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 house on fire—Is laid up by fever—His Recovery—Birds’ Nests—Rubislaw Quarries—The Wasp’s Nest

Edward goes to school—Plays the Truant—The fishwives—Bell 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

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 Begg—Shoemakers’ pets—Begg’s brutality—Edward’s pets killed—Wishes to be a sailor—Tries in vain

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

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—Leaves Aberdeen for 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

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 by a Weasel—Pertinacious 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

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—Inland 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

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