workmen. They were usually a drunken, careless lot; Edward was sober and
thoughtful, and had other things to think of than those that they cared
to talk about with one another. But he went out much into the fields,
with invincible determination, having made up his mind that he would get
to know all about the plants and beasties, however much the knowledge
might cost him.

For this object, he bought a rusty old gun for four-and-sixpence, and
invested in a few boxes and bottles for catching insects. His working
hours were from six in the morning till nine at night, and for that long
day he always worked hard to support his wife, and (when they came) his
children. He had therefore only the night hours between nine and six to
do all his collecting. Any other man, almost, would have given up the
attempt as hopeless; but Edward resolved never to waste a single moment
or a single penny, and by care and indomitable energy he succeeded in
making his wished-for collection. Sometimes he was out tramping the
whole night; sometimes he slept anyhow, under a hedge or haystack;
sometimes he took up temporary quarters in a barn, an outhouse, or a
ruined castle. But night after night he went on collecting, whenever he
was able; and he watched the habits and manners of the fox, the badger,
the otter, the weasel, the stoat, the pole-cat, and many other regular
night-roamers as no one else, in all probability, had ever before
watched them in the whole world.

Sometimes he suffered terrible disappointments, due directly or
indirectly to his great poverty. Once, he took all his cases of insects,
containing nine hundred and sixteen specimens, and representing the work
of four years, up to his garret to keep them there till he was able to
glaze them. When he came to take them down again he found to his horror
that rats had got at the boxes, eaten almost every insect in the whole