144 RAY. 



the sap in trees, the results of which were published 

 ill the Philosophical Transactions. 



Although botany seems to have been his princi- 

 pal study, his attention was by no means confined 

 to it, for, like most naturalists of the time, he was a 

 general collector. The materials which he had ac- 

 cumulated in the course of his journeys having now 

 increased to a great extent, he began to digest his 

 observations ; commencing, rather oddly, with a set 

 of proverbs, which he made ready for the press, al- 

 though they were not published till 1672. In 1669, 

 he also prepared his Catalogue of English Plants, 

 which was printed in the following year. 



At this time he changed his name to Ray, omit- 

 ting the initial letter ; the altered mode of spelling 

 being, as he conceived, more correct. In one of his 

 notes to Dr Lister he mentions his having had an 

 offer of L. 100 per annum to travel with three young 

 noblemen, expressing, at the same time, his unfit- 

 ness for the office, and his unworthiness of so large 

 a salary. To this his friend replies : " I joy you 

 of the condition offered you. If you accept it, I 

 wish you all the satisfaction and comfort in the 

 world of it ; and I pray God, of his infinite mercy, 

 to preserve you in your travels, and to send me 

 home again my dear friend well. Fix not long 

 with them in any place ; for the gentry of France 

 are very proud, and will soon (when acquainted) 

 learn them to despise their tutors, however well 

 deserving." This proposal, however, Mr Ray re- 

 jected, being in a weak state of health, and con- 

 sidering it more expedient to continue his pursuits. 



In the spring of 1671, he had an attack of 

 jaundice, of which, as he informs Dr Lister, he 



