The natural history of Stafford-shire by Robert Plot ...

CHAP. V. Of Formed Stones.

1. ALL inform'd Stones whatever, being upon no slight grounds, thought chiefly to have their Origin from the mixture of Salts, it may much more certainly be con∣cluded of those which are formed; for as much as all figure (as has fully been shewn elsewhere a 1.1) seems wholy to be attributed to that principle: the mineral Salts in the Earth being no less busy and luxuriant in production of formed bodies there; than the vo∣latile ones in the air, in the pleasant figurations they make in the Snow, as has been shewn by Des Cartesb 1.2, Mr. Hookc 1.3, but much more fully by my worthy Friend the Learned and Ingenious Mr. William Cole, Surveyor of his Majesties Customs in the Port of Bri∣stol, who 'tis hoped will speedily oblige the World with his curious remarks upon that Subject, and many others. The mineral Salts, I say, are no less exercised in the curious formation of bodies in the bowels of the Earth and rocks, than the volatile ones in the Hea∣vens; for it sufficeth it them not to represent only sublunary things, but celestial ones too, either by reflection, or in solid; as in the Se∣lenites and Asteriae, both which though rarely found in this County, yet those which I have met with here of each kind, are quite diffe∣rent from those, I ever met with elsewhere.

2. The Selenites so called, not that it corporally contains the fi∣gure of the Moon, but only by representation, if obverted to it in right angles, as it were in a glass; as it will the Sun as well, and therefore otherwise more rationally call'd lapis specularis; is so ve∣ry rare in this County, that I could heare of it but in two places, viz. at Hartley green and the village of Slindon, where it is dug in the Marle-pits: from the latter of which places I had a piece gi∣ven me by Mr. J. Serjeant of Mill-Meese of a different figure from all those in Oxfordshire: for the Stone Selenites though it have no∣thing of the shape of the Moon in any of its phases, yet it is com∣monly found in some certain figure always agreeable to the Salts of the body wherein it grows, as it does at Slindon in a Cubico-Rhom∣boideal form, all the pieces of it being constantly Hexaedra of equal obliquangular sides, or oblique angled Parallelepipeds, as in Tab. 11. Fig, 1. and upon that account as was conjectured in Ox∣fordshire

either formed by a Tartarious Salt in the Earthd 1.4, or as the learned Dr. Lister perhaps would rather conclude, out of an immature vitriolic one, having found the Chrystals of that Salt somewhat of this figuree 1.5. As for texture, these of Slindon seem to have much the same, with the Selenites of Oxfordshire, and upon slitting (like them) briskly to represent the vivid colours of the Solar Rainbow, only the Scaiae of these are much more strongly co∣hering, and not so easily divisible, or into so thin plates, and there∣fore not so fit for many of the uses it was antiently put to, menti∣on'd in the History of Oxfordshire, whither to avoid repetition I referr the Reader.

3. But the forme of the Selenites is not so different from that of the Moon, but the figure of the Asteria is on the contrary as a∣greeable to that of a Star, as we commonly paint them; all of them being branched with 5 principal Rays, of equal length, shape, and make; all issuing from a Center, which is either solid or hollow, where they joyn in angles of 72 degrees. Of these, as of the Sele∣nites, I met with very few, and but at two or three places, viz. at Beresford near the Seat of the most ingenious Mr. Cotton in the rocks by the Dove side; in Willmon-field, betwixt Heatley and Ba∣gots Bromley; and on Newton-hurst, and Harley field, near Abbots-Bromley; and these all of them differing in somewhat or other, from all those described in my History of Oxfordshire, and by the most accurat Dr. Lister in the Philosophical Transactionsf 1.6: for though they are found here heapt upon one another in Columns, all seeming to be fragments, and no intire bodies, some having 3, some 4, and some 12, or more joynts as in Tab. 11. Fig. 2.3.4. every joynt consisting of 5 angles, and issuing from a Center: yet none of them seem to be made up of lamellae or plates lying ob∣liquely to the Horizontal position of the Star, as those in Oxford∣shire; and some of them having their angles so very sharp, and consequently their sides deep channell'd, that they seem, most of any thing, to represent the rowel of a Spur, not admitting any Scul∣pture, or indented suture; and those that doe, of a quite different kind from any yet described.

4. The first kind whereof is carefully represented Tab. 11. Fig. 2. standing in a quinquangular case in a flinty sort of stone * 1.7, the Rays issuing from a solid Center, of a coal black colour, not bigger than an ordinary pin, yet plainly a flat quinquangle, the angles of this inner one, not pointing against the sharp Rays of the outer, but a∣gainst the deep channels between them, both being smooth joynt∣ed, without any hatching or engravement. The second exhibit∣ed

Fig. 3. is indeed a flat, not hollow-sided piece, such as repre∣sented to us by Dr. Lister* 1.8 in the Philosophical Transactions Numb. 112. Tab. 2. Fig. 5.8.11. but the hatchings of it are very diffe∣rent from all his, and any I have yet elsewhere seen, as the Reader may see exprest Tab. 11. Fig. 3. where there is one principal radius extending it self from the Center to the extremity of each angle, with oblique lines issuing from it upwards, so that it not unnatu∣rally represents so many boughs of a Tree. The third described Fig. 4. is also flat-sided, but the joynts or internodia all unequal, one being always more protuberant than his neighbour, and so alternatly through the whole column of them; which though a pretty large and long one, consisting of 12 joynts, the hollows of each angle are neither hatch't on the top, nor is the column bent, or the least inclining, as commonly those are which have any con∣siderable length. Concerning which, I have little more to add to what is said in Oxfordshire, but that their admired quality of mov∣ing in Vinegar, seems to have been known to Roger Bacon near 400 years agoe, who in one of his Epistles ad Parisiensem, mentions a Stone that would run in Vinegar* 1.9.

5. Next the formed stones relating to the heavenly bodies (in the handling whereof though in a particular Chapter, I shall observe the method of the whole Essay) I descend next, to such as are thought at least, to come from the inferior heaven, to be generated in the Air amongst the Clouds, and discharged thence in thunder showers, whence they are termed by Authors Brontiae and Ombriae: whereof I met with one in this County, in the hands of the Wor∣shipful Thomas Broughton Esq (which cannot be so well referr'd to any other Species of natural bodies that I yet know of) that though it have no Ʋmbelicus, Modiolus, or Center; or rays made up of points; or transverse lines; or points surrounded with single, or double Annulets; as those in Oxfordshire: yet is a much finer stone than any of them: it being a regular solid Hemisphere (which may be apprehended well enough without a Cut) as transparent as Chrystall; and much harder, most likely, of any sort, to be of the pebble-kind. As I think I must also reckon a more oblong sort of transparent Ombriae, of a triangular form, near two inches long, and an inch broad; the bottom and sides not flat, but protube∣rant, and carryed up round at the ends, till meeting with the top ridge; the angles not sharp like the Prismaticall glass, nor repre∣senting any of those vivid colours though held to the Eye in the due posture; but more obtuse, as engraven Tab. 11. Fig. 5. which

was found near Fetherston in this County, and given me by the in∣genious and most oblieging Gent. Mr. John Huntbach of the same Village. These transparent pebbles are sometimes also found in a globular forme, whereof the most exquisitly transparent, without any blemish, was shewn me by the virtuous young Lady Madam Ann Bowes of Elford in this County, in whose Closet I take it (a∣mongst many others) to be a principal rarity.

