76 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



had none from his townsmen or others who had come 

 to know of his work. Some advised him to extend his 

 researches into Aberdeenshire, and others to contribute 

 specimens to general museums and so bring his name 

 into prominence, but publicity he knew well would never 

 feed and clothe his eight children. His bravest helper 

 was his wife, and her practical aid was worth a book 

 full of such prolific advice as was being constantly 

 tendered him. She worked at the uppers of the boots, 

 of which Edward placed on the soles, and she worked 

 too for others and so earned wages in this way ; but 

 with money so coming to her she very frequently 

 bought boxes for his insects or wood for his cases. 



No wonder, then, that Dr. Smiles, in his book, should 

 pay the tenderest tribute to her memory. She possessed 

 the truest nobility of heart and soul, and never regretted 

 joining her lot with Edward, and commencing their 

 married life on eight shillings a week. 



A friendly magistrate gave Edward a kind of pass 

 which enabled him to wander about through fields as 

 his fancy led him, with his gun and his pouches, with- 

 out being taken for a poacher ; and this was of consider- 

 able service to him in preventing disagreeable interviews 

 between himself and farmers, who could not understand 

 a man running about to pick up livestock as it came in 

 his way. 



It was scarcely possible for him to wander far and 

 near in this way without meeting with adventures and 

 without, at times, serious risk of life and limb. He was 

 one day out among the precipitous rocks of the sea-coast, 

 and shot at a marten flying over his head. The bird 



