5© rnOCEEDlNGS OF THE 



JTis early education was carried out at home, Tullocli's private 

 School, ami tlic (Jiaimnar Scliool of Old Al)or(leeii, wliere, owing 

 to till' I'xtrcine classical drill there |ire\al('iit, lie took a violent 

 dislilu' to tlie classics. As a cliild lie had heen accustomed to the 

 observation and collection of natural objects, wliich tendency had 

 been encouray;ed at Tullocli's school, and this proclivity was con- 

 tinued al'ter bis entrance into the University in JSGO; bere he 

 did not seek distinct iun in classics, matbeniatics, or philosophy, 

 concentrating his attention in the natural science department, 

 obtaining highest honours when be graduated M.A. in IbTO. 



At that time the medical faculty provided the only avenue 

 offered by the University for tlie student desirous of following 

 science, and Trail was not specially drawn to bis purely profes- 

 sional studies ; but he served in 1870-7^5 as assistant to the pro- 

 fessors of botany and chemistry and to the curator of the zoological 

 museinn. In 1S73 he interrupted his medical career by accepting 

 the position of naturalist to a South American exploring expe- 

 dition, and was thus able to travel more than 16,000 miles on 

 tiie Amazon and its northern tributaries, making full notes and 

 collecting both ])lants and animals. On his return in 1.S75 be 

 resumed liis medic.il studies and set about the arrangement and 

 jniblication of bis results. In the following year he graduated 

 JNl.B. with highest academical honours. 



He was chosen in the same year (1876) to fill thepost of botanist 

 in British Guiana, but in 1877, when about to take u]) his duties, 

 Dr. G. Dickie resigned bis Chair, and Trail was appointed by the 

 Crown to succeed him, beginning his career as Professor of Botany 

 in May. The Chair of Zoology fell vacant in 1878, and Trail 

 deputised for the new occupant during 1878-71) with signal 

 success. 



On taking up his new duties Trail found the equipment of the 

 botanical department very defective. By 1879, when he proceeded 

 to the degree of M.D., he had formed his plan and begun to 

 carrv it out, until he left for bis successor an excellent teaching 

 museum, laboratories, and a botanical garden. 



From 1871 onwards Ti-ail had published ])apers on galls in the 

 'Scottish Naturalist,' and in 1883 Dr. liuchanan AV'hite resigned 

 its editorshij) and ])ersuaded Trail to take over the duties from 

 1S84, until it was merged, in 1892, in the ' Annals of Scottish 

 Natural History,' and lie acted as botanical editor during the 

 twenty years that the ' Annals ' were published. 



The year 1886 witnessed Tiail's part in the foundation of the 

 Aberdeen A\''orking Men's Natural ]Iistory Society, frequently 

 guiding its discussions and sometimes taking the lead in its 

 excursions; this help was acknowledged by the Society annually 

 electing him its ]n'esident. 



In 1891 the University Commissioners required a I'eport on the 

 ooiiditiun of the library. Trail, who bad served continuously on 

 the library committee since 1877, was constituted curator of the 

 librarv and chairman "f the (•(unmittee, and tu draft the report ; 



