GESNER. 129 



died with the calmness of a Christian philosopher, 

 on the fifth day of his attack, at the early age of 

 forty-nine. His remains rest, much honoured, in 

 the cloister of the Greek church at Zurich. Not 

 only did Gesner consolidate the knowledge of the 

 animal and vegetable kingdom of his day, but he 

 also influenced other authors to do good work, and 

 to avoid unkind criticism. His calm, candid, and 

 equable temper enabled him to soothe the angry 

 feelings of others, under their real and imaginary 

 wrongs. He laid aside his own labour to assist 

 others, and he devoted much time to the super- 

 vision and publication of a work which was left 

 incomplete, by a deceased friend, so as to provide 

 for the family. 



Gesner's life is a very good proof that where 

 there is a will there is a way, and that poverty 

 does not impede the path of a thoroughly indus- 

 trious and earnest man. The poor skinner's son's 

 name is respected at the present day, and will be 

 so, as long as science lasts. 



The interesting life of Ray has already been 

 given amongst those of the heroes of botany ; he 

 was, however, a zoologist of the first class, and his 

 devotion to that part of natural history was part 

 of his great friendship for Mr. Willughby. This 

 promising young man studied under Ray, at Cam- 

 bridge, and whilst the master took plants under 

 his care and study, the pupil began to work at 

 animals. They made a tour together, visiting 

 France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Low Coun- 



I. K 



