68 
MEMOIR OF RA.Y. 
only take into account die vast increment of know- 
ledge which resulted to natural history from his la- 
bours, but also the discredit from which he rescued 
the study. Even the history of the higher animals, 
though bearing so directly on the interests of life, 
was held in little repute, while the lower tribes 
were regarded as too insignificant to merit or justify 
attention. This was particularly the case in rela- 
tion to insects and other “ creeping things,” the 
examination of which was considered as egregious 
trifling, and deserving of nothing but ridicule and 
contempt. To such an extent did this prejudice 
prevail, that on one occasion an attempt was made 
to set aside the will of a Lady Glanville, on the 
ground of lunacy, because she had shown a strong 
partiality for insects, and Ray had to appear on the 
day of trial to bear testimony to her sanity ! By 
his means, however, even the most disreputable of 
these studies was placed in a proper light, and in- 
vested with the dignity of a philosophical pursuit ; 
and although it was not till a remotely subsequent 
period that many of them were cultivated with that 
zeal which their intrinsic interest is fitted to inspire, 
yet a feeling was produced in favour of all, when 
they were seen to form the favourite occupation of 
a mind which had asserted its superiority in the 
most approved walks of learning, and which did not 
disdain to exercise its matured faculties in contem- 
plating the lowest and most despised of nature’s 
productions, even at a time when all earthly inte- 
