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MEMOIR OF 
young one to its full growth, they feed it with 
more. Their thecas are at dast all covered over 
with the wings, legs, and other parts of flies.” 
These observations of Mr Willughby caused 
many other persons to investigate the nature of 
these insects, their habits, &c. especially Dr Lister 
of York, as appears from letters from him in the 
Philosophical Transactions, dated October 16 and 
28, 1671. 
Thus we find Mr Willughby in the full pursuit 
of scientific objects, and with undiminished ardour 
and enterprise ; and, as we are informed by Mr 
Ray, “ having now made so good progress, that few 
of our European animals described by others had 
escaped his view, he was, at the close of this year, 
meditating a voyage into the New World, that he 
might, as far as in him lay, perfect his history of 
animals.” 
But the 'time was now nigh at hand when a 
career so honourable and useful was to be arrested 
by the unsparing hand of death. At the close of 
the year 1670, he experienced another of those 
attacks of illness which had, at different times 
during some years, been the cause of much 
anxiety to his friends. 
In a letter from Dr Lister to Mr Ray,* dated 
December 22, he writes, “ I am glad to hear that 
Mr Willughby is so near well again, and thank 
God for his recovery ; and do heartily pray a 
continuance of good health to him. Methinks he 
Philosophical Letters, p. 80. 
