THOMAS EDWARD. 83 



submissively worked on at it up to old age, for to-day he 

 is living and is at last honoured by his fellow-townsmen. 



He corresponded with some of the most eminent scien- 

 tists of the day, and many a naturalist who has added to 

 our English literature on these important subjects, owes 

 much to specimens which have been discovered by 

 Edward, and especially to the information which he 

 has been able to give of animal life. 



His family reached eleven children, but although 

 with his quiver full, he seems to have been greatly 

 blessed, for all his children have grown up to love and 

 to help the father, who has accomplished so much in the 

 way of natural science, although so little of what the 

 world often very erroneously counts success. 



Edward was particularly enthusiastic in his discoveries 

 amongst zoophytes, molluscs, and fishes. These have 

 for many years now occupied his attention. And in 

 this department of study he was successful in rediscover- 

 ing some specimens which had been completely lost to 

 sight for nearly sixty years. At first so rare and un- 

 known were some of his specimens, that there was a 

 difficulty in naming them; but in this respect he was 

 greatly aided by other naturalists, for there is a wonder- 

 ful fraternity of feeling among lovers of nature, and 

 there is often very much interchange of pleasant com- 

 munication among them. 



It was only natural that after all his correspondence 

 with eminent naturalists, and the numerous specimens 

 with which he had provided them, that he should receive 

 some acknowledgment, and in 18G6, he was elected as 

 an Associate of the Linnoean Society, probably the 



