Life of a Scotch naturalist, Thomas Edward, associate of the Linnean Society

Front matter

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Preface

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THE history of the humblest human life is a tale of marvels. Dr. Johnson said that there was not a man in the street whose biography might not be made interesting, provided he could narrate something of his experiences of life, his trials, his difficulties, his successes, and his failures.

I use these words as an introduction to the following biography of my “man in the street.” Yet Thomas Edward is not an ordinary man. Eighteen years since, I mentioned him in Self- Help, as one of the most extraordinary instances of perseverance in the cause of science that had ever come under my notice.

Nor was he a man of any exalted position in society. He was a shoemaker then; he is a shoemaker still. For nearly thirty years he has fought the battle of scientific poverty. He was one of those men who lived for science, not by science. His shyness prevented him pushing himself forward; and when he had done his work, he was almost forgotten.

a ‘PREFACE.

How he pursued his love of Nature, — how he satisfied his thirst for knowledge, in the midst of trials, difficulties, and troubles,—not the least of which was that of domestic poverty,—will be found related in the following book. Indeed, it may be said of him, that he has endured as much hardship for the cause of science, as soldiers do in a prolonged campaign. He spent most of his nights out of doors, amidst damp, and wet, and cold. Men thought him mad for enduring such risks. He himself says, “I have been a fool to Nature all my life.” i.

He always lamented his want of books. He had to send his “findings” to other naturalists to be named, and he often lost them. But books could not be had without money; and money was as scarce with him as books. He was thus prevented from taking rank among higher-class naturalists. He could only work in detail; he could not generalise. He had to be satisfied with the consolation that Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys once gave him. “ Working naturalists like yourself,” said he, “ do quite as much good service in the cause of science as those who study books.” Edward, however, doubted this; for he considered works on natural science to be a great help to the working naturalist. They informed him

PREFACE. vii ene eee ne es ee of what others had done, and also of what remained to be done.

Those who would know something of what Edward has accomplished in only one department of his favourite subject, should consult Messrs. Bate and Westwood’s. History of the British Sessile-eyed Crustacea, where his services to the cause of science are fully and generously acknowledged. Of the numerous Crustacea mentioned in that work, Edward collected a hundred and seventy-seven in the Moray Firth, of which twenty were New Species.

In 1866, Edward was elected an Associate of the Linnean Society,—one of the highest honours that science could confer upon him, Since then, however, he has been able to do comparatively little for the advancement of his favourite study. He had been so battered about by falling from rocks in search of birds, and so rheumatised by the damp, wet, and cold, to which he was exposed at night,—for he was obliged to carry on his investigations after his day’s work was over,—that he was unable to continue his investigations in Natural History.

In the Appendix will be found a Selection of the Fauna of Banffshire, prepared by Edward. I have been able to find room for only the Mammals, Birds,

Vili PREFACE.

— EEE EE ee eee

Fishes, and Crustacea. I wish it had been possible to give the Star-fishes (Rayed Echinodermata), Molluses, Zoophytes, and other objects; but this would have filled up the book, and left no room for the Biography.

It was not my intention to have published the book in the ornate form in which it now appears. But my friend Mr. Reid,—being greatly interested in the man and his story,—and having volunteered to illustrate the work “for love,” I could not withstand his generous offer. Hence the very fine portrait of Edward, so exquisitely etched by Rajon; and the excellent wood engravings of Whymper and Cooper, which illustrate the volume.

It is scarcely necessary to say that the materials of the book have been obtained from Edward himself, either by written communication or by “word of mouth.” Much of it is autobiography. Edward was alarmed at the idea of what he communicated being “put into a book.” He thought it might do me an injury. “Not a copy,” he said, “would be bought in Banff.”

However this may be, the writing of the Biography has given me much pleasure. It has led me to seek health amidst the invigorating breezes of

PREFACE. ix the North; and to travel round the rugged shores of Aberdeen and Banff, in search of the views of bays and headlands with which Mr. Reid has so beautifully embellished the book.

It may be objected —“ Why write the life of aman who is still living?” To this it may be answered, that Edward has lived his life and done his work. With most of us, “ Hic jacet” is all that remains to be added. If the book had not been written now, it is probable that it never would have been written. But it may be asked,— “Ts the life really worth writing?” To this question the public alone can give the answer.

Lonpon, Nov. 1876.

