62 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



to carry, not weighing more than ten stone and a 

 half, and was wiry and nimble to a degree. He 

 was the most merciless companion to walk with, 

 as the writer of this memoir has reason to re- 

 member ; for, no matter how quickly you walked, 

 he would walk quicker, so at least that he might 

 always be a foot or two ahead of you. These 

 powers of walking he kept up till within a com- 

 paratively short time of his death ; and when quite 

 advanced in life his parishioners would some- 

 times remark that Mr. Morris was still "as lingey 

 as a lad." 



His conversation when walking would generally 

 turn upon his favourite topics of natural history, 

 and the sight of some insect or bird or flower 

 would often lead to an interesting bit of informa- 

 tion or anecdote connected with it. The beauties 

 of the country had a wondrous fascination for 

 him, and he had a remarkably quick eye for them. 

 Although he walked apace, but few things escaped 

 his notice ; and many a letter or article was planned 

 out in his mind on these walks within the confines 

 of his own parish, and his productions of this nature 

 were often made fragrant by the breath of country 

 air that pervaded them. 



He was not long in scouring the whole neigh- 

 bourhood around Nunburnholme for entomological 

 specimens, and there was scarcely a wood round 

 about that he had not tried at night with sugar, 

 and by day with the net, for moths or butterflies. 

 Though not a favourable district for the purpose, 



