XXII INTRODUCTION. 



were prepared in the interest of Dr. Merrett 

 for his use in an enlarged edition of his 

 Pinax, but the remark in his first letter to this 

 correspondent, " I have observed and taken 

 notice of many animals in these parts whereof 

 3 years agoe a learned gentleman of this 

 country wished me to give him some account, 

 which while I was doing ye gentleman my good 

 friend died," clearly shows that they were 

 originally prepared for another purpose, although 

 they eventually furnished the materials for his 

 letters to Merrett, but who his deceased friend 

 was it seems now useless to conjecture, although 

 it would be interesting to know. The notes 

 were certainly never intended to appear in 

 their present form, and failing their use by 

 Merrett which never took place, the information 

 they contained was, as we know, of great 

 service to Ray and Willughby. 



Browne's correspondent. Dr. Christopher Mer- 

 rett, was born at Winchcomb, in Gloucestershire, 

 on the 1 6th of February, 1614. He graduated 

 B.A. at Oriel College, Oxford, about the year 

 1635; M.B. 1636; M.D. 1643. Was elected 

 Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 

 1 65 1, and was made first Keeper of the Library 

 and Museum ; he was Censor of the College 

 seven times. Having entered into litigation 



