who named them for him, and sent them back with some
information as to their proper place in the classification of the group
to which they belonged. Mr. Spence Bate of Plymouth is the greatest
living authority on crustaceans, such as the lobsters, shrimps,
sea-fleas, and hermit crabs; and to him Edward sent all the queer
crawling things of that description that he found in his original
sea-traps. Mr. Couch, of Polperro in Cornwall, was equally versed in
the true backboned fishes; and to him Edward sent any doubtful midges,
or gurnards, or gobies, or whiffs. So numerous are the animals and
plants of the sea-shore, even in the north of Scotland alone, that if
one were to make a complete list of all Edward's finds it would occupy
an entire book almost as large as this volume.

Naturalists now began to help Edward in another way, the way that he
most needed, by kind presents of books, especially their own
writings--a kind of gift which cost them nothing, but was worth to him
a very great deal. Mr. Newman, the editor of the Zoologist paper, was
one of his most useful correspondents, and gave him several excellent
books on natural history. Mr. Bate made him a still more coveted
present--a microscope, with which he could examine several minute
animals, too small to be looked at by the naked eye. The same good
friend also gave him a little pocket-lens (or magnifying glass) for use
on the sea-shore.

As Edward went on, his knowledge increased rapidly, and his discoveries
fully kept pace with it. The wretchedly paid Banff shoemaker was now
corresponding familiarly with half the most eminent men of science in
the kingdom, and was a valued contributor to all the most important
scientific journals. Several new animals which he had discovered were
named in his honour, and frequent references were made to him in
printed works of the first importance. It occurred to Mr. Couch and
Mr. Bate, therefore, both of whom were greatly indebted to the
working-man naturalist for specimens and information, that Edward ought
to be elected a member of some leading scientific society. There is no
such body of greater distinction in the world of science than the
Linnean Society; and of this learned institution Edward was duly
elected an associate in 1866. The honour was one which he had richly
deserved, and which no doubt he fully appreciated.

And yet he was nothing more even now than a working shoemaker, who was
earning not more but les