260 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



he was as bright and cheerful as ever. But yet he 

 never stopped his writing for a single day, and no 

 falling-off was noticed in the interest or the humour of 

 his lectures. 



On January ]5th, 1889, lecturing began again with 

 " Ant Life of the Tropics," at the Congregational School- 

 room, Eamsgate, where he constantly lectured, and was 

 always warmly welcomed. Other lectures followed, the 

 most noticeable being that on " Ant Life " at the London 

 Institution, which met with such marked success that 

 the committee, with a highly appreciative letter, sent 

 him an increased fee. This was on February 18th. On 

 the 19th he gave "Nature's Teachings" at New 

 Southgate ; and on the following day he travelled north 

 for a short tour in Scotland. 



To this, strange to say, he had from the very first 

 looked forward with absolute dread. Previous Scottish 

 tours had proved very successful, both from an artistic and 

 a financial point of view, and he had made many friends 

 who were glad again to receive him with their usual 

 hospitality. But he had always complained bitterly of 

 the terribly slow travelling upon the branch railways, 

 the long waits at the numerous junctions, and the 

 miserably inadequate accommodation provided for 

 passengers at all but the principal stations. An entire 

 day would sometimes be occupied in travelling fifty or 

 sixty miles ; he would arrive at his destination with but 

 barely sufficient time to put up his frame, and without 

 a moment for rest or refreshment. And he had so vivid 

 a recollection of the discomforts which he had endured 



