212 EARLY ANNALS OF ORNITHOLOGY 
may have been procured by Willughby or Ray in Warwickshire, 
but we are tempted to associate a Night Heron’s egg (?), marked 
“‘ Quacke Belge,” with their visit to Sevenhuys in Holland. 
1676. WILLUGHBY AND Ray. 
It was Francis Willughby who collected the materials for 
—and John Ray, who, after his friend’s early death at thirty- 
seven, completed, in retirement in Warwickshire—the famous 
* Ornithologia.”’** This great work, which won the praise of 
Linneus and Cuvier, intended for a history of the birds of 
the whole world as they were then known, will ever stand 
as a monument to the industry of these two naturalists. 
Nevertheless, however industrious and talented Willughby 
was, considering his youth when he died, it is difficult to give 
him credit for very much of it, yet but for the liberality of his 
widow the world might never have had the book. 
To apportion this joint production would not be easy, but 
the story as told by the Rev. William Derham, who spent the 
latter part of his life at Upminster, some twenty-five miles from 
the home of Ray, is sufficient, since he had it from Ray’s own 
lips, a few months before the great naturalist died. 
In connection with Ray’s labours, it is curious 
to peruse the correspondence which went on at this 
time, which the Ray Society have so judiciously printed. 
There are many very remarkable letters from Martin Lister, 
the author of “‘ Historie Animalium tres Tractatus,” Sir 
Philip Skippon, Jessop of Sheffield, Johnson of Brignal, 
and Sir Tancred Robinson, author inter alia of a paper “ On 
the French Macreuse and Scotch Barnacle.” Also from the 
antiquary Aubrey, Sir Hans Sloane and others, all of 
whom were desirous of lending a helping hand with the 
“ Ornithologia,” on which Ray was known to be engaged. 
* “Francisci Willughbeii De Middleton in agro Warwicensi, Armigeri, E 
Regia Societate, Ornithologia Libri Tres.’ 1676. This work, which must have 
entailed immense labour, was probably written at Middleton Hall, near 
Tanworth, where Ray took up his residence after Willughby’s death in 1672, 
and where he, in 1673, married Margaret Oakeley. 
+ ‘‘The Correspondence of John Ray” (Ray Society, 1848, p. 33). 
See also ‘‘ Philosophical Letters ’’ (1718) and ‘‘ Original Letters of Eminent 
Literary Men ’’ (Camden Society, 1843, pp. 194-210), as well as ‘‘ Unpublished 
Material] relating to John Ray,’ by G. 8. Boulger (The ‘‘ Essex Review,’’ 
1917, pp. 57-129). 
