>- 3 5 fe &Sb a )" % diivD-jo^ ^aojn .j.OF-CAHFOftfc, .^.OF-CAi ^^ ^->vt ^.i x ^ > I I I * ^ i 3 = 5? % s I c: < i ^>^i i *owm\n^ ^\\E-UNIVER%. 1 1 S & I I I 1 1 s I i 5 5 S a ^ g ^ . ^folMNV-SOV^ "%3AINn-J\\N? 5tfE-UNIVER% vvlOS-ANCElfT, f . ^-1 ^ ^ "2 ^JHDNYSOl^ ^JAINniV^ ^\\EUMIVER% ,A;lOSANCElfj> r 'n ^ -^m^ -^ ^UIBRARYQr ^-LIBRARYQr ,S * 4 ~-> '&. ^ ^ojnvjjo ^OJI1V3-JO V ^OFCALIFOfi^ ^.OFCAIIFO/?^ * \ /CT\ s ^ ^~ NOTICE. THE Council having experienced serious inconvenience in consequence of the non-payment of some of the Annual Subscriptions, beg respectfully to remind the Members that they have no other funds at their disposal for con- ducting the business than the Annual Subscriptions paid in advance, and that an early payment will greatly facili- tate the issue of the works of the Society. THE -RAY SOCIETY, INSTITUTED MDCCCXLIV. I LONDON. MDCCCXLVIII. THE CORRESPONDENCE JOHN RAY CONSISTING OP SELECTIONS FROM THE PHILOSOPHICAL LETTERS PUBLISHED BY DR. DERHAM, ORIGINAL LETTERS OE JOHN RAY, IN THE COLLECTION OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. EDITED BY EDWIN LANKESTER, M.D. F.R.S. F.L.S., SECRETARY TO THE RAY SOCIETY. LONDON: ^ PRINTED FOR THE RAY SOCIETY. MDCCCXLVIII. PRINTED BY C. AND J. ADLARI), PREFACE, BY THE EDITOR. THIS volume consists of those letters of John Ray and his Correspondents which were published shortly after his death, by Dr. Derham ; also of a series of his letters addressed to Sir Hans Sloane, and still existing in the library of the British Museum. These last letters were rendered available by the kindness of Sir Henry Ellis, Librarian to the British Museum, through whose means their existence was first made known to the Council of the Ray Society. Only that part of the correspondence published in the ' Philosophical Letters' which was written by Ray, or addressed to him, has been included in the present volume. The Preface of Dr. Derham to that work, which it has been thought desirable to reprint, alludes to some of the correspondence which has been omitted, on account of its not relating immediately to John Ray. In preparing these letters for the press, T have been materially assisted by my friend C. C. Babington, Esq., M.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge, who has looked over the proof sheets, given the modern names of the plants referred to in the correspondence, and added many 9457?! VI EDITOR S PREFACE. valuable notes. I am also indebted to William Yarrell, Esq., for the identification and modern names of the animals mentioned in the letters. The copperplate Portrait of Ray is from a drawing, by Ince, of the bust by Roubiliac, now in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, and was originally published in the ' Cambridge Portfolio,' edited by the Rev. J. J. Smith, of Caius College, through whose liberality impres- sions have been permitted to be taken from the original plate. The engraving of Dewlands, the residence of John Ray, and the house in which he died, has been kindly presented to the Society by Jacob H. Pattisson, Esq., LL.B., of Witham House, the present proprietor of Dewlands. It is hoped that this work will not only be another memorial of the great man after whom the Society by which it is published has been named, but that it may serve as an additional source of information to some future biographer of John Ray. E. L. PREFACE TO THE PHILOSOPHICAL LETTERS BY DR. DERHAM. To Tfte- READER, After the death of the late justly famed Mr. Ray, his papers were intrusted with me, that if I thought any of them might be of use to the learned world, I might publish them, When I undertook the labour of perusing and putting them in order, I confess I thought there might have been some tracts designed and fitted up for the public by an author so considerable as Mr. Ray was, who had published so many good things as he had done ; but all that I met with was his ' Observations of Insects' (which he lived not to perfect, and which are already printed), and the Diaries of his Travels about Great Britain and in foreign parts, and his Letters to and from learned men. His 'Foreign Travels' he published himself; but for brevity, I find he hath omitted many very good observations that well deserve to see the light. And as for his ' Travels about England, Scotland, and Wales,' I have fitted them up for the press, with an intent to have published them with his ' Life,' which I began to write at the instance of my late much honoured and right reverend diocesan Henry, Lord Bishop of London, and some other very considerable friends, whose impor- Vlll DR. DERHAM S PREFACE. tunities I could not with civility withstand. But, not- withstanding the Itineraries are in a great forwardness, and I have made a considerable progress in his Life, yet I fear I shall scarce be able to accomplish what I in- tended, having much less leisure now than when I undertook that work. As to his letters, he had treasured up many, or most of those which he had received from his learned corre- spondents, which occasioned me a great deal of trouble in perusing them, and selecting such as might be of use to the curious ; and after I had selected them, I thought it necessary to leave out all that might be of little use, such as private business, compliments, &c., except now and then a clause, that may be of use to Mr. Ray's, or some other learned man's character, or that may show their learned projects, or give some account of their labours. So that the reader hath in this collection the marrow and most valuable part of Mr. Ray's correspondences with his learned and ingenious friends. And although there may probably be now and then a few passages of lesser consideration that might have been omitted, and a letter or two that might have been shortened (as it was my mind to have done had I had health and time), yet I hope the reader will find so entertaining and profitable a variety of curious learning, as will sufficiently compensate for defects, and cause him to think that neither I have cast away my time and pains, nor he his cost. Besides these, there were letters of other learned men at home and abroad, particularly divers from Dr. Hotton, the learned botanic professor of Ley den. But the Doctor's relations (soon after his death, which was not long after Mr. Ray's) strictly forbad the publication of any of DR. DERHAM S PREFACE. IX them. And as for the letters of other great men to Mr. Ray, which I have not published, they being matters of thanks and compliment chiefly, would have been of no other use than to have shown what eminent men Mr. Ray corresponded with, and how well they approved of his excellent labours ; which, being things sufficiently known, or that may be presumed, I thought it needless to stuff the volume, and enhance its price by so frivolous a means. And, as I have thus taken care to reject papers of little or no consequence, and to omit in others matters of small consequence, so the learned authors may think I have been too bold with them : but, in answer hereto, I say that I have endeavoured to do, as near as I could, what I thought they would have done themselves. I have omitted for the most part (or inadvertently published) what Mr. Ray or others had published before, unless in some cases, as when it is joined with some other considerable matter unpublished, or serves to explain, illustrate, or render what is published more complete. And I have published what I thought might be instructive or entertaining to the curious, so far as to make a commodious volume. And as for such valuable papers as are omitted, they may make another volume, if this be kindly received. As to the chasms that may be observed between the dates of some of the letters, and the want of answers to some, it was not from any carelessness or omission in me, but from a defect among the letters themselves, which I conceive were either not preserved, or else the corre- spondence might be intermitted. As for the method, I was in doubt whether it was best to put every man's letters by themselves, or according to the order of their dates. But the latter being best X DR. DERHAM S PREFACE. approved of by some of the authors themselves, and that which indeed I had good reasons to esteem best, 1 accordingly did it as well as I could, abating for a mis- take or two, where the papers happened to be mislaid. Having given an account of what I have done as pub- lisher, it is time to recognise the assistance I had from my friends. Sir Hans Sloane and Dr. Tankred Robinson (two of the principal and most learned friends of Mr. Ray) very readily furnished me with what papers they had of Mr. Ray's; and the latter procured also for me those which Dr. Lister had carefully laid up as Cimelia. Mr. Dale, of Braintree (Mr. Ray's neighbour and industrious friend), who had taken care to preserve many of Mr. Ray's papers after his death, very readily imparted them, and gave me his assistance ; as also the Reverend and worthy Mr. Pyke, rector of Mr. Ray's parish, gave me what assistance he could ; but none more ready than Mrs. Ray herself, and her daughters, who not only intrusted me to search Mr. Ray's papers, but to carry away what I pleased. And as for the papers in the Appendix, they are owing to the favour of the surviving remains of Mr. Ray's best friend and patron, the great Mr. Willughby ; namely, the Right Honorable the Lord Middleton, and his noble sister the Countess of Carnarvon, who, knowing of my design, with all readiness procured for and sent me Mr. Ray's, and some other learned men's letters to their most ingenious father ; which, coming too late to be ranked in their order in the body of the book, I was forced to cast into an Appendix. CONTENTS. -^ PAGE Mr. Raylo FT. Willughby, Esq. . . ..;. . 1,3,4 Mr. Fr. Willughby to Mr. Wray, about the year 1662 . . .5 Dr. Cornell from Naples, to Mr. Wray at Rome ... .6 Mr. Fr. Willughby to Mr. Wray . . . . .7 Mr. Barnham to Mr. Wray . . . . . .9 Mr. Lister to Mr. Wray . . . . *. .11 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister, Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge . 13 Mr. Lister to Mr. Wray . . . . . .15 Mr. Dent; o Mr. Wray . . . . . ib. Mr. Lister to Mr. Wray . . . . . .17 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister . . . . .17, 19, 20 Sir Phil. Skippon to Mr. Wray . . . . 22, 23 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister . . . . . 24, 25, 29 Mr. Lister to Mr. Ray . . . . . . 31 Mr. Jessop to Mr. Wray . . .^ . . . .33 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister '. . ' .'* . ' . .34 Mr. Lister to Mr. Wray . . . . , : . . .36 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister, at St. John's . , . .38 Mr. Lister in answer to Mr. Wray . . '. ' . .39 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister . . '..,.' r '/ . ib. Sir Philip Skippon to Mr. Wray .... . : ... .42 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister . '...'.' . ,. 43, 47 Mr. Lister to Mr. Wray '.;..'.. .48 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister V" . I . ' ~ V . .52 Mr. Lister, at Craven, to Mr. Wray, at Riddletou Hall . 53 Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister I . . ' . . 54,55 Mr. Lister to Mr. Wray . . ; , . .57 Dr. Hulse to Mr. Wray . . ib. Mr. Wray to Mr. Lister . 00, 61 xii CONTENTS. PAGE Mr. Willughby to Mr. Wray, from Ludlow . . 63 Mr. Willughby's observations . . ib. Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . 64 Dr. Lister to Mr. Wray ... .65 Mr. Jessop to Mr. Wray . 67, 70 Dr. Lister to Mr. Wray . . 73 Dr. Hulse to Mr. Ray . . 74 Dr. Lister to Mr. Eay . 76, 78 Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister ; .80 Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . . 83 Sir Philip Skippon to Mr. Ray Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . .86 Sir Philip Skippon to Mr. Ray . . . .87 Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray . . .... .88 Sir Philip Skippon to Mr. Ray . 90 Mr. Jessop to Mr. Ray . ... .91 Sir Philip Skippon to Mr. Ray . . . . .93 Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . . . . . .94 Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray . . . . .95 Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray -....'. . . .96 Mr. Oldenburgh's letter . . . . . .97 Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray . . . . .99 Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray ' . . . . ib. Mr. Jessop to Mr. Ray . . . . . .101 Mr. Jessop's paper . ... . ib. Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray . . . . .103 Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister " . . . .104 Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray . ' . . . . . 105 Mr. Oldenburgh to Mr. Ray . . . . . .106 Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . . . . . .107 Mr. Oldenburgh to Mr. Ray . .... '..... .108 Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray . ." . . . 110,111 Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . . . . . .112 Mr. Oldenburgh to Mr. Ray . ... . .114 Dr. Towne's letter about the shark to Mr. Dent, and by him communi- cated to Mr. Ray . . . . . .115 Dr. Lister to Mr. Ray at Coleshill, in Warwickshire . : . . 116 Mr. Dent, of Cambridge, to Mr. Ray . . . 118, 119 Sir Philip Skippon, from Wrentham, to Mr. Ray . - , . . 120 Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister . . . .' . 121,123 Dr. Lister's answer to Mr. Ray . . . , , . . 124 Mr. Ray's answer to Dr. Lister . . . . . 125 CONTENTS. X1U PAGE Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray . . . 127 Mr. John Aubrey to Mr. Ray . 128, 129 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 130 Mr. Ray's queries to Dr. Tankred Robinson .... 131 Dr. Tankred Robinson's answer to Mr. Ray's queries . . . 132 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . . . . .134 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray, from Montpellier . . . .135 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . ... 138 Dr. T. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . . . 141, 143 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . . . . .145 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray ...... 147 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . 148 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . ... 151 Mr. Raj^tp Dr. Robinson . . . . . . ib. Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray .... 156,158,159 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . . .160 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . .... 161 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . .162 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson ..... 163, 165 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . .167 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . 168 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . .170 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . .171 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray ... .172 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . .173 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . .174 Mr. Ray'to Dr. Robinson .... .176 Dr. Hans' Sloane to Mr. Ray . . 177 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 179 Mr. Cole to Mr. Ray . 181 Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray . 183 Mr. Johnson's Descriptions Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . -187 Mr. Johnson to Mr. Ray ib. Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . . 189 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 190, 191 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . . 194 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . ib. Rich. Waller, Esq. to Mr. Ray 195, 196 XIV CONTENTS. PAGE Mr. Tho. Lawson to Mr. Ray . . . . .197 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane .... . 210, 211 Mr. LhwydtoMr. Ray . .. . . . .212 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson .-. ",* ; . .213 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray . . .. . . .214 Dr. Plukenet's Observations on Mr. Ray's Synopsis Stirp. Britan. . ib. Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray 224, 226 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . . - . . 229, 230 Dr. Plukenet to Mr. Ray . . . -, . .232 Mr. J. Aubrey to Mr. Ray . . . .. '. . 237,238 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray ... . . v- ' . -239 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray . . . . V . 240 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . . . 245, 247 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . . . . . . 249 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . -. . . . ib. Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . .,:.;' . 251, 252 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray ... . . , _'.... . 253 Captain Hatton to Mr. Ray . . . . t . 255 Mr. Aubrey to Mr. Ray ... . . . . 257 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray ... . . . , ib. Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane .... . . 258 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . . . . . . 260 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . - . 261, 262, 264, 267, 268 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray . . . . . . 270 The Rev. Mr. Paschall to Mr. Ray . . .;;.; ' . . . 271 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . . '.-.. } : .. . ' . 273 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . ." , . 275 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson . . . ; . . . 276 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . - ; * . 277, 278 Mr. Paschall to Mr. Ray . . . . . 279, 280 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray . . . ... . . 281 Mr. Paschall to Mr. Ray . . . . . . . . 282 Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinson .... . . . 283 Dr. Robinson to Mr. Ray :. . . . . . ib. Mr. Burrell to Mr. Ray . . . . . .284 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . 285, 286, 287, 289 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray . . . . . 290, 291 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 293, 294, 295, 296, 298, 299, 301 Dr. Vaughan and Dr. Wood to Mr. Ray .... 304 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray ... . . . . 306 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . , . . 306, 307 Dr. Connor to Mr. Ray - . . . , . 308 CONTENTS. XV PAGE Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . 311, 312, 313, 316, 317 Dr. Vaughan and Dr. Wood to Mr. Ray . . . .319 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . , .321 Mr. Doody to Mr. Ray . . . . . .322 Tentzelius to Mr. Ray . . . . . . ib. Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane 324, 325, 327, 328; 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336; 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348 Paradisus Batavus, continens plus Centum Plantes, &c. . 349 Museo di Plante rare della Sicilia, Malta, Corsica, Italia, Piemonte e Germania, &c. di Don Paolo Boccone, &c. . . 352 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . . .358 Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray . . . .359 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . . . . . .360 Mr. Ray*WDr. Hans Sloane . . 360, 362, 363, 364, 366, 367, 368 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . . . . . .369 Mr. J. Morton to Mr. Ray . . . . . .369 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 370, 371 Dr. Wood to Mr. Ray . . . . . . 372 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane ..... 373, 375 Father Camel to Mr. Ray 377 Mr. Ray to Father Camel . ' % . . .378 Mr. J. Morton to Mr. Ray . . . . .379 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . . ib. Dr. Preston to Mr. Ray . . . . .380 Mr. Ray to Mr. James Petiver . . 388, 389, 393, 394, 395 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane ... . 396, 398 Mr. Ray to Mr. Derham . . . . .399 Dr. Sherard to Mr. Ray . . . .400 Mr. Ray to Mr. Derham . . . 401 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver . . . . . .403 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 404, 405, 406 Dr. Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray . ... 407 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane ... . 408, 410 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver > . . . . .411 Mr. Ray to Mr. Samuel Smith . . . . .412 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . . .412 Mr. Ray to Mr. Derham . . . . .414 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . .. . .415, 416 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver .... . . .417 Mr. Thoresby to Mr. Ray 418 List of Local Words . 419 Xvi CONTENTS. PAGE Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane .... - -430 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver . . $ Ijj 432, 433, 434 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . 436, 437 Mr. Ray to Mr. Mott - . -438 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver . .' . . 439,440 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . - 441, 442 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver . . .443 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . 444, 446 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver ... 447 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . . - 448 Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver . , . . . , 450, 451 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . - . . . . 452, 453 Mr. Ray to Mr. Derham . .'.-. .455 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 456, 457, 458 Mr. Ray's last letter to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 459 Mr. Dale to Dr. Hans Sloane . . ib. LETTERS WITHOUT DATE. Mr. Ray to Mr. Petiver 460, 461 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . . 462, 463, 464 Preface to Dr. Hans Sloane's Catalogue of Plants . . .465 Mr. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane .... 468, 471, 473, 474 Mrs. Ray to Dr. Hans Sloane . . 476, 477, 478 479, 480 APPENDIX. A Notice of George Scott, by Edw. Forster, Esq., Vice -President of the Liunaean Society . ' . ' . ' .' . .481 B Notice of Edward Lkwyd . . . . . .482 C Commemoration of the Second Centenary of the Birthday of Ray . 484 INDEX. . 495 CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN RAY. Mr. RAY to FB,. WILLUGHBY, Esq.* have herewithal sent you one of my books, which you had received a week sooner had not the book- binder deceived me. I need say nothing either to com- mend or disparage it; you know what it is as well as myself. Since I fully dispatched it, one or two other designs came into my head, which, you being concerned in (I mean in my intentions), I shall communicate to you, and desire first your sentence and opinion concern- ing the whole; and then, in case of approbation, your particular directions as to the management and carrying on. You remember that we lately, out of 'Gerard,' 'Par- kinson/ and ' Phytologia Britannica,' made a collection of rare plants, whose places are therein mentioned, and ranked them under the several counties. My intention now is to carry on and perfect that design ; to which purpose I am now writing to all my friends and acquaint- ance who are skillful in Herbary, to request them this next summer each to search diligently his country for plants, and to send me a catalogue of such as they find, together with the places where they grow. In divers counties I have such as are skillful and industrious : for Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire I must beg your assistance, which I hope, and am confident, you will be willing to contribute. After that, partly by my own * Memorials, page 13. 2 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. search, partly by the mentioned assistance, I shall have got as much information and knowledge of the plants of each country as I can (which will require some years), I do design to put forth a complete P. B., which I hope to bring into as narrow a compass as this book. First, I shall give the names of all plants that are or shall then be found growing in England in an alphabetical order, together, with their synonyma, excepting such as are men- tioned in this catalogue^ whose synonyma I shall omit, setting down only one name, and referring for the rest to ' Cat. Cant.' I shall also put a full Index Anglicolatinus after the manner of '-that -in this catalogue : then I shall put in -the counties, .with the several rare plants in them marshalled alphabetically. Instead of putting the par- ticular places to each plant in the first catalogue, I shall only refer to this : as suppose at Sedum tridactylites alpinum, after I have given the several synonyma, and the English name; instead of adding the place, I will say, vide Carnarvonshire, &c. My second design is to make another catalogue, which I will call ' Horti Angliee/ I intend to write to all the noted gardens, to procure a catalogue of each ; Oxford garden and Tradescants I have already. Then I shall out of my own garden, and all these, make up one catalogue. Herein I shall give the synonyma of each plant ; and those that are not in my garden, I shall name in what places they are ; as suppose Olea sativa, after I have put down his synonyma and English name, I shall add Tradescants garden, and so of the rest. Into this catalogue I shall not admit any that grow wild in England, lest it swell too big. To this also I shall add a complete Index Anglicolatinus. You have my designs, and I desire your judgment of them. I would not be nattered, I am not so fond of my own conceits : if prudent men think they will be of no use to the public, I am not so foolish to trouble myself and friends to no end but to trouble others. I shall be very glad, sir, to hear from you; and, as I have heretofore received abundance of pleasure and contentment from CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 3 your friendship and society, so would it still be some comfort to me to know that I retain a place in your thoughts and esteem, though the meanest. I am, &c. Coll. Trin., Feb. 25, 1659. Mr. RAY to Mr. WILLUGHBY. SIR, On Saturday night last, the 7th instant, Mr. Skippon and myself arrived at. Cambridge from a long northern expedition, wherein fop the 'most part 'we fol- lowed your footsteps, proceeding just so far as Sterling and remfning by Glasgow. I gave you in a former letter an account of our design and intention, which whether you received or not I know not. In all this journey I met with but four plants which I had not formerly observed, and in Scotland not one. Those are Pneumonanthe [Gentiana Pneumonanthe, Linn.], which hath a beautiful blue flower, and is perpetual : it grows plentifully in many heathy and moist grounds in Lincolnshire, and the eastern side of Yorkshire, and flowers about the latter end of August. Sedi alpini parva species [S. aizoides, Linn.], which I have not yet searched out : it hath a yellow flower, and flowers about the beginning of August. This I found only in one small spot of ground about Shap in West- morland. Chrysanthemum majus folio valde laciniato, fore croceo, J. B. [Anthemis tinctoria, Linn.], as I judge. This I found in a bank near to the river Tees, in the bishopric of Durham. Lapathum folio acuto fore aureo, C. B. \Eumex maritimus, Linn.], which I had before taken some notice of, when I was less careful and curious in distinguishing of plants. I found likewise, near Huntingdon, a plant which the last year I observed, not far from St. Neots, coming to wait upon you, which puzzles me sore : it is between a Grass and a Caryo- phyllus, I know not what to call it unless it be Poly- gono angustissimo folio affinis, C. B., but I cannot find that described anywhere. I have sent you a little branch 4 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. of it, for your judgment about it. The seed-vessel is large and perfectly to be seen : the flower is a very small yellowish one. You mention a box, which you intend for ah 1 sorts of fruits and seeds. It must have almost infinite cells and divisions to contain all the varie- ties of seeds and fruits. Concerning the order and me- thod of it you need not my advice, for I can give you none but what is very obvious, viz., to put those of the same tribe near together. As for instance, to have a drawer with several cells or boxes for nuts, another for cones, &c., for the rest of fruits which may be reduced to several heads ; and then one for exotics, which cannot be conveniently referred. In like manner for herbs, to have a drawer with several boxes or divisions for Legumina, another the like for Cerealia, &c., only those boxes must be more numerous than those of fruits. By a drawer with several boxes, I mean such a thing as the printers put their letters in. There hath been, and still continues to be here, an epidemical sickness in the nature of a fever, which cuts off many old persons and children ; but those of middle age it spares. Some of my small company are grievously affected with it. In the north of England, and hi Scotland, we heard of no such thing. Coll.Trin., Sept, 14, 1661. Mr. RAY to Mr. WILLUGHBT. D. Francisco Willughby J. Wray, S.D. DE mira plantarum e semine enatarum metamorphosi, et evariatione a nativa matrum figura, ne dicam specie, turn Bobertus, junior, turn D. Brown experiments aliquot a se facta mihi retulerunt ; adeo ut jam pene persuasus sim plantas degenerare posse et intra latitudinem generis seu tribus suse speciein mutare. De Nymplued alba et luted minoribus, jam plane despero, nihil ejusmodi a se unquam visum in fluviis circa aut prope Oxonium affirmat D. Brown. Semina nulla collegi, nee enim prseter Croci CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 5 ulla turn maturuerunt. Croci semen in hortulo, D. Brown non antea a me conspectum copiosum vidi, sed nescio qua incogitantia illud omisi et neglexi. Die Lunas Caw- shamum vicum uno circiter milliari Readinga remotum perrexi, illinc non longe in colle cretaceo qui Thames! imminet Orckin anthropophoron [Aceras anthropophora, 11. Br.] ex instinctu D. Brown inveni, non tamen copiose. Eandemmet pridem circa Genevam invenerain ; /. Eau- hino Orchis gated et alis fere cinereis dicitur. Et hie, quod ad plantas spontaneas attinet, solus hujus itineris fructus erat. Die Martis hue veni ubi brevi unius die! quiete interposita ut Morgani hortum lustrarem. Die Jovis pedes in Cantium progressus sum usque ad collem Rougfttfill dictum, a Darfordia non longe, ut ibi inve- nirem Helleborinen albam \Cephalantliera grandiflora^ et Florem Adonidis [Adonis autumnalis, Linn.J, quas se illic loci invenisse T. Willisellus asseruit. Sed quamvis non indiligens scrutinium adhibuerim, neutra mihi conspecta est. At neque quicquam de More Adonidis in arvis illis crescente, a rustica turba quam sciscitabar, inaudire potui. Inveni quidem Chamapityn \Ajuga Chamapitys, Srn.] et Perfoliatam \J3upleurum rotundifolium , Linn.] copiose, et prasterea novam Geranij Columbini foliis magis dissectis speciem [Geranium columbinum, Linn.], quam a se in agris collcctam cum Oxonii essem mihi raonstravit Jacobus Bobertus films. Mr. Fn. WILLTJGHBY to Mr. WRAY, about the year 1662. SIR, I met with several adventures in the remaining part of my journey after I left you ; and amongst the rest, with one very lucky one, of a new discovery of me- dals. You may remember the day we parted I had in- tended to have gone to Cirencester, but hearing by the way of a great deal of treasure that was found in a field, I presently conjectured it might be Roman coin, and diverted my course thither. The field was near Dursly (a town we left about a mile of the left hand as we rode 6 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. from Gloucester), where I found above forty people digging and scraping, and bought a great many silver medals of them ; and one incomparable fair one of gold, that had been found a little before. The whole history how these came to be discovered, T shall reserve till 1 see you. I thought to have made strict inquiry after the Snap-apple bird [the common Cross-bill, Loxia curvirostrd], but falling very sick at Malverne, I was forced to give over all. Dr. CORNELI from Naples, to Mr. WHAT at Rome, 3 Kal. Dec. 1663. Yiro Eruditissimo Johanni Wray. Thomas Cornelius S. EGO interea quid de Manna compertum habeam, paucis indicabo. Mannse triplex genus provenit. Unum trunci Ornorum per rimas sponte exsudant, diciturque vulgo Manna Corporis ; alterum quod ex eadem arbore incisionibus arte factis extillat, et Mannam forsatettam vocant. Tertium tandem in TYaxini frondibus colligitur, Manna frondis nuncupatur. Hanc plerique ex acre in frondes nocturne tempore roris instar decidere arbi- trantur; sed ego autopsia edoctus sum illam ex ipsis arborum foliis exhalari. Hanc Virgilius roscidi mellis nomine significavit, cum dixit, Et dura quercus sudabunt roscida mella. Causa vero quamobrem ego ita sentiam non debeo reticere. Linteo circa vesperam fraxini frondes velave- ram, ut dignoscerem num Manna frondibus extrinsecus adveniret ; sed mane inventa sunt folia roscido melle im- buta, nee interea Linteo quicquam inerat, nisi quod ex frondibus illi adhasserat. Perperam igitur Matthiolus commentario in cap. 70, lib. i. Dioscor. reprehendit Al- timarum, qui Mannam ex fraxini foliis extillare docuerat. Tu vir sapientissime nostras has disquisitiones rcquo am- mo accipe. Meque ut facis amare perge. Vale Neapoli iii. Kal. Dec. MDCLXIII. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 7 Mr. Fn. WILLUGHBY to Mr. WBAY. SIR, The first thing I saw considerable after I left Montpellier, was a spring of Oleum petroleum at Gabian; at the same place there is a kind of a black pumice stone and a medicinal well. From thence we went to Nar- bonne, where there is some antiquities; there having a very sore leg, and not being able to endure riding, I re- solved to go forward by sea, and went in a little vessel down the river to the sea shore, where we expected good weather almost a week, in which time the plaister of diapalma cured my leg ; and, the mariners being out of hopes of a good wind, we bought a pair of mules for about nve pistoles apiece, and set forwards to Perpintan, Colliver, and Capo de Creux. Between Colliver and Capo de Creux, we passed the frontiers without any danger, searching, or trouble at all, only at the expense of an escus for a guide. At Capo de Creux is the principal place for the coral fishing, and though the wind hindered us from seeing the fishing, I saw the instruments and understood as much about it as if I had seen it taken out of the sea. Thence to Viet, where there is a mine of amethysts, which they call ' violet stones ;' by what I saw there, and learned afterwards, I make no question but diamonds, rubies, iacinths, and almost all precious stones, grow just in the same manner as the Bristol diamonds, hexangular and pointed, except agate and corneole, which may be reckoned among pebbles. Thence to Cardona, where there is a mountain of Sal Fossilis, which serves all the country thereabouts ; the best is hard and trans- parent like crystal, so as they make beads of it and sell them very cheap at the town. About the mountain some sea-plants. And now I would advise you by all means to make a little tour in Spain, and see the Oleum petrol., the coral, the amethysts, and the salt mountain ; but to go no farther than Cardona, unless you resolve upon the Canary voyage, or have a mind to an Andalusian whore. But from Cardona to Xvesca, a great town between 8 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Saragossa and Toulouse, where I heard Seignor La Stan- nosa has a very famous Museum; the bookseller that told me of it, said it would take up several days to see all the rarities ; but very likely it is much lesser than the fame. From Xvesca to Toulouse, where they say there is a cave that hardens bodies into a mummy. In this journey, before you come to Viet, as I remember, you will pass by Aulot, where in divers caves there is spira- culums of air, caused, as they imagine there, by the fall- ing of water. From Cardona I went to Portosa, where I saw a mine of marble, which they call jasper. From Portosa to Valentia ; Gandia, where I saw the sugar canes and sugar mills ; Chativer, where there is an aqueduct made by the Moors ; Caravac, where there is a cross that came down from Heaven; Granada, where there is a palace of the Moors that well deserves a journey of a dozen leagues. Thence to Seville, where I attempted in vain to get a passport for Portugal. I thought then to have gone to Gales, from thence to Tangier, and from Tangier to Lisbon, which was the best way to get into Portugal; but being discouraged by my mule's ill fortune, and the time of the year, I faced about, and returning by land * * * * Toledo, Madrid, Burgos, Vittoria, St. Se- bastian, Bayonne, Bourdeaux, Blais, Sainctes, Poictiers, Amboise, Blois, Orleans, and got hither almost a fortnight since. This journey of almost a thousand miles I came all alone, having agreed with my merchant to leave him either at Seville or Lisbon ; and, I thank God, escaped very well all along : but at Vittoria and the passage near St. Sebastian was basely troubled with searchers. If you come that way you must manifest your money, at least all your silver, and take a pass. Between Bayonne and Bourdeaux I got a great many notions about the making of turpentine, rosin, pitch, and Yonderone, which I think is tar, the country being full of pines. About Bayonne and St. Sebastian they catch a great many whales every winter; I got there some uncertain notions about the Sperma Ceti. The buying of horses and mules is an excel- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 9 lent way ; and you will find it will turn to very good account, and save a great deal of money, if you do not go higher than five or six pistoles a horse. At Seville I found a letter of Dr. Wilkins's, who very importunately persuaded either you or me to make a voyage to the Peak of Teneriffe, and that if * * * * home, and you would undertake it, the Royal Society would defray all your charges, and send you to Gales all necessary instruments and a catalogue of the observations they desired to have made. The Peak is only to be ascended in June and July. When you come to Orleans I hope you will take exact notice of Joan of Aries and Charles VII., statues on the bridge ; I saw them as I passed by, but took them for some* superstitious foppery, and did not at all regard them. I hope you will all along get the exact govern- ment of all the towns. Mr. BAENHAM to Mr. WHAT. SIR, Yours from Montpellier, Jan. the 10th, S. V., came to my hands on Feb. the 6th following, and was answered on the 9th, wherein you give me so great en- couragement to employ you by way of information, that I cannot forbear the annexing of this to the other inquiries I gave you in my last ; and indeed, though last in order, yet I could wish it may be the first in execution. The thing is this: there is a certain woman in the world, whose name I am obliged to conceal (although possibly you would guess it if your were in England), that hath for this two years laboured under the affliction of a belly that hath grown bigger and bigger, and is now much bigger than ever she was when she was with child (for she hath had two children) ; she went up this last week to London to try all the advice that place can afford, having failed of a cure in the country. The concern I have for her, which indeed is exceeding surpassingly great, 10 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. hath made me transgress the bounds of modesty so far as to desire of her in writing her own observations of her malady, together with the alterations she hath found in her pudendis; which, not without much difficulty, she did send me yesterday after many importunities. I hope God will forgive me my curiosity, being chiefly led thereunto by an opinion, or secret impulse, that you, with the advice and information of what you may meet withal abroad, may be the author of her recovery. She says, in her own letter, to me thus : that she hath grown bigger and bigger this two years, as I told you before, and that her belly is constantly very hard ; she did ywaiKodrjvai hoc est per menstrua purgare more debito, until the beginning of last summer, when she was advised to drink Epsom waters ; which she did for some time, until she found great incon- veniences by them, for ever since she hath had suppres- sionem mensium; and, moreover, presently after her coming from Epsom, she felt a thing come down just like a blad- der, and bigger than her fist, and hath lain upon the neck of her womb ever since ; and upon the least walking or straining comes out fuller, and when she lies down goes in further than a woman's reach ; so are her own words. She saith she is free from any pain in those parts, only she hath a great weakness, so that she cannot stand much, especially after purging. Her navel is puffed up bigger than a little egg clear above the skin. She says that the doctors and midwives cannot determine what it is that comes down so; some say it is the mother. She saith, moreover, that she feels no pain either in her belly or back, only stitches fly up and down that are ready to take away her breath. She seldom or never breaks wind downward. This is all she tells me in her letter, and I do believe you have a larger account of her disease than her own physicians ; her bashfulness is so much, that it will not suffer her to discourse with her own sex in this matter freely. I have most exactly, according to the meaning of her letter, transcribed her sense, and chiefly her words, where modesty will give me leave, I know I CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 11 need not provoke your diligence and industry in this matter to make all inquiries where you come after any- thing that may do her good. The compassion of your nature will prompt you to so charitable a work ; she is a person of some quality, and I am sure will have a due sense of her obligations to you. The sickness last week at London was but 28, God be praised. March 13th, 166. Mr. LISTER* to Mr. WEAT, M. Lister D. Wray suo, S. D. DE Historia naturali Aristotelis ita censeo, eum homi- nem Philosophum praeclare agere; sed egregius vir minime satisfacit tantis facultatibus atque adjumentis, quorum meminit Plinius ei prasstita fuisse ab Alexandro. Certe in his praecipue rebus, quibus me quotidie exerceo, turpissime ilium errare deprehendo, neque sane id mirum cum pra3clarissimus author summum suum ingenium con- sulere maluit, quam res ipsas. Illud manifestum, eum paucissimis experimentis fuisse contentum ut immensam structuram exsedificaret. De Plinio tu mihi abunde satis- fecisti superioribus tuis literis ; adeoque tuum judicium a diligentissima lectione vehementer complector approbo- que. Ad nostros homines venio, quorum, in primis inge- niosissimus juxta ac diligentissimus scriptor Aldrovandus (nam Albertum, Cardanum creterosque id genus homines stomachor valde, quod me plane operam perdidisse sentio, quam iis evolvendis dederim; nisi quod id profecerim, quam licere homines doctissimos ineptire, qui ultra appa- ratum velint Philosophari). Sed ad Aldrovandum redeo, virum sane mirificum, cui tamen segre fero istos locos suos communes; mallem equidem substituisset corollas de suo seque dignas, sed id moris est hominum, im- mciisam lectionem et industriam ostentare malumus, quam * Memorials, p. 17. 12 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. accuratissime in paucis eisdemque nostris sapere : a quo tamen major fructus aliquando sperandus est in aiixilium vitas, ne dicam, nostrae laudis. Ante eum pro ratione temporum oportuit me dixisse de Whottono nostro, nisi quod ab eo primo didici talem authorem extitisse. Elegantissimum suum opus tandem comparavi evolvique, is mirabili plane industria summoque ingenio usus est in extricandis veterum sententiis. Tabulas nostras ante confeci, quam eum nactus sum ; at mireris, quantam vo- luptatem conceperim, cum eas contulerim cum differentiis Whottoni. Hunc excipiat Moufetus item noster, a quo omnia praeclara et consummata quis non expectet, cui tanta adjumenta, tantaque nomina contribuerunt, Whot- tonus, Gesnerus, C. Clusius, Pennus, Knivettus, Bruas- rus, fee. ? Profecto universum Theatrum suum adeo confuse et sine ordine condidit, ut qua3 ei materies ab aliis, turpissime collocator et minime in laudem tantorum virorum. At non solum ipsam rem fere ignoravit, verum etiam barbare omnino exponit. Sed ea homini imperito et bene volenti condonare possimus, nisi alia plane res contra suaderet, cui equidem in legendis autoribns mul- tum tribuo studeoque, ut sc. intelligerem, qui sit eorum animus honestusne et probus. At ex ejus scriptis aliud aperte cognovi, quod satis mirari nequeo, arrogantiam sc. hominis, ne quid gravius dicam, qui cum infinita pene, praBsertim de natura istomm minutorum animalium toti- dem fere verbis transtulit ab Aldrovando, tamen nusquam ejus ingeniosissimi viri (si quis alius nostri seculi) mentio- nem facit. Ediderat autem Aldrovandus opus suum ante triginta annos quam ha3c in lucem prolata sunt. Pauca ea, quae de his rebus scripsere F. Imperatus, F. Columna tantis veris plane digna sunt, Moufeto ****** neminem legi praster Geodartium Batavum, cujus certe industria summe laudanda est. Nam prater elegantissimas figuras, quas appingi curavit, singulorum animalium cibatum, transmutationumque tempera, accuratissime notat ; ut tantum apud eum desideretur eorum exacta descriptio ; is autem praster nuda familias nomina ne verbum quidem CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 13 addit. Me olini judicium tuum elicuisse memini de Kerchero : is in tractatu, mundus subterraneus nominato, inter alia, de horum animalium productione spontanea pluribus verbis agit ; quee tamen res omnino an fiat in universa rerum natura, dubito vehementer. Testimonia Aldrovandi, &c., nihili sunt. Ego plura expertus, quae contrarium vel evincant, vel erroris certe causas declarent j qua3 tu alio tempore, a me expectabis. In extremis ea accepi, qua; in actis illustrissimae societatis vestrae lego. Ubi in primis praeclarissimum specimen ingenii sui edidit D. King de Formica. Habes quae scire potui de scripto- ribus minutorum animalium, ea judicii libertate, quae nostra3 amicitiae sit. Si qui sint qui nostram cognitionem admKT^krteant, fac me de iis certiorem. Et velim ut tuum judicium interponas turn de his quorum supra memini turn de iis quae restant. Item rogo digneris quam plurimis verbis mihi perscribere, quum, commodo tuo fiat, quid tu existimes de optimo genere harum rerum turn observandarum, turn tractandarum. Nam fere totus sum in his novis nostris delectationibus. Vale et nos ama. Burvelae agri Lincoliiiensis, viii Cal. Aprilis. Mr. WHAT to Mr. LISTER, Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. SIR, Arrived here (viz. Cambridge) I found a letter from you, the reading whereof gave me no small content, it containing expressions so significant, and full of heat and irdOog, as certainly nothing but sincere love could dictate. Sure they must needs be a true copy of your mind, and not words of course and compliment, only I could wish you had been more sparing in what refers to my commendation; for though I would not refuse the testimony and praise of persons who are themselves praise- worthy, where there is just ground and reason for it, yet not when it exceeds the merit of any thing I dare 14 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. own, nor for such qualities as I am not conscious to myself of, which gross self-flattery must needs much blind me if I did not quickly discern to proceed rather from affection than judgment. I rejoice much that you still pursue the study of nature, not only because of the propensity I myself have to it, and consequently to love such as agree with me, but also because I judge you to be a person, to speak modestly, as well qualified as any I know in England for such an undertaking, and so likely to make the greatest advance and improvement, you having taken the right course and method ; that is, to see with your own eyes, not relying lazily on the dic- tates of any master but yourself, comparing things with books, and so learning as much as can be known of them. I do not wonder a man so inquisitive should make some additions to the Cambridge Catalogue. Hieradum rectum rigidum* it is not unlikely you might find about Burweh 1 ; but it seems somewhat strange you should there meet with Alchimitta vulgaris, I having not to my remembrance ever met with it in England else- where than in mountainous places, as Westmoreland, Wales, Derby, York, Staffordshire, &c. Those remarks you mention you would oblige me much to communicate, I being very fond of seeing any of your productions. I was much pleased to understand that you do not confine your studies and inquiries to Phytology only, but take in Zoology, and the whole latitude of natural history. Lincolnshire, for fish and fowl, affords you a large field, yet it is very much that in one winter you should meet with upwards of fifty species ; and I wish I had the sight of your descriptions, which I doubt not to be very exact; but because they cannot easily be transmitted, I shall only desire a catalogue of their names, that so I may know what there are I have not yet met with. Middleton, June 18, 1667. * It is probably Hieradum umbellatum, Linn. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 15 . Mr. LISTEB to Mr. WEAY. M. Lister D. Wray S. PRIDIE vesperi insectum animal admodum lucens in acre vidi, cepi, notavi, scripsi. Ratione lucis Cicindela merito appellanda est : sin autem propius et claro sole aniinalculum perspexeris, Scarabaeorum tribu familiaque esse diceres. Corpore erat parvo, longiusculo, tenui, aequaliter lato ; quoad superficiem, laevi planoque ; quoad colorem, alas, alarumque thecas, caput, fusco aut pullo. Tegumentum capitis clypeum inversum lepide imitabatur. Caput subter, ratione et operculi sui, et corporis, mini- mum ^rat (atque hinc tegumentum ejus ad latera sua perspicuum), a duobus nigerrimis splendentibusque oculis dispartitum. Caput duse brevissimae tenuissimaeque An- tennae ornabant. Humeri nulli : nam supra, tegumento tantum, alarumque thecis, destinguebatur animalculi cor- pus : subter, aliter res se habet. Tres pedum tenuissi- morum ordines, ad fabricam et similitudinem vulgaris muscae nigrae facti : quorum duo mox infra caput rubenti collo inserebantur. Tumet thorax, rotundus, laBvis, splendens; cujus basi alterum pedum par adhaerent. Denique venter sex annulis imbricatim venustissime dis- positis constabat : quorum ultimis iste liquor bipartitus ad instar aquae marinae lucens micansque inerat. De die caput sursum tollere gaudet : lente et raro se loco movet : Utrumque more Bufonis. Vale. Col. Divi Jolmnnis, 6 Cal. Julii, 1667. Mr. DENT to Mr. WBAY. SIR, Mr. Mayfeild could not procure any dried Mayds or TJwrnback at the mart. He helped me to a fresh TkornbacJc, which he said was full grown : its weight was ten pounds. It was female, and had very many 16 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. eggs in it, all exactly round, of different bigness; the largest as big as a little May cherry, paler coloured than a hen's egg, of that bigness, otherwise not different to the eye. I have dried the fish a little with salt, &c., yet not so much but that it will recover its form if soaked in hot water. The tail (a foot long) was cut off (as usually) when caught, which, they say, was full of pricks, both above and below, to the very end. Maydes* they say, are of two sorts, the larger sort (much smaller than T/iornbacks] properly called Flayre Maydes^ smooth as flayre, pale coloured, not dappled or waived ; the less called Thornback Maydes, full of pricks, dappled, but paler coloured than the Thornback. It seems a full-grown Flayre is a very large fish. Mr. Mayfeild told me he sold one to the cook of St. John's College of two hun- dred weight and upwards, and that it served all the scholars of the college at that time, being thirty mess for Commons ; which was likewise confirmed to me by the cook of the same college. There are male and female of all these four sorts. I cannot understand that these four do differ at all in shape of body, but only in proportion, colour, and smoothness of skin or prickles. With the fish I have put up in a box some water-fowl, viz., a Pocker \Fuligula ferind], a Smew [Mergus albellus], three Sheldins [Tadorna vulpanser], a Widgeon and a Whewer \_Anas penelope\ ; which last two are male and female of the same kind. Widgeon is never applied to the female sex. It is usual to call a silly fellow a wise widgeon ; or to say, he is as wise as a widgeon ; and a drunkard's song saith that " Mahomet was no divine, but a senseless widgeon, To forbid the use of wine unto those of his religion." It is usual to say of one of a large size, "Sure the dam of that was a Whewer." We could not meet as yet with a Pintayle [Anas acutd\. My cousin tells me it is sorne- * [Young females of the Thornback Ray (Raia clavata) are so called.] f [The females of the Fire Flayre, or Sting Ray (Trygon pastinaca). ] CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 17 what less than a Whewer, of lighter gray colour, the wings and tail longer and sharper pointed, the bill longer and narrower. I have put up some hollow bones which are annexed to the windpipe of each male ; for in females I can find none otherwise than you will find in the paper writ upon Whewer. The difference of shape of these bones, doubtless, causes their different tones. If you steep one of the Sheldin's windpipes a while in warm water to make it lax, you may observe the pretty motion to be found in the middle protuberance, and pick out a little philosophy from it. Whenever I find any farther opportunities of serving you, I will approve myself, &c. Cambridge, Feb. 15, 1674. Mr. LISTER to Mr. WHAT. M. Lister D. Wray, suo S. DE Valetudine tua incommoda vehementer movebar. Etenim cum summam tuam temperantiam atque absti- nentiam tarn probe scirem, omnia de te pejora metui. Idque ea de causa loquor, quod mihi non parum errare de victus ratione videbaris. Is quantum meminerim (teque in ea re, cum Monspelii ad eandem mensam diu hospites una fuerimus religiose observavi) parcissimus, scrupulo- sissimus. Accedit illud tibi, jejunia frequentia, longis- sima: et ut pauci cibi es, ita et rarissimi corporis ha- bitus. x. Cal. October, 1667. Mr. WRAY to Mr. LISTER, in answer to the preceding Letter. J. Wray D. Martino Lister, suo S. D. SYMPTOM A illud de quo non ita pridem apud te con- questus sum (Deo gratias) non ingravescit sed remittit potiiis : me tamen ab eo penitus liberatum iri vix est ut sperem, adeo teneri sunt (ut nosti) et putredini obnoxii 2 18 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. pulmones, ut siquam semel labem contraxerint, difficulter admodum in integrum restitui et percurari possint. Quod me in victus ratione (quam justo tenuiorem instituere putas) errare, eique rei partem aliquam mali quocum conflictor imputandam censere videris, ignoscas si sen- tentiae tuae non accedam. Absit ergo ut ego temperantiee laudem, quas mihi nulla debetur, affectem, aut delatam ultro ainplectar. Reliqua quidem animalia rationis (ut vulgo creditur) expertia, qua3 secundum naturae prasscrip- tum et instinctum degunt, et alimenta nulla arte proapa- rata, qualia natura iis subministrat accipiunt, in cibo capiendo nee legem observant, nee modum tenent, nee statis temporibus vescuntur. Verum cibus quo ilia utun- tur, et excrementi multi est, et succi pauci, unde et ilium sine errore aliquo aut noxa insigni copiosius ingerere possunt. Deinde quoniam parca manu, sponte sua, nullo cultural mangonio stuprata ilium suppeditat alma tellus, multum se exerceant oportet, multumque temporis im- pendant in illo conquirendo ; uride nee si velint in ex- cessu facile peccare possunt. Hinc feras et sylvestres animantes raro ultra modum pinguescunt, nee admodum libidine turgent, sed statis duntaxat temporibus, semel ut plurimum in anno ad Venerem incitaritur ; suntque admodum vivaces, et morborum plerunque expertes. Nos certe (me judice) valetudini nostras melius consulere- mus, si illorum exemplo, victu simpliciori et viliori ute- remur, iisque cibis quibus ventriculum implere modiee- que distendere fas esset. Quod Gesnerum et Aldrovandum consulueris, et eorum descriptiones cum tuis diligenter contuleris, recte et ex ordine mihi fecisse videris ; paucis- simas certe Aves invenies quas illorum diligentiam effuge- rint. Dabam Notleise Cal., Octob., 1667. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 19 Mr. WRAT to Mr. LISTEK. Joannes Wray D. Martino Lister, suo S. P. D. QUOD Veteres Latinos Medicos pervolvere in animo tibi esse scribis, mihi admodum probatur; namque siquid ego judicio valeo, iis legendis plurimum proficies, magn unique operse-praetium facies. Cornelium Celsum et ipse legi. Est ille optimus Latinitatis autor et Medicinae veteris satis gnarus, quainvis ipse (ni male memini) professione et usu medicus non fuerit. Scribonius mihi nunquam lectus est, Plinium secundum summi ingenii virum tibi commcndare (quern nemo sc. vituperat) superfluum et ineptum foret. Est autem ipsius opus nihil aliud quam PandectS6, in quas congessit quicquid uspiam apud Ve- teres seu Graecos, seu Latinos exterosve legenti occurre- bant argumento suo convenientia, temere et sine delectu, nulloque judicio adhibito. Plurimuin certe illius indus- triae debemus, qui e monumentis Antiquorum plurima ad historiam naturalem pertinentia commentariis suis inse- rendo ad nos derivavit, quas aliter injuria temporum cum Autoribus suis penitus intercidissent. Nee tamen merito vituperandus est, quod nullo discrimine vera falsis ad- miscet ; liberum enim unicuique judicium relinquit ; finem suum assecutus, quod omnia quaecunque a Graecis aliisve literis prodita invenerit sine invidia Romanis suis com- municarit. Video te Romanarum Antiquitatum scrip- tores et vindices pra3 manibus habere : Plurimos ejus generis Autores vidi : quern cui prasferam non video. Inter alios J. Lipsius praecipuam laudem meretur, qui de militia Romana, de gladiatoribus, de Amphitheatris, etc. fuse tractavit, additis etiam ad majorem illustrationein figuris aeneis. Est et Casalius quidam Romanus qui de profanis Gentilium ritibus copiose egit, adhibitis etiam iconibus. In hoc libro quae ad sacrificia pertinent, vasa, instrumenta, et reliquus omnis apparatus, traduntur. Est et Tomasinus quidam Italus qui de annulis antiquis, de Tesseris Hospitalitatis aliisque quibusdam tractatus edidit. Lazarus Bayfius olim de re Vestiaria et Navali 20 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. scripsit, at breviter. Urbis antique situm et monumenta, quorum partes aliquse vel rudera etiamnum supersunt, nimirum templa, porticus, amphitheatra, balnea, obe- liscos, columnas, aquaeductus, circos, etc.; delinearunt et descripserunt plurimi, at Italice plerique. Quo ego usus sum liber 2bus parvis octavi folii tomis comprehensus, Roma antica e moderna titulum habet : quern quia viliori pretio parabilis est, tibi etiam commendo, ut qui linguam Italicam probe calleas. Figuras quamvis in minori forma non inelegantes rerum praecipuarum de quibus tractat inibi reperies. Sed manum de tabula, de his aliisque si opus sit plura cum Londini fuero; interim vale et me ama. Dabam Notleise iv Idus Sbris, 1667. Mr. WRAY to Mr. LISTEK, at St. John's, Cambridge. J. Wray, D. Martino Lister, S. D. LITER AS tuas iv Id. Novemb. ad me datas non sine tacita quadam admiratione legi ; adeo eruditae mihi visae sunt, adeo eleganter et ad amussim scriptse. Felicem me qui talem amicum habeam et studiorum aemulum, maximo mihi adjumento futurum, et Reip. literarise ornainento. Quid enim de te sperare nefas? qui tantos jamjam in bonis artibus et literis progress us feceris, atque in id fastigium evaseris, sive rara quadam ingenii felicitate, sive studio et industria, quo studiosorum vulgus maxima contentione nequicquam anhelat. Rem sane difficillimam plane consecutus es, ornate dicendi scribendique faculta- tem ; adeo ut de Latini sermonis puritate, deque stylo expoliendo tibi amplius laborandum non sit, cum in his tantopere excellas aliisque asqualibus tuis palmam facile praeripias. Hanc mihi confessionem res ipsa extorquet ; hanc tibi debitam laudem ni tribuam, invidus censeri de- beam et amici titulo indignus. Dominum Willughby non est cur tibi conciliare studeam, cum bonos omnes et em- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 21 ditos tuique similes sponte sua amplectatur, omnibusque officiis demereri sibique devincire gestiat. Scribonimn ut legere aveam commendatio tua effecit. Verum liber ille non ubique est obvius, aut paratu facilis. Cum primum mihi ejus copia facta fuerit, lectionem aggrediar. Dubia ilia quse tibi occurrunt, et legentem morantur, nae erras vehementer, si me posse solvere tibique eximere putas. Quid sibi velit autor ille cum Hypocistidem de- finit Rosas sylvestris succum, etc., divinare non possum. Bauhinus noster aliique Botanici datum fmticem ob floris cognationem juxta Rosam collocant ; nemo tamen Rosam caninam appellat ; ni forte pro canind, marina substitui debeat. Nam Caesalpinus, ut citatur a J. Bauhino, datum quondarS Rosam marinam appellari scribit. At ne sic quidem rem expedieinus, cum Hypocistis non ipsius Cisti succus sit, sed plantulse cisti radicibus adnatae, quse Hy- pocistis dicitur. Pro Oxytriphyllo Scribonii aliam longe diversam plantam nobis exhibent Lobelius et Clusius, magna nomina, nimirum Lotum pentaphytton siliquosum vittosum, C. B. [Lotus hirsutus, Linn.], ut apud eum in Pinace videre est : utcunque ego judicio tuo plurimum tribuo, tuamque sententiam probabilem existimo, quo- niam illud facultate aliqua insigni pollere vel bitumi- nosus odor satis arguit, quum in hoc nee odorem nee saporem aliquem excellentem observaverim. Opium quin prasstantissimum sit medicamentum, prsesertim extrinsecus adhibitum, nullus dubito, in eo tamen intus sumendo summopere cavendum est ne erres, aut mo- dum excedas ; nam ex frequentiori Opii usu, quan- tumvis optime prseparati, funesta tandem symptomata consecuta esse tristi multorum experimento satis con- stat. Quod in omni sanguinis eruptione artus con- stringi verat, utris similitudine deceptus errare videtur. Quod vero per venam, animalis arteriam intelligat, veri- simile est, quoniam Romani turn Venas turn Arterias communi nomine Venas dixerunt : nee in vasis hisce dis- tinguendis curiosi fuere, tantum abest ut circuitum san- guinis illos vel per neoularu vidisse concesserim. De 22 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Fungis cum te, Deo dante, videro, pluribus agemus. Quod in studiis rei naturalis tarn constanter perseveres, et institutum pertinaciter urgeas, te pluriraum laudo. Hem sane curiosissimam te nuper observasse narras, ni- mirum Cochleam cujus spirse in diversam partem flectan- tur, cum inter doctos constans opinio sit, a septentrionali sequatoris parte cochleas omnes (motum sc. solis obser- varido) a sinistra dextram versus torqueri. Nee ego un- quam inveni qualem tu describis. Sive ergo alia? sint hujus generis, sive hsec sola exceptio sit, et diligenter servari, et exacte describi, depingique meretur. Ni mora in hac urbe mea incerta fuisset a te illam petiissem, ut Regali Societati (cujus nuper particeps factus sum) mon- strarem. Die Lunas proximo (favente numine) Sussexiam petam Londino relicto, ubi vanis pollicitationibus nimis diu detentus fui. Londini ix Cal. Decembr., 1667. Sir PHIL. SKIPPON to Mr. WRAY. SIR, The dean (Wilkins) says he is confident no man can translate his book, ' Real Character/ better than yourself. Yesterday the transfusion of blood was expe- rimented upon the same body they hired at first : they let out eight or ten ounces of his own, and then trans- fused of the sheep's arterial blood about fourteen or six- teen ounces. There was a great company present. The sweet- smelling earth found in Captain Massey's garden in Hogston, you have heard of already ; an oil has been extracted which smells sweet. The ' Journal des Scavans' relates, that Cassini hath discovered and described the motions of Venus about her own axis. Dec. 13, 1667. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 23 Sir PHIL. SKIPPON to Mr. WBA.Y. SIR, The effects of the transfusion are not seen, the coffee-houses having endeavoured to debauch the fellow, and so consequently discredit the Royal Society, and make the experiment ridiculous. Sir PHIL. SKIPPON to Mr. WRAY. SIR, Yesterday there was a letter read from Dr. Sampson (who is at Leyden) to Dr. King, giving some notable>ebservations in the anatomy of a . . near the Bodensee. Dr. Lower showed the cause of blindness in horses, which is a spongy excrescency that grows in one, sometimes in two or three places of the uvea; which, being overgrown, covers the pupil when the horse is brought into the light, but in a dark stable it dilates again. A trial was made, whether a piece of iron touched by a magnet would weigh more than it did before it was touched : this succeeded not. A present was sent from Mr. Colpresse, I think, who lives in the West, being a box full of the several mineral stones, clays, &c., observed there. Mr. Hooke has improved the pendulum watch, by making the simple vibrations pro- mote the circular motion. It is hoped the college they have designed below Arundel House, towards the water- side, will be finished by next Michaelmas. Dr. Moulin translates the ' History of the Royal Society' into French. London, Jan. 24, 1667. Sir PHIL. SKIPPON to Mr. WKAY. SIR, It is somewhat difficult for me to explain in writing the new way of pendulum. There is the common vibration that Hugenius invented in watches, and Mr. 24 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Hooke hath to that added a circular motion ; the weight at the end of one vibration is turned off by a kind of a spring, which makes the motion circular. The most considerable experiment yesterday, was the weighing of 1st, tin ; 2d, copper ; 3d, tin and copper equally mixed together : these three severally were of the same weight in the air, but in water the mixed metal weighed much lighter than the other two. A new book of Dr. H. Moor is come out, which he calls ' Enchiridion Ethicum.' Feb. 21, 16G7. Mr. WKAY to Mr. LISTER, at Burwell in Lincolnsliire. Jo. Wray D. Martino Lister, suo S. D. SENTENTIAM tuam de autoribus iis qui de Insectis commentati sunt, in plerisque probo. Aristoteles quam- vis egregius autor, confusus esse videtur aliquando et obscurus, et in quamplurimis a scopo aberrat. Qui tamcn supersunt historic animalium libri non sunt integruin Aristotelis de hac materia opus. Cum Plinius (ni male memini) quinquaginta voluminum meminit. De Aldro- vando, Alberto, Cardano, juxta tecuni sentio. In Wot- toni opere non admodum versatus sum; video tamen ilium ex antiquorum scriptis hausisse quicquid fere in illud volumen contulerit. In Mouffetum nimis iniquus videris: nam et ille, me judice, non male meruit de repub. literaria, et pleriq. viri docti mihi suffragantur. Goedartium mihi nondum videre contigit. Kircheri ju- dicium nihih facio ; an vero Insecta quasdam sponte oriantur necne, determinare nequeo. Prseter hos qui de insectis scripserunt, alicujus nominis aut pretii nullos novi: vidi ahquando in Sicilia opus manuscriptum D. Castelli Romani in duos tomos divisum. Volumen satis spissum et grande cum figuris propria ipsius manu deli- neatis, quod nescio an unquam lucem publicain visurum sit. Londiiii. xiii Kal. Mali, 1668. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 25 Mr. WEAY to Mr. LISTEE at Cambridge. J. Wray D. Martino Lister, suo S. D. PROXIMA static fuit Sheffeldia in comitatu Eboracensi. Ibi a vetere amico D. Jessop perbenevole exceptus sum, in cujus ajdibus etiamnum diversor. Quid tibi inquies illic negotii. Dicam quod res est. Scis me Phytologise studio deditum esse, et catalogum Anglias indigenarum stirpium jamdudum meditari, quern ut tandem absolutum et omnibus suis numeris perfectum reddam, nullis labori- bus parco, quin quotannis aestivis mensibus profectiones longinquas, etiam in remotissimas hujus regni provincias suscipje-, quatenus facilitates suppetunt, ad plantas inda- gandas. Hac restate Australes Eboracensis provincise tractus et Westmorlandiam mihi lustrandas proposui, quod et jam feci, duabus in eo itinere consumptis septi- manis. Nondum tamen, quod dolet, incidi in quasdum stirpes, quas in iis regionibus sponte provenire certa fides uiihi facta est. Ea sunt, Bistorta minor \Polygonum vivi- parum, Linu.], Christophoriana [Actcea spicata, Linn.], pyrola [Trientalis europcea, Linn.], Alsines flore euro- pa3a, Calceolus Maiia3 \Cypripedium Cakeolus, Linn.], Thlaspi Globularias folio, J. B. \Th. alpestre, Linn], alliseq. unde nee milii adhuc penitus satisfactum est. Hinc ego in Sheffeldia, ubi ad ajquinoctium usq. manere in animo habeo. Dabara Sheffeldia; ex a;d. D. Jessopp Broornliall dictis 7 Kal. Augusti, 1668, i. e. 26 Jul. Mr. WRAY to Mr. LTSTEE. J. Wray D. Martino Lister, suo S. D. EGO, ex quo hue veni, partim Physicis, partim Mathe- maticis studiis memet exercui ; siquidem D. Jessop ma- thematicis imprimis delectatur, in quibus non con tern - nendos sane progressus fecit. Quo consilio hoc iter 26 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. susceperim tibi (ni male memini) antea aperui; et res sane ex voto cecidit, quamvis nondum penitus institutum absolverim, aut invenerim omnes quas quaesiverim plantas, quasque in septentrionalibus hisce regionibus provenire certa fides mini facta est. Quaenam inquies sunt illae? Androsace altera Matthioli minor, Valeriana graeca [Polemonium c&ruleum, Linn.], Thlaspi Globularise folio, J. B. [Th. alpestre, Linn.]. Pyrola Alsines flore europaea [Trientalis europtea, Linn.], Polygonatum bacca nigra sim- plici, flore unico fimbriato viridi, D. Merret \_Convallaria Polygonatum, Linn.]. Bistorta minor \Polygonum vivipa- rum, Linn.], a sort of Nasturtiam folio termiter dissecto, &c. Cum vero tot adhuc species exquirendae supersint, ne me nihil omnino egisse, aut nequicquam hoc itinere profecisse suspiceris ; adjiciam earum nomina quae mihi noviter hac primum aestate observatae sunt. Sedum ericoides, J. B. \Saxifraga oppositifolia, Linn.], in summitate montis Ingleborough. Bursae pastoris loculo oblongo afnnis, pulchra planta, J. B. \Tldaspi alpestre, Linn.], in Montosis circa Settle et Ingleborough et alibi in regiuncula Ebora- censi Craven dicta. Gallium cruciatum, J. B. \G. crucia- tum, Linn.], in Westmorlandia prope Orton et alibi. Filix pumila saxatilis 2 a Clus* ibidem in muris et locis ruderatis : Crataeogono Euphrosynes facie similis n. d. quod sciam, prope Orton. Sedi aut Cotyledonis nova species in rupibus Wrenose. Descripsi praeterea accu- ratius alias aliquam multas quas olim inveneram, nimirum Filiceni quandam Petraeam crispam elegantem, sive Adi- anthum alburn floridum mihi dictum \Pteris crispa, Sw.] ; Sedum alpinum angustifolium luteum \8axifraga aizoi- des, Linn.]; Sideritidem hirsutam arvensem \Galeopsis ochroleuca, Lam.] ; Geranium Batrachoides alterum fusco simile [G. sylvaticum, Linn.] ; Rosam pomiferam fructu spinoso majorem [probably Eosa villosa, Linn.]. Os- tensa insuper mihi sunt ab aliis, Meum vulgare \_Meum athamanticum, Linn.] in Westmorlandia, via inter Sed- berg et Orton, magna in copia ; Christophoriana * See Sm. Eng. Fl. iv. 293. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 27 spicata, Linn.], in Sylvis Haselwood Eboracens. Pyrola vulgaris [P. rotundifolia, Linn.] ibidem. Helleborine flore atro-rubente \JEpipactis ovalis, Bab.] variis in locis. Bistorta major vulgaris \Polygonum Bistorta, Linn.] hie passim provenit in pascuis : Omitto Padum Theo- phrasti [Prunus Padus, Linn.J ; Paralysin Alpinam Birds- eyn dictam [Primula farinosa, Linn.] ; Salicem folio laureo sive lato glabro odorato [Saliuc pentandra, Linn.] ; Vaccinia nubis [Eubus Chamcemorus, Linn.] quae copiose collegi in monte Hincklehaugh prope Settle; Pneu- monanthen \Gentiana Pneumonanthe, Linn.], quae in agro etiam Lincolniensi abundat : Quatuor Musci cla- vati varietates, scil. Lycopodium, Sabinam sylvestrem Tragi/*SCu Museum clavatum foliis cupressis; Chama- peucen Turneri, seu Museum clavatum abietiformem, Museum forte terrestrem erectum, J. B., et tandem Museum partim erectum, partim repentem : Cirsium Britannicum repens Clus, J. B. \Carduus heterophyllus, Linn.]. Ranunculum globosum [Trottius europ&us, Linn.] : Sedum minimum \Sedum anglicum, Huds.] flore albo : Mercurialem sylv. noli-me-tangere dictam [Im- patiens noli-me-tangere, Linn.]; Trachelium majus Bel- garum [Campanula latifolia, Linn.], aliasq. quaa in his partibus satis frequentes sunt, alibi quod sciam in Anglia nusquam proveniunt. Quamvis vero plantis indagandis hoc iter praecipue destinaverim, alias tamen historiae na- turalis partes non omnino neglexi. In historia quidem Piscium nihil promovi : Avium vero 4 aut 5 species mihi oblatae sunt non antea visae, nimirum Grygallus major Gesneri, quern Francolinum Itali vocant, in montibus ericosis frequens, Red Moregame Venatores et Rustici vocant. Non me latet Gesnerum Francolinum Italorum Gallinam corylorum dictam existimare. Ego avem hanc eandem esse puto ei quam D. Thomas Crew Monspelii pictam nobis ostendebat, cujus appellationem Gallicam oblitus sum. Merula saxatilis seu montana, a Torquata dicta (ut mihi videtur), omnino diversa ; Merula aquatica et Caprimulgus ; Avicularum quoq. dua3 aut tres species, 28 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. quae nescio an, aut quibus nominibus descriptae sunt. Vin' ut observationes meas de Insectis tibi communicem ; quasi vero eae diligentiam tuam effugissent. Age, ne me in hac inculta, foecundissima tamen Philosophise naturalis parte nihil studii aut operas collocasse existimes, non pigebit eas adscribere quamvis tibi fortasse notissimas : In summitate montis oppido Settle imminentis, Apem sylvestrem observavi, cujus alas cinereae ductu nigro transverse insignes fuere. Aliam prseterea Apem syl- vestrem ex Eula in lasano seu latrina generatam aculeo carentem, alias api domesticae non absimilem. Est autem Eula haec (seu Vermiculum mavis dicere) sordide alba, oblonga, cauda tenui producta : duas insuper Apum syl- vestrium species, quae in parietibus antiquis ex luto com- positis nidificant, in agro praecipue Northamptoniensi. Verum antequam apes dimittam, de Fucis tibi respondebo. Mihi equidem nullo meo experimento constat Mares eos esse. Verum quoniam Butlerus aliiq. qui Apum histo- riam summa cum diligentia tradiderunt, id asserant, nos quoq. receptse sententiae tantisper adhaerendum censui- mus, donee falsitatis convinceretur. Formicas si eas irri- taveris (de majoribus Horse Ants dictis intellige), earum cumulos baculo agitando, liquorem quendam acetosum ejicient in baculum, qui naribus admotus eas vehementius ferit quam acetum. Si iratam Formicam cuti admoveas earn rostello primum perforat, deinde cauda obversa li- quorem hunc orificio instillat, qui pruritum et dolorem excitat. Hujus rei experimentum ego nonduin feci, ab amico tamen fide dignissimo accepi, nee de ea dubito, praesertim cum liquorem dictum adeo acrem senserim. * * * * Vale iv Idus Septemb. 1668, i. c. Sept. 10. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 29 Mr. WRAY to Mr. LISTER. Joannes Wray D. Martino Lister, S. D. LITERAS tuas et novissimas et superiores accepi, qui- bus Araneorum 30 & te nuper observatorum nomencla- turas inseruisti. Miror sane qua, arte et industria usus, tarn brevi temporis spatio, tarn angustis loci limitibus tot distinctas species investigare potueris. At vero satis mirari nequeo, unde tibi tantum otii tam alieno tempore cum curis et solicitudinibus variis perturbatus hue illuc fluctuaret animus, nee sui juris esset, ut possit cuiquam studio se totum impendere. Ego equidem (ut verum fatear)^**! Araneis inquirendis et contemplandis minus diligens et industrius fui, partim quod aliis studiis et negotiis impeditus iis attendere non vacaret ; partim quoniam ob veneni suspicionem vix tractabiles sint hse bestiolae, raihi praesertim, qui ab ineunte aetate vulgari praejudicio abreptus, ab iis nonnihil etiamnum abhorream. Ast quamvis Araneorum historiae parum peritus sim, duo tamen habeo, de quibus te consulendum censeo. Alte- rum occurrit (ni male memini, nam liber ad manum non est) in Micrographia dicta D. Hook, estque historiola per- quam lepida de arenea venatrice et insidiatrice, quam a se visam autori communicavit D. Evelyn, vide sis librum ipsum, ego enim memoriae meae non satis fido, ut earn rcferre ausim. Nunquid simile & te unquam observatum fuerit scire aveo ; nam et tu quoque in titulis ad me transmissis Araneae saltatricis unius et alterius meministi. Alterum ab amico fide dignisstmo rnihi communicatum fuit, a se saepius spectatum. Nimirum quod Aranei non- nulli telas suas non extrahant tantum et eliciant ut moris est, sed protrudant et quasi projiciant ad distantiam no- tabilem, projiciunt ihquam, i. e. prorsum ejaculantur oblique, et ad latus, et non tantum demittunt recta de- orsum, nam et hoc ab aliis observatum nobis antea inno- tuit. Quomodo illud fieri possit, quum filum non rigidum 30 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. sit baculi ad instar sed tenuissimum et ut puto molle, non satis perspicio. At ille nullus dvibitavit se rem ipsain mihi brevi monstraturum, ut oculis saltern nieis si minus ipsius sermoni crederem, quod et effecisset, ni mihi oc- cupato res memoria excidisset. Superest jam ut tu rem penitus conficias, et omnem mihi scrupulum eximas. Alia Insectorum genera non omnino neglexi Kov\toTrTtpa et aVAvrpa* at vero cum Ds. Willughby iis conquirendis, examinandis, describendis, conferendis sedulam a multis retro annis navavit operam, ego obiter tantum et animi causa hac in parte versatus sum. Age tu, procedas bonis avibus, habes quern aemuleris. Non deerit utrique ves- trum materia in qua ingenia exerceatis. Latissimus patet campus a nemine antea occupatus, nullius pede tritus. Naturae divitiae plane sunt inexhaustae, nee cuiquam post mille secula nato deerit quod scrutetur, et in quo se cum laude exerceat. Hippocrati viro summo qui jamdudum in medicina principatuin tenuit, detractum nollem, quern Spagyrici etiam mirantur, in primis Helmontius tuus, dum rarissimi doni virum et Adeptorum participem eum appellat. Libros vTriSri/uuwv nunquam legi, nee alios quam aphorismorum, in quibus ego nonnulla observavi quae mihi aut falsa aut cum ratione minus conjuncta visa sunt. Verum de his fortasse alia vice. D. Wilkins in episcopalem cathedram evectum, et sui-ipsius, et mei, et praecipue ecclesiae causa vehementer gaudeo. Me tamen per eum ecclesiae restitutum iri, stante sententia, plane est impossibile, nee enim unquam adduci me posse puto ut declarationi subscribam quam lex non ita pridem lata presbyteris aliisque ecclesiae ministris injungit, nee tamen tanti est jactura mei qui nulli fere usui ecclesia? futurus essem, utut (quod dici solet) rectus in curia starem.**** Prid. Kal. ixbris Dabam Notleiae, i. e. Oct. 31. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 31 Mr. LISTER to Mr. Ray. M. L. D. Johanni Wray, suo S. D. QUOD tibi otium nostrum probavimus, veheraenter gaudeo. At quid in me quaeris praecipuam artem, cujus tu non et author et praemonstrator fueris ! Aranearum nudi Tituli tibi arrisere : neque dubito, quin integra3 earum historic magis placuissent, ita res plane novas observavimus. Sed librum mutilare nolui, in quo nomen tuum amicitiae nostrae ergo inscripseram, neque in praesen- tia alia transcribam, quam quae a me quaeris. Itaque scito in Micrographia D. Hook duas Araneas nostras perstringi, quarifer noniina habes, nimirum unam Araneum rufam non cristatam, etc., alteramque de qua quaeris, saltatri- cem cineream, etc., atque hac etiam in nostra insula fre- quentissima est, apertoque marte venatur solertissima bestiola, ejusque venationis modum elegantissimis verissi- misque verbis enarravit D. Evelyn noster. Quod autem ego istam ejaculationem fili non ignoraveram, tibi abunde testetur Aranea volucris nostra, imo vero fere omnes, quibus est materia ad fila remittenda, idem plane facti- tant ; sed ea praecipue delectari videtur, quam ideo volu- crem appellavi an quod in ea hanc rem primum notavi. Ast ipsam rem a principio audi j profecto si mecum fuisses mense Septembri jucundissimo spectaculo te be- assem. Nam possis meminisse turn plures serenissimos dies continenter illuxisse, quales tu et ego toties admirati sumus in ilia felici Gallia Narbonensi. Ego, inquam, turn teinporis Araneas conquirendo, mirificas illas telas coslitus delapsas propius considerare volui, in quibus per- tractandis forte incidi in hanc Araneam, mihi nunquam antea visam. Hac ego novitate mire commotus, alias illico telas intercipio, aliasque easdem Araneas itidem notavi. Atqui ne adhuc quidem suspicari potui, earn tot tantarurnque telarum authorem fuisse. Forte in die- bus paucis dum attendo artificio aliarum mihi notissima- rum Aranearum, subito ab institute destitit ea quam 32 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. contemplates sum, atque resupinata anum in ventum de- dit, filumque ejaculata est quo plane modo robustissimus juvenis e distentissima vesica urinam. Miror inusitatum morem bestiolae, videoque jam filum in plures ulnas re- missum fluctuansque in acre ; mox vero insiluit ipsa bes- tiola, eoque rapiebatur, quo ducebat filurn ano etiamnum firmiter adhasrens, supraque non nimium hurniles arbores evecta est. Ego laetus alias qurero, eandemque rem mihi postea confirmarunt infinita pene experimenta. Atque illud quoque ab assidua observation e hue accedit, quod pene incredibile est, rem tamen plane conficit, nimirum dum ita volant, prioribus pedibus celerrime circumactis, id omne longissimum filum ad se retrahunt, inque glome- rem aut floccos implicant, subinde nova ob vecturam fila sufficiendo remittendoque. Tantam ego nee jam copiam miror hujusmodi telarum, cum tot earum authores sint ; nee modum fiendi, quern tibi satis, ut puto, exposui ; nee materiam cum has telap, plane ea3dem sint qua? eastern domesticaB. Unum illud est de quo dubites, has telas paulo teneriores esse, at tu cogites velim calorem solis, et si ita minus credas, fac experimentum ad ignem an recens tela aut fortasse vetus macerata non in eandem plane al- bedinem teneritudinemque coquatur. Sed de his hacte- nus; alia plura hue pertinentia, si rem fortasse jam minus illustraverim, tuque ea desideres, libenter expediam communicaboque. Cochlea?, quas superiori anno observa- veram, spiris e dextra in sinistram tortis tibi visae sunt res dignae notitia vestri amplissimi collegii. Certe scio non parvi facies originem harum telarum, de quibus quantas nugas apud scriptores etiam recentissimos ! ut aliquando homines etiam naturas liberae, cum earn satis jam vexent, diligenter attendant. Nam video somnia vulgo philosophantium jam diu plane exolescere. De Formicarum aculeo, " nihil mihi rescribis, cujus tamen, quod scio, nemo hactenus vel levissimam mentionem fecit. **** CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 33 Mr. JESSOP to Mr. WBAY. SIR, I have done the most part of that you enjoined me. I have stuffed the skins of a Moor-cock and Moor- hen [Tetrao tetrix]. I have gotten a black-legged Lin- net \Linota cannabind] ; and gathered a few of the Vac- cinia rubra \_Vaccinium vitis-idfsa, Linn.], but cannot separate the seeds as you directed. As they are, I shall send them you. I have procured the skin of a great bird, which he that gave it me called a Scarfe [Green Cormorant and Shag, C. Phalacrocorax graculus\ ; but I believe it will prove a Bernicle [Anser leucopsis]. The description of it I sent to Mr. Willughby. I have gathered some words and proverbs which I believe you have not yet met with ; and received from Mr. Fisher an account of the Hauke Butterfly. I shah 1 send you all when I know which way I may do it safely. Richard Wright is come from London, and hath done little there ; only the judge hath advised him to indite the man and the maid, if Stephen trouble him any more. This only is observable, which I was not acquainted with when you was with us, that Kurlew, the foreman of the jury, who, the spirit saith, was bribed by Stones, died raving mad within three days after he had passed his verdict, crying out that he saw the devil, and such-like expressions. This is very true, for I had it from one who was at his burial. The coroner also hath lingered away ever since the assizes, and died about the time that Wright went to London. The maid at Overhaddon still liveth, and eateth nothing. She hath been watched twice for fear of imposture ; once by the directions of a physician who lives thereabouts, and for about a fortnight since by my Lord Devonshire's order, who sent his own servants by turns. Having lately perused, amongst the Philosophical Transactions, my Lord Brounker's quadrature of the hy- perbole, which pretends to have done it only as near as 3 34 CORRESPONDENCE OF 11AY. you please, and reflecting upon some things that I had formerly considered, I grew almost confident that it might be done truly and geometrically by one that would go to work with it the right way. I am not so foolish as to think that I, who pretend not to be skilled so much as in the elements of Conies, can add any thing unto what they have done in their own way, in which they have been so long conversant. Yet, in my first entrance, there was one thing came into my mind, which all those who have written upon this subject have either not taken notice of, or neglected, which will go a great way in the business, and that is this. Si dati sint duo coni Isosceles ejusdem altitudinis, axem habentes communem, et secentur hi coni a piano axi parallelo, possibile est exhibere quadratum, quod eandem habebit rationem ad spatium interceptum inter lineam hyperbolicam, qua3 est in superficie majoris coni, et lineam hyperbolicam qua3 est in superficie minoris coni ita secti, quam habeat linea hyperbolica minoris ad lineam hyperbolicam majoris coni, addita linea hyperbolica mi- noris coni. If you think this worth your consideration, I shall send you the demonstration at a more convenient time. I am, your affectionate friend and servant, FRA. JESSOP. Broomhall, Nov. 25, 1668. Mr. WRAY to Mr. LISTER. Joannes Wray D. Martiuo Lister, suo S. D. QUOD partem aliquam lucubrationum tuarum mihi inscribere destinaveris, plurimum me tibi debere agnosco, proque tarn insigni tua voluiitate et propenso in me aninio gratias quas possum maximas refero lubens merito. In- terim tamen monendus es, ne dum affectui nimium in- dulgeas minus prudenter agas. Quin potius, dum CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 35 Integra adhuc res est, deligas tibi patronum aliquem ex antesignanis illis, magriis literatum luminibus, unde et operi tuo aliquid dignitatis et tibi ipsi fructus accedere possit. Ego enim ut qui tenuitatis meae nimis conscius sum, baud equidera tali me dignor honore. Quod ad quaesita mea tarn cumulate et perspicue respondisti, addito insuper corollario, de filis illis longissimis in aere volitantibus, quae tantopere stupet philosopbantium vul- gus, quorumque ineptas nescio quas et ridiculas causas fingit, pergratum habeo. Ego vero de hisce quoque te consuluissem superiore epistola ni e memoria excidisset, quamvis et ipse Araneorum ea opus esse nunquam dubi- taverim. Sane omnia haec tibi explorata et prospecta fuisse^eY ipsismet specierum titulis antea conjectabam. Et has et superiores tuas observationes dignissimas cen- seo quse Soc. Reg. communicentur, quod et faciam tuo nomine tuisque verbis si tibi ita visum fuerit. Quamvis, ut nihil dissimulem, ex quo hue veni, dum philosophicas trarisactiones, quas vocant, lectito mense octobri editas, literis ex insula Bermudensi ad societatem scriptis simile quiddam observatum animadverto .; quod tamen in tanta telarum et Aranearum magnitudine nemini non obvium et factu facillimum fuit. Scribit enim Bermudensis ille telas eas adeo crassas et validas esse, ut vel turdis irre- tiendis sufficiant. Superest ut tibi aperiam, me jam in sylloge proverbiorum Anglicanoram (quam olim medita- tus adagia undique turn ex familiarium colloquiis et ore vulgi, turn ex libris editis conquisiveram) ordinanda et adornanda totum esse ; eamque brevi cum commentariolis in lucem emittere ni quid vetas, cogitare. Tu vero oran- dus es ut symbolum tuum conferas, et siqua minus vul- garia et non invenusta adagia observaveris, aliquando ea nobis communicare non graveris. Formicaruin nulla a me facta mentio, quoniam nihil certi haberem quod scri- berem. An aculeuin habeant nee ne, fateor mihi non- dum experientia constare : nee enim periculum feci deses et negligens cum mihi promptissimum fuit. Tu cum id mihi persuadere conaris argumentis potius contendis 36 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. quam ad avroi//mv provocas. Ds. Willughby affirmat in minoribus formicis (nam majores in hac vicinia nulla?) sibi quaesitum, non visum tamen Aculeum an forte ocu- lorum vitio? Nam famulus, cujus ministerio usus est, adesse asserit. Ego vero expertus sum Formicas illas majusculas quas nostrates Horse-ants vocant, si illarum cumulos baculo aliquandiu agitaveris liquorem quendam acerrimum in baculum excernere aceto destillato non longe dissimilem, nisi quod nares vehementius feriat. Cujus experimenti Dr. Fisher me primum commonefecit cum Sheffeldia essem, qui et asseruit e formicis illis in cucurbitam conjectis se liquorem ejusmodi destillando elicuisse. Episcopum Cestriensem hie propediem expec- tamus, namque nos in transitu se invisurum promisit. Verum illius adventus hoc temporis articulo mihi non usque quaque gratus, quoniam subvereor ne Yersionem libri sui vehementius urgeat, ego autem alias occupatissi- mus, tot simul negotiis vix sufficio. **** Dabam Mediae villae viii. Id. Decerab. 1668. i. e. Decemb. 6. Mr. LISTEII to Mr. WRAY, in Answer to the foregoing Letter. M. L. D. J. Wray, suo S. D. NON est quod tibi pergam amplius molestum esse de Araneis ; nisi quod ipse jam proxime perlegeram episto- lam illius Bermudensis, ubi factum quidem enarrat, sed fiendi modum ridiculum exposuit; nimirum fila ab iis exspui, ac si ex ore Aranearum et non ex ipso ano ejacu- larentur: deinde istam ejaculationem, quod observavi, Araneis minime usui esse in Reticulis pertexendis, non autem ad funes eorum suspensorios adfigendos. Sed de his alias plura et exactius ; interim unum addam, quod superioribus literis omisi, me compertum habere Araneas volatum exercere, non solum ob oblectationem, sed etiam ut Culices aliasque bestiolas capiant, quorum incredibili CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 37 vi aer circa autumnum repletiir. Istam quidem vena- tionein inirincani esse oporteat, sed ea adhuc non satis niihi innotescit : hujus tantum bene memini in istis telis longissimis me membra Culicum, alas puta pedesque etc. decerptos saepius animadvertisse, non aliter quam in carum cubilibus et plagis. Quod ad Formicarum aculeos pertinet, oculis meis certam fidem habeo, eos quoties- cunque id tentare libuit (tentavi autem saepe) visos fuisse, nee nimium breves in minoribus, turn runs, turn nigrican- tibus non alatis. Nam majores ITTTTO ^vp^/cec, in nostra insula adhuc non observavi, in quibus tamen ii poterint esse magis conspicui. Sed jam suspicor ex proxima in- quisitione D. Willughby, eos posse deesse in aliquibus, si ut delstTht alse, atque in his fortasse sexus discrimen alias videbimus. Cum vero sermonem facinuis de Aculeis, ego pene persuasum habeo, eos non deesse etiam Bufoni- bus et Lacertis nostris, imo vero in singulis tuberculis (quae quot sint bene nosti in rugosis cuticulis harum be- stiolarum) singulos aut plures aculeos abscondi, et pro arbitrio exeri. Sed hsec tantum mea conjectura, cum experimenta quae de iis meditor jam commode exequi non potero. Illud verissimum est, turn Bufones turn Lacertas vexatas lactei cujusdam liquoris guttulas undique emittere ; nee cur ita id faciant video, nisi subsint stimuli ad vulnus infligendum, quo tantum eas nocere arbitror. Hue accedit ob similem rationem, quod nee te nee D. Willughby latet, inter Vermiculos e quibusproxima fce- tura fiurit Scarabsei, unum genus reperiri passim in sylvis admodum virosi atque ingrati odoris depascens folia Populi albae ; hunc, inquam, Vermiculum, si lacessiveris, statim exerit duplicem ordinem stimulorum insignium, qui antea aut ex piano erant cum superiore parte corporis, aut certe velut parva tubercula paululum eminentes; in summis autem apicibus stimulorum stant singulae gut- tula3 Iactea3 : si bestiolam vexare paulisper mittas, proti- nus subsidunt et giittulae ct stimuli, idque toties experiri licet, quoties animalculum vexaveris. Plura possem ad- jicere in hanc rem, estque turn copiosissima turn jucun- 38 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. dissima contemplatio de telis, quibus animalia et infe- runt et propellunt injurias : sed amplius nee pagina nee epistola3 modus patitur. Vale xiv Calend. Januarias. [1664, utopinor.] Mr. WHAT to Mr. LISTEB, at St. John's. J. Wray D. Martino Lister, S. D. Nos hie nuper Arbores nonnullas, Betularn v. g. acer inajus sycomorum vulgo dictum, alnum, fraxinum, cory- lum et castaneam vulneravimus, ut inde succos collige- remus In aliis expectationi nostrae eventus non re- spondit, at in betula et acere majore etiam superavit, siquidem medio Februario, incisione facta liquor nutritius ubertim extillabat, diu noctuque absque ulla intermissione, non obstante frigoris post subsecuti vehementia ; etiam cum succus statim post egressuni suum e vulnere in stirias concresceret, antequam in vas ei excipiendo subjectum defluere posset, donee tandem in ipsis pororum osculis congelascens ea penitus obstrueret. Sed et tune quoque arbor interdiu denuo lacrymare ccepit quamprimum sol glaciem dissolverat, et occlusos pororum meatus reserarat. Absque intermissione dico, non tamen omnino sine re- missione; frigus enim fluxum inhibebat, quamvis non omnino sisteret, unde tempestate calida copiosius quam frigida, et interdiu quam internoctu ob eandem rationem destillabat. Tu si modo otium, animus, et facultas fuerit, eadem et his similia experiaris rogo, non tantum in modo memoratis, sed in aliis quibuscunque arboribus, ut collatis postea experimentis, vel novis a te factis erudiamur, vel concurrentibus confirmemur, vel contrariis convincamur. Nee enim verisimile est pariter utrisque successurum, aut utrosque eadem observaturos, quin alteri inter experien- dum obvenient vel succurrent plurima, qua3 alteri vel nunquam contigerint, vel in mentem nunquam venerint. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 39 Veriim alias de his pkira, cum reliqua qua? nobismetipsis experienda proponimus absolverimus. Superest ut tibi gratias agamus (Ego et D. Willughby), quod nos insigni errore liberasti. Cum enim olim Gallinagines minores snipes vulgo dictas, et minimas tibi gids, nobis jack-snipes titulo cognitas pro una et eadem specie habuerimus, et sexu tantum diiferre credidimus, partim vulgari praeju- dicio abrepti, partim quod forte fortuna nobis oblati sunt in hoc genere duo aut tres mares, in illo totidem fceminae ; occasione tuarum literarum exactiore scrutinio facto, in utroque genere turn mares turn foeminas observavimus. Debam Media; Villa 3 Non. Mart. 1668, i. e. 13 Mar. Mr. LISTER hi auswer to Mr. WHAT. M.L. D. J.Wray,snoS.D. DE Bufonibus hoc addo, mihi compertum esse, non sine insigni periculo, eos lacessitos posse longe ejaculari istum liquorem lacteum, de quo ad te antea scripsi, et praecipue, de dorso, cervice etc. minime de ore, aut ano. Rem tamen summa cautione urgeo, earumque bestiolarum genus in species aliquot diduxi. **** IdibusMartiisl668. Mr. WRAY to Mr. LISTER. Jo. Wray D. Martino Lister, suo S. D. DUM Cestrias haesimus, forte fortuna allatus est ad urbem Delphinus antiquorum, nostratibus Porpesse dic- tus, a piscatore quodam in vado captus, a quo eum modico pretio emimus. Erat autem piscis mediocris, longitudine unius lunae, non squamosus. In fronte fistulam habuit, qua et respirare potuit et aquam rejec- 40 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. tare : tres duntaxat pinnas, in medio dorso imam, in ventre geminas, non procul a branchiarum loco, nam branchiis caret. Singulare est, in hoc pisce cauda ad cprporis planum transversa, i. e. horizonti parallela et non perpendicularis, ut in aliis omnibus quos mihi hactenus videre contigit : nam e genere Cetaceo nullus antea mihi conspectus. Cerebrum ei et Cerebellum amplissima, pia et dura matre instructa, cranio osseo inclusa, et quadru- peduni cerebris dempta figura externa (quae in hoc latior erat nee adeo producta quam in illis), persimilia. Quin et asperam arteriam et pulmones habuit quadrupedum more, qui folle inflati intumescebant, coloremque et spe- ciem Bovinorum Caninorumve omnino exhibebant. Cor gemino ventriculo instructum, cum eodem valvularum tricuspidum et semilunarium apparatu. Diaphragma musculosum. Hepar vel non omnino vel modice in duos lobos divisum. Ventriculus membranosus duplex. In- testina Mesenterio annexa longissima 48 pedum mensu- ram implebant. Tenuium et crassorum distinctio nulla, nullum intestinum ca3cum, nullum omentum, nulla cystis fellea. Pancreas ampluni manifesto ductu intestinum perforat. Renes magni ad bovinos accedentes, ex plu- rimis granulis seu glandibus conglomerati, plani et non gibbosi, aut interiore parte concavi, ureteres ab inferiore extremitate egrediuntur. Vesica urinaria pro piscis mole exigua. Penis longus, tenuis, in vaginam reductus latitat ut bovinus : testes intra cavitatem abdominis, longiusculi, suis vasis prasparantibus et deferentibus" instructi. In summa, partium omnium interiorum structura ad quadru- pedes proxime accedit : nee puto eum sine respiratione per quadrantem unius horas durare posse. Coit, generat, et educat foetus ut quadrupeda. Quin et cerebri moles (quse pro corporis ratione huic major est quam plerisque quadrupedibus) sagacissimum esse arguit hoc animal, unde fortasse fabulosa non fuerint quse a veteribus de ejus ingenio et mansuetudine literis prodita sunt. Astan- tium turba, curiose omnia rimari et accuratam anatomen instituere, nos non permisit. Alia tamen plura observa- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 41 vimus, quae ne epistolae modum nimis excedam, praetereo. Unum adjiciam. Totum corpus copiosa et densa pin- guedine (piscatores blubber vocant), duorum plus minus digitorum crassitie undique integebatur, immediate sub cute et supra carnem musculosam sita ut in porcis ; 6b quani rationem, et quod porcorum grunnitum quadante- nus imitetur, Porpesse ; i. e. Porcum piscem dictum eum existimo. Sed de DelpMno hac vice plus satis. Vidimus insuper Cestriae fceniinam cornigeram, cujus ad te famam jampridem pervenisse puto. Si masculum cornutum ibi vidissemus, res non adeo mira fuisset. Praeterea Encra- sicholos pisces, sen Anchovas non procul inde in mari captos vidimus. Superest ut tibi aperiam, et in sinum tuum ^Mundam quod ne non leviter pupugit. Pudet pigetque tabularum istarum botanicarum, in quibus con- ficiendis se opera mea usum" esse prodidit episcopus ces- triensis. Plurimum interfuisset famae meae eas aut nun- quam fuisse editas, aut saltern suppresso nomine ; sunt enim confusae et errorum plenissimae. Tu quia nondum penitius eas introspexeris ideo non damnas. Dr. Mori- son in opusculo nuper edito, cui Prseludia Botanica titu- lum fecit, illas, illarumque tacito nomine autorem, an pro meritis an indignis modis excepit, aliorum judicium esto. Nee tamen mirum tabulas confusas erroneas et imper- fectas esse, cum trium tantum hebdomadum opus fuerint, ego vero nihil antea ejusmodi destinaveram, nee de eo unquam cogitaveram. Prseterea in iis ordinandis coactus sum non natufa3 ductum sequi, sed ad autoris methodum pra3scriptam plantas accommodare, quae exegit ut herbas in tres turmas seu tria genera quamproxime aequalia dis- tribuerem, singulas deinde turmas in novem differentias illi dictas h. e. genera subalterna dividerem, ita tamen ut singulis differentiis subordinata? plantae certum nume- rum non excederent : tandem ut plantas una binas copu- larem seu in paria disponerem. Quae jam spes est me- thodum hanc absolutam fore et non potius imperfectissi- n mm et absurdam? qualem earn ipse libenter et ingenue 42 CORRESPONDENCE OE RAY. agnosco, non tarn existimationi meaa quam veritati stu- dens. Utcunque tamen autorem ilium merito contemno, qui quam vis adeo in sons sit, ut nee latine scribere norit, tarn putide tamen sibi adulatur, et stolide superbit, ut viros nrillecuplo se doctiores contenmat, et inique secum actum putet, quod non jampridem in cathedram professo- riam evectus sit. Dum vero Societatem Regiam ineptis- sime sugillat, seipsum sanis omnibus et cordatis viris deridendum propinat. Sed haec mitto. De Bufonibus mira narras, et quae ego alio autore vix credidissem. Observationes tuae in tuto sunt, et societati jampridem communicatse, quse earum autori ignoto quamvis gratias agi jussit. Vale. Dabam Middletoni Nonis Mali ] 669, i. e. Maii 7. In a Latin Letter of Sir PHILIP SKIPPON'S to Mr. WRAY, of June 1669, I find this, viz. AD Luddi portam nuper erat effossum antiquum mo- numentuin hac inscriptione. D M VIVIO MARCi ANO 7 LEG. AVG IANVARIA MARINA CONIVNX PIENTISIMA POSV IT ME MORIAM In eodern lapide est figura Militis. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 43 Mr. WHAT to Mr. LISTER, at Nottingham. DEAR SIR, Having now received a second letter from you in English, I look upon myself as licensed to answer you in your own language. I am extremely obliged to you for the catalogue of plants you sent inclosed, they coming very opportunely, now that I am (chiefly by your instigation and encouragement) revising and preparing for the press my general catalogue of English plants, which I hope to finish and get published by the next spring. I shall go over all yours, and give you an account which are to me unknown, and which I have not yet met withal m^ngland. Muscus dcnticulatus major, Park. \_Lycopodium helveti- cum, Linn.*], which you say grows plentifully in springs, it was never yet nry fortune to find in England. Muscus corniculatus,^ Park., is frequent with us here- abouts, and with the like scarlet tops. Muscus clavatus, sive lycopodium \_Lycopodium clavatum, Linn.], grows, as you well observe, on all the moors in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, &c. plentifully, and on Hanip- stead-heath, near London. Muscus clavatus cupressiformis, Park., or Sabina syl- vestris Tray. \Lycopodium alpinum, Linn.], I have observed plentifully on Ingleborough-hill, and also on Cader Idris and Snowdon Hills, in Wales. Your moss, like the pine-tree, I suppose is the same which I call Muscus erectus abietiformis \Lycopodium se- , Linn.], and have found on many of the moors. Tilia foemina is a tree very common in Essex, and many other counties of England ; 1 mean the Fcemina minor of Park. [T. parvifolia, Ehrh.], for the major [T. europaa, Linn.], I have not as yet seen anywhere with us spontaneous. I know not what to make of the Tilia mas, but suspect it to be all one with the Carpinm, or hornbeam. * [Not found iu Britain.] f [ Usually referred to CUtdotM frcata, Hoffm.] 44 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. sive fraxinus sylv., Park. [Pyrus aucuparia, Gaertn.],is common also hereabouts, though inaptly so called. Erica baccifera nigra, Park. \_Empetrum nigrum, Linn.], I have also, with you, observed plentifully on all the moors. It grows also on a heath within a mile of this place. The other two sorts of Erica you mention are frequent on all the heaths of England. Scorodonia \_Teucrium Scorodonia, Linn.] also is a plant most common in the woods in almost all parts of England, excepting Cambridgeshire. Sonckus Icevis alter parvis Jtoribus [Lactuca muralis, De Cand.] is no rare one ; and two years since I found it within a mile of Cambridge. Hieracium rectum rigidum, quibusdam sabaudum, J. B., et Hieracium fruticosum- angustifolium majus, Park. [Hie- racium umbellatum, Linn.], I do not distinguish, but make the same, and therefore desire you to tell wherein you put the difference. The plant I have observed in many sandy and some rocky grounds. Your Thlaspi fruticosum leucoii an globular ia folio la- tissimo is, for aught I know, a nondescript. I desire, if you have any of it dried, to send me a branch. I look upon it as a great discovery, if it be not Camelina Ger. Pyrola vulgaris nostras [P. rotundifolia, Linn.] I have found in many places in the north. I am much to seek what your Lcucoium, or Hesperis, with a very broad leaf, should be, unless perchance 'BursaR pasloris locido oblongo qffinis pulchra planta, J. B. \_Draba muralis, Linn.], which I have found in Craven. Lychnis sylvestris flore purpureo \Lyclmis diurna, Sibth.] is a plant everywhere very common, and doubt- less may be found in Cambridgeshire, though omitted in the catalogue. The Knoutberry I have found on all those hills you mention, but with the fruit only on Hinckell-hoe. Raspberry is also frequent on the mountains both in Wales and in the north. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 45 Mentastrum, 8fc., Park., I have seen growing wild in one or two places. Capilli veneris veri similes I desire to see a leaf of, if you have it dried. I guess it to be that which I have styled Filix saxatilis caule tenuifragili \Cystopterisfra- gilis, Bernh.] Iraclielium majm Belgarum \_Campanula latifolia, Linn.] in the mountainous parts of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, &c., is very common in the hedges and thickets. Digitalis purpurea is everywhere to be found in sandy and rocky grounds. Anatmttis lutea nemorum \_Lysimachia nemorum, Linn.] is no leslTcommon in the woods. Alchimilla vulgaris grows not only in all mountainous meadows and pastures, but also plentifully in the meadows hereabouts. Turritis vulgatior [T. glabra, Linn.] is, notwithstand- ing its name, no ordinary plant with us Ehamnus primus Diosc. \Hippophae rkamnoides, Linn.] I myself have not seen in England ; but by Dr. Maple- toft was infonned that it grew wild on the sea-coast of Lincolnshire, which you now confirm. The low sort of Salix you mention I take to be the Salix angustifolia repens of Park. \_Salix repens y Linn.], which I have seen wild in many places, but not in Cam- bridgeshire. You have been more fortunate than I in finding Va- leriana graca [Polemonium caruleum, Linn.], which I have sought in vain among Fournesse Fells, where I was informed by T. Willisell that it grew wild. Solanum lignosumflo. albo \Solanum dulcamara, Linn.*] may, for ought I see, be a new species. Lathyrus sylvestris lignosior, Park. \_L. sylvestris, Linn. ?] is to be found in the woods in most counties of England, except those midland clay grounds in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, &c. * [With white flowers.] 46 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Your small Lathyms, with a pale yellowish flower, is to me unknown, and I believe a nondescript. Vaccinia nigra vnlgaria \Vaccinium Myrtillus, Linn.] few counties of England want. The Palustria Thymi foliis \Vaccinium oxycoccos, Linn.] are more rare, though hereabouts we have them in great plenty. The rose with the large prickly fruit I take to be the Rosa sylvestris pomifera major * Park., which I have observed in many places in Yorkshire. Alsine aqualica folio oblongo \Stellaria uliginosa, Linn.] is a stranger to few places. PJtalangium nescio cujus, is it not Pseudoasphodelus Lancastrensis ? \Nartliecium ossifragum, Huds.] which is common in boggy places in the north and west of England. Geranium museum olens [Erodium moschatum, Sin.] I have found, yet never but once, wild in England that I remember. Bistorta, 8fc. \Polygonum Bistorta, Linn.], I have seen in the meadows about us here. Crocus autumnalis pratensis, unless you mean Colclii- cum (which in the west parts of England I have observed plentifully growing wild), I know not. Raphanus rusticanus \_Cocldearia Armoracea, Linn.] I never met with in the fields or meadows, where I could be assured it came spontaneously. So, sir, I have despatched your catalogue, and you may well wish that my letter too were despatched ; but I have from Mr. Willughby a business of private concern- ment. I could wish you would take pains to revise my Catalogue of Plants before it goes to the press : if you will do me that kindness, I will send the copy over to you the next opportunity. Sir, Your very affectionate friend, and humble servant, JOHN WRAY. Middleton, Novemb. 15, 1669. * [Probably R. villosa, Linn.] CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 47 Mr. WRAY to Mr. LISTER. SIR, I have perused the dried plants you sent me, and, according to niy best judgment, added names to such as wanted, and do now with thanks return you them back again. The plant you judged to be a Thlaspi, is nothing else but Glastum [Isatis tinctoria, Linn.] ; and that which you titled Lotus, is Fumaria alba claviculata [F. claviculata, Linn.] Your Hesperis is to me alto- gether new, never before seen in England or elsewhere : whether it be by me rightly referred, you are better able to judge who have seen the plant growing, and its flower in perfection. The Mentastrum 1 have found growing wild plentifully about Florence, but never in England. That which you style Capillo veneris vero similis, I make to be a sort of Adiantlmm aureum. I have often in moist places found straggling branches of such leaves at the roots of Adianthum aureum minus, but never growing so many and thick together from the same root, all of the same kind, but once, and in such a place as yours was now found. That you may be convinced that the Muscus you styled denticulatus major, is not that so named by herbarists, I have, out of Mr. Willughby's store, sent you two branches of the Muscus denticulatus major, which I must entreat you to return again, at least one of them. We have made bold to take part of such of your plants as we wanted, where you might well spare it. If you have any sorts of Mushrooms specifically distinct from those I have inserted, and of whose names you are sure, I should be glad of them, and willingly afford them room. Such of your grasses as I have not put names to I am as yet doubtful of. The Roses you mention I am well acquainted with ; the lesser being the Pimpernel rose of Gerard [Rosa spinosissima, Linn.], you will find some- thing of in my Catalogue, which I herewithal send you, entreating you to read it over so soon as your leisure will permit, to correct, as you shall see cause, and to send me your animadversions and remarks upon it, and such 48 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. additional observations of your own as I have omitted. I should be glad to know whether you have observed and considered the small Caryophyllm \I)iantlius del- toides, Linn.] growing near Nottingham (as I take it about the gallows), because Th. Willisell would persuade me that it is distinct from- that found about sandy,* and several other places in England. I once saw it but did not take exact' notice of it ; and whether you have heeded the Polemonium Petrceum Gesneri \Silene nutans, Linn.], which he brought us from Nottingham Castle walls. Many things there are in this Catalogue which I have not sufficiently cleared ; however, I am resolved now to huddle it out and get my hands rid of it. One thing I must not omit to tell you, that I have robbed you of the credit those observations you communicated to the Society have gained in foreign parts, by letting my name stand before them and suffering yours to be sup- pressed ; for I hear they are attributed to me : whereas I never had either the wit to find out, or the good fortune to hit upon any so considerable and unobvious experi- ments. Proceed in your ingenious studies and inquiries, for methinks Providence doth seem remarkably to succeed your endeavours, and communicate somewhat of your discoveries from time to time to, Sir, Your very affectionate friend, and humble servant, JOHN WRAY. Middleton, Decemb. 10, 1669. Mr. LISTER to Mr. WRAY. MY DEAR FRIEND, I am glad to hear you commend Salmasius ; I never yet read the preface, but you speak judiciously of the work : I remember you once took away the prejudice I had against Pliny, and I have ever since * SANDY is the name of a place in Bedfordshire, not an adjective. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 49 looked upon him as a great treasure of learning. I could wish that you would give us your thoughts, too, of both the ancient and modern historians, and add this to your preface. I remember my Lord Bacon rashly censures all, and rejects the whole design as supervacaneous ; but yet, methinks, not without some contradiction to his own principles ; for if a particular nature or phenomenon may be in some particular body more bare and obvious, with- out doubt the greater number we have of particular histories, the plentifuller and clearer light we may ex- pect from them. For my part, I think it absolutely necessary that an exact and minute distinction of things precede our learning by particular experiments, what dif- ferent palts each body or thing may consist of; likewise concerning the best and most convenient ways of sepa- ration of those parts, and their virtues and force upon human bodies as to the uses of life ; all these, besides the different textures, are things subsequent to natural history, unless you make the last assistant, as indeed all the rest are, were they truly known ; but I am too bold to venture thus much, before my master, and I hope you will now soon let the world know they have too long neglected what you can teach them to prize. Another time we will, if you please, talk of the advantage England has in being an island, to set a copy of this nature to the rest of the world, and to set forth exactly what she has of her own. I am but a learner, and a very young one in minerals, but I am pretty confident that it is yellow Amber they find not unplentifully after great storms on Lindsey coast. I have near lib. i. by me that I bought of the poor fishermen's wives at Thedle Thorpe ; some pieces of it are transparent and of a dark yellow ; others alike transparent, but of a brighter yellow ; others again are of a pale yellow and troubled, as though they were fattish : likewise of the jet, i. e. the great pieces and grove, i. e. the small dust, I have of both by me, and I do think them not channel, because they burn with much difficulty and are not kindled but on wind-hearths, as I 4 50 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. may call them, being the country people that make use of it have fire-hearths, made on purpose for that fuel, that have holes under them, which are pierced through the foundation of their houses ; whence an unmannerly pro- verb is used among them, " Neighbour, is the wind in your hole this morning?" That is, have you the conve- niency of keeping in fire to-day ; else it grimes not, is light, and many pieces if rubbed will draw straws : if I have an opportunity I will send you of the one and of the other, and also the legs of the Buzzard [Buteo vul- garis] , for that is all I have of it by me ; but upon com- paring them with the Kite [Milvus vulgaris], the Bald Buzzard,* and Wood Buzzard, f you will find them ex- ceedingly different : but Mr. Willughby did almost per- suade me it was the Milvus ceruginosus, Aldr. ; j for, indeed, it is of a self colour, that is, all over of one rusty colour, just like the rust of iron, as you may guess by what feathers yet stick to the knees. You will be pleased, at your best leisure, to send me an account of the authors that have written on minerals and fossils, for I am, as I said, but a beginner, in this part of natural history, and I have great encouragement, besides my profession, not to be ignorant in this part especially, having great hopes of considerable mines in my own lordship in Craven ; therefore I would furnish myself with the best authors. I had written almost hitherto when Mr. Willughby's keeper brought me the happy piece I so long desired to see ; I read it over forthwith greedily, and am extremely pleased that you have added the particular uses to the titles. I have no additions to make you an offer of, only I read it not without pen, ink, and paper by me, on which I now and then scrawled something, and have taken the boldness to send it you. Mr. Willughby was, as it were, desirous to know some- * [A name for the Osprey, Pandion TiaUiz. one they call a Lantern Fish [the Whiff, Rhombus megastomd\, another they call a Queen. But of these things I hope to receive more full and particular satisfaction from you. As for what you have published in print, I judge it worthy of you, and think you deserve much thanks and commendation for so frankly communi- cating your ingenious observations and useful discoveries to the world, and will, doubtless, be recompensed with the honour due to you therefore. In one thing I am as yet of a different opinion from you, and that is the origin of those stones which we usually call petrified shells, though you want not good ground for what you assert. Middleton, March 2, 1671. Mr. JOHNSON to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, You have the head of a Fieldfare [Turdus pilaris\ almost white, the rest of the body was not at all altered, whether it be lusus natures, old age, or some accidental cause, I know not. I have only observed * Perhaps the Rough Dab, Platessa limandoldes. 9fr CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. this change from proper colours to white in Larks which are about Carlisle, to be very usual in Titlarks [Anthus fratensis] , which I have seen on our moors ; in Crows Corvus corone], whereof there is one just now in Cliffe- wood, near Peirce Bridge; in Daws [Corvus monedula], whereof, this year, one was at Hurworth, near Croft Bridge, which was altogether white, neb [beak], nails, and all ; and in Sparrows [Passer domesticus], which is usual. I have sent you the little yellow bird [Sylvia sylvicola*] you called Regulus non-cristatus, what bird it is I know not ;f but we have great store of them each morning about sunrise, and many times a day ; besides, she mounts the highest branch in the bush, and there, with bill erect, and wing hovering, she sends forth a sibilous noise like that of the grasshopper, but much shriller. It is like enough our Whitethroat [Curruca cinerea] is of the FicedulfB ; for it is her manner with us to fall upon a fair and ripe cherry, whose skin when she hath broken, with a chirp she invites her young brood, who devour it in a moment. Brignall, near Greta Bridge, March 29, 72. Dr. LISTER to Mr. RAY. DEAR SIR, I shall teh 1 you only that Kermes is this year a greater puzzle to rne than I expected it would have proved. For I observe 1, That these are soft in the early spring, and very pulpy. 2. That not only that which I took to be the excrement of the bees, but also * Called also S. sibilatrix, in reference to its note. f Doubtless this bird was the Locustella, in Willughb. Ornith. book 2, ch. 2, sec. 5, and not the Regulus non-cristatus, ch. 12, which I call the Yellow Wren, and of which I have discovered three distinct species, but not one of them that sings as is here described, and as I have seen two sorts (if I mistake not) of Locustella birds do. W. D[erham]. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 97 the liquameri itself, which I took to be provision of bee- meat, is nothing else but an infinite number of small eggs, out of which a certain sort of mites (as I take them to be) are hatched. 3. That these kermes seem to be of dif- ferent sorts; some having red, or carnation-coloured mites in them, wrapped up in a pure white silk ; others are of white colour, &c. 4. That not only the bee mag- gots I described the last year have been found in these kermes, but as Dr. Johnson of Pomfret assures me, he found in one kermes one large maggot filling all the husk. I desire to know what you and Mr. Willughby have farther observed on this subject. Mr. OLDENBURGH'S* Letter. SIR, After my long silence, I must now put you in mind of some particulars which were recommended to you and Mr. Ray when you were with us here. One was to communicate what you had observed concerning the Vermis setaceus, or Hairworm, of which Mr. Lister had made so rational a narrative already. Another, to experiment to what degree of magnitude a maggot may be advanced, by continuing to give it new flesh every two or three days, upon the occasion of Sir Sam. Tuke's relation of a maggot, which, within two months, by that way increased to the bigness of a man's thigh. A third, to try whether insects will be bred in a beef's bladder so close that no passage be left for any flyblows. And because flies may be said to have blown on the outside of the bladder, and the flyblows to have eaten through the bladder, it will be proper to include such a bladder in a case, to defend it from flyblows outwardly as well as in- * [Memorials, p. 30.] 98 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. wardly. A fourth, to try, if occasion serveth, the virtue of Lichen cinereus terrestris \Peltidea canina, Ach.], which was said to be exceedingly efficacious in curing dogs bitten by mad dogs. A fifth, to inquire of Mr. Fisher whether he be master of the experiment of dissolving glass, and reducing it into a white calx ; and after the glass is well moistened with the menstruum, whether it be capable to be shaved with a knife, almost like horn? And, farther, whether the menstruum employed for that purpose performs upon all sorts of glass ? I intreat you, sir, to present Mr. Ray with my hearty service ; and, he being concerned in some of these par- ticulars, to give him the reading of this paper. Dr. Grew is now amongst us at Arundel House, making now and then very good observations upon plants ; and having showed to the company, among divers particulars, the tracheae mentioned by Malpighi in his ' Discourse of Vegetables,' that you have seen. He hath been desired to endeavour whether he can discover any such thing as a peristaltic motion in plants when growing ; for which purpose he hath been directed to choose some of the bigger sort, wherein that motion, if there be any such, is like to be more discernible. We hope, sir, that you and your friend will join in making a research so considerable. I presume you know that Mr. Boyles's essay of the ' Origin and Virtues of Gems ' is now abroad ; and I be- lieve that Signer Malpighi's discourse ' De Formatione Pulliin Ovo Fcecundo,tamnon Incubato quam Incubato' will be printed in a short time. I desire very much to know that these lines are come to hand.* London, July 6, 1672. * [To whom this letter was addressed does not appear : probably Mi Willughby.j CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 99 Mr. JOHNSON to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, I saw near Kendal, to my great wonder, a Broom-tree (if I may so say) four or five yards high, much thicker than my leg, spreading large branches every way, adorned with large fair flowers, a very fair spectacle. I found at Haughter, in the Bishopric, your Varietas altera Jacea nigrce, with the flower all white, a very pretty plant, worthy a garden. Brignall, August 5, 72. Dr. LISTER to Mr. RAY. SIR, August 18 1 passed through Marton Woods, under Pimco Moor, in Craven. In these woods I then found very great plenty of mushrooms, and many of them then withered, and coal-black, but others new sprung and flourishing. They are some of them of a large size, and yet few much bigger than the champignon, or ordinary red-gilled eatable mushroom, and very much of the shape of that that is, an exactly round cap, or crown, which is thick in flesh, and open, deep gills underneath ; a fleshy, and not hollow, round foot-stalk, of about six fingers' breadth above ground, and ordinarily as thick as my thumb ; the foot-stalk, gills, and cap, all of a milk- white colour. If you cut' any part of this mushroom, it will bleed exceeding freely and plentifully a pure white juice. Concerning which, note 1 . That the youngest did drop much more plentifully and freely than those that were at their full growth and expansion. That the dried and withered ones had no signs of milk in them that I then discerned. 2. That this milk tastes and smells like pepper, and is much hotter upon the tongue. 100 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 3. That it is not clammy or ropy to the touch. 4. That although I used the same knife to cut a hun- dred of them, yet I could not perceive, all that time, that the milk changed colour (as is usual with most vegetable milks) upon the knife-blade. 5. That it became, in the glass phial I drew it into, suddenly concrete and stiff, and in some days dried into a firm cake, or lump, without any serum at all. 6. That it then also, when dried, retained its keen biting taste, as it does at this day, yet not so fierce. Its colour is now of a yellowish-green, yet very pale. 7. This milk flows much faster from about the outmost rim, or part equivalent to the bark of plants, than from the more inward parts, &c. 8. I observed these mushrooms even then, when they abounded with milk (not to be endured upon our tongues), to be exceeding full of fly-maggots ; and the youngest and tenderest of them were very much eaten by the small, gray, naked snail. You can tell me what author describes this mushroom, and what he titles it. I have revised the History of Spiders, and added this summer's notes. Also I have likewise brought into the same method the land and fresh-water snails, having this year added many species found in these northern lakes ; and by way of appendix I have described all the shell- stones that I have anywhere found in England, having purposely viewed some places in Yorkshire, where there are plenty. The tables of both I purpose to send you. I am not so thoroughly stocked with sea-shells as I wish and endeavour. I aim not at exotics, but those of our own shires. Concerning St. Cuthbert's Beads, I find three species of them in Craven ; and this makes it plain that they have not been the back-bone of any creature, because I find of them rarnous and branched like trees. York, October 12, 1672. CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 101 Mr. JESSOP to Mr. RAY. SIR, I received both yours, and am very glad to hear of your design of reviewing Mr. Willughby's Collections ; and I shall give what assistance I can in the business concerning Hawks. In the mean time you may peruse Latham's ' Falconry/ whose descriptions are true, though not perhaps so full as you may expect. There are, be- sides these that are mentioned in the common books, a Boccarell and a Boccaret, the which, although I have often seen, yet I did not observe them so well as to be able to describe them exactly. They are the names of the male* and female. A Boccarell I once kept myself, which was much larger than either the Lanner or Falcon ; and yet the common tradition is, that they are a bastard Hawk, bred betwixt a Lanner and a Falcon ; how true I know not. March 14, 72. Mr. JESSOP'S Paper. My Mun William's way of making Hard Soap. TAKE wood-ashes, and ashes of nettles or thistles (for fern-ashes make the soap soft), as much as you please ; put unto them a third part of lime ; make a hole in the ashes, and lay the lime in the middle of the ashes, and quench it with water or small ley ; then cover it with the ashes that lie round it close, so let it lie for half a quarter of an hour, or thereabouts, till you think the lime be fallen. With a shovel mix them well together, having your fat, or tub, ready, for fear they lose their virtue. Let your fat, or tub, have a hole in the bottom ; cover it with a slate-stone, or board, laid upon other little stones, which may keep it about an inch from the bottom of the tub ; and over the slate-stone, or board, lay straw to 102 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. keep the ashes from the hole. Fill the tub almost full with the ashes and lime mixed as above, and press them down pretty hard; lay a wisp of straw on the top of the ashes in the middle of the fat, to keep the water from making a hole ; pour on a little water upon the wisp at first, so as it may spread in the ashes about a hand- breadth about the wisp ; then pour on more than at the first, as soon as the first is drunk up by the ashes ; and at the next time you may pour so much as will spread over all the tub ; and if it take that without breaking the ashes, you may pour on more. If that ley which comes through the hole into your receiver at the first be not clear, put it up again, and so long continue pouring on water as the ley in the receiver will bear an egg ; and this they call strong ley. Keep this by itself, and pour on cold water again, and the next will be middle ley, which you must know by its taste. The last will be small ley, prepared after the same manner, which hath scarce any taste at all. Take next a hundred weight of tallow ; put it into the copper ; put about six gallons of middle ley upon it ; then put fire under the furnace, and melt it down in the ley, but so as it do not boil . Draw the fire from under it, and let it stand for four or five hours; then warm it again, and put in three or four gallons of strong ley, and so let it cool again four or five hours. Warm it again, and, if need require, put in more ley, which you will know by the sharpness of the taste of the soap : if it be pretty strong, let it boil until it become like a jelly. When it is ready for graining, if you dip your knife into it, and take out some, and let it cool, it will roll about your knife. To grain it, or separate the ley from the soap, put in a peck of bay-salt ; then keep a fire only upon one side of your copper, so that it may boil only on that side where the fire is. After it hath boiled a little, take out some of the ley, and look whether the tallow be clearly separated ; if not, you must put in more salt. It must CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 103 boil till all the froth, which will rise at first a great height, be wholly fallen ; then take the soap out of the ley with a scummer, and put it into a chest with a sheet under. Take an ounce of indigo, beat it to powder, put it unto a pottle of middle ley in a little pan, and put unto it some hot soap out of the copper, so as to make it pretty thick. Let it boil ; and, being hot, pour this into the middle of the soap in the chest. Whilst it is hot, stir it up and down with a stick very well, and it will make blue veins in the soap. When it grows cold, they cut it into square cakes with wires. Dr. LISTER to Mr. KAY. DEAR SIR, I am very joyful at the news you give me of your thoughts of publishing the Natural History designed by Mr. Willughby. I am very sensible of the great pains it will ask to perfect any one part of it. I only beg of you that you will let one part see the light before you undertake the next, and that they may not stay one of another. My notes are very slender upon the subject of birds. I have very little time to bestow upon natural history, yet what pleasure I give myself is to divert myself that way, I have been at Bugthorp since I last wrote to you, to view the place of petrified shells. I shall not trouble you at present with any of my observations made there, save that I found some Star-stones branched, as I had found formerly St. Cuthbert's Beads in Craven. This year has much changed my thoughts concerning kermes. I have found them upon old ropes and deal boards. I am pretty confident that it is an animal of the multipede kind, which does fix itself in order to the laying of its eggs ; and that the eggs are laid and fastened about 104 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. its belly, just as the eggs of a cray-fish are under her tail. I have taken the animals before the fixing of themselves ; but shall tell more of this ere long. For other discoveries and experiments I refer you to a late letter I wrote to Mr. Oldenburgh, which he threat- ened to print in the next Transactions. When you see it, give me your opinion freely of the particulars. York, June 20, ?3. Mr. RAY to Dr. LISTER. DEAR SIR, I received your last letter of November 1 1 , with your accurate observations about St. Cuthbert's Beads. A strange thing it seems to me, that the broken pieces of those bodies which you find (I mean of the main stems) should be of equal bigness from top to bottom, and not at all tapering, if they be indeed the bodies of rock-plants. There are found in Malta certain stones called St. Paul's Bastoons, which I suppose were origi- nally a sort of rock plants, like small snagged sticks, but without any joints, the trunks whereof diminish, according to the proportion of other plants, after the putting forth of their branches. Those roots that you have observed are a good argument that these stones were originally pieces of vegetables. Wonderful it is that they should be all broken, and not one plant found remaining entire ; and no less wonderful that there should not at this day be found the like vegetables growing upon the submarine rocks, unless we will suppose them to grow at a great depth under water. And who knows but there may be such bodies growing on the rocks at this day, and that the fishers for coral may find of them, though, being of no use, they neglect and cast them away. Certain it is, that there is a sort of coral jointed. The small collec- tion of local words I mentioned to you is abroad. I had sent you one of them, but that I knew not how to get it CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 105 conveyed, unless I had sent to Mr. Martin for direction ; and truly the thing is so inconsiderable a trifle, that I thought it not worth the while to give him the trouble. Besides, it is so ill corrected, that I am also in that re- spect ashamed of it. I am going on as fast as I can with the Ornithology. That the work may not be defective, I intend to take in all the kinds I find in books which Mr. Willughby de- scribed not, and to have a figure for all the descriptions I can procure them for. I have sent this week to Mr. Martin to begin to get some figures engraved. Middleton, Nov. 29, 73. Mr. JOHNSON to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, You desired a particular account of the Barnacles, which I have given, and am confident they are two species at the least, yet so near akin, that they have all a dark veil, covering head and neck alike. If you have not yet determined what those shells upon old planks and ships (which antiquity fancied to be young goslings) are, give me leave to propound one conjecture among many, viz. that they are the spawn of shrimps. It was my brother Jo. Johnson's observation, who told me, that so far as his naked eye could discover, there was an exact proportion of parts betwixt the contents of those shells and the shrimp. If this conjecture have any- thing of probability in it, pray examine it farther ; if not, pardon this trouble. The conjectural reasons which I here and there add of the parts of fowls I express posi- tively, to avoid prolixity of words ; and if in many of them I err (as like enough I may), it is not for want of . Most of the Latin names I give are Jo. or Gesn., for I have not Aldrovand., though I confess sometimes their descriptions are imperfect, or do not exactly agree ; and 106 CORRESPONDENCE OF 'KAY. sometimes (though rarely) I take the liberty to feign a name where I find not one. It is commonly reported with us of the Heron [Ardex cinerea] and Bittoun [Botaurus stellaris] , that they have but one wide gut, and therefore, they say, when they eat an eel, she presently goes through them, which the heron in her flight catches again and again ; but when I opened them I found the story false, for they had guts like other birds for anything I saw ; therefore I rather think the eel (if at all) makes her escape out of her feet. Brignall, Jan. 15, 167?. I have often taken notice that the summer birds do all, or most of them, feed on such insects whose being consists mostwhat in motion I mean who have more store of animal soul than of all the rest, and therefore afford a plentiful supply of animal spirits to the brain, and genus nervosum of the birds, which I sometimes fancy to be the reason why these birds are so restless in motion, and such continual singers ; and perhaps some reason may be taken from hence why the Sows [Omscidte], and some other insects, are so beneficial to the nervous kinds, and why a greater medicinal improvement may be made of insects. Mr. OLDENBUKGH to Mr. RAY. SIR, My worthy neighbour, Mr. Hatton, giving me a visit, acquainted me that my Lord Mordaunt hath at his house at Parson's-green, near London, some of those Barbadoes Turtles that are not bigger than larks, and that his lordship is willing to permit any artist that shall come to him in his, Mr. Hatton's, name to take a draught of that bird. If, therefore, you are minded to have that bird inserted in your History of Volatiles, it not being hitherto described, as Mr. Hatton thinks, you may give order to Mr. Martin to send some fit person to the place CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 107 mentioned to receive that satisfaction, which I could not omit to give you notice of. London, July 11, 74. Mr. HAY to Dr. LISTER. DEAR SIR, In the last ' Philosophical Transactions,' I saw a table of land and fresh-water snails of your draw- ing up, which is indeed very full and disposed in an excellent method, and the lively figure of each shell, being elegantly engraven, added; so that there is little wanting to a complete history of them. I have not been very curious in searcnlng out and noting the varieties of our English land-snails ; many of yours I have not taken notice of. The second kind I think is that you and I observed about Montpellier, but I do not remember to have seen it in England. Of your water-snails I have discovered most, if not all. Your first Buccinum, which is the 18th in the plate, I used to call Conchula persica for some resemblance, if I mistake not, it hath to that shell. It hath also the likeness of those they call Porcelain shells beyond seas, and use for cosmetics. I have observed a small water- snail in our brooks, which I used to term Nerites fluvia- tilis for its similitude, which I think is not in your table, unless it be the 18th ; but then it is not rightly figured, for the bottom or vertex in mine is round and not at all produced. I have also observed abundantly in our brooks a, Patella Jlumatilis no broader than a lentil sticking to the stones. But of these things, being thus by you quick- ened, I shall hereafter, God granting life and health, take more exact notice. I thank you for your communications, and exhort you as earnestly as I can to proceed with all vigour in your search into the history and mysteries of nature ; in the prosecution whereof, the success you have already had, and discoveries you have made, have both rewarded your endeavours and given you encouragement to persist. 