CHAPTER VIL. 
NIGHT WANDERERS. 
A.ttHovuaH it is comparatively easy to observe the habits 
of animals by day, it is much more difficult to do so at 
night. Edward, as we have already said, was compelled by 
circumstances to work at shoe-making by day, and to work 
at natural history by night. 
“Tt would have been much easier work for me,” said 
Edward, in answer to an inquiry made as to his nocturnal 
observations, “had it been my good fortune to possess but 
a single trustworthy book on the subject, or even a single 
friend who could have told me any thing about such mat- 
ters. But I had neither book nor friend. I was in a far 
worse predicament than the young and intending communi- 
cants at the parish church of Boyndie were, who, when asked 
a question by the good and pious minister, and returning 
no answer, were told that they were shockingly in the dark 
—all in the dark together. Now, they had a light beside 
them, for they had their teacher in their midst; but I had 
no light whatever, and no instructor. It was doubly dark 
with me. It was decidedly the very blackness of darkness 
in my case. The only spark or glimmer I had was from 
within. It proceeded from the never-ceasing craving I had 
for more knowledge of the works of nature. This was the 
only faintest twinkle I had to lighten up my path, even in 
the darkest night. And that little twinkle, together with 
my own never-flagging perseverance, like a good and earnest 
pilot, steered me steadily and unflinchingly onward.” 
Although Edward was frequently out in winter-time, es- 
pecially in moonlight, his principal night-work occurred be- 