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Contents

—- +4

Chapter I. Early Years

Edward born at Gosport, Portsmouth—The Fifeshire Militia— Return to Cupar—Residence at Kettle—Settles at Aberdeen— The Green—How Edward became a Naturalist—The sow Bet —Stolen by Gipsies—The Inches, Aberdeen—Fondness for “* Beasts ”°—An incorrigible boy—Imprisoned at home—Sets the honse on fire—Is laid up by fever—His Recovery—Birds’ Nests —Rubislaw Quarries—The Wasp’s Nest : Pages 1-20

CHAPTER IL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS,

Edward goes to school—Plays the Truant—The fishwives—Beil Hill—Grannie’s Plunge—A Kae taken to school—Edward’s expulsion—Sent to his second school—The Horse-leeches—Edward expelled—The third school—The Sparrow’s nest harried—Takes the nest to school—The birds “chirrup”—The Master bit by a Centipede — Edward thrashed terribly — Expelled from his third school—A night under the logs—Results of his punishment—Hunt after an adder—The adder sold . - 21-46

CHAPTER IIL APPRENTICESHIP,

Goes to work—A Tobacco-spinner—Factory at Grandholm—The Banks and Braes of the Don—The Brig o’ Balgownie—Spires of St. Machar— Working at the factory—The Sedge-warbler—The Kingfisher—Country rambles—Apprenticed to a Shoemaker— Charles Bege—Shoemakers’ pets—Begg’s brutality—Edward’s pets killed—Wishes to be a sailor—Tries in vain . 47-60 xii GONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV.

RUNS AWAY FROM HOME,

Sets out for the Kettle—His provisions—His money—Tries to sell his knife—Ruins of Dunnottar Castle—Bervie—Encounter with tramps—Montrose—Sells his knife—Sleeps in a haycock—Arbroath—The sailors’ wives—Dundee—The Long-tailed Titmouse —Cupar—Reaches the Kettle—Reception by his uncle—Sets out for home—Uncivility of a gamekeeper—Adventure with a Bull —Rests near Stonehaven—Reaches Aberdeen—His reception at home . ; : : P 7 Pages 61-74

CHAPTER VY.

RESUMES WORK.

Offers himself as a sailor—Resumes shoemaking—Wild Botanical Garden—Tanners’ pits for puddocks—The picture shops—The Penny Magazine—Castlegate on Fridays—Gunmakers’ windows —Tries to emigrate to America as a stowaway—He fails—Joins the Aberdeenshire Militia—Chase of a butterfly—Is apprehended —Is reprimanded and liberated—Enlists in the 60th Rifles—Assists as a pew-opener—Leayes Aberdeen for Banff sa eeb-86

CHAPTER VI.

SETTLES AT BANFF,

His employment—Finds time to follow his bent—His Caterpillars among the workmen—His landlady—Marries a Huntly lass— Settled for life—Self-education in Natural History—Stuffs birds

' —His want of education—Want of books—Shy and friendless— Avoids the public-house—His love of Nature—The ocean—The heavens—Makes a collection—His gun and paraphernalia—His equipment—Sleeps out of doors at night—Exaggerated rumours about him— Frequents Boyndie churchyard — Lies in holes during rain—Disagreeable visitors—Awful night in Boyndie churchyard—Moth-hunting at night—Terrible encounter with Badgers : : ; : ; - 87-103

CONTENTS. xiii

CHAPTER VIL NIGHT WANDERERS,

Animals wandering at night—Their noises and cries—The Roe-deer and hare—The Rabbit—A Rabbit fight—The Fox—The Badger— The Field Mice—The Weasel—Attack bya Weasel—Pertinaceous Rats—The Otter—The Polecat—Boyne Castle—Fight with a Polecat—The Long-eared Owl—The Brown Owl—A chorus of Frogs—Birds of prey—Landrail, Sedge-warbler, Rook—Songsters at night . : : : - Pages 104-128

CHAPTER VIII.

FORMS A NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION,

Situation of Banff—Macduff—Cliffs of Banffshire—Gamrie—The fishing-boats—Gardenstown—The fishermen — Crovie — Hell’s Lum—Troup Head—Pennan—The dens of North Aberdeenshire — Aberdour — Church of Aberdour—TInland county of Banff—Ben Macdhui—Edward’s rounds—Pursuit of two Geese —Pursuit of a little Stint—Shoemaking—Edward’s traps—His collection of insects—Collection destroyed—Loss of dried plants —Exhibits his collection at Banff : . 129-152

CHAPTER IX.

