92 MEMOIR OF 



young one io its full growth, they feed it with 

 more. Their thecas are at last all covered over 

 with the wings, legs, and other parts of flies." 



These observations of Mr Willughby caused 

 many other persons to investigate the nature of 

 these insects, their habits, &c. especially Dr Lister 

 of York, as appears from letters from him in the 

 Philosophical Transactions, dated October 16 and 

 28, 1671. 



Thus we find Mr Willughby in the full pursuit 

 of scientific objects, and with undiminished ardour 

 and enterprise ; and, as we are informed by Mr 

 Ray, "having now made so good progress, that few 

 of our European animals described by others had 

 escaped his view, he was, at the close of this year, 

 meditating a voyage into the New World, that he 

 might, as far as in him lay, perfect his history of 

 animals." 



But the * time was now nigh at hand when a 

 career so honourable and useful was to be arrested 

 by the unsparing hand of death. At the close of 

 the year 1670, he experienced another of those 

 attacks of illness which had, at different times 

 during some years, been the cause of much 

 anxiety to his friends. 



In a letter from Dr Lister to Mr Ray,* dated 

 December 22, he writes, " I am glad to hear that 

 Mr Willughby is so near well again, and thank 

 God for his recovery ; and do heartily pray a 

 continuance of good health to him. Methinks he 



* Philosophical Letters, p. 80. 