6. I saw another of these express't Fig. 5. found near Lichfield, in the hands of Mr. Zach. Babington of Whittington, and there are many of them in the Ashmolean Musaeum at Oxford, and in that of the Royal Society at Gresham College London. They are not found in digging, either amongst Gravel, or in Quarries, as most other form'd stones, but upon the surface of the earth, as the ingenious Mr. Beaumont also says they are in Somersetshire and Glocestershire, in the roads, where the earth is bare; and produced, as he thinks, in clear Evenings by a coagulation of dew falling on nitrous steams, as the hexangular Chrystalls are observed to be, by M. Antonino Ca∣stagna, and P. Francisco Lana, at a place called Mezzane in the Val Sabbia in Italy, only in certain dry places, naked and bare of all greensg 1.10: and perhaps as those octaedrous Chrystalls are, menti∣on'd by Scheffer to grow upon the dry rocks in Lapland, which the people of that Country use instead of flints to strike fire with h 1.11. Whether this be the true method nature uses in the production of these stones, though I dare not pronounce; yet it moves me not a little, that the hexangular Chrystalls of the Val Sabbia being all ga∣ther'd from those bare and steril places overnight, there will be others found next morning, whenever there happens to be a serene and dewy Sky. Howbeit, they still come from the inferior heaven, and are placed here for a much better reason than ever was thought of before; and most commodiously have afforded me an apt transition from the heavens, into the Atmosphere or inferior Air.

7. Which though thought incapable till now of giving any fi∣gure to stones, yet ha's many of its Inhabitants in part, if not in whole, represented in them; which before I descend to those be∣longing to the waters, I think ought to be consider'd here. Where∣of that which deserves the first place, is a Perdicites, which I gather'd in the Horse-way near Hollingbury-Hall, the Seat of the truly Loyal and Valiant Gent. Captain Richard Minors, a person of approved courage, from his youth upwards, both at Sea and Land; which I call a Perdicites, not for the same reason other Au∣thors doe, for this has nothing of the colour of the feathers on a

Partridges brest i 1.12, but that in solido it represents a Partridges Skull, in the true shape and bigness, having the Eyes and short beak, and hollowed behind, just as if the brains had been taken out, as most faithfully exhibited Tab. 11. Fig. 6. To which I must annex another pretty stone, belonging also to the feather'd Kingdom, found near Church-Eyton, and bestowed on me by the Schole-Ma∣ster there, which from its most accurate resemblance of a Pullets heart, with the fat near the basis of it, and the Coronary Vessels de∣scending from it, as most exactly delineated Tab, 11. Fig. 7. I think I must call Alectoricardites, this being a more restrained name than the Anacardites of Aldrovandk 1.13. Both which also seem to be of the pebble kind, but whether they ever were the designes of nature, or but casualties only, there being no more of their kind, I shall not dispute; but leave them wholy to the determinations of each Readers judgment.

8. As some stones have their figures from aerial waters, or dews, falling on nitrous steams, so there are others as likely formed by such steams and subterraneal waters; and such I take the Chrystals to be, found in diging in Barrow-hill in Pensnet-Chase, belonging to the right Honorable Edward Lord Ward, which I have not scru∣pled to stile Chrystalls, because many of them are composed of two hexagonal Pyramids, & an intermediat Column, likewise hexagonal as in Tab. 11. Fig. 8. which according to Steno, is the very definition of a Chrystalll 1.14. Some indeed of them seem only to be dodecae∣drums, having only one hexagonal Pyramid, and the hexagonal Co∣lumn; the other hexagonal Pyramid being hid in the rock wherein it grew, and left there, when the rest was broken off; which were the stones mention'd §. ult. of the former Chapter; but they are all (I believe) really octodecaedral when gotten intire, and true Chrystals: whenever therefore they appear otherwise, they may be suspected to be imperfect, and broken either in the getting or some other way. They are sometimes stained with a violacious colour, and perhaps may admit other tinctures sometimes, though it was not my fortune to meet with any of them; but they are or∣dinarily found of their own Chrystalline colour, the planes both of the pyramids, and Columns, being all naturally polish't.

9. From the same Origin I think I must also deduce (because not able to assigne any better) another sort of formed Chrystals, shewen me by the same noble Lord, though shooting forth of his Limestone rocks, near Dudley Castle; whereof his Lordship was pleased to favour me with that large pattern, described Tab. 11. Fig. 9. in which though the Chrystalls are set very confusedly, yet

they are all strictly of the same figure, with that engraven a part, Fig. 10. made up as it were of 12. Pyramids joyn'd in base, all cut obliquely off at the top, makeing two hexagonal hedrae there, and 12 Trapeziums, which are so joyned by pairs at their broader ends, in the middle of each Chrystall, where they are consequently biggest; that the acute Angles of one combination, meet with the obtuse ones of the opposite pair, and divide each Chrystall with an indented ridg, as is evident to view in the forecited figure. Which though plentifull enough in the Limestone rocks here, yet is not mention'd, that I know of, by any Author.

10. But though these Chrystalls may be supposed to have been made out of water, congealed by the steams of niter rather than any other Salt, because of its hexagonal shooting; yet I could ne∣ver hear that any of these, were ever found to include any water in the Center of them uncongealed, as some have been said to doe. But there are a round or oval sort of blackish or reddish stones, hollow and like a hony-comb within, found amongst the Iron Ore at Rushall, not to be past by here, because of their constant forme, though mention'd before Chap. 4. §. 18. that always hold a red or white liquor fluctuating within them, of a sweetish tast, greedily drank by the workmen; of which the Poet Claudian, might with as much admiration enquired, as he did of the Chrystall,

Lymphae, quae tegitis cognato carcere lymphas, Et quae nunc estis, quaeque fuistis aquae; Quod vos ingenium junxit? qua frigoris arte, Torpuit & maduit prodigiosa silex? Non potuit toto mentiri corpore gemmam Sed medio mansit proditor orbe latex. Sollers lusit hyems, imperfectoque rigore Nobilior, vivis gemma tumescit aquis. Auctus honor, liquidi crescunt miracula saxi, Et conservatae plus meruistis aquae m 1.15.

in which verses the very Poet seems to intimate, the true cause of these Enhydri (of which kind I must needs esteem them) viz. that they are as it were but the imperfect works of nature, which ha's not yet perform'd its utmost; the included matter of these stones (as was fully proved in the place above cited) being nothing else but the matter of the Iron Ore, not yet coagulated into a Metal∣lic forme. Which is all concerning form'd stones that purely relate to liquids, unless one may take a verrucose stone found near a petri∣fying Spring (of which more anon) in some lands of the right

Honorable Robert Lord Ferrers between Sandon and Gayton, to be a sort of Stalagmites, generated of pearles of dew &c. as in the Hist. of Oxfordshire, whereof also there is a Cut so exactly repre∣senting this of Staffordshire, as well as those of that County Tab. 3. Fig. 8. that it would be nauseous to repeat either of them here a∣gain. Yet I must not pass so by another of this kind, in the possession of the right Honorable Walter Lord Aston, which being of a very fine texture, almost as white as Ivory, and the best of the kind I ever yet saw, I have caused it to be represented here Fig. 11.

11. After Stones made out of waters and resembling inanimate figures, come we next to such as represent the formes of Animals, the Inhabitants of that Element; whether Fishes of the marine, or fresh-water kind: of the latter whereof (as in Oxfordshire) I met with only one, and that of the same species, but of a different co∣lour; it being a reddish yellow stone, found somewhere about Clif∣ton Camvill by the Worshipful Francis Wolferstan of Statfold Esq not unaptly resembling the middle part of a Barbel; like that mention'd in Oxfordshire, and exprest there in sculpture Tab. 3. Fig. 11. But as for stones found like Sea-fish, though in this Mediter∣ranean County, I have met with many, and of many sorts; but chiefly resembling Shell-fish of the testaceous kinds, both univalves and bivalves; and of the former of these, some not turbinated, and others again of the turbinated kind. Of the first sort whereof, viz. Stones representing univalves not turbinated, I had two be∣stowed on me by the curious Observer the Worshipfull Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Esq so altogether unlike any of the living Shell-fish, that alone they are sufficient to convince any unpreju∣diced person, that all these formed stones cannot be shaped in Animal molds.

