264 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



that is to say, a systematic catalogue of Nature. 

 He was quite aware of the vastness of the under- 

 taking, and of his own incapacity to supply in his 

 lifetime the deficiency which he felt to exist. Still, 

 he was anxious to make a beginning, which he did, 

 and carried on the work as long as the Naturalist 

 existed. As he said at the outset of the task, " I 

 am so deeply convinced of the greatness of the 

 want, that I have determined to endeavour to carry 

 into effect the idea which I have long wished and 

 intended to make an attempt to work out. . . . The 

 following is only meant to be, as it were, a first and 

 rough ' proof-sheet ' of an * Annual/ which, when- 

 ever brought to its temporary end, may then be 

 yearly ' revised/ with ' corrections and additions ; ' 

 until at last, long, probably, after I myself shall 

 have left the scene, it may, ' teres atque rotundusj 

 show in one wide but comprehensive view the vast 

 extent of the works of the Great Creator." Portions 

 of this catalogue of Nature were given month by 

 month till September 1860, when the Naturalist 

 came to an end, Mr. Morris having been connected 

 with it as editor for more than four years and a half. 

 It may be thought a matter of surprise as well as 

 regret that he never undertook to write a " Natural 

 History of Nunburnholme." Such a History, syste- 

 matically carried out, would doubtless have proved 

 an interesting volume, for he might have had end- 

 less opportunities of observation ; and having lived 

 here for so many years, he would have had much 

 to record, especially of bird-life. That he contem- 



