CHAPTER XL 

 BEGINS TO PUBLISH HIS OBSERVATIONS. 



SHORTLY after Edward's return from Aberdeen, his 

 old and much esteemed friend, the Rev. James Smith, 

 of the Manse of Monquhitter, situated about ten 

 miles south-east of Banff, lent him some works on 

 Natural History. These enabled Edward to ascertain 

 the names of some of the birds which he discovered 

 in the neighbourhood. 



One day, while walking along the sea-coast, Ed- 

 ward shot a Bridled Guillemot (Uria lachrynians), 

 a bird not before known to frequent the district. 

 When he informed Mr. Smith of the circumstance, the 

 reverend gentleman thus wrote to him : " The dis- 

 covery of the Bridled Guillemot at Gamrie is very 

 interesting, and affords another confirmation of the 

 remark that there are many things yet to be found out, 

 almost at our doors, by those who have a relish for the 

 works of Nature, and who will make a good use of 

 the faculties which the Almighty has bestowed upon 

 them. In my own case, I have now almost no oppor- 

 tunity in my power for prosecuting researches in 

 Natural History out of doors ; and, even if I had, 

 there is so little sympathy for any proceedings of thifi 



