CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 431 



all the rest, and wherein there are not many species 

 wanting that are in other men's hands, especially of such 

 as are for their rarity or beauty most valuable. Your 

 kind offer I was not then very forward to accept, because 

 1 thought it very difficult, if possible, to send and remit 

 them without prejudice. But since I have been so ill and 

 indisposed with frequent diarrhoeas and the pain of my 

 sores, that I have had little will or ability to mind any- 

 thing else, and therefore begin to think I must lay aside 

 all thoughts of such a history. 



But because I do not remember that I gave you a full 

 account of my design, I shall do it now. I did not in- 

 tend fcwvrite an universal History of Insects, but only of 

 such British ones as have or should come to my know- 

 ledge, which I do believe would scarce amount to a third 

 part of such as are natives of these islands ; and such 

 exotics only as are to be found in the hands of the virtuosi 

 about London, especially yourself. But these separately ; 

 first, the British by themselves in each tribe, and then 

 the exotics after them by themselves. I intended to begin 

 with the Papilionaceous tribe, not because they are the 

 first in order of nature, but because I have taken most 

 pains in searching them out, and have described most 

 species of them. Of these, the diurnal ones are not very 

 numerous, I having not observed above forty-five sorts of 

 them. But of the nocturnal, should I live twenty years 

 longer, I despair of ever coming to an end, every year 

 offering new ones; and yet I have already observed 

 about 300 species, and this within a small compass of 

 ground. But these I shall so methodise that it shall not 

 be difficult for any man to find any Phalaena he shall 

 discover in the method, if it be there described, or else 

 to know that it is a new one, and not described by me ; 

 but enough of this, it not being like to take effect. 



Now, sir, let me ask (for I hear you have had him 

 under cure) what you think of Sir Thomas Willughby, 

 whether he be likely to recover a perfect state of health 

 again. I cannot but be much troubled and concerned 