12. The Shell-fish that comes nearest them is the Nautilus, or Coquille de Porcellain, or as Rondelet calls it the testaceous Polypus, as may be seen by their draughts Tab. 11. Fig. 12. and 13. the place of the head being in the utmost curle of the stone, and the taile in the center, but so hidden and cover'd with the common coat, that the first turne is only visible, as 'tis in the Nautilus: the largest of the two, seems also to have three or four obscure joynts cuting the large outer turne in right angles, as some of the Shells of that Fish seem likewise to have (the texture of them all running that way) and the lesser, two cavities or orifices; one, on each side the first turne as it passes under the place of the head toward the center, and striated from a straight line on the ridge of that turn, toward the place of the head, somewhat like a feather, nei∣ther of which agree to the Nautilus: nor is that part for the head near patulous enough in either of our patterns, to give sufficient

ground for any body to think them, ever to have been the spoils of that fish; not to mention how much they fall short of the magni∣tude of the Nautilus, the biggest of the stones not exceeding a fair Nutmeg, and the least scarce equalling an ordinary field pea.

13. Yet if any body will be so obstinat, as to hold me to it, that these may, and must be reduced to the Nautilus; he shall and must excuse me then, from ever yielding that the Ophiomorphites, or Cornua Ammonis, can owe their figuration to that fish, the turnes and ribbs of all these being numerous and protuberant, and visi∣ble from the place of the head to the center, neither of which are found in the Nautilus, whereof I have met with an Arch of one sort, amongst several other intire ones, found in the Lime-stone rocks near Dudley Castle, given me by the right Honorable Ed∣ward Lord Ward, quite different from any of those mention'd in Oxfordshiren 1.16, and therefore engraven Tab. 11. Fig. 14. its ribbs on each side joyning in large protuberances near the inner part of the Arch, and tending obliquely toward the convex part where they terminat in as large and distinct protuberances, but not right a∣gainst one another, but the protuberance of one ribb, pointing be∣tween two others on the opposite side of the stone, and so alter∣nately on each side: and these protuberances not separated at the back, with a riseing ridg as usual, but with a deep furrow as ex∣press't in the sigure: whereof I have since met with another Sam∣ple, but not in this County, it having in proportion to the stone as deep a furrow in the back, though not interceding near so large protuberant ribbs. And these are all the Stones representing Ʋni∣valves, except the large Strombites, or turbinated Univalve, of Geor∣gius Agricolao 1.17, of a plain superficies, found somewhere in this Coun∣ty and readily bestowed on me by the generous Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Esq which because already described in Oxfordshirep 1.18, is omitted here.

14. But for such as resemble the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or bivalvular Con∣chae there are great plenty here, as well of kinds as individualls, such as Cockles, Escallops, Oysters, &c. whereof there are some cu∣riously lineated, and others plain, with but few or no such Orna∣ments; and some of them found always single with their shells a part, and some of them joyn'd. And all these (except a Pecti∣nites or stone representing a Escallop shell, found in Ingestre field, and at Beresford* 1.19, and another resembling the Concha fasciata of Rondeletq 1.20, or rather the Tellina of Buonanni, found too some∣where

thereabout, and most accuratly express't by his 44 Fig.r 1.21) quite different from all those described in Oxfordshire, and from any of the shells I have yet met with, either in the Ashmolean Musae∣um, my owne small collection, or any where else: So little seems Nature to have needed Animal molds for these productions. Wit∣ness first a sort of Ostracites or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shewn me by the ingenious Mr. Cotton in the rocks near his house at Beresford by the Dove side, which though as large and shaped somewhat like Oysters, yet certainly were never such, their striae not being bent to the commis∣sure as those of all oysters are, but descending quite contrary from the commissure to the rim as in Tab. 11. Fig. 15. having 3 or 4 La∣cunae or furrows much larger and deeper than the rest, including 4 or 5, and sometimes 7 or 8. of the lesser Striae, that descending from the commissure through the middle of the stone being always the biggest.

15. These are always found single with their shells a part, striat∣ed without as in the aforemention'd figure, and some of them with∣in too, having a deep depression in the middle, in form of a heart, as in Fig. 16. But others there are somewhat of this kind, having always the deep Lacuna descending from the commissure over the middle of the stone, and only that large one, beside the common smaller ones, found always with their two shell-like stones conjoyn∣ed like large Cockles, but the commissure never close, having a large striated furrow between the rostra of the shells, as in Fig. 17. to which I can find nothing like amongst the Bivalves, but the 73 or 80 of Filippo Buonannis 1.22, and the Concha 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Fab. Columnat 1.23, but then neither of those, have that deep furrow cuting the middle of their shells, as these of stone have. Upon which account too, and because they have no manner of shew of ever having had Ears, of both, or one side; though their Striae are e∣qually spread from the commissure to the rim, they cannot be re∣duced to the Pectines or Pectunculi, i. e. to any sort of Escallop∣shells; nor can they be referr'd to the Chamae Striatae Pectiniformes of Aldrovandusu 1.24 or the Pectunculi of Belonius, (which he ex∣pressly says have no Ears) nor the Conchae Striatae, or streaked Cockle-shells; because neither of an oblong figure, as all the for∣mer are; or bearing more toward the one, than the other side, as the Conchae Striatae doe: but spreading themselves to so great a circumference that they almost absolve a semicircle; the two up∣permost striae wanting but little of meeting in a right angle at the commissure, which I doe not find agreeable to any sort of bi∣valves.

16. The most critical Observer Mr. Chetwynd of Ingestre, gave me some others of this kind, much less than the former, scarce striated at all, or having any other perfect furrow, but that de∣scending through the middle of the stone, graven of its natural fife Fig. 18. which I can no more parallel with any sort of Shell-fish, than those above mention'd. Nor with any yet described formed stone; that which comes nearest them of any thing I have yet met with, is the Pectunculites anomius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Fabius Columnaw 1.25, and Dr. Listerx 1.26, whereof I had two presented me by the worshipfull Fran. Woolferstan of Statfold Esq about two inches round, so ex∣actly answering those described by Columna in their colours (one being wholly of a yellow, and the other of a blewish near the com∣missure, but more obscure and yellowish toward the sides) that he had not, I believe, two more agreeable patterns, when he made that description. These, I think indeed, have some small resem∣blance of the stones above mention'd, yet so far are they still from seeming ever to have been cast in Animal molds, that (as the wor∣thy Dr. Lister freely own'sy 1.27) neither can these be match't amongst the living Conchilia, no more than the others.

17. I met with the same also at Dudley Castle, found in the Lime∣stone rocks, but these very small, not exceeding the Rouncival pea in bigness; and yet still less about Ingestre, some whereof not so bigg as the smallest Vetch; yet all consisting of two anomalous valves, of which (contrary both to Columna and Dr. Lister) I take the most protuberant, though hid at the commissure by the ro∣strum of the other, to be the bigger; that having two long Lobes, and but one short one: and the more depressed valve, the less; it having but one long one, and two short ones: which shut into one another alternatim, as the teeth of the smaller striae doe, also betwixt one another: two straight lines passing between the three longer Lobes as may be seen in the Cutt, Fig. 19. and 20. which I have caused to be graven, notwithstanding they are to be found both in Columna and Dr. Listerz 1.28, those books being in but few hands, and almost as rare as the stones themselves, beside, not well designed in either of them.

