THE NATURAL HISTORY OF JOHN RAY 41 



throughout. The infusions in such flasks remained 

 limpid ; no scum formed on the surface ; no bad smell 

 was given off when they were opened ; and no signs of 

 life could be detected by the microscope. To meet the 

 objection that the vegetative force of the infusions had 

 been destroyed by long heating he simply allowed air to 

 enter, when the micro-organisms quickly reappeared. 

 Spallanzani's methods, though far better than any which 

 had been employed before, are not quite unimpeach- 

 able, and could not be relied upon in an atmosphere 

 rich in germs ; but they sufficed to create a strong 

 presumption that life is set up in infusions by germs 

 introduced with the air. 



This was by no means the end of the controversy, 

 which broke out again and again until it was laid to 

 rest, whether finally or otherwise it would be unwise to 

 predict, by the experiments of Pasteur. 



The Natural History of John Ray. 



The sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries 

 each possessed at least one naturalist of wide learning 

 and untiring diligence, who made it his care to collect 

 information concerning all branches of natural history, 

 to improve system, and to train new workers. Gesner, 

 Ray, and Linnaeus occupied in succession this honour- 

 able position. 



Ray was originally a fellow of Trinity College, 

 Cambridge, who had risen into notice by proficiency in 

 academical studies. He then became inspired by the 

 hope of enlarging the knowledge of plants and animals, 

 and of producing what we should now call a descriptive 

 fauna and flora of Great Britain. His plan contem- 

 plated close personal observation, travels at home and 

 abroad, and the co-operation of pupils and friends. 



D 