EXHIBITS HIS COLLECTION AT ABERDEEN.

Aberdeen his city of expectations—Dramatic bird-stuffing—Collection taken to Aberdeen in six carriers’ carts—Exhibited in Union Street—The handbills—Appeal to the people—The expected rush—General visitors—Professional visitors—An interrogator— Edward disbelieved—‘‘ The thing impossible ”—Edward’s vindication—Invites his mill mates—Temperance and drunkenness— Edward a mystery—A lady visitor—Appeals to ‘‘The Millions” _The exhibition a failure—Edward in despair—The beach—The flock of Sanderlings—The Providential Bird—The collection sold— Departure from Aberdeen , ‘ . 153-180 xiv 1 CONTLNGGS: eat ei cet a

CHAPTER X.

RESUMES HIS FORMER LIFE AND HABITS,

Re-enters his desolate dwelling—Return of his family—Begins again—Redoubles his zeal—His paraphernalia—Ramble in the Balloch Hills—A successful search—A furious storm comes on —Crossing the moor—A hayen—The chip-boxes destroyed—A terrible woman—His hat and insect boxes—How to preserye— A referee—Edward’s certificate from the Justices—Love of birdnesting—Accident at Tarlair—Falls from a clitf, and is rescued —Draws on his Savings Bank : . Pages 181-202

CHAPTER XI.

BEGINS TO PUBLISH HIS OBSERVATIONS,

The Rev. Mr. Smith—The Bridled Guillemot—Grammar—Scraps from the newspapers—The Death’s-head Moth—Butierflies and locusts—Locustra migratoria—Saw-flies—The Spider—Notes in Natural History—Rare birds—The Bee-eater—The Bohemian Waxwing—The Brown Snipe—Edward’s pursuit—The Snipe escapes—Adventure on Gamrie Head—The Fox’s lair—The precipice—The Peregrine Falcon—Feeds upon its prey—Flight of the Faleon—Slides down the rocks—Discovers a Spinous Shark—Returns home z ; c - 203-229

CHAPTER XIL RAMBLES AMONGST BIRDS,

Mr. Smith’s articles published in the Zoologist—Edward’s power of observation described—The beautiful Heron—Cries of the Birds at Ness Bogie—The motherly Wild Duck—Burial of the Wild Duck — The Pickietars—The Pickietar fishing — The Pickietar shot—Rescued by his friends—Edward’s closeness of observation—The Turnstone—Its description—Its labours— The Turnstones turn over a Cod—The little Auk—Sea-fowl nurseries —Pennan —Sleeps in Hell’s Lum—The sea-birds at night : ; ; , . i 230-251

CONTENTS. XV

CHAPTER XI.

LITERATURE AND CORRESPONDENCE,

Death of the Rev. Mr. Smith—Mr. Smith’s helpfulness—Observation of the Partridge—The Rev. Alexander Boyd—Loch of Strathbeg—The Waterfowlat Strathbeg—Swans—Geese—Ducks —Winter and summer birds—The Ring Dotterel—A pursuit— Mr. Boyd’s article—Encouragement of native talent and genius —Death of Mr. Boyd—Publication of ‘ Birds of Strathbeg’ in Naturalist—Mr. C. W. Peach—Writes articles for the Zoologist —Finches—Crows and Crab-shells—The Heron and the Crows —A fight in the air—Crows, Hares, and Rabbits—Cold and Whisky—Edward’s health fails—Again draws on his Savings Bank ° : 5 : : Pages 252-278

CHAPTER XIV.

BY THE SEA-SHORE.

Marine objects on the shores of Banffshire—Edward’s: sea-traps— Captures a rare fish, Bloch’s Gurnard—The incoming wave— Big fish the best dredgers—Helped by the fishermen—Helped by his daughters—The Cod’s bill of fare—Haddocks—Adyvice to the fishermen—The fishers of Macduff—The Blue-striped Wrasse— The Saury Pike—Yarrell’s Blenny—Black Goby—Equoreal Needle-fish —Edward’s self-education— How he got his fishes named—‘‘ Give him books !”—Edward’s enthusiasm 279-296

CHAPTER XY.

DISCOVERIES AMONG THE CRUSTACEA.

