xxx MEMOIR 



. . . His loss to the paper is irreparable. . . . He 

 was by far the best writer on Wild Life in any British 

 paper, and for many years gave pleasure and delight of 

 the purest kind to thousands of readers who never 

 saw him, but were none the less his debtors, and will 

 never forget his lessons." 



But all this ceaseless activity, often involving long 

 journeys on the top of his regular school work, 

 undoubtedly overtaxed his strength, especially after 

 an unfortunate shooting accident had sowed the 

 seeds of a disease which in the end proved fatal. 

 Though very dangerously ill for some days after 

 this accident a fall, in which he sustained severe 

 internal injuries he recovered quickly and, it was 

 hoped at the time, completely. But a few years 

 later symptoms of kidney disease came on, and for 

 nearly a year he suffered from constant attacks of such 

 intense pain that it was feared an operation would be 

 unavoidable. With care and less drastic treatment, 

 however, these attacks gradually subsided, and though 

 he was warned that overwork, worry, or a too sedentary 

 life would be exceedingly likely to bring on a recur- 

 rence, for a time all seemed to go well. Then as 

 years went on and his literary reputation and work 

 increased, the time he allowed himself for exercise 

 and recreation grew less and less. The game of 

 rackets or tennis which he had been in the habit of 

 playing during his midday breaks was given up, so 

 were the walks that he formerly took when his after- 

 noon's work was over ; and he frequently worked 

 so late in the evening that he was unable to sleep 



