78 
MEMOIR OF 
gentleman, and worthy member of the Royal 
Society, Mr Francis Willughby , who hath made 
it his particular business, in his late travels through 
the most considerable parts of Europe, to inquire 
after and understand the several species of ani- 
mals, and by his own observations, is able to 
advance that part of learning, and to add many 
things to what hath been formerly done by the 
most learned authors of his time. 
“ And as to those most difficult tables of plants, 
I have received the like assistance from one of 
his companions in travel, Mr John Ray, late 
fellow of the Trinity College ; who, besides his 
other general knowledge, hath, with great success, 
applied himself to the cultivating that part of 
learning.” 
It may be observed upon this extract, that Dr 
Wilkins, who must have well known the quali- 
fications of the two individuals, acknowledges his 
obligations to Mr Willughby alone, for the con- 
tributions that referred to the animal part of 
creation, and to Mr Ray for contributions for the 
tables of plants. 
One of the Philosophical Letters* from Mr 
Ray to Mr Lister, written from Notley, probably 
in October of this year, refers to Mr Willughby’s 
indefatigable pursuit of the study of insects, — 
“ Alia Insectorum genera non omnino neglexi at 
verd cum Ds. Willughby iis conquirendis, exami- 
uandis describendis, conferendis, sedulam « 
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