Mr. Bate of Plymouth—His work on Crustacea—Praniza Edwardit _The Ancens—Edward’s letter to Mr. Bate—Entomostracea— Parasites from short Sun-fish—Present of a Microscope—A possible Sub -curatorship—Edward disappointed — Freemasonry among naturalists—Rev. A. M. Norman—Fish parasites—A/ysis xvi CONTENTS.

a spinifera—New species discovered—Vibdilia borealis—Observation of Hurydice pulchra—Edward’s difficulties—Nest building crustacea—New Shrimps and Parasites—The Zoologists in ecstasies—The “ Sessile-eyed Crustacea”? published—Mr. Bate’s eulogiums on Edward’s discoveries—New Crustacea found by Edward in the Moray Firth 2 7 Pages 297-323

CHAPTER XVI.

DISCOVERIES AMONGST ZOOPHYTES, MOLLUSCS, AND FISHES,

Edward brings home Zoophytes to observe—The Star-fish—The Brittle Stars—A six legged Starfish—Rosy-feather Star—The great Sea-cucumber—Dead Man’s Paps—The Ascidians—Want of observers—New Ascidian sent to Mr. Alder—Drummond’s Echiodon—Mr. Couch of Polperro—The Wrasses—A jumping Wrasse—A new Midge—Couchia Thompsonii—Colonel Montague—Montague’s Midge—Midges in Moray Firth—Edward’s Midge (Couchia Edwardiit)—Other new fishes—Difficulties with the Museum—Edward elected Associate of the Linnean Society —Other societies elect him member—The “prophet without honour in his own country ” : « 9824-349

CHAPTER XVIL ANTIQUITIES—KITCHEN-MIDDENS,

Edward’s illness—Studies galvanism—Curator of Banff Museum— Practises Photography—Antiquities of Banff—The old Town Cross—The Drinking Fountain—The Kjokken Médding at Boyndie—Early population, Lapps or Fins—Shelly-bush—Investigates the shell mounds at Boyndie—Loch of Spynie—Contents of the shell-mounds—The Stone period-—The Old Bone—Conjectures about it—The old hone condemned—Sir Roderick Murchison—The bone, part of the Plestosaurus dolichodeiras—

Banff Museum i ; ‘ : - 9850-372 CHAPTER XVIIL CONCLUSION,

Edward’s labours drawing to a close—Still craves after Nature —His wife accompanies him to Huntly—Traps at Tarlair—

CONTENTS. xvil

Another discovery to announce—Nilsson’s Goby—His numerous discoveries—His observations at last accredited—His self-reliance and perseverance—His sobriety—His family—His power of Will—Pride—Nevyer despair—Money considerations—Things he has not done—Edward at home—His outside helpers—His failures—‘‘ Herr I am Stith” : i Pages 373-388

FAUNA OF BANFFSHIRE.

ILLUSTRATIONS

By GEORGE REID, A.R.S.A.

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PorTRAIT OF THoMAs Epwarp. Liched by P. Rajon. Frontispiece.

BANKS AND Brass 0’ Don AULTEN Links, ABERDEEN , THE Sprres oF ST. MAcHAR Bric 0’ BALGOWNIE A CHARLES Brce@’s SHop, GAtLow- GATE . : : ; : GRANDHOLM Mitts.

Rourys or DUNNOTTAR CASTLE Distant VIEW oF Montrose .

CASTLEGATE, ABERDEEN, ON FRIDAYS . 3 P .

BoyNnDIEn CHURCHYARD THE CASTLE OF THE Born

FRASERBURGH , : ci Bay oF ABERDOUR . ‘ : MovutTH OF THE Don : :

THE SHORE AT ABERDEEN

TARLAIR — VIEW or Nonrri Coast oF BANFFSHIRE

GAMRIB HErap

VILLAGE OF PENNAN

Rep HEAD oF PENNAN

Engraved by J.W. Whymper. To face page 1

9 page 42 a » 49 on To face page 48 ” page 55 +9 3° 60 J. D. Cuoper. sod J. W. Whymper. <7 OD J. D. Cooper. vo, 9

J.W.Whymper. To face ‘page1o0o

J. D. Cooper. rf 116 J. W. Whymper. page 128 J. D. Cooper. syle

J.W.Whymper. To face page176

“3 page 180 J.D. Cooper. To face page 196 J. W. Whymper. ne 218 J. D. Cooper. ae 250

J. W. Whymper. page 251

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xix

Engraved by

Bay oF BoYNDIE, FROM BANFF

Links = - - oS. W. Whymper. Page 278 BroaDsEA, NEAR FrasersurncH J. D. Cooper. See Spynie CAasTLe AND LocH . oJ. W. Whymper. Eee BanFr Museum Bs » 312 “ HERE I am STILL” : : Pa To face page 388 Epwagrp’s House, Low SHorE,

BANFF : 7 : . o&. D. Cooper. page 438

OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS.