18. To which add two Chamae, or Couchites striati, found some∣where about Ingestre, and given me by the most ingenious Walter Chetwynd Esq Lord of the place; whereof one ha's both valves conjoyned, one of them being convex, and the other not flat but a little concave, as in Fig. 21. and both striated from the commis∣sure to the rim, somewhat like the Pectunculus of Belloniusa 1.29; only I doe not remember, that I ever met with any shell-fish whose flat

shell was thus excavated; much less whose protuberant shell was striated within-side as that above mention'd fig. 16. and our other Conchites or Chamites striatus, given me by Mr. Chetwynd which was found single, set in a hard pebble, as exactly represented fig. 22. on which yet I lay not so much stress, as upon any of the rest; because the convex side being hid by the pebble, it may be argued, that this is only the bed of a petrifyed Chama, though I could not learn, that any such thing lept forth it, upon the breaking the pebble.

19. Having done with the form'd stones relating to the waters, I hasten on (according to the Method I prescribed my self in the begining of this Chapter) to such as bear any similitude to terrestrial bodies, and amongst them, first of such as belong to the mineral Kingdom; some of the Ores both of the noble & viler Metalls, ha∣ving been found shot into certain figures: thus as I was told by Mr Persehouse of nether Gournall, a parcell of Silver Ore that was found in the hard rock in digging a well in his Garden (of the Metall whereof He shewed me a tooth-pick) was all figur'd like the shells of Escallops; nor need we much to wonder at it, if we reflect upon a relation of Peter Martyr Counsellor to Charles the fift, who expressly tells us that in Hispanio∣la, not only the Ore, but pure native Gold it self, is found so naturally form'd, that it is thought to be a living Tree springing and spreading from a root through the soft pores of the Earth, and puting forth branches even to the day it self; shewing beautifull colours instead of flowers, round stones of golden earth instead of fruit, and thin plates instead of leaves: some of the branches being as small as threds, and others as bigg as a Mans finger, according to the largeness or straightness of the rifts or clefts of the earth or rocks, wherein it growsb 1.30.

20. The truth of which History is amply confirm'd by that noble Philosopher the Honorable Robert Boyle Esq who tells us that He spake with a very skillfull and credible person, that being in the Hungarian Mines had the very good fortune to see a Mineral that was there digg'd up, wherein pieces of Gold of the length, and almost of the bigness of a human finger, grew in the Ore, as if they had been parts & branches of treesc 1.31. And the Reverend and learned my very good Friend Dr. Robert Huntington, Provost of Trinity Col∣lege near the City of Dublin, has told me more than once, that he re¦ceived it from very good hands, that native Gold has been thus found in the form of a Tree in Habessia, as well as Hungary and

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To y^• if right Worsp^••. the much honored & judicious Gent.

SWALTER WROTTESLEY Bar.

This it^th. Table of formed Stones, in acknowledgment of his many & eminent favour•• is gratefully dedicated by R. P. L. L. D.

MBurghers delin et sculp.

Hispaniola, whereof an excellent pattern, was sent as a present from the Emperor of that Country, to the great Mogul. Nor are these in∣stances so new, but something like them was known as long agoe as Virgil, who seems to speak of this matter more like a Philosopher than a Poet,

—Latet arbore opaca Aureus & foliis & lento vimine ramus,

adding a little after,

— primo avulso non deficit alter Aureus, & simili frondescit virga metallo* 1.32.

21. The same is also asserted by Munster of native Silver, which He tells us has been found naturally shot in the form of Trees, rodds, twiggs or hairsd 1.33, whereof I have seen my self a tolerable pattern: But not such an one as Wormius was possest of, given Him by the Lord Stenon Beck the Kings Treasurer, which was an elegant Mass of native silver 12 Ounces weight, that imitated a Ʋine with all its branches variously spread abroad, and embraceing one another, growing thick toward the root, and gradually tapering into the slenderest twiggs and clasperse 1.34: Or that other branched piece of of Silver of two Ounces weight growing out of a Specular stone, of a leaden colour without, but white within, also resembling a Ʋine, brought Him out of the Mines of Norway by Nicholaus Fossiusf 1.35. Now if Metallic substances doe thus usually take upon them the form of Vegetables; why not sometimes may they not of Animals too, as well as other stones? though we doe not very often find Histories of it: let that of Ʋalehius in his Commentary upon the Klein Baur mention'd by Mr Boyle serve for all; who tells us that at Maria Kirch near Strasburg, a Miner upon opening the hollow of a rock, found a Mass of pure Silver of 500 pound weight standing upright in form of an Armedmang 1.36: a much stranger thing than that Silver Ore, should shoot in the form of Escallops.

22 And as the Ores of the perfect and more noble Metalls some∣times take upon them the formes of Ʋegetables and Animals; so those of the baser and more imperfect kinds, doe sometimes shoot too into certain formes, but much more simple ones; which I have found true in this County, in the Ores both of the hard & soft Metalls. In the hard, which require ignition before fusion

(not to mention again the Iron Ore impregnated with the milky liquor found at Rushall, which is mostly, if not always, of an oval figure without, and like a honycomb withinh 1.37) In the Lime-work call'd Radley also in the parish of Rushall, and in those North of Dud∣ley Castle, in the very body of the stone they sometimes find the py∣rites aureus (which if torrefy'd according to Agricola & Dr. Listersi 1.38 directions prove all Iron Ores) not only granulated, but sometimes formed in oblong squares, or right angl'd parallelpipeds set irre∣gularly in a common bed of Limestone, as in Tab. 12. fig. 1. which very pattern was found at Radley-work, & kindly bestowed on me by Mr William Strong of Harding alias Hawarden, and is the third of Gesner, which He calls pyrites quadratus altera parte longior in opposition to the cubic onek 1.39,

23 Which too in the Limestone hills of the Moorelands in this County, is frequently met with, about ¾ of an inch square, of a pur∣pleish colour, mixt with yellow shining parts without, but wholy gold-like ones within, such are also found upon the Woolds in York∣shire, and reckon'd by Dr Lister amongst the Iron-Oresl 1.40. Wormius also tells us they have them at Osterdale in Norway, but reputed there to be the Ore of Copperm 1.41. Whether ours be one, or th'other, I shall not dispute, it being sufficient to justify it's being placed here, if it hold either Metall. However they seem to be the true Ludus Paracelsi, which says Helmont is so termed, quod tali, tessarae, aut Cubi formâ semper eruaturn 1.42, there being no other stone I have ever yet met with, near so agreeable: which pulveriz'd calcin'd, and mixt with a circulated Salt, and then set in a coole moist place to run per deliquium, and after digested gr. 2. till the Ludus swims like a thick oyl, upon the water contracted from the moist Air of the Cel∣laro 1.43, is the great Arcanum against the Duelech or lapis spongiosus, ge∣nerated in human bodies, of a middle nature between a Tartar, and the ordinary Calculus humanus.

24. The Ores of the softer Metalls, which have fusion before ignition, doe also sometimes shoot into a certain figure, witness a sort of Lead-Ore given me by the Worshipfull Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Esq but found in Ecton hill near Warslow, and sent him, I think, by the ingenious Mr Cotton, of an Octaedrous form, made up of eight solid triangles, as in Tab. 12. Fig. 2. one of the acuminated parts being somewhat blunt where fixt to the rock. The ingenious Mr. John Beaumont jun. of Stony-Easton in Sommerset-shire, infor∣mes us that Lead-Ore is often found in that County in a pyramidal form, much like the Sparrs that hang from the roofs of ma∣ny

Grotto'sp 1.44. He also further adds in the same discourse, that the rust which often lyes there over the veins of Lead-Ore, shoots up pyrami∣dally in many places, and is bounded round with six angles and sometimes with five; and that not only the rust, but the Lead-Ore it self, often shoots also pyramidally with rough irregular lines round it, and in some places bounded round very regularly with 4 angles, and in other places branched like a plantq 1.45. But I doe not find him or any other Author, that it was ever found before in this form, unless that which he says ascends in 4. regular an∣gles, be the same which ours, the other inferior 4 angles being hid in the rock.

