270 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



time was passed in work. And probably only the en- 

 forced periods of comparative leisure, which now and 

 then occurred in his lecturing tours, saved him from a 

 complete break- down. 



His power of work was simply astonishing. When 

 I first remember him he was always at his desk by half- 

 past four or five o'clock in the morning at all seasons of 

 the year, lighting his own fire in the winter, and then 

 writing steadily until eight. Then, in all weathers, he 

 would start off for a sharp run of three miles over a 

 stretch of particularly hilly country, winding up with a 

 tolerably steep ascent of nearly a quarter of a mile, and 

 priding himself on completing the distance from start 

 to finish without stopping, or even slackening his pace. 

 Then came a cold bath, followed by breakfast, during 

 which his attention was entirely engrossed by his letters 

 and the newspaper. After this an hour or so would be 

 occupied with correspondence, which generally included 

 the answering of natural history questions from all parts 

 of the world. For all sorts of people used to write to 

 him on all sorts of subjects, and though these manifold 

 queries occasioned great demands upon his time and 

 patience, and were often of the most trivial and even 

 ridiculous character, he never allowed them to remain un- 

 answered, but always sent at least a few courteous lines 

 in reply. Autograph hunters, too, troubled him a good 

 deal ; but to these he replied much more curtly, gene- 

 rally returning the letter of request with the addition of 

 the simple words, " Here it is, J. G. Wood." 



By way of a specimen of his correspondence with 



