136 MEMOIR OF 



worthy of remark, that the subject of our memoir 

 did not rest contented in the mere consciousness 

 of talent. On the contrary, he seems to have 

 been early aware, that the value of ability of any 

 kind consists in its due and proper application, 

 eo that " he addicted himself to that department 

 of Natural History, which, by agreement with 

 Mr Ray, he had selected, as diligently as if he had 

 been compelled to get his bread by it." 



As may be expected from the foregoing account, 

 he was most deeply sensible of the value of time, 



northern part of the New World with envied splendour. 

 At that period, I formed a design of collecting materials 

 for a partial history of its animals ; and with true pains, 

 my various correspondents made far greater progress in 

 my plan, than my most sanguine expectations had framed. 

 Above a century ago, an illustrious predecessor in the 

 line of Natural History, who as greatly exceeded me in 

 abilities, as he did in zeal, meditated a voyage to the 

 New World for a similar purpose. The gentleman 

 alluded to was Francis Willughby, Esq. who died in 

 1672, on the point of putting his design into execution. 

 Emulous of so illustrious an example, I took up the object 

 of his pursuit, but my many relative duties forbade me 

 from carrying it the length of that great and good 

 man." Memoir of Pennant in the Naturalist's Library \ 

 page 32 and 33. 



It seems that Mr Pennant did not, however, follow hi& 

 exemplar with equal steps. It is remarked by Mr S wainson, 

 that he " followed the system of Linnaeus, except in that 

 strange and unnatural system of the primary orders of birds 

 which he fell into, and which was the more inexcusable 

 after the writings of Willughby." Preliminary Discourse* 

 page 50. 