25. After the form'd stones of the Mineral, I proceed next to those relating to the vegetable Kingdom, whereof there are some that resemble intire plants, and such is a fungites or Tuberoides which I found near Hedgford in the forrest of Canck, much such another as that described & engraven in the Hist. of Oxfordshirer 1.46, & there∣fore not repeated here. To which add the fungi lapidei coralloides of Fabius Columma, which He honestly ownes, never to have had their origin, ex fungorum cadaveribus, sed propria vegetatione ortum ducere; that they were never fungus's and now petrifyed, but la∣pides sui generis, that have their growth & form, from another prin∣ciple of their ownes 1.47; and this He seems to prove, for that they have their striae, in the upper part, and not the lower as the terre∣strial ones have (and therefore perhaps by Bauhinus call'd fungi pileolo inversot 1.48) the pedicle being smooth (says He) as Clusius has drawn themⁿ. In which particular only, ours differ from His; ours being most of them, striated from the lower part of the pedicle, to the very cup, and some of them further adorn'd with transverse protuberant circular edges, as may be seen in the fig. 3. & 4. which were freely bestowed on me amongst many others (wherof some are about an inch, others about 3, others 6 inches in compass) by the same worthy Gent. Walter Chetwynd Esq who had them from about Beresford, and the fields about Heatley, and Bagots Bromley.

26. These, says the same Columnaw 1.49, have their vegetability the same way, with the porous species of Coral, of Ferrante Imperato, which He calls Madreporaex 1.50, whereof too I had an elegant pattern given me by the ingenious Ch. King M. A. and Student of Ch. Ch. Chaplain to Mr. Chetwynd, which was found at—in this County, and the most of any vegetable resembles a stoole of reeds or rushes cemented together by some lapedescent juice; but that this toou 1.51

must be a stone of its owne kind, is evident from its being striated like the fungi coralloides at the top of every cylindrical branch, from a very promanent sharp center, as in fig. 5. which the inner parts of reeds or rushes, neither of them are; the former being hollow, all but the joynts; and the latter having a pith altogether inform'd. So far are these stones from being petrifications, or ever having bor∣rowed their form from plants. As some stones, on the other side, as evidently doe: witness the petrify'd moss or rather Equisetum menti∣on'd before Chap. 2. § 114 of this book, and represented here fig. 6. which is so certainly nothing else but a petrification of Equisetum coralloides foliis mansu arenosis (whose leaves are always full of sand and therefore of excellent use for scouring of Glasses) that in the boggy ground above mentioned betwixt Sandon and Gayton, some of it may be had half petrify'd, and half remaining still verdant.

27. Amongst the stones that have the shape of whole plants, we must also reckon one, found on Hall's furlong, at the village of Stansop, in the parish of Alstonfield, and kindly sent me thence by Mr. Rich. Hall, to whom I am indebted for many other favours, so exactly resembling the muscus pyxidatus, or Cup-moss as in fig. 7. that possibly it may once have been really so, as well as the Equi∣setum in the preceding paragraph. But I have another sent me by Capt. Jackson of the same Village, a person curious in such natural observations, that though it ascend from a common root tapering upwards branching it self forth from several internodia as in fig. 8. so that it may not unfitly be reckon'd amongst the flores arbore∣scentes internodiis distincti; yet it seems not at all probable that it ever was a plant, not only for that it would be a difficult task, to find to what species to referr it, but to account also for its being thus inclosed in a stone: much rather therefore should I conclude it, to have been heretofore some petrifying juice, that following the hollows of the rock, which casually were before of this figure, might naturally give it self this forme in the concretion, just as in a mold; though we see nature without any such help, does performe more excellent pieces of work than this; so that I must not deny neither but she might doe it, from an internal principle, as well as an external.

28. Hither also must be referr'd a most excellent Specimen of Mi∣neral Corall, given me by the learned Walter Chetwynd Esq much like that of Mr. Beaumont mention'd and engraven in the Philoso∣phical Transactionsy 1.52, only the branches are not ruled up as his is: but what is more remarkable, they seem all to be joyn∣ted, as Mr. Ray informs us some of it is, as in fig. 9. very much resembling the Corallium Tubulatum of Ferrante Imperatoz 1.53: which

whether ever made in a corralline mold in this inland County, or a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sui generis, out of principles of its owne, let the Reader determin. Somwhere about High-Offley, they have the fresh-water Adarce such as that described and engraven in the Nat. History of Oxfordshirea 1.54, which was bestowed upon me by the right Honorable Lady, Jane Lady Gerard of Gerards Bromley, but this being rather an incrustation of an intire plant, or rather a plant sheathed within a stone, having its form ab alio, and not from any internal principle of its owne; I pass it by, as not properly a rock-plant, though per∣haps not improperly mention'd in this place.

29. Other stones there are that only represent the parts of plants, such as the Stelechites, that are, or should be, like trunks of Trees; whereof there lyes one indeed near Dudley, betwixt Merry∣hill and Clyers-lane which they call a Pox-stone, i. e. a stone scarce vincible by fire; that so well resembles wood petrifyed, that I re∣ally thought it at first sight the stump of a Tree. But the Stele∣chites stibii facie of Aldrovandb 1.55, whereof there are many in the rocks at Beresford, and Stansop, and the rubble stones that lye loose above ground in the fields, near Heatley and Bagots-Bromley, seem not to deserve the name half so well; they being a sort of annular stones regularly joynted, and as regularly striated at top and bot∣tom as in Tab. 12. Fig. 10. and therefore both as unlike the trunk of a Tree (though some of them are branched) or having the striae of Antimony (which are commonly irregular) as a thing can well be; nor can they indeed any way reasonably be compared to the trunk or stalk of any plant whatever. Wherefore the ingenious Mr. Ray ha's more rationally thought them, to be the Spinae dorsa∣les or tail-bones of Fish petrify'dc 1.56, they consisting for the most part of several plates or pieces sticking together like so many Vertebrae of the back-bone of some Fish; though at the same time he most in∣geniously acknowledges, that these pieces are much shorter and thinner than the Vertebrae of any fish he had then observed. I am sure ours are so, the thickest of them scarce exceeding ⅛ of an Inch, some not a 1/24: though Dr. Lister tells us, he found some about Stock in Yorkshire full a quarter of an Inch thickd 1.57.

30. Many of these being perforated some with a round, others with foliated or asterial inlets of 6 or 7 points, anciently when found single or but double or treble as in Fig. 11 they were strung like beads, particularly by St. Cuthbert, which gave occasion to their other name of St. Cuthberts beads: and because thick set with small raies drawn from these perforated Centers or modioli

to the rim, like the spokes of a wheel, by Agricolae 1.58, and after him by Gesnerf 1.59, Boetiusg 1.60, Kentmanh 1.61, Wormiusi 1.62, and Lachmundk 1.63, aptly enough call'd Trochitae; and if compounded or piled upon one another, as in Fig. 12. Entrochi, or wheels within wheels; the rilieve raies of one Trochite, always lying in the intagli or fur∣rows between two protuberant raies of the other, as in the Sutures of a Skull. As for the species of them we find at the places above mention'd, most of those described and engraven by Dr. Lister and Mr. Beaumont in the Philosophical Transactionsl 1.64; with all the vari∣eties of their length, greatness, joynts, cements, bores or piths, li∣neations, indentures, smoothness of some, ridges, knots, and bran∣ches of others; with all the accidental injuries that have befallen them: all seeming to have been dejected and broken; many of them depress't and crush't; and some of them having their very Trochit's dislocated.

