CHAP. xiii. DEATH OF MR. BO YD. 265 



Edward thus refers to tlie event: "It was but 

 yesterday, at noon,* that my friend the Eev. Mr. 

 Boyd of Crimond, while full of life and strength, 

 and with every prospect of enjoying many, many 

 long years to come, left his young and cour- 

 teous partner and two blooming little ones, to 

 enjoy a short walk with a neighbouring gentleman. 

 Alas ! short was the walk indeed, and, woe is me ! 

 never to return. A few paces, and he dropped down 

 and almost instantly expired. Alas ! another of my 

 best friends gone. Cruel death ! if thy hand continues 

 to strip me thus, thou. wilt soon, very soon, leave me 

 desolate ; and then who will take notice of the poor 

 Naturalist ? Well may the parish of Crimond say, 

 ' We have lost that which we may never again find.' 

 Well might Mercy weep, and Eeligion mourn his 

 premature departure, for in him they have lost 

 a friend on earth ; and I, alas ! a friend too, and a 

 benefactor." 



Edward completed his article on " The Birds of 

 Strathbeg" only two days after Mr. Boyd's death. 

 It had been written out at his instance, and was 

 afterwards published in the Naturalist. It was one 

 of the first papers to which Edward subscribed his 

 own name. 



So soon as Edward's name and address appeared 

 in the Naturalist and Zoologist, he was assailed by 

 letters from all parts of the country. English dealers 

 * August 22, 1854. 



