WILLUGHBY, FRANCIS (1635-1672), English ornithol ogist and ichthyologist, son of Sir Francis Willughby, born at Middleton, Warwickshire, was the pupil, friend and patron as well as the active and original co-worker of John Ray (q.v.), and hence to be reckoned as one of the most important precursors of Linnaeus. His connection with Ray dated from his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge (1653-1659) ; and he made an exten sive Continental tour in his company. The specimens, figures and notes thus accumulated were in great part elaborated on his return into his Ornithologia, posthumously published in 1676, and trans lated by Ray as the Ornithology of Fr. Willughby (London, 1678,
fol.) ; the same friend published his Historia Piscium (1686, fol.). In Ray's preface to the former work he gives Willughby much of the credit usually assigned to himself, both as critic and system atist. Willughby died at Middleton Hall on July 3, 1672.