(John), a celebrated botanist, was the son of Mr Roger Ray, a blacksmith, and was born at Black Notley in Essex in 1628. He received the first rudiments of learning at the grammar school at Braintree; and in 1644 was admitted into Catharine hall in Cambridge, from whence he afterwards removed to Trinity college in that university. He was at length made one of the senior fellows of that college, and took the degree of master of arts; but his intense application to his studies having injured his health, he was obliged at his leisure hours to exercise himself by riding or walking in the fields, which led him to the study of plants. He noted from Johnson, Parkinson, and the Physologia Britannica, the places where curious plants grew; and in 1658 rode from Cambridge to the city of Chester, from whence he went into North Wales, visiting many places, and among others the famous hill of Snowdon; returning by Shrewsbury and Gloucester. In 1660 he published his Catalogus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam nascentium, and the same year was ordained deacon and priest. In 1661 he accompanied Francis Willoughby, Esq; and others in search of plants and other natural curiosities, in the north of England and Scotland; and the next year made a western tour from Chester, and through Wales, to Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and other countries. He afterwards travelled with Mr Willoughby and other gentlemen through Holland, Germany, Italy, France, &c. took several tours in England, and was admitted fellow fellow of the Royal Society. In 1672, his intimate and beloved friend Mr Willoughby died in the 37th year of his age, at Middleton Hall, his seat in Yorkshire; "to the infinite and unspeakable loss and grief (says Mr Ray,) of myself, his friends, and all good men." There having been the closest and sincerest friendship between Mr Willoughby and Mr Ray, who were men of similar natures and tastes, from the time of their being fellow colleagues, Mr Willoughby not only confided in Mr Ray, in his life-time, but also at his death: for he made him one of the executors of his will, and charged him with the education of his sons Francis and Thomas, leaving him also for life £60. per annum. The eldest of these young gentlemen not being four years of age, Mr Ray, as a faithful trustee, betook himself to the instruction of them; and for their use composed his *Nomenclator Claviger*, which was published this very year 1672. Francis the eldest dying before he was of age, the younger became lord Middleton. Not many months after the death of Mr Willoughby, Mr Ray lost another of his best friends, bishop Wilkins; whom he visited in London the 18th of November 1672, and found near expiring by a total suppression of urine for eight days. As it is natural for the mind, when it is hurt in one part, to seek relief from another; so Mr Ray, having lost some of his best friends, and being in a manner left destitute, conceived thoughts of marriage; and accordingly, in June 1673, did actually marry a gentlewoman of about 20 years of age, the daughter of Mr Oakely of Launton in Oxfordshire. Towards the end of this year, came forth his "Observations Topographical, Moral, &c." made in foreign countries; to which was added his *Catalogus Stirpium in exteri regionibus observatarum*; and about the same time, his *Collection of unusual or local English words*, which he had gathered up in his travels through the counties of England. After having published many books on subjects foreign to his profession, he at length resolved to publish in the character of a divine, as well as in that of a natural philosopher: in which view he published his excellent demonstration of the being and attributes of God, entitled *The wisdom of God manifested in the works of the Creation*, 8vo. 1697. The rudiments of this work were laid in some college lectures; and another collection of the same kind he enlarged and published under the title of *Three Physico-theological Discourses, concerning the Chaos, Deluge, and Dissolution of the World*, 8vo. 1692. He died in 1705. He was modest, affable, and communicative; and was distinguished by his probity, charity, sobriety, and piety. He wrote a great number of works, the principal of which, besides those already mentioned, are, 1. *Catalogus Plantarum Angliae*. 2. *Ditionarium Trilingue secundum locos communis*. 3. *Historia Plantarum, Species, habitus editae, aliisque infestis multas noviter inventas et descriptas complectens*, 3 vols. 4. *Methodus Plantarum nova, cum Tabulis*, 8vo. and several other works on plants. 6. *Synopsis Methodica Animalium quadrupedum et serpenti genere*, 8vo. 6. *Synopsis Methodica Avium et Piscium*. 7. *Historia Insectorum, opus posthumum*. 7. *Methodus Insectorum*. 9. Philosophical letters, &c.

optics, a beam of light emitted from a radiant or luminous body. See Light.

Inflected Rays, those rays of light which, on their near approach to the edges of bodies, in passing by them, are bent out of their course, being turned either from the body or towards it. This property of the rays of light is generally termed diffraction by foreigners, and Dr Hooke sometimes called it deflection.

Reflected Rays, those rays of light which, after falling upon the body, do not go beyond the surface of it, but are thrown back again.

Refracted Rays, those rays of light which, after falling upon any medium, enter its surface, being bent either towards or from a perpendicular to the point on which they fell.

Pencil of Rays, a number of rays issuing from a point of an object, and diverging in the form of a cone.