150 NATURALISTS NOT "MADE" CHAP. vm. 



his "Collection of preserved Animals, comprising 

 Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Insects, Shells, Eggs, and 

 other curiosities." 



The local paper called the public attention to the 

 rare and beautiful objects contained in Edward's 

 Collection " the results of his own untiring efforts 

 and ingenuity, without aid, and under discouraging 

 circumstances which few would have successfully 

 encountered. . . . Our young friends especially should 

 visit the Collection : it will both amuse and instruct 

 them. They will learn more from seeing them in 

 half-an-hour, than from reading about them in half- 

 a-year." 



Edward took the inhabitants by surprise. They 

 had never been able to understand him. His wander- 

 ings by night had been matter of great wonderment to 

 them. The exhibition fully explained the reason of 

 his frequent disappearances. When his public an- 

 nouncement was advertised, some of the better classes 

 called at his house in Wright's Close, to ascertain if 

 it was true. True, indeed ! .He pointed to the cases 

 of stuffed birds and animals which nearly filled his 

 house. Then the question came " What made you 

 a Naturalist?" 



" When I was first asked this question," says he, 

 " I was completely dumfoundered ! I had no notion 

 that a Naturalist could be made. What! make a 

 Naturalist as you would make a tradesman ! I could 

 not believe that people became Naturalists for pecu- 



