THE WONDERS OF THE SHORE, 4] 
in measuring pens with Linné, the prince of natu- 
ralists. 
There are those who can sympathise with 
the gallant old Scotch officer mentioned by some 
writer on sea-weeds, who, desperately wounded in 
the breach at Badajos, and a sharer in all the toils 
and triumphs of the Peninsular war, could in his 
old age show a rare sea-weed with as much triumph 
as his well-earned medals, and talk over a tiny 
spore-capsule with as much zest as the records of 
sieges and battles. Why not? That temper which 
made him a good soldier may very well have made 
him a good naturalist also. The late illustrious 
geologist, Sir Roderick Murchison, was also an old 
Peninsular officer. I doubt not that with him, too, 
the experiences of war may have helped to fit him 
for the studies of peace. Certainly, the best natu- 
ralist, as far as logical acumen, as well as earnest 
research, is concerned, whom England has ever 
seen, was the Devonshire squire, Colonel George, 
Montagu, of whom the late E. Forbes well says, 
that “had he been educated a physiologist” (and 
