From 1840 Miller was based in Edinburgh, where he was the founding editor of "The Witness" newspaper. This is his account of his summer breaks from journalism, seeking out fossils around Scotland in all weather conditions. It was written for publication in "The Witness". He often adopts a personal and autobiographical strain in his writing, illuminating observations with anecdotes from his own experiences. His style was influenced by his favourite boyhood authors, 18th-century writers such as Addison and Pope. The preface alludes to the tragic circumstances surrounding Miller's untimely death before the first publication of this work.