SIXTEENTH CENTURY 163 
an anonymous pamphlet, printed in England soon after 
1586.* The cut, which is quite meritorious, represents in 
very characteristic fashion, one of a flock of Ruffs, which 
were “intangled and caught” at Crowley in Lincolnshire. 
Mr. Mullens is of opinion that in this pamphlet, which was 
evidently written as a protest against the extravagant fashions 
of the day, we have the earliest mention of the Ruff as a 
British bird, together with the first published figure and des- 
cription of it. The pious John Ray and his pupil Willughby 
went to see Aldrovandus’s collection on their Italian travels 
and it may be assumed jotted down many memoranda for 
future use.f This was on February 22nd, 1664, when the 
former writes of it in his journal: ‘““ Among many natural and 
artificial rarities therein preserved, we took more especial notice 
of ten volumes of the pictures of plants, and six of birds, beasts 
and fishes, drawn exactly in colours by the hand.” { All these 
volumes may have been laid under contribution for Ray’s 
subsequent works on plants, birds and fishes, for which they 
would have furnished useful material. Sir Thomas Browne’s 
son was another naturalist, who wrote to his father that he 
went to see Aldrovandus’s collection in 1665.8 Whether 
these books are still in existence, I have had no means of 
ascertaining. 
It may not be amiss to give the following table of dates, 
which help to the better understanding of these authors and 
their writings, while it will be seen from it that Turner was the 
first of the five to publish. 
1510 Caius born. 1564 Gesner died. 
1512 Turner ,, 1568 Turner ,, 
1516 Gesner_,, 1570 Caius published. 
1544 Turner published. 1573 » died. 
1555 Gesner af 1595 Muffett wrote, 
1555 Belon 5 1599 Aldrovandus published. 
* See “ British Birds, Mag. XIII., p. 13. 
+ Aldrovandus probably had a fine collection, which passed to Cospi 
of Bologna (‘‘ Ann. Rept. Museums Association,” 1891, p. 34). Gesner also 
had a museum, which must have contained treasures among its birds, and 
another collection of mark was that belonging to Kentmann of Dresden 
(t.c., p. 29). 
+ “Travels through the Low Countries,’”’ by John Ray, F.R.S., p. 200. 
§ Browne’s ‘‘ Works,” (Wilkin’s edn., Vol. I., p. 89). 