108 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. OLDENBUKGH to Mr. RAY. SIR, My late absence from London, and other occa- sions, have kept me from sooner giving you the following account from Signor Boccone, in return to the letter you wrote to him, which, it seems by this his answer, was without your name to it. He saith thus in French : L'autheur de la lettre latine tesmoigne d' avoir beau- coup de bonte pour moi, et ce ne puis luy respondre dans les formes, a cause que la dite lettre n'est point signee. Je croy pourtant de pouvoir deschiffrer 1'autheur, par I'histoire de ses voiages en Sicile, et a Malthe, et de ni'arrester sur la personne illustre de Monsieur Rayus. Je vous prie done, de luy vouloir rendre mes tres-humbles reconnoissances, et de luy temoigner mes obligations ; et que, s'il arrive jamais qu'il revient en Italic, je le serviray pour compagnon dans toutes les peines inevitables, qu'on rencontre dans les occasions d'herboriser. La Vicia sesamacea [Astragalus sesameus, Linn. ?] qui a este descrite par Fab. Columna differe d'avec la Securi- daca siliquis fabaceis [A. btsticm, Linn.], en beaucoup de parties ; scav. les siliques, que produit la dite Vicia, sont plus petites, plus aigue's, et (ce qui est le plus remarqu- able) attachees au caulis sans la mediation sensible du pediculus ; ce qui n'arrive guere dans les parties de la Securidaca sicula. J'ay trouve une figure de Vicia sesa- macea, qui a este tiree avec la mesnie plante selon la methode prescrite par Spigelius dans son Isagoge: si vous ou M. Rayus ferez tirer la figure de la Securidaca siliquis fabaceis par la mesme methode, vous connoistrez d'abord par cette espece de demonstration la difference des parties. Pour le present j'ay 1'honneur de vous envoier le portrait, mais avec le temps ce pourroy vous envoier la plante mesme, "ou ses graines. II me semble, que j'ay remarque dans les ' Observations Topographiques' quel- ques plantes, que j'ay trouvees dans la Sicile, sgav. un CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 109 Hypericum, un Gramen, une Jacea, une Campanula, une Lychnis, et autres plantes rares. Je souhaite avoir un exemplaire de cet ouvrage, pour y expliquer, a 1'occasion d'une autre impression, que ces plantes la sont les mesraes avec celles, que M. Ray us et moy avons observees et des- crites. Et je dois faire cela pour rendre justice a ce sgavant voiageur, et pour empescher la multiplication des especes, estant les mesmes plantes. J'apprens avec plaisir, que le Solanum spinosum man/time tomentosum a este apporte de la Virginie en Angleterre la premiere fois, cela m'ayant este inconnu jusques icy. So far Signer Boccone. To which 1 shall add some- thing tKaf may concern the Ornithology ; which is, that I saw lately two or three sorts of East Indian birds, brought thence with the last return ships, very fine creatures ; and they were: 1. A curious speckled Indian hen. 2. Some East Indian pigeons, delicately shaped. 3. Some very small birds, with short scarlet beaks, and curiously speckled feathers, &c. These, if we could learn their names and something of their nature and qualities, were very well worth, in my opinion, to be taken into your book. I hear they are shortly to be brought from Wap- ping (where I saw them in the company of my Lord Brouncker) to Tower-hill ; and, if they be so, we may then get a draught of them, if you think fit, for the en- graver, especially if the person that brought them can give us any tolerable description of them. I cannot conclude this without giving you notice, that the Council of the Royal Society intends to engage those of the Fellows of that body, that are able and willing, to give them once a year, each of them, an experimental entertainment at their ordinary meetings, that is, some good discourse grounded on experiments made or to be made ; that so their weekly meetings may be more considerable and inviting than hitherto they have been, and the work of the Society not lie altogether on the shoulders of three or four of the Fellows. And this being 110 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. to reach the absent as well as the present, I mean of those that have opportunity and ability, I do herewith intimate to you (as I have lately done to Mr. Lister), that you are looked upon as one of those which the said council have in their eye for such an exercise, desiring you that you would think upon such a subject as yourself shall judge proper for one entertainment of that company after our anniversary election-day the next year ; and if your occa- sions should not permit you to step to London to present your discourse yourself, they have found an expedient, viz. to desire you, and such others as shall be in that case, to send it up to London to any of your friends that may present and read it for you. It is farther intended, that such discourses shall be made public if the author so think fit, not otherwise. Pray, sir, let me know that you have received this, together with your particular answer to the latter part thereof. London, Sept. 15, 74. Dr. LISTER to Mr. RAY. DEAR SIR, I am well pleased you like the Table of Snails ; some things I have thought fit to alter since they were sent up; particularly the title of the third snail, which I now call, after a great collection of them, by this title, which I think will comprise all the difference, Cochlea citrina aut Leucoph&a unicolor, vel unica, vel %, vel 3, vel 4, plerumque, vero quinis fasciis pullis distincta. Again, some of the figures are unhappily mistaken by the graver, which I hope to get corrected; particularly the 19th, which I guess to be that you mean by your Nerites fuviatilis. This I say, if any, is that you mean ; but I hope yours is a new species. I have myself figured it by the life, and indeed it was as truly designed before in the design, but I know not how monstrously mistaken by the graver in the plate. It is true, the second is that you and I found CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Ill about Montpellier ; but I have found it in divers places in England since ^my return, in Kent, in Lincolnshire, here at Oglethorpe, in a woody bank, upon the wharf plentifully near the paper-mills. The Patella fluviatilis you mention is a curious discovery, and is wholly new to me ; I shall look for it here if perchance it may be found in these parts. York, October, 1674. Dr. LISTER to Mr. RAY. DEAR FRIEND, I had a letter from the Barbadoes from a"foarned and ingenious physician of that island the other week ; he practised long in Cleveland, and, in his passage this summer to the Barbadoes, gives me an account of two birds he met with at sea. I thought to ask your opinion of them. I shall transcribe that part of Dr. Town's letter to me that mentions those birds : " One night, when the mariners were disagreeing about our distance from Barbadoes, a bird, by the seamen usu- ally called a Booby [Pelecanus sula], lighted upon a man sleeping on the quarter-deck, which, from its stupidness has its name, for it sat very quietly looking about it until it was taken by a seaman's hands ; and by the cry of this (which is like, and almost as loud as the sound a buck makes upon the rut) immediately came another Booby, which was taken after the same manner. And many more might have been so taken, the seamen said, had there been more about the ship ; but they were wel- come guests, because they put us out of doubt, as usually appearing about forty or fifty leagues from land. They are of no beauty at all, yet I will send them to you, because they are great enemies to the flying-fish. As soon as we crossed the tropic we were met by a bird called the Tropic-bird [Phaeton tetliereus], because they commonly are first seen at twenty-two or twenty-three degrees of latitude. They are about the bigness of a parrot; the 112 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. feathers appeared white, with red intermixed ; the beak crooked and of a scarlet colour ; their tail at a distance not to be seen, but nigh at hand about the thickness and length of an ordinary tobacco-pipe. I wonder what their food may be so far from land, for I cannot learn that they have been observed to prey upon any fish or birds, unless they resort to some small island yet undiscovered. I heard, since I came hither, that they frequent the rocks on the windward, or eastern part, of this island ; which, if true, I will endeavour to procure some," &c. York, December 13, 1674. Mr. RAY to Dr. LISTER. DEAR SIR, I thank you for the information sent about the birds. I have read of the one in some books of voyages, viz. the Booby, but know nothing else of it but the name. I wish I had a particular description of it, that so I might insert it in our Ornithology. The Doctor, your friend, seems to promise you the bird dried, which, when you receive, I shall beg a description of it from you. The Tropic-bird dried I have seen in the Repository of the Royal Society, and have described as well as I can, I find it to belong to that sort of birds which I call Palmi- ped, with all the four toes webbed together, such as are the Cormorants [Phalacrocorax carbo] and Soland-goose \j3ula alba\ ; and therefore, without doubt, preys upon fishes and lives only upon them. That which I observed most remarkable in it was, that the tail consisted only of two very long feathers ; at least, I was informed that it had only two feathers in the tail, and there were but two left remaining in the case, which accords well with what Dr. Towne writes ; yet I am suspicious, that besides those two long feathers, there are other shorter in the tail. Having finished the History of Birds, I am now CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 113 beginning that of Fishes, wherein I shall crave your assistance, especially as to the flat cartilaginous kind, and the several sorts of Aselli [the family of the Cod-fishes, Gadidts] especially I desire information about the Cole- fish \filerlangm carbonarius\ of Turner, which I suppose may sometimes come to York. When I was in Northum- berland I saw of them salted and dried, but could not procure any of them new taken. Besides the common Cod-fish [Morr/tua vulgaris\, the Haddock [Morrhua cegle- fnus], Whiting \Merlangus vulgaris], and Ling [Lota molva], I have in Cornwall seen and described three other sorts of Aselli, from which I would gladly know whether the Cole-fish be specifically distinct. I am also at a losslftTout the Codling* of Turner, what manner of fish it should be, and how certainly differenced from the Cod- fish. Of the flat cartilaginous I have seen and described four or five sorts, but I am to seek what our fishermen mean by the Skate [Raia batis], and what by Flair [Fire- flaire, the Sting Ray, Trygon pastinacd], and what by Maid.f By the affinity of name one would think that the Skate should be Squatina, which yet I believe it is not. The sorts of Raia that I have seen and described are the Thornback, or Raia davata, a certain and character- istic note of which is want of teeth. 2. The Raia laevis vulg. 3. Raia lavis oculata, with only two black spots on the back, one on each side. 4. The Raia Oxyrhyn- chos. 5. The Rhinobatos, or Squatano-raia. Rondeletius, and the following authors out of him, have many more sorts. But I have not time to add more, than that I am, &c. Middleton, Dec. 19, 74. * A name for the young of the Cod-fish. f A name bestowed on the females of several species as Skate-maid, Homelyn-maid, Thornback-maid, &c. &c. 114 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. OLDEXBURGH to Mr. BAY. SIR, Your accurate discourse touching the Seeds, and the specific difference of Plants, was read before the Royal Society on Thursday last, and was so well received, that the President, in the name of the whole body, returns you their hearty thanks for so good an entertainment. They doubt not but that you will in good time commu- nicate to them also what you shall farther observe con- cerning the seeds of bulbous plants, and the positive specific difference of plants; and they wish you much health and good success for performing what you intend in reference to the history of animals : wherein, if I could contribute anything, I would do it with great joy. I received lately from Hamborough a German description of that country in Africa, called Fetu (of which I have given some account in the last 'Transactions' of No- vember), and found in the book bound some loose cuts which I see not that they belong to that book ; amongst them were these three here inclosed, which I thought fit to send you, that you might see whether you have all the birds therein expressed, and whether you know the plants that are in one of them. That cut which is marked 1, seems to represent the Anas arcticd Clusii [the Puffin], the eye only is different, if I mistake not. You may, when you have done with them, return them to me in a paper to Mr. Martin, to whom I spoke lately that I had gotten permission to have a draught taken of the East Indian pigeons, and the other birds, brought from those parts by Captain Erin, now living on Tower-hill, if it were worth while. But he tells me, that since we cannot have their names and peculiarities, it will be improper to insert them into your Ornithology. All that I could learn of the pigeons was, that they were Suratta pigeons, sprightly, and with extraordinary broad tails, which they spread out almost peacock-like. And as to the other birds, no more can be said of them, than what fine shape CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 115 and variegated colours they have. Having thought fit to give this notice of these creatures, I must leave it to you what use to make of it, who am, &c. P.S. In the above-mentioned African book there is mention made of a quadruped called Adwa, which I re- member not to have met with in other authors. It is described to be no bigger than a lady's lapdog, in shape like a young roebuck, with a beautiful long head, very neat feet, short slender body. Just when I was going to send this, I was informed that you had caused only some young ones of the little East InJj# birds to be drawn, but that the old ones differ so much from the young ones, by their being most cu- riously speckled (which I hear the young ones are not), that those that know the old ones, and not the young, will hardly think them to be the same birds. London, December 21, 74. Dr. TOWNE'S Letter about the Shark to Mr. DENT, and by him communicated to Mr. RAY. I SEND you by this fleet the skin of a young shark-fish stuffed ; you may receive it from Mr. Penn, if it come safe to him. The skin of this fish, when fresh, is so porous, especially about the head, that though never so little squeezed, it sends forth water-drops about the big- ness of a small pea through its pores, and so harsh, that it wore my nails, as I was helping to flay it, to the quick almost in a moment. I believe you may now whet your knife upon it. His ventricle is without any folds in its inmost coat, or any sensible acidity, which makes me think that perhaps the philosophers do not justly attri- bute concoction to the famous succus acidus and calor innatus, for both of these he wants, and yet is extremely voracious, insomuch, one was taken by some of our sea- 116 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. men in a former voyage, that had in his belly a woman stitched up in a strong rug, and bit into halves, and almost digested to the bones within the compass of a very few hours ; for the woman died, and was thrown overboard the same day the shark was taken. He has usually the attendance of about two or three Pilot-fishes \Naucrates ductor\ about a foot long, which are commonly seen to taste of the bait immediately before their master ; and there are often found sticking to his side small fishes [Echeneis remora], which, with transverse folds upon the head and back, cling close to his skin, and I believe wait there for some little reversions that slip from his teeth. When he catcheth at a prey, he turns his belly up, thrusteth his jaw-bones forth of the skin (as you see it now), and sets his teeth upright, which, at other times, He flat, in three, four, five, or six rows, according as his age is. I could make no more observations, the seamen urging me to rid him out of hand, thinking it a very childish thing to sit poring on a carcase. I see daily here strange plants, which, with their seeds and other toys, I would have long ago sent you, could I have got a friend that would take care of them ; but as soon as may be you shall have them. This is part of the letter I received from Dr. Towne and mentioned to you. I have the fish hanging in my hall. Dr. LISTER to Mr. RAY at Coleshill, in Warwickshire. DEAR SIR, I received the kind token of the Ornitho- logy with much joy : I pray for the continuance of your health, that you may with the same diligence and accu- rateness put forth the remaining papers. Certainly never man was so happy in a friend as he has been in you, who have been so just to his memory and labours. I am very glad you say so much concerning the English edition, which you tell me you intend to augment. CORRESPONDENCE OY RAY. 117 If I might advise you in the history of hawks, it would be very acceptable to have their managery and training, which I find is done with much skill and faithfulness in a certain late piece, called the ' Gentleman's Recreation/ printed 74, where is the best account of hawks and hawking that ever I met with. Again, in the history of small birds, some account of the keeping and ordering of them in cages would please, which also is very well done in a late book, entitled the ' Epitome of the Art of Husbandry/ where you will find a large and very accurate tract of singing-birds; both done by experienced and judicious persons in that wa J- ^_ I shall hint to you the perusal of the late ' History of the Island of Pero/ where is much said of the Puffin [Fratercula arctica] and that tribe. Again, you will find a most accurate and very parti- cular anatomy of an eagle, done by a good hand, viz. Borrichius, in his ' Vindication of Chemistry/ against Conringius, a late piece : I would you saw it, for I think it worth the inserting into your history. If I meet with anything farther, I will give you notice of it. The Curruca or Hedge Sparrow [Accentor modularity which I have often seen, lays sea-green or pale blue eggs, which, neatly emptied and wired, fair ladies wear at their ears for pendants. One and the same Swallow [ffirundo rustica], I have known, by the subtracting daily of her eggs, to have layed nineteen successively, and then to have given over. The Bunting [Emberixa miliaria] breaks not oats, but shells or hulls them most dexterously, as I observe, having of them by me at this present in cages. The Robin Redbreast [Erythaca rubicula\ will not touch a hairy caterpillar, but will gladly take and eat any sort of smooth one that I have given to him ; and there is no better way speedily to tame and make wild birds sing, 118 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. than to give them a pleasing insect or two daily ; neither thin- nor thick-billed birds but will gladly eat spiders, as I have experienced in some kinds. York, Feb. 8, 75. Mr. DENT, of Cambridge, to Mr. RAT. SIR, Since my return I could not meet with any Thornbacks till upon Friday last, and then I had a male Flairmaid \Trygon pastinacd] and a female Thornback \Eaia clavatd]. They were so far from assisting me to perfect what I had begun, that they have given me just occasion of a great deal farther search, especially the male, which had between the fins and the tail, of each side, another tail, as the fishmonger called it, and which, he saith, all the males of flair and flairmaid, thornback and thornback-maid, have. They are not tails, but such (creatures I had like to have called them) as deserve an excellent description, and the art of an excellent graver. The extreme part, more than half way, very much resembles an eel without eyes ; within an inch of the fins it grows a little smaller, the outside of each is a rima, from the extremity to that part which begins to be smaller. This rima examined and dilated (which it easily admits of, and afterwards contracts itself), that which was like the head and part of the body of an eel, seems to be an expanded webbed foot, with several remarkables in it, as a heel, a sharp-edged bone half-inch long, &c. These, called tails, seem to me like unshaped legs kneed, and joined with the bones of the fins (which may be called thigh-bones), and they to the coxendix. In each, above the rima, or rather under the fins (examining the muscles rather than expecting to find anything), I run my knife upon a vessel, which afforded a great quantity of liquor (for that part), part white, part bloody, which, being wiped off, I found seminal vessels ; being more careful on the other side, I found a large vessel full of liquor, as on the former men- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 119 tioned side. What to call this bladder or vessel, I do not yet determine : scrotum I must not, for that the testicles (very pretty to a curious eye) are within the abdomen. Whether in or nigh this vessel is one of the glandules prostrate, and whether there are any vesiculse seminariae within these, or any other besides these, I would farther examine. I believe, but dare not assert, that the penis on each side is annexed to these vessels ; some ramifica- tions of the epididymis seem here, but not so plain as in the abdomen. While I was searching for anything that might be annexed to the foramina, which by Gesner are called foramina vulvas (and very cunningly by Steno passed over in silence), though they are in all males as well asfemales, I cut with the os pubis so much as hin- dered the discovery whether both penises might meet or not. I am satisfied that those foramina serve only to let in water into the abdomen, as those behind the eyes let it into the mouth shut, the ten trapdoors or floodgates of the branchiae being shut at pleasure ; and this receiving in so much water, may be (if it be lawful to conjecture) by the weight of the water to make her more swift in pursuing prey, if at all, downward. Cambridge, June 21, 1675. Another Letter of Mr. DENT'S to Mr. RAY, without date. SIR, I could not in my last, of the 1 5th instant, give you any good account of the eggs of flair or thornback, because they were very small then, and only in the vitel- larium. Since that I have found a female flair with two eggs in shells in the duplex ovarium, as Dr. Needham observes in his ' Disquisitio Anatomica/ p. 202. The one I dried whole and have it by me : I opened the other and found the vitellum to be grown flat, swimming in the albumen, and with moving the egg upwards or downwards (I mean whilst whole) would easily glide through the 120 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. albumen to which end I pleased, which is easy to be seen through the shell between the light and the eye. It was pale coloured, and without any cicatricula, which I do suppose will be found hereafter in others more mature. Mr. Mayfield would persuade me that these fishes are Vivipari, for he saith, about a month or five weeks hence I shall see the fish perfectly formed in that egg-shell I doubt he is mistaken ; however, I will weekly observe their several alterations, and give you a full account here- after. The other eggs, without shells, in or upon the vitellarium, are all round ; the largest about half the big- ness of a tennis-ball. I boiled both parts of them in water ; the vitellum grew solid, like to that of a hen's, but the albumen grew not white like the hen's egg it grew a little more solid, but remained diaphanous. I have inclosed the shell, which does not agree with Dr. Need- ham's description of his Testa Ovi Raice ; he saith, " Ex quatuor angulis totidem lingulse excrescunt;' at one end it hath excrescences rather to be called cornuce than lin- gula ; the other end seems more like a fin than either. What they may hereafter come to I know not ; but will give you an account. Sir PHILIP SKJPPON, from Wrentham, to Mr. RAY. SIR, I shall now acquaint you, that having read the Observations sent from Barbadoes, and published, No. 1 1 7 of the ' Philosophical Transactions,' I soon after dis- coursed about them with one Mr. Tho. Glover, an inge- nious chirurgeon of these parts, who lately came from our western plantations, having lived some time in Vir- ginia, and nine months in Barbadoes, where he says he has let above twenty negroes blood, and always observed the colour to be as florid and red as any European's blood ; and that he never saw any of a dark colour, as is represented by the letter the ingenious Mr. Lister CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 121 received from that island. The difference in these two persons' observations ought therefore to be farther ex- amined by correspondents in that and other places where blacks inhabit. Purslain, Mr. Glover says, is also very common in Virginia, and troublesome too to the tobacco-planters. Asarum is much used by the Indians to provoke vomit- ing, and they are frequently troubled with violent colics, which oftentimes terminate in palsies. **** Wrentham, Feb. 11, 167|. Mr. RAY to Dr. LISTEB. DEAR FRIEND, I received yours of February 8, and have resolved to follow your advice, in adding to the Ornithology an account of the ordering of birds for sing- ing, as also something of falconry; and, besides, an epitome of the art of fowling. To this purpose I sent for the books you minded me of about those subjects. I find that the author of the ' Gentleman's Recreation,' in what I have read in him, is a mere plagiary ; all that he hath concerning fowling being transcribed out of Markham's ' Art of Fowling,' without once mentioning his author, as you may soon find by comparing them. I suspect the like of his falconry. What he writes of the Haggard Falcon* is contracted out of Latham. When I shall have compared the rest with Latham and Turbervil, I shall be able to tell you whether it be not borrowed of them. As for the tractate concerning singing-birds in the ' Epitome of the Art of Husbandry,' I do not find what is there delivered so manifestly purloined from any one author, although in Aldrovand and Olina I find the sub- stance of most he hath ; only that about the manner of breeding Canary-birds \_Fringilla canaria] is either his * A falcon that is not steady, but bears away its quarry down wind. 122 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. own, or borrowed of some author unknown to me. Much also he hath about the Woodlark \_Alauda arborea] , which is either of his own observation, or, as the other, taken out of some modern writer it hath not been my hap to see. This author, I believe, hath good skill in the feeding and ordering of singing-birds ; yet he makes a fifth sort of Throstle, which he calls a Heath-throstle [perhaps Turdus torquatus\ , which I never saw nor heard of, nor any author besides that I know of mentions. I pray read the history of it in him, p. 92, and tell me whether any such bird be known to you. These birds, he saith, in some countries are called Mevisses. I am sure his fourth (Wood Song-throstle) is so called in Essex, and I believe elsewhere. What he writes con- cerning a hole left in the bottom of the nest, I remember not to have observed in such nests of this bird as I have found. I was somewhat offended at his manner of writing concerning the Solitary Sparrow [?], as if it were a bird breeding with us in England, advising which bird to choose out of the nest to bring up, &c. ; all which his- tory makes me suspect he transcribed what he hath out of some writer, either Dutch, French, or Italian, that I have never seen, both concerning this and other singing- birds ; for the Solitary Sparrow is a bird that was never seen, scarce heard of, in England, and but rare in Italy. If he were so well acquainted with them, I wish he had informed us where they breed. But enough of censure. In the 'History of the Fero Islands' I find no more species of birds than what I have already inserted in the Orni- thology, partly of our own observation, and partly out of Clusius, who had an account, and better descriptions of them from Hoier than any be in this history ; only here is more of the manner of climbing the rocks for taking them. Borrichi's anatomy of an eagle I have not seen ; but there is also a very particular anatomy of it in Aldro- vand, which I thought not fit to insert, few readers being willing to take the pains to read, much less consider, CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 123 such descriptions, unless illustrated by figures. Mr. Willughby himself hath left a myotome of a swan, and some other birds, which I thought not fit to cumber the book with. Sutton Cofield, April 4, 76. Mr. RAY to Dr. LISTEK. DEAR SIR, I have been lately solicited to reprint my Catalogue of English Plants, partly by the bookseller, and partly by an unknown person, who sent me a letter without a name subscribed, and withal pressed me much to add to each plant the French name; whereupon I thought to have intreated you to undertake that trouble, as you are a master of the French tongue, myself being but a smatterer in that language, and wanting the con- veniency of books to assist me in such an undertaking ; but, upon serious consideration, concluding that those names would not render the book really much more useful, only, if well done, might add a little to the author's reputation (to the vanity of any affectation whereof I desire to be wholly mortified), I resolved not to add them, and have sent the copy up to London as it is. If you have observed any errors or mistakes therein, or have any new plants or observations to add, be pleased to send them ; and though the book be already gone out of my hands, I shall take care to get them in- serted in their proper places. Since my last, I com- pared what the ' Gentleman's Recreation ' hath con- cerning hawking with Turbervile's Collections, and find every syllable transcribed thence. The like, I dare say, he hath done about hunting, for there is of Turbervile's a large treatise of hunting ; and for fishing, doubtless, he hath done the like. I had not blamed him had he ac- knowledged his authors, and confessed to the world that 124 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. all he hath is nothing else but an epitome of such and such books ; but now he hath basely abused the world. Mr. Oldenburgh hath published him as a considerable author, and in his preface made us believe that he hath advanced knowledge by giving us a perfect catalogue of fishes. I am sorry Mr. Oldenburgh should be so mis- taken as to attribute to such a pitiful plagiary any im- provement of the history of nature ; but enough of him, and for this paper. I recommend you to the Divine protection and blessing, and rest, &c. Sutton Cofield, June 14, 76. Dr. LISTER'S Answer to Mr. RAY. DEAR FRIEND, I am well pleased your Catalogue of Plants is again to be printed : it certainly deserves it. You might have commanded any service in my power ; but I think the addition of the French names would have been but a fancy. I cannot say I have anything worth sending you to add. I shall only put you in mind that you leave not out the vinegar that is to be drawn from Gallium luteum, \Galium verum, Linn.] which I have tried, and is a rare experiment, and is owing, for aught I know, to Borrichius. You will see a farther account of it in the Danish Transactions. Also you may please to remember the Fungus pipera- tvx \Agaricus piper atus, Linn.], which I have yearly found in Marton Woods ever since. Again, the fulminating powder, which the spikes of Muscus Lycopod. [Lycopodium sp.~\ yield, I have gathered much of it in Craven, and find it will fire briskly in a flame. I gathered the ears a little before they were ripe, and put them in a box, and found they shed their powder of themselves. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 125 See more in the German Transactions, and in Olearius, of this. As to that question of a Heath-throstle, I find that the Ring-ouzle* is so called with us in Craven, where there is everywhere in the moors plenty of them. I am glad you have discovered those authors to be plagiaries, this sort of men being the bane and pest of learning, and you ought to brand them. I have much improved my Catalogue of Snails, having added five species thereto. I long to see you, that I might confer with you about the note I gave of this nature ; for I would either put them out separately, if they deserve it, or throw them into Mr. Willughby's store, U perchance anything has escaped his diligence ; but I shall resolve upon nothing till I see you. Methinks we might meet half way the latter end of the summer. York, July 2, 76. Mr. RAY'S Answer to Dr. LISTEE. DEAR SIR, Yours of July 2 came to hand. I thank you for the advices therein contained. I should, myself, have remembered and inserted the Fungus piperatus [Agaricus piperatus, Linn.], of which you formerly sent me a large account ; but the experiments of the vinegar of Gallium, and fulminating powder of Lycopodium, if ever I read anything of them, were quite slipt out of my memory. I fancy that I have read something of the first in our Transactions ; and the second, if it be in Olearius's Travels, I must also have read of, but, it seems, heeded not. I have not at present by me those Transactions, or other books, to which you refer, and therefore beg of you a full account of both those experiments ; for I should be loth either of them should be omitted in my Catalogue, * The Ring-onzle is so called in Yorkshire. 126 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. which I suppose is ere now begun to be printed, though I have not yet received any proof of it. I thought it the more expedite way to give you this trouble than to stay the sending to London for those books. Your notes and observations in natural history do very well deserve to be made public, and I should advise rather by them- selves than be buried in Mr. Willughby's work, the printing also of which depends upon my life and health ; and, besides, it will be long before his History of Insects and Exanguia be fitted for the press, I being at present upon the History of Fishes, which will take up still a year or two's time. I have only this to object to you, and myself, against their speedy publication, that the longer they lie by you, if still you prosecute the same studies and inquiries, the more perfect and full they will be, every day almost adding or correcting, or illustrating somewhat ; but if you have quite given over those re- searches, defer not to put them out. If it had been my hap to find out so many before unobserved particulars and experiments, I should have thought myself wanting to my own reputation had I not published them in my own name ; though I confess I have always thought that, for new inventions and discoveries, we are rather beholden to a good genius, dyaQy I should be of the mind, that to supersede the use of botanic authors, and make your history everyway complete, it would be necessary to mention all the varie- ties of the Harts-tongues, for instance, to be found in any catalogue or garden ; and so of all other herbs ; for it will much please the humours of men, and the possessors or admirers of such varieties may take it ill to have what they esteem so much left out. Therefore, if at the end of each species there were named all the variations, I think it would not be amiss, especially considering it would 160 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. tend to the giving of a fuller history of the plant itself, and that it may hinder mistakes. I have two sorts of the Bangue, which were sent from two several places of the East Indies : they both differ much from our Hemp, although they seem to differ most as to their magnitude ; I do not in the least doubt but these sorts of Bangue are those with which the Indians use to provoke venery ; the leaves, and all the plant, not being carefully dried, makes a good description from them impossible. I have been told by several, that Muscelin (so much in use here for cravats) and Calligo, and the most of the Indian linens, are made of nettles, and I see not the least improbability but that they may be made of the fibres of them. London, Jan. 31, 168|. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, Tour advice concerning inserting the varieties of sundry species, especially such as are esteemed for their beauty or variety, I approve and shall observe, Howbeit it is not my intention to supersede the use of any approved botanic author ; but my reasons for attempting this work were, 1. To satisfy the importunity of some friends, who solicited me to undertake it. 2. To give some light to young students in the reading and comparing other her- barists, by correcting mistakes, and illustrating what is obscure, and extricating what is perplexed and entangled, and in cutting off what is superfluous, or under different titles repeated for distinct. 3. To alleviate the charge of such as are not able to purchase many books : to which end, I endeavour an enumeration of all the species already described and published. 4. To facilitate the learning of plants, if need be, without a guide or demon- strator, by so methodizing of them and giving such CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 161 certain and obvious characteristic notes of the genera, that it shall not be difficult for any man who shall but attend to them and the description, to find out infallibly any plant that shall be offered to him, especially being assisted by the figure of it. And, lastly, because no man of our nation hath lately attempted such a work; and those that formerly did, excepting Dr. Turner, were not sufficiently qualified for such an undertaking, and so have acquitted themselves accordingly. I wish I had assurance from eye-witnesses of credit, that those sorts of linen you mention are made of nettle- stalks. I have heard and read the like of Scotch cloth, but dare not give credence to it, because I find not that Dr?*Sibbalds, in his ' Prodromus,' makes any men- tion of it, and am loth to put in anything on uncertain rumour. Black Notley, Feb. 11, 84. Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY'S last Letter. SIR, For the Polypodium plumosum, I can tell you but very little of it, except that it had its name from its leaves being like feathers. Its place of growth, and other things relating to its history, can scarce be told by any in England ; for I think it is sent us from Holland, and probably may come to them from the East Indies, though I cannot say that positively. It is a perennial plant, and has endured this last winter without being either in pot or greenhouse. I was the other day at Chelsea, and find that the arti- fices used by Mr. Watts have been very effectual for the preservation of his plants, insomuch, that this severe enough winter has scarce killed any of his fine plants. One thing I much wonder to see that the Cedrus Montis Libani \Pinus Cedrus, Linn.], the inhabitant of a very different climate, should thrive here so well, as, without 11 162 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. pot or greenhouse, to be able to propagate itself by layers this spring. Seeds sown last autumn have as yet thriven very well, and are like to hold out. The main artifice I used to them, has been to keep them from the winds, which seem to give a great additional force to the cold to destroy the tender plants. I have one very perfect leaf of the Japan Camphire tree, and have likewise some of the root of the Cinnamon tree, with a specimen of the oil and camphire that is distilled from it. One thing I would acquaint you with about cinnamon is, that a gentleman of my acquaintance having a great mind to have some of the true oil of cinnamon, he took 12lbs. of it and distilled it in a proper vessel, but had no oil at all. He from thence concluded, that all the cinnamon is divested of some of its most fine particles before any of it comes to us ; and, speaking to Mr. Hermans on that subject, I remember he could scarce deny it, although his being a servant to the Dutch East India Company would hinder his telling of that secret, by which they receive so much money. London, March 7, 168J. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, I have inclosed some sugar of the first boiling, got out of the juice of the wounded maple ; Mr. Ashton, our secretary, gave it to me for you ; it was sent him from Canada, where the savages prepare it out of the afore- mentioned liquor, eight pints whereof affords a pound of sugar. If you have any of these trees near you, or the birch, or any other weeping trees, I wish you would make a trial, proceeding as in the juice of the sugar-cane. The Indians of Canada have practised this time out of mind ; the French begin now to refine it, and to make great advantages. London, March 10, 84. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. ' 163 Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Yours of the 10th instant I received last post, and therein an inclosed specimen of the Canada sugar, &c., a thing to me strange and unheard of before. It were, as you suggest, well worth the experimenting whether the like might be gotten by boiling up the juices of any of our weeping trees, though I confess I doubt much of the success. For, first, there are so few trees common to the New and Old World, that it is likely this may be a sort of maple* specifically distinct from any of ours. But, secondly, suppose it be not, it may yield a saccharine juice in America, and yet not in England ; as we see the ash-tree yields manna in Calabria, and yet not anywhere else in Italy itself. Thirdly, if it be the lesser or common maple, that is such a nice tree that few of the kind, and those only at some critical seasons, will bleed with us ; so that it is a hard matter to get any quantity of their juice. For mine own part, there are not any of the greater maple, or sycamore trees, that I know of, growing nearer than half a mile off us, so that I cannot attend the gathering their juice, without the expense of more time than I can or am willing at present to spare. The like I may say of birches. We have, indeed, of walnuts some growing near us, but I suspect their scrupulous owners would scarce be willing I should pierce them ; so that I doubt whether I shall be able to make any trials of this kind ; and I make no question but some members of the Royal Society may have more leisure and better opportunities of making them than myself. My thoughts are almost wholly employed at present in the carrying on the History of Plants ; and I am like him who said, " Pectora nostra duas non adrnit- tentia curas." As for the History of Fishes, I doubt not but you may add to it many things by me omitted; those authors * It is the Acer sacc/utrinum, Linn. 164 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. you mention having not been seen by me. Dr. Tyson's * Anatomy of the Phocaena,' I dare say is very exact ; but, when I begun, that history was not published, at least I had no knowledge of it, and since have neglected to send for it. 1 am sensible that the history of the cetaceous kind is far from perfect, but in my circum- stances it was not easy for me to carry it on any farther. There wants a description of the Unicorn-fish [the Nar- whal Monodon monoceros], of which there are figures of two kinds in the History of the Antilles, written in French; but I do not much confide in that author. There is a prolix description of the skeleton of the head in Wor- mius's Museum, but too tedious for me to transcribe. I am to seek for descriptions of many species of whales, mentioned in catalogues of them ; but I take many of them to be fictitious, and have little hopes of getting any good information of them. Both myself and the public (if this work ever be printed) shall be beholden to you for your contributions to it. If the publishing of it be deferred till Mr. Willughby's son comes of age, I doubt not but he will be at the charge of necessary plates rather than it should be suppressed. My Lord Bishop of Ox- ford is highly to be commended for his forwardness to promote any good design. For this History of Fishes, I can warrant it to be as full and perfect as to the number and species, and their descriptions (excepting only the cetaceous kind), as was the history of birds. The Exan- ffuia aquatica I account rather insects than fishes ; and, besides, neither Mr. Willughby nor myself had so fully described each several species, nor ranged them in their classes as was necessary for a complete history of them. But as to designs for the cuts, I have several drawn by hand from the life, and have already, for every species, made a reference to the place where the best figure of it is extant in Gesner, Aldrovand, Rondeletius, Salvianus, &c., (I mean in my judgment) in a paper I have by me, which you may command. Black Notley, March 13, 84. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 165 Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, A friend and neighbour, apothecary, whom I employed yesterday, brought me the effect of his boiling the juice of the greater maple. Having boiled as high as an extract, he found a whitish body somewhat like brown sugar, and tasting sweet, but withal of a woody relish, immersed in a body of the colour and consistency and taste, too, of molasses. Upon curing, I do not doubt we shall have, after the molasses are separated, a perfect sugar, but in very small quantity, not above an ounce from a ggjlon of liquor. Possibly, nay likely, afterwards, when the liquor begins to run thick near its ceasing, it will yield a greater proportion of sugar. When he hath cured it, I will give you a farther account of it. Black Notley, April 1, 85. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Dr. Lister's opinion (from whom I had all I know of the Rudde) and yours, who have thoroughly examined and compared figures and descriptions, con- curring, do fully satisfy and convince me that the Rudde \Lcuciscus erythrophthalmus\ is the Rotcle of Baltner, and not the Orphus or Nerfling. I also perceive, that the fish described by us for the Orphus, is no other than the Rudde or Rotcle, which I suppose was somewhere in Germany brought us by the name of Nerfling, and under that name described, which occasioned all this mistake and confusion. If I had Mr. Willughby's notes, I doubt not but I could find out a more exact description of the Orphus than will be met with in authors ; for that fish, I am sure, was more than once described by us. But it is almost impossible to procure a sight of them, and there- fore we must be content with such a description of the 166 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Orphus as we find in Gesner. I did describe most of the animals we met with in our travels ; but all my notes of high and low Germany were unfortunately lost. Your chapter de Chymicd Plantarum Analysi I have read over with much pleasure and satisfaction ; in the title before Usu, I think it will be necessary to add Re- solutarum, or Partium Resolutarum. It is all very good, only in a particular or two, wherein you are positive I am somewhat doubtful, as whether all the parts into which a plant is separable by fire, be transmutable one into another. For though I am of your opinion, that their immediate component particles are not primary and indi- visible elements, yet do they contain so many such of one kind, that I doubt whether the whole body of one (for example fixed salt) be transmutable into the whole body of the other (for example water) ; for if it may, then these being the most simple bodies we know, one would think that quodlibet may be made ex quolibet, and that there are no fixed and indissoluble principles in nature, which I think is otherwise demonstrable. I grant that the component particles may be separated from each other, and some of them mutually transmuted as inflammable spirits and oils, they, after the separation made by fire remaining still mixed ; but from argumenta- tion we must appeal to experience. Another thing I suspect is, that fixed salts of plants, were they perfectly freed from all adherent heterogeneous particles, would not be found to differ from each other in any sensible quality or accident ; but neither do you affirm so much of fixed salts so freed, but of them such as we have them, wherein I do fully agree with you. Black Notley, April 29, 85. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 167 Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, As for the transmutation of secondary principles, or elements, one into another, I was tempted to believe it practicable, upon discoursing several times with Mr. Boyle upon that subject, and upon reading his new Appendixes to the ' Sceptical Chemist/ and to the ' Aery and Icy Noctiluca,' where he affirms that oils and water may be wholly changed into earth, though never so well purified before ; and that salt and sulphur are trans- mutable into insipid water, which also Tachenius demon- strates, and salt into earth ; and this not by the addition^of any new parts, but by mere transposition, division, or some new modification of the constituent parts, which, making a different impression upon our senses, may produce new qualities or accidents ; but you, being a much greater master of the Epicurean philosophy than myself, are the best judge of this. I always fancied that there were no fixed or immutable principles (I mean elements) in nature, as she stands at present, but what may be subject to changes upon new motions, or modifi- cations, unless we suppose pure atoms without concre- tions, and them too under the same constant laws of motion. I grant that salt, water, or any other purified element, may contain many corpuscles of the same kind ; yet these same particles, by various transpositions, di- visions, motions, or any other new modifications, may put on different faces and shapes, and raise in us various perceptions of different qualities and accidents. If this philosophy be true, then fixed salts themselves may differ from each other in sensible qualities, or accidents, ac- cording to the operations or other circumstances, though they be carefully purified. Mr. Lewenhoeck hath ob- served great variety of figures in them after they had been diligently freed from adhering heterogeneous par- ticles ; and the very same numerical lixivial salt will put on different shapes and figures, so that it will appear a 168 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. marine or muriatic salt, an essential salt or nitre of plants, and also a fixed alkali salt. I have seen great varieties of fermentations produced, by pouring the same acid spirit upon many several fixed salts prepared and purified all alike. Their sapors do very sensibly differ in solu- tions ; and you cannot make aurum fulminans with so small a quantity of any fixed salt as that of tartar. I do conclude, therefore, against you and Mr. Daniel Cox, that fixed salts do really differ in qualities and accidents. However, I submit to your excellent judgment, and I will not be positive in this or the other controversy. London, May 9, 85. Mr, EAT to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Yours of May 9 came to hand last post, wherein you produce good authority for what you affirm concern- ing the mutual transmutation of vegetable principles, or immediate component particles, whereto I can say no- thing, unless I had the author's books you cite ; and perhaps not then neither, unless I should repeat the experiments myself. But that there are fixed and physically indivisible principles in nature I thus argue : If there be no such, but bodies are infinitely divisible, how can there be any constancy in generations or pro- ductions ? Why are there not infinite new concrete and mixed bodies daily produced, and as many lost ? For if bodies be infinitely divisible, figures being in- finite, the particles whereunto they are divided must pro- bably be of infinite figures, and few alike ; and why should those of the same figure convene ? How come bodies to be divisible, even by fire, into great numbers of parts, either really homogeneous, or seemingly so, and not rather into infinite varieties of par- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 169 tides ; as when a man, with the forcible stroke of a ham- mer, breaks, for example, a brick, it flies into innu- merable parts, of different figures, perhaps scarce any two like? How come there to be such great aggregates of bodies of the same kind, as water, earth, air ? Whereas you say the same particles, by various trans- positions, divisions, motions, &c. may put on different faces, and stir up in us various perceptions, I answer, that I cannot imagine any other difference of bodies but what proceeds from the motions of figures of then* com- ponent particles. From the motions of them can come nothing but a greater^ less measure of fluidity; therefore all other varieties must arise from their figures. From the figures of homogeneous particles, or such as are of the same shape, no considerable varieties can proceed ; for, from suppose a bag of shot, perfectly spherical and solid, should 1 shake or move them to the world's end, I should get a body of no other texture than I had at first ; though in bodies of other figured particles there might possibly be variety of textures, from the situs of the component particles in respect of each other. Yet this is not likely, because it is very difficult to set the particles, all or most of them, in one and the same situs one to another, and scarce possible to be done but by an intelligent agent, which yet must be done to produce like and homogeneous textures ; therefore the most of these differences must arise from the admixture of heterogeneous particles. The fire is not such an analyst but that it doth communicate particles to the bodies it divides or transforms, as we see in minium made of lead, in which, that some parts out of the fire adhering to the lead do so transform it, appears probable by the increase of weight ; and many other like instances there are. That fixed salts are all alike (whether they be com- pound or simple bodies), I gather from the impressions they make on our senses, and from their operations. 170 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Probable it is, that the heterogeneous particles may, in greater quantities, and more closely adhere to them in some vegetables than in others. In fine, that there are innumerable concrete bodies of the same figure is evident to sense in the crystals of salts. That these particular crystals must be composed of like-figured particles (one to another, though not to the concrete), and those again of the like, usque ad minima, is highly probable, if not demonstrable, in reason ; whereas, were bodies infinitely divisible, and conse- quently of no certain figure (the minima I mean), I do not see how we could ever come to such regular concre- tions, at least to such multitudes and masses of them, but that the world must have continued, as the poets first fancied it, a chaos. But enough of this. Black Notley, May 12, 85. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, I received yours of the 12th instant, and am sufficiently convinced that there are fixed and certain principles in nature, and settled laws of motion ; yet I have some reason to believe that they are not immutable, but that some outward violence and preternatural causes may alter them, though they are seldom or never mutable in the ordinary course of things. If you please, the transmutation of the parts of analysed bodies shall be struck out of the chapter de Cliym. Plant. Analysi parti- umque resolutarum Usu. London, May 19, 85. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 171 Mr. BAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Last post brought me yours of May 19. In answer whereto, seeing what you assert concerning the transmutation mentioned may be true, and is supported by good authority, and your opinion, I see no reason it should be struck out ; for those principles into which bodies are immediately resoluble by fire, being not pri- mary but compound bodies, it may consist with my opinion of certain and fixed first principles well enough. Reading in the ' Philosophical Transactions' of March last yoJtf observations on subterraneous streams, I find you mistaken in one of your conjectures concerning mat- ter of fact, that is concerning that they call the burning fountain [La Fontaine qne brule] near Grenoble, in Dauphine, which our curiosity led us to make an excur- sive journey from Grenoble on purpose to see. This place is about three leagues distant from the city up the river. When we came there, we were much deceived in our expectation ; for, instead of a burning fountain, which we dreamt of, from the name and relations of others, we found nothing of water, but only an actual flame of fire issuing out of a vent, or hole, in the side of a bank, plainly visible to the eye, to which if you applied dry straw, or any other combustible matter, it took fire pre- sently. I took it to be nothing else but a little spiracu- lum of a mine of coals, or some such like substance, fired ; and my reason was, because the bank, out of which the flame issued, looked much like slate and cinder of coals. One thing 1 cannot but admire, that is the long continu- ance of this burning. I find mention of it in ' Augustine de Civitate Dei,' lib. i, cap. 7. " De fonte illo ubi faces extinguunter ardentes et accenduntur extincta3 non inveni in Epiro qui vidisse se dicerent, sed qui in Gallia similem nossent, non longe a Gratianopoli civitate ;" by which relation of the good father, we see how he was abused 172 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. and imposed upon by relators that were eye-witnesses. I myself also was abused in like manner, and therefore do verily believe there was then no more fountain there than is now that is a fountain of fire, which, from the constancy and perpetuity of its issuing out, it may be called. Hence we may learn what credit is to be given to the verbal relations of the generality of travellers. Black Notley, May 22, 85. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, I thank you for freeing me of my error concern- ing the burning fountain near Grenoble. Some French and other writers were the authors of my mistake. Mon- sieur Boissieu (a native of Dauphine, and a learned per- son), speaking of the burning fountain of that countiy, says, " Aqua e rupe procurrit, et ipsa frigida, sed sulphure et bitumine leviter imbuta, cujus superficiei si sulphura- tum admoveris extinctum statim accenditur, ardetque lu- culenter ; ardet et admota palea, imprimis ccelo nubibus cooperto." To save his credit, we may suspect well enough that he either speaks of a different place from that you were at up the river, or else that some times of the year springs may arise near the bank, where the com- bustible steams may meet with, and run through them, and so produce the aforesaid phenomena ; but this is only a mere conjecture of mine. London, June 2, 85. