944 THE JOURNAL. OF BOTANY 
is that i by Munk,* from which a few of the facts in this sketch are 
derived 
Richard Middleton Massey, a member of a well-known Cheshire 
family, was the eldest son of Edward Massey, of Rostherne near 
Knutsford, in that county; his mother’s name before marriage 
was Elizabeth Bowles. We know nothing of his early history 
previous to his going to Oxford, where “ he spent _— terms at 
Brasenose College, but left without taking a degre By this 
time, however, he must already have become fairly proficient in 
entomology, as is shown by the earliest of his letters written 
from Oxford to Petiver and preserved in the Sloane 
acquainted with leading naturalists of the time. The first letter 
runs :— ; : 
‘Hon!’ Sir Oxon, June 16, 1702. 
The Catalogue of y° Scarabei that I sent you has y® 
tytles of all that are ‘mention’d in Dr. Lister’s manuscript. 
collection here i 5 very small, those y* I pick’d up in Cheshire I 
formerly ‘gave to Mr. B obart, before I had y°® honour of being 
acquainted with y™ sl I think have 3 or 4 w™ are not 
you will easily see, tho’ I had not room in y® tytle to give an 
acct of it. ‘I humbly desire y" thoghts of y* work & if you think 
it is worth encouragement. If you want any more specimens 
pray lett me hear from you speedily. Dr. Kreig’s Papilio & the 
exotic Scarabeeus shall come up with me, they are safe. ee 
= MI 
willingly perform’d 
Dear Sir y* most games 
d Servt 
a Nydpuieeon near” 
ose” and noted by Petiver as “ received Mar 1 
‘‘ My dear freind 
(F ‘ too familiar title I beg I may henceforth 
style you without offence) what I have promised I will eae 
fully to perform. I have sent y* names of Dr. Lister’s Beetles a 
they are gto in his Manuscript. Mr. rey returned the 
same night that I did & order'd when I writt yt I should present 
~~ service to you, he designes to stay in town this month & then 
unk, Loll of he Royal College ws Es, cacagee ed. 2, ii. Sod Lowen 
loane Index and Chester,” 
is no evidence that he wa at Fat Oeste Bie: asa Apr visitor, 
