116 
MEMOIR OF 
lugliby, “ observing in tliis busic and inquisitive 
age, the history of animals alone to have been in 
a great measure neglected by Englishmen, he 
made the study thereof fas province, applying 
himself with all diligence to the cultivating and 
illustrating of it.” After having given in the 
same preface an account of his amazing industry 
in the pursuit of his “ design,” he states, “ I 
know of no man who hath seen more species, been 
more exact in noting their differences, and invent- 
ing characteristic marhs, whereby they may be 
certainly distinguished ; or more curious in dis- 
secting them, and observing the make and con- 
stitution of their parts, as well internal as 
external.” Again, he informs us that Mr 
Willughby “ bent his endeavours mainly to find 
out (as I before intimated) certain characteristic 
notes of each hind.” These, with several other 
expressions which might be quoted from the 
same preface, shew that Mr Willughby’s great 
object was the formation of a system, and the 
invention of one which might serve all the 
requisite purposes, not only in ornithology, but 
in the several other zoological departments. It 
is also observable that Mr Ray seems by no 
means unwilling to assume to himself all the 
credit due to him as the editor of his friend's 
w-ritings ; and to state fully and explicitly the 
various labours he was required to perform in 
that capacity. He states, without any apparent 
reluctance, that though “ in viewing his MSS. 
after his death, he found the several animals in 
