C H A P T E R i^, 
nary," and the Biographia Britannica-" 
but the inoft detailed relation is that of 
Dr. Scott, publiflied in 1760, from ma- 
terials coUefted by Dr. Derham. This 
is well abridged in the Biographical Didiio-, 
nary. It is much to be regretted, that our 
curiofity has not been more amply grati- 
fied than by thefe fhort and imperfedt me- 
moirs. 
A more circumftantial narrative of the life 
of Mr. Ray would, even at this diftance of 
time, be a valuable acceffion to biography, 
and highly grateful to thofe, who are fenfible 
of the great improvements which he gave 
to the fcience of natural hiftory in general ; 
nor could fufficient juftice be done to his 
manifold talents, difcoveries, and writings, 
but by a pen of the firft eminence in bio- 
graphical literature. 
The limits of my plan v/ill not allow of 
more than a general detail of the principal 
events of his life, as connefted in chrono^ 
logical order with his writings. 
^]o\inWray, or, as he always fpelt his name 
after the year 1 669, Ray, was born 2it Black 
Notleyy near Braintree^ in Effex^ Nov. 29^ 
. ' 1628. 
