xxiv INTRODUCTION. 



Browne, whose liberal response is evidenced in 

 the [drafts of the] letters still fortunately extant, 

 but either superseded by the more learned 

 labours of Willughby and Ray, or laid aside 

 on account of the perplexities in which Merrett 

 became involved with the College of Physicians, 

 the Pinax never attained an enlarged edition. 

 Had Browne completed and published his own 

 ' Natural History of Norfolk,' he might have 

 contended for precedency among the writers 

 of County Natural Histories with [his friend] 

 Dr. Robert Plot,* who published the earliest of 

 such works — those of Oxford and Staffordshire, 

 in 1677 arid 1686 respectively. He seems, 

 however, to have preferred contributing to the 

 labours of those whom he considered better 

 naturalists than himself; and in his third 

 attempt thus to render his observations useful 

 he had somewhat better success. He placed 

 his materials, including a number of coloured 



* Dr. Robert Plot (1640-1696) was born at Sutton Barne, Kent, in 1640; 

 he graduated M.A. in 1664, and D.C.L. at Oxford in 1671. He was 

 chiefly noted as an antiquary, and was Secretary of the Royal Society from 

 1682 to 1684, also the first custodian of the Ashmoleian Museum and 

 Professor of Chemistry at Oxford. In 1677 he published his "Natural 

 History of Oxfordshire," the first local work of the kind which appeared ; 

 it was illustrated by sixteen plates. In 1686 he also published " The Natural 

 History of Staffordshire," and subsequently many other books and papers. 

 He was evidently acquainted with most of the learned men of his time. 

 Plot died at his family estate Sutton Barne, on the 30th of April, 1696, 

 and was buried at Borden in Kent. Dr. Plot was a friend of Browne's, 

 and his companion in a tour in England in 1693. — " Diet. Nat. Biog." 



