190 Biographical Account of the 



wards attended various classes in Edinburgh, but never took 

 his degree of M.D. nor entered on the practice of his profes- 

 sion ; the time, however, thus spent was by no means lost, 

 for his anatomical and physiological studies proved of the 

 greatest value to him in after life. 



From an early age, he shewed a decided taste for the study 

 of Natural History in almost all its branches, and his love 

 for it proved too enthusiastic to allow him to follow the me- 

 dical profession as a means of support ; he availed himself of 

 the first opportunity which presented itself to obtain a situa- 

 tion where all his time and energy could be honestly given to 

 his favourite pursuits. 



About the year 1823, he accordingly accepted the appoint- 

 ment of " Assistant and Secretary to the Regius Professor 

 of Natural History, and Regius Keeper of the Museum of 

 the Edinburgh University," which he held until 1831, when 

 he was named " Conservator of the Museum of the Royal 

 College of Surgeons in Edinburgh," and in this office he re- 

 mained for about ten years, when he succeeded the late Dr 

 Davidson as Professor of Natural History in the Marischal 

 College and University of Aberdeen. 



Neither of the situations in Edinburgh was by any means 

 lucrative, and he was obliged to add to his scanty emolu- 

 ments by the occasional delivery of lectures, by furnishing 

 papers to scientific journals, and by translating and editing; 

 but though not lucrative, these situations were highly con- 

 genial to his tastes; they furnished him with ample mate- 

 rials for study, and brought him into friendly relationship 

 with many of the naturalists, both of Scotland and England, 

 at an early period of his life. 



He had singular qualifications as the Keeper of a Mu- 

 seum. Nothing could exceed his care and patience in prepar- 

 ing an object, except perhaps the delight with which he con- 

 templated the result. His taste in displaying, and his neat- 

 ness in arranging, were alike remarkable ; and both the valu- 

 able Museums so long under his care were much indebted to 

 his assiduous labours. 



In 1841, he was appointed by the Crown to the Professor- 

 ship of Natural History in Marischal College, solely on ac- 



