vi 



PREFACE. 



longed research, by an author not only well acquainted 

 Avith the works of Ray and his contemporaries, but also 

 well versed in the present state of botanical and zoological 

 science, that a longer time would be required than was 

 compatible with the speedy issue of the work. Under 

 these circumstances it was suggested that a volume, com- 

 prising the original life of Ray, by Dr. Derham, the 

 biographical notices in Rees's ' Cyclopaedia,' by Sir J. 

 E. Smith, and in the ' Biographic Universelle,' by Cuvier 

 and Du Petit Thouars, together with the ' Itineraries/ 

 and such published and unpublished Letters as were 

 accessible would form an interesting volume, and one 

 which would occasion comparatively but little delay. 

 The publication of such a volume having been resolved 

 on, the duty of editing it was committed to me. In the 

 discharge of this duty unforeseen circumstances have pre- 

 vented the completion of the volume till the present 

 period, but it still forms part of the first year's issue. 



In editing this volume I have taken the opportunity of 

 adding a few notes, some of them biographical, others 

 explanatory and natural-historical, which I trust vdll be 

 found interesting. In preparing the biographical notes 

 I have been guided as to their length by the greater or 

 less connexion the history of the individual has had 



