126 
MEMOIll OF 
dated September 6, 1704, he say?, — “ The work 
which I have now entered upon is indeed too 
great a task for me ; I am very erazy and infirm, 
and God knows whether I shall overlive this 
winter. Cold weather is very grievous to me ; 
besides, I have not bestowed sufficient time and 
pains in the quest of any insect tribes, except 
papilios ; and I have told how far short I am of 
perfection in that. I rely chiefly on Mr Wil- 
lughby s discoveries and the contributions of 
friends ; as for my oimi papers on this subject, 
they are not worth preserving.” Mr Ray died on 
the 17th of January in the next year, 1705. 
The History of Insects was published after his 
death by Dr Derham at the expense of the Royal 
Society, in the year 1710, under the following 
title : — 
“ Historia Insectorum, Autore Joanne Raio ; 
Collegii S. Trinitatis apud Cantabrigienses, et 
Societates Regise olim socio, opus posthumum. 
Jussu Regiaj Societatis Londinensis Editurn. 
“ Cui subjungilur appendix de scaraboeis Britan- 
nicis Autore M. Lister, S.ILS. ex MSS: Mussi 
Ashmolaeani.” 
This w'ork comprehends all Mr Willughby’s 
descriptions, with others by Mr Ray, and forms a 
quarto volume, including the appendix on British 
beetles. It abounds with acknowledgments to 
Mr Willughby throughout, made frequently iu 
terms of the highest respect and deference. When 
it is considered how comparatively neglected the 
study of insects was when Mr Willughby began, , 
