late Professor Macgillivray. 203 



ever they have discovered or described ; he had so little de- 

 sire to acquire renown which did not belong to him, that he 

 often failed to do justice to himself and his own labours. 



As an observer, he was patient and persevering ; and no 

 one but an enthusiastic lover of nature could have undergone 

 the pains and privations he endured in following out his fa- 

 vourite researches. Whatever might be his special pursuit 

 at the time, his eye and ear were ever ready to seize what- 

 ever natural object presented itself, and hence the great ac- 

 cumulation which he eventually made of observations of his 

 own in Zoology, Botany, and Geology. Whatever he discover- 

 ed was at once freely communicated to others ; he had no idea 

 of hoarding up either facts or specimens for his own peculiar 

 use. His taste was refined, and he had an intense delight 

 in contemplating natural beauty, whether it were a bird, a 

 plant, a shell, an insect, or an extensive landscape, none of 

 its beauties escaped his notice. 



As a lecturer, he was distinct and methodical. He labour- 

 ed to lay securely the first foundations of each study in the 

 minds of his pupils, well knowing that unless this were duly 

 accomplished, their future acquirements would be of little 

 real value. 



He was thoroughly impressed with the importance of the 

 branches which he taught, and honestly valued them far 

 above either classical learning or mathematical science, and 

 it was well for his pupils and himself that he did so, for 

 though other parties may justly estimate the comparative 

 value of different branches of human knowledge, and place 

 his studies below the rank which he contended they ought to 

 possess, it is sure, as a general principle, that neither 

 teacher nor professor can ever be of much use who is not tho- 

 roughly persuaded of the paramount importance of his own 

 branch of study ; unless he be so, he can never stimulate 

 either himself or his students to work as they ought. 



As Professor in Marischal College, he suffered under one 

 disadvantage, which he greatly felt, viz., the almost total 

 want of a Museum, to teach even the elements of his subjects. 

 This defect he was obliged himself to supply, and to expend 

 largely from his own resources in the purchase and collection 



