74 



MEMORIALS OF RAY : 



Latin, in which language the " Ornithology" first appeared 

 in 1676, making a folio volume, accompanied by seventy- 

 seven plates, engraved at the expense of the author's 

 widow, from his own drawings. An English translation 

 by Ray, with still more additions than he had supplied to 

 the former publication, and one more plate, issued from 

 the press in 1678. The account which Dr. Derham 

 received from the lips of Mr. Ray, about eight months pre- 

 vious to his decease, respecting the primary intentions of 

 himself and his late friend, and which is recorded in his 

 life, is too curious to be omitted here, as their pro- 

 ject and its execution form an epocha in the history of 

 natural science. " These two gentlemen," says Derham, 

 " finding the history of nature very imperfect, had agreed 

 between themselves, before their travels beyond the sea, 

 to reduce the several tribes of things to a method, and to 

 give accurate descriptions of the several species from a 

 strict view of them. And forasmuch as Mr. Willughby's 

 genius lay chiefly to animals, therefore he undertook the 

 birds, beasts, fishes, and insects, as Mr. Ray did the 

 vegetables." Derham adds that Mr. Willughby, during 

 his short life, " prosecuted his design with as great ap- 

 phcation as if he had been to get his bread thereby." 

 The writer of the present article has elsewhere observed, 

 (Introductory Discourse Tr. of Linn. Soc. v. 1,) that 

 " from the affectionate care with which Ray has cherished 

 the fame of his departed friend, we are in danger of at- 

 tributing too much to Mr. Willughby, and too little to 

 himself." Llis own statement, no doubt, was correct as to 

 their original aims, but it is impossible not to perceive 

 that the survivor executed or perfected what his friend in 

 many instances could only have projected or scarcely be- 

 gun. Had Willughby lived there can be little doubt 

 of his career being as glorious in the sequel as that of his 

 friend, and possibly from the advantages of fortune which 

 he enjoyed, even more widely beneficial to science. Yet 

 who can tell that he might not have slackened his course ? 

 Though he gloriously avoided the snares of luxury and 