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 173 Mr. RAY'S Answer to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Yours of the 2d instant I received last post. In answer whereto, I approve one of your excuses and salvos for the credit of the authors that have written con- cerning the burning fountain, viz. that probably enough in winter time there may issue water out of the same vent whence the fire proceeds ; for the time we saw it was in the height and heat of summer, viz. about the latter end of July ; but that the water hath no interest in the kindling anything applied thereto I am confident, for we saw an actual flame streaming thence, which must needs Tftndle straw, or any other combustible matter it meets with. And here, by the way, I cannot but reflect upon a passage I meet with in Doctor Plot's letter con- cerning sepulchral lamps, in the ' Philosoph. Transact/ of December last. It is this : " Such as the flame over the well and earth about it in one Mr. Hawkley's ground in Lancashire, that (like the fire of Plato) only shines, and does not burn." Herein is contained a double mis- take ; for, as I was informed by persons of the greatest credit and undoubted fidelity, where the inflammable steam or vapour ascended, was no well at all, but only water in a ditch, which dried up in summer time, and which the experimenter who told me (no other, indeed, but Dr. Wilkins, Bishop of Chester) caused to be laded all out ; and that when the ditch was quite empty the inflammable steam ascended in like manner as before. Next, the words seem to import that there is a constant flame over the well and ground about ; whereas there is no such thing, but only a steam constantly ascending, which catches fire by the application of a lighted candle, or any other flame. Besides, I never before heard, and can hardly be induced to believe, that that flame only shines and does not burn, none of my relators mentioning any such thing, which had been the strangest miracle of all. 174 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Your former conjecture, that there may be a different place, I cannot allow, because those who write of it say it is near Grenoble, as this was ; and we, inquiring upon the place, heard of no other but this ; and that this is that which is usually visited by travellers one may know by the hackney-men, who are very well acquainted with it ; and Golnitz, in his ' Itinerary of France,' notes this for the " Fontaine que brule." But enough of this. Another thing I meet with in the same ' Transactions ' of January last, in Mr. Waller's observations concerning the Cicindela volans, of which I am in doubt, though I confess I am more inclinable to believe what Mr. Waller asserts, that both male and female have wings, it being more agreeable to the analogy of other insects, besides the credit of the person who saw them in copulation. But then what shall we say to Carolus Ventimiglia, to whom I am loth to give the lie. Indeed, if his credit were as good as the relator's, E. Columna, I dared not. " Cum enim (saith he) ex nudis plurimas haberet in vitro inclu- sas, animi causa alatam captam iis adjecit, qua3 continuo se spectante unam ex nudis subegit, eique adhaesit ut bombyx solet, ab ea deinde divulsa aliam atque aliam, quae sequenti die parere cceperunt,'' &c. Besides, how came this to be the received opinion before ? Black Notley, June 5, 85. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, Take a Pilchard \ClupQa pilcliardus\ by the tip of the back-fin, and it hangs in equilibrio, but a Herring [Clupea harengus\ so held sinks headlong. This was tried lately. M. Dodard affirms that he hath frequently found be- tween the bark and the wood of old hornbeam trees a very odd vegetable substance, having black membranaceous CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 175 stalks, dividing themselves into many branches, at the ends of which there generally grew little balls, or buttons, as large as peas. He fancies this to be a vegetable as much distinct from the hornbeam as mistletoes are from the trees they grow on. M. Dodard could only find it in old wormeaten hornbeams, never in young or sound ones, which makes him conclude that it cannot anyways serve the economy of the tree, but that it is a plant growing up in decayed hornbeams, exactly between the bark and the wood. It is as it were set (enchassee) in the bark, into which it here and there enters, and loses itself. M. Marchand found a hornbeam tree, whose trunk being cut off, yielded on all sides a gum very like to gumTSfcca. This gum of the hornbeam M. Clos dis- solved in spirit of wine. The trunk continued to pour forth many gummy threads for some years after it had lain in a low room. M. Dodard afterwards observed the same gum upon many hornbeam trees. I have extracted this from the 'Journal des Scavans/ an. 1675. Mens. Decemb. Wepfer, in his history of the Cicuta aqnatica, proves that most of the poisonous plants, as all the hemlocks, the hellebores, the solanums, the napellus, hyoscyamus, &c. are hot and acrimonious, and kill by saline, fiery, and pointed particles, which vellicate the genus nervosum, and either congeal, or else colliquate, the blood. The best way to cure these poisons is first to give a gentle vomit, then oils, broths, warm water, and fat emulsions, till all be evacuated and come away; at which time alexipharmics, volatile salts, and other alkalies and ano- dynes are to be given. I find upon the journals of my late voyage, that I observed many people in the Low Countries to make use of the turmeric root [Curcuma] in pickling and preparing their fish. They told me that it gave the fish a grateful taste and a yellow colour, which was much esteemed by them. I think Bontius remarks the same thing of the Germans and Poles. 176 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. I travelled from Capua to Naples in the company of an ingenious Neapolitan physician, who entertained me with the history of his country. He assured me that the Fraxinus, or Ornus, in many places north-west of Naples, afforded manna, of which the inhabitants made advantage, though it was not so much esteemed as that of Calabria ; for, gathering and evaporating in the sun this saccharine juice, they always make use of wooden instruments and vessels, for it will prey upon metalline, or bony ones, and so lose its white colour when con- creted. The afore-mentioned Neapolitan informed me that the Cicada did feed much upon the Ornus ; which makes me conjecture that this insect (which you have well distinguished from our grasshopper) does pierce the tree, and so opens the passage for the manna to sweat out. 1 remember, in one of the German Ephem. I lately sent you, there is an account and figure of an Indian tree, upon which some insects are said to work, and pre- pare a sort of manna. I am apt to believe it may be a mistake, and that the manna works itself out of the tree opened and sucked by the insects ; but you are best able to judge of these matters. September 8, 85. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, M. Dodard's vegetable substance growing on the hornbeam tree I know not what to say to. I wish it were my luck to see it. That the same tree yielded a gum like lacca seems to me very strange, that being a bleeding-tree, of which I never heard of any that yielded any gum. Howbeit, M. Marchand was a very credible person. Wepfer's poilosophy concerning poisonous plants may be possibly true, but it deserves farther consideration. Pauca respi denies falsa pronunciant. I better approve your conjecture concerning the exuda- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. ] 77 tion of the manna ; for I do not observe any kind of glim, or resin, or concrete juice, to issue out of any tree or herb but at some incision, or wound, or rift, or con- tusion, and therefore it is likely enough that the manna may issue out of the vessels containing the specific juice of the tree perforated by some insect. Your other con- jecture also concerning the insect preparing a kind of manna is not improbable. Black Notley, Sept. 14, 85. Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. SIR, I wrote a pretty while ago to you about the Hockesdon earth, which, because I fear it miscarried, I now repeat, desiring your opinion of it. Not far from Moorfields, near the new square in Hockesdon, some workmen digging a cellar for a new house in the end of a garden, when they were about three feet below the surface of the ground, found a very strong smell in the one half thereof. Passing that way, and finding it very surprising, and a thing that I had neither heard of nor seen before, I thought it worth farther inquiry. The workmen having dug a pit about six feet deep, at about three yards' distance from that end of the cellar which smelt so strong, I there found three several layers of earth one over another, all of them, more or less, having the same scent. The uppermost stratum was clay, or, as the workmen call it, loom. It did not smell till three feet deep, but then was very strong, and some- thing noisome. If one look earnestly on some pieces of this clay, there are easily discernible several small quan- tities of a bituminous substance, brownish colour, and tough consistence. I doubt not but this substance gives 12 178 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. the smell and other qualities to this layer. This clay preserves its scent a pretty while, though by degrees it grows fainter ; and being exposed to the air for about a month, will lose it quite. Eight pounds of this clay dis- tilled in a retort, placed in a sand-fire (third degree of heat), yielded one pound of phlegmatic liquor, and six drachms of oil, of a quite different smell from anything I have hitherto met with. The second layer was gravel, which reached from three and a half to about four and a half deep, or thereabouts. It very much resembles the other in all its qualities, ex- cept the noisomeness of its smell. It loses its scent much sooner than the former. The third layer was an earthy sand, which smells stronger than the other two, and withal is much more fragrant. The deeper you dig it smells the stronger. I took eight pounds of this layer, at nine feet deep, and filled a retort with it, and placed it as the clay ; but it afforded only six ounces of phlegmatic liquor, and two drachms of oil. This sandy loose earth quits its scent in about a fortnight, being exposed to the summer air. Considering that waters owe their greatest differences to the several soils through which they pass, I was very desirous to see what sort of waters would be produced by their being percolated through such a strainer as this strange sort of earth ; and desiring the owner to dig till he should find water, he accordingly did ; and when he came to about eighteen feet deep, water came in very plentifully, conditioned as follows : It had at top a curiously coloured film, the colours of it resembling those of the rainbow. Under this was a whitish-coloured water, which, upon standing in a phial some days, lets fall a brownish sediment, and by that means becomes diaphanous. It smelt very strong, as the earth did ; was somewhat bitter and clammy, as one may see by putting his hands in it, and suffering them to dry without wiping. If you put some powdered galls into a glass of this water, so soon, or a little after, you take it CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 179 out of the well, it will turn of a purplish red ; but if it stand a day or two, it will not at all. Several persons having drunk of this well, about three pints, say that usually it works about three times by stool, and very much by urine. From which I conclude it to be a natural bitumen, perhaps sui generis, that impregnates both water and earth. I desire your opinion in it, and remain, &c. London, November 10, 1685. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received both your letters, and ought before now to have acknowledged the receipt of the former, but I must make my late illness and indisposition my excuse for so long delay. I now return you many thanks for the pains you have taken in assisting me in the carrying on the history that is now before me, and the many in- formations and advices you have given me, and other contributions you have made thereto, which shall be owned and gratefully acknowledged by me. My garden being a cold soil, and an ill-situated place, would not bring to maturity the gourd, so that I am like to lose that, as also the Alcea Indica Ulmisea carpini folio, and several others. The Lunaria radiata Eobini \_L. radiata, Linn.] came up and flowered, and formed its cod with me, but brought it not to maturity. I have a sort of Lychnis, raised, I suppose, from the seed you sent, which I cannot find described. It hath a very small white flower, though the plant be of a middle size, the least of any Lychnis I ever saw. The Medico, \Medicago, Linn.] still continues to flower, and the trailing branches, as they lie on the ground, put forth roots from the joints. The book you did me the favour to send hath been of use to me, though I find it to be for the most part nothing but a collection out of Dr. Morison. I agree with you that 180 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. those who cultivate plants, and have the liberty and free- dom to pluck up and observe their roots, have a great advantage of those who see them only in one state, and can take notice only of their superficial part, for that they may, as Dioscorides advises, mark their several states of first springing and growth, of consistency and declension, and note their differences, and so give us a perfect history of their whole progress and several mutations. But I should rather have been content with an imperfect and defective history, so it had contained notes sufficient to distinguish them from all others (because then I could have inserted them in their proper places in the body of the history), than to have waited for a more perfect and accurate to be put as an appendix. I thank you for the account of the Hockesden earth, and the rather because I was lately informed that it was no natural bitumen mingled with it, but had its original from the burning of a painting-shop standing over the spot where the earth was digged up, and there was no such earth round about, but just within that compass ; so that, as the Corinthian brass was made by an acci- dental mixture of metals melted down and running into one mass at the deflagration of that city, so this bitumi- nous earth became impregnated by a mixture of oils and colours melted and mixed together, and soaking into the ground at the burning of that shop. Whether there be any truth in this you can best inform ; but I suppose there is none, because you mention no such thing ; and you have done very well thoroughly to examine the earth, for that probably there may be good use made of it. I do herewithal send back your dried plants, and the book wherein they were, with thanks for the use of them. They have, I am sensible, received some prejudice which could not be avoided. Black Notley, Nov. 17, 85. CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 181 Mr. COLE'S Letter to Mr. RAY. WORTHY SIR, I have for a long time engaged many masters of ships, and others, to bring home whatever they can find for me, as also on both the sides of Severn, and am of opinion, by what I have this winter found, that no river in Europe doth yield more variety, especially sea animals, great and small, and minerals, there being very high land on either side, high and rapid tides, often with violent storms, which have so much gained on the rocks and clifis, that many fossils and figured stones are cast out and found on the shore, especially where at spring- tides tRe water ebbs far out. Such I have found this winter, i. e. figured stones, which would put you out of all doubt that there are many varieties of naturally-formed stones, which never were either animals or vegetables, or any parts of them, not only because no such shell-fishes were ever found, so far as appears by any known authors, or the collections that I have seen or heard of (and to suppose any species of creatures to cease cannot consist with the Divine providence, and is contrary to the opinion of all philosophers as well as learned divines) ; but it doth evidently appear by the figures of some of those I have found this winter, that they were never capable of being living creatures ; as among others, to instance in one of those which can be reduced to none but the ophiomorphites, which I found growing between the thin plates of a kind of brittle blue slate in large rocks, some a furlong within full sea-mark, and some where the water comes not at the highest tides, only in great storms where the waves break, and sometimes dash when forced up by the wind. These being broken with a convenient tool, will shiver all into very thin plates, between which I found an abundance of those stones, as brittle as the slate in which they grow, and of the same consistence, yet so thin, that the broadest, being about four inches, are not so thick as a half-crown piece ; some not half an 182 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. inch, and as thin as a groat, and so proportionably up to the largest, covered with a superficies as thin, and exactly of the colour of silver foil: and where the sea- water washeth them, and they are exposed to the sun and wind when the tide is gone, are tarnished, and appear of a gold purple, blue and red, as anything on which silver foil is laid, when exposed to the sun, wind, and weather, will do in a considerable time. These have the same spiral figures, and as regular as the other serpent stones, and, with a knife being taken off, leave the impressions on both sides of the slate. In such rocks of slate, but much harder, I found (and employed men with tools to dig them out) some of those stones of another kind, thick in proportion to then 1 breadth, from an inch to twenty-eight inches broad ; and the last broadest one was at the great end (on which some authors have fabulously reported the head to grow) six inches thick, all of them covered over with a white scale, which may be taken off, one coat under another, as pearls, or the shells of some fishes. I saw some impression of others near as big as the fore wheel of a chariot. I could not get one of those large ones whole, but brought it home in parts, and have pro- mised a good reward to the labourers I employed if they dig out and send me a whole one, which will be a rare sight, the magnitude, colour, and figure considered. I found other stones something resembling a nautilus, but so much differing from those we know, that I am confident they were never shell-fishes. Bradfield, March 27, 1685. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 183 Mr. JOHNSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, I have inclosed a draught of our Branlin [the young of the salmon, Salma salar], which I took from the fish, which now I know comes too late ; but I hope you found the other I sent you before, which was far more exact, being done by an excellent artist. On the back side you have the description of a new English bird [the Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garruld\. It agrees in material points with your Garrulus bohemicus ; and therefore I imagine it to be of that sort, for some birds vary nmeh in colour. They came near us in great flocks, like Fieldfares \Turdus joilaris], and fed upon haws, as they do. I cannot but think that the wars in those parts have frightened them thence, and brought them hither this winter (which with us was above measure plentiful in haws), for certainly they are not natives. And now it is in my thoughts, I would intreat you, at your best leisure, to let me know if you can tell anything certain concern- ing the birds of passage, whither they go, when they leave us ? If it be granted that the swallow kind, and such small birds, do hide themselves in rocks or trees, yet storks, soland-geese, and birds of great size, cannot possibly do so. The moon is too far a journey ; and a new world in the south temperate zone methinks they can hardly reach, seeing Wild Geese [Anser segetwn\ from Ireland, and Woodcocks \Scolopax rusticola] from Nor- way, come often so tired to us ; and yet how they should escape the eyes of so many diligent inquirers, both by sea and land, especially since our increase of trade and navigation, is to rne a matter of no less difficulty. Brignall, May 7, 86. 184 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. JOHNSON'S Descriptions. Salmoneta. A Branlin. LONGITUDO semipedalis, capitis gracilitate, dorsi colore caerulescente, et cauda furcata salinonem aemulatur ; linea lateralis 6 vel 7 notulis rubris insignitur. Pars superior ad dorsuni usque naevis etiam nigricantibus aspergitur. Per latus umbrae 7 (plus minus) nigricantes descendunt, quibus facillime a trutta distinguitur. Oculi ampli, aurei, protuberantes. Pupilla caerula. Os parvum den- ticellis repletum. Pinnae, quales in salnionum geuere, in ventre rubescunt. Branchiarum operculum nota nigra quandoque duabus niaculatur. Capta in Teesa flu. Mart. 10, 168|. e viva delineavit B,. J. An Garrulus Bohemicusj* sive Ampolis. Merula paulo minor, rostrum nigerrimum, passeris magnitudine, caput crista longiuscula decoratum quae versus rostrum ex castaneo rubet, retro cinerescit. Sub mento macula nigra, ampla, supra oculos linea etiani nigra retrogreditur. Totum dorsum leucophaeum, versus uro- pygium tamen magis cinerescit. Cauda quae 1 2 pennis constat, ima parte ciuerea, media, nigra ; extima pulchre lutea. Alee nigricant, e rectricibus Ima tota nigra, 2da, 3tia, et 4ta, exteriore margine in album desinit, 4 proxi- niae in luteum deinde 8 in album, adeo tamen ut ex his 5 interiores appendices habent cinnaberinos. Alarum tegeres exteriores in album terminantur. Reliquas leu- cophaeae. Pectus leucophaeum, caudam versus albicat. Sub cauda plumae castaneas quasi alteram caudam minorem efficiunt, caro et plumae tactu mollissimae, nee linguam, nee pedes, nee rostra, nee barbam picorum vel lyngis habebat. Gregatim volitant. Capt. mense Martio IGSjj. * The Wax wing, called also the Bohemian Chatterer. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 185 I saw another, perhaps the female, like the former in all things, save that the breast and belly were all of one colour (leucophaBous), not growing whiter toward the tail, and that the two utmost rectrines had no white at all, nor scarce any appearance of yellow in the rest, and but four tagged or pointed with crimson ; and which I did wonder at, there were indeed but ten feathers in the tail. Whether this was the natural number, or that two had been shot away, I could not satisfy myself. Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. SIR, In turning over my Paris Garden Catalogue, I found a catalogue of nondescript plants growing there in the year 1683. I saw and took notice of them there, most of the names being given by Dr. Tournefort, whom I expect to see here shortly. The catalogue I transmit you as follows: Abrotanum foemina foliis crethmi. D. Fagon. Abrotanum foemina foliis rorismarini. D. Tournefort. Betonica purpurea spied molliori, longiori, et serins Jlorente. Tournefort. Brunella alpina folio angusto Integra. D. Tournefort. Caucalis elegantissima pyrenaica. D. Fagon. Cerinthe major alpina. Tournefort. Chanuesyce foliis hirsutis. Tournefort. Cicutaria latifolia foetida. D. Fagon. Cucumis Asininus folio Anguriee, D. Fagon. Daucus pyrenaicus odore citri. D. Fagon. Echium Creticum latifolium rubrum. Tournefort. Erysimum siliquis quasi implicitis. D. Fagon. Ferula folio latissimo. D. Fagon. Horminum pyrenaicum anguricB folio viscosum. D. Fagon. Laserpitium umbelld contractd et concand. D. Fagon. Meitm adulterinum longiori folio. D. Tournefort. Nasturtium aquaticum maximum. D. Fagon. Oenanthe capitulo longiori et hispidiori. D. Tournefort. Ruta arborea latifolia. D. Tournefort. Salvia Cretica coccifera. Tournefort. Scabiosa folio dipsaci. Tournefort. Senecio Jjamii folio. D. Fagon. Seseli pyremtictiM Thapsite folio. D. Fagon. 186 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Succisa angustifolia alpina. Toumefort. Stachys pyrenaica. D. Fagon. Stachys Cretica major. Toumefort. Tithymalm ranunculi radice. D. Fagon. In our simpling joui'ney to Sheppey we found a peren- nial ~K.a\i[8alicornia fruticosa, Sm.*], differing something from that on the Mediterranean shore, in that it creeps, whereas the other is erect. Then the green tops are thicker than that on the Mediterranean shores ; and Mr. Watts assures me it is a perennial. It grows near King's Ferry, in Sheppey, where also is cast upon the shore the Fucus spongiosus nodosus Ger. emac. In the same place, in the ditch, grows plentifully an Atripleoc maritima folio sinuato candicante angusto. It seems to differ from the common Sinuato candicante pin. as the common Maritima from the Sylvestris altera. I send you down specimens of them, and Axtius de pice conficiendd, and Arboribus coniferis, by the first carrier ; as also that Fucus I for- merly told you of, to look like a honeycomb, which I found cast upon the shore on Sheppey, as well as at Nesson. There is in town a bark come from Virginia, which has prickles, the bases of which resemble petrified Malta teeth. It stings the tongue in a very extraordinary manner; and he that brought it says it grows plentifully on the shore there. On Sheppey, searching for the cop- peras-stones, or Pyrites, I found that the most part of those taken up in that island are after north-easterly storms, that they are beat up by the waves, and taken up at low water. Among others I found one something extraordinary. It had been a Buccinum petrified, and after that turned into a Pyrites ; so that you might see everything in it as in a Pyrites, viz. weight, colour, &c. I leave you to judge whether or no the difference between the Atriplexes maritime and sylvestres may not be occasioned by the differing soil; for, considering that both the maritime are less in their leaves than the sylvestres, * Not of Liun. It is a form of the S. radiants, Sm. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 187 it is somewhat probable that the brackish aliment of the one does not mollify nor distend the cells of the leaves so well as the other ; but that is but a conjecture. I wish you all health and happiness ; and am, &c. London, August 10, 1686. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, The other day I and Mr. Doody (an apothecary here) had occasion to go five or six hours down the river, we found many rare plants upon the chalk hills and marshes^iear Gravesend ; but they are all mentioned by, and very well known to you. We observed in the long broad vesicles at the end of the leaves of the Fucus mari- timus latifolius vulgatissimus, many small dark round bodies adhering to the inner membranes, which contained a mucous liquor; whereas the round bladders in the other parts of the leaves were void of liquor, and of those dark solid globules, which gave Mr. Doody and myself reason to fancy that this plant abounds with seed, which, upon drying, disappears. And this seems to me to be no extravagant conjecture, for I begin to conclude that the seed of this plant (and others of the same class) may in time appear as manifest as the seed of the capillary herbs. London, August 24, 86. Mr. JOHNSON to Mr. RAY. g IR) I did indeed once imagine a possibility of know- ing the medicinal virtues of plants by their signatures, which project, if it could have been brought to perfection, might have been of great use to physicians, who know nothing of them but by quack and second qualities, I 188 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. was hereunto encouraged by the unaccountable variety of colours, forms of seeds and seed vessels, especially num- ber, which I found the Conjugate religiously to observe in some plants to the very division of the pointel. Be- sides the Galeatce of sweet smell being mostwhat cardiac, the Scandentes often cathartic, those of a lurid flower poisonous, &c. ; farther, I did consider that the Tc^t/co, or general terms of virtues, were not well ordered, but often did interfere one with another ; and that if they were reduced to a method truly natural, plants might be accommodated to them more easily. These considera- tions did some time encourage me to observe the analogy of plants of the same kind, and their minute differences, not without great pleasure and delight ; but when I found Dr. Grew had hit upon the same notion, and laid his inquiries much deeper than mine, viewing the internal as well as external parts of plants, and yet could conclude nothing, I quite desisted from farther search, despairing to meet with what others with more diligence had not found. Brignall, October 29, 86. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, The Willows will sometimes drop and run prodigiously in dry and clear seasons at noon-day, as I have been told by several of good credit. In the year 1685 the willows wept so fast at noon-day in the month of March, near the neat-houses, that Dr. Plucknet pass- ing on the road was extremely surprised, and almost wet to the skin ; yet it had been no rain for many weeks before, and the air and other trees were very dry at the same time. I have heard this relation confirmed by other persons that observed the same. Trees may now and then be subject to bleedings, sweatings, catarrhs, and other extravasations; yet this is no very strong argument, I CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 189 confess, for the Arbor aquam fundens, because it is said to observe certain periods. The Manchinelo is not only mentioned by Hughes and Lyon, but Rochefort. I think he hath misplaced it, for, as I remember, he hath put it amongst the animals. A planter tells me that they use the wood for beds and floors, because those insects, which eat and destroy all their other timber, will not touch this. Their beds and floors, and other wood-work, suffer extremely by an insect un- less they are made of the maiichinel wood. The Cochineal* is a dried hexapode, that runs up and down a Ficus indica, and turns into a Lady-cow. I took it once for a Kermes, or Coccus of an Opuntia, or Tuna. London, January 29, 8f Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. SIR, I have talked a long while of going to Jamaica with the Duke of Albemarle as his physician, which, if I do, next to the serving his grace and family in my pro- fession, my business is to see what I can meet withal that is extraordinary in nature in those places. I hope to be able to send you some observations from thence, God Almighty granting life and strength to do what I design ; but our voyage having been put off so often, I doubt it very much. I am glad to hear by Dr. Robinson that your elaborate and excellent work goes on so fast as to begin already to print the trees. Great feuds are like to be between the French and our philosophers about the magnitude of London and Paris, ours alleging that London is as big as Paris and Rouen both together ; and being urged by them to give some proof for what they say, I intend to print certificates from hearthmen here, and ingenious men there, that in London are 100,000 houses, and in Paris but 24,000. There is no less a dispute on * The Cochineal is the Coctus Cacti (Linn.), it is found on the Cactus cochenillifer (Linn.) It is scarcely necessary to add, that it does not turn into a Lady-cow, or Coccinella. C. C. B. 190 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. another account. The French ambassador to the king of Siam, carrying a Jesuit with him, he made several obser- vations, and found that that kingdom was misplaced in longitude, to the east, about 22 degrees ; but Mr. Hally says that he long ago found that out, and gave an account of it in the ' Transactions.' But I am mistaken if there were not something rectified about that a great while ago by some learned men. I suppose you have had an account of Dr. Magnol's new appendix ; it is but small and less worth than I thought, for when I was there he designed to simple the Pyrenees and Hortus Dei, or mountains of Auvergne, where are many curiosities. We are now mighty solicitous about the Jesuit' s-bark, or Cortex peruvianus, it being so good a drug, that they begin to adulterate it with black cherry and other barks dipped in a tincture of aloes, to make it bitter ; but the bitterness of the adulterated bark appears upon its first touch with the tongue, whereas the other is a pretty while in the mouth before it be tasted. I am, &c. London, Jan. 29, 1786. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received yours of August 1 Oth, and on Satur- day last the specimens of plants by you discovered, with ' Antius de Pice conficienda' and ' Zaluzonius Methodus Herbaria,' which I have not as yet had time to turn over. As to the plants, the Fucus is no other than that de- scribed and figured in J. Bauhine's history by the name of Alga marina platycer os porosa \Flustrafoliacea, Linn., not a plant but a zoophyte], and is frequently found cast up on our shores; I take it to be that they call silken ivrack in ' Phytologia Britannica.' I have entered it under J. Bauhin's name, and borrowed his description. The Kali geniculatum \_8alicorniafruticosa of Smith], I agree with you and Mr. Wattes to be different from that of the Mediterranean shores, and a new species, as CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 191 far as I can discern by the dried plant. The grass you sent I think is not the Gramon aureum of Dalechamp, for that is paniculate, and hath a pendulous panicle. We have discovered this grass hereabouts. The Muscus or Conferva I cannot say I have observed myself, but I think it hath been shown me by Mr. Newton. Your Atriplex maritima folio sinuato candicante anyusto I am not satis- fied in. You that saw it growing and green can better judge of it than I by a dried specimen ; I make some doubt whether it be of that genus or not, and whether it may not be the Atriplex angustifolia maritima dentata \Atriplex marina, Linn.] described in our History, p. 193. The seed vessel I cannot discern, and so can affirm nothingT^ut incline to think it is that. I thank you for your continued friendship, in so frankly affording me your assistance in carrying on this tedious work I have in hand, and desire you would quicken Mr. Wattes to hasten the accomplishing what he hath pro- mised, that so the [matter] may not be deferred in ex- pectance of his contribution. I do resolve (God granting life and health), with as much speed as strength and leisure will permit, to pursue the work, that so the sub- scribers may not have reason to complain of delay and frustration. I long to see Dr. Herman's book, which, as you well intimate, will in all likelihood much facilitate the work, and ease Mr. Wattes of much trouble in de- scribing and giving the history of his rarer and non- descript plants. I am, sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, Aug. 24, 86. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., April 1, 87. SIR, The last week the coachman brought me a second letter from you before 1 had acknowledged the 192 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. receipt of your former, which delay I hope you will im- pute rather to my incumbrances than negligence ; for truly the prosecution of this work I have in hand leaves me but little time to spare. I thank you for the informa- tion and intelligence communicated in your first letter. Were it not for the danger and hazard of so long a voyage, I could heartily wish such a person as yourself might travel to Jamaica, and search out and examine thoroughly the natural varieties of that island. Much light might be given to the history of the American plants, by one so well prepared for such an undertaking, by a comprehensive knowledge of the European. Nay (which is more), that history, we might justly expect, would not only be illustrated but much improved and advanced. The fair specimen you sent inclosed in your last hath informe'd me concerning the Irish Dulrsh,* for so I think you spell it. I own myself to have been mistaken in it ; for it is not the Alga membranacea purpurea parva com- monly thrown upon our shores, but a plant not observed by me though I take it to be the Fucus membranaceus ceranoides, C. B., both from the Scottish name Dils, and in that he makes it resemble the Lactuca marina, which this very much doth, so that I am in doubt, whether I ought to entitle it a Fucus or Lactuca. It may be deno- minated Fucus membranaceus poluscliidos Hibernicus viola odore, which scent is very remarkable in it. In the ap- pendix we may give a more full and perfect history and description of it. I pray the continuance of your corre- spondence and rest, Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at Mr. Wilkinson's a bookseller, at the Black Boy, over against St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet Street, London. * The Dulse of Scotland and Dillesk of Ireland is, according to Greville (Brit. Alg. 94) the Rhodomenia palmata (Grev.) The Iridtea edulis is called Dulse in the south-west of England. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 193 Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, Monsieur Bernier, who passed the Red Sea into Arabia, doth affirm in a private letter, that the Arabs assured him that the coffee fruit was sown every year under trees, up which it did climb and run, from which he concludes it to be a species of Convolvulus. I think he might as well have concluded it to be a Phaseolus, or some other scan dent legume. If M. Bernier was truly in- formed of its annual sowing and climbing, then Alpinus- never saw the true coffee plant. The Arabians are as careful-4, destroying the germinating faculty of the coffee fruit or seed, by boiling or burning, as the Dutch of the Moluccas are in their nutmegs. I have spoke with several curious persons that have been several times in Egypt, and they all said that they never saw the coffee plant; neither, as I remember, did Bellonius ever meet with it in that country or Arabia ; for the coffee is said only to grow in that part of Arabia that lies within the tropic. I have examined many coffee berries, as they call them, here at London, and am almost persuaded by my own observation, that they are neither berries nor the seeds of any Convolvulus, nor of any legume, but are rather of the nut kind : the entire fruit is covered with two skins, being round on one side and flat on the other ; the exte- rior skin, or rather shell, being as thick almost as that of a pistachio, is of a dark colour ; the second, or interior membrane, that covers the kernels, is much finer and of a yellowish -white colour, as the kernels themselves are. Under this second skin lies generally two kernels, some- times one, round on one side and flat on the other : on the flat side of the kernel there is always a slit, or a mouth, so that every kernel doth exactly resemble a Concha Veneris. The fruit doth generally come to us decorticated, but I, finding some entire, have made this description. London, May 21, 87. 13 194 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. SIR, I send you here inclosed the specimen of a plant growing on Newmarket Heath, and in Surrey, known by the name of Star of the Earth in those parts. It is par- ticularly taken notice of on the account of its extraordi- nary and admirable virtue in curing the bitings of mad dogs, either in beasts or men. One of his majesty's huntsmen having proved it a great many times, gave the king his way of using it, which was an infusion in wine with treacle, and one or two more simples. His majesty was pleased to communicate it to Gresham College to the Royal Society; and nobody knowing the plant by that name, some there present confirming its use in that dis- ease in some places of England, and procuring the herb itself, it is as little known here as if it had come from the Indies. I told the Society I would let you have this best specimen of it, which I question not but it is known to you. If you please to give your sentiments about it, you will extremely oblige, &c. London, June 21, 1687. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received your letter with the specimen inclosed, which seems to me to be the Sesamoides Salamanticum magnum of Clusius [Silene otites, Sm.], or Lychnis viscosa Jlore muscoso of C. B., which I have observed to grow plentifully upon Newmarket Heath, that part I mean that is in Suffolk, for on Cambridgeshire side I have not found it. I wonder it should have such a virtue as you mention, but it seems it is well attested. Dr. Hulse writes to me he finds it in Graye's * Earrier.' If you go to Jamaica I pray you a safe and prosperous voyage. We expect great things from you, no less than CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 195 the resolving all our doubts about the names we meet with of plants in that part of America, as the Dildoe, Mammee, Mangrove, Manchinello, Avellance purgatrices, the Sower-sop, and Custard-apple. Of most of which, though I am pretty well informed and satisfied by Dr. Robinson, yet I shall be glad to be either confirmed or better informed by so knowing and curious an observer as yourself. I should be glad to know what manner of fruit the Mandioca bears; for, whatever some have written, that it is not without, I am confident. You may also please to observe whether there be any species of plants common to America and Europe, and whether Ambergrise be the 7ice of any sort of metal or aloe dropped into the sea, as Trapham would have it. What kind of Arundo it is the same author calls the Dumbcane, as also what his animal seeds may be. The shining barks of trees which he mentions deserve observation, because I find nothing of them in other writers. I shall not instance in more particulars. I wish your voyage had so long pre- vented the publication of my history, that I might have been satisfied and informed by you of these and a thou- sand other particulars, and had so great an accession of new and nondescript species as your inquisitions and ob- servations would have enriched it withal. I take leave, and rest, &c. RICH. WALLER, Esq. to Mr. RAY. SIR, I thought it might not be an unacceptable com- munication to tell you, that being this last summer at Keinsham, in Somersetshire, and making a search after the Cornua ammonis, I found, amongst several of the ordinary snake-stones in which the shelly diaphragms were very visible, one of the true nautilus shape, covered in some places with a shelly incrustation, with the dia- phragms to be seen to the centre of the voluta ; and in 196 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. each diaphragm the hole by which they communicate with one another, by a string or gut in the fish. This was of a very hard stone and large size, weighing at least twenty-eight pounds, though some part was broken off. London, Feb. 4, 1687. Mr. WALLEK to Mr. RAT. SIR, Since one of the chief ends of an herbal is thereby to attain a true knowledge of plants, I have ad- ventured to propose my thoughts to you, how by a few tables, with iconisms, one wholly ignorant in plants may know how to find any unknown plant, together with the help of your method and tables in your most exact and elaborate ' Treatise of Plants,' lately published. My thoughts in short are these : I would, according to your general table of herbs, inserted at page 58, take the two first divisions, imperfect and perfect ; giving the figure of any one imperfect plant, as of a fungus or the like. Of a perfect one I would do the same ; under the perfect another figure of the minute seeded, viz. a capillary, with a larger seeded plant. This should be my first table. In the second, coming to the larger seeded, I would give the figure of a seed coming out of the ground with two lobes or seed-leaves, beside the plant-leaves (referring the Unifolia to another table, as also all larger plants or trees) ; under this I would re- present an imperfect or staminous flower, and against it a perfect or leafy flower, both compound and simple; and so on throughout all the generic and specific divisions in several tables, which I suppose need not be many, with references to the books and chapters of your Treatise. The use of them will be this : taking any unknown plant, my first inquiry must be whether it has a seed or no ; if a seed, whether small or large ? if large, whether bivalve or not ? &c. By which method proceeding, I shall at CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 197 last be brought to find the very plant itself and the place where described at large in your book, my design in these tables being only to give an idea of the difference of plants by pictures (the representations of beings) rather than by words (the representations of pictures). This I submit to your censure before discovering it to others, requesting your thoughts upon it ; for it is very possible, that being so unknowing as I am in plants, I may frame an image to myself of that, which, brought to the test, will prove a mere chimera. If so, pray pardon my rash- ness, and accept of my real desire of advancing know- ledge. I thkjjt fit to communicate, that being this last autumn at Bristol, in August the tide brought in floating some of the vesiculiferous sea-wrack ; the bladders were some filled with air, some with a slimy water, and in some I found a round (as I suppose) seed, thinly dispersed in a tenacious matter. They were somewhat smaller than rape-seed, and of a brownish colour. This, if a new dis- covery, may be farther prosecuted. Thus having already troubled you with too large a letter, I beg leave to sub- scribe myself, &c. London, April 5, 1688. Mr. THO. LAWSON to Mr. EAT* MR. RAY, Acetosa scutata repens, C. B. Acet. ro- tundis. Westmerlandica Mor. \0xyria reniformis, Hook], by Buckbarrow Well, in Longsledale ; also on little Harterfell Crag, copiose, Westmoreland. Adiant. petr. perpusittum, sc. [Hymenopliyllum tun- * Although the plants mentioned in this letter of Mr. Lawson may be met with in Mr. Ray's books, yet there being many of the northern plants put together in alphabetical order, with the places where they grow, I thought it might be acceptable to the northern botanists to publish the letter as I found it. W. D[ERHAM.] 198 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. bridgense, Sm.],* on Buzzard rough Crag, close by Wre- nose, in Westmoreland. I was with Ja. Newton when it was found. Alchimilla alp. quinquefolia [Alchemilla alpina, Linn.], by Buckbarrow Well plentifully, as on the rocks between Thornwhait and Mardale, copiose, Westmoreland. Allium mont. bicorne [A. carinatum, Linn.], is doubt- less AL syl. bic.pur.prol. Chab., in Trout Beck Holme, by Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Alnusnigra baccifera, J. B. [Bhammis Frangula, Linn.], in Thorny Holme, in Whinfield Forest, Westmoreland. Saccifr. gram. sc. Cat. Cant. \Sagina procumbens, Linn.], called in your history, Sax. gram. pusil. fl. parvo tetrapetalo. Hereof I found another species, Foliis brevioribus crassioribm et succulentioribus \Spergula su- bulata, Sw.], on Whinneyfield Bank, by Cullercoats by Tynemouth, in Northumberland. Anagallis aquat. minor fol. subr., C. B. [Veronica Bec- cabunga, Linn.] Anagal. aquat. min. fol. oblong., C. B. \V. Anagallis, Linn.] Both fl. albo, about Shap, in Westmoreland. Anag. aquat. rotund., Ger., Samolus Valerandi \Samolus Falerandi, Linn.], at Marshgrainge, in Furneis, and be- tween Bare and Pulton, nigh Lancaster, on the sea-bank. Anchusa degener fa. mil. solis [Zit/iospermum arvense, Linn.], on Lansmoor, near Great Strickland. It is not plentiful with us, Westmoreland. Androsoemum vulg., Park. \Hypericum Androscemum, Linn.], in the Lady Holme, in Winander Mear, West- moreland. Apium palustre seu off., C. B. \_A. graveolens, Linn.], near Cartmall Medicinal Well, on the Marsh Ditches, Lancashire. Armeriaprat., Ger.,/. albo[Dianthus Armeria, Linn.], at Orton, Greatstrick, Westmoreland, and by Penigent, in Yorkshire. * Perhaps more correctly H. Wilsoni, Hook. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 199 Aria Theophrasti, Ger. [Pyrus Aria, Sm.], Wither- slack, Consick Scar, Silverdale, Arnside, places in Lanca- shire and Westmoreland, where they call it Chess-apple and Sea-oulers. It is Sorbus alpina, J. B. Asplenium, J. B. [Ceteracli Officinarum, Willd.], on Troutbeck Bridge, near Winander Mear, copiose Barba Neptuni. Mrs. Warde, of Gisborough of Cleinelayne, in Yorkshire, first observed this and called it Sea-bird : she showed it to me and after to Mr. Newton, who called it Bar. Neptuni. She is very knowing in plants. Betonica aquat., Ger. \_Scrophularia aquatica, Linn.], at Allythwait, nigh Cartmal, Lancashire, copiose. Bijk&um minimum, J. B. [Listera cordata, R. Br.], by the Picts' Wall, in Northumberland. Bistorta minor, Ger. \Polygonum viviparum, Linn.], at Crosby Ravensworth, in Westmoreland, copiose. Bryonia alba, Ger. [B. dioica, Jacq.], near Darlington, all along the horse-way to Thornton, in the bishopric of Durham, copiose. Buglossum luteum, Ger. [Picris echioides, Linn.], be- twixt Stockton and Norton, in the bishopric of Durham, plentifully. Bur sa past, minor. Nastur.petr. Tab., \Teesdalia nudi- caulis, R. Br.], by Common Holme Bridge, near Clibburn, in Westmoreland. Campanula Cymbalaria fol., Ger. Emac. \Walilenbergia hederacea, Reich.], in Bagley Wood, near Oxford, I ob- served it. Cardamine, Ger. [C.pratensis, liam^fl.pleno, on Little Strickland pasture, Westmoreland. Carduus nutans, J. B. [C. nutans, Linn.], by Hardin- dale Nab, Westmoreland. Card, stellat., Ger. \_Centaurea Calcitrapa, Linn.], be- twixt the Glasshouses and Dent's Hole, nigh Newcastle- upon-Tyne, in Northumberland. Card, monstrosus Imperati [Carlina vulgaris, Linn. ?] in a limestone quarry in Great Strickland field, West- moreland. Caryophyllata purpurca prolifcra fl. amplo [a double- 200 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. flowered variety of Geum rivale, Linn.], by Great Strick- land, Westmoreland. Caryopkyttus mar. minimus, Ger. \Armeria maritima, Willd.], in Bleaberry Gill, under Hinckell Haugh, at the head of Stockdale fields in Craven, Yorkshire, far from the sea. Caryophyllus virgin., Ger. \JDianthus deltoides, Linn.], on a sandy hill, a little below Common Holme Bridge, where the water is crossed near Great Strickland, West- moreland. Catanance leg. quorundam, J. B. \Latkyrus Nissolia, Linn.], between the Glasshouses and Dent's Hole, nigh the North Shore-house by Newcastle-upon-Tyne, copiose. Centaurium luteum perfol., C. B. \_Chlora perfoliata, Linn.], in many places by Worcester and Gloucester. Centaurium min., C. B., /. albo [Erythrcea centaurium, Pers.], by Cartmall Medicinal Well, Lancashire. Cerasus syl. fructu min. cordiformi, Ph. Br. \Prunus Avium, Linn.],* nigh Stockport, in Cheshire, at Bery or Bury, in Lancashire, at Rosgill, in Westmoreland. In all these places it is called Merry-tree. I could ob- serve no difference from other cherry-trees, save in its small cordiformous fruit. Chamcecistus vulgaris fl. albo \_Helianthemum vulgare, Gaert.] On Gogmagog's Hill I gathered it. Alysson Dioscor. montanum, Col. [Veronica montana, Linn.], at Lartington, in Yorkshire, near Bernard Castle, in Buckham, belonging to Sir John Lowther, Westmoreland. Cham&morus, Ger. \JRubus Cham&morus, Linn.], be- tween Bannisdal Head and Water Sledale, as on Cross- fece, Westmoreland. Ckristopkoriana, Ger. \Actaa spicata, Linn.], among the shrubs by Malham Cove, Yorkshire. Cochlearia marina fol. anguloso parvo [Cochlearia da- nica, Linn.], in the Isle of Waney, Lancashire. I pur- * See Leighton's 'Flora of Shropshire 3 (pp. 523-7) concerning this and the P. Cerasus, Linn., which have usually been confounded by English botanists. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 201 pose soon after Pentecost to send fair samples and seeds. I saw nothing to distinguish it from the rest but its little cornered leaves. Conyza major Mat. sc. J. B. \Inula Conyza, De Cand.], by Cartmall Medicinal Well, Lancashire. Conyza car. acris, C. B. \_Erigeron acris, Linn.], on the old walls by Sawley Abbey, Lancashire. Cotulanonfcetidaplenofl. \Pyretliruminodorum, Sm.], at Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Cotyledon Idrsuta, P. B. \Saccifraga stellaris, Linn.], by Buckbarrow Well, in Longsledale, Westmoreland, copiose. Critfynum mar. spinosum sc. Park. \_Echinophora spi- nosa, Linn.], at.Roosbeck, in Low Furneis, Lancashire. Digitalis fl. albo \Digitalispurpurea, Linn.], in a close called Millbank, at Lorton Town End, in Cumberland, copiose. Dryopteris alba Dodonei, Ger. Emac. \Cystopterisfra- gilis, Bernh.] ; Dryopt. nigra Dod. \Asplenium Adiantum- nigrum, Linn.] ; Dryopt. Tragi. \Polypodimn Dryopteris, Linn.] ; these three I found plentifully in a place called Trowgill, near Clibburn, Westmoreland. Ecldum mar., P. Br. [Stenhammaria maritima, Reich. ; Pulmonaria maritima, Linn.], by Whitehaven, in Cum- berland, and also over against Bigger, in the Isle of Waney, copiose. Elceagus cordi \Myrica Gale, Linn.], by the rivulet be- tween Shap and Anna Well, Westmoreland. Elatine fol. acum., Park. \Linaria Elatine, Mill.] ; Elatine fol. subrot., C. B. [L. spuria, Mill.] ; both these I observed on Stanhill, west of Henley Wood. Equisetum sive hippuris lac. fol. mansu aren., Gesn. [ Ckara hispida, var. Linn.], in Hell Kettles, nigh Dar- lington, in Conzick Tarn ditches, Westmoreland. Eruca marina, Ger., Cakile sc. \Cakile maritima, Willd.] at Roosbeck, in Furneis, as also in the Isle of Waney, Lancashire. 202 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Eruca Nasturtio cognat. tenuifolia, P. B. [Vella annua, Linn.], on Salisbury Plain. Eruca monensis lacin. lutea [Sinapis monensis, Bab.], between Marshgrainge and the Isle of Waney, Lancashire, in Sella Fields, Sea Bank, Cumberland. I purpose to observe this in the Isle of Man, at Pentecost. Eryngium vulg. J. B. \JB. campestre, Linn.], on the shore called Fryer Goose, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Ferrum equinum, Ger., sil. in summ. sc. C. B. [Hippo- crepis comosa, Linn.], on the rocks by the rivulet that runs from Anna Well towards Shap, Westmoreland. Filipendula, Ger., J. B. [Spiraa flipendula, Linn.], on the top of Conzick Scar, copiose, Westmoreland. Fumaria alba latifolia, Park. [Fumaria claviculata, Linn.], at Thornwhait, foot of Longsledale, on the thatched houses in Kentmeer, Isan Paries Cave mouth, copiose, Westmoreland. Fumaria major scandens [F. capreolata, Linn.], in Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Fungus Phattoides, J. B. [Phallus impudicus, Linn.], in Croft Short Close, by Great Strickland. Geranium batrachoides, fl. eleyanter variegato \G. syl- vaticum, Linn.], in Old Deer Park, by Thorn whaite, Westmoreland. Ger. hfsmatodes fl. eleganter variegato \G. sanguineum, Linn., |3. prostratum ; G. lancastriense, With. ; G. pro- stratum, Cavan.] Thousands hereof I found in the Isle of Waney, and have sent roots to Edinburgh, York, London, Oxford, where they keep their distinction. Gladiolus lacustris Clusii, sc. Park. [Lobelia Dortmanna, Linn.] This I found in Winander Mear, copiose, and in Grayson Tarne, near Cockermouth, Cumberland. Gladiolus palustris Cord., Ger. [Butomus umbellatus, Linn.] This I observed betwixt Tewksbury and Glou- cester, in the ditches. Glaux Dioscor., Ger. [Astragalus hypoglottis, Linn.], close by Huntcliff Rock, in Cleveland, Yorkshire. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 203 Glausc vulff. Ad. Lob. [is this Glaujc maritima, Linn. ?], on the shore called Fryer Goose, by Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Gnaphalium mont. album, Ger. \Gnaplialium dioicum, Linn.], by the Force, between Anna Well and Shap, on Sir John Lowther's pasture, between Lowther and Hack- thorpe, Westmoreland. Gramen triylochin, J. B. \Triglochin palustre, Linn.], by the rivulet between Shap and Anna Well, Westmore- land. Gramen sparteum capite bifido vel gemino* betwixt Hackthorpe and Lowther, copiose, Westmoreland. Hederula aquatica, Ger. [Lemna trisulca, Linn.], in ditches* between Warton and Cornforth, Lancashire. Helleborine minor alba, Park. \Ceplialanthera grandi- jlora, Bab.], in Sir John Lowther's wood, directly against Askham Hall, Westmoreland. Helleb.Jlore atro rubente, Park. [Epipactis ovalis, Bab.], in the lane by Abbot Wood Close, near Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Hieracium Macrocaulon hirsutum fol. rotundiore [H. murorum, Linn.] This I found by Buckbarrow Well, in Longsledale, and on the rocks by the rivulet between Shap and Anna Well, Westmoreland ; expect fair samples and my description. Hipposelinum, Ger. Emac. \Smyrnium olusatrum, Linn.], within and without the walls of Scarborough Castle, copiose, Yorkshire. Hypericum elegant, non ramosum fol. lato, J. B. \H. montanum, Linn.J, on Conzick Skar, by Kendal, on the rocks by the rivulet between Shap and Anna Well, West- moreland. Hypericum pulchrum Tragi, J. B. \H.pulchrum, Linn.], in Trowgil, near Clibburn, Westmoreland. Jacobaea latifol. palustris [Senecio aquatics, Huds.], at Great Strickland, in the watery places by Clibburn Bridge, Westmoreland. * This may be Ammophila arenaria, Link, Antndo arenaria, Liun., but the station requires examination. C. C. B. 204 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Juncus acutus cum caudd Leporind, J. B. being Gra- menjunceum montanum subsc&ruled spied Mer. \_Eriop7io- rum vaginatum, Linn.] It is always Spied simplici. Its bluish spikes appear soon after Christmas. After it turns white sheep are greedy after it; so it is called Moss-crops about Clibburn, Water Sledale, and in all places here Westmoreland. Lacluca Agnina, Ger. \Valerianella olitoria, Moench.], about the bank of the Roman fort Maburg, nigh Round Table, Westmoreland. Ladanum segetum sc. J. B. [Galeopsis Ladanum, Linn.], on Lansmoor, near Great Strickland. Lapathum pulchrum bononiense, sc. J. B. \Eumex pul- cher, Linn.], betwixt the inn and the smithy at Sir John Lowther's new town, Westmoreland. Latliyrus major latifolius, Ger. Emac. [L. latifolius, Linn.],* on the rocks by the Red Neese, by Whitehaven, cop. Cumberland. I/aureola, Ger. [Daphne Laureola, Linn.], by Thornton, in the bishopric of Durham. Lilium convallium, Ger. \jConvallaria majalis, Linn.], in Witherstack Park. Lilium convallium angustifolium \_C. majalis, var.], on the Skar, near Waterfall Bridge, by Great Strickland, and in other places, Westmoreland. Linum syl. ft. cteruleis, Ger. Emac. \_Linum perenne, Linn.J, at Crosby Ravensworth, and between Shap and Threaplands, Westmoreland. Lunaria ramosa, and Lunaria crenata \_Botrychium Lunaria, Sw.], grow in Croft Short Close, by Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Marrubium aquaticmn \_Lycopus europceus, Linn.], in the moss by Hawkshead, Lancashire. Melilotus vulgaris, Parkinson [Melilotus ojjicinalis, Lam.], by Langanby, Cumberland. * It appears that the late Mr. Winch only met with the Z. sylvestris, Linn., at the place mentioned by Mr. Lawson. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 205 Mentastrum folio rugoso rotund, sc. J. B. [Mentha rotundifolia, Linn.], by Marshgrainge, in Lancashire. Millefolium aquaticum dictum Viola aquatica, J. B. \Hottonia palustris, Linn.], in the river Kent, by'Kendal, Westmoreland. Mil. palustre galeric. Ger. Emac. [ Utricularia vulgaris, Linn.], and Mil. pal. gal. minus jl. minore [U. minor, Linn.], in the ditches by the causeway over the moss to the Fell-end, near Witherstack. Millegrana minima, Ger. \Eadiola millegrana, Sm.], on Clifton Moor and Clibburn Moor, Westmoreland. Morsus Diaboli, Ger., flore albo [Scabiosa succisa, Linn^at Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Dendrobryon geniculatum, Col. \_Usnia barbata, Ach.], near Kendal, Westmoreland. Muscus cupressiformis, Park. {Lycopodium alpinum, Linn.], by Buckbarrow Well, in Longsledale, Westmore- land. Muscus terrestris repens clavis singularibus, sc. J. R. \Lycopodium inundatum. Linn.], towards the foot of Longsledale, Westmoreland. Muscus terrestris polyspermos [Lycopodium selagi- noides, Linn.], by Buckbarrow Well, Westmoreland. Myrrhis syl. seminibus asperis, C. B. \Antliriscus vul- ^r*,Pere.], on mud-walls atBlackwell, in the bishopric of Durham, on mud -walls in Burlington, Yorkshire. Numularia minor, sc. C. B. {Anagallis tenella, Linn.], at the foot of Longsledale, and near the Cloven Stone, on Great Strickland Moor, Westmoreland, copiose. CEnanthe Cicutce-facie, Lob., Park. \CEnantlie crocata, Linn.], about Kendal and Hiltondale, Westmoreland, copiose, where it is commonly called Dead Tongue ; in the water-course of St. John's Well, by St. John's Chapel, in or near Scelsmoor, three miles from Kendal. Orchis palmata rubella cum longis calcaribus rubellis, J. B. \_Gymnadenia conopsea, R. Br.], in Troutbeck Holme, by Great Strickland, Westmoreland, where it is also found Jlore niveo, ctjl. carneo. 20G CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Orchis spliegodes sivefucumfeTens,~Pttt\i. \0plirys ara- nifera, Huds.], in the close on the west side of Charlton church, in Kent, copiose. Orchis my odes, Ger. [Ophrys muscifera, Huds.], in the lane or way between Holm-park House and the crag ; also in the wood there pretty plentifully, Westmoreland. luteum, C. B. \Gagea lutea, Ker.], in the bushes at Bander Bridge-end, by Cotherstone, near Rombald church, Yorkshire. Omithopodium minus, Ger. \_0rnithopus perpusillm, Linn.], on Clibburn Ling, near Common Holm Bridge, copiose, Westmoreland ; nigh Ravenglass, Cumberland. Pedicularis pratensis vulgaris Jl. albo [Pedicularis sylvatica, Linn.], at Gunnerthwaite, in Lancashire; at Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Pedicularis palustris elatior Jl. albo [P. palustris, Linn.], in the lower end of Longsledale, Westmoreland. Pentaphyttoides fruct. [Potentilla fruticosa, Linn.], by Mickle-force, in Teesdale, copiosissime. Persicaria siliquosa, Ger. \Impatiens noli-me-tangere, Linn.], by the cloth-mill in Saterthwait parish, Lanca- shire, and in many places of Westmoreland. Phyllitis multifida, Ger. [Scolopendrium vulgare, Linn.], on the rock by Cartmall Medicinal Well, Lanca- shire. Plantago aquat. minor, Park. [Alisma ranunculoides, Linn.] , near the Cloven-stone on Great Strickland Moor, Westmoreland. Plantago aquat. minor stellata, Ger. Emac. \Actino- carpus Damasonium, R. Br.], on Clapham Heath, in Surrey. Polygonum mar., J. B. \Polygonum Raii, Bab.], on the shore between Workington and Whitehaven, Cum- berland. Populus libyca, Ger. [P. tremula, Linn.], in St. Her- bert's Isle, in Derwentwater, Cumberland. Primula pratensis inodora lutea, Ger. veris caulifera, $c.3. ^.[Primula vulgaris var. umbettata probably]. Great CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 207 Cowslips. This, in the north, is commonly called Lady Candlestick. Ptarmica fl. pleno [Achillea Ptarmaca, Linn.], in the small holm in Winander Mear, Westmoreland. Pyrola brasiliana, Park. [P. rotundifolia, Linn. ?], by Guisborough, in Cleveland, Yorkshire. It grew in my garden several years ; whether his major or minor 1 was not satisfied. Ranunculus flam, major, Ger. Lingua Plinii, J. B. [Ranunculus Lingua, Linn.], in the water and ditches of the moss by Hawkshead, in Lancashire. Ranunculus nemorosus dulcis secundus Tragi, Park. \R. auricomus, Linn.], in dumetis, copiose, particularly in SheriflHPark, by Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Ranunculus palustr, rotundifolius, Ger. [R. sceleratus, Linn.], by Robin Hood's Well, nigh Wentbridge, York- shire ; by Middleton, near Lancaster. Reseda vulgaris, C. B. \_R. lutea, Linn.], by Clifford's Fort, at Tinmouth Castle, in Northumberland, copiose. Rkamnus catharticus, J.B. [JR. catkarticus, Linn,], in the rocks and hedges by Great Strickland, Westmoreland, copiose. Rhamnus secundus Clusii, Ger. Emac. [Hippophae rhamnoides, Linn.], on the sea bank between Whitby and Lyth, Yorkshire, copiose. Ros solisfol. oUongo, C. B. [Drosera lonffifolia, Linn., Sm.]; Ros solisfol. rotundo, Ger. [Drosera rotundifolia, Linn.] ; both these in Mosey Mire, in Witherslack, West- moreland. Rosmarinum syl. minus nostras, Park. [Andromeda polifolia, Linn.], in Brigsteer Moss, not far from Kendal, Westmoreland ; in Middleton Moss, by Lancaster. Rubia cynanchica, J.B. [Asperula cynanchica, Linn.], on Beltharrow, in Witherslack Park, and on the top of Conzick Scar, near Kendal, copiose, Westmoreland. Ruscus, J. B. [R. aculeatus, Linn.], on Westwood Common, nigh Sydenham, in Kent, not scarce. 208 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Saponaria Jl. plena \_8aponariaofficinalis, Linn.], at Carnforth, in Lancashire. Saxifraga palustris Anglica, Park. \Spergula nodosa, Linn.], in Troutbeck Holm, by Great Strickland, West- moreland. Scabiosa minor prat. jft. carneo, Park. [S, columbaria, Linn.], in the closes between Melkinthorp and Waterfall Bridge, Westmoreland. Scropkularia major, Ger. \8croph. nodosa, Linn.], by Waterfall Bridge, and in many other places in Westmore- land, where the common people call it Hastie Roger. Sedum alpinum trifido folio, C. B. \Saxifraga hypnoides, Linn.], by Maltham Cove, Yorkshire; among the rocks south of Sir John Lowther's, Westmoreland. Senecio hirsutus viscidus major odoratus, J. B. \_S. vis- cosus, Linn.], about Sunderland ; nigh Lancaster. Serratula fl. albo [^Serratula tinctoria, Linn.], in a close by Hampstead Heath, and on Sowfield, by Great Strickland, in Westmoreland. Slum minimum, J. R. [S. inundatum, Linn.], near Cloven-stone, in the sike on Great Strickland Moor; in a watery place by the Roman fort called Maburg, West- moreland. Soldanella marina, Ger. [Convolvulus Soldanella, Linn.], in the Isle of Waney, Lancashire. Ornus sive Fraoo. sylvestris, Park. \Pyrus Aucnparia, Gaert.], in the scars nigh Waterfall Bridge, in the north. It is known by the name of Rawn, or Rown-tree, or Rone- tree, Westmoreland. Sorbm torminalis, Ger. \Pyrus orminalis, Sm.], in Levens Park, near the bridge, Westmoreland. Stellaria aquatica, Park. [S. uliginosa, Murr.], in the ditches of Middleton Moss, Lancashire. Here I saw it in flower. Thalictrum majus, Ger. [T. majus, Crantz], by Cart- mall's Old Well, near the Medicinal Well, Lancashire. Thalictrum minus, Ger. \T. minus, Linn.], in the Isle of Waney, copiose, Lancashire. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 209 Tormentilla fl. pleno \Polentilla tormentilla, Nesl.J, at Temple Sourby, in Westmoreland. Filiaj marina Anglica, Park. {Asplenium marinum, Linn.], under a shadowy sea rock by Middleton, near Lancaster. Pneumonanthe, Ger. {Gentiana Pneumonanthe, Linn.J, on Red, or Rud Heath, in Cheshire, copiose. Also near Clapham, in Yorkshire. Trachelium minus fl. albo [Campanula glomerata, Linn.], in Troutbeck Holm, by Great Strickland, Westmoreland. Trifolium album umbelld siL, Mer. [a monstrosity of T. repens, Linn.], betwixt Virginia House and Nag-head Inn, in-ijje way to Hackney, London. Trifol. pumilum supinum flos. longis albis, P. B. ; Tri- fol. subterraneum tricoccon, Mor. [T. subterraneum, Linn.], on Blackheath, in Kent. It grew in my garden. Trepolium, sc. [Aster tripolium, Linn.], Isle of Waney, Lancashire. Turritis, Ger. \_T.glabra, Linn.], at Clibburn, West- moreland. Vaccinia niyra, Ger. \Vaccinium myrtillus, Linn.] ; Vac. nigr. fruc. maj., Park. [Vaccinium uliginosum, Linn.] ; Vaccinia rubra, Ger. [Vac. vitis-idcsa, Linn.] ; Vac. palustria, Ger. [Vaccinium Oxycoccos, Linn.], all grow in the forest of Whinfield, Westmoreland. Verbena vulg. J. B. [Verbena officinalis, Linn.], at Cockermouth, in Cumberland, plentiful. Viola mont. lutea grandiflora, C. B. [V. lutea, Huds.], by Elden Hole, in Derbyshire ; Malham Cove, in York- shire ; on Stanmoor, in Westmoreland, abundantly. Virga aurea, Ger. \Solidago Virgaurea, Linn.], in Clibburn Field, Westmoreland, abundantly. Umbilicus Vcn. } Ger. \_Cotyledon Umbilicus, Linn.], at Oxford, and about Bristol, copiose. As for Orchis palmata pal. mac., Park., and his Orchis 2ml. pal. dracontias, in my judgment you have truly referred them. I have consulted Park, and Ger. Emac., and see no reason to distinguish them. Pray consult 14 210 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Park, and Lobel. Lobel I have not. Park., I suppose, distinguishes them upon his authority. 1 purpose to mind them in this following season. Great Strickland, April 9, 88. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Jan. 8, 89. SIR, Not long since one Mr. Pratt, a gardener, a person (as himself told me) well known to you, who now lives with Sir Thomas Willughby, son and heir of my worthy friend and benefactor, Francis Willughby, Esq., being here with me, and hearing that you were returned from Jamaica, and had brought over with you, among many other natural varieties, divers seeds not common, by you discovered in that and the neighbouring islands, engaged me to write to you to entreat you, if you have not already disposed of them, to communicate some part to Sir Thomas, who, I know, will be very thankful to you for them, Mr. Pratt will take care of them, and part of the product you may command. Being advised by Dr. Robinson that my first letter, in answer to yours, miscarried, I wrote a second, which I hope came to your hands. I should be glad to hear what progress you have made in order to the publishing your curious observations and discoveries, whereby you will much oblige the learned naturalists of this age, and erect a lasting monument to your own memory. I am, sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, to be left at Mr. Wilkinson's, at the Black Boy, over against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet street, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 211 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, October 21, 89. SIR, I was much troubled when I was advised by Dr. Robinson that my letter, in answer to yours of August 3, came not to your hands, the subject whereof was to give you thanks for your intended visit, and to tell you how glad I should be to see you (when your occasions should draw you this way) at my poor habita- tion at Black Notley, and be made partaker of some part of your discoveries and observations ; to encourage you in yourlflSsign of publishing the fruits of your travels in the New World ; to offer you any assistance I could afford ; and finally (which should have been first mentioned) to congratulate your safe return into England. I was long in hope and expectation of seeing you here, and wondered that you came not, nor sent any word of the alteration of your purpose, and the reason of it. I also (which I had forgot) in the same letter returned you many thanks for the present of seeds you designed me. The days are now so short, and the ways and weather so unfit for travel, that I have little hopes of seeing you here this winter, unless your occasions should engage you to take a journey to New Hall (which is not above eight miles from us), and then I entreat you would make a further step hither, where you shall be most welcome to, Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloaue, at Mr. Wilkinson's, a bookseller, at the Black Boy, over against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet street, London. 212 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. LHWTD* to Mr. RAT. HONOURED SIR, The same varieties of Entrochi, with those you sent me, are found in Staffordshire, but 1 had none exactly like them ; for, though I picked up some variety of them in Wales, yet they all differ from these in texture, consistence, and colour. About Oxford we have considerable variety of formed stones, more than Dr. Plot has mentioned in his history ; but no Entrochi were ever found in this county that I have heard of. If any one of these formed stones may be acceptable to you, I can send you a parcel whenever you please to command it. Dr. Morison's first tome, which, with the second already printed, contains all the herbaceous kind, is ready for the press. Pray excuse this hasty scribble, and repute me, &c. Oxford, Feb. 25, 16f. Mr. LHWTD to Mr. HAT. HONOURED SIR, Dr. Lister acquaints me that Mr. Charlton has lately received a land-snail from Surinam, not bigger than a hen's egg, which yet lays eggs as big as those of a sparrow ; and the snails that are hatched of them are, he says, twice as large as the eggs. Sir, I thank you for your pattern of the Muscus den- ticulatus major. One Mr. Richardson, a gentleman of Yorkshire (a person very curious about plants, and the other parts of natural history, and that has spent about six or seven years with Dr. Herman in that study), told me he was somewhat secure that plant grew in Yorkshire, under the heaths, and promised to send me patterns of it this summer. I only expect your commands for some figured stones. * See Appendix B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 213 Those that this country affords are chiefly in imitation of shells. We have none that resemble fish, or any other animals besides, nor that have the resemblance of any plants. Cornu Hammonis, Asteriscus, Asteria S. Astroi- tes, and Belemnites of divers sorts, we have plentifully, as also some others that I cannot compare to any natural bodies that I have any notion of. One quarry within two miles of Oxford I have searched at least forty times, and sometimes had five or six with me ; yet last Saturday I discovered there three varieties of Glossopetrce, though none had ever been observed in this part of England before, for what I can learn. One of them is a Tricuspis, such as~r. Lister's in one of the ' Phil. Transact.' Oxford, April 14, 1690. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Concerning the Catalogue of Local Words,! shall add nothing till I hear farther from you, save that a friend, whom casually I met withal last week, asked me concerning that catalogue, and told me that he had made a collection of a few words proper to this county, which he was willing to communicate, in case the book came to a second edition. Upon this occasion I cannot but take notice that, as if Divine Providence governed even such small matters, when I have been about to publish, or in publishing a work, there have been casually offered to me, without my own or friends' procurement, at that very time, some assistance or contributions by mere strangers, and such as knew nothing of the present publication, or at least such as I made no address to, nor expected anything from. Mr. Lhwyd lately wrote me word of a strange snail Mr. Charlton had received from Surinam, which was not above the bigness of a pullet's egg, yet laid an 214 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. egg as big as a sparrow, and that the young one hatched of it was twice as big as the egg, of which particulars I desire confirmation from you. Black Notley, May 16, 90. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAT. SIR, Mr. Charlton has such a snail-shell, as you mention, with eggs and young ones, which are the wonder of our philosophers here ; but I being naturally too jealous, do almost suspect (though I durst never declare my suspicion, the thing appearing clear to every- body besides myself) that the eggs and young ones have been severally, and very artificially added to the snail, though indeed the snails are oviparous, and peradventure perfect-shelled animals may be observed in the eggs themselves ; so that I may be under an unreasonable doubt. London, May 17, 90. Dr. PLUKENET'S Observations on Mr. RAY'S Synopsis Stirp. Britan.* Page 57. SIR, The laborious Parkinson was indeed mistaken when he confounded the Cham am. vuty. [Ma- tricaria Cliamomillu, Linn.] that grows among corn with the Nobile \Anthemis nobilis, Linn.], or Roman kind ; and we are not a little obliged to your learned and pierc- ing observation for the discovery of it; but I cannot readily submit that the Cham&ui. for. pi. (which we have so common in gardens, or the naked sort) should either of them be varieties of this Amarum [Matricaria Chamomilla, Linn.], kind, since they are both very fra- * It is the first edition of the ' Synopsis,' published in 1690, to which ibis letter refers. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 215 grant, and creeping upon the ground, and nothing diffe- rent, but in those very accidents of flowering, from that which grows trailing on our commons, which, however erroneously styled vulgar., yet in reality is the Roman, or noble sort of Chanwem. But that which ordinarily goes under the name of Cotula fcetida fl. plen., which I once found in some plenty on the high road from London to Barnet, about half a mile short of the town, is both upright in its stalk, and of no scent at all ; and this I dare pronounce to be the double of the Chamam. arvor. vulff., which I take also to be different from the Cotula fcetida Dod. [Anthemis Cotula, Linn.], or Chamam. inodon^ C. B. P., of which sort I never yet beheld any with a double flower. I must needs own that Dr. Morison, in ' Praslud/ 249, relating there how frequently this CotuL inod. sem. nigr. did occur to him upon the coasts of Bretagne, in Trance, assigns our doable flower- ing to a variety of this, assuring it also to produce seed of a like hue. I will not question the doctor's seeing the seed (though double-flowering plants seldom bear any), because he seems to be very positive in it ; nor indeed was I ever so curious to observe it, not having seen a growing plant for above these twenty years, and so am ignorant of its colour ; but the mien and air, the total habit of this multiplex kind, of which I still retain a firm idea in my mind the lower stature of it, though upright, the brisk and vivid colour of its leaves, the fewer branch- ings of its stalk, the lesser compass of its double flowers, and shorter lengths of its fine-cut leaves in all which the Chamcem. vulg. differs from the Cotula inodora, which bespeak it to appertain rather to the former ; of which in my Catalogue I have made it a more immediate variety. Page 61. There is a Livnonium minus \Jttatice spathu- lata, Desf.J said to grow with us in the north of Eng- land, and which I have observed in gardens : perhaps the same sort that Parkinson asserts Lobel to have found about Colchester. The most peculiarity that I could 216 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. observe, beside that of its being smaller than our com- mon, was a foliaceous wideness on the pedicle of each leaf, even to its insertion to the root or stalk ; whereas our common has a slender, round, and nervous pedicle, for a considerable distance towards the leaf. Page 64. Although you seem to suspect the Arch- angel. Dod., Cms., to be the same growing on mountainous places with the common Angel, sylv. [A. sylvestris, Linn.] in our meadows, and so difference of place only to make the diversity, I assure myself they are specifically diverse ; and the Scandiaca* has this peculiar, that it produces its umbels not only a-top, but also on the side of the stalk, two or three ex alis foliormn, and sometimes one or two along the upper stalks without any leaf at all ; and I have seen it above seven feet high. Page 247. Among the emendanda I find a query about the Cnicus spinosior of the Parisian Catalogue, which I take to be no other than that perennial sort you set down in your incomparable ' Cat. Angl./ and observed it to grow plentifully at lesser distances from the sea, both in Italy, Sicily, and the more southern tracks of France, whose resemblance, though it come well nigh that figure in Cms., under the title of Carlina sylv., which I esteem no more than our spontaneous annual sort, yet certainly it seems more nearly to respond the Heracantha, Tab. Ic. 697, both as to its figuration and manner of growing, putting forth its flowers in the way of an umbel. And though this be made use of as a synonyme to express the foregoing common kind, as we find it even in C. Bauh. himself, yet I am inclined to believe this very Heracantha is nothing different from the Cnicus of the Parisians, and in all likelihood the same with the Cnicus sylv. spinosior polycaph. of the same C. Bauh. ; not, therefore, to be accepted for our common kind, nor indeed the Acarna 8. Acorna altera Apula column., which latter, both from the Fabian description * This appears to be a mountain form of Angelica Arcluuu/elica, Liun., but not a native of Britain. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 217 of it, and synonyme of C. Bauh., which seems by him particularly adapted from the parvity of its flowers and heads, must be quite another thing. But what this is I cannot determine, as never having seen the plant, and therefore do submit it to your most excellent and discretive judgment. The Polygala repens nivea, C. B. P., repens nuperor, Lob., I do readily grant is a Polygonum, but extremely differing from the Polyg. Serpylli folio verticiltat. Cat. Angl., parvum fl. albo verticillat., J. B. \Corrigiola litto- ralis, Linn.], which comes under a much nearer resem- blance to the Polyg. muscosum, P. Bocc., though it be very^4Uferent from this too, as by collating the plants themselves, I having them by me, you will easily perceive. That pretty Polygonum \Glaux maritima, Linn.] Mr. Newton found in Cornwall, myself upon the Severn shore, cannot be the Pusillo vermiculato Serpylli folio, J. B., Serpylli folio, Lob., Park. \Frankcnia laevis, Linn.], if at least the figure of it among authors does any way agree with the thing, since the leaves of this are round and shining, but nothing of a Stonecrop shape ; and, therefore, as you have given it the honour of a place in the Appendix of your learned Synopsis, you may find I have given it a different name, viz. Polygonum maritimum longius radicatum nostras Serpylli folio circinato crasso- nitente ; and perhaps it is the same with the Polygon, minus lentifolium, C. B. \Herniaria lenticulata, Linn.*], as 1 have there set down my suspicion. The Gnaphalium maritimum [Diotis maritima, Cass.] you have ranged, without any remark, among the pap- pescentf of that kind, when Breynius, in Prodr. 2, assures it hath solid seed. Page 54. The Carduus leucograplms hirsu,tus capilulo * To which Linnaeus has also erroneously referred this plant of Plukcnctt, in the Sp. PI. ed. n. C. C. B. f It lias no puppus. C. C. B. 218 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. minori, Moris. \Carduus leucographus, Linn.], I take to be very different from the Card. Maria Airs, maculatm \Silybum marianum, Gaert.], growing so copiously about Clerkenwell, whose head is little inferior for bulk to the more common with milky veins. Page 120. Queer. Whether the Anagallis aquatic, major folio oblongo, C. B. P. \Veronica Anagallis ^ Linn.], be not clearly omitted. As for the Aquatica major foliis subrotundis \Veronia Beccabunga, Linn.], perhaps it may be only a luxuriance of the minor under the same denomination. Page 108. Queer. Whether the Leucommluteum \_Chei- ranthus Cheiri, Linn.], upon walls, be not a different plant from the Leuc. vulgar. Jl. simpl. \CheirantUus Cheiri, Linn.] growing in gardens. It seems to me to be much more woody, with larger flowers : the leaves glaucous, and extremely rigid or stiff, qualities not to be observed in the garden kind. Page 133. I ever took the Trifol. pumilum supin. Jlosc. long, alb., Phytol. Brit. [Trifolium ornithopodioides, Linn.], to be very applicable to the Trif. siliquis ornitho- podii nostras ; and perhaps the author of this name meant no other thing by it. The flowers are long, slender, and piped ; they are of a most immaculate Avhite (though your description seems to put them to the blush), and often with three on a stalk ; which number of short and curved pods succeeding, does make out a pretty resem- blance of a bird's claw ; and I am fully persuaded the Trifolium parvum album monspeliac. cum paucis foribus, J. B.* is no other than this Bird's-foot Trefoil, which in my Catalogue I have made a synonyme for it. As for the Trif. subterr. tricocc., whereunto you incline to apply the phytologist's title, it is true it has indeed the same sort of white fistulous flowers ; but withal it has such a sin- gularity in the mode of growing, as thrusting the stalks * This name, and T. pumilum supin. fl. &c., a few lines back, are now referred to T. sulterraneum, Linn., in common with T. subterr. tricocc. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 219 of its flowers, even while it is in flower, into the bosom of the earth, that I cannot but think this very peculiarity could not possibly have escaped the observation of its first explorers, who could not be so deficient in their way of imposing names, as to neglect such a remarkable note, so signal a characteristic in the composition of its title, as alone might serve to distinguish it from all the Tcrrce flii and Trefoils in the world. After this manner it was that the famous Dr. Magnol accommodated his name for it ; so did Dr. Morison his, who indeed pretended to be the first discoverer of it, or at least assigned it to his princely patron, whose badge (Gastonium) was annexed untcr^jis other titles in memory of its first invention, though I find it (yet still by names expressive of this peculiar) in authors before him, as in Vallot, Joncquet, and other catalogue writers, before that of the ' Garden of Blois,' by Morison, had any being in the world ; so that I only hence infer that, had the authors of the ' Phyt. Brit.,' or the most learned J. Bauhine (but he saw not the growing plant), in their denominations in- tended the subterranean trefoil, they would not have contented themselves with lodging their discriminating character upon the flowers alone (that are intercommon with others of the same genus), but would certainly have taken along with them this wonderful property, which, while the plant was flowering, could hardly have evaded their notice ; and therefore I presume they understood by those stated names no other than the Trif. ornithopod. siliq. [T. ornithopodioides, Linn.], which they might observe in flower, not heeding the pods ; or perhaps find- ing the plant before it was podded, they were content to transmit such a diversity in its name as was derivative only from its flowers. Both these pretty trefoils grew in great abundance in Tothill Fields, by Westminster. Page 145. The Alsine tetrapetalos caryophylloides qmbusdam Holost. minim., D. Rap. [Moenchia erecta, Pers.j, that grows frequently about London in upland pastures, is very different, in my opinion, from the Alsine 220 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. montan. capillac. folio C. B. P. [Mcekringia muscosa, Linn.], which indeed is a foreigner to us, but has a leaf as fine as a hair, and four white leaves to the flower, as the name imports, and is a pretty upright plant, of about a small span in stature, and not much unlike the Alsin. tenuif. muscosa ejusd. C. Bauh. [M. muscosa /3, Linn.] The Auricula muris pulcJiro Jlore, J. B. \_Cerastium arvense, Linn.], omitted in the Synopsis, but inserted among the Supplenda, might perhaps have been supplied by the the Alsine myosotis lanuginosa alpina grandiflora S. Auricula muris vittosa Jlore amplo membranaceo, D. Lhwyd \C. latifolium, Linn.], as being the same, or a variety of it. Page 150. As for the Sedum parvum acre fore luteo [Sedum acre, Linn.], it is multisiliquous, or multicornous in its capsule, divided into five points, and when ripe makes a pretty resemblance of a star; and therefore, in my opinion, ought not to be disjoined from the Sedums, properly so called. Under this banner does the Sedum minimum acre march, and, if I mistake not, the Minus teretifol. album [Sedum album, Linn.] ; but I have not yet thoroughly examined it, and therefore am not positive therein ; nor can I say, without a peradventure, the like of the Alpinum ericoides cceruleum, G. B. P. \Saxifraga oppositifolia, Linn.]. Indeed your Sedum min. Alpinum luteum nostras \Saxifraga aizoides, Linn.] is, to the best of my memory, only bicornous, and is rightly disposed with the Sedum Alp. trifid. folio, C. B. P. \Saxifraga hypnoides, Linn.], which, in my Catalogue, goes under the name of Sanicula aizoides tridactylites ; and for the better distinguishing it from the Sedums, I have made bold (and I hope not without your good leave) to alter your name, and prefix another to that elegant plant of your own happy discovery, which, with all its synonyma, I must submit to your approbation, viz. Sanicula aizoid. Alp.Jl. majuscul. lut. punctis croceis gut- tato. Sedum minus Alpinum luteum nostras, D. Raii. Sedum parvum montanum lut. J. B. Sedum Alpinum CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 22 I flore pallido, C. B. P., Park., and forte Sedum montanum Coris carulece fol., Cat. H. R. P. [Sax. aizoides, Linn.] Among other of our vegetable English rarities, I should think the Sedum minus lato et crasso caule, Cat. H. R. P. Portlandicum Belyarum might have deserved some place in your well-instructed Synopsis. I never was upon the island myself, but I have had it from very worthy persons that have seen it grow there. It is a vermiculate kind, but I could not learn that it ever flowered. Perhaps the grossness of its fascial stalk absorbs the nourishment that might otherwise have contributed to the production of its flowers. T^^^edum Alpinum trifid. folio, C. B. P. [Sax. hyp- noides, Linn.] , must be allowed the same with the Sedis affinis trisulca Alpin. ft. albo, J. B., and yet I have seen it in a dry season notably correspond both with the de- scription and figure of the Sedum Alpin. hispidum fere spinosum [Sax. aspera, Linn.] of the same author, and perhaps the same thing. Page 151. The Cotyledon Ursula, Ph. Br. [Sax. stel- laris, Linn ], though to my own knowledge it be very different from the Sedum minus, Cms., yet methinks it bears a very favorable resemblance to the Saniculte AlpincB aliquatenus affinis, J. B. 1 must needs acknowledge that I am not a little en- tangled in my thoughts about the Juncus parvus cum pericarpis rotundis, J. B. [Juncus compressus, Linn.], which, though you are pleased to make the same with the Gram. June, marit., Lob., I cannot easily obtain with myself a compliance herein, but do rather accept it as the Juncus acutus Cambro- Britannic., Park., and which I take to be a true and genuine Rush, as you most truly have observed. But unto this you are pleased to apply the June. Cambrobr., Park. (h. e.), Gr. June, maritim., Lob., whose Icon of it (and indeed so do those of all other authors) agrees exactly with our Moss- rush, the capsules whereof are somewhat elongated and pinched in towards the top, resembling more a cone than 222 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. a globe, the capsules of the former being more accurately round, according as its name imports. Page 213. I must here beg leave to excuse the cele- brious Dr. Herman, who in ' Cat. Hort. Acad. Ludg.' with good reason separates the Abies conis sursilm spectantibus S. mas, C. B. P., Taxifoliis [JPimts picea, Linn.], from the Abies alba S. fcem. ejusd., C. B. P. [P. abies, Linn.] And, indeed, this male-kind does in nothing differ, as I could observe from the short specimen (and it was all that he had) I received from that ingenious and worthy gentleman, Dr. Tancr. Robinson, who gathered it in some noted garden there, and brought it over into England, when with the present Marchioness of Winchester he last came out of Holland ; I say, from what I could observe, it does nothing differ from the female but in the colour of its pectinated leaves, which in our pattern are green on both sides; in this, of a silver and gaudy hue underneath. And, perhaps, from this lovely gaiety of its silver colour, it might at first challenge to itself the annex of female, since men are generally apt to appropriate the most ami- able and lovely, and indeed the most excellent of every kind, to the more elegant sex, as we see the more mascu- line arts and sciences are feminine in their names, and, by an universal suffrage, -submitted to the dominion of the Muses. Casting my eye upon your most curious index at the latter end, which is indeed of necessary use both as to the virtues of those plants contained in the Synopsis, as also in respect of those references you make from the less to their more proper denominations, I found in your ac- count of the Cannabis sativ. the received opinion of an untoward faculty it has of emasculating mankind, and making impotent by extinguishing the fluid principles of generation, and which in some degree hath staggered your resolution what to determine about the Bangiie in- dorum. This, from the testimony of Olearius Acosta, and others, being of frequent use, both among Persians and Indians, to exstimulate and incite to venerv, and therefore CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 223 very unlikely to be of the cannabine order. I confess I cannot determine how far it may conduce to this purpose, or the other to the contrary effect, but so much I know of the Bangiie (the seed whereof I have by me, and is very little differing from that of our hemp), that it will certainly cause a dementia, or frantic and ludicrous sort of madness, which runs the body into all the idle gesticu- lations and postures of the most lascivious, when in the mean time they are only the effects of present distemper, and not any lustful pruritations. And that nature is in distress, and under distemper, till the force and powers of the seed be dissipated and vanquished, will appear by this, t^ if you overdose your patient, it will certainly kill. I have known, where upon too liberal a dose, the effects have continued for almost a week, and had like to have put the poor soul to have sought for a Bethlem in another world. And why may not the Cannabis prove an incentive in the same unlucky sense, especially if that be true, as authors have alleged, that its seed, if freely taken, will induce an dtypoavvn, and, as Herodotus attests, a fu- migation of the seed being cast upon hot coals, is said to affect the Scythians with raving and a sort of frenzy, that was attended with frightful ejaculations and howlings ; so that they well enough agree in this particular. And it cannot surely but be allowed on all hands, that this Indian Bangiie is a true and genuine hemp, though in the mean time I must pronounce it specifically distinct from our European sort. I confess I was perfectly surprised to find Dr. Herman, in his ' Academic Catalogue,' so perempto- rily assert it among the race of Alt h teas, and to promise the world an entire history of it under that head in his desired Musseum Ceylanicum, till calling to mind a mis- take that had crept into the Garden of Chelsea, where, some time before the Catalogue came out, the Sabdariffa Clus. (which is no other than an Indian Alcea) was with mighty ostentation exposed to view for the Bangiie in- dorum. I presently bethought, that as that demonstrator had imposed upon Dr. Lister and other worthy gentle- 224 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. men here at home, so, holding at that time a correspond- ence in Holland, he might in all probability have trans- mitted the occasion for Dr. Herman's most palpable hallucination abroad. June 3, 1690. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, The formed stones were very accept- able. The Oculi serpentum are, indeed, of the same kind with those they call Toadstones. The Cats-heads seem to me to be arches or joints of some Cornu Hammonis. Baculi S. Pauli are of the same substance with those stones that resemble the bristles of some American Echini, which, as I mentioned in my last, Dr. Plot has called Lapides judaici ; nor is the Doctor much mistaken therein, for the real Lapides judaici seem to be nothing else but overgrown stones of this kind, as your large Glossopetra is amongst the rest of that sort ; whereof I have seen one found in Sheppey much larger than that elegant one you sent me. When I say overgrown, I mean a large sort, or variety, much exceeding those of its fa- mily; which puts me in mind of a current report, how that in the county of Antrim, in Ireland, there are divers large pillars of star-stones able to support a church. How your bastions of St. Paul differ from our bristle- stones, you will best judge from some I shall send you. The vertebrae seem to be so indeed, and to have under- gone but a small alteration. Those inscribed Denies serpentum and Ova, I can say nothing to. A Synopsis Method, of the Animals and Fossils of England would, doubtless, prove very instrumental to the advancement of natural history ; and though a complete enumeration of those things would require much time, labour, expense, and travail, yet I doubt not but such a CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 225 catalogue as you could give us would be very grateful to the public, and prove a direction to several others to make farther observations of that kind, as well as your Catalogue of Plants has done. I question not but you may give us a great deal of information in the Catalogue of Insects, as well as you have done already in the Histories of Birds and Fish. I shall be very forward to give in my contri- bution, which will be some observations on Formed Stones and of the Exanguia marina. Dr. Plot will be likewise as ready. We have performed our visit to Mr. Cole, and received abundant satisfaction in our journey. He received us, thought unknown to him, very friendly, and spent six hours in showing us his collection, without any interrup- tion, or the least sign of being weary. It consists alto- gether of natural things, and seemed to us a very extra- ordinary collection for one person (and who, perhaps, had not the advantage of a liberal education to invite him to such studies) to be able to amass together. We observed a Virginia animal of the cat-kind, seven foot and a half long, and another of the colour and big- ness of our wild cats, which he told us was the common House-cat of Virginia ; also a Skunk, which he rendered Putorius virginianus. This he told us would stink several miles, and sometimes so infect the air as to cause a pesti- lence. He showed us the horn of a Narhual, curiously wreathed, and about five feet long. A Danish gentleman told me he had seen a Narhual that had been taken by some Hamburghers at Groneland, an. 1684, having two very long horns, and that he suspected they generally have so, and that the Unicorns of them are but monsters. We also observed some of the Cornea lamina of a whale, about three feet long and one broad, of a black colour. We have some at our Museum of a whitish colour, and about nine inches long ; also the blade of a Sword-fish [Xiphias gladius\, caught about Swansea, in Glamorgan- shire. He has several curious figured stones and shells, found in the west of England and in South Wales ; very 15 226 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. elegant trees of the Abrotanoides Planta Saxea with considerable variety of other Pori, Corals, Horny Sea Plants, &c. I admired a sort of Cornu Ammonis, found somewhere in Somersetshire, resembling a nautilus, but having two prominences each side of the aperture, about as thick and taper as the end of a walking-staff to be screwed in and out. Another Cornu, of a rainbow colour, about six inches diameter, and as thin as a shil- ling, composed of a sort of Selenitis or Talc. The resem- blance of several exotic plants (as it should seem to me) in a kind of cole-slat, found somewhere near Bristow; they seemed to be of several capillaries, and one particu- larly like the Capittus Ven. verm; the signatures of the leaves as curiously veined as the real plants have. I have room to add no more at present. Oxford, July 1, 1690. Mr. LHWTD to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, Considering your local words since I read your letter, I find some amongst the north-country words to bear affinity with the Welsh, both in sound and signification, which possibly may be some remains of the British tongue continued still in the mountainous parts of the north. Of these, if you please, I shall hereafter send you a catalogue ; but in the mean time I must con- fess, that although they may agree in sound and sense, it will yet be difficult to distinguish whether they have been formerly borrowed from the Britons, or whether they are only an argument that the ancient British language had much affinity with those of Germany, Denmark, &c. I omit the supposition of the Welsh borrowing them from the English, in regard I find them not (at least but very few of them) used by the borderers of both nations ; and the Britons might leave them in Westmoreland, Cum- berland, &C., having heretofore lived there; but the CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 227 English of those parts could communicate nothing of their language to the Welsh, in regard they have never lived in Wales nor have bordered on them. Moreover, some of these words are in the c Armorican Lexicon/ and the Britons that went to Armorica left this country before the Saxons came in. The Pectinites Amphiotis latiuscule sulcatus, and the Echinites rotularis minor angmticlavius, with some others, are commonly found in beds of sand, which lie under the vein of stone at the bottom of the pits, though sometimes I have found the former in the stones by breaking them ; but those usually of a different colour from the sand- shells. ""Whether they were ever the tegumenta of ani- mals or are only primary productions of nature in imita- tion of them, I am constrained to leave in medio, and to confess I find in myself no sufficient ability or confidence to maintain either opinion, though I incline much to the latter. However it be, it seems an extraordinary delightful subject, and worthy the inquiry of the most judicious philosophers. On the one hand, it seems strange if these things are not shells petrified, whence it proceeds that we find such great variety of them so very like shells in shape and magnitude, and some of them in colour, weight, and consistence ; and not only resemblances of sea shells should be found, but also of the bones and teeth of divers sea fish, and that we only find the resemblances of such bodies as are in their own nature of a stone-like substance. On the other hand, it seems as remarkable that we seldom or never find any resemblance of horns, teeth, or bones of land animals, or of birds, which might be apt to petrify, if we respect their consistence; inso- much that I suspect few formed stones are found (at leastwise in England), except in some extraordinary petri- fying earth, but what a skillful naturalist may, and that perhaps deservedly, assimilate to some marine bodies; but yet when we confer them with those bodies they seem most to resemble, they appear generally but as mock- shells and counterfeit teeth, differing from them little less 228 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. than the works of art do from those of nature, which we endeavour to imitate, as if the earth in these productions (to speak vulgarly) should only ape the sea. To find out the truth of this question, nothing would conduce more than a very copious collection of shells, of the skeletons of fish, of corals, pori, &c., and of these supposed petri- fications. The figures of plants in the Cole-slat I have formerly mentioned to you, is clearly a different thing from the Pictrd Imboschata of Imperatus. Indeed I have hitherto seen imperfect pieces of it ; but whereas the Pictra Im- boschata (of which kind of figures we have also some variety in England and Wales) represents only rude branches imitating rather some coralline or sea-moss than trees ; the Cole-slat exhibits whole branches with leaves, and distinction of the veins and texture of them I have a small piece which seems to resemble a branch of the Filix fcem. very much, but the specimen is very im- perfect. Mr. Bobart tells me the Gymnocrithon is the very same with the London Triticum Spica hordei. The Alsine my os. Ian. Alpina grandiflora \Cerastium latifolium, Linn.] I do not question at present to be a distinct plant from the Aur. muris pulchro fl. albo, J. B. [(7. arvense, Linn.], which is very common in these parts, but nowhere in North Wales (supposing this no mistake) that ever I could find. The plant I mean I never saw but at the highest part of all Snowdon : it is very woolly, but more especially before it comes to flower, which is extraordinary membranaceous, or thin ; the calyx very long, crooked, and transparent, and divided at the top with many notches; the whole plant every way bigger than the Auricula muris. Since I sent you the collection of stones, I have discovered several new ones, whereof you may hereafter expect some farther account from, &c. Oxford, Nov. 25, 90. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 229 Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, The Essay you propound concerning the ancient and modern learning were not difficult to make ; but I think you are better qualified for such an undertaking than I, and therefore shall refer it to you. In summe the ancients excel the moderns in nothing but acuteness of wit and elegancy of language in all their writings, in their poetry and oratory. As for painting and sculpture, and music and architecture, some of the moderns I think do equaj^, if not excel, the best of them, not in the theory only, but also in the practice of those arts ; neither do we give place to them in politics or morality; but in natural history and experimental philosophy we far tran- scend them. In the purely mathematical sciences ab- stracted from matter, as geometry and arithmetic, we may vie with them; as also in history; but in astronomy, geography, and chronology, we excel them much. No wonder they should outstrip us in those arts which are conversant in polishing and adorning their language, because they bestowed all their time and pains in culti- vating of them, and had but one, and that their native tongue to mind. But those arts are by wise men cen- sured as far inferior to the study of things, words being but the pictures of things ; and to be wholly occupied about them, is to fall in love with the picture and neglect the life ; and oratory, which is the best of these arts, is but a kind of voluptuary one, like cookery, which sophis- ticates meats and cheats the palate, spoiling wholesome viands, and helping unwholesome. Black Notley, Dec. 15, 90. 230 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Your last letter, of March 3d, expresses such excess of kindness, as one that did not well know you to be alien from all flattery or dissimulation would hardly think you wrote your own sense, especially seeing no merit of the object could induce you. I cannot but thank you for your great though undeserved (that I say not ill- placed) affection, which must needs enkindle an answer- able flame of reciprocal love in the breast of any man that hath the least sense of gratitude or spark of good nature in him. Of English Serpents, I never knew nor heard of above three kinds ; and though one cannot be sure of a nega- tive, yet I verily believe there are no more : those are, 1 . Natrix Torquata, or the Snake, so called because it hath a pale yellow spot or streak on each side of its neck, though not encompassing it. 2. Viper a, or the Adder. I am well assured that Viper and Adder are two names of the same species, having taken exact notice of the viper beyond sea, and our adder at home. The differences between the Adder and the Snake are, that the former is much shorter for its bigness, especially his tail below the vent ; that he is marked on the back with black lines or spots, which the snake wants ; that his belly is blackish and of one colour, whereas the snake's is particoloured, of a pale yellow and blue. That the adder never grows to the bigness that I have seen some snakes attain to; and lastly, that the adder is viviparous, as I myself can testify, having taken seven young ones out of the belly of a female, come to their full perfection, as big almost as some women's little finger. 3. Cecilia, the Blind- worm, or Slow- worm, which again are two names of the same sort of animal. It is much less than the adder, and streaked with blackish lines CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 231 along the body. All these kinds are plentifully in my own fields. As for outlandish serpents, I saw but one kind beyond seas different from ours. Indeed I have such a natural abhorrency of that sort of animal, that I was not very inquisitive after them. That I saw was bought at Rome by Sir Philip Skippon, of a man that brought them about to sell : it was very gentle and innoxious, and I suppose the Anguis ^sculapii ; but I described it not. After a while it escaped out of the box wherein we kept it, and hid itself that we could find it no more. Besides these I have mentioned, I doubt not but there are div^i^, species of European and African serpents ; but know little of them of certainty which we may confide in but their names. Of the American serpents described by Piso, Marcgrave, and Hernandez we have more assur- ance, among which the Rattle-snake, whose exuviae are common in museums, is most noted and best known. Since my last, viewing the Mosses growing about my house, to see whether they were as yet come to the head, I found some of them were ; of which I observed no less than four sorts of such as Dr. Plukenet and Mr. Doody call Musci trichoides, but herbarists generally Adiantha, or Polt/tricha aurea, two with erect heads, and three with reflex, besides one which was not come yet to the head ; so that I have already discovered six species growing upon my own house. Meeting yesterday with Mr. Dale, and examining him about serpents, he confidently affirmed to me that he had twice seen the Amphisbcena in this country, and named the places : not that there is any serpent that hath two heads, or a head at each end, but only that it hath a faculty of going backward as well as forward; and the tail is turrit, and somewhat resembles a head. I confess I did formerly distrust the very being of an Amphisbana, but considering that worms, and some Erucce, can and do move nimbly backward and forward, I see no reason but some serpents may do so too, and we have pretty 232 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. good authority that there are such. I was a little stag- gered at his assertion, but yet must suspend my belief till I have better assurance. March 10, 90. Dr, PLUKENET to Mr. RAY. SIR, Your kind acceptance of my poor present is an addition to former favours, and I give my hearty thanks for the pains you took in the perusal of my Botanic Icons. I shall think mine the better bestowed on their produc- tion, in that you are pleased to give so great a character of them. I am only sorry anything of the desirable exactness, in reference to yourself, should escape my notice ; for though I have industriously designed to avoid all exposing others mistakes, the omissions here are purely humane, and slips of frailty, without the least partiality or any sinister design of derogating from the felicity of your parts, or the honour that is due to the painful dis- coveries you have so freely communicated to the world. 1 . Your first particular is an instance in the Alsine Caryophyttoides tenuifoL, 8fc. [Arenaria verna, Linn.] of my Phytography, arid its reference to that of the Liniflorc in your general history. I confess I did make it a ques- tion of doubt, and the want of a closer application to yourself was the occasion of the misconjecture ; and since it was only my doubt, which is not without a scope and latitude, that being always allowed to questions of this nature, though there be not an exact concurrence of every nice particular, it will I hope seem more tolerable, especially when I have so good an example as yourself to warrant me herein ; for I observe, even in the very same plant, you are pleased by way of question to annex the Auricula muris pulchro flore folio tenuissime diviso, J. B., as a proper synonyme thereto, which does as little answer it in the petala of its flowers as mine, and perhaps much less in its leaves. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 233 2. Your second objection as to the Asparag. aculeat., with its reference to your Sicilian sort, was but a bare suspicion, and may come under the same excuse. 8. The Asarum e Terra Mariana, which I have since better referred as I conceive to another genus in Piso, together with the Ttilipifera caroliniensis, which I refer to Hernandez, are indeed inserted in the appendix of your history, which, however they came to slip me, I know not, I own the failure, and acknowledge the obli- gation to have taken notice of them there ; and yet to a person of your goodness and candour, the straitness of my letter-plates will make an excuse for the omission, with lefc,difficulty obtainable. 4. The Euphrasia lutea latifol. and your Crataogon Westmorland, which you seem so much to dislike, were designed from the best dried patterns I had by me, which perhaps were not so perfect as I could wish j and yet I should be glad to see them better figured anywhere else ; the shanks, indeed, of the flower of the latter might have been made a little longer. 5. The Hippuris lacustris mansu arenosa was designed from a dry specimen I had from Chiselhurst, where it grows abundantly ; but the leaves, or dentals, are a little too long and sharp-pointed, which was a thing I com- plained of to my graver ; but it seems it passed without amendment. As it is, it bears some likeness to your Mittefol. aquat. Equisetifolium, but in a much nearer degree of resemblance (in my mind) to the Equisetum foe fid. sub aqua repens, to which it is next akin. 6. As for the Gramen spied laxd pyramidali I was positive herein, because Mr. Doody, who communicated the grass to you, communicated your name to me, and affixed it here. The Gram. Phalaroid., I believe, may be your Lusitanicum, since mine was drawn from a dried specimen I long ago gathered in Mr. Morgan's garden, where, it seems, you had yours. The Gram. Cyperoid. lanuginos. was designed from the dried leaf, and rather less than so large as it is. Perhaps it was a plant of 234 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. the same kind, more than ordinarily luxuriant in its spikes. 7. As for the Gram. Cyperoides elegans spied com- positd, if there be any mistake herein, it must lie at Mr. Doody's door, for he it was, who with great assurance, appropriated your name to this very grass, and I think writ it with his own hand. 8. I am glad you tell me my Lichen parvus erectus, 8fc., is not what you intended by the Lichen minimus foliolis laciniatis, it being by so much more my own ; and yet you see how unwilling I was to make it so without your farther assurance. Indeed the source of most of these, my failures, was the aversion I had of multiplying species without apparent cause, or giving myself the credit of a discovery which perhaps was due to some other. 9. Your separating my Melilotus luteus procumbens from yours of Messina is truly instructive. 10. Your CorymUfera Millefolii umbelld I thought must fall between the Millefol. Tanaceti foL, Moris., and the Ptarmica Alpin., Triumfetti. And therefore in my catalogue I put the doubtful quaere to them both, espe- cially since to the former I find an asterisk prefixed, denoting you had not then seen the plant, and therefore I could not peremptorily exclude it from a competitorship with that to which you have now assigned it, I confess that passage in your appendix had escaped me. 11. I could almost have sworn I had been right in the reference of my Muscus Corattoides to your name of Muscus pennatus ramulis et capillament. falcatis, it does so exactly answer that title, and therefore your monition here is extreme kind. 12. The Salix long.fol. kirsuta rosca I did not propose as a new species, but only as an accidental variety in the Caprcea kind, which I think has not anywhere else been exposed in Icon. 13. As to the Litliosperm. mcy., Dod., which is repent at the root, you would soon be convinced if you compare the other kinds with this, which was taken from a dried CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 235 specimen out of Mr. Charlton's collection, with the title affixed by Dr. Magnol, and which answers well enough to Thalius's name, it being very twiggy in its branches towards the top ; but whether trailing on the ground or not I cannot determine, as never having seen it grow ; perhaps mine may be only a single twig atop. 14. That the two Astragaluses, the Stella leguminosa, mdmjFiwaSeaamaceaJjwIaFab.jColuiwi., are extremely differing by their collation, nothing can be more apparent ; nor can your argument from Dr. Magnol make anything against it, since his, and our commonly received Vicia Sesamac. Apula, is no other than the Secnridaca siliquis foliacei$,j)i Monsieur Boccone, which has a variety with those affections you speak of, viz. the pods with foot- stalks almost an inch long. We may perceive Dr. Mo- rison himself labouring under the same mistake, when in his ' History of Oxford' he proposes in Icon his Astra- galus annuus rectm Jlore ochroleuco, which is no other than Boccon's Securidaca ; for the Vicia Apula, Column., and that which is truly so (as everybody must own, both from the figure and description of Columna, in his ' Ecphras.' pp. 1, 301, 303), he sets down under the title of Astragal, annuus siliq. et fol. hirsntis, tab. 9, sect, ii, and makes it the same with Fcenugrceco sylvestri Tragi in quibusdam accedens, J. B., as may be seen in his History, p. 109. And if ever my catalogue see light, these things will be better explained. 15. I thank you for your kind information about the Cambrian ferns ; yet methinks I cannot but be steady to the title of Filix pumila Myrrhidis facie, it being a name that in few words so graphically denotes the thing itself. 16. The shrub that grew in Mr. Wilkinson's garden coming in some disguise, and in a different face from what I had from Carolina, had like indeed to have put upon me; but after it was graved I acquainted Dr. Robinson with my suspicions about it, and if you please to remind, you will find a note upon it amidst its synonyma; which, though it be put there only as a 236 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. variety, the hint may be sufficiently understood, as indeed I would have it; and it is the only double oversight (I think) committed in the whole work. 17. As for your suspicion of my misapplying synonyma to the Altli. profunde serrato 8. dentato folio, J. B., it will be soon taken off, when I shall tell you that my opinion is, the Thuringiaca Camerario ejusd., J. B., is the selfsame thing, though he seems to make them two, but with a great deal of vacillation and wavering. And now you will find Gasp. Bauh. synonyma here used recon- cilable enough to what it was intended, and Clusius's names will fall in pat, as you would have them. 18. If your Ledum Alpinum hirsut. min. Cat. Exteror. be my Cistus Chamarhododendros, fyc., it is very different from the Cistus pumilis montis Baldi, fyc., J. B., though this be a Chamarhododendros too, as being a monopeta- loid, having but one leaf, with some top division in the flower. 19. My Polygonum minus procumbens niveum Glaucis exiguce fol. is undoubtedly the Polygala repens, nuperor, Lob., and I believe the Polygonum minus candicans supinum of Dr. Magnol, though he upon mistake applies it to the Paronycliia kispanica, Clus., which is a more surrect plant. And that the Polygonum verticillatum, J. B., is very diverse from this Polygala of Lobel, may be observed from the particular of its leaves towards the tops of the branches ; for arriving within an inch and a half thereof, they leave the stalk well nigh naked for some space, and then, as it were to recover that loss, they grow to the very lip in a most close and imbricated order, which is never to be found in the Polygonum verticillatum kind. Something of this peculiar may be observed in Lobel's figure of it, though the interstice be not expressed. The Polygon, minimum montanum ni- veum et sericeum, Aldr., is no other than the Paronych. Hisp., Clus., a false synonyme, and ill applied by Dr. Magnol to his supine sort, which I believe to be the same with mine. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 237 20. I must confess it was not without some surprise upon me that you should condemn the collocation of my Brassica spuria caule magis folioso with the Pilosetta siliquata Thalii, in that the stalk of mine is foliose, when the very Pilosella siliquata itself is not altogether desti- tute of leaves upon its stalk and branches, as the thing itself assures, and is so represented in the figure annexed to the Harcynia by the learned Camerarius. But were its stalks really viduate of leaves, and naked, I do not see why mine, arrayed with this ornament of leaves, should be shut out from a society with the other upon that account, any more than the Bursa pastoris Alpina minorTtirsuta loculo oUongo, C. B. P., with its leafy stalk from the Bursa pastoria minima verna loculis oblongis J. B. Chabr., or the Paronychia vulgaris, Dod., both whereof (poor scabs) are Nudicaules ; and yet I believe it were a hard matter to obtain your consent for a bill to divorce them upon the account of these inoffensive nu- dities. July 17, 92. Mr. J. AUBREY to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, As to lime trees, I must advertise you that in Bedfordshire there are woods where are thousands of them, e. g. at Chicksands (Sir Osburn's), and in other woods thereabouts; also at Mr. Wyld's estate at Totharn in Essex, and this I do assure you from my worthy friend Edm. Wyld, Esq., Mr. Bullock's kinsman. They also grow wild, but not so common in the Forest of Dean. In Cranborne Chace (Dorset) are very few, and they know not their name. As to Shave- weed used by artists (which they have from Holland), we have of the same sort, and as good, in a hill by B Abbey, in Wilts. I do think there is a greater variety of Withys than you mention ; a bencher of the Middle 238 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Temple is very curious in them, but he prefers the red withy. King James II sent, by Sir Garden, to the Royal Society, a plant 'caljed Star of the Earth, with the receipt made of it to cure the biting of mad dogs, which is in ' Transact./ No. 187. By the salt-pits at Lymington, Hampshire, grows a plant called Squatmore, of wonderful effect for bruises, not in any herbal. This I had from Th. Guidott, M.D., whose father had the salt- works, and is a witness of the cures done by it. My old friend, Mr. Fr. Potter (author of the Interpretation 666), told me that a neighbour of his who had the gout many years, an ancient man, was cured by an old woman with the leaf of the wild vine. I came there above a year after, and the party had never a touch of it. E. W., Esq., tells me of a woman in Bedfordshire who doth great cures for agues and fevers with meadsweet, to which she adds some green wheat. A Parliament captain (in Ireland) told me, when the army was sorely afflicted with the bloody flux, and past the skill of the doctors, they had a receipt from an Irishman, viz. to take the partition pith of a walnut and dry it, then to pulverize it, and drink as much as could be heaped on a 4d. or 6d., in wine, or, &c., and this cured the army. Sir Chr. Wren told me once (eating of strawberries) that if one that has a wound in the head eats them it is mortal. London, Aug. 5, 1691. Mr. J. AUBKEY to Mr. RAY. SIR, When I was lately at Oxford I gave several things to the museum, which was lately robbed since I wrote to you. Among other things, my picture in miniature, by Mr. S. Cowper (which at an auction yields twenty guineas), and Archbishop Bancroft's, by Hillyard, the famous illuminer in Queen Elizabeth's time. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 239 " For an head or eye By Hillyard drawn, Is worth an history By a worse painter made." I found among my papers this receipt for the king's evil, which I had from Dr. Stokes. Let the patient chew the roots of Piperitis, and it will make him spit, and bring away the malignity, and cure the distemper. In another letter of Jan. 21, 169|, are these words, viz. " Mr. Lhwyd sent me a letter this week, acquainting me he hath received an ear of rye (but without any grain) taken out of a child's side of half a year old, under the short j[ibs, in Merionethshire." London, Oct. 22, 1691. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAT. SIR, All our sea officers and understanding seamen agree that the Mediterranean sets out again into the Atlantic; and a gentleman who was employed many years in the mole of Tangier, brought back a chart with him of this ebbing out of the Strait's mouth; I own it is scarce reconcileable to the common notions of phi- losophy that there should be two contrary declivities or currents in the same channel ; but the seamen have often laughed at my way of reasoning, telling me that the same thing is frequent in many straits, as the Hellespont and Bosphorus, but more notably in that of Negropont. I would not be thought to bias your better judgment, yet I must tell you that all the scholars about the town who read your book, do agree you to be under an error ; indeed general opinions never determine me when I am inclined to think upon any subject (which happens seldom), and to speak the truth, I doubt of this ; though Dr. Lister, Mr. Aston, Mr. Hally, Mr. Flamsted, &c., are all against you, so are all the seafaring men. 240 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. I told you there are many Pectunculites four and six times as large as any shell of that yet known ; I speak of England. The Nautilus shell in museums seems to me to be only the tail of the animal, and the diaphragms thereof the vertebrae ; I know not how many volutae the perfect shell itself may have. Your opinion of cartilaginous fishes poising and raising themselves seems probable to me. I am not able to resolve you about those blood-vessels of vipers, serpents, and fishes, which you mention. How do the cetaceous fishes raise and poise them- selves? I think they spout water. How doth the Lamprey \Petromyzon marinus~\, the Mullus [Red Mullet], the Anchovy \Engraulis encrasicholos], the Draco marinus [the Great Weever] , the Tunny [Thynnus vulgaris], the Drum Fish \_Tamburo~\, the Uranoscopus, the Dolphin, the Centrina, the Skate, Torpedo, Earn Piscatrix, Scorpius major, the Bull Head [Coitus ffobio], &c., which Signer Redi in a late book affirms to have no air- or swimming-bladder, raise and poise themselves ? London, Feb. 25, 9J. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, The Holywell Moss seemed to me a variety (though perhaps it may be a distinct species) of the Mttscus Trichomanis facie, Sfc., Jungermanni. The common people will not have it called Mwswgl [moss], but Gwiribh ; which word is nowhere else used in any other signification than for a virgin. And here perhaps it may allude to the virgin St. Winifrid, and might have been formerly called Gwdlht Gwiribh, i. e. Capillus virginis. Georg. Agricola* says that the stones smelling * DeNat. Foss.,1. i. c.5. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 241 of violets acquire that smell from a moss adhering to them ; but Wormius, in his ' Museum,' p. 38, says, a piece of one of those stones kept in his museum many years, having no moss adhering to it, did still retain that scent. I design to send for some of the moss and stone, when I have an opportunity, and then we may hope to be able to judge better of this phenomenon. I have sent to my correspondent to inquire farther about the truth of the relation of the ear of rye. Mr. John Aubrey writes to me, that he could give a guess how the ear might come in, but that it would not be fit to be inserted in a letter. In the same letter he acquaints me that a young Cornish^gentleman assures him that he has lately observed in Catalonia, and amongst the Pyrenean Hills, many British words amongst the natives. I did not think that any young Cornish gentlemen had understood British ; however, this wants a confirmation, and 'tis possible this gentleman having picked out five or six parallel words (which is easily done out of any language in these parts of Europe) took it for granted, from their guttural pro- nunciation, that there might be many more. " He* informs me that he was present when a stone was broken by workmen, which lay upon the top of the ground, wherein was contained a toad, in form and colour alto- gether resembling the common one, though something less, which, being laid upon the ground, crawled about as long as the sun shone warm upon it, but towards night died. I examined the stone (says he), and supposed it at first to be of an extraordinary open texture, or else the hole wherein the toad lay to have some private communi- cation with the air ; but upon a more strict inquiry I found the stone of a close grit, but that place especially where she lodged to be of a much harder texture, much of the nature of the iron stone which the workmen call an iron band." Upon the reading your discourse of the rains continu- * Dr. Richardson, of North Bierley, in Yorkshire. 16 242 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. ally washing away and carrying down earth from the mountains,* it puts me in mind of something pertinent thereto, which I have observed in the mountains of Caernarvonshire, viz. : 1. First, that generally the higher the hills are, the more steep are their precipices and declivities (I except the sea rocks), thus Moel y Wydhrha, y Grib gotch, and twenty others that might be named, reputed the highest hills in Wales, have the steepest rocks of any mountains I have seen ; and that not only in their highest cliffs, but also in most of their other crags, till you descend to the lower valleys. This I can ascribe to nothing else but the rains and snow which fall on those great mountains, I think, in ten times the quantity they do on the lower hills and valleys. 2. I have observed a considerable quantity of the chips or parings (if I may so call them) of these cliffs to lie in vast heaps at the roots of them ; and these are of several sorts and materials, being in some places covered with grass, and in others as bare as the sea shore ; and those bare places do consist sometimes of gravel, and an innumerable number of rock fragments, from a pound weight to twenty, &c., and are sometimes composed of huge stones, from an hundred pound weight to several tons. 3. In the valleys of Lhanberys and Nant-Phrancon the people find it necessary to rid their grounds often of the stones which the mountain floods bring down ; and yet notwithstanding this care they often lose considerable parcels of land. 4. I affirm, that by this means not only such moun- tains as consist of much earth and small stones, or of softer rocks, and such as are more easily dissoluble, are thus wasted, but also the hardest rocks in Wales ; and they seem to be as weighty, and of as firm and close a texture as marble itself. It happened in the valley of * Dissol. of the World, p. 44. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 243 Nant-Phrancon, anno 1685, that part of a rock of one of the impendent cliffs, called yr Hysvae, became so under- mined (doubtless by the continual rains and subterraneous veins of water occasioned by them) that, losing its hold, it fell down in several pieces, and, in its passage down a steep and craggy cliff, dislodged thousands of other stones, whereof many were intercepted ere they came down to the valley, but as much came down as ruined a small piece of ground, and several stones were scattered at least 200 yards asunder. In this accident, one great stone, the biggest remaining piece of the broken rock, made such a trench in its descent as the small mountain rills comuaonly run in ; and when it came down to the plain ground, it continued its passage through a small meadow and a considerable brook, and lodged itself on the other side it. From hence I gather, that all the other vast stones that lie in our mountainous valleys, have, by such accidents as this, fallen down ; unless perhaps we may do better to refer the greatest part of them to the universal deluge. For, considering there are some thousands of them in these two valleys [of Lhan- berys and Nant-Phrancon], whereof (for what I can learn) there are but two or three that have fallen in the memory of any man now living, in the ordinary course of nature we shall be compelled to allow the rest many thousands of years more than the age of the world. But [ have been too tedious in things that are no information to you, for which I must beg your pardon, though I cannot forbear to add two other particulars which seemed very singular. First, at the highest parts of the Glyder, (a mountain about the height of Cader Idris), there are prodigious heaps of stones, many of them of the largeness of those of Stonehenge, but of all the irregular shapes imaginable, and they all lie in as much confusion as the ruins of a building can be supposed to do. Now I must confess I cannot well imagine how this has happened ; for that ever they should be indeed the ruins of some edifice, I can by no means allow, in regard that most of 244 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. them are as irregular as those stones are that have fallen to the valleys; we must, then, allow them to be the skeleton of the hill exposed to open view by rains, snow, &c. ; but then how came they to he across each other in this confusion ? some of them being of an oblong flat form, having their two ends e. g. E. and w., others laid athwart these, some of them laid flat, but many of them in- clining, being supported by other stones at the one end, &c. I must confess I have seen nothing that appeared to me so strange as this in all those mountains. Had they been in a valley I had presently concluded they had fallen from the neighbouring rocks, but being on the very summit of the hill, they seem to me unaccountable. I know it might serve to confirm Dr. Bumet's hypothesis, but for my part, though I admire his learning and ingenuity, yet I must confess I cannot (as yet) reconcile his opinions either to Scripture or reason, though I have not seen either of those books that are written against him. The other observation is not so unaccountable as it is singular, and in some respects opposite to the former, viz. on the N. w. side of the same hill there is, amongst many others, one naked precipice, as steep as any I have seen ; but so adorned with numerous equi- distant pillars, and these again slightly crossed at certain joints, that should Dr. Burnet see it, I believe he would say it is one small pattern of the frame of the antediluvian earth. I must confess I admired it almost as much as he does (lib. i, c. 9) his precipice by the Mediterranean Sea, to which, after a long encomium, he says, Vale Augusta sedes rege digna, &c., though I must grant that the shepherd, who was my guide, was far from wishing himself a mansion at this palace. Oxford, Feb. 30, 1691. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 245 Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, What you write of the Pectunculites found in England I grant to be true, in comparison with any Pec- tunculi commonly known ; but there may be such species found in our seas which do not appear, but lie among rocks, or in great depths ; and that this is not a mere subterfuge, and altogether gratis dictum, I will give you an instance of a testaceous fish that is the Echinus marinus three or four whereof Mr. Willughby and myself found, and took up alive in the sea, among the rocks between the Isle and Calf of Man, of that kind and bigness as I never heard before to have been found cast upon our shores, or drawn out of the sea by our fisher- men. They were as big as both my fists. I have seen of them in Italy. You must excuse me if I think the nautili shells, that are frequent in museums, are entire shells, and not broken pieces ; for in such as I have seen there is no appearance of any fracture, and the enormous wideness of the mouth argues it not to be broken. And, besides, I myself have taken up on the shores of the Mediterranean small nautilus shells, of the striate kind, entire, which, for the shape and turn, were like to the common great nautilus shells. How the cetaceous fishes raise, sink, and poise them- selves in the water is, I think, clear enough, and the dolphin, you know, is of that kind ; and for the other fish you mention out of Francisco Redi, the Centrina, Skate, and Torpedo, are cartilaginous. Of the rest F do not find mention in my notes of any swimming-blad- der they had, excepting the Uranoscopus, which I do expressly say had a small one. Those fishes are farther to be examined. The Lamprey, I believe, cannot raise itself up in the water, and I doubt whether the Bull-head do or can. As for the contrary currents at the Straits, if they be 246 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. at the same time, your argumentation must needs be good j and Mr. Smith, who was upon the spot, and on purpose to inquire and observe, acknowledges no such thing, but insists upon an under current ; and as for the Thracian Bosphorus, he confidently affirms that the cur- rent constantly sets outward I mean from the Euxine Sea. I am not concerned that the current (at the Straits, I mean) should constantly and only set inward, and it would suit my hypothesis better that it should be indifferent. I have read over your Peyer's ' Merycologia,' and do own him to be an ingenious and careful writer ; but yet in some few things I must needs differ from him, they being contrary to my opinions and observations, for I have, many years ago, with as much diligence as I could, examined the stomachs of kine. I doubt whether Mr. Lewenhoeck's observations be exact ; for in those of the seeds of plants I find him mis- taken in some, v. g. radish, turnips, and others of that kind, which I have forty times dissected and opened with my hands, and seen clearly with my naked eyes. He saith they have four leaves, and figures them accordingly ; whereas they have but two only, with a notch or crena at the top, but that not very deep, so as to make any show or appearance of two leaves. And it is clear, by their coming up, that they have but two leaves, for they bring up the very same that were inclosed in the seed. And Signer Malpighi agrees exactly with me, both in the number of leaves and the manner of their complication, both in his figures and descriptions. B. N., March 3, 91. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 247 Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Since my last to you, I find that our Fallow Deer is not the Cervus palmatus of Gesner, but, by the consent of Clusius, Bellonius, and Peyerus, the Platyceros of Pliny, lib. ii, c. 37, described by Bellonius, but in some particulars erroneously, v. g. with a long tail. It is vulgarly called Dama, but is not the Dama of the ancients. The French call it Dain, and the Germans Dam-hirsch ; so that what the Cervus palmatus is I am yet to seek. I am at some loss about the place of the Camelopar- dalis. 1 think there is good reason to place him among the Euminantia cornigera, but whether he be of the Cervinum genus or no is questionable, seeing his horns are not ramose, as all the rest of that kind are. In the year 1667, 1 saw in the Strand a strange animal (deer they called it), of which all the notes I took are these. It was near of a fox-colour, its body bigger than a goat, but of a like make ; the horns black, not branched, once wreathed, not large ; the ears long, and hanging down like a hound's. It had two wattles under the throat, such as are seen in some hogs. I saw it eat hay and barley, and it was very tame. If the horns of this creature were round, which I am in some doubt of, it is clear that it must be some species of Gazelle. Your conjecture that Poor John is nothing else but the Hake [Merlucius vulgaris\ salted and dried, seems to me very likely; but where they may be had I desire demonstrations. I never very curiously observed Trouts \Salmo fario], because they do not often come in my way, there being none in the country near us. I believe I was thirty years of age before ever I saw one. Sprats \Clupca sprat f us] I know to be nothing else but the young fry of Hen-ings [Clupea Tiarengm\ and Pilchards \Clupea pilchardus]; 248 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. both which fishes come to their full growth in a year's time or less, and then breed. Upon this occasion I will communicate to you a particular which hath a long time perplexed rne, and that is, whether all fish cast all their spawn at once (I mean in one year), or only part of it, retaining part for future partuses. That herrings cast all I am confident, finding none in shotten herrings. It is a principle with me that all animals have, from their very first formation, the eggs or seeds of all the young they shall ever bring forth, for when they are once ex- hausted and spent, the animal becomes effete. Now, a fish at every birth casting forth such an innumerable number of eggs as are contained in her whole roe, it seems strange there should remain seed-eggs enough, let them be never so small, as to suffice many years' births ; and yet the whole mass of them together to be so little and inconsiderable, as not to be so much as taken notice of by any naturalist. I find among my papers a short description I took of the skeleton of the elephant, in the Duke of Florence's museum, and therein this description of the bones of the feet. The toes of the fore feet, or rather the bones of the metacarpium are five ; for it hath properly no toes at all, but only five ungulas upon these five bones, which appeal- without side the skin. The like is said of the bones of the metatarsus, in the hind feet. It follows the ungulae of these hinder feet are small, round, and blunt. So it seems this animal hath that peculiarity to have no toes in his feet. And it is doubtful whether his nails be ungulae or ungues, they being round and blunt, and covering the very tops of his toes. B. N., April 15, 92. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 249 Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. SIR, I have lately seen a collection of petrifications with Mr. Beaumont. Amongst the rest is the Lapis astroites, which is a sort of coral generated in the seas, between the tropics ; and it seemed to be so clearly that, as nothing plainer. It is turned to flint, and the inter- stices between the starry pores are transparent. One of this kind he showed to me was half petrified, the other half remaining, like a common star-stone. He showed me likewise many impressions of several plants in slatt, as ferrfSfflags, &c. very fair and plain, with several stalks of plants petrified and inclosed in flint, which he talks of publishing, together with some figures of, and reasonings upon, them. London, May 20, 1692. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, May 25, 92. SIR, Monday last I received your kind letter, attended with a rich present of sugar to my wife. They were both very grateful and acceptable ; only the latter was too great and inadequate to any merit of mine to be received without some shame, as well the quality as quantity concurring to render it valuable. You have so highly pleased and obliged my wife, that she is much in commendation of your generosity, and returns you her humble service and hearty thanks, wishing that you were here to partake of some of the effects of your kindness. I have been importunate with you to hasten the pub- lication of your discoveries in the history of nature, as well for the advancement of real knowledge, and gratifi- 250 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. cation of the learned and inquisitive, as for your own deserved honour, that some other man might not prevent you, and by some means or other intercept what is yours. I am glad you make such progress, and cannot but approve your deliberation and circumspection ; and agree with you that the clearing up of difficulties, and reconciling of authors, and reducing and settling the several histories and relations of species, will be a thing of eminent use, and of as much advantage to the reader as pains to the author. The little plant you sent formerly you now conclude to be the Cattitriche Plinii of Columna \_Callitriche verna |3, Linn.], and so it may be, I having never seen that. I find it overseen and omitted by me in my history ; I suppose because, being seminiferous, I deferred it when I entered the Lenticulce [Lemna, Linn.], thinking to put it in another place, and afterwards forgot it. Those instances you would have added to my discourse concerning the wisdom of God I know are so consider- able, that I am sorry my book wants them, which might have recommended it to the reader. If I had thought you would have been willing to spare time to peruse it, you should have had a sight of the copy before it had been committed to the press. I am this morning sending away my discourses con- cerning the Primitive Chaos and Creation of the World, the General Deluge, and Future Conflagration, with additions for a second edition. If you please to revise and correct it before it be printed, I will order Mr. Smith to deliver the copy to you for that purpose. Mr. Beaumont is a person that hath been very diligent in searching out and collecting, and curious in observing of, petrified shells and other bodies, and I suppose well qualified to write concerning them. I heard that he once threatened to write something in contradiction to Mr. Burnet's Theory of the Earth, which piece I could wish to see. I am now upon a methodical synopsis of all British CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 251 animals, excepting insects, and it will be a general synopsis of quadrupeds. It will take me up more time to finish than I thought when I first set upon it ; indeed so much as, if I had foreseen, I should hardly have been induced to undertake it ; but now I must go on. The remainder is, great thanks for your extraordinary kindness, attested by real effects, and profession of readiness to show myself grateful, if any occasion of serving you offers to, Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr*4Jans Sloane, at the Duchess of Albemarle's, in Clerkenwell, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, I received yours of March 20, in an answer whereto I can only tell you as to the first particular, about bisulc and quadrisulc, that the reasons why I con- jecture the Rhinoceros and Hippopotamus to be quadri- sulc are (what I intimated before), the bigness and posi- tion of the outward hoofs, as they are represented in the sculps, not being set at that distance as they are in bisulc animals ; and the authority of Columna as to the Hippo- potamus, who (had the hind ungulse been like to, and situate in like manner, as in other bisulc animals) would never have made such a remark upon it, viz. that its feet were quadrisulc. As to the second, concerning the Viper, I believe that the eggs have no cohesion with the uterus, neither the young. I have easily turned the eggs out ; and in the young, when ready for exclusion, I have indeed observed a navel string ; but it seemed to be nothing but one single membrane, which served only as an infundibulum 252 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. for the yolk of the egg into the intestine of the young viper ; just as I have seen in young Dog-fish \_Scyttium canicula] , in the belly of the old one, half, or a good part of the yolk hanging out of the body at the infundibulum. It seem to me not at all likely that creatures of the same genus should have a different manner of generation ; and we see this hatching of eggs, properly so called, in the belly, exemplified in cartilaginous fish. I have some reason to doubt of what you and Dr. Tyson write concerning adders having no vesiculae semi- nales. A male that I dissected had a long vesicula re- plete with sperm (as I took it to be), like the milt of a fish, extending the whole length of the belly ; but I did not carefully examine it, and therefore might be mistaken, and it might be nothing but fat. B. N., June 1, 92. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, Our principal physician at Braintree, Mr. Allen, my acquaintance and friend, hath discovered hereabouts flying glowworms ; and I doubt not but they are every- where to be found, being nothing else but a kind of long- bodied beetle, though they shine not in this country. They answer exactly to Aldrovand's description of the Cicindela volans of Italy. The reason why I mention this is, because this gentleman meeting with this beetle, and finding by strict observation that the body of it answered exactly in figure to that of a creeping glow- worm, suspected it to be the male glowworm; and having some creeping glowworms by him, put this animal into a box with one of them, which, after some short time, coupled with it ; but because the box where- in to they were put was small and shut, to confirm the experiment, he put a creeping glowworm into an open CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 253 box, and a flying one to her, which, fluttering with his wings, did presently, in his sight, march to the creeping one, and couple with her. How this can accord with what Mr. Waller delivers of the winged Cicindela, that they are both male and female, and couple together, I see not, unless we say that there are two sorts of flying glow- worms, the one sort having both sexes flying, and the other being the male of the creeping ; for Dr. Plot's salvo will not here serve the turn, viz. that the animal in which Vintimiglia made the first experiment might be prurient with lust, and being shut up in a glass with creeping glowworms, might couple with them, as horses do with she-ass^,; for in our case the flying glowworm was not pampered, as wild creatures seldom are, nor withheld from those of his own kind for some time, and was at his free liberty in the box to take his flight away. B. N., July 8, 92. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, When your last letter came I was at London about a legacy of books, medals, and pictures, bequeathed by Mr. Ashmole to the University, since which time I have been so continually employed in taking a catalogue of them, that I have had but small leisure to go abroad to make any discoveries. My discoveries in formed stones of late are but few. 1 have a stone almost a foot long (but broken in several pieces), something of the colour, shape, and politeness of a rhinoceros's horn, which, perhaps, is congenerous with that they call Unicornu fossile ; and have also found at Witney and Charlton, in Oxfordshire, and Farringdon, in Berkshire, several very odd petrified bones, to me at present unaccountable, and like to continue so, at least- wise a long time. At present I only suspect them to be 254 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. the bones of some marine creatures. It is certain they differ totally from the bones of any land animals at pre- sent in the island ; and we have no reason to imagine that this country was possessed anciently of any other land animals than what it is at present, unless we should give way to Dr. Burnet's hypothesis, or some such other invention. I have also two fossils, which seem to be fragments of fish-jaws petrified, each of them having their teeth (to wit, toad-stones, or the Occldedi serpi of the Maltese) placed in their natural order, as they are in the Lupus, and probably in some other fish. I have likewise discovered very elegant stones of those kinds which I have called Siliquastrum and Punctularia. As for the Cornua Hammonis, I am now satisfied they are all of the nautilus kind, and of such like shells ; but, as you say, what is become of all these species, if they are petrified shells ? I say they are all of the nautilus kind, not that any of them scarce resemble the known species of Nautili (for such as do have been called by Calceolarius and Morcardo Nautili, &c., and not Cornua Hammonis), but because they consist of several articulations, which is a structure agrees with no other shells but the Nautili. The sutures upon them, which Boccone and others com- pare to oak-leaves, are nothing else but the commissures of the joints, and these joints nothing else but the spar, or other stone, filling the cavities of the cells in the nautilus ; and this I conclude from one or two specimens I have found, which have the shell still remaining in the interstices of the joints. That figure of the joints which I compared to vertebrae is acquired from the shape of the septum, or partition in the shell. I think Olaus Wormius was the first that compared any Cornua Ham- monis to a nautilus. Oxford, October 7, 92. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 255 Capt. HATTON to Mr. RAY. SIR, Those few plants of Rauwolfius's collection, pub- lished in the Appendix to the ' Historia Lugdunensis,' got him so great fame amongst the lovers of botany, that I have heard Isaac Vossius declare above 400 sterling had been offered for the four specious volumes he had of dried plants collected by Rauwolfius ; and to most strangers who came to see his deservedly-famed library, he constantly showed those amongst his other most valuable books ; and very few books writ in any moderi^language are mentioned with a higher encomium than Rauwolfius's ' Itinerary ' is ; but being printed about a hundred years since, it is very rare, and being never translated out of High Dutch (in which language it was writ), it is unintelligible to those who do not un- derstand the German tongue, which occasioned me, some time since, in discourse with our learned and ingenious friends, Dr. Sloane and Dr. Robinson, to express my sentiments, that I believed a translation of it into Eng- lish would be very acceptable to all the ingenious persons of our nation ; and they both concurring in my opinion, Dr. Sloane borrowed it out of the library of the Royal Society, and Mr. Staphorst is about the translation of it into English, and hath near finished it. But before it be published, it would be very necessary not only that the style of the translation (which is performed by a German) should be corrected by a master of the English language, but that the author himself should be animadverted on in some places. The learned and famed Ludolphus, in his incomparable Commentary on his ' Ethiopic History,' hath reproved him for asserting that the Unicorn was in the Abyssin's country ; but Rauwolfius doth not pretend to have been there, only relates it from one, his affection to whom had biassed his judgment ; and it is much to be feared that even the perspicacious and judicious Ludolphus himself may have been imposed upon in some things he 256 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. asserts by the credibility he gives to the relator ; and con- sidering that, since the time Rauwolfius travelled into Asia, the manners and customs of those countries may have been altered and changed, and some have been more fully discovered than he could in his short stay in those parts. It was highly to be wished that some person, duly qualified for such an undertaking, would, where requisite, make some brief animadversions and diluci- dations ; and if any person of great and deserved fame would, in a short preface, give some account of the author (whose life is not, as I know, related by any person but Melchior Adamus, and that with his wonted brevity), and by a favorable character of the work, give it a recom- mendation, it would be an invitation to all ingenious persons to peruse it, for which achievement there is no person on earth so duly qualified as the justly-renowned Ray. Therefore, pardon me, sir, if I join my humble desires to those of our afore-mentioned worthy friends, that you would please to give a new life to Rauwolfius, put him into a fit garb and dress to appear in, and by your passport and recommendation, make his converse not only acceptable, but desirable, to all the ingenious men of our nation ; which, if you will please so far to condescend as to perform, Mr. Smith engages to return you, in a fitting manner, his thanks for the benefit he shall receive by the book, being thereby rendered much more vendible ; and all persons of learning or ingenuity will, I doubt not, acknowledge it as an obligation from you to them. Whilst I am now writing, a Westmoreland acquaint- ance of mine coming to see me, in discourse did acci- dentally mind me of the surprise I was in, some years since, at Lowther Hall, in Cumberland, the house of Sir John Lowther. Seeing at Sir John's table a fresh- water trout, which was thirty-eight inches in length, and twenty- seven in girth, taken in Ulleswater, a large lake in Westmoreland, in which, I was assured by Sir John and other persons of unquestionable credit, trouts of that size CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 257 (nay, larger) are frequently taken, I thought fit to men- tion this to you, not knowing whether you have seen or heard of these trouts, or any other of that bigness, com- monly taken in England. I am, sir, to yourself, lady, and family, with all due honour and regard*, &c. October 25, 1692. Mr. AUBREY to Mr. RAY. London, December 15, 1692. are Water Blackbirds \Cinclus aquaticus] about Rentcomb in Cotswald, which I never heard of before, &c. Mr. Gibson, of Queen's College, Oxon, of Westmoreland, saith, that in Westmoreland, eagles do breed in Willow-Cragg in the parish of Bampton. I remember the saltpetre men told me heretofore, that in ground abounding with saltpetre they find a little yellow insect, as yellow as gold, which is a good indication to them for saltpetre. In Mr. Wyld's woods, at Totham, in Essex, an eagle was killed about eight years since, whose wings extended nine feet long. Mr. Wyld has one of the feathers. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. SIR, The account you have been pleased to give me of your Tract concerning the Dissolution of the World, makes me think it very long till I see it. Your discourse of Formed Stones comes in very opportunely, and indeed must necessarily affect the reader with its novelty and clear- ness of argument. As to the fossil oysters, and my other observations of late in this kind, they do, 1 must confess, confirm me in my apostacy ; for 1 have been inclined to a misbelief of their being mineral forms, ever since 1 found the first 17 258 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. , viz. above a year since. If I had abilities of travelling one or two summers, I believe I could make this matter clear enough, and beyond dispute. I have also an ear of rye out of Dolgelhe parish, Meiryonydhshire, that was taken out of the side of an infant. The truth whereof is so well attested, that as yet I fully believe it. When the child was born, he had a protuberance on the left side under the ribs, about the bigness of a small nut j all the sustenance given him for six weeks he vomited, and did not thrive at all : about which time the knob broke ; and the mother surprised at some odd thing she saw therein, called to her husband, who observing the straw end to peep in and out, as the child cried, or was quiet, he held it between his nails, and plucked out this ear. The mother applied a plantain leaf to the sore, and it was well in twenty-four hours. Your opinion how it came there would be acceptable. My Lord of Bangor has sent to me to desire your opinion of the Holywell moss, as to its sweet scent. It is very true that it smells sweet (as I myself experienced anno -88) at the very place. Whence it acquires its scent is the question : my lord thinks it sweetened by art ; but then he knows not perhaps that it has that smell in its native place. Oxford, Dec. 20, 92. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOAXE. Black Notley, Jan. 31, 93. SIR, This morning I have sent back the box you were pleased to send me, containing the papers of fishes, and Mr. Sherard's dried plants ; and should have given you by letter more timely advice, but that I was not sure I should finish them so soon. You will find in the box a letter to Mr. Sherard, and another to Mr. Smith the CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 259 bookseller ; which, indeed, is nothing but a catalogue of exotic plants drawn out of Mr. Sherard's papers. I have set down some of my conjectures concerning some of the species of fishes, which I offer to your consi- deration. There are two draughts upon the same paper without names, of fishes which I suppose want the infe- rior pair of fins, but I would willingly be further assured thereof from yourself, and whether they be known to the seamen by any names. I cannot but admire your industry and diligence in collecting and describing so many species in so short a time, not only of plants, but also of animals ; and I hope you wiil^go soon as may be gratify and oblige the curious in publishing of your labours. The copy of my Synopsis is so intricate and perplexed by references already, that I thought not fit to confound the compositors with more, and have therefore put a great number of the fishes, which I had not room to enter in their places in the body of my work, together by themselves at the end of it ; by which means the author of the descriptions will be more taken notice of, than if they had been scattered and dispersed singly through the body of the book. I give you hearty thanks for your great kindness in wishing me health. I thank God I am well, saving the sores upon my leg, which, according to the weather, are more easy or troublesome ; in general, they stand much at a stay : and my wife salutes you with her humble service. I shall be very glad to have a sight of your descriptions and figures of birds. I am, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. 260 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. HAY. London, Feb. 16, 169f . SIR, I should have some time since given you my thanks for the favour you did me in sending me one of your books of Physico-Theological Discourses ; which I now do, assuring you at the same time, that you have me very much at your command and service. I have perused most part of RauwolfP s Voyage ; which being only extant in High Dutch, and that understood by veiy few, I thought would do well in English, and so borrowed it from the Royal Society : and Capt. Hatton being desirous of it likewise, we put it into the hands of Mr. Staphorst, who has done it as you see, I think pretty clear ; though the making it good language, and the notes, are left wholly to you. Some passages are not to be well translated, because of differing customs and proverbs ; but I think so far as the natural history is concerned it may be under- stood. Authors make mention of a fourth part of this work printed the next year, viz. in 1583, which is very true ; for some of the plants of Rauwolff mentioned by him, and described in this journal, were engraven in wood, and without any farther descriptions, only references in the margin to the descriptions in the pages of the journal, make up a fourth book, or part ; which, with a new title- page, was what made the second edition ; the book in pages, &c., without cuts, and of the first edition in 1582, being exactly the same as with the fourth part, and cuts, in 1583. The compiler of the Historia Lugdunensis at the latter end, in an Appendix, takes all these cuts, bating some few, which had been graved in the body of that history ; and adding the descriptions out of the journal to the cuts, makes that Appendix which we have at the latter end of that work. I think this work a very curious one in several natural remarks, as in the spiral cutting of the poppy-heads, in making opium, &c. I have likewise solicited hard to get one Martin's book of Greenland trans- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 261 lated and printed. It was done into order from his mouth by Martin Fogelius of Hamburgh, and there printed 1673 in 4to, with many cuts of birds, plants, &c., of those parts, and is not extant that I hear of in any language but High Dutch. I have seen two plants from the Cape of Good Hope ; they are both coniferous trees, and one has a seed pappous, or rather feathered, like the seeds of Viorna ; but with those seeds of feathers sticking between the scales, it makes one of the loveliest cones I ever beheld, if you add that the leaves are covered with the longest, whitest, and thickest tomentum I ever saw, being else like to the leaves of a willow. The other cone has its seed in the middle>aiid not between the scales, but at top of the cone together, and is also feathered. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received all your letters, and Monday last the box containing your draughts and descriptions of birds, which I have perused, but shall make no remarks upon till I receive the Synonyma you mentioned, that I may see how far we both jump and accord therein. I perceive there are several species of water-fowl, both of such as swim, and such as haunt and frequent watery places common to Europe and America. I cannot again but admire your industry in collecting so great a number of species in so short a time, and not only collecting, but so exactly observing and describing them. I return you hearty thanks for your kind offer of the Catalogue of your Jamaica plants ; but think not fit to accept it, for two reasons : first, because in these Catalogues I now publish, I meddle not with American and Indian plants, but secondly, and principally lest I should deflower your work, and in any measure prejudice the sale of it. Else such a Catalogue would be the greatest ornament and jewel I could add to set forth my book, and recommend it to the 262 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. reader, and make it current all over Europe. My wife sends you her very humble service, and I am, Sir, Yours entirely to command and use, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, Feb. 28, 93. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 10, 93. SIR, I ought long since to have acknowledged the receipt of, and returned something in answer to, your friendly letter of Feb. 16, 1692, but truly I have been ever since so afflicted with constant pain by reason of exulcerated pernios of both my legs, that I have had little heart to write or to do anything else but what was neces- sary. I am now, I thank God, at a little more ease, and do hope warm weather coming on will dry up and heal my sores. You need not have taken any notice of my book ; an hundred of them will scarce suffice to acquit me of the obligations you have laid upon me by your many favours and kindnesses. You have done well in procuring Rauwolff's ' Itinerary' to be translated and published in English. I wonder, indeed, so good a book hath lyen so long locked up in High Dutch. The translator hath done his part as well as could be expected from a foreigner ; I have revised it, and altered the phrase and language, where I thought it less grammatical, or consonant to the idiom of the English tongue, or to the words approved now by use among the learned and civil part of the nation. Annotations (either parallel or additional out of other writers, or corrective or significative of the partial alterations of customs and manners since Rauwolff's time, which, as Captain Hatton suggested to me well, must in all likelihood have hap- pened in the space of above an hundred years) I have CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 203 had no leisure to add, but have referred that back to Mr. Robinson, who I hope will perform it well. A catalogue of more rare Oriental plants, growing in those parts where Rauwolff travelled, I have drawn up, to be added to the end of the work, referring such as are found therein to the page where they are mentioned or described. I have formerly drawn up and published a Catalogue of such plants, not native of England as I myself found growing spontaneously in my travels beyond sea, to which I have added what escaped my notice, out of Mangol's Catalogue and Appendix of Montpellier plants, M. Hofman's Cat. of Alterfine, C. Bauhine's, of Ba- silian, -!oni incline's Holland Catal., P. Beccone's Si- cilian Plants; moreover, all Clusius's Pannonic plants, and all the Helvetic and Rhaetic, besides, mentioned and described in C. Bauhine's 'Prodromus.' These are all put in one alphabetic catalogue, wherein I have still room left to receive what you shall please to contribute, or pro- cure from Mr. Sherard : for this book will not be printed before September next, my bookseller having his hands so full that he cannot attend it. The work you mention of Martin's, &c., must needs be a curious piece, if well done, and deserves to be trans- lated and published. If well done, I say ; for if Martin did not take notes from the plants and animals lying before him, but dictated to Eogelius from his memory, his descriptions cannot be exact. The two trees you mention from the Cape of Good Hope are very curious, singular, and extraordinary. I am sorry my book wanted the advantage your me- moirs and figures would have given it, in reference to the earthquake at Jamaica. But my description and notes concerning it were huddled up in haste (the press stopping all that while), and sent up to London in loose papers, as you may perceive by the confusedness of them ; and truly you did not then come into my mind, else 1 should have made 1 them stay a little longer, till I had written to you concerning it. 264 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. If ever the book come to another impression, they may then be added to it. My wife returns you her very humble service by the hand of, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. I am glad you have brought your Jamaica work so near to a period, and long to see it in print, To Dr. Hans Sloane, at the Lord Montague's House, in Clerkeuwell, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, October 16, -93. SIR, I received your friendly letter last post. I should be ungrateful should I not take notice of and acknow- ledge your great kindness in being so solicitous for my ease and relief. But truly my ulcers are mail moris, such as have hitherto resisted and frustrated all means and methods of cure ; and I fear this last of mercury will prove unsuccessful : for since my letter to Dr. Briggs, I took another dose of calomelanos, and that a very mode- rate one, of no more than x gr., and I am confident well prepared, being done by our physician himself. But yet this had the same effect upon me as the former, keeping me waking all the latter part of the night, and withal casting me into a sweat (which might happen by reason of the warmth of the weather). The next day it purged me pretty much, not ceasing to work till night. The day following it put me into a feverish heat, which went off the next morning in a sweat; then I thought it had done, but on the eighth, ninth, and tenth days it purged me again, but very moderately, and I know not whether it be yet quite out of my body. During all this time I CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 265 find no remission of pain or abatement of the running of my sores. Yesterday I, by the advice of Dr. Robinson, applied the emplastrum, and ranis cum mercurio, which is so far from giving any present ease, that it aggravates the pain, especially in the night, so that my rest was much interrupted by it. What good it may do for the future I know not, but in other plasters that 'l have used at first they have been most easy, and afterwards more troublesome and afflictive ; only this which I have used all this summer and part of the spring gave me present ease the first night I applied it, and so hath done ever since, my ulcers never disturbing or interrupting my rest, which^Jjey did very much before. I have this summer made use of a decoction of sassa- fras sarsa, and china with some sage and hypericon, and shavings of hartshorn, but without guaiacum, for a short time : I found that it heated and dried my body, but gave me no sensible relief, so I gave it over because it was nauseous and ungrateful to my stomach ; but upon your recommendation I will make another trial of it. I thank you for your kindness in expressing so great a readiness to comply with my desires in communicating your undescribed birds and fishes of Jamaica, towards the perfecting of my Synopses of those genera. I shall desire (they being new things) the entire description of them. They will be the greatest ornament of my book, there being nothing besides new in it. Indeed I under- took it only at the instance of my bookseller, and to gra- tify him, not without some regret. It will be of little use to those who have Mr. WiUughby's Ornithology and Ichthyology. I have the copy of this book ready for the press, wanting only your contributions : I suppose it cannot yet be printed for want of paper. I cannot but wonder at the relation you sent of the effect of Cynocrambe. I never read or heard of any such noxious or deleterious quality in it, yet possibly there may be, for I doubt much whether any of our herbarists ever made trial of it. I believe what they have 266 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. of the virtues of it they took out of Dioscorides, whose Cynocrambe is another thing.* I intend this week to remit Martens's Spitzberg voyage. When I say I have nothing new in my Synopses, I mean by new not published in print, for else I have some species of birds and fishes taken out of Martens, and some others out of Hernander, which are not in the his- tories I mentioned of Mr. Willughby. I should be glad to see anything of yours published in print, for I know it will answer the opinion I have of it. My wife tenders her humble service to you by the hand of, Sir, Your affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. This letter should have been sent last post, but that the postboy neglected to call as he passed by; since which time, upon applying a new plaster of that e ranis, I found my leg so painful all day, that I was afraid to continue it on all night, so I took it off, and applied my usual plaster : after which, going to bed, I rested about three hours, and then waking found a great disturbance in my belly, so that I was forced to rise. Afterwards I could not sleep till daylight. The day following (which was yesterday) I was more at ease than I have been a great while, feeling no pain at all : yet in the night, after my first sleep, the pain returned and continued as before, but yet during the remission of the pain the sores ceased not to run as before. I am apt to think that the mercury in the plaster might affect and work upon my body, for I find still a working in my belly, so that I believe I am not yet qmte clear of it. Eor his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloaue, at Montague House, London. * The Cynocrambe of the herbalists is Mercttrialis percnuis, Linn. ; that of Dioscoridcs is Theliffoniiw Cynocrambe, Linn. C. C. B. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 267 Mr. RAY to Dr. HAJJS SLOANE. Black Notley, November 1, 93. SIR, I received yours of October 21, and that of the 28th of the same month by post ; and the woods and roots you were pleased to send me by carrier on Monday last, for which being not able to make you any amends, all that I can do at present is to return you many thanks. I intend speedily to observe your directions in making use of them. Lime-water I have made use of outwardly to wask^he sores the greatest part of last summer, and have received some benefit by it, but not so much as to heal and dry them up. I have lately applied a plaster in form of a cerecloth, which I had from a neighbour, who knew not the ingredients of it; but, by the scent and consistency of it, I plainly perceive that there is Bur- gundy-pitch and rosin in it, which at first agreed marvel- lous well with the ulcers (as all plasters I have used did best at first), so that had the weather favoured, I was in some hopes it might have healed them up ; but it hap- pening lately to be cold and frosty, they fell off itching and spread again, and are now come to be as bad as before. I observe, that let me keep them never so con- stantly warm, yet frosty weather will affect them, and cause such a pruritus as in chilblains we experience. I have myself lately received a letter from Mr. Smith, whereby I understand that he designs not to begin to print my Synopses till Christmas next ; it may be not till Lady-day; and then I dare say, if committed to Mr. Mott, they will be half a year in hand : howbeit I would willing, now the copy is finished, rid my thoughts of it, and therefore am ready and desirous to receive your con- tributions so soon as may stand with your convenience. I am not yet in such haste as to intrench upon your more urgent occasions, or to incommode you in any kind, being, you see, at liberty to await your leisure, if it be 268 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. half a year or more. My wife tenders her humble service to you by the hand of, Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant, JOHN RAY. I needed not have given you the trouble of this letter, because Mr. Dale being in town can fully inform you of my present condition and affairs, but only to acquaint you with the receipt of the parcel. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at Montague House, London, Mr. RAY to Dr. HAXS SLOANE. Black Notley, November 29, 93. SIR, Your continued kindness and solicitousness for my ease and relief exacts no less from me than a grateful acknowledgment. I have for some time made use of a diet drink, made by decoction of those materials you were pleased to send me, the effect whereof is scarce any discernible diaphoresis, but a manifest diuresis, it causing a great defluxion of urine. I think for the pre- sent, while I am taking it, it doth somewhat abate the running of the sores (which yet after a day or two's inter- mission returns as copious as before), but makes them more painful. Yet is not the pain so great in the night- time as to cause any disturbance or interruption of rest, nor indeed hath it ever been since I first applied the plaster I still use : so that to mitigate pain or procure sleep I need not the assistance of any opiate. One incon- venience I find by the use of this drink, that it keeps me waking, and much diminishes my rest, whether by drying the brain or some other unknown virtue. But to return to my sores. I have now, I think, upon good ground re- assumed my former opinion, that they are nothing else CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 269 but ill-natured kybes or exulcerated chilblains called pernios. My reason is, because cold, but especially frosty weather, aftects them much, causing such a troublesome itching as we experience in chilblains ; and further, they spread with little hard tumours or knots within the skin, and this though I keep them constantly warm. Hence I infer that the cause of them is not so much the chilling of the parts affected by the external cold, to which they are exposed, as the congelative particles (whether nitrous or of what nature I know not) with which the air is charged, drawn in by the mouth in breathing, and in the lungs communicated to the blood. You will demand, why th^n are these tumours excited only in the hands and the feet? I answer, that the external cold doth indeed concur to the generation of them : for the hands and feet being the extreme parts of the body and of small bulk, and most distant from the fountain of heat, the heart, the blood by that it arrives there loses much of its heat; and so these particles being by reason of their gravity, unapt to comply with the motion of the blood, it lets fall many of them (as we see warm water will sustain much more salt than cold ; and as the heat dimi- nishes lets it fall by degrees), which resting there, cause these tumours so troublesome with their itching when they are externally heated. In persons young and vigorous, who abound in natural heat, and in whom the blood is maintained in a brisk motion, if these parts be kept con- stantly warm there are no chilblains generated, the blood retaining these congelating particles, which are easily sup- ported in it, and whirled about with it, till they be gradually cast off and evacuated by the natural connectorics. But in persons aged, in whom the motion of the blood is languid, when it is sated with them, a little diminution of heat, which must needs follow from * * ,''.'.* * * [per]suaded and confirmed in my opinion of the nature of these ulcers by the ineffectualness of all the physic I have used toward'the healing and drying them up ; and 270 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. I do believe, had not the last spring been so unusually and unnaturally cold, they would have healed of them- selves before summer was ended. But that also succeed- ing not very warm after a cold spring, there was not heat enough to do it in one of my age. And this I rather think, because those on one of my legs did heal and dry up at last, though long first, and not till the very end of the summer. You need not make more haste with what you please to contribute to my work of fishes and birds, of yourown observation in Jamaica, than will well consist with your other occasions ; for, by Mr. Motte's proceedings with my Catalogues, I believe that book will not come on this twelvemonth yet. Dr. Robinson tells me of one Father Plumier, who hath published at Paris two folios of West India Plants ; it is like he may have anticipated some of your discovery. I shall add no more at present but my wife's service, and that I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and obliged friend and humble servant, Jo. RAY. The carrier brought me nothing from Mr. Churchill. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAT. SIR, I observed near Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, this last summer, that the Gryllo Tdlpa live there in the sea-lands that are covered every tide. I brought one of them with me, and cannot find that they differ from those of the midland counties. In Wales they are called Rhing y Les., q. d. Stridor (estivitatis. I am, &c. Oxford, Dec. 12, 1693. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 271 The Reverend Mr. PASCHAL to Mr. RAY. SIR, There seems to be throughout the universe a mutual contranitency between parts central and circum- ferential ; those emitting and propelling outwards ; these resisting and repelling inwards. Of this I have three instances now in my thoughts. 1. In this, or any other planetary system the sun sends forth, chiefly by its ecliptic parts ; and the ambient fixed stars in their respective ethers, and according to their powers, give bounds, and beat back, from whence proceeds a plenitude as absolute and entire, and close, as the na- ture oisuch a fluid can admit of. 2. In this, or any other planet, the internal solar matter inclosed in its cortex, moving rapidly about its own axis, continually steams out most directly and vigorously in the equinoctial parts ; and the encompassing ether is always, according to its power, giving limits to those steams and driving them back. 3. In all those particular mixed bodies, made so as to send outward chiefly whatever individuals, in any of the three kingdoms of nature, there is an internal principle or agent causing effluvia to come forth ; and in the atmo- sphere, in which they are, a resistance to these motions outwards, suitable to the nature and motions of its parts and the determinations belonging to those motions. Sir, I fancy, but with submission to better judgments, that if these three were with application and diligence looked into, they might contribute something towards an explication of sundry phenomena in nature, such as, first, gravity, by which I understand the vis centripeta in the pails of a planet, whether united or to some certain dis- tance separated from it. This seems to be a natural and necessary result from such a plenitude as is named above. Secondly, the order, distances, motions, which their regu- larity in the planetary system of the planets, whether primary or secondary, being and moving therein. Thirdly, 272 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. those Justus atmosphere, or air-tides, to which my .last referred, and those sundry variations of the air, and effects considered in meteorology, which possibly may be found to owe their origin to, and to depend upon, those opposite pressures proceeding from parts central and cir- cumferential acting and reacting upon one another. As for the vigour I noted to attend the diurnal motion of the earth about its axis, toward the moon, in the southing . and anti-southing senaries, I am by many observations inclined to think, that it comes from the terrestrial effluvia in those times at liberty to flow forth more plentifully. And consequently the abatement thereof .in the ebbing senaries is from advantage then coming to the circum- ferential pressures, at liberty to repress these effluxes from within the earth. Fourthly, culinary and vital fires, both which kinds move a centra ; particularly life, as to its nature, original progress, state sane or morbose, decay and dissolution, may have some light from a nearer and accurate inspection into these. Sir, my narrow and but late observation, and that much interrupted, supplies me with enough to make a volume upon this noble subject. But if there be anything worth regard in what I here offer, he to whom I write will see it without large dis- courses : and if there be nothing, I have in this already said too much. I am, &c. Chedsey, near Bridgwater, Jan. 20, 169-^. P. S. Lately reading Mr. Leweng's ' Observation of Scales in our Skin,' it gives me occasion to reflect upon the wisdom of Nature, in providing for the regulating of transpiration. That the circumferential pressure may not hinder it too much, fishes, in their elements, need a stronger and larger scale than we do in ours. NOTE. This hypothesis its learned author applies in his following letters to the solution of divers phenomena, as magnetism, the variations of the weather, the tides, and CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 273 their senaries, and the tiling he imagines to happen in them (of which see the Philos. Trans., No. 202). Also to. the repositing of fossil-shells in high mountains, the life and health of animals, and some other matters. But because the letters are long (not to say tedious by reason the hypothesis is abstruse and somewhat strained), I have thought they would take up too much room, unless I could have been so happy as to have obtained Mr. Ray's answers, which no doubt were very considerable ; but that I could not do with my greatest diligence. W. D[ERHAM]. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, You are, I perceive, not as yet satisfied with the addition of Provincial Catalogues to Camden ; to which I reply, that I am not concerned for the beauty or de- corum of the work : let the undertakers look to that. As for these Catalogues, I have promised them, and they have accepted, and I must be as good as my word. 1 have already sent up those from Cornwall to Kent, and have received a letter of thanks from Mr. Gibson, who manages the whole work for them, and seems by his writing to be a good scholar and ingenious person ; so that I perceive they have a great opinion of my contributions, and better I think than" they do deserve. I have, upon your sug- gestion, made more additions to Cornwall: as first, I have given them a general catalogue of all the sea-fish taken on those coasts, with synonymes. 2. A catalogue of the more rare sea-fowl. 3. An account of two or three sorts of stones digged there. 4. A short account of the improvement of the soil by sea-sand. 5. A more full description of some antiquities, viz. the Hurlers and other stones. 6. Something of the manners and language of the present inhabitants. As for other counties, I told them I had neither will, nor skill, nor leisure to do the like. 18 274 CORRESPONDENCE Ol 1 RAY. The metals, minerals, and other fossils, are many of them taken notice of by Camden in the places where they are found ; and as for the plants, had he known what had been rare and peculiar in every county, I perceive, by what he hath done in some, he would have mentioned them in the places whereof they are native. And now that I am speaking of local or provincial plants, give me leave to tell you that I think you labour under a mistake, in think- ing and asserting that few or no plants are peculiar to this or that shire. Be pleased to resolve me where Calceolus Maria \Cypripedium Calceolus, Linn.], Chris- tophoriana \Actcea spicata, Linn.], Lysimaclda lutea flore globoso [Trottius europ&us, Linn.J, Pentapliylloides fruti- cosa \_Potentilla fruticosa, Linn.], Polygonatum floribus ex singularilus pediculis \Convallaria Polygonatum, Linn.], Pyrola folio mucronato serrato \Pyrola secunda, Linn.], Pyrola Alsines flore brasiliana [Trientalis europcea, Linn.], Eibes alpinus dnlcis [R. alpinum, Linn.], Salix pumila montana folio rolundo [probably JS. herbacea, Linn.], Sedum alpinum Ericoides cceruleum \Saxifraga oppositifolia, Linn.], Sideritis arvensis latifolia hirsuta flo. luteo \_Galeopsis ochroleuca, Larn.], Thlaspi foliis Globularits [T. alpestre, Linn.], Lunaria vasculo sublongo intorto [Draba incana, Linn.], and Valeriana grteca \_Polemonium caruleum, Linn.], grow wild but in your own native county of Yorkshire. I could give you as large a catalogue of peculiars in the little county of West- moreland. But to instance no more particular shires, I shall only add, that I know very few counties in England wherein I could not instance some peculiars. But I am come to the end of my paper. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 275 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 4, 91. SIR, I have this morning sent back by carrier your descriptions and draughts of birds, for the use whereof I return you thanks. I have also sent in the box a small parcel for Mr. Smith the bookseller ; which, if he doth not send for soon after it conies, I entreat you would please to convey to him, I have put in some papers con- taining my conjectures about some of the species ; two or three I_ent before in a letter, the receipt of which you make no mention of in your last concerning the Cuntur [the Condor, Vultur Gryphus, Linn.], which the last post brought me. To say the truth, before the receipt of your letter I was suspicious that the story of the Cuntur was fabulous and romantic, and that indeed there was no such bird in nature, and therefore made no mention of it in Mr. Willughby's ' Ornithology.' But by your letter I am now convinced of the truth of it, and shall therefore add it to my Synopsis. I am now more and more con- firmed in my opinion that there are many species both of fishes and birds, and of these last especially aquatic, common to Europe and America ; but why more water- fowl and more water-plants deserves consideration. I suppose among the numerous species of Hernandez's Mexican small birds there may be some the same with some of yours, but I was too slothful to compare them. My wife salutes you with her service, and I am Sir, Very much yours, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend Dr. Hans Sloane, at Montague House, London. 276 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. B. N., April 11, 94. SIR, There are some things new in my ' Synops. Ay. et Piscium.' By new, I mean such as were not com- prehended in Mr. Willughby's works. Those are Hernandez's Mexican Birds. 2. Some names and de- scriptions of Birds out of Nieuhoff. 3. Frid. Marten's Spitzberg Birds and Fishes. 4. Sir Robert Sibbald's Whales. 5. Dr. Sloane's Jamaica Birds and Fishes. 6. Your Birds and Fishes taken out of the Ley den Cata- logue. And lastly, some few things out of Du Tertre. Those Birds of Hernandez being shortly described, and no figures added, are very puzzling and confounding : a little to illustrate them, and make them easier to be com- pared with the descriptions of other authors, I have reduced them to a kind of method according to their bigness. 2. I will not confidently affirm that there are in this island any topical plants so peculiar to one place, or spot of ground, as not to be found in any other. Some species, which for a long time I thought to be such, I afterward found myself mistaken in ; for example, Eryngium vulgare fi. campestre \Eryngium campestre, Linn.J, Rhamnus secundus Clusii \_Hippophae rhamnoides,UmT\^\, and Pisum maritimum Aldeburgense [Lathyrus maritimus, Big.], to which I might add the Box-tree : yet I am verily per- suaded there are some such; as to name no more, PeridymenumparvumPrutenicum Clus. \_Cornus sanguined, Liun.J, and Calceolus Marice \_Cypripedium Calceolus, Linn.J But that there are some peculiar to a county, and that few counties of any extent want such, is my pre- sent opinion and assertion. However, it is enough for my purpose, and I pretend to no more, than that there are some, for aught hath yet been discovered peculiar to each county. Nay, in these Catalogues [added to Camden's Brit.] I pretend not to so much, but have entitled them CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 277 only ' Catalogues of more Rare Plants growing in this or that County,' not affirming them to be peculiars. You must needs grant, that different soils and different climates, and tempers of air, produce different species ; and conse- quently the mountainous and northern parts of this island differ from the more level, depressed, and southern, not to confine ourselves to counties. But enough of this. Mr. BAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 13, 94. post brought me yours of the 12th, whereby I understand that you have not as yet received the box, and that my letter came to you a post later than by its date it might have done. To put you out of all pain about it, a double unlucky accident hath occasioned all this trouble. First, my letter, by the negligence of the postboy, was not sent the day it was written ; and then the box was committed to a friend in Braintree, who promised to send it very carefully, but I suppose did it not, by the carrier I use to employ. This friend is at present in London, so that I cannot give you that satis- faction I desire. But I am very confident the box is safe, and that we shall retrieve it, for I never yet lost anything going or coming by carrier. Thus much I thought neces- sary to signify speedily, in part to ease your mind, and to assure you that nothing shall be wanting on my part to procure and convey the box to you, knowing well the importance of the papers therein contained. So I take leave, and rest. Sir, Your affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. I'or bis honoured friend Dr. Hans Sloanc, at Montague House, London. 278 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received yours of the 17th, and am very glad that the box with the papers is come safe to your hands, though I did not much fear the loss of it. You need not be solicitous about the charge, for there was nothing extra- ordinary, and yet if there had, I ought in all reason to have borne it. Two things there are I cannot yet fully agree with you in 1. The referring of the old-men or rain -fowl to the cuckoo. For the cuckoo is so strange, anomalous, and singular a bird, and so remarkable, and taken notice of even by the vulgar, for his voice, manner of breeding, and absconding all winter, that I think no bird that agreeth not with him in these particulars ought to be joined with him, neither is the length of the tail a sufficient argument; for the synx, a genuine woodpecker, hath a tail as long in proportion to his body, and marked with cross-bars too. 2. In referring the Savanna-bird to the lark-kind. For that distinction of small birds into slender and thick- billed, or, as our fowlers phrase it, into soft and hard- beaked, dividing the numerous genera of them almost equally, is of such eminent use for the clear understanding and ranking of them, that I think it ought by no means to be rejected, or the birds of those kinds confounded, though the places they frequent, and their shape and man- ner of living may agree, and that characteristic note of the lark-kind may be common to some of them, I mean having a very long back claw or spur. I have taken notice of some that agree with larks in these particulars, as the bunting, and a sort of mountain finch. Yet I believe that there is a difference in the diet of these birds. For the slender-billed, though they feed upon the pulp and grains of fruit, yet they seldom meddle with dry seeds unless driven by hunger. But the hard-billed touch not CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 279 pulpy fruits, but feed upon dry seeds, as all sorts of grain and thistles, &c. To feed upon insects is common to them both. Your opinion or conjecture of the Rabihorcado being a kind of fork-tailed lavus or sea-swallow I very much ap- prove and agree with you in. I fancied that they were no palmiped bird, because those that write of them wonder that they should be found so far out at sea, which is no wonder in a lavus. My wife salutes you with the tender of her very humble service. The ulcers upon my leg, which I thought had been perfectly healed and dried up, continuing well all winter ,"Bi?e this spring broken out again, and become very troublesome and painful. They puzzle my philosophy, and I am at some loss how to order them. I am, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. B. N., April 23, 94. Mr. PASCIIALL to Mr. RAY. SIR, I was lately thinking that this globe, in several parts, and times, and states of it, sends forth various effluvia, sulphureous, nitrous, aqueous, &c., in greater abundance, one or other, or compositions of them, as causes concur. I have suspected, that in this unusual constitution of the air we are now in, the sulphureous steams have abounded, partly from beautiful and promising blowing of fruit-trees, and from the warmth of the season, and from the frequent lightnings we have. Last night I noted in my own orchard, in this my low country habitation, what confirms me in it. Walking between two fair coddling hedges I noted something to fall white upon my hat : it 280 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. felt clammy, and tasted sweet ; I took it off with my knife, the white grains ran into a clear liquor, and in a short time I was able to get together a small quantity into a little gallipot that I keep ; upon shaking of any bough this would fall as a mist doth. All day in these hedges was a noise as of a swarm of bees. We saw it lying upon the leaves as well as blossoms. I have noted honey dews, which do much hurt to our corn ; but never thus early, nor in this form of manna. Taking some on a broad smooth leather, I observed they did not dissolve pre- sently, but run along as small round seeds, upon the motion of the leather. Chedsey, April 24, 1694. Mr. PASCHALL to Mr. RAY. Chedsey, May 25, 1694. SIR, I was engaged in a journey when your last came, and observed in both going out and coming home, that taking in both the rising senaries I was much less weary than I use to be if I travel in a falling senary. This holds with me generally, as I have many times noted. I also noted, as I have done frequently, that in the ebbs, the mid-heaven about the zenith was clearer, and more free from clouds in a cloudy, and nebulae in a nebulous season, than the parts nearer the horizon, and that it was vice versa in the tides. I know one who commonly finds that if he take but a very gentle purgative in a rising senary, or the former part of a tide, it works not till the ebbing senary begins, and then doth very kindly. And he takes it for a rule, that in tides the healthy are best, and the sickly worst, but in ebbs the contrary holds. He also thinks, upon several trials, that the surface of a wholesome earth opened in a tide, emits steams that arc more salutary and healing, CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 281 and corroborating than the same doth send forth in ebbs. But I stop a rambling pen, and ever resf, &c. P.S. The miraculous cure upon the French maid was in the midst of a tiding senary * the power that effected it made use of a heightened imagination, and a vigorous season. