VISITS TO ABERDEEN FRIENDSHIP AND BOTANY. 375 



fined to Botany. It has embraced a wide range of Natural 

 History, especially Ornithology, in which his knowledge 

 is very great, and, concerning the northern counties, more 

 or less exhaustive. For many years, he published, in the 

 local papers, an extended and interesting series of notes on 

 scientific matters in the north, which not only contributed 

 to popular instruction when these things were greatly 

 despised and generally unknown, but which should be of 

 permanent value. 



Fr some time, Mr. Taylor cultivated the farm of 

 Allanvale, near the bridge of Dee, on which his ancestors 

 had dwelt for nigh three hundred years, and which is now 

 included in the Duthie Park, recently munificently gifted 

 to the city of Aberdeen. 



In 1874, he removed to Clashfarquhar, not far from 

 Portlethen, about ten miles south of Aberdeen, on the 

 estate there belonging to the University, for which he 

 undertook its management. Amidst his hard and varied 

 agricultural labours, he still cultivates science with enthu- 

 siasm. He keeps fully abreast of its rapid progress, and 

 has been an active member of the Natural History, 

 Microscopic, and other societies in Aberdeen, to which 

 he has from time to time contributed a host of papers. 



Mr. Taylor used often to meet John Duncan at Raeden, 

 where he also visited Charles Black, and since then he 

 has ever remained one of his most attached and appre- 

 ciative friends. John became a regular visitor at his house 

 at Allanvale, called before his time Scrapehard.* The 

 house was then a small cottage, comfortable but confined, 

 now only represented by two willow trees that grew near 



* Mr. Taylor named it Allanvale after the proprietor, Col. Allan. 



