NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 333
pp. clix.-clxiv.) Ray himself died at Dewlands on Wednesday,
January 17th, 1704-5, and was buried in the churchyard of
Black Notley. The position of Ray as one of the pioneers of
natural science stands now supreme, and this aspect of his varied
labours was admirably expounded by Prof. Boulger in his
address on "The Life and Work of John Ray, and their relation
to the progress of science" in the Transactions of the Club, vol.
iv., pp. 171-188. The London Standard had an appreciative
leading article on the great naturalist on the occasion of the
destruction of Dewlands, in which it was said "the very men
who superseded his work have been among the first to bear
testimony to the value of his labours. He opened the way for
others, in what was an almost tractless forest. A recent
continental authority declares that in one of his books Ray
'wrote in the style of a modern text-book' and that he
'possessed an exceptional power of distinguishing the relation-
ships of the vegetable kingdom. His accurate observations and
systematic descriptions receive universal praise.' * * * If
we cannot claim for Ray quite so high a position in natural
history as his junior, Isaac Newton, occupied in mathematics
and physics, he was a man of whom English science may well
be proud."
Essex is indeed poorer by the loss of a relic so closely
bound up with the life of one of her most illustrious sons.
NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
ZOOLOGY.
AVES.
Nutcracker at Bradwell.—On October 27th a fine specimen of the
Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) was shot in this parish. It is now in the
possession of Mr. Clement W. Parker, who has had it set up by Ashmead, of
Bishopsgate. Essex Weekly News, November 2nd, 1900.
Mobbed by Woodpigeons.—Mr. A. W. Ruggles Brise, of Spains Hall,
Finchingfield, communicated the following to the Field.—"On December
22nd, 1900, a phenomenal fog and darkness overspread this neighbourhood
from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., unprecedented within the memory of the oldest
inhabitant. Several labourers on the estate lost their way home, and were
obliged to shout for help, and got home by the aid of a lantern, taking some
hours to do so. My head keeper, who, with myself and others, had been out
shooting all day, had the greatest difficulty in getting home, even on the road,