54 HISTORY OF BOTANY. 



Early in life Eay took great interest in Natural Science, 

 especially in Botany, and after travelling over a great part 

 of England, Scotland and Wales, he extended his herborisa- 

 tions to the continent of Europe. His itineraries, or 

 accounts of his journeys in England, are most interesting.* 

 His works — chiefly in Latin, which he wrote with the same 

 facility as English — were numerous and on different subjects. 

 Of those on plants may be mentioned ' A Catalogue of Plants 

 growing about Cambridge," 1660, and *A Catalogue of 

 English Plants,' 1670. After these followed 'A Catalogue 

 of Plants ' observed in his travels ; ' A new Method of 

 Plants'; a 'History of Plants,' in three large folio volumes, 

 enumerating and describing over 17,000 species; a 'Metho- 

 dical Synopsis of British Plants'; 'An emended Method of 

 Plants.' Besides these he wrote on quadrupeds and 

 serpents, birds, fishes and insects, and also several religious 

 works. Kay died 1706, at his native place, in the same 

 humble condition as that in which he commenced life, 

 leaving three daughters out of a family of four. Dr. 

 Derham, who wrote a memorial of Kay, says : — "In a word, 

 in his dealings no man more strictly just; in his conver- 

 sation no man more humble, courteous, and affable ; towards 

 God no man more devout ; and towards the poor and 

 distressed no man more compassionate and charitable, 

 according to his abilities." 



As a systematic botanist Kay was in advance of his time, 

 and though his method was not duly appreciated in his life 

 time, he must be looked upon as the founder of the modern 

 or " natural " system of classification, as it is called. 



Magnol and Tournefort in France, andKivinus in Germany, 

 each had his system of classification and his followers. 



Pierre Magnol was born at Montpellier, 1638, and died there 



-^ See ' Memorials of John Eay,' by the late Dr. Lankester, published 

 by the Eay Society, 1816, or ' Eemains of John Eay,' by Dr. Derham, 

 1760. 



