26 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



Ornithology.* Of this work, and of its accomplished 

 author, a short notice is all that we can give. 

 Francis Willughby was a gentleman by birth and 

 education, being connected with two noble families 

 of that name, the Willughbys of Eresby in Lincoln- 

 shire, and the Wolds in Nottinghamshire : he was 

 also allied by blood to the earls of Londonderry. 

 We introduce these facts to show that science was 

 even then not unknown among the aristocracy, and 

 that young Willughby, although " endowed with ex- 

 cellent gifts and abilities both of body and mind, and 

 blessed with a fair estate," which might have tempted 

 him to seek pleasure and honour in the circle of the 

 court, had yet such a love for learning, that " he 

 was from his childhood addicted to study, and ever 

 since he came to the use of reason so great a hus- 

 band of his time, as not to let slip unnoccupied the 

 least fragment of it." That the greatest part if not 

 all the original information contained in this admir- 

 able volume came solely from the pen of Willughby 

 is also proved by the words of his pious editor-]-, 

 who thus confesses that the additions made by 

 himself were mere compilations from former writers. 



* The Ornithology of Francis Willughby, of Middleton, in 

 the County of Warwick, Esquire. In three books. By John 

 Ray. 1678. 



f " But because Mr. Willughby (though sparing neither 

 pains nor cost) could not procure, and, consequently, did not 

 describe, all sorts of birds to perfect the work, I have added 

 the descriptions and histories of those that were wanting, out 

 of Gesner, Aldrovandus, Bellonius, Marcgravius, Clusius, Her- 

 nandez, Bontius, Wormius, and Piso, disposing each kind, as 

 near as I could, in its proper place." 