31. I met too with some few of them, which had every second, third, or fourth joynt, larger than the intermediat ones; and with one of those tapering at both ends, and swelling in the middle like a barrel, marked with but obscure raies, as most of the old Au∣thors say they generally are. But as for the Summitates (by Lach∣mund call'd lapides figura penis absque praeputiom 1.65,) the Radixes, and the several varieties of pentagonous, and hexagonons plates, supposed to incrustate them, found at Braughton, Stock, and Bug∣thorp in Yorkshire, at Wansford-bridge in Northamptonshire, and in the Mendip hills in Somersetshire, by Dr. Lister and Mr. Beaumont; whereof we have great variety in the Ashmolean Musaeumn 1.66; I met with none of them here, though possibly there may be enough, had I had time to have searched narrowly. However I have caused neither the one or the other to be engraven here, that have been done already, by either of the aforesaid worthy Authors, in the forecited places: but shall content my self to proceed upon such matters only relating to them, which either they have wholy omit∣ted, or but imperfectly described.

32. And first as to their texture, though Agricola and the rest after him, have observed that they are made out of Lamellae or little thin Spar-like plates as the lapis Judaicus, running 3 different ways, as that stone is described in the History of Oxfordshireo 1.67: yet none of them have taken notice that the raies inscribed on the top of these stones, are made out of the edges of one of these courses of La∣mellae

set obliquely like a pack of Cards, end ways or edgways, ac∣cording as the striae appear long or short; and that the raies of the following Trochite are made also out of the edges of such Lamellae set obliquely too, but quite contrary to those of the former Trochite, and so alternatly; as may be seen in the edges of each Trochite, in the Entrochus graven fig. 13. though in some of them again the courses of the Lamellae seem not to be terminated within the verge of every Trochite, but (which is very surpriseing) though the whole Entrochus seem without side regularly divided into Trochit's, and radiated on the top; yet the courses of the plates pass some∣times undivided through several of them, so that they will not break off in the joynts, as I have made tryal upon divers; but in deep indentures passing through two or three Trochit's. Nor have they remarked, that upon breaking or scraping them, they emit a fetid nauseous odour, like the Wolf stone of Sweden, which the Lapis Ju∣daicus of Oxfordshire or Palestine will neither of them doe; which is a probable argument that notwithstanding they appear outward∣ly to have the same texture of parts, yet that they must arise from far different principles.

33. Also in the radiation of them I have met with one sort, given me by the Worshipfull Walter Chetwynd Esq that I doe not remember any where noted before, it having a double order of raies; the first reaching from the modiolus or Center (which is in the form of a cinquefoil) about half way to the peripherie, where they are cut off with a deep hollow trench, taking up about half the remaining distance to the rim, the other moyety being striated again as in fig. 14. I have another too procured me by the right Worshipfull the generous, and very obligeing Gent. Sr Walter Bagot of Blithefield Baronet, that has four very near equidistant raies, much greater and more prominent than any of the rest, as in fig. 15. And I had another sent me by Capt. Jackson of Stansop, that has an invecked Line running through the raies near the periphery of the Trochite, as in fig. 16. Which are all the differences I have found in the Entrochi of Staffordshire, relating to the raies, only that some of them, have ridges within side as well as without, with deep furrows between them, that are also striated from an open pentagonous bore, as in fig. 17. which too is a sort of center or pith, no where mention'd, that I know of by any of the aforesaid Authors.

34. The Entrochi of Staffordshire, especially those of Beresford, are also much larger, longer, and therefore consequently compoun∣ded of more Trochit's, than either those of Yorkshire or Sommerset∣shire: for I have one by me, given me by the most ingenious Mr. Cotton 3 inches & ½ about, the center whereof is also full ½ an inch

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To the right 〈◊〉〈◊〉 S^r. IOHN ••OW•••••• of KN•••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. This 12. Table. of 〈…〉〈…〉 a•• a gr••••t••full N••m••••r of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 recei••d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hu•••••••••• offer'd by RP. LL. D.

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over; and He shewed me another in one of the rocks near his house about the same bigness, near ½ a foot long; but it was so fast inclosed in the rock, that I could not possibly get it out intire: How many Trochit's it might be compounded of, I must confess I did not com∣pute, but I have one by me (the gift of the same worthy person) which though but 2 inches & ½ long, is made up of no less than 35 of them; a number I think exceeding any they mention. And this is all I can find different from what they have observed con∣cerning this kind of Entrochus; but that in ours, those which have the thickest roundest joynts or Trochit's, such as the 11.12.13 & 18 of Dr. Lister; and those whose joynts, as Mr Beaumont says, shew like a parcell of little Barrells piled upon another, have generally, if not always, the smallest bores; and those which the thinnest joynts, the largest.

35. But both at Beresford, & Stansop; & about Heatley, and Bagots Bromley, they have another form'd stone, that seems with∣outside, to be made up of thick Trochit's that have no bore at all; nor have they any raies on the top issuing from any solid Center as in fig 18. which I wonder not at, since upon breaking and cut∣ing them, I doe not find they are compounded of such plates as the others are; nor doe they upon scraping or breaking send forth an odor: which different properties have induced me to beleive, that these may be rather the Columnettae of Imperatop 1.68, than En∣trochi composed of Trochit's, though like them, they will rather break in the joynts, than any where else. Another sort they have too at all the aforesaid places, that seem to be made up of joynts as the Entrochi are, but neither do the Trochit's appear round or square in their utmost rims, but sharp like the edg of a screw tapering from the place of their joyning, whence too they are only striated as in Tab. 13. fig. 1. so that the raies of one, doe not enter into the fur∣rows of the other, neither doe the Trochit's or raies joyn with the modiolus or center (which in these is a large cylinder of black flint) in right angles, as the former doe.

36. Neither are these all of them cylindrical as the former, some of them tapering upwards from a broad basis, the lower most rings being the greatest, and so gradually in the ascent decreasing in ma∣gnitude, as in fig. 2. And so far are they from having suffer'd any accidental injuries (scarce any of them seeming to be crush't or dislocated, much less broken & imperfect) that they are gene∣rally, if not always substantially terminated at each end, & skreen'd as it were from harms by a cavity of hard stone, in which they are commonly found as in fig. 3. so that 'tis hard to conceive they were ever otherwise, since they shew not the least signe either of

a root or top. Nay so very different are these from the former, that some of them have also a thin striated plate passing from the edg of each annulet, to the sides of the Cylindrical concave, as in fig. 4. so that there appears a fair cavity betwixt each ring. And some again have others included in them as in that represented fig. 5. inclosed, says Dr. Lister, like a pair of screws: how His might be I cannot tell, but ours are so far from the nature of a screw (more than in the riseing of the edges, from which reason only the Country people call them screw-stones) that they run not helically, but stand like annulets parallel to one another: nor doe the protuberant edges of the one, enter into the furrows of the other, as the male and female screws doe.

37. There are divers others too found in the same places, and given me by the same worthy Gent. that stand fenced thus in cavities, some of them in the form of five columns barely joyn'd, as in Tab. 13. fig. 6. others bound together by thin annulets, not striated, standing prety thick and equidistant, as in fig. 7. Some again knit together by the same sort of rings, but by pairs, some distance interceding each pair, as in fig. 8. And others by four in like manner, as in fig. 9. To these add another sort fenced the same way, that are some of them cylindrical, of equal bigness from the bottom to to the top, curiously wrought with small rings, first with two at some distance, then four close together, then two again, and so 2 & 4 alternatly, the whole length of the stone, as in fig 10. and o∣thers wrought in the same manner, but bigger both at top & bottom, in form of a pillar with pedestal & capitel as in fig. 11. Lastly there are some very small ones that stand in such cavities, like straight smooth pillars, only purled with a row of knobbs on each side; & others there are that look like so many buttons piled upon one another: but many of these seem rather to be dacayed great ones than any thing else, the hollows in which some of them stand, being as large as the rest, though the pillars very small.