DEENSHIRE : e : s 5 , . Pages 136-7 PranizA EDWARDIT- ; 5 . J : x 299 Nests oF NEST-BUILDING CRUSTACEA . - ‘ > 312 Epwarp’s Mipce (Covcuia Epwarpu) sg. ; » 2344

Tue Op BoNE IN BanyF MUSEUM. : ; oe ood os pe ae Fae hr ie y e

BANKS AND BRABES 0’ DON.

LIFE OF A NATURALIST.

— CHAPTER I.

EAREY) VEATRS:

THomMAS EDWARD was born at Gosport, Portsmouth, on Christmas day, 1814. His father, John Edward, was a private in the Fifeshire Militia. Shortly after his enlistment at Cupar, he went to Aberdeen to join his regiment. While stationed there, he became acquainted with, and afterwards married, Margaret Mitchell, a native of the place.

Not long after John Edward’s marriage, his regiment was ordered to Portsmouth. Towards the close of the continental war, militia regiments were marched hither and thither, from one end of the country to another. The regular troops had mostly left England, to meet the armies of Napoleon in the Peninsula and the Low Countries. The militia were assembled in camps along the coast, or were stationed in garrisons to hold watch and ward over the French prisoners confined there. Hence the appearance of the Fifeshire militia at Gosport, where the subject of our story was born.

B bo

VILIAGE OP KETTLE. CHAP. I.

When the battle of Waterloo had been fought, and peace fell upon Europe, the English army returned from abroad. The militia were no longer needed for garrison duty, and the greater number of them were sent home. The Fifeshire Militia were ordered to Fife, and took up their quarters at Cupar. During that time, John Edward’s wife and family resided. at the village of Kettle, about six miles south-west of the county town. They lived there, because John was a native of the place, and had many relatives in the village.

At length the militia were disembodied. Edward returned to Kettle, and resumed his trade of a handloom cotton weaver. After remaining there for some time, he resolved to leave for Aberdeen. His wife liked neither the place nor the people. Kettle was a long straggling sleepy village. The people were poor, and employment was difficult to be had. Hence Edward did not require much persuasion to induce him to leave Kettle and settle in Aberdeen, where his wife would be amongst her own people, and where he would be much more likely to find work and wages to enable him to maintain his increasing family.

Arrived at Aberdeen, John Edward and his wife “took up house” in the Green, one of the oldest “quarters of the city. Their house stood at the head of the Green, near Hadden’s “Woo mill” The remains of the old Green were lower down the hill. The Denburn ran at the foot of the Street. There

CHAP. I. THE GREEN AT ABERDEEN. 3 were also the Inches, near the mouth of the Dee, over which the tide flowed daily.

Since then, the appearance of that part of Aberdeen has become entirely changed. Railways have blotted out many of the remnants of old cities.* The Green is now covered with houses, factories, and the Aberdeen Railway Station,—its warehouses, sidings, and station rooms. A very fine bridge has been erected over the Green, now forming part of Union Street ; the Palace Hotel overlooking the railway station and the surrounding buildings.

Thomas Edward was brought up in his parents’ house in the Green, such as it was sixty years ago. It is difficult to describe how he became a naturalist. He himself says he could never tell. Various influences determine the direction of a boy’s likings and dislikings. Boys who live in the country are usually fond of birds and bird-nesting ; just ‘as girls who live at home are fond of dolls and doll-keeping. But this boy had more than the ordinary tendency

* Some antiquarian writers are of opinion that ‘“‘The Green” was the site of ancient Aberdeen. For instance, Sir Samuel Forbes of Foveran, in his Description of Aberdeenshire (1715), says, ‘‘ From the end of the last-mentioned straight street [the Upper Kirkgate], there runs another southward and obliquely [the Nether Kirkgate], leading also to the town churches, and terminates in a pretty broad street, lying flat, and called the Green, the seat of the ancient city ; where the river Dee receives a small rivulet, called the Denburn, covered with a bridge of three arches.”— Turreffs’s Antiquarian Gleanings, 290.

4 LEE FEM CIV; Oe Va Ed ed), CHAP. I.

to like living things. He wished to live amongst them. He made pets of them; and desired to have them constantly about him.

From his birth he was difficult to manage. His mother said of him that he was the worst child she had ever nursed. He was never a moment at rest. His feet and legs seemed to be set on springs. When only about four months old, he leapt from his mother’s arms, in the vain endeavour to catch some flies buzzing in the window. She clutched him by his long clothes, and saved him from falling to the ground. He began to walk when he was scarce ten months old, and screamed when any one ventured to touch him. And thus he went on, observing and examining,—as full of liking for living things as he was when he tried to grasp the flies in the window at Gosport.

When afterwards asked about the origin of his love for Natural History, he said, “I suppose it must have originated in the same internal impulse which prompted me to catch those flies in the window. This unseen something—this double being, or call it what you will—inherent in us all, whether used for good or evil, which stimulated the unconscious babe to get at, no doubt, the first living animals he had _ ever seen, at length grew in the man into an irresistible and unconquerable passion, and engendered in him an insatiable longing for, and earnest desire to be always amongst such things. This is the only cHaP. 1. BEGINNINGS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 5 reason I can give for becoming a lover of Nature. I know of none other.”

While living at Kettle, the child began to walk. He made friends with the cats and dogs about the house. He was soon able to toddle out of doors. At first, he wished to cultivate the acquaintance of the cocks and hens and ducks, of which the village was full. But they always ran away before he could get up to them and caress them.

There was, however, another, and a much more dangerous creature, whose acquaintance he sought to make. This wasa sow called Bet, with a litter of pigs. Whenever he was missing, he was found looking in at the pigs. He could not climb over the paling, but could merely look through the splits.

The sow was known to be ferocious, and she was most so when she had a litter of pigs. Edward’s mother was afraid lest the sow should injure him by biting his hands or face through the bars of the cruive.* Therefore she warned him not to go near the beast. But her warnings were disregarded. When she asked, “Where's Tam?” the answer invariably was, “Oh! he’s awa wi’ the pigs.”

One day the boy disappeared. Every hen-house, every stable, every pigstye, and every likely corner of the village, was searched ; but in vain. Tom was lost! He was then little over a year old. He could not have gone very far. Somebody raised the

* Cruive, a pigstye.

6 SL OLE Ba DLE G IES LL SE. CHAP. T.

cry that he had been “stolen by the gipsies!” It was remembered that some tinkers had been selling their brooms and pans in the village that afternoon ; and it was immediately concluded that they had kidnapped the child. It was not so very unreasonable after all. Adam Smith, the author of the Wealth of Nations, had been kidnapped by a gipsy woman when a child at Kirkcaldy, many years before ; and such things live long in popular recollection.

A hue-and-cry was accordingly got up in Kettle about the bairn that had been stolen by the gipsies. Their camp was known to be in the neighbourhood,— about three miles off. Tom’s uncle and three other men volunteered to go early next morning, The neighbours went to their homes, except two, who remained with the mother. She sat by the fire all night,—a long, wretched, dreary night. Early in the morning the four men started. They found the gipsy camp, and stated their grievance. They “wanted the child that had been kidnapped yesterday.” “What?” said the chief gipsy ; “we never kidnap children ; such a dishonest deed has never been laid to our charge, But, now that you are here, you had better look for yourselves.”

As the searchers were passing through among the _ carts and tents, they were set upon by a number of women and girls, and belaboured with every kind of weapon and missile. Those who had neither sticks nor ropes, used their claws. The men were unmercicHar.1. THE INCHES AT ABERDEEN. 7 fully pummelled and scratched before they could make their escape. They reached Kettle in a deplorable state,—but without the child!

