1891-92.] 4 2 5 



of science, Mr. Bryce soon allowed him to remain after hours with him to assist 

 in arranging the school museum, which, in the master's skillful hands, had 

 become a very instructive and somewhat valuable collection. On half-holidays 

 the master would take hi s class to the Cave Hill, where, armed with pick and 

 hammer, the budding geologists expended their youthful zeal on tough blocks 

 of white Chalk and Hibernian Greensand. Twice in each half-year a longer 

 excursion was undertaken, and raids were made under the able generalship of 

 Mr. Bryce on the treasures of Whitehead, Woodburn, and Colin Glen, the party 

 returning laden with gypsum and selenite, sea-urchins and fish -teeth, corals and 

 sponges. 



Meanwhile, with his companions, John and Alexander Montgomery, A. O'D. 

 and Robert Taylor, and Samuel Ewing, all holidays were spent in country 

 rambles ; and flowering plants, seaweeds, beetles, butterflies, birds' eggs, and 

 rock specimens were equally welcome to the young collectors. 



Under the presidency of Mr. Bryce, the " Academy Natural History Society " 

 met monthly in the evenings, when the boys read papers, and had discussions 

 thereon. The future Canon's contributions to the literature of this period were 

 three in number : — " The Elephant " was his earliest effort, and the size and 

 strength of the animal chosen for his first natural history lecture were worthy of 

 the magnitude of the occasion, and of the force with which he expounded the 

 leading zoological characteristics of this modern descendant of Elephas primi- 

 genius; "Organic Remains" showed the direction which, since the episode 

 of the garden at Vine Lodge, his thoughts had constantly followed ; and ' ' Fixed 

 Stars " afforded fine scope for the active mind and discursive eloquence of the 

 young lecturer. 



James Bryce was at this time secretary of the Belfast Natural History Society, 

 which had been founded in 1821 by a number of local scientists for the en- 

 couragement of biological pursuits in Belfast, and was now flourishing 

 exceedingly under the able guidance of such well-known naturalists as William 

 Thompson, George C. Hyndman, Robert Patterson, and James MacAdam. To 

 young Grainger, James Bryce frequently entrusted the task of writing out the 

 reports of the Society's meetings in the minute book from his rough notes, much 

 to the delight of the former, who thus gained valuable information, and at the 

 same time became thoroughly acquainted with the working of the Society. In 

 the summer vacation of 1844, Grainger had the pleasure of a trip to Edinburgh 

 with his master, under whose guidance he made his first acquaintance with 

 Scottish geology. In the same year, at the age of 14, he left the Academy, and 

 began a course of private study. His tutor was Elijah Aiken, an excellent 

 teacher, whom the young scientist soon infected with his own love of natural 

 history pursuits, till teacher and pupil were equally enthusiastic students of 

 science ; and it is to be suspected that Greek roots sometimes gave way to 

 phanerogamic stems and flowers, and that etymology occasionally had to yield 

 place to entomology. 



