62 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



books, accepted the same terms which were offered to 

 the writers of other books of the same series, and 

 disposed of the copyrights for merely a small sum. He 

 could not, of course, foresee the astonishing success with 

 which the books would sell, and, looking rather to the 

 length of time occupied by the actual preparation of the 

 MS. of course, only a very few weeks than to the 

 return which those books would bring in to the 

 publishers, took what was offered him, and parted with 

 all further interest in the publication. Had he retained 

 the copyrights, there can be no doubt that he would 

 have cleared a large sum of money ; as it was, the actual 

 remuneration which he received for each of the two 

 handbooks amounted to only thirty pounds ! 



After the first of the two little books was published, 

 a great number of letters reached him from readers, 

 most of them asking for further information upon 

 certain points, and some of a very amusing character. 

 Perhaps the funniest was one dated from Cincinnati, 

 U.S.A. The writer had read the Eev. J. G. Wood's 

 interesting book with much pleasure ; but, living so far 

 from the sea as he did, many animals described therein 

 were absolutely unknown to him. And, in particular, 

 he had a great desire to examine a jelly-fish. Might he 

 ask the Eev. J. G. Wood to forward him one by return 

 of post ? 



About this time, appeared "The Playground," in 

 which my father I believe for the first and only time 

 as far as book-work was concerned adopted the nom 

 de plume of "George Forest." The little volume in 



