78 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



for press Mr. Smith gave him the most practical assist- 

 ance, taking the notes of Edward's observations, and, 

 at a later date, persnading him to let him send the 

 communications to the Zoologist, in which they after- 

 wards appeared. Did space permit, many of these 

 descriptions of birds would be of considerable interest ; 

 but I must refer the reader to the book of Dr. Smiles' 

 " Life of a Scotch Naturalist," who has, in this life 

 of Thomas Edward, given us one of his most charming 

 industrial biographies. This work of Dr. Smiles was 

 to him a labour of love, and it is from it that most of 

 the facts which I have quoted are collated. All who 

 desire a fuller account of this shoemaker naturalist 

 should read the book referred to, which has now been 

 published in a cheaper edition. 



The closeness of observation, the accuracy of his 

 views respecting birds and bird life, were amazing to 

 those who came in contact with him. His patience was 

 astounding ; nothing ever seemed to give him the sense 

 of weariness and fatigue when he was on the search for 

 specimens — and that meant every time he was out of 

 doors. In a letter to his biographer he said, " In look- 

 ing over my printed articles you will find a great 

 number of notices of the habits and workings of various 

 species. I spent so much time in observation, that I 

 had little time to spare to write out the results, and 

 what I did write, did not seem to be much appreciated. 

 Perhaps this is not to be wondered at. It appears that 

 the compilers of works on natural history in this country 

 do not care for details of the habits of the animals they 

 treat of ; they rather glory in the abundance of technical 