38. Other stones there are formed like the fruits of trees, whereof I had one bestowed on me by the Worshipfull Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Esq in form and bigness, most exquisitly re∣sembling the bell or King-pear; in all points the same with that described & engraven in the History of Oxfordshireq 1.69; only this is a pebble, and that a black flint; and this but 9 inches about, whereas that was eleven: but not differing at all in form, I have forborne to give any sculpture of it. And I had a stone given me, by a poore man of the Towne, found on Whittington heath, tho not so very like the stone of an Almond, as some one would wish, it having 4 or 5 ribbs running the length of the stone as in Tab. 13. fig. 12.

yet it being very agreeable to the Amygdaloides of Aldrovandr 1.70, and not easily referrable any whither else, I have ventur'd (with favour) to give it place here. And I must beg the same licence for another of this kind, though one of the greatest curiosities of this nature I ever met with, for notwithstanding it represents in gene∣ral the true shape of the bicapsular seed vessel of Digitalis ferruginea, or of some of the Ʋerbascum's, as may plainly be seen fig. 13. having that patilous fissure at the top, that the seed-vessel of that plant na∣turally ha's when it is ripe: yet in the most protuberant part near the bottom, it is perforated with a small hole, round which there are several striae or lineations bent (not equidistant) but according as the form of the stone does permit, which indeed are not found in the seed-vessels of that plant, but in all other matters it truly re∣sembles them, both in shape and magnitude: which being all con∣cerning the lapides 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but that this last was found at Be∣resford, and given me by the worthy Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Esquire,

39. I proceed next to the stones relating to Animals, and first to those of the Insect kind, whereof I have one sent me by Capt. Iackson of Stansop, so accuratley representing the combs of Bees, that the orifices of each cavity are all hexangular as in fig. 14. just as hony∣combs are. Others there are that seem to have been Reptiles petri∣fy'd, of which some, found at the same place, & bestowed on me by the same worthy Gent. have the true resemblance of landsnailes; which because already described and express't in Sulpture in the History of Oxfordshires 1.71, are omitted here. And I saw part of a stone found amongst others in a Marle-pit between Aqualat house and the Park, that prettily represented a Mole or Want both in head and tail, but more especially in the foot, which was so very exact, that it was divided into claws, & was like the foot of that Animal in all particulars. The learned & ingenious Edwyn Shrymsler EsqPro∣prietor of the place, told me also that there was found in the same pit, a stone resembling a dog couped about the reins, with nose and eyes so very perfect, and the hair standing up, as when that Animal is anger'd, yet without leggs; but this I did not see, it being some way disposed of, before I came thither. The same worthy Gent. gave me divers other stones found in the same pit; some Ʋmbilical, having the form of a Navil, as in fig. 15. others in odd unaccoun∣table shapes, yet having enough to shew Nature was designing somewhat. All which, in their consttutive parts, seem to be nothing else but a sort of petrify'd Marle, having all of them a small hole peirceing them in some part or other, whereby I suppose they re∣ceived

the Mineral steams, or whatever else it is that gives them form and augmentation, as the ingenious Mr. Beaumont observes the rock Plants doe in Mendip hillst 1.72.

40. Amongst the stones that any way shew the parts of Animals (to pass by the impressions of the Cow and Calves feet, on the great pebble, lying in the middle of the street at little On, with the fable belonging to them) I think we may reckon the Orchites, or Lapides testiculares, for I know not what else to term them, found near Rudyerd Hall at the Conygrey there, which are much more proporti∣onable to those parts in Animals, than those mention'd in Oxford∣shireu 1.73 but then we find them hear much more extravagant in their combinations; for hear you may gather not only the Diorchis and Triorchis, of Aldrovandw 1.74; but the Tetrorchis, Pentorchis, Hexorchis, and Heptorchis, such as described, figures the 16.17.18. and 19. The Monorchis too (if I may so call it, because found together with the rest) or single round stone, is plentifull here, all of them granu∣lated as shewn in the figures, and lapides sui generis, never cast in a∣ny Animal mold. To which add a Thrichites, so calld because com∣posed of short filaments like the hair of beasts, found in the bottom of the Marle-pits in the grounds of my worthy friend Mr. John Bott of Dunstall in a place call'd the Riddings in Barton-liberty, much like that of Oxford-shirex 1.75, only it is of a whiter colour, and neither channell'd or joynted; however may so well be apprehended by that, that there needs no new representation of it.

41. Of stones that are strictly like the parts of Men, I have met with only two in this County, one found at Whittington near Lichfield, and given me by Mr Babbington, and the other at Drayton Basset, both so well resembling the foot of a child, that both may well enough be termed Andrapodites, and expressed in the same sculpture, fig. 20. they both seem to be of the pebble kind of a murrey colour, each between 4 & 5 inches long, but differing somewhat in bigness, yet so exactly of the shape of a childs foot, that I doubt not they might serve well enough for lasts, for childrens first, and second shooes. Nor has Nature been content to imitate the parts of Men in stone, but to delight Him with the representations of many Ʋtensills of Art relating to Him, such as a Pipe for his Tobacco, found in the same Marle-pit near Aqualat abovemention'd; which as the worthy Mr. Skrymsher seriously told me, so well resembled that instrument both in the boll and heel (but broken off at about an inch long in the shank) that it needed nothing of the strength of imagination to help it.

42. In the same Pit, was found another stone of a greenish-blew colour, with a bore through the middle, and furrowed from each orifice round the sides, like a Cloak button, as in fig. 21. which most certainly would really serve for a button mold of that form. Nor has Nature only provided Man with buttons to his cloathes, but with a barrell too, for his drink, as appears from a slone (were it hollow) found at Alrewas, and sent me by the worshipfull Iohn Turton Esq swelling in the middle and tapering at both ends, di∣vided with such equidistant lineations the whole length of the stone, as are usually made by the staves of a barrell, as in fig. 22. but having no hoops: however perhaps it may well enough deserve the name of a Cadites. She seems also to have furnish't Him with a Saddle for his Horse, if the Ephippites of Aldrovand, such as are fre∣quently found in the Mountains near Bononiay 1.76, will serve his turn; ours, found about Walstanton of a slinty substance, being exactly like his, only it has not the lists round it, which contribute little to the name: how ever it being somewhat different, and but rarely met with it, I have caused it to be engraven fig. 23.

43. But amongst all the things of Art imitated by Nature, there seem none to be so surprizing, as the rings of stone, Iron, and Copper, found about the stalks of Gorse, in the lands of the right Honorable Iane Lady Gerard of Gerards Bromley; which I doubted not at all, when She gave me the first relation of it, were so shewen to her Lady∣ship, but always feared an imposition by some waggish hand: till I met with parallel Histories from other Countries, of what had been found of the like nature both in stones and Metalls. The former whereof is amply confirm'd from Iamaica by the ingenious Mr. Stubbs, where He says they find plants with stony accretions about their boughs, which are often loose and moveable, as beads upon a stringz 1.77. And Bobuslaus Balbinus in his History of Bohemia, tells us that'tis so fre∣quent in that Country for the perfect Metalls to conform themselves to the nature of the things among which they grow, that Gold and Silver is found in stalks amongst Corn, in threads about Vines, and sometimes growing in the insides of Trees about their pith* 1.78. Now if so, why may not these imperfect Metalls (in a Country fruitfull of them) grow in rings without side the stalks of Gorse, as well as the perfect both without and withinside other plants, in other Countries. However, these Examples of natural rings growing about Shrubs, Trees &c. afford me a fair introduction to the next Chapter of Plants.