All hopes of his recovery in that quarter being ended, another body of men prepared to set out in another direction. But at this moment they were amazed by a scream outside the house. All eyes were turned to the door, when in rushed the pig-wife, and, without the least ceremony, threw the child into his mother’s lap. “There, woman, there’s yer bairn! but for God’s sake keep him awa frae yon place, or he may fare war next time.” “But whar was he?” they exclaimed ina breath. ‘“ Whar wud he be but below Bet and her pigs a’ nicht !”*

When the family removed to Aberdeen, young Edward was in his glory. The place where he lived was close to the outside of the town. He was enabled to roam into the country by way of Deeside and Ferryhill, Close at hand were the Inches,—not the Inches of to-day—but the beautiful green Inches of sixty years ago, covered with waving alge. There, too, grew the scurvy grass, and the beautiful sea daisy. Between the Inches, were channels through which the

* The question occurred, How did the child get amongst the pigs? He could not have climbed over the paling; he must have been lifted over. There was an old sweetheart of the quondam militiaman, whom he had deserted in favour of Margaret Mitchell. It was believed that she had maliciously lifted the child over the palings, and put him amongst the pigs, most probably from spite against her old lover.

8 THE VENOMOUS BEASTS. CHAP, T.

tide flowed, with numerous pots or hollows. These were the places for bandies, eels, crabs, and worms.

Above the Inches, the town’s manure was laid down,—at a part now covered by the railway station. The heaps were remarkably prolific in beetles, rats, sparrows, and numerous kinds of flies. Then the Denburn, at the foot of the Green, yielded no end of horse-leeches, powets (tadpoles), frogs, and other creatures that abound in fresh or muddy water. The boy used daily to play at these places, and brought home with him his “venomous beasts,” as the neighbours called them. At first they consisted, for the most part, of tadpoles, beetles, snails, frogs, sticklebacks, and small green crabs (the young of the Carcinus menas); but as he grew older, he brought home horse-leeches, asks (newts), young rats—a nest of young rats was a glorious prize—field mice and house mice, hedgehogs, moles, birds, and birds’ nests of various kinds,

The fishes and birds were easily kept; but as there

was no secure place for the puddocks, horse-leeches, rats, and such like,—they usually made their escape into the adjoining houses, where they were by no means welcome guests. The neighbours complained of the venomous creatures which the young naturalist was continually bringing home. The horse-leeches crawled up their legs and stuck to them, fetching blood; the puddocks and asks roamed about the floors ; and the beetles, moles, and rats, sought for holes wherever they could find them.

Chap. I. The Incorrigible Boy. 9

The boy was expostulated with. His mother threw out all his horse-leeches, crabs, birds, and birds’ nests ; and he was strictly forbidden to bring such things into the house again. But it was of no use. The next time that he went out to play, he brought home as many of his “beasts” as before. He was then threatened with corporal punishment. But that very night he brought in a nest of young rats. Hewas then flogged. But it did him no good. The disease, if it might be so called, was so firmly rooted in him, as to be entirely beyond the power of outward appliances. And so it was found in the end.

Words and blows having failed to produce any visible effect, it was determined to keep him in the house as much as possible. His father, who was a handloom weaver, went to his work early in the morning, and returned late at night. His meals were sent to him during the day. The mother, who had her husband’s pirns to fill, besides attending to her household work, was frequently out of the way ; and as soon as she disappeared, Tom was off to the Inches. When any one made a remark about her negligence in not keeping a tighter hold of the boy, her answer was, “ Weel, I canna be aye at his heels.” Sometimes he was set to rock the cradle. But on his mother’s arrival at home, she found the rocker had disappeared. He was also left to play with the younger children ; but he soon left them to play by themselves.

He was occasionally sent a message, though he

10 IMPRISONED AT HOME. CHAP. I. a a rarely fulfilled it. He went to his old haunts, regardless of the urgency of the message. One morning he was sent to his father’s workshop with his breakfast ; but instead of going there, he set off for the Stocket, several miles from town, with two other loons.* Tom induced them to accompany him. The Stocket was a fine place for birds and birds’ nests. They searched all day, and returned home at night. The father never received his breakfast. It was eaten by Edward and the loons.

As a punishment for his various misdoings, he was told one morning that he was to be confined to the house all day. It was a terrible punishment, at least to him. Only a portion of his clothes was given him, that he might not go out; and as a further precaution, his mother tied him firmly to the table leg with a thick wisp of thrums. She also tied his - wrists together with a piece of cord. When she went out on family affairs, Tom’s little sister was set to watch him. But he disengaged himself from his bonds almost as quickly as the Davenport brothers, With a mixture of promises and threats, he made his little sister come to his help; and the two together pushed the table close to the grate, when putting the rope which confined his legs between the ribs, it soon burnt asunder, and he was free, He next tried to find his clothes, but his mother had hidden them too securely. He found a coat of his elder brother’s,