THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE. ,9 



and Natural History. I well remember on one such 

 occasion picking up and bringing to him a lovely 

 white feather which had dropped from the wing of a 

 sea-guU. He took it reverently in his hand, looked 

 at it long and lovingly, and then said—" Boys, come 

 here"— and there, sitting on the brow of the high 

 cliff, while the swelling, moaning, ever-restless ocean 

 waves were breaking into white foam amongst the 

 rocks many hundred feet below, and « far In the 

 dewy cloud " the skylark was pouring forth his sweet 

 song of "unpremeditated art," and multitudes of sea- 

 birds were screaming in wild discord round their nests 

 in the precipice, he pointed out all the exquisite 

 beauties, and explained all the parts of a feather, and 

 showed how admirably it was adapted for its purpose 

 in strength, lightness, and flexibility. Our special 

 attention he directed to the little hooks which so 

 tenaciously hold its filaments together, and re-unite 

 them when separated. These we closely examined 

 through his powerful pocket microscope. Then hold- 

 ing out the feather at arm's length he said, " I have 

 always regarded a feather as one of God's most beauti- 

 ful and admirable designs." 



Our father regarded the study of insects and creep- 

 ing things of every description as in the highest 

 degree interesting and fascinating. He delighte°d in 

 insects and insect life, in watching their transforma- 

 tions and observing their habits. Well do I recollect 

 the first time he showed us a number of specimens he 

 had prepared for the lens of a powerful microscope. 