[illustration] depictions of stones

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2.

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3.

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4.

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5.

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6.

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7.

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8.

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9.

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10.

[illustration]

11.

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12.

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13.

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14.

[illustration]

15.

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16.

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17.

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18.

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19.

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20.

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21.

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22.

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23.

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To the right Hon.^ble THOMAS Lord LEIGH of STONESEY & HAMSTALL RIDWARE in the County of STAFFORD This 13 Table of Formed stones in memory of his favours is gratefully dedicated by RP. LL. D.

MBurghers delin. et sculp.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 2. §. 23, 24, 25. and chap. 5. §. 124, 125, 126. &c.
• b 1.2

  Des Cartes Mete••ror. cap. 6.
• c 1.3

  Mr. Hook's Micrograph. Obs. 14. Schem. 8.
• d 1.4

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 5. §. 130.
• e 1.5

  Martini Listeri M. D. de fontibus Med. Angl. Exercitat. pr. cap. 5.
• f 1.6

  Philosoph. Transact. Numb. 112.
• * 1.7

  Like the Pentagonus of Lach∣mund 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 §. 3. cap. 18.
• * 1.8

  This worthy Gent. since the printing the begining of this History, upon account of his extra∣ordinary Merit, had a Diploma sent him for his Doctors degree in the Faculty of Physick, from the University of Oxford, ex mero motu, without his knowledge or seeking.
• * 1.9

  Ad Parisiensem. Epist. 6.
• g 1.10

  Philosoph. Transact. Numb. 83.
• h 1.11

  Joh. Scheffer's Hist. of Lapland Chap. 33.
• i 1.12

  Vid. Joh. Kentmanni nomenclat. rer. fos. tit. 5. cap. de Avibus.
• k 1.13

  Uyss. Aldrovandi Mus. Metall. Lib. 4.
• l 1.14

  Nich. Stenon. Prodrom. de Chrystallo. p. 53.
• m 1.15

  Cl. Claudiani Epigram. 6, 7, 8.
• n 1.16

  Nat Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 5. from §. 87. to 95.
• o 1.17

  Agricolae de natura fossilium, Lib. 7.
• p 1.18

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 5. §. 63.
• * 1.19

  M. List••ri Cochlitarum Angl. part. 2. memb. 2. cap. 1. tit. 50.
• q 1.20

  Gul. Rondelet••i de Testaceis. Lib. 1. cap. 33.
• r 1.21

  F. Buonanni osservation' delle Chiocciole Parte seconda classe seconda.
• s 1.22

  Ibidem.
• t 1.23

  Fab. Co∣lumnae Purpura. cap. 11.
• u 1.24

  Ulyss. Aldrovandi de Testaceis Lib. 3. cap. 69.
• w 1.25

  Fab. Columnae Purpura, cap. 15.
• x 1.26

  M. Listeri Cochlitarum Angliae part. 2. memb. 2. cap. 2. tit. 57.
• y 1.27

  Ibidem.
• z 1.28

  Locis supra citatis.
• a 1.29

  Gesneri de Aquatilibus Lib. 4. p. 813.
• b 1.30

  Petri Martyris Anglrii de Orbe novo. Decad. 3. cap. 8
• c 1.31

  Mr Boyles Sceptical Chymist. p. 375, 376.
• * 1.32

  Pub. Virgilii Aeneidos Lib. 6. v. 136, 137. & 144, 145.
• d 1.33

  Munsteri Geograph. Lib. 1. cap. 9.
• e 1.34

  Musaei Wormiani Lib. 1. § 3. cap. 3.
• f 1.35

  Ibidem.
• g 1.36

  Mr Boyles Scept. Chym. p. 365, 366.
• h 1.37

  vid. supra chap. 4. §. 18. and chap. 5. §. 10.
• i 1.38

  Geo. Agricolae de re Metallica. Lib. 7. p. 194. & M. Lasteri de fontibus med. Angl. Exercit. pr. cap. 2.
• k 1.39

  Conr. Gesneri de figuris La∣pid. cap. 1.
• l 1.40

  M. Listeri de fontibus Med Angl. Exercit. pr. cap. 2.
• m 1.41

  Musaei Worm. Lib. 1. §. 3. cap. 5.
• n 1.42

  J. Bapt. Helmanti•• de Lithiasi cap. 7. n. 22.23.
• o 1.43

  Ibidem.
• p 1.44

  Philosoph. Transact. Num. 129. p 734.
• q 1.45

  Ibid. p. 736.
• r 1.46

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 5. §. 132.
• s 1.47

  Fab. Columnae dissertatione de Glossopetris. p. 39.
• t 1.48

  Joh. Bauhin, in paralipom. in fine Hist. admirabilis. fontis Bollensis.
• w 1.49

  dissertatione de Glossopetris p. 39.
• x 1.50

  dell' Hist. Naturale di Ferrante Imperato Lib. 27. Cap. 4.
• u 1.51

  Lib. 6. Exot.
• y 1.52

  Philosoph. Transact. Numb. 150.
• z 1.53

  Historia Naturale di Ferrant. Imperato Lib. 27. cap. 4.
• a 1.54

  Nat Hist. of Oxfordshire Lib. 5. §. 139. Tab. 6. Fig. 10.
• b 1.55

  Musaei Metallici Lib. 1 cap. 9
• c 1.56

  Mr. Rays Observation Topograph. &c. p. 116.
• d 1.57

  Philosoph. Transact. Numb 100.
• e 1.58

  Geo. Agricolae de Nat. fossilium Lib. 5.
• f 1.59

  Conr. Gesneri, de figuris Lapidum, cap. 5.
• g 1.60

  Boetii de Boot, de lapidibus & gemmis Lib. 2. cap. 227.
• h 1.61

  Johan. Kentmanni rerum fossilium Catalog. tit. 4.
• i 1.62

  Musaei Wormiani Lib. 1. §. 2. cap. 10.
• k 1.63

  Fred. a Lachmund. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. §. 3. cap. 16.
• l 1.64

  Philosoph. Transact. Numb. 100.129.150.
• m 1.65

  Fred. Lachmundi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. §. 3. cap. 16.
• n 1.66

  Vid. Scrinium Listeri in Musaeo Ashmoleano.
• o 1.67

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 5. §. 136.
• p 1.68

  Historia Naturale di Ferrante Imperato Lib. 24. cap. 22.
• q 1.69

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordshire chap. 5. §. 134. Tab. 6. fig. 3.
• r 1.70

  Ulyss. Aldrovandi Musaeum Metall. Lib. 4. cap. 1.
• s 1.71

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordshire chap. 5. §. 140. Tab. 6. fig. 11.
• t 1.72

  Philoseph. Transact. Num. 12••.
• u 1.73

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordshire chap. 5. §. 144. Tab. 7. fig. 5.6.
• w 1.74

  Ulyss. Adrovandi Musaeum Metall. Lib. 4. cap. 1.
• x 1.75

  Nat. Hist. of Oxfordsh. chap. 5. §. 145. Tab 6. fig. 7.
• y 1.76

  Ulyss Ald••ovandi Musaeum Metall. Lib. 4. cap. 1.
• z 1.77

  Philoseph. Transact. Numb. 36. p 701.
• * 1.78

  Mr. Beaumonts Weekly Mem. Numb. 4. p. 29.