98 A. Lover of Nature. (CHAP. VI. 
the fishermen’s boats along the shores of the Firth; or, 
roaring with seeming agony, dashing itself in spray against 
the rock-bound coast—these sights and scenes were always 
a source of wonderment. As his wanderings were almost 
invariably conducted at night, he had abundant opportuni- 
ties of seeing, not only the ocean, but the heavens, in their 
various aspects. What were these stars so far off in the 
sky? Were they worlds? Were they but the outposts of 
the earth, from which other worlds were to be seen, far be- 
yond the ken of the most powerful telescope ? 
To use Edward’s own words, “I can never succeed in 
describing my unbounded admiration of the works of the 
Almighty; not only the wonderful works which we our- 
selves see upon earth, but those wondrous and countless 
millions of orbs which roll, both near and far, in the end- 
less immensity of space—the home of eternity. 
“Every living thing that moves or lives, every thing that 
grows, every thing created or formed by the hand or the 
will of the Omnipotent, has such a fascinating charm for 
me, and sends such a thrill of pleasure through my whole 
frame, that to describe my feelings is utterly impossible.” 
Another advantage which Edward possessed, besides his 
intense love of nature, was his invincible determination. 
Whatever object in natural history he desired to possess, 
if it were possible to obtain it, he never rested until he had 
succeeded. He sometimes lost for a time the object of 
which he was in search, because he wished to observe its 
traits and habits. For this purpose, he would observe long 
and carefully before obtaining possession of it. By this 
means he was enabled to secure an amount of information 
in natural history such as no book, except the book of 
nature, could have supplied him with. 
Edward proceeded to make a collection of natural objects 
early in the spring of 1838. He was then twenty-four years 
old, and had been married about a year. He had, a short 
time before, bought an old gun for four and sixpence; but 
