clxviii Journal of Proceedings.
then 76] I despair of ever coming to an end, every year offering new ones ;
and yet I have already observed about 300 species, and this within a
small compass of ground."
The actual work appears to have begun in the summer of 1704, for
under date August 10th, he writes to his friend and patron, Sloane : " I
am now entering upon an history of insects, for which you would have
been a far fitter person; having, what I want, your senses entire, your
strength firm, your understanding and memory perfect," as having
" already published the Histories of Birds and Fishes, and a Synopsis of
Quadrupeds, there remains but that of insects to complete the History
of Animals." Truly a marvellous man ! for this task was taken up long
after he had passed the allotted span—the three score years and ten.
To Dr. Derham he writes, under date Sept. 6th, 1704 : " The work which
I have entered upon is, indeed, too great a task for me ; I am very crazy
and infirm, and God knows whether I shall over-live this winter.
Cold weather is very grievous to me ; besides, 1 have not bestowed
sufficient time and pains in the quest of any tribe of insects except
papilios, and I have told how far short I am of perfection in that. I
rely chiefly on Mr. Willughby's discoveries and the contributions of
friends, Mr. Petiver, Mr. Dandridge. Dr. Sloane, Mr. Morton, Mr. Stone-
street. As for my own papers on this subject, they are not worth the pre-
serving ; and Mr. Willughby's must be returned to his son, Sir Thomas
Willughby, from whom I had them with promise to return them if I
did not make use of them."
Doubtless Ray overtaxed his strength in the production of the
work We are chiefly concerned with, and he was justly disappointed
that the publishers would not accede to his demand for " thirty pounds
in money, and twenty copies to present my friends." Little enough
recompense for the life-work of such a man. The author himself under-
took to use his best endeavours to procure subscriptions. As he expresses
it: "The booksellers will not go cordially about the work; there is not
that prospect of gain which alone moves the wheels with them."
These considerations, and his own sadly infirm condition, gave him
little heart to proceed with his work. On Nov. 1st, 1704, he writes to
Sloane : " The History of Insects must rest if I continue thus ill, and
I see no likelihood of amendment, unless I should outlive this winter,
which I have little reason to hope or expect." The following Jan.
7th, he wrote a farewell letter to his same kind friend, and on Wed-
nesday the 17th Jan., 1705, about ten in the forenoon, "Death cut the
fatal thread of life ;l and deprived the commonwealth of learning of
so valuable and worthy a man," as Mr. Dale expresses himself.
This was two years before the birth of Linnaeus. And so the Historia
Insectorum rested until it was taken in hand by Dr. Derham, F.R.S.,
Rector of Upminster and Canon of Windsor, the talented author of
'Physico-Theology,' who edited Ray's MSS.; and the book was pub-
lished posthumously in 1710, at the command of the Royal Society,
consisting of 398 quarto pages. This work must speak lor itself; I
have already presented a copy to the Club's library, and when the
entomological fauna of the county is under consideration, I may
have something further to say as to its contents ; meanwhile, I will
not be further wearisome. I have attempted to give an account of
its conception as nearly as possible in the words of its author and his
friends in letters which are so fortunately preserved to us.
Two honoured entomologists have referred to Ray :—
Adrian Hardy Haworth says: " To pay due tribute to the
virtues and extensive knowledge of this great and meritorious man,
or to make deserved mention of his numerous works, is indeed a task
beyond the essays of a feeble pen, but, aided by the biographic muse,