xiv PREFACE. 



Besides the papers which he read to the members 

 of the Naturalists' Field Clubs, Mr. Edward was not 

 long ago requested to address the boys at Yarlet 

 School, near Liverpool. In his address he showed 

 that he knew the fibre of boys as well as of 

 "beasties." He told them that he came from a 

 small and remote town in the far north of Scotland, 

 and that it would be an unwarrantable presumption 

 for him to attempt to teach them. But, as desired, 

 he would say a few words to them, and he hoped 

 that they might be of use. 



"It is now," he said, "as perhaps you know, acknow- 

 ledged that I, a poor unlettered journeyman shoemaker, 

 have done a great thing, perhaps something wonderful. 

 Well, if this is the case if / have been able to do anything 

 marvellous, or the least out of the common way, this I must 

 say, that there is not one in this room who need despair of 

 doing something very much greater. There now, that is 

 encouragement for you ; is it not ? None need despair 

 especially you, for you are the favoured ones. Ay, it's my 

 firm conviction that there is no one but what could do the 

 little that I have done, if he only would. It's there where 

 the grand secret lies the will, the will to do and to win. 



" But remember that even the little that I have accom- 

 plished required diligence, perseverance, and punctuality. 

 Whenever I wished to do anything, I did it. Whenever I 

 set myself, and appointed the time to do anything, I went. 

 The day never dawned nor the night lowered, however 

 stormy, that kept me back. This was very well known, 



