CANON THEODORE WOOD
THE sudden death on December 13, at the age of sixty-one, of Canon Theodore Wood, vicar of St. Mary Magdalene, Wandsworth Common, has taken from us one who, both by his writings and by his lectures, did much to popularise natural history, and to awaken in the public mind a sympathetic interest in the birds, insects, and other common animals that come under the notice of dwellers in country places.
Brought up under the influence of his father, the Rev. J. G. Wood, who was known even better to a former generation than the son is to the present as the author of excellent books on natural history, he early acquired the seeing eye of the expert naturalist, and a close, personal acquaintance with the ways and habits of many forms of animal life.
In manhood Canon Wood handed on to others the torch that he had thus received. His frequent articles in "Our Country Page" of the Saturday issues of the Morning Post, though adapted to the general rather than to the scientific reader, were accurate, showed a considerable knowledge of current scientific literature and were always worth reading.
The titles of his books — Our Insect Allies, Our Insect Enemies, Our Bird Allies, The Farmer's Friends and Foes, to name but a few of them — indicate his desire to instruct the public on the economic importance of many of the lower animals, and to prevent the ignorant slaughter of useful and beautiful creatures by fruit-growers, farmers and gardeners; while many a boy has thank him for Butterflies and Moths, a useful introduction for the young collector.
As a lecturer he was eminently successful, holding his audiences by his simple, clear language and enthusiasm for his subject and not less by the skilful and rapidly executed board drawings with which he would illustrate his discourse.
M.G.
[Nature: Canon Theodore Wood, 113, 21 (5 January 1924).]
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