34 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. II. 



There were living companions of his solitude, 

 besides those at home, for no live thing escaped his 

 loving observation. And chief among these was that 

 " child of the mossy pool," the frog, nay, humbler 

 still, the tadpole. The marvel of that transformation 

 has engrossed many a child ; but in none, unless in 

 some great naturalist, has it awakened such a keen, 

 continuous interest. And it may be here observed, as 

 a trait not to be dissociated from his intimacy with 

 Nature, as one of her familiars, that Maxwell never 

 had a " horror " of any creature. " Clean dirt " was a 

 favourite expression, though no one was ever more 

 cleanly. He would pick up a young frog, handle him 

 tenderly, as loving him (not " as if he loved him ! "), 

 listen for his scarcely audible voice (" hear him 

 squeak !" he would say), put him into his mouth, and 

 let him jump out again ! The movements of the frog 

 in swimming were long a favourite study, and to jump 

 like a frog was one of the pranks with which he 

 astonished his companions, when he "put an antic 

 disposition on " at school ; but of these there will be a 

 time to speak hereafter. It was also at a later time 

 that he was told of Galvani's discoveries ; but the 

 recital had the more vivid interest for him because 

 of this childhood fancy. 



With eminent " judiciosity," Mr. Clerk Maxwell 

 had furnished his son with a leaping-pole. This long 

 staff, which appears in many of the early drawings, had 

 at least one excellent effect. Few civilised men have 

 had such perfect use of hands and arms as Maxwell 

 always had. His hand was the model of a hand, at 



