62 
MEMOIR OF RAY. 
This classification possesses considerable merit. 
The praise, it is true, of assuming the metamor- 
phoses of these animals as the basis of a natural 
arrangement, is due to Swammerdam, but in many 
other respects Ray has improved on the method of 
his illustrious cotemporary. He has indicated and 
characterized several natural groups with great accu- 
racy ; and many of his suggestions have not been 
without influence in leading to the present improved 
state of entomological science. Of the imperfec- 
tions of his arrangement no one was more fully 
aware than himself. He laments especially the in- 
accuracy of that part of it relating to flies, and ex^ 
presses a hope that he should soon be able to fur- 
nish another more complete.* This expectation, 
however, was destined never to be realized. 
His vital powers were gradually exhausted by 
repeated attacks of disease, and he breathed his 
last at his residence in Black Notley, on the 17th 
January 1705. He was buried in the church-yard 
of his native parish, where a monument was some 
time afterwards erected to his memory, by the care 
of Bishop Compton, and others of his friends. It 
was inscribed with the following elegant Latin epi- 
taph from the pen of the Rev. William Coy te, M. A. 
Hist. Insectorum, p. 109. 
