclination for scientific pursuits be- 

 fore he went to Rattray. Here, by the advice of the Rev. Mr. 

 Herdman, who strongly urged him to do so, he began to study 

 the botany of the parish. In August, 1874, along with Mr. Robb, 

 he discovered in the Loch of Cluny, Naias flexilis^ a. plant till 

 then known in the British Isles only from an Irish lake. This 

 discovery probably decided him to devote his time to the fresh 



