CHAPTEE VI 

 BOTANICAL WANDERINGS. 



ROBERT DICK proceeded with his study of natural 

 science. From conchology he went on to entomology 

 and botany. He gathered insects while he collected 

 plants. They both lay in the same beat. After his 

 bread was baked in the morning and ready for sale, 

 he left the shop to the care of his housekeeper, and 

 went out upon a search. Or, he would take a journey 

 to the moors and mountains, and return home at night 

 to prepare for the next day's baking. 



He began to' make his entomological collection about 

 the year 1836, when he was about twenty- five years 

 old. He worked so hard at the subject, and made so 

 many excursions through the country, that in about 

 nine months he had collected nearly all the insect tribes 

 that Caithness contained. He spent nearly every 

 moment that he could spare until he thought he had 

 exhausted the field. 



He worked out the subject from his own personal 

 observation. He was one of those men who would not 

 take anything for granted. Books were an essential 

 end ; but his knowledge was not founded on books, but 

 on Nature. He must inquire, search, and observe for 



