240 Edward’s Correspondents. [cHAP. XII. 
So soon as Edward’s name and address appeared in the 
Naturalist and Zoologist, he was assailed by letters from 
all parts of the country. English dealers asked him to ex- 
change birds with them. Private gentlemen offered ex- 
changes of moths and butterflies. Professors, who were 
making experiments on eggs, requested contributions of 
eggs of all kinds. A naturalist in Norfolk desired to have 
a collection of sternums, or breast-bones, of birds. “TI 
have no doubt,” says Edward, “that many of my corre- 
spondents thought me unceevil, but really it would have 
taken a fortune in postage-stamps to have answered their 
letters.” 
But although Edward received many applications from 
naturalists in different parts of the country, he himself ap- 
plied*to others to furnish names for the specimens which 
he had collected. We find a letter from Mr. Macdonald, 
secretary to the Elgin Museum, referring to eighty - five 
zoophytes which Edward had sent him to be named, Ed- 
ward had no other method of obtaining the scientific names 
for his objects. “The naming of them,” said Mr. Macdon- 
ald, “has cost me some time and trouble..... Some of 
the zoophytes are fine specimens; others are both fine and 
rare. One or two have not as yet been met with on-our 
shores. They seem to be quite new.” We also find Ed- 
ward communicating with Mr. H. F. Staunton, a well-known 
London naturalist, relative to moths, butterflies, beetles, and 
other insects. 
But Edward could not live on zoophytes and butterflies. 
His increasing family demanded his attention; and shortly 
after his article on “‘ The Birds of Strathbeg” had appeared 
in the Waturalist, we find him applying in different direc- 
tions for some permanent situation. He was willing to be 
a police-officer, a tide-waiter, or any thing that would bring 
in a proper maintenance for his family. With this object, 
one of his friends at Fraserburgh made an application to 
Mr. Charles W. Peach, then an officer of customs at Wick. 
