102 PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY [ch. v. 
was his advice to another student when accompany¬ 
ing him in a hill-climbing expedition. 
Others of his former students also refer to him 
in terms of warm eulogy, those features of his 
character which appear to be most prominent in 
their memories being his eminence as a scientist, 
especially in ornithology, the attractiveness of his 
lectures, with his happy mode of illustration, his 
readiness to undertake any work, however arduous, 
in the interest of his science or his class, and 
unfailing kind consideration of his pupils. 
Here is a delightful and warmly appreciative 
record by Lady Geddes, widow of the late Principal 
Geddes of the Aberdeen University, of some of the 
most beautiful features of MacGillivray’s character 
and personality which could have been revealed only 
in the intimate relations of a perfect friendship 
“It gives me pleasure to recall the old days, 
when we had the privilege and happiness of 
intimate intercourse with Professor MacGillivray 
and his family. Though far in the distant years, 
his figure still stands clearly before me, and I share 
the regret of his biographer that no authentic 
portrait is available as an introduction to the Life. 
When first we knew them the family resided in an 
old house with large garden, close to the Cathedral 
of St Machar, Old Aberdeen. We had a summer 
home across the river Don, which flows near, and 
our house stood in the crook of the crozier, revealed 
to St Machar in his dream as the place on the 
riverside for his church. The group of fine 
sycamore trees at our house interested MacGillivray 
