130 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



tries. Ichthyology, or the study of fishes, and 

 ornithology, or the study of birds, occupied the 

 attention of Willughby. Having collected a vast 

 number of specimens and observations, they re- 

 turned to England, and Willughby immediately 

 commenced working with a view to the publication 

 of a great work on the animal kingdom. He even 

 contemplated a visit to America ; but health failed, 

 and he died in the prime of life, on July 3rd, 1672. 

 The education of his two infant sons was confided 

 to Mr. Ray, who was one of his executors. Wil- 

 lughby thought his works too imperfect for publi- 

 cation, but Ray felt otherwise, and urged it upon 

 him for three reasons : first, the glory of God ; 

 secondly, the assistance of others in the same 

 studies ; thirdly, the honour of his native land. 

 Upon these grounds he gave his consent, and Ray 

 became their editor. A book on birds, " The Orni- 

 thologia," was the result, and it contains a large 

 amount of original observation, and is a full and 

 exact description of the habits and maladies of 

 birds, and the best means of domesticating them. 

 Excellent anatomical descriptions are added. Sub- 

 sequently, a book on the fishes of the Mediterranean 

 appeared. 



The merits of Willughby as a natural historian 

 still continue to be recognized. He was a most 

 accomplished zoologist, and he gave Ray and 

 Linnffius the method of classification of animals 

 which is usually associated with their names. Ray 

 acknowledged this, and he says that he found 