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. HONOURED SIR, Your last was of January 22, since which time I have not been able (though I have endeavoured it very much, by sending queries to the countr^r to give you any farther and more accurate account of that prodigious fire I then alarmed you with. I understand only, in general, that it lasted at least three or four months ; nay, some add that it still con- tinues, though not in the same place, but appears up farther in the country, and that it has been also commonly seen on the sea coast of Caernarvonshire. The reason that induced me, at the beginning, to think of the locusts, was only a random guess, that so strange and unheard of effects must proceed from some cause no less unusual ; for if ever our sea or land had been capable of their own nature to produce such a meteor, I should expect to find it recorded, that at one time or other, in the revolutions of some centuries, such a thing had happened. You have probably seen, ere this, the ' Phil. Trans.' of February, where there is all the account I could give of the locusts, but no figure of the animal, though I sent it up, and Mr. Waller promised to have it engraven. I have been informed since that many of them have been * Of these senaries see Mr. Paschall's opinion in Philos. Transact. No. 202. W. DfEBHAM]. f There are divers letters of Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray, relating to this unusual fire here mentioned, which I omit publishing, by reason there is an account of Mr. Lhwyd's and Mr. Jones's in Phil. Transact.' Nos. 208, 213 ; but this letter having some of Mr. Lhwyd's thoughts about it not there published, I thought it couvenicnt to entertain the reader with it. W. D[EJIIUM]. 282 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. seen amongst the sea weeds at Lhyn, in Caernarvonshire, and also in the Severn sea, in Monmouthshire. It was my suspicion that the infectious exhalation of these dead locusts might kindle, &c. j for Pliny tells us that even whilst they five, multa contactu adurunt. There has been, and still continues, a great mortality of cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs, about the place where the fire happened. Some say cattle were wont to die there for- merly, others only that it was no good thriving or feeding- place for them ; but all agree in that it never was infec- tious anything comparably to what has happened this year. These locusts, it seems, came also last year into Germany ; and Job Ludolphus (as you find by the inclosed) designs a particular treatise of them, wherein he will maintain that the quails, wherewith the children of Israel were fed in the wilderness, were no other than these creatures. Oxford, May 27, 1694. Mr. PASCHALL to Mr. RAY. SIR, I lately received from a worthy friend in Oxford, in an eminent station there, proposals for a method of providing for the widows and children of poor clergymen, which took so in one county, that in a short time, by the voluntary subscriptions of clergymen, there was raised near 100 per annum for five years as an essay, with expectation of much more there. When a trial was made here to see how it would take in the country, there was a beginning made with great alacrity ; and when it was recommended to our bishop, and the dean and resi- dentiaries present in Wells, it received encouragement there from every one of them ; and Dr. Jurden, your neighbour, writes me word that he will advise with the Bishop of London, and the archdeacons, and chief of the clergy in Essex about it : wishing his endeavours may CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 283 have good success. The thing is particularly recom- mended to me by this consideration, that this well settled may be as a channel into which particular and private charities may be derived, in which they may run to the named good purposes, and to still higher and better, if, under the Divine blessing, it shall go on and prosper. If you meet anything for or against it, you will oblige me by the communication. Ch. August 20, 1694. ^, Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. SIR, There are three particulars which I must beg information from you concerning. Whether there be sufficient authority that the blood of a living hedgehog is cold to the touch ? which Dr. Lister takes for granted. I never read of any but Segerus who did affirm it, and do much doubt of the truth of it. 2. Whether the blood flowing from the artery of a living fish, between the heart and the gills, be of a florid red, like the arterial blood of quadrupeds, as Dr. Lister affirms? 3. Whether the venal blood of an animal may by any artificial compres- sion or constriction be changed into the colour of the arterial ? To which I shall add a question more, viz. Whether in the chicken before exclusion there be any foramen ovale, or arterial channel for the passage of the blood, while the lungs lie vacant. Dec. 20, 94. Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAY. SIR, Some of your queries I can answer, as that relating to the blood of a hedgehog, which I found to be warm to the touch when I was at Mr. Clutterbuck's, in Essex, where I was particularly curious to examine that 284 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. particular ; but I would not be quoted against Dr. Lister, lest he should take it ill. I never observed the arterial blood of a fish to be as florid as that of quadrupeds. I do not think that the venal blood of animals can by any artificial compression or constriction be changed into the colour of the arterial. I am sure that the air immediately changes its colour and consistence upon phlebotomy. I cannot answer that of the chicken before exclusion. I wonder Aquapendente, Harvey, Malpighi, and others have not cleared it. London, December 20, 94. Mr. BURKELL to Mr. RAY. SIR, I have, sir, in some of my melancholic hours, been diverted by the Tract I have of yours, and particu- larly your ' Synopsis Animalium,' &c., wherein I observe your opinion settled against equivocal generations, and fol. 1 5, confirmed by many arguments and great authori- ties, yet, if I had leave, I would ask if the species of worms bred in human bodies, or those of brutes, are at any time observed to be generated elsewhere, for I should think it would be hard to say their eggs are conveyed out of one man, or one horse, into another; and the phthiriasis, which I suppose is where worms are bred in the flesh, and which happens to one single man in a nation, and that perhaps once in a hundred years, will be more difficultly answered, where that species of worms or lice do all that time conceal and preserve themselves, and at length light upon this single person. But, sir, it is said by somebody, " Sequimur non qua veritas sed qua ratio trahit :" whether that be applicable here or not I pretend not to determine. I observe likewise, fol. 300, CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 285 you say, " Quod non verisimile videtur quodvis animal a natura ita factum esse, ut cibi deglutiti partem aliquem vomitu semper aut etiam frequenter rejicere debeat." I should here inquire whether the castings of hawks, which you know constantly throw up lumps of flix, or feathers, or down, &c. (the wild as well as the reclaimed), bring any of the food up with them. In fol. 309, I presume there is an error in the print, i. e. Hirundines for Hiru- dines. You see, sir, how confidently, not to say impu- dently, I trouble you with what I myself cannot believe will deserve your considering ; but, however, this shows you I read what you give (though not with that advan- tage which a man of a wiser head would do), and it is an evidence, likewise, that I rely very much upon your candour and friendship to forgive such impertinencies. Jan. 9, 1694. Mr. BAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Feb. 3, 95. SIR, Your extraordinary kindness merits great thanks from me, and your ingenuity, in being willing so frankly to communicate to me the sight and use of your labours, no less, but I am not free to make use of them till pub- lished, lest I should in any measure prejudice the sale, by rendering the contents not absolutely new to the world ; but as for the reputation of being first author and dis- coverer, I hope I shall not prejudice that, because I shall acknowledge of whom I had them, with as ample a character of the benefactor and contributor to my work as he justly deserves. I am much of your temper as to the clearing up of obscurities, and 1 doubt not but you have done more in that, in reference to Hernandez, than any man yet hath ; and I should be very glad to see your papers, but I am in no haste. I shall not be able to finish my Supplement 286 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. this summer. I take into it all the last six volumes of the ' Hortus Malabaricus,' and Plumier's first vol. 1 hear there is a second published already by him, but have not yet seen it. I am now upon a little treatise concerning the method of plants, wherein I shall give a more particular account of the several methods that have been attempted, and especially of my own, with an answer to what Monsieur Tournefort hath objected against it. In the meantime I do not altogether neglect the prosecution of the History of Insects, which I intend to extend no further than to take in such as are found within two or three miles of my habitation. My wife gives you her humble service, and I am, Sir, Yours entirely in all offices, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloaue, at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAT to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Feb. 12, 95. SIR, Yours of Feb. 6, with the inclosed papers, came safe. I have, according to your desire, read them over with some attention, yet not so much as they require and deserve. I was very much satisfied with them, and informed of many things I was ignorant of, or did not clearly understand before. I find nothing that I can censure or reprehend. What I do not fully understand I may afterwards acquaint you with, and desire satisfac- tion in. The language, as far as I am able to judge, is proper and good, only some typographical errata there are, which I suppose yourself have taken notice of, and CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 287 yet none of them, except in the Greek words, consider- able. Your instructions in letting nobody have a sight of what you sent shall be observed. I cannot but admire your patience in turning over so many voyages and relations of travellers, besides herbarists and other authors, and making collections out of them, and that to so good purpose, to correct mistakes, to clear up diffi- culties and obscurities, and to contract the number of species. Your method is good enough, for I suppose you intend not to be very critical and exact in that. In your next be pleased to tell me how far the press hath proceeded in this previous work, and by what time you think i^jvill be wrought off and published. I suppose the succeeding summer will not suffice to perfect my Supplement, which yet I shall carry on as fast as my necessary affairs and occasions will permit. So I take leave, and rest, Sir, Your much obliged and affectionate friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Feb. 21, 95. g IRj I deferred not to read over the papers you last sent me, and was much pleased and satisfied therewith ; and would I act the critic, could find very little, if any- thing, to carp at or reprehend therein. You have, in my opinion, done botanists great service, by illustrating and clearing up many obscurities in authors, and contract- ing and reducing to one many plants distracted into many species by the unskilfulness of some, and misap- prehension of others, even the best writers, who, having 288 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. not seen the plants themselves, but only meeting with descriptions or light mentions of some of their parts in some, and others in other travellers, must needs be at a loss about them, and often multiply species beyond what there are in nature ; or else, for fear of unnecessary mul- tiplication, contract two or three into one, as I find myself to have done more than once or twice. Give me leave only to ask you, for my own satisfac- tion, two or three questions. 1. Whether your Phyttitis non sinuata minor, apice folii radices agents \Asplenwm rhizophyllum, Linn.] be the same with, or different from, that of Mr. Banister, figured in Dr. Plukenet's ' Phyto- graphy,' Tab. 105? 2. Whether you did not observe two species of maize in Jamaica ? I think I have myself seen two different kinds ; and I remember there is men- tion made of two in one of the ' Philosophic Transactions ' lately printed, which I cannot now find. 3. Why you make the Cam brasiliensibus Inhame de St. Thome, &c. of Marcgrave [Dioscorea alata, Linn.] different from the Igname sen Inhame, Clus. ' Var. Plant. Hist.' 1. 4, p. 78, both coming from the same island? 4. What reason you have to suspect the common Xylon or Gossipium herbaceum [Gossypium herbaceum, Linn.] not to differ specifically from the Arboreum, or Aminiju brasiliensibus, &c. of Marcgrave, seeing in the common Xylon herbaceum the cotton sticks fast to the seed round about, which it doth not to the seed of the Bombax offic. (which I take to be that of the Aminiju), and besides is not so situate nor black of colour as that is ? You have enlightened me in many things ; and the col- lections I may make out of your work will be the best part of my Supplement. I am very glad when myself or friends discover any errors or mistakes in my writings : thank God, that he hath let me live so long as to acknowledge and amend them. I have not yet compared the titles of your capil- laries with Plunder's descriptions, for the figures I have not by me, having remitted the book Mr. Smith sent me. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 289 My wife sends you her very humble service, and repeated thanks for your great kindnesses, by the hand of, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. This letter should have been sent last post, but that I failed of a messenger. I shall add now a question or two more. 1 . Whether may not your Milkwood be the Pirm- pinichi sive arbor lactescens of Monardes, which occurs in the first tome of Jo. Bauhine ? 2. "Vfaether your sweet-scented Jamaica pepper be not certainly a species really distinct from the Amorum aliud quorundam, and Caryophyllon Plinii of Clus., as I take it undoubtedly to be from the leaf and fruit ? For Dr. Hans Sloane, at liis house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Aug. 25, 95. SIR, I have this morning, by carrier, remitted the three tribes you were pleased last to send me, and return you thanks for the use of them. I am the more hasty in despatching them, because, as I think I told you, I would gladly have gone over the whole work before the extreme colds come, which will render writing difficult and troublesome to me, if it please God to produce my life so long. I do not find anything amiss in matter or language. I must impute it to my own dullness and incapacity if I do not sometimes apprehend or rightly understand your meaning. I was much surprised with your description 19 290 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. of the reservatory of water made by the disposition of the leaves of the Viscum caryophyttoides, [Tillandsia lingulata, Linn.?] which was a thing wholly new to me, having never heard or read of it before. I thank you for your good advice concerning my herpeses, but hitherto I linger and use nothing ; but the "pruritus which attends them now, more than lately, will quicken me to attempt something for their stopping and cure. My wife salutes you with the tender of her very humble service, and I am no less, Sir, Yours in all service, JOHN RAT. For his honoured friend Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the comer of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. DEAR SIR, The first of your queries was, whether the impressions be all of leaves, or parts of leaves ? To which I answer, that the stone wherein these mineral leaves are exhibited is generally so brittle, that when we endeavour to split it, to get out a plant, it breaks also transversely ; so that, for one whole fern branch we find, we see twenty broken ones, but for single leaves, they are very common. Moreover, those stones are broken in such small pieces by the workmen in the pit, that we find few lumps big enough for whole plants ; and indeed if they contained whole ones, it seems impossible so to split them as an entire plant should be exposed to view. Howbeit, it has not been my fortune hitherto to meet with any other parts of plants than either single leaves or branches ; whether there be any roots or flowers to be met with I shall endeavour, God willing, to be informed hereafter. Your other questions are, whether they are found smooth or crumpled, and whether we meet with the impressions CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 291 of each side of a leaf? To which I answer, they are always smooth and fair, and that I have seen both sides of leaves. Nay, lately (since the date of my last) I have seen both sides of the same numerical leaf, so that I can now confirm that observation of Dr. Woodward's, which I mentioned in that letter. I have sent you here a figure of one of these coal plants, from which, and those in Camden, you may make some estimate of the rest. I found it at a coal-pit in the forest of Dean, together with several others. As, 1st, Hart's Tongue; 2dly, a kind of Trichornanes ; 3dly, Lonchitis aspera, called by the workmen Vox Vearn, i. e. Fox Fern ; 4thly, a kind of Equisetunk which they call Cat's Tail ; 5thly, a small Gallium, or Mollugo, with some others which I know not whither to refer. This seems to resemble partly the Osmund Royal, but to me the leaves are too small, too thick set, and round-pointed ; but I leave you to match it, who are best able. Oxford, August 28, 95. Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. HONOURED SIR, I received your letter of the 4th ; and that you may have a truer idea of these subterraneous plants than I can possibly give you by correspondence, I have sent this day, by the carrier, a small box of them, directed for you, to be left with Mr. Smith. I had brought a great clod of them, about half a year since, from the forest of Dean, and had buried it in the ground here, in a moist place, in hopes it would keep the better, the figures being very apt to disappear after some months' keeping. This, at the taking of it up, crumbled to pieces. However, I have sent it to you as it is, and hope it may serve to give you as clear a notion of the state of these fossil leaves as if you were yourself at the coal-pits. I have also added those three specimens I have figured in 292 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Camden, though one of them (I mean that which I sup- pose to be an undescribed plant) I was willing to venture only the one half, not knowing whether I may ever meet with the like again. These three are much fairer than those we have from Gloucestershire and Somerset, and lodged in firmer stone. When you have viewed them sufficiently, be pleased to take what you like out of the Gloucestershire parcel, and return the rest to me at your leisure. I heartily wish you may be able to satisfy yourself upon sight of them, whether they are original productions, or the remains of once real plants ; for I must confess that at present I cannot acquiesce in the opinion of their having been once mere plants growing on the surface of the earth. I have in my custody a piece of native silver, lodged in spar, brought, four years since, out of the West Indies, whereof some part appears out of the stone, in the form of a small spiral or twisted capreoli ; and another part is a thin plate, having such a superficies on each side, as if it had received an impres- sion from a piece of fine cloth. Now, seeing that fossils do naturally shoot into these forms, may we not reasonably suspect they might also put on the shapes of leaves and shells ? I have likewise several times seen somewhat like the form of a piece of fine linen in flint, which seems to require no less admiration than these plants, though we are the more affected with them, because we find the same natural things in the bowels of the earth as we knew before on the surface. However, I am almost fully convinced, and have been so for several years, that many of those vertebra and shells which I have met with are the spoils of once living animals, my chiefest reason for which is, because many of the vertebrae and other bones are of a mere bony substance ; and several shells which we meet with are scarce distinguishable in consistence from the same species on the sea shores. Oxford, Sept. 12, 95. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 293 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., March 10, 1696. SIR, The spring coming on, and the weather now favouring, I am desirous, with all convenient speed, to finish and prepare for the press my Supplement. Hist. Plant., not that I think the booksellers will be very for- ward at so difficult a time as this to be at the charge of printing it, but because I would rid my mind of the thoughts of it, being sensible that my glass runs low. I desire, therefore, that you would please, so soon as may stand with your convenience, to send me your Observa- tions and History of the Jamaica and other American Plants, ^nich you were so kind as to offer me the sight and use of. I should not have had the confidence other- wise to have begged such a favour of you, but should have contented myself with the names and titles I had found in your Catalogue, the greatest part of my Supple- ment being only a collection of such names and titles gathered out of books ; but yet, notwithstanding your kind offer, if, upon second thoughts, you judge it may be detrimental or prejudicial to the sale of your work to permit me to deflower it, or take excerpta out of it, I shall be willing rather to want such ornaments and advantages to my book than to be thereby injurious to you. It being now so long since I received a letter from you, I am not without some fear that you may not have been well ; and therefore for my satisfaction therein, and the premised particulars, please to send me a line or two. So I humbly recommend yourself and family to the Divine protection and blessing, and rest, Sir, Your very affectionate and obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. My wife gives you her humble services. For his honoured friend Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 294 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, March 22, 96. SIR, I received both your letters, and must needs acknowledge myself extremely obliged to you for your extraordinary and unmerited kindness. The sugar you design me I cannot, without some violation of modesty, receive, having no prospect of making you any other amends than verbal, by acknowledging the obligation and returning thanks. The reason why I desire to hasten the finishing my Supplement is, because I am sensible my time is but short, and I would willingly get it off hand, that I may have some time to spare before the access of death. Yet do I not intend to part then with the whole copy, or put it all at once into the bookseller's hand, but by piecemeal, as it is printed off. You tell me news of posthumous pieces of Malpighius, but I since find them in the catalogue of books printed for Hilary Term, which I received last week. The weather is again grown very sharp, which, if it continues so, will hinder my proceedings, being unable to continue long from the fire to write much. I am at present, I thank God, in health, as I hope yourself and family are. The sores upon my legs are in a likely way of healing up shortly. I have of late made use of a new salve, made up of two parts of diapalma and one of basilicon, which I have experienced to be very effectual for healing and drying, though I must expect their breaking out again next winter, if 1 live so long. My wife gives you her very humble service. I shall expect your submarine tribe this week. I am, Sir, Your much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 295 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, June 23, 96. SIR, I received your very kind letter of June 6th, and not long after the acceptable present of your book, for which I return you many thanks. I cannot but admire your industry and patience in reading and com- paring such a multitude of relations and accounts of voyages, and referring to its proper place what you found therein relating to your subject, and that with so much circumspection and judgment. You have done botanists great service in distributing or reducing the confused heap of names, and contracting the number of species. But who is able to do the like ? No man but who is alike qualified, and hath seen the things growing in their natural places. For my own part, I do freely acknow- ledge my self altogether insufficient for such a task, having not seen the plants themselves, nor of many of them so much as dried specimens, and of the rest having had but a transient view. I shall therefore put down what I find in late writers, viz., Plukenet's ' Phytography,' the remaining six volumes of ' Hortus Malabaricus,' Father Plumier's ' Schola Botanica,' ' Paradisi Batavi Prodrom.,' ' Flora? Batavas Flores,' Tournefort's ' Elem. Botan.,' Breynius, his two Prodromi, and, above all, your ' Catalogue and History of the Plants of Jamaica and the Neighbour Islands,' which you are pleased so frankly to offer me the use of, without interposing my own judg- ment. Did I live about London, and had I opportunity frequently to visit the physic gardens thereabouts, and to observe and describe the new species, I might make a better Supplement to my History than now I shall do, my circumstances not admitting so long an absence from this place. I have been lately very ill and indis- posed, with a hoarseness and violent cough, attended 296 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. with a feverish heat, of which I am not yet fully recovered. I hope you are well, and pray for your health. My wife sends you her very humble service. I must own myself to be much obliged to you, and am, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, next Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, July 17, 96. SIR, Since my last to you, considering my infirmities and craziness, admonishing me of the near approach of death, I think it best to speed the finishing and fitting my Supplement for the press, and to deliver it up into the bookseller's hand who put me upon it, to be pub- lished or suppressed, as he shall find it most for his own interest. I am sensible that it must needs be a very weak and imperfect thing, I wanting those helps which those that have travelled into the Indies and live about London have. But yet none so fit to make a Supplement to my own History as myself ; and there be many faults I am advised of which I would willingly correct. But I would fain dispatch it, and rid my hands of it, that so it may be no disturbance to my thoughts. Your History, were it reasonable for me to beg the defloration of it, would afford the greatest ornaments to it. But I am almost come to a resolution not to desire any such thing of you, but content myself with the names I find in your Catalogue of such as are nondescripts, and with your synonyma for the reducing of such as are repeated. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 297 I have gotten a sight of Dr. Plukenet's ' Almagaestum Bot.,' though as yet he hath not presented me with a copy of it ; I find in it many mistakes in the language, and in the composition of Greek names ; and I doubt not but there are many in the matter. It is impossible but that a man who relies wholly upon dried specimens of plants (be he never so cunning) should often mistake and multiply. He hath abundance of Jamaica plants, which, if in your Catalogue, it is very difficult to reduce them, especially his Filices. As far as I am able to judge, he is often out in his conjectural synonymes ; in one or two he is reprehended by Mons. Tournefort, and is ofNwmself apt enough to multiply species. But no more of him. I am not yet quite rid of my distemper : I hope it will off by degrees. Here hath been a very unseasonable summer, for the most part very cold and wet, and I live in a sharp air, my house standing on a hill exposed to the north and north-east winds, which is inconvenient for one who is subject to colds, and whose lungs are apt to be affected. Excuse this irtpiKwoXoyia, and take me to be, as really I am, Sir, Your much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. I must not forget my wife's service, who is very much yours. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the comer of Southampton street, next Bloomsbury square, London. 298 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANB. Black Notley, July 22, 96. ,-^-! believe you cannot but wonder that I should at this time so pester you with letters, of which I am not wont to be very prodigal. For giving you the trouble of this I hope you will excuse me when I shall have told you my reason. Coming to examine and distribute the capil- lary plants [Ferns] in Dr. Plukenet's 'Almageest.' accord- ing to my method, I find such a multitude denominated of Jamaica, that I am quite confounded with them, and unable to reduce them (I mean so many of them as are probably the same) to those of your Catalogue without your assistance and direction, which I earnestly beg of you. I mean that of such as are not referred to F. Plumier's, you would tell me which you think are referable to those of your Catalogue, and to which each, and which are new and strangers to you. In the mean time I cannot but wonder how and from whom he should procure so many Jamaica capillaries ; who in that island should be so skillful and diligent as to find out and collect so many ; and whether he did not get a sight of some sheets of your Catalogue. I dare say before your discovery, no herbarist imagined there had been half that number to be found there, nay, I think I may say in all America. I fear this task I impose upon you may be too laborious for you, and rob you of more time than will consist with your business and necessary occasions, and therefore I do not absolutely desire it, but only if you have will, and can find leisure sufficient for I had rather have it not done than to put you upon any- thing that may be unpleasant or incommodious to you. For the doing of it take your own time. I find it diffi- cult to settle the genera of these capillaries by certain characteristic notes. I pray tell me your notions of Phyllitis, Hemionitis, Lonchitis, Polypodium, Trie/to- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 299 manes, Adiantum album and nigrum and ceterach. Her- barists make ramose kinds of Phyllitis, Hemionitis, and Lonchitis, and therefore the differences of these plants must consist in the different figure and texture of the leaves. I am not yet perfectly well, but, I thank God, much better. I hope you are well, and pray for your health, resting, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Aug. 5, 96. SIR, Your very friendly and obliging letter of July 21st came to my hands about a fortnight since. I give you most hearty thanks for the kind offer of the use of your papers of descriptions and observations of Jamaica Plants ; as likewise of the sight of those dried plants and memoirs about them you received from the Straits of Magellan and the South Sea, and do accept of it. I shall proceed gradually, beginning with the imperfect tribes of Fuel, Fungi, and Musci; these I have already finished as well as I am at present capable, contenting myself with the names of some, and short descriptions of others. I am now upon the capillary tribe, wherein in my last I desired your assistance in reference to Dr. Plukenet's catalogue of such as he hath had an account of from Jamaica, for I was puzzled to reduce them ; and could not but wonder how he could get such a number not observed or mentioned by you. I fear there are many mistakes in his work. A good number I have observed in synonyms of such species as are known to me, and I doubt not but there are many or more in such as are unknown. He is a man of punctilio, a little con- 300 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. ceited and opinionated, and such men are incapable of advice, especially reprehension, I told you in my last what disadvantages I labour under in composing this Supplement, and shall add no more about it. I must do it as well as I can with the helps that I have. And by reason of my age and in- firmities I am willing to make all the haste I can. As for the method of capillaries, though that I proposed in my letter to Rivinus seems to me the best, yet I have not skill enough to make use of it, but must be forced to employ my old one. Only now I shall take no notice whether ferns are cauliferous or not cauliferous, whether their whole superficies consists of mere leaves or no, but shall divide them according to the leaf, as before, into those which have a simple and which have a divided leaf, and these last into such as have a leaf divided singly, doubly, or trebly, as before. Your advice in reference to my health I greatly approve, but all the symptoms of my cold are now gone, and I am as I used to be ; only the ulcuscula upon my legs continue still, and are more painful and troublesome than they used to be in summer time, I suppose by reason of the coldness and moisture of the weather. Milk and milkmeats agree well with me, and I intend to make use of them. I return you thanks for your generous offer of sarsa and china, &c., and must not forget my former obligation to you for what of that nature you sent me the first year these pernios broke out. But 1 am not under any necessity at present to make use of your kindness, and if I were, I could not with modesty accept it. My wife and children are at present (I thank God) in health, and tender their humble services to you. With humble prayers for your health and well-being, I con- clude, and rest, Sir, Your much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 301 Mr. HAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Aug. 15, 96. SIR, I received yours of the llth, and do hold myself extremely obliged to you for your readiness to assist me in compiling my .Supplement. Your papers, if you please to do me so great a favour as to lend me them, to use for some time for the illustration and ornament of my work, I am now ready for them, having run over Dr. Plukenet's ' Almagaest.' wherein I find many mistakes, so that I dare not confide in him for things which I am ignorant or ^Idiibtful of. A man that relies wholly on dried specimens, were he cunninger than Dr. Plukenet is, must needs commit many mistakes. As for the method of capillaries I proposed in my letter to Rivinus, I have not skill enough in that kind of plants to be able to make use of it, and so must be constrained to adhere to my old method a little altered. For whereas I did suppose that no capillaries were properly cauliferous, but that their whole superficies did consist of mere leaves. I am now convinced of the con- trary, and therefore intend not to meddle with it any more, but to divide those plants, whether cauliferous or not cauliferous, according to their leaves, into such as have a simple leaf, which I make to be either whole or laciniated, and such as have a compound leaf. And these into such whose leaves are compounded of 1, single leaves, or pinnules ; 2, surculi pinnati, or decom- posita ; 3, ramastri, divided into surculi and pinna ; which leaves Bauhine calls ramose. But to render things clear, I take it to be needful to define a compound leaf, which I shall do thus : Apart of a plant which is made up of pinnules, surculi, or ramastri, connected on each side to a middle rib growing gradually shorter and shorter towards the top of the middle rid, which also terminates in a leafy the footstalk and middle rib having its supine superficies different from its prone, viz. either flat or 302 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. channelled. Thus defining a compound leaf, I seclude several sorts of compound or pinnate-leaved plants from being Phyttitides or Hemionitides, &c. The objection concerning the cocoa-nut you have very well cleared and answered. But your balsam tree can- not be Dr. Plukenet's, unless he be grossly mistaken in applying a wrong fruit to it, which yet I cannot wonder he should, since T find him often tripping. Concerning the tree called cedar, in Jamaica, you have informed me, I took it to be no other than a sort of juniper. I once saw a young tree, in a vessel, brought from Barbadoes, which the seamen told me was the cedar, so like our European juniper that I could observe but very little difference ; and Parkinson describes it for such, p. 1029, and you know that the Oxycedrm of herbarists is but a great juniper. I must confess myself to have been stumbled about your making the two sorts of Guaiacmn of Terentius and other authors to be all one, whereas Terentius seems to describe both from the sight of the plant and fruit com- municated by Corvinus. Discoursing with Mr. Vernon about the primary use of respiration, I expressed myself desirous to know the opinion of some learned and experienced anatomists con- cerning it, whereupon he recommended to me Dr. Connor as a very learned, ingenious, and experienced person in that kind ; and I have since wrote to him, and received from him a very curious letter with a brief account of his opinion, since which, being informed of some medico-physical dissertations which he wrote and published at Oxford, I sent for a copy of them, and find the author to be indeed an ingenious man, and one that writes well in Latin. And finding him to dedicate one of his dissertations to you, I thence learn that he is well known to you and acquainted with you, wherefore I desire some further account of him from you, especially as to his temper of mind. I offered him a sight of my papers concerning the subject I mentioned, which he CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 303 accepted of. I shall desire ray bookseller to send those papers to you and entreat you to communicate them to the doctor. Mr. Petiver is a person well known to me, and hath contributed some observations to my ' Synopsis Stirp. Brit.,' and I shall, according to your advice, make what use I can of his skill for my assistance in this work. I am troubled that I am constrained to put so many nuda nomina of plants without descriptions, but it is not to be helped. Many of them are not to be seen growing in England, and them that are I have not opportunity of seeing, so that many errors will creep in, let me use all the oijumspection possible. Please to tender my humble service to Capt. Hatton, and tell him that I should be glad to see Mons. Magnol's method, and if he please to lend it me I will return it carefully to him, when I have made what use I can of it. I am very glad you have so well settled your domestic law business, which I had advice of from Dr. Briggs, and was fearful it might create you some trouble and dis- turbance. My little family are, I thank God, at present all in health. We return you our hearty thanks for your good wishes. We often taste of your kindness, and as often remember you, and talk of you. My wife salutes you with the tender of her very humble service, and I am, sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, Bloomsbury square, London. 304 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Dr. VAUGHAN and Dr. WOOD to Mr. RAY.* SIR, And now, sir, I shall take the freedom to press you to favour the learned world with the icons of the plants described in your history, which would render it the most complete work of the sort the whole world affords ; it is a work which you in your ' Historia Plan- taram' express an inclinableness to, and which I am heartily sorry you have not met with due encouragement to perform. Sir, I need not lay before you the great difficulties which the lovers of botany are forced to en- counter by reason of the want of this most desirable work, nor urge you how agreeable it would be to the botanic world, but especially to your curious countrymen ; neither need I tell you, what without the least suspicion of flattery I justly may, that of all men that ever were in England, you are without dispute allowed to be the most fit to perform such a work. Pray, therefore, sir, think on some expedient by which we may be enabled to reprint your history, and render it complete by the addition of the cuts and another review, which will make it much more correct. I question not but that I can procure at least eighteen subscriptions in this poor king- dom for the promotion of so advantageous a work. But if you find that this will not quit cost, if you printed only the small icons of the plants and their names in quarto or octavo, I am confident you would highly oblige all that have the least curiosity to promote their know- ledge in botanies. Sir, Dr. Wood, Dr. Mitchell, and I, have resolved to be as curious as our leisures will permit in making a collection of what plants this kingdom affords. We have begun this summer atWexford, where we casually meet to drink the medicinal waters, and in the month we stayed there we made up a catalogue of * Dr. Vaughan having given an account of the fatal consequence of eight young^ lads eating of hemlock water-dropwort [(Enanthe crocata, Linn.] (published in Phil. Trans., p. 283) proceeds thus. W. D. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 305 above 280 plants, the which we have, and design to augment as opportunity offers to any of us. Sir, I hope you will pardon this trouble, &c. F. V. Clonmel, Aug. 26, 1696. SIR, In your Synopsis you question whether the Irish in drying their dullysk do not add some alkaline salt? I have inquired, and can assure you that they add no kind of salt, nor indeed anything else. They only pull it off the rocks whereon it grows, and spread it on the grass in the warm sun to dry, or rather on a lousy green mantle*4as my friend adds, who gave me this relation, and has seen much of it dried and eaten in Kerry, and elsewhere) while drying. It sometimes appears frosted over with a salt, which for the most part falls off again in handling it, and is probably nothing else but the par- ticles of salt remaining after the sun has exhaled the sea- water that stuck to it. When thoroughly dry it is fit for use, and may be kept seven years, if hung up in a net or the like. They eat it at all times, when no other food is to be had, but chiefly in the morning, and esteem it good against worms and the scurvy, and to cause a sweet breath. And now, sir, if it were necessary, I could muster up several arguments to press you to what myself and friend and colleague has urged about the icons, but you know well the necessity and usefulness of such a work ; I would, therefore, at present only hint one thing, that it is pity that so beneficial a work is not promoted by public authority ; and what if a motion were made, and effectually backed, next session of parliament, that it be carried on at a public charge ? If it be objected, that our treasure is exhausted by a war, &c., I would answer, that (not to mention the hopes we have of a general peace) the French king, notwithstanding the tedious and expensive war he is engaged in, thinks it yet fit to encourage all arts and sciences. Fas est et ab hostc doceri. N. W. Kilkenny, Aug. ult. 1696. 20 306 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. SIR, I have received, after much search, three sorts of beans from the north-west islands of Scotland, which are thrown up by the sea from the north-west great ocean, and gathered in plenty on those north-west shores, and are such as grow in Jamaica, viz. the bean called there cocoons, that called horse-eye bean, and the ash- coloured nickar, or bonduch. You will find them all in my Catalogue, under those vulgar names, by the index ; there is also a fourth sent me thence, which is, I think, the Avellana quadrifida, J. B. Where its natural place is I know not ; but the others you may find their countries by the authors which speak of them, for they must come to Scotland by the currents of the sea. I have heard of some thrown up in England, and should be glad to have your thoughts of this matter. The small coral in Eal- mouth Road you may see I found in England, and had it from the Magellan Straits. I beg your pardon for this trouble. London, Sept. 11, 1696. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., Sept. 17, 96. SIR, Yours of Sept. llth I received Monday last; in answer whereto, first, I return you many thanks for the pains you have already and shall further take in assisting me and promoting my work ; but my haste is not so great as to straiten you for time, not intending to begin to print till next spring, so that you may proceed leisurely as your affairs and occasions will permit. I am sensible what a difficult task you have to clear up and reconcile things in difference between yourself and Dr. Plukenet, which would CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 307 soonest and best be done by conference and mutual in- spection of each other's dried specimens. But I know not whether Dr. Plukenet will be willing to come to that, being a man reserved, jealous of his reputation, and none of the best natured, not to give him a worse character, being my friend. What you write concerning the fruits gathered in plenty on the shores of the north-west islands of Scotland is very strange ; I have formerly read something of it in the 'Philosophical Transactions,' I think, but gave no great heed to it, but now I see there was truth in it. It is very unlikely to me that they should be brought so far by ari^-current of the sea. I should rather think they came from vessels cast away by shipwreck near those parts. But it is a thing very well deserves to be further and more diligently inquired into, sith the matter of fact is certain. You make no mention of my papers concerning the primary use of respiration, which I desired Mr. Smith to send to you. My relatives here are (I thank God) in health, and join in the tender of their services to you. I humbly pray the like blessing to yourself and family, and take leave, resting, Sir, Your very much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., October 20, 90. SIR, I return you many thanks for your last letter of Sept. 25th, wherein you pleased to communicate many useful observations concerning our domestic plants, which I wish had been imparted before the publication of the last edition of my ' Synopsis Stirp. Brit.' However, they 308 CORRESPONDENCE OJt 1 RAY. will serve to enrich my ' Supplement. Hist.' You write like an ingenuous person and a lover of truth. Give me leave to acquaint you, that I think you are mistaken in making the Milium indicum arundinaceo caule granis jlavescentibus, Herman. Cat.,* to be the same with Sorgum, which he makes a different plant ; and the same with Frumentum indicum quod Milium indicum vacant, C. B. Theat. Bot. 488. Looking over your Catalogue, I find you refer to Urtica several plants, which have little agreement one with another, except in the figure of the leaf, and having a stamineous flower, and therefore I pray tell me what you make to be the characteristic note or notes of an Urtica; for neither Folia adversa, spinula urentes, fructus racemosi, nor s.emina solitaria, are com- mon to them all. I hope, ere now, my bookseller hath sent you my paper concerning respiration, of which I desire you would freely give me your opinion, and also communicate it to Dr. Connor, to whom I wrote, but doubt, for want of a suffi- cient direction, whether my letter came to his hands. My wife gives you her very humble, and I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Dr. CONNOR to Mr. BAY. London, Bow street, Nov. 9, 96. SIR, Dr. Sloane has been pleased to give me your ingenious and learned 'Dissertation about Respiration,' to peruse it, which I have done with a great deal of satis- * This plant and the Frumentum indicum, &c. C. B., are referred to Holcus saccharatus by Linnaeus ; but Sloane's Milium indicum, &c, is named H. bicolor by him. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 309 faction and improvement, finding in it a great many solid observations concerning the respiration of fishes, insects, and other animals. I find that you think that the sub- stance or body of the air passes from the bronchia and lungs into the substance of the blood ; and that, pabuli instar, it foments and maintains the vital flame which you suppose to be in the sulphureous parts of the blood, as the air foments the common flame of a candle, and that the nitre has nothing to do in this effect. You and I, sir, agree in this, that the body of the air gets into the mass of blood, and that its nitre there is of no use or energy. We agree, likewise, that the use of respirafttfn is to rarefy and vivify the blood ; we only differ in the manner how this rarefaction is performed. I know that there are very eminent men which are of opinion that the oily parts of the blood do constantly entertain not only a considerable heat, but likewise a true flame in the whole mass : you add to them that the air comes to foment it. I was much of this opinion myself not long ago, but you will be pleased to let me (with submission to your mind) to propose to you, in order to be informed, the difficulties I met with in this opinion. I find that those who eat most of cheese, butter, fat meat, and other sulphureous aliments, and those that are very corpulent and fat them- selves, have generally lesser heat in their blood, and a slower circulation and pulse, and are less subject to fevers, than persons that are dry and lean, I mean the bilious. I find that in most chemical fermentations sulphur is far from increasing motion and heat, it rather retards it by involving the saline principles, which are the true cause of fermentation and heat. I consider, likewise, that if there was anything of the nature of a flame in the blood, it would only be in the lungs where it meets the air ; but when once it would pass from the lungs into the heart, and into the narrow passages of the veins and arteries, it could no more flame than a lighted candle passed into the deep mouth of a hollow candlestick. Besides, I cannot believe that the air is an aliment to our common flame, no more 310 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. than by its pressure and elasticity in keeping and crowd- ing together into a vertex the igneous particles, as I have hinted in the treatise ' De Antris Lethiferis.' For I can- not conceive how the air that comes to the mouth of an oven can serve for a pabulum to the flame which is in the bottom of the oven, for it cannot come near it ; so that I am apt to believe that the candle goes out in the air-pump, only because, the air being exhausted, there remains nothing to keep together the flying parts of the candle, and so they soon vanish away ; not because there wants a pabulum of air or nitre, since the sulphureous parts of the candle itself are pabulum enough. From these and several other reasons I have concluded that the intestine motion of the blood is a true fermenta- tion arising from the struggling of its saline parts, and mitigated by its sulphureous ones, like the fermentation of beer, wine, or cider, though in a higher degree. This fermentation causes heat in the blood, this heat expands and rarefies the air that comes in by respiration : the expanded air expands reciprocally the blood, and makes it frothy, thin and florid. So that respiration is indis- pensably necessary for life, to be a constant cause of the attenuation and subtilization of the blood ; though the sulphur of the blood is not supposed by me to be the cause of this heat, yet it is very necessary to bridle and to keep together the saline principles, and to hinder them from evaporating too soon till new ones are supplied by the chyle ; so by its pliable and limber oblong particles it wraps up and keeps close together the volatile principles of the blood, that otherwise might fly away. This is, sir, in few words, what I think of this subject, which I submit entirely to your better judgment, contending for nothing else but truth. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 311 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., Jan. 22, 97. SIR, I return you most hearty thanks for the medi- cine you commended to me for the cure of my diarrhoea, which doth indeed effectually stop it toties quoties : but I perceive it doth not only stop that flux, but likewise the running of my sores, which renders them very painful in the nights, and causes them rather to spread. I have now another case to beg your advice in. My daughter Mary, one of the twins, after a long trouble with the cllterosis, is fallen into the jaundice, all the symptoms whereof she hath in a high manner. We have made use of our neighbouring physician Mr. Allen, who first gave her some powders, which, taking no effect, he gave her, I suppose, Riverius, his first medicine for the jaundice, which she hath now taken five days, half a quarter of a pint thrice a day ; which, notwithstanding, all the symptoms continue, or rather increase, and she grows faint and feeble. Now, sir, myself and wife (who tenders her very humble service to you) earnestly entreat your counsel and direction how we are to order her, and what remedies you think most proper and effectual for her. I myself was cured of that disease by an infusion of stone-horse dung steeped in ale for a night with a little saffron added, and in the morning strained, and the liquor sweetened with a little sugar. I took about half a pint at a time, and was cured perfectly with twice taking, as I remember. I pray give us your judgment of this medicine. I had given it her before now, but that I was loth to do anything of my own head, physic not being my calling. Be pleased to write a word or two in answer by the next post, for we are very much concerned for the child. I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. 312 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. P.S. Mr. Allen advises the letting of her blood, because, upon blowing of her nose, a little tincture of blood some- ' times appears. She is troubled with a short cough, so that my wife is afraid she may be consumptive. She is also troubled with a great heat in the soles of her feet, but this is not new to her, for she had it in summer-time. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Feb. 1, 97. SIR, My dear child, for whom I begged your advice, within a day after it was received, became delirious, and at the end of three days died apoplectic, which was to myself and wife a most sore blow. I doubt not but you will commiserate our sad condition. Nothing afflicts me so much as that I did [not] in time make use of that remedy, which I had proved so effectual to my own relief and cure in the same disease. I am extremely sorry for your spitting of blood, which I humbly pray God deliver you perfectly from. I am not in case to write much, and therefore shall only subscribe myself, Sir, Your much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloonisbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., March 2, 1697. SIR, I have this morning sent back by carrier the section I last received from you, and entreat you to send me the remainder of the copy, or as much as is ready, for CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 313 I intend to apply myself wholly to it, till I have finished it, being desirous to get the work off my hands. For upon this sad accident, and by reason of my growing infirmi- ties, I am well mortified as to natural studies and in- quiries, though I shall not, so long as life and strength last, wholly desert them, but make them some part of my parergon and diversion, as I should only have done before. I should be glad to hear of your health and welfare : my wife is full of grief, having not yet been able fully to con- coct her passion : she tenders her humble service, and thanks for all your favours, with whom joins, Sir, ^our affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., March 16, 1697. SIR, I shall now communicate to you a story or two of the direful effects of (Enanthe aquatica, cicutte facie succo viroso of Lobel [CEnanthe crocata, Linn.] which we may English Hemlock Water-dropwort upon several per- sons that eat of the roots of it, sent me not long since in a letter from Dr. Francis Vaughan, a learned physician in Ireland, living at Clonmel, in the county of Tipperary. This gentleman observing me, notwithstanding what Dr. Johnson, in his ' Gerardus Emaculatus/ and Lobel, in his ' Adversaria/ had written of the venerose quality of this plant, to be somewhat doubtful of it in my ' Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum,' for my fufl satis- faction and conviction, wrote the following abstract of a 314 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. history drawn up by a person, who is at present his brother-in-law, concerning the effects of it upon himself and seven other young men, who ignorantly mistaking it for Sium aquaticum, or Apiumpalustre, did eat of it. " Eight young lads went one afternoon a fishing to a brook in this county, and there meeting with a great parcel of (Enanthe aquatica succo viroso (in Irish Tahoic), they mistook the roots of it for Sium aquaticum roots, and did eat a great deal of them. About four or five hours after going home, the eldest of them, who was almost of man's stature, without the least previous appearing dis- order or complaint, on a sudden fell down backward, and lay kicking and sprawling on the ground. His counte- nance soon turned very ghastly, and he foamed at the mouth. Soon after four more were seized the same way, and they all died before morning, not one of them having spoken a word from the moment in which the venenate particles surprised the genus nervosum. Of the other three, one run stark mad, but came to his right reason again the next morning. Another had his hair and nails fall off, and the third (who is my brother-in-law) alone escaped without receiving any harm. Whether he eat less of this fatal root, or whether his constitution, which is to this day very athletic, occasioned it, I cannot tell, though I am of opinion that his speedy running about two miles home after that he saw the first young man fall, together with his drinking a very large draught of milk, warm from the cow, in his midway, were of singular use to him. For his violent sweating did doubtless expel and carry off many of the venenose particles, and had a better effect than the best of our alexipharmics (which you know are generally diaphoretic) might have produced in this case. Besides, I believe the draught of warm milk did act its part by involving the acid or acrimonious poisonous particles, and rendering them inactive, and preventing their seizing the genus nervosum till they were expelled per diaphoresin. But this is but my conjecture, which I willingly submit to more mature judgments. This hap- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 315 pened about thirty years ago ; but there are many yet alive who assert the truth of it, having been eye-witnesses of this dreadful tragedy. There was also a Dutchman, about two years [since] within eight miles of this place, poisoned by boiling and eating the tops of this plant shred into his pottage ; he was soon after found dead in his boat, and his little Irish boy gave accounts of the cause of his death to be eating this herb, which he forewarned his master against, but in vain, the Dutchman asserting that it was good salad in his country, so that I believe he took it for Apium palustre, which its leaves much resemble." Thus far Dr.Vaughan. Several parallel, and no less tragical histories of later date, of the miserable destruction of divers persons by the eating of the roots of this pernicious and deleterious plant, I find recorded by Jacobus Wepferus, in his book ' De Novis Cicutae Aquaticae,' and in the ' Miscellanea Curiosa,' or ' Epheinerides German.' Dec. 2, An. 6, Observ. 116, wherefore I think it is for the interest of mankind that all persons be sufficiently cautioned against venturing to eat of this, and indeed any other unknown herb or root, lest they incur the same fate, and in order thereto that such histories be made public and transmitted to posterity, as what 1 send you may be by being inserted into the ' Philosophic Transactions,' if you think fit. I am, Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 316 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 2, 97. SIR, Wednesday night last, after I had sent away my letter giving advice of the receipt of the box of sugar, your parcel of submarine plants came. The carrier's excuse for not delivering it together with the box was, that it was put up in a pack which was not then opened. I was no less troubled at this delay or neglect of the car- rier, than I knew you would be for fear of the loss or miscarriage of papers of so great concern, and therefore thought it necessary by the first opportunity to send you word of their safe arrival. I shall, with what speed I can, make my excerpta out of them, and remit them to you ; and what I borrow out of them I shall do the author right in acknowledging. Last week Mr. Smith sent me a large Dutch herbal of Abraham Muntingius, of a very fair letter and paper, and beautified with many figures of more rare or nondescript plants. But it will be of little use to me, being written in Dutch, which language 1 understand not, and because the Latin names are his own, without synonymes or re- ferences to any author that hath written of plants. The book hath formerly been printed, but this edition is much larger, and hath more than double the number of sculps. Possibly I may be impertinent in telling you of a book you know much better than myself. This being a busy time, I shall add no more than that I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and humble servant, Jo. RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Blooinsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 317 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 13, 97. SIR, I do now return the papers you did me the favour to send and grant me the use of. If you have any more ready, be pleased to put them into Mr. Smith's hands, who will take care to send them in the parcel he next dispatches to me ; for I would not willingly give you more trouble than needs. I am very glad you give us any hopes of seeing you here next summer. Though we cannot treat you accord- ing to"yr?ur merit, yet no friends can be more welcome than yourself or any related to you. I find that if I proceed thus to translate out of your work, my Supplement will swell to a large volume, If, at least, you be so curious and particular in your descriptions of the species of other tribes. But as Pliny saith, " Ut alia bonse rei ita bonus liberes melior est quisque quo major." And what is borrowed of yours will communi- cate a great degree of goodness to my book. My wife and girls are well, and send you their humble service, and I am, Sir, Your much obliged and affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I have this morning, by carrier, remitted the tribe of Siliquose Trees, for the use of which I must not neglect to return you merited thanks, and to pray the sending hither the remainder of your copy, which in your last, of March 24, you were pleased to tell me you had quite finished. About three weeks since I sent up to Mr. Smith the 318 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. copy of my Supplement, all but of the Dendrology, which is not yet perfected. Now, sir, I think it were convenient that you revised at least all that is translated out of your Jamaican History, that so you might correct and alter what is mistaken or misunderstood, and supply what is wanting ; for I dare not impose such a task upon you as perusing the whole, though, if you would favour me so far as to undertake that trouble, I arn sensible it would be much for the advantage of the work. The truth is, I am not in condition to perform this task anything well. Did I live at London, and so had opportunity to view all the gardens about that city, and to describe all species that I should find either not at all but lamely described, and to take more exact notice of all I had not before seen, I might be able much better to judge of names and sy- nonyma, and to render the work more perfect and exact ; but with those helps I have I must do as v well as I can. Dr. Sherard might have assisted me more than any man, he having seen and collected all the plants now cultivated in Europe. But his dried plants, though the sight of them might afford me much pleasure, yet I should not be able to make use of them in this history without danger of mistakes. Possibly he may return again before the book be quite printed off and published. Mr. Tournefort's answer to my Dissertation about Me- thods I should be glad to see before I put out my re- formed method, which is almost ready for the press ; and therefore if you please to send it you will oblige further him who is already much in arrear to you. Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloorasbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 319 Dr. VATTGHAN and Dr. WOOD to Mr. RAY. SIR, I shall add a few observations concerning the Tithymalus hibernicus Ascyron supinum villosum palustre, &c. [.Euphorbia hiberna, Linn.] I ordered an Irish chirurgeon to make a decoction of the root and a few leaves of the Tithymalus hibernicus, but its exhalations were so very acrimonious, that, he holding his head two or three times over the decoction to see how it proceeded, his face and hands were blistered most sadly. Some of the Ifteh use this root boiled in milk as a cathartic, whose direful effect there was a melancholy instance of, about three years ago, eight miles hence. A brisk young Irishman, who complaining of a dull pain in his left side, which I suppose was an inveterate obstruction of his spleen, a countryman quack of his gave him a dose of the above decoction, which occasioned a violent hyper- catharsis, dreadful convulsions, and death before ten o'clock that night ; but I believe that an extract might be prepared with the addition of spiritus vitrioli, which might be of excellent use in chronic distempers of robust bodies. I was by your ' Historia Plantarum,' induced to make an extract of Trifolium paludosum \Menyanthes trifoliata, Linn.], which I found an excellent remedy in vomitu, imbecillitate ventriculi, cruditatibus acidis, scor- buto, chlorosi, and question not but that it is an extra- ordinary universal deobstruent : I have used several pounds of it this last year, and shall make greater use of it for the future. I have also used it as an injection (in sordid ulcers) dissolved in fountain water, and think it has as good mundifying effects as tincture of myrrh and aloes ; but then you must dissolve as much of the extract as the water will well contain. I much wonder that the Ascyron tomentosum palustre [Hypericum elodes, Linn., probably] has not been more taken notice of in physic, or I look upon it to be one of the best balsamic i; 320 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. astringent plants we have ; the native Irish call it Birin Yarragh, which signifies Herba dysenterica, and use it in that distemper with good success, and I have used it boiled in milk with very good success, prtsmissis uni- versalibus, in fluore albo. It is doubtless an excellent vulnerary, and effectual in all fluxes beyond any herb I know. Clonmel, April 24, 1697. WORTHY SIR, As to Insects, I am sorry I have nothing by me worth communicating. I had formerly made several observations on these animalcula, but being forced in the late troubles for England, I left most of what I was worth in Limerick, which place holding out longer than any other part of the kingdom, I there lost most of my books, and, what I esteem more, my papers and manuscripts. At present I have only to say, that I am apt to think there are few plants but if narrowly looked into would be found to produce some kind or other of insect, not by way of equivocal generation, which notion is now as universally as deservedly exploded, but by be- coming fit matrices to cherish and mature eggs deposited in or on them. I have lately observed many eggs in the common rush, Juncus Itevis vulg. \Juncus conglomerate , Linn., and /. effusw, Linn.], but I know not yet what animal they produce. One sort are little transparent bodies in shape somewhat like a pear or a retort, lying within the skin, upon or in the medulla, just against a brownish spot on the outside of the rush, which is appa- rently the cicatrix of the wound made by the fly when she put her eggs there. Another kind I observe, which are much larger and not so transparent, of a long oval or rather cylindrical form ; six, eight, or more of these lie commonly together across the rush, parallel to each other, like the teeth of a comb, and are as long as the breadth of the rush. These, sir, are only hints to be farther im- proved by you, who, being so conversant with plants and CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 321 designing a Treatise of Insects, may have opportunity of examining them more accurately. I can see no reason in the fancy of some men who would deduce all distem- pers from insects, yet I am persuaded they have more share in the production of some than many will imagine. In some sorts of scabs and itch I have seen very small white animals taken out with a needle, and to have been living and very nimble in their motion. These often make visible passages under the skin from scab to scab, like a mole under the earth. Add hereunto animals taken out of the gums, and other parts, mentioned in the ' Phi- losoph. Transact.' I wish a good account could be given of som&fmimals produced with of others, as the Lumbriri lati in men, and of toads found living in the middle of massy stones, &c. Kilkenny, April 28, 1697. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 27, 97. SIR, I received your letter of April 16th, and on Saturday last the parcel you sent by carrier came safe to my hands. I shall make what haste I can to collect what is wanting in my Supplement, and to return it again. You are still laying new bonds and obligations upon me, which I am always ready to acknowledge and return thanks for, though never likely to requite. In the former papers I found one or two passages which seemed to me somewhat obscure, which I cannot call to mind ; if for the future any the like occurs I shall, according to your desire, give you notice of them. I have not seen Mr. Dale since the receipt of your letter, but so soon as I shall, I will communicate to him your pleasure. You have found me work now for a considerable time, so that you are secure of trouble from me for two or three weeks. 21 322 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. I have been and still am troubled with a cold, which dis- ease is epidemical hereabouts. I am, Sir, Your most obliged and affectionate friend and servant, JOHN RAY. I must not forget my wife's humble service to you. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, next Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. DOODY to Mr. RAY. , SIR, Dr. Woodward has shown me slates, wherein there were not only shades of plants, as in the Dendroides, but the real body, and become very hard by imbibing in these stony particles; in one side of the slate a cavity with the impress of the leaf, and on the other side it may be seen prominent, and in both every little lineament so exact, that I could not doubt that they had once grown. I have not seen them very lately, but I intend ere long, and then I shall be able to give you a farther account. TENTZELIUS to Mr. HAY. VIR CELEBERRIME, Bienniurn est, ex quo controversia agitur inter me et Collegium Medicum Gethanum de prsegrandibus ossibus terrse effossis, quse ego ab Elephanto, Medici autem pure fossile esse contendunt. Epistolam, quam Magliabechio tune inscripsi, primo statim mense ad illustrem Societatem Regiam misi, una cum ossium fragmentis, illiusque judicio cuncta subjeci. Verum non pervenisse ad manus vestras, ex silentio colligo, cum satis ex adverso mihi constet, qua humanitate respondere so- leatis Germanis, curiosa vobis dijudicanda offerentibus. Opto igitur, ut hie fasciculus felicior sit, quern curandum CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 323 susceperunt fratres Janssonio-Waesbergij, Bibliopolae Am- stelodamenses, cum quibus his nundinis, celebemmum Ludolfum visitans, notitiam contraxi; iidemque respon- sum, si quo beare me volueris, hue transmittent. Enim- vero ad te scribendi audaciam mearn benigne interpreta- beris, quae non solum ex Synopsi Quadrupedum TUA hinc inde in litteris meis allegata, oritur, verum etiam ex Rivini Lipsiensis aliorumque exemplo, qui tuo consilio operaque feliciter usi sunt. Quare spe sustentor optima, fore, ut eandem mihi gratiam praestes, et epistolam meam Medicorumque Apologiam inter se et cum fragmentis ossium additis conferas ; quorum bina ex dentibus maxi- mis prtTSminentibus sumta tubulos striasque manifestis- time praebent conspiciendas ; tertium ex cranio cum alias ob causas, tarn propterea notabile est, quod continet particulas margse crassiores ex fluore remanentes et sub- stantiam ossis in lapidem convertentes, eo modo, quern docuit Bootig in epistola mea laudatus. Hue ergo tendit votorum meorum, summa, ut vel tuo solum, vel illustris- simas etiam Societatis nomine de tota controversial liber- rime sententiam feras, et quamprimum licuerit, ad me transcribas, cum debito vobis elogio libello meo inseren- dam, quern Medicorum simul Italorum, Gallorum et Ger- manorum judiciis exornabo. Denique si vivit adhuc Moulinus, anatomic elephantinaB auctor, nihil gratum magis acceptumque mihi foret, quam ut illi quoque omnia, quae mitto exhibeantur, eum potissimuin in finem, ut se defendat ab tyKX?V aT ' adversariorum meorum, quasi per- peram bestia3 applicuerit terininos anatomicos soli homini proprios. Sed is indubie habet fundamenta, quae cen- soribus illis opponat. Vale et certus esto me nihil praeter- missurum officiorum tibi praestandorum, quod in mea quidem potestate situm est. Vale iterum Francofurti ad Mcenum, Cal. Maii CIOIOCIIC. NOTE. Tentzelius's account of those subterraneous bones is in ' Philos. Transact.' No 234. W. D[ERHAM]. 324 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, May 12, -97. SIR, I have this week, by carrier, sent back the sec- tions you did me the favour to lend me, which I thought necessary to give you advice of, lest the carrier should be negligent in doing his duty. I am now ready for more, so soon as you shall please to send them. I find them very correct, nor can discover anything that needs amend- ment. The messenger's haste will permit me to add no more, but that I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, July 7th, 97. SIR, I wrote to you last week, which I hope came to your hands. I have received the parcel you sent Friday last, together with the letter of advice, for which I return thanks. One thing I have to acquaint you with in refer- ence to myself, and to beg your advice. In the beginning of May last, if you remember, there was about a week of extraordinary hot weather, which had such influence upon the sores of my legs (which were then almost wholly dried up and healed, that it altered the nature of them, and turned them into a kind of lieppes or tetter, which hath spread very much, and encompassed my legs ; it was and is still attended with an extraordinary heat and itching. I have used, by the advice of our physician at Braintree, a decoction of litharge, of his own preparing, to bathe CORRESPONDENCE OP IIAY. 325 them with to take away the itching ; which doth it for a while, but it returns upon me again ; and have taken flower of brimstone inwardly, and applied an unguent to the soles of my feet, which, though they mitigate and put a little check to the spreading of the herpes, yet do not, as they say, kill and cure it. At first it issued out a thin humour out of the small pimples, but now there is no visible humour, but only a scurf upon the eruptions. But enough of this. I shall only add the tender of my wife's very humble service, and take leave, resting, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. For bis honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloorasbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., July 12, 97. SIR, Your great kindness expressed as well by the speedy return of answer to my last, as in the solicitous- ness and concern in your letter discovered for my health and relief, do exact and indeed naturally excite in me suitable affections of love and gratitude. But I thank God, the case is not so ill with me as my letter might give you just reason to suspect. My herpes, for so I will call them, though they are not quite killed, as the vulgar phrase it, and it may be not without reason, yet are they well qualified, the heat and itching much allayed, though I cannot say the spreading quite stopped. I take inwardly flower of sulphur, half a drachm at once, which keeps my body soluble, and gives me a stool or two. Outwardly, I use a decoction of elecampane, dock-root, and chalk, in whey, twice a day bathing the affected places therewith. I do not constantly take sulphur, but 326 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. intermit once in two days and sometimes more. Mer- cury I dare not be bold with. I have formerly taken mercurius dulcis inwardly liora somni. After taking it I slept about two hours and then waked, sleeping no more all night ; in the morning it began to purge me, and so continued for the most part of the day. And, lest I should take non causam pro causa, I reiterated the expe- ment three times, with the best prepared mercury, and always with the like effect. The emplastrum de ranis I also applied, with no better success. For two years after I had good reason to think that the mercury was not quite out of my body, and yet found no effect of drying or healing my sores. I am now come to a suspicion that these tumours are owing to insects making their burrows under the cuticula ; their juice mingling with the serum of the blood causes an ebullition, and excites the tumours, pustules, inflammation, and itching. But this I propose only as a conjecture, though I could bring probable argu- ments to confirm it. Your advice about letting blood I approve of, and had it been given earlier in the year I should have taken it. My blood is hot, and adust when I have been let blood, which hath not been often ; it was always of a very dark or blackish colour. I hope the method I am in will in time quite cure me, though I do not much delight in sulphur, nor indeed any strong medicine. You would not think what effects opium hath more than once had upon me ; instead of pacifying and stopping the ebullition or orgasmus of the blood, or giving rest, hath put it into such a rage and so inflamed me, that I got not well of a month after, whereas before I had little fever upon me. But I will tell you my reverie in relation to sulphur. You know the fume of it inflamed kills all manner of insects of a sudden, though they be not near the flame, or at all scorched with it. You know what a twinge it gives a man that holds his nose near the fume of it. Now I fancy that, taken into the blood, it may be heated to that degree as to emit a fume sufficient to kill or destroy CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 327 the insects lodged in the tumours. But enough of this. My wife and girls are very much yours, and so is, Sir, Your affectionate friend and most humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. -^ Black Notley, July 15, 97. SIR, I gave you no advice of the receipt of your Graminifolious tribe, because I had written word thereof to Mr. Smith, and presumed he would acquaint you therewith. I now remit it to you, attended with my hearty thanks, and pray the loan of the next section. I thought it not necessary to direct to Mr. Smith, but have done it immediately to yourself, and hope it will safely come to your hands, having bidden the messenger to lay a strict charge upon the carrier to take great care of it. I am not yet fully satisfied with your change of opinion concerning the Milium indicum arundinaceum, &c., that it is different from the Sorgum or Melica of the Italians. For not only Caspar Bauhine's description of the Sorgum agrees with yours of the Milium indicum, but to the best of my memory the plant itself, which I saw cultivated in Italy, answers your description. But it is a great while ago since I saw the plant, and have no dried specimens of it, and so may be mistaken. I did indeed take Fru- mentum indicum quod Milium indicum vacant, C. B., to be a species distinct from sorgum ; but we have no clear knowledge of that. Hermans makes his Milium indicum arundinaceo caule, &c. to be a distinct plant from Sorgum, and one would think could not be therein mistaken, having, as I presume from his inserting both in his Cata- logue, cultivated both in his physic garden. If you have 328 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. seen Sorgum cultivated, or have specimens of it, I must yield to you. Your two genera of Gramen dactylon and new genus of Juncus cyperoides I do very much approve, as well observed by you. My wife salutes you with the tender of her very humble service, and I am, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN R,AY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HAKS SLOANE. B. N., July 19, 97. SIR, These are to acquaint you that I intend next Wednesday to send back your Stamineous tribe. I had within a little finished it last week. Wednesday a young German doctor gave me a visit, known to you better than myself, for he told me he had been with and received several things of you. He draws insects, as far as I am able to judge, exceeding well. He stayed at Braintree two days, which time he spent in drawing several Papi- lios and Plialcena, some of Mr. Dale's and some of mine. He hath seen and delineated all the Papilios of England known to me, about forty species, and assures that the most of them are common to Germany with us, and that Sibylla Myrion to his knowledge hath drawn none of them but what we also have. He seems to be very inge- nious and communicative, and, were I but ready with my History of English Insects, might be of great use. But alas ! I have not gone through one tribe, that of butter- flies nocturnal and diurnal ; nor, should I live ten years longer, were I like to come to any near prospect of the end of it, should I pursue it with that diligence and applica- tion I have done now these seven years. What then shall CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 329 T say of the other tribes of Scarabai and flies, which are as numerous as they. You would not imagine how much time it takes one to search out and to feed them, I mean the Erucce. My legs continue much in the same state they were, the ulcuscula almost healed, but the tetter rather spreads. I have not as yet made use of mercury, which, if other medicines fail, I shah 1 make trial of, but outwardly. My wife gives you her very humble service. I am, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. For his"Wuoured frieiid, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., Aug. 3, 1697. SIR, I have this morning sent back by carrier the tribe of plants with a monopetalous flower, which I last received, and which I hope will come safe to your hands, and it may be before this letter. I find nothing in it as to the matter that needs correction so far as my skill extends, but am wholly your scholar as to exotics which I never saw. Some few things I meet with in the lan- guage and expression which I do not clearly understand, which yet I suppose is to be attributed to my slowness of apprehension and incapacity, which therefore I thought it not worth while to note. My herpes continue in statu quo, neither sensibly mending nor impairing. I could wish I had some safe and effectual medicine to kill, as our people hereabout not improperly term it, or, if you please, cure, these tetters before winter. Mercury I should venture upon using, but that I find it takes away my rest. Last week I anointed the soles of my feet with an un- guent, prepared by our physician Mr. Ah 1 en, in which I 330 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. suspect there was something of mercury, though he told me not so, for upon using of it, after about two hours rest, I waked and could sleep no more all night ; in the morning it gave me a stool, and caused a motion in my belly all day. I shall take leave when I have told you that my wife salutes you with the tender of her humble services, and that I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Sept. 10, 97. SIR, I received your letter of Sept. 2d, and, in ex- pectation of the papers you therein signified you intended to send me, I dispatched a messenger to Braintree to inquire at the carrier's if they had not a parcel for me, but they all told him they had none, whereupon I thought fit to give you advice thereof, both for mine and your own satisfaction, that if they were sent and be in the carrier's hands I may make more diligent search after them. If so, I fear not much the loss of them, having never as yet had anything lost that was delivered to any of them ; if not, I may be put out of all trouble and disquiet about them by a h'ne or two from you. I am, sir, Your much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 331 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., Oct. 29, 97. SIR, I have this morning by carrier remitted the two tribes of Jamaica plants you last sent. Mr. Smith in his letter to me made no mention of his detaining them. He sent me together with them a book in folio of the description and figures of the more rare plants of the physic garden of Amsterdam, which I suppose you have by this time perused. Some plants I there find discovered also and described by you. I hope now you will hasten the ediftOn of your Natural History of Jamaica, &c., that it may be published before my Supplement be finished, which then may neither defraud you of the honour of the first publication, nor hinder but rather advantage the sale of the book. So with the tender of my wife's humble service, I take leave and rest, Sir, Your obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., Oct. 13, 97. SIR, I have this morning, by carrier, remitted the three tribes you were pleased to send me a fortnight since, and am now ready for more. In the ' Horti Med. Amst. rar. Descriptio et Icones,' lately sent me by Mr. Smith, I find some plants of your observation, and others besides there may be which I have not taken notice of. I am informed by Dr. Robinson that Dr. Woodward hath lately affronted and abused you before the R. S. I wonder 332 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. what occasion he could find for so doing. By all I hear of him, he is a rude and insolent fellow. My wife salutes you with the tender of her humble service. I am, Sir, Your very affectionate and obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I have this morning returned you by carrier the three tribes you last sent, and give you many thanks for the use of them, as also for your kind and friendly letter. Mr. Harris's book I gat not till yesterday. I have hastily perused it, and find it to be a scurrilous piece, wherein the author hath discovered a great deal of pride, scornful- ness, and ill-nature; besides his rashness, inconside- rateness, and maliciousness in injuriously attributing to Dr. Robinson pieces of which he was so far from being the author, that he knew not who was. As for his treat- ing me, though it be not very civil, yet it is not so vilely rude and contemptuous as might have been expected from a person of whom you have given so just a character. And now, sir, since you command me to find faults in your writings, and I have nothing to carp at but gram- matical niceties, and because I see Mr. Harris hath exer- cised his pedantic critics upon that subject, give me leave to acquaint you with one orparorarnata, or perchance only typographical errata of that nature. ' Cat. Jamaic.' p. 1 b', 1. 9 ; " Ex insula Jamaica adduxit," &c., for brought. This, I remember, was many years ago derided by Mr. Hobbes for improper. But the Oxford Professors, in whose writings he found "adduxit secum malleum," which he interpreted, lead with him a hammer, and upbraided CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 333 them with, spent two or three pages in justifying it by rrallel examples brought out of good authors. P. 18, 6 ; after " communicata" there seems to want " erat," or else it must be " communicabatur." P. 120,1. 1 ; " innascere" seems to be put for " innasci." I told you formerly that some passages or clauses I did not well understand ; but I noted them not, because they were not very material. Your work I cannot but highly ap- prove of, and do account it the greatest ornament, and, indeed, most valuable part of my Supplement, and you shall not fail of having right done you in the publication of it. The inclosed be pleased to despatch away to Dr. Prestori>who ordered me to recommend it to your care. My wife salutes you with the tender of her humble service, and I am, Sir, Your much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, December 7, 97. SIR, It is now a fortnight since I sent you the two last tribes I received, viz. the last of herbs, and first of trees, which I hope are come safe to your hands. I was in hopes you would have sent me some more, though it be no great matter as yet, for the weather hath for some time been, and continues still to be, so sharp, that it hath cast me into a diarrhoea, and rendered me very listless to prosecute any studies. It is a distemper that usually attends me in very cold weather, proceeding, I guess, from the relaxation" of the tonus of the bowels. I was wont to cure myself with a Naples biscuit, boiled in milk, a safe and pleasant medicine ; but this year it hath not its usual effect upon me. I hope your lady is perfectly 334 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. recovered and in health, which I mention, because I am not without some fear that her illness may be some occa- sion of your deferring to send me a further part of your history. Now, sir, since you are pleased to take so kindly my advising you of some oversights or typographical errata in your Catalogue, I shall add two or three more ; though in the mean time I must and do acknowledge that I meet with very few books so well correct as that ; I am sure there are none of mine but have twice as many errors, partly owing to mine own ignorance or oversight ; for through inadvertency I do often commit mistakes in things that I know, did I but heed, tanquam ungues digitosque, partly to the compositors at the printing-house. P. 129, 1. 12; for "inrredible" I suppose it to be read " inremediable ;" 1. 27, for "illinita" read "illita," and in the same line, for " pericutietur," {e percutietur." P. 138, lines 31, 33, and 35 ; for " Zanthoxylon" read " Xanthoxylon." Though here you do but copy your author, and the mistake be his ; yet you might be so kind to him as to correct it, and lest the reader, being ignorant thereof, may attribute it to you. But enough at pre- sent. My wife salutes you with the tender of her humble service, and I am, Sir, Your affectionate friend and obliged servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. EAT to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., November 17, 97. SIR, Your last papers, containing the herbs, with a compound flower and first tribe of trees, being not sent by the carrier formerly employed, I received not till CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 335 yesterday. The weather sets in very sharp sooner than is usual, so that I cannot bear long absence from the fireside, and so cannot proceed so fast as otherwise I might. I am bold to trouble you with the inclosed to Dr. Sherard, because I know not his address. It is to tell him that I do thankfully embrace his kind offer made me to accept. But now that he hath promised to ease me of a great part of the labour by digesting his plants into the method of my history, and communicating his own notes and observations concerning them, I could not be such an enemy to the perfection of my work as to refuse so advantageous an offer, which will give it its utmost compleiftent, and render it as full as it is hitherto capable of being made, wanting but very few species that have hitherto been discovered in or brought into Europe out of the other parts of the world. I am, sir, Your obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Jan. 17, 98. SIR, Last week I sent to Mr. Petiver a small parcel, and therein inclosed a sheet of excerpta, out of Signior Boccone's second book, which I desired him to send to you, which I hope he hath done. I am sensible that the language and writing is rude and slovenly, and therefore beg your excuse for my slothfulness in drawing up and suffering such a paper to go out of my hands, and con- fidence in exposing it to your view. But I suppose you will suppress it, and let it go no further. I remitted to Mr. Petiver Father KameUi's papers of figures and descriptions, some of which, I think, deserve 336 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. to be published in the ' Philosophic Transactions/ viz. De Tugus sen Amomo legitimo; De Contrayerva sen Doso ; De Mananangtang seu Arbore corticis emetici. I have now run over your books, and if you desire or stand in need of them, will send them back ; my only reason for detaining them is, that if Mr. Smith will print my Supplement, I may collect out of them what species are therein wanting, and insert them in the copy, which must be sent back to me. Wife and daughter give you their humble services by the hand of, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley. March 1, 98. SIR, I have received yours of Feb. 29, and do return you many thanks for the care and pains you have taken about my concerns. As to my Supplement, I have written to Mr. Smith to return me a speedy answer either affirma- tive or negative to this question, whether he will undertake the publishing this work this summer, and to begin it this next May or no. According as his answer is, so I shall proceed to act ; whether it may sell or not, I know not. It takes in a great deal. The last six volumes of the ' Hort. Malab.' entire ; all Father Plunder's work ; all Dr. Plukenet's ; Dr. Herman's ' Paradisus Batavus ;' Sig. Boccone's * Museum Plantarum ; ' Commelin's more Rare Plants of the Amsterdam Garden ; besides collections out of many other books, and descriptions of dried plants. But what will most recommend it to the reader, and give CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 337 it greatest advantage of sale, is such a multitude of rare plants not yet described by any, as your ' History of Jamaica' contains. But still it is but a blind work, not illustrated by any figures, and so useless almost to any but great proficients in botanies, and I am sensible that there must needs have crept in a multitude of mistakes, I having seen none almost of the species, and of a great part having only a name or title, with a few epithets. Your collection of Maryland plants I am desirous to add to this work, and at your best leisure and convenience pray you to send them down hither, together with the copy of my Supplement, to which I shall add Herman's ' Parad.^lat.,' and Boccone's ' Museum Rariorum,' which I have already almost transcribed into papers, to lie in their proper places inserted into my Supplement. The Maryland plants I desire your opinion concerning, whether I shall dispose them in the Supplement under heads, or ut them in an alphabet by themselves. I shall make ut poor work with them myself, and therefore hope you have carefully reviewed them, and put down your judg- ment of each. My sores continue still to be very painful and trouble- some, especially in the night. Little hopes of amendment this winter. I am sensible of my obligation to you in being so solicitous concerning my health. I thank God I have a tolerable measure of ease in the daytime, so that I am able to do somewhat, yet scarce ever quite free from pain. Myself and relatives remember you as oft as we taste the effects of your kindness, and that is almost daily. I do not say we drink your health, but we pray for it. I am, sir, Your most affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 22 i; 338 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B.K, April 13, 98. SIR, I received yours of April the 7th by Friday's post, and by carrier the parcel therein mentioned, con- taining two tribes of trees, and Mons. Tournefort's book, which I shall more carefully peruse and consider. The copy of my Supplement being ready for the press, I put it into Mr. Smith's hands, because at his instance I drew it up, and he hath furnished me with books all along for carrying it on. So that it is his, and I am but his journeyman or operator. But yet had I known that there were any so ill-natured persons as to wish ill to you 'and your doings, I should have cautioned him not to show it to anybody but such as I should order him. Indeed I have given him commission to show it none but yourself and Dr. Robinson, with whom I hope you stand right. He is the person to whom I am beholden for my know- ledge of you and acquaintance with you, and hath not long since in his letters to me commended your ' Jamaica Catalogue.' None hath as yet seen or shall see any of your papers, so long as they are in my hands. I have not seen Mr. Dale since the receipt of your letter, but when I do, I shall desire of him a sight of the Medicina curiosa. My wife gives you her very humble service. We all are indifferently well, as I hope yom'self and whole family also are. So I take leave, and rest, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 339 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, April 27, 98. SIR, I have been so interrupted and disturbed lately, that I have not been able to finish the two tribes you last sent me. I presume Mons. Gundeleschmir since his return to London hath acquainted you that he hath been with me. He endeavoured to excuse Mons. Tournefort, and to vindicate him from the imputation of rudeness and incivility in his treating of me in his ' Elem. Botaniq.' wherewith he hath been charged. I can easily pass it by, because he hath treated me no worse than I deserve!**" But truly his method, considering it with all the indifference I can, seems to me faulty and liable to many exceptions ; and as for what he hath written against my ' Dissertation,' it admits in most particulars of an easy answer, as I may afterwards show. I own him to be a skillful herbarist, and had he let me alone I should not have opposed his method, but permitted every one his freedom to embrace and follow what seemed best to him ; only I might have corrected the errors of mine own, as many as I knew of, and set it in as good a light as I could. I hope you will, I do not say take the liberty, but do me the favour to correct whatever you find amiss in my Supplement, and to add, cut off, and alter what- ever you observe to be deficient, redundant, and incon- gruous, or erroneous. I remember I was in some places doubtful about your meaning, and therefore probably might mistake it. My wife presents her humble service to you, and we both many thanks for your intended present of sugar, which we can hardly without violation of modesty receive at your hands. You do bencficia beneficiis cumulare, and even load us with your kindness. I cease to give you further trouble, and rest, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloanc, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 340 CORRESPONDENCE Ol 1 RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, May 13, 98. SIR, Lest you should be doubtful and solicitous about the safe conveyance of your last papers, I thought it necessary to acquaint you that I received them on Sunday last, and should have made some progress in them, had I not been busied in writing an answer to a letter I lately received from Dr. Hotton, professor of physic and botanies in Ley den. Whereas you desire my opinion of your history when I shall have finished the reading of it. I need not defer so long to give you it, for the end I know is answerable to the beginning and middle, and the whole, to speak impartially, without being biassed or influenced by interest or affection, though I cannot truly say with the historian Quorum causas pro- cul habeo ; the whole I think to be an excellent work, and of great use to the ingenious and inquisitive, nay, to those that have but a smattering in botanies, and even to the vulgar themselves ; containing many instructive re- marks and observations concerning the nature and uses of many plants, culinary, medicinal, and mechanical, not to mention others that are chiefly luciferous. But enough of this, and perhaps though true more than your modesty can well bear. In my dealings with Mr. Smith I shall chiefly be governed by yours and Dr. Robinson's advice ; I think I have formerly acquainted you how far I have been obliged by him, and therefore would willingly deal friendly and ingenuously with him, having no reason to the contrary, excepting the deferring the publication of my Synopsis Avium and Piscium, of which the reason he pretends is his distrust of the sale of it. But I am now in some haste, and therefore shall at present take leave, resting, Sir, Your very affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 341 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, June 1, 98. SIR, I have this day returned the last three sections of your work, for the use whereof, as of all the rest, I render you many thanks. I told you in my last what an opinion I had and .... of it, acknowledging it to be the greatest treasure and ornament of my Supplement, and which will chiefly recommend it to the curious and learned^jeader. I have not now time to write what I can truly say in commendation of it without flattery . . . though perhaps not without suspicion of it. The mes- senger [is] waiting for my letter. My wife hath lately been very [ill], but is now, I thank God, much better. One of my daughters, twin-sister to her that died, is inclining to the same disease, that is the jaundice, for whom 1 need not pray your advice, because I had it formerly for her sister, though too late. I take leave, and rest, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his honse at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., June 28, 98. SIR, Looking over some papers, I found among them two leaves of your Jamaica History, which were scattered out and mislaid, which I have sent you herein inclosed. 342 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. Your last three tribes I returned, and hope they are come safe to your hands, though you have not been pleased to give me advice of it. I wonder that I have not of a long time heard anything of or from Dr. Preston. I have some papers of dried plants of his in my hands, which I would willingly remit, if I had but order from him whither I should send them. My other twin-daughter, as I think I hinted to you before, hath been very ill of the same disease of which her sister died. I thank God she is now in a hopeful way of recovery, though not out of all danger. We have plied her with chalybeate medicines, judging her disease to be complicated of the jaundice and chlo- rosis. My wife tenders her very humble service to you ; and I am no less, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, My Supplement to the Dendrology, being in a manner wholly yours, I have this morning sent you up by carrier, and been bold also to put the charge of car- riage upon you, for the better security of conveyance. I entreat your pains in correcting what is erroneous or mis- taken in supplying what is wanting, in altering and amending what is obscurely delivered, or not well ex- pressed, and whatever other faults of any kind you shall find therein. I am at present in evil case, the sores upon my legs spreading and increasing, and growing very deep many CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 343 of them, and running extremely, being also so painful that they do very much hinder my rest ; and sometimes the heat and itching is so violent, that they force me to quit my bed. I have not as yet hit upon anything which affords me relief. I do now take these sores to be ill- conditioned herpeses, and to proceed from invisible insects nestling in the cutis, and these making cuniculi, and spreading from place to place ; for about the sores are many red but flat-headed tumours or spots, some greater, some less, which may be the nests of these insects (like ant-hills), they seeming to be gregarious ; but all this is only conjectural. My igwl, I thank God, is perfectly recovered of the jaundice, and hath been for some time. I know not but that I might acquaint you therewith in my last. For some time (about three weeks) before she was perfectly clear of the disease there fell an humour into her legs and feet, which swelled them, and made her so lame, especially in the afternoon and at night, that she was not able to walk. These tumours were taken down and dis- cussed by a poultice of oatmeal, upon which a little barrow -hog's grease was spread, and that in two or three times using, which was advised by a gentleman who came to visit us accidentally. But enough of these impertinencies ; the remainder is, my wife's very humble service to you, and that I am, Sir, Your affectionate friend, and humble servant, JOHN RAY. B. N., August 10, 98. 344 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, August 19, 98. SIR, I am much, obliged to you for your condolence with me, for truly I am but in evil case, partly with itching, and partly with smarting, which are most grievous in the night, keeping me waking very often many hours together. One while I took these eruptions to have been pernios, but now am returned to my first opinion, that they are herpeses, but mali moris, and suspect that they may be occasioned by nests of insects harbouring under the cuticula, and making cunicult, and so spreading from place to place ; for round every sore there are small red tumusculi, flat, and bigger near the sore, which I conjec- ture to be the nests or swarms of those insects. The news of the sickness of that sweet lady, the only daughter of my ever honoured friend, Mr. Fr. Willughby, would have been very sad and bitter to me had it terminated in death ; but since, through the Divine blessing upon your endeavours, she is recovered of it, the more dangerous her condition was, the greater subject of joy and eucharist it is to me. Your botanic books, if you please to afford me a sight of them, if I be in case, I shall gladly peruse and make some excerpt out of them. Dr. Hobbs's ointment you mention, I fancy would be the most likely thing in the world to afford relief in my case, but I am not able to bear mercury : it will by no means agree with my temper, however taken or applied. I am so drowsy that I can scarce hold my pen, or know what I write, and therefore it is time to take leave. I am, sir, Yours in all service, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the comer of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 345 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, October 26, 98. SIR, I want words to express the sense I have of your extraordinary and unmerited kindness, in making us so many noble and rich presents. Sincere gratitude, and a ready owning and professing my obligations to you, is all the amends you are to expect from a person in so mean circumstances, not for want of will, but ability, to requite. My wife is very much taken with the quality, as weH^as quantity, of your largess, the fineness and fatness of the sugar. She returns you her very humble service and thanks, and so do my girls. The sores upon my legs continue still very painful and troublesome, with little intermission, night and day. I have not yet made use of your advice ; indeed I thought it not safe to do so without first cutting issues to carry off the humour ; and I desire your opinion whether you think it safe or advisable to dry up the sores without making some provision to drain the blood of the humour that used to be evacuated that way. Dr. Preston's dried plants I shall take care to send up whithersoever he shall direct, so soon as I shall receive orders from him. I should be glad of any of his observations relating to the method of plants, in which he is very knowing and curious. I should be glad to see Monsieur Tournefort's Latin edition of his ' Botanic Elements,' which I cannot but wonder he defers thus long. I hear of several new botanic pieces come over, viz. of Paul Herman, Signor Boccone, &c, I have lately received a letter from Father Camelli, a Jesuit, living at Manilla, in the Philippine Islands, with some draughts and descriptions of plants growing there, of which, I suppose, Mr. Petiver hath given you an account. 346 * . CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. I cannot take leave without telling you that I dare not own anything of worth in myself meriting respect from any man, -but the less I deserve it, the more I am obliged to them that : give it, but especially you, sir, who must needs see'through me, and discern how mean my skill is in 'anything, and must therefore therein be partial to, Sir, Your most affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. BAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, November 2, 98. SIR, I thank you for your last kind letter, wherein you so frankly offer me the sight and perusal of Dr. Herman's 'Paradisus Batavus,' and Signor Boccone's late pieces, which I do gratefully accept, and desire you would do me the favour to send me them so soon as conveniently you can. I shall be careful to return them again so soon as I have done with them, and that shall not be long. Since my last to you, I have been sadly afflicted with a diarrhoea, which I hope is for the present stopped. I have, according to your direction, made use of diascor- dium, which hath several times given me relief; but my small stock being spent, sending to our shops they sent me pitiful slop, which had neither the colour, consistency, taste, nor, I believe, virtues of diascordium ; so I made use of conserve of roses inwardly, and outwardly applied, as hot as I could endure them, little cakes made of pow- dered chalk with the white of an egg, to my belly, circa umbilici repionem, drinking burnt claret, which I think CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. . 347 stop the lash, though I may possibly mistake' non causum pro causa. The sores upon my legs are at present very painful and troublesome. Now that the weather is come to be open, I intend to have issues cut, which I hope will deliver me from this misery I labour under, else vita minime vitalis esset. My wife and daughter tender their, humble services by the hand of, Sir, Your most affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towa.rds Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, November 36, 98. SIR, Last week I received the parcel of books you were pleased to send me, together with a pot of diascor- dium, for both which I return you thanks. As for the latter, I know not how to excuse myself from the imputa- tion of impudence in writing so as you might interpret it a begging ; yet you should not so far have complied with me as to have put yourself to the charge and trouble of sending me a pot, but rather have governed yourself by that proverb, " A bold beggar must have a bold nay- say." By Dr. Herman's 'Paradisus Batavus' I have learned several things which may be of use to me, both in my ' Supplement' and ' Methodus Plantaram.' I doubt not but Mr. Petiver hath long since acquainted you that Father Camelli, a Jesuit, in Manilla, hath sent me some designs and descriptions of plants growing in the Philippine Islands, together with a letter, wherein he writes that he hath in like manner designed and described above 300. He seems to be well skilled in botanies. He is a German by nation, native of Brin, in 348 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Moravia. His papers must be sent back again with mine and the Society's opinion of them, and exceptions against them. Mr. Petiver is of opinion that it would be well done, if the Society approve it, to print them in the ' Philosophical Transactions/ because possibly they may else be lost, which I refer to you and them. I have an issue cut on each leg, which now begin to run, but yet afford me no relief, my sores being as painful and troublesome as ever. The weather falls out so vehemently cold, that I dare not as yet go about to dry them up. I am but uneasy at this instant, and therefore take leave, resting, Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. I should have desired your opinion concerning Dr. Colbatch's hypothesis. I have read his books, and must confess that I am inclinable to it, though it be directly contrary to the received. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., December 14, -98. SIR, I have hastily scribbled something concerning Dr. Herman's ' Paradisus,' which, if it may serve your turn, I have my end ; if not, there is not much time lost. In your last you did not give me your opinion concerning Dr. Colbatch's hypothesis, nor touch anything concerning Father Camelli's figures and descriptions of Amomum contrayeron and other plants, I am still full of pain and CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 349 trouble, my issues giving me no relief. The lapis medi- camentosus is too sharp for me. Myself and mine are, Sir, Very much yours, JOHN RAY. Paradisus Batavus, continens plus Centum Plantes, &c. The learned and much celebrated herbarist, Dr. Paul Herman, author of this work, whose name alone is sufficient to recommend it to the ingenious reader, designed therein to give us the history of such rare and nondescript plants, as well European as Indian, as were cultivated either in public physic-gardens, or those of private curious persons, in and about Holland, as we see now accordingly performed. Of some of these he pre- sents us with both descriptions and figures ; of others with descriptions only; and of others which had been before described, but not delineated, with figures, refer- ring us for their descriptions to their first authors. Of the first kind, this work contains more than 100 species, digested in an alphabetical order. The author intended a second and third century, for which he had prepared materials, having caused many more plants to be drawn by hand, which are not as yet engraven, a catalogue whereof the editor hath added to the end of the book, which it were to be desired some public-spirited persons or societies would be at the charge of cutting in brass, that so great a treasure be not wholly suppressed and lost. All that I shall or need say of this piece is, that the descriptions are very accurate, and sufficient alone to lead us into a certain and unerring knowledge of the plants described, and withal concise, and not encumbered with superfluous and unnecessary stuff, which obscures rather than illustrates ; and that the icones are answer- able to the descriptions, not needing their assistance to give us a certain idea of the species they represent ; to 350 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. which I may add, that they are so exactly delineated, and curiously engraven, that for their elegancy alone they may invite the curious in sculpture to purchase the book. But, besides the subject of the work, that is, the descriptions of the more rare plants therein contained, the author gives us some remarkable observations by the by, as p. 19, &c. An exact division of mallows, or mal- vaceous plants, which he distinguishes into two kinds. 1. Such as bear naked seeds. 2. Such as bear seeds inclosed in cases or vessels. To this last kind he appro- priates the name of Althcea, referring the common Althaa of the shops to Malva strictly so called. I think it had been more proper, to avoid confusion and mistake, to have left in quiet possession of the name Althcea the plant on which it was imposed by the ancients, by which that plant is denoted in ah 1 the writings of herbarists and physicians, ancient and modern, and imposed a new name on the Indian Mallow \Hibiscus, Linn.], as M. Tournefort hath done, viz. Ketmia. Such as bear naked seeds he divides into Malvce, in specie so called, and Alcea. The notes of Malva he constitutes many naked semilunary seeds, disposed in the form of a rundle or placenta, a double calyx divided into eight segments, or more, as it were into so many leaves. Flowers made up of five leaves or petala joined at the bottom, and a style in the middle, furnished with many apices ; or, instead of such style, made up of many leaves. Simple leaves, alternately situate, either roundish or oblong, either entire and undivided, or divided, but not deeply. Those called by the name of Alcea are, he saith, of two kinds. Those of the first kind agree in their principal parts with Mallows [Malva], only their stalks and leaves are somewhat more rough, and these divided into narrower and deeper lacineae, or jags. Their flowers have no petala in the middle, but a style with many apices, proceeding sometimes singly, sometimes many together, out of the bosoms of the leaves. Those of the latter kind have naked triangular seeds, five for the most part, rarely more or fewer, close joined together CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 351 into a head, either of a smooth surface, or echinated after the manner of Xanthium. Their calyces are divided into five segments, their flowers like those of the precedent kind, but less ; their leaves either entire, only nicked in the edges, resembling the leaves of horn- beam, elm, or mulberry, or divided less or more deeply into lobes. Those of the second kind, or Indian Mallows, which he calls by the name of Althe. Chizzel, wheat-bran. To Clutter, make a noise, talk fast and loud. A Clawt, a tattered cloth, or rag. Gleam' d, daubed on as with a trowel. Clem'd, or Clam'd, pined, hungered. Clinch, or clunch-fisted, covetous. I'th' Clout, drunk. A Clughe, a valley between two steep hills. Clumps, bungling. Clukes, clutches. Clots, clods, var. dial. A Clumpst fellow, i. e. plain-dealing, that speaks at the mouth, Prov. A Clunter, an unnimble stumbler. Coup, fight. Cobby, saucy. Coits, Coats, var. dial. Thou'rt a lad i' coits, spoken to men ludicrously. Coddy, joined with little, to diminish, as a little coddy lamb, bird, fly is exceeding little, perhaps but a var. dial, for conny. Cokend, choked. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 421 Com, came, S. com, Matt. ii. 21. To Con, i. e. ply a lesson as schoolboys. A Coppin of yarn. A dottrel, a piece of iron with a hole in to fasten. A Cragg, a stony, rocky bank, &c. A Dish Cratch, same with the cradle. Crawse, jolly, brisk. To Creak as a door. Cree'd Wheat, hulled arid boiled. To Crinkle, to crouch, to yield sneakingly. Cowks, or cinders, coals burnt in common fire, not charred. To Laker, to work for hire after the common day's work is over, at 2e, nocumentum, as the scath came in at his own fence, Prov. A Skeel, a kit or milking-pail. Skeller'd, warped Yorkshire as well as Derbyshire. Sheer the esse, tide esse. Skanskback, easily knowable, having some special mark. To Skimmer, shine, look bright. A SlamtrasJi, a slovenly dirty person. To Slap one, i. e. beat, a sono verbonun, vox ovoparoir. To Slart, to plash with dirt. To Slap out the tongue. To Sleat a dog. Slim, sometimes signifies crafty, knavish, a slim customer. To Slive, to clear, to rive. A Slivinff, a lazy fellow. To Slot the door, to bolt it when shut. A Slough, a watery hoggish place, item, the cast skin of a snake. A Slush, wasteful. To Slush through work, to do much, but slimly, carelessly. A Smithy, a smith's shop. To Smoar, to smother, per contrac. To Snaffle, to speak through the nose. A Snaffle-bridle or Bit, snape bit. A Snap, & lad or servant, now mostly used ludicrously, a S. Suapa, pucr, Matt. viii. 13. To Snaffle, to linger, delay, magno conatu nihil agere. To Snavle, snivel, speak through the nose. Snever, slender, smooth. To Sniff, to draw the wind smartly up the nose. A Snicket, one that pincheth all to nought. To Suite, is to blow the nose ; to wipe, is to dry it. A Sod, a turf, is thin and round, or oval, taken from the surface of the earth ; a sod thick and square, or oblong mostly. Soncy, cunning. To Sonter, to loiter, a santering or sonlriny body, one that squanders the time in going idly about. To Sosse, proper to dogs. To Souse or Sawse on the ears, i. e. box. Snuffers for the nose, or nostrils. A Spaniel. Qu. If not the S. name for N. Langholds, we have in these parts no other name but Cow-ty. To Sparkle away, disperse, spend, waste. To Specr, inquire the road, a S. Spynian, scrutari. A Spclk, a wooden splinter tied on, to keep a broken bone from bending or unsctting jigain. 428 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Spick and span new, that has never been worn. To be Spurr'd, is to have the banns of marriage asked. To Squat down, to cower down suddenly. A Stawk, i. e. stalk of plants. Stark, stiff., weary ; also covetous. Staupings, winter steps, the holes made by the feet of horses and cattle in miry highways and other places. Stovers, hedge-stavers, i. e. stakes. Stav'd, stawv'd, as a hedge that is cut. To Steim, to bespeak a thing. Stevon, a strong-sounding voice, a S. Srerin. A Stiddy, an anvil. A Stiffh, a ladder. Storcks Bill, to storken, proper to fat growing cold, and so hard. Stowd, cropped as horses' ears. Stradling, strutting and striding. Strea, straw. ToStreik, stretch out the limbs. A Stroak of corn with us is but half a bushel, or two pecks. A Stroom, Strawm, the instrument to keep the malt in the vat, that it run not out with the liquor. Strunted, cut off short. A Swaithe, the row of grass cut down with the scythe. Laid o' th' swaithe bank, is spread abroad. Swamous, modest. A Swamp, a boggy bottom, a soft rushy piece. A Swatch, a shred of cloth. To Sweat, as a candle with the wind. A Swine-coat, hog's-stye, a S. Cote, domuncula. To Swinge, scourge, a S. Spinsan, to thresh. To Switch a hedge, i. e. to cut off the outlying boughs. To Swither, to singe. Taplash, small beer, or thin drink. A Tarrant (forte pro tyrant), a crabbed froward fellow. A Tavern, a cellar. To TW-witb. the hand. A water Tawv, a swooning fit. A Teathy body, peevish, crabbed. A Teeming-woman, i. e. child-bearing woman. A Tether, tedder, var. dial. Thor-cake, or hearth-cake. Tharms, pudding-skins. Thaw, thou, var. dial. To Thoyl, afford. To Thraw, to turn wood with a tool. A Threave of straw, a burden of it. A Thwang for a shoe, the latchet, S. $pan3, a thong. To Tifle, to stifle, overset. A Tifted Horse, when broken above the loins. To Tipe over, fall, or overturn. Tiper-down, strong drink, for tiping over. Tipsy, almost drunk, from tipling. Titter and better, sooner. COlffRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 429 To Topple down, fall. Toota well, very well, too too well. A Tooming, wool taken off the cards. Topsy-turvy, upside-down. Trawth, as faith and trawth, S. TneopSe, fides. A Trippet, a quarter of a pound. To Tries A, to run through all the dirt, a sono, 6vop. To keep Tutch, to be as good as the promise. Tuta, too too; thou'rt tuta earnest, clamorous, covetous, importunate, unsatisfiable. Titrlings, coals about a fist's bigness. Twills, quills. Uncoiith, strange, uncommon, unusual, a S. uncofc, unknown. An Urchion, a hedgehog, urchin. Uvver, for upper, or over, var. dial. Fa rsallfjjj^ versal . A Waag, a lever. To Wade the water. Wae'st heart, a condolence to the same purport with Woe's me, woe is the heart, &c. To Waite, to blame. Walker's earth, for scouring cloth. A Waugh-mill, fulling-mill. Waugh, insipid, unsalted, and so unsavoury. The Wawks, or corners of the mustachios. Wamb, womb, var. dial. S. pamb. Wane, decline ; the moon is in the wane. S. panian, minuere. War, stand aside, give way, beware. Warld, i' th' varsafwarld, universal world. Worse, worse, var. dial. To Wax, grow, S. peaxan, crescere. A Wee-bit, a tiny wee-bit, a small piece (a pure Yorkshireism). Weet, i. e. wot, know, I weet full well. Weeting, urine. Weiky, moist. To Ween, think, a S. penan, opinari. Welling, boiling. To Welt, to totter. To Welt or Wolt, overturn cart or wain. Wellaneerina, alas. Wei-nee, well-nigh ; it's wel-nee night, almost. Wesh, or wash, urine. To Whakker, tremble, shake every joint. Whaint, strange, odd, implying naughtiness, whaintwark. A Whamire, a quagmire, var. dial. Whawm, Whelm, overwhelm, is whawmed over. A Whein, a quean. A Wheel-pit, whirlpool. Wheemly, neatly. Whak't, for quaked, whence. Whakers, for quakers, le trembleur*. 430 CORRESPONDENCE OF ftAY. WTiart, quart ; meit m' a whart o' ooyl, i. e. measure me a quart of oil. Whilk, which, S. philc. Whilkin, whether. White, for quit ; it will not white cost. To White, to cut sticks with a knife, and make them white. Whiskin or Whisking, adjectively is great, applied to almost anything, as floods, fire, winds. Whisking\s> also switching; there will be whisking for't, also beating, swing- ing, whipping. Whreak, to speak ingutture, and whiningly. A Why, an heifer. Wight, swift. Wind-raw, grass or hay raked into long rows for drying. Wine-berries, not grapes, but gooseberries, pin-bejiian, Matt. vii. 16. A Wither, strong fellow. A Wogh, any partition, whether of boards or mud-walls, or laths and lime ; as a boardshed-wogh, studded wogh. A Woggin, a narrow passage between two houses. To Walter (as welter). Wormstall, shelter for cattle in hot weather. Wote, know. To Tall, and to Yawl, or Yowl ; the latter appropriated to dogs, the former to bawlers. In yall the a sounds as in that, in yawl as in the rustic caw for cow. A Yawd, a horse. Yeast, barm. To Yeather, to beat with a long hazel, thorn, &c. Yeeke, itch. Yield, i. e. reward. The Yeender, or Earnder, the forenoon, Halifax, in Yorkshire. Yew, you, var. dial. S. jep. Yews, for ewes. Yooyle, yule, de Yule, vide Mareschalii Observ. in Version. Anglo-Sax. Evang.' p. 520. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, July 27, 1703. SIR, It is now a good while since that I acquainted you that some friends advised me, in order to the compiling a History of Insects, to describe such exotic species as were to be found in the cabinets of the curious in and about London or elsewhere, if I could procure the sight and use of them; whereupon you very freely and generously offered me the use of your collection, which far transcends CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 431 all the rest, and wherein there are not many species wanting that are in other men's hands, especially of such as are for their rarity or beauty most valuable. Your kind offer I was not then very forward to accept, because 1 thought it very difficult, if possible, to send and remit them without prejudice. But since I have been so ill and indisposed with frequent diarrhoeas and the pain of my sores, that I have had little will or ability to mind any- thing else, and therefore begin to think I must lay aside all thoughts of such a history. But because I do not remember that I gave you a full account of my design, I shall do it now. I did not in- tend fcwvrite an universal History of Insects, but only of such British ones as have or should come to my know- ledge, which I do believe would scarce amount to a third part of such as are natives of these islands ; and such exotics only as are to be found in the hands of the virtuosi about London, especially yourself. But these separately ; first, the British by themselves in each tribe, and then the exotics after them by themselves. I intended to begin with the Papilionaceous tribe, not because they are the first in order of nature, but because I have taken most pains in searching them out, and have described most species of them. Of these, the diurnal ones are not very numerous, I having not observed above forty-five sorts of them. But of the nocturnal, should I live twenty years longer, 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. But these I shall so methodise that it shall not be difficult for any man to find any Phalaena he shall discover in the method, if it be there described, or else to know that it is a new one, and not described by me ; but enough of this, it not being like to take effect. Now, sir, let me ask (for I hear you have had him under cure) what you think of Sir Thomas Willughby, whether he be likely to recover a perfect state of health again. I cannot but be much troubled and concerned 432 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. for him. I wrote to him about his father's ' History of Insects,' but received no answer from him. I shall give you .no further trouble at present; but with humble thanks for the many favours and kindnesses you have formerly shown me, and the tender of the services of my wife and girls, conclude this prolix letter, resting, Sir, Your most humble servant and orator, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEE ?]. SIR, I wrote to you a while since concerning those additions which you were pleased to give me hopes you would make to my Supplement. Hist. Plant., which I hope came to your hands, and that you are not unmindful of the request I made to you therein, which I now renew ; I have also something else to communicate to you, and desire your assