x MEMOIR OF THE LATE 



Nathaniel Lawrence Austen was born on the 

 21st June, 1847, at the Acacias, Croydon. His 

 mother informs me that, as quite a child, he was 

 passionately fond of watching all living things. 

 His parents always encouraged this natural ability, 

 and allowed him, at his own free will (even at 

 that early age, and still in the nursery), to hunt 

 for frogs, toads, mice, birds, &c. 



As he grew up he observed and collected all 

 the animals he could find in the garden of the 

 Acacias, Croydon, and when about six years 

 old, and just able to frolic about, he was taken 

 by his parents to Margate, where they gave up to 

 him the balcony of the house for a museum and 

 vivarium. 



As the tide went down young Austen followed 

 the receding waves, collecting all the " curios," 

 both living and dead, for his marine observatory 

 in the balcony. 



Even if I had not had the pleasure of knowing 

 intimately this very talented young man, the cha- 

 racteristics of his mind must have become apparent 

 from his writings. 



He had very great powers of accurate observa- 

 tion of living creatures, their instincts, habits, and 

 structure. He had that peculiarity which but few 

 persons possess, namely, a natural sympathy with 

 what are generally called dumb animals, and this 



