Michael Foster

“ At Easter 1871 he became natural science scholar of his college, and very shortly afterwards, under the guidance of the Trinity prælector of physiology, Dr. Michael Foster, threw himself with great ardour into the investigation of certain obscure points in the development of the chick. For by this time his earlier love for geology had given way to a desire to attack the difficult problems of animal morphology, and these he, like others, saw could be best approached by the study of embryology, that is the history of the development of individual forms. ”

“ G. Griffith, he made rapid progress in natural science, especially in geology. His attainments in this direction, together with the increasing proofs that he possessed a character of unusual strength, led those around him thus early to conclude that he would before long make his mark. In October 1870 he entered into residence at Trinity College, Cambridge, and, being now able to devote his whole time to his favourite studies, soon began to show what manner of man he was. ”

“ His first years were spent at Whittinghame, where a love for natural science, carefully fostered by his mother, early developed itself in him, and led him, while still a boy, to make not inconsiderable collections of the fossils and birds of his native county. After two years spent in a preparatory school at Hoddesdon, Herts, he entered at Harrow in 1865. In the ordinary studies of the school he did not greatly distinguish himself, but, under the guidance of one of the masters, Mr. ”