64 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



go, and he gave a rapid dash with his hand, and there 

 was a shriek as it fell to the ground, and then he knew 

 at once that it was a pole-cat. On recovering itself it 

 flew at him furiously, and attempted to get at a water- 

 hen which he had in his hreast. The pole-cat screamed 

 and clawed at him, and Edward's grip did not appear 

 to be a very sure one, but he eventually gained the 

 mastery by making it swallow about an ounce of chloro- 

 form, a commodity which he always carried with him 

 on these excursions, and then he was able to get it down 

 on the ground and place his foot on its neck. He 

 says of this encounter that it was the most terrible that 

 he ever had with an animal of its class. His hands 

 were very much bitten and scratched, and for a long 

 time afterwards remained sore and inflamed ; but he 

 states that the pole-cat which he had captured was well 

 worth the struggle. It was a male which he had caught, 

 and he afterwards stuffed it as a companion to a female 

 which he had at home. 



These nightly visits of his made him familiar with 

 the birds and animals which catch their prey in the 

 darkness, but, in addition to this, he learned much of 

 bird life. 



He became anxious to form a natural history 

 collection, and he had many dreams of what might be 

 its ultimate usefulness to himself and to others. He 

 greatly felt the need of a friendly hand to guide him, 

 and to save him from having to struggle through many 

 difficulties which, had he been able to obtain books and 

 practical help, would have aided him materially, and 

 saved him much time and laborious work. He was 



