202 DRAWS UPON HIS SAVINGS-BANK. CHAP. x. 



that he had only sustained some severe contusions. 

 It was, however, nearly a fortnight before he could do 

 any work. A month elapsed before he could walk 

 to Tarlair for the wallets and remains of his gun 

 which he had left in the hollow of the cave. 



To support his family during his illness, he was 

 forced to sell a considerable portion of the Collection 

 which he had made during the last few years. Al- 

 though it was not so large as that which he had 

 exhibited at Aberdeen, it contained many rarer birds, 

 insects, Crustacea, zoophytes, and plants ; and it was 

 on the whole much better got up. He sold about 

 100 cases at this time, consisting chiefly of preserved 

 birds, insects, and eggs. He also sold about 300 

 plants, and more than 200 zoophytes ; besides about 

 100 minerals or fossils. Among the plants, were a 

 great number unnamed. He had as yet no botanical 

 books ; and the friends to whom he applied could 

 not supply the names. They considered them veiy 

 rare, if not new and unnamed. 



It was a great blow to him to sell a portion of 

 his second Collection. But he had no help for it. It 

 was his only Savings Bank. When other means failed 

 him, he could only rely upon it. He had no friends 

 in his neighbourhood to help him. His specimens 

 went to many places, far and near. A considerable 

 portion of them went to Haslar, near Southampton, 

 where one of the hospital surgeons was making a 

 collection of objects in Natural History. 



