58 
MEMOIR OF RAY. 
and that he could not so much as walk into the 
neighbouring fields. He had laboured for some 
years under a severe disorder in his legs, which had 
broken out into ulcers, and occasioned excessive 
pain. He was likewise seized with other complaints, 
by which his strength was so much reduced, that it 
became evident that his mortal career was approach- 
ing its close. But study had now become so habitual 
to him, that he did not cease, even under these cir- 
cumstances, from prosecuting the investigation of 
nature, and even entering upon subjects compara- 
tively new to him. It had formed part of Wil- 
lughby’s plan to write a history of insects, and Ray 
had at an early period given occasional attention to 
the subject, with a view of assisting in that under- 
taking. He now resolved to complete the work 
himself. In reference to it, he writes to Dr Der- 
ham : “ The work which I have now entered upon 
is indeed too great a task for me ; I am very crazy 
and infirm, and God knows whether I shall overlive 
this winter- Cold weather is very grievous to me ; be- 
sides, I have not bestowed sufficient time and pains 
in the quest of any tribe of insects, except Papilio’s, 
and I have told how far short I am of perfection in 
that. I rely chiefly on Mr Wlllughby’s discoveries, 
and the contributions of friends.” On another oc- 
casion he writes to the same individual, “ For my 
part I am now almost three score and fifteen years 
of age, so that it is time for me to give over these 
studies and enquiries (he alludes to the history of 
