110 MEMOIR OP 



The treatise on ornithology itself would have 

 had a much more philosophical aspect had it been 

 published, as it may be certainly inferred the 

 author would have 1 chosen, without those unsightly 

 discourses, and which give the book an unfortu- 

 nate aspect to a modern reader, as too much 

 resembling the old treatises on Natural History, 

 which, with some valuable portions, are in general 

 an accumulation of rubbish. Mr Ray has, how- 

 ever, taken upon himself the responsibility of 

 adding the three discourses. In a letter from Dr 

 Lister to Mr Ray, at Coleshill, in Warwickshire, 

 dated February 8, 1675, he says, referring to the 

 ornithology, " I am very glad you say so much 

 concerning the English edition, which you tell me 

 you mean to augment. If I might advise you, 

 in the history of hawks, it would be very accept- 

 able to have their managery and training, which 

 I find is done with much skill and faithfulness in 

 a certain late piece called The Gentleman's 

 Recreation,' printed in 74, where is the best 

 account of hawks and hawking that I ever met 

 with." 



" Again, in the history of small birds, some 

 account of the keeping and ordering of them in 

 cages would please, which also is very well done, 

 in a little book, entituled, " The Epitome of the 

 Art of Industry," where you will find a large and 

 very accurate tract of singing birds, both done by 

 experienced and judicious persons in that way." 



In another letter from Mr Ray to Dr Lister, 

 dated June 14, 76, he says, " I have resolved 



