I If) MI-IMOIR OF 



lughby, " observing in this busie and inquisitive 

 age, thfe history of animals alone to have been in 

 a great measure neglected by Englishmen, he 

 made the study thereof his province, applying 

 himself with all diligence to the cultivating and 

 illustrating of it." After having given in the 

 same preface an account of his amazing industry 

 in the pursuit of his " design," he states, " I 

 know of no man who hath seen more species, been 

 more exact in noting their differences, and is> 

 ing characteristic marks, whereby they may be. 

 certainly distinguished ; or more curious in dis- 

 secting them, and observing the make and con- 

 stitution of their parts, as well internal r.s 

 external." Again, he informs us that Mr 

 Willughby " bent his endeavours mainly to find 

 out (as I before intimated) certain characteristic 

 notes of each hind" These, with several other 

 expressions which might be quoted from the 

 same preface, shew that Mr Willughby's great 

 object was the formation of a system, and the 

 invention of one which might serve all the 

 requisite purposes, not only in ornithology, but 

 in the several other zoological departments. It 

 is also observable that Mr Hay seems by no 

 means unwilling to assume to himself all the 

 credit due to him as the editor of his friend's 

 writings ; and to state fully and explicitly the 

 various labours he was required to perform in 

 that capacity. He states, without any apparent 

 reluctance, that though " in viewing his MSS. 

 after his death, he found the several animals in. 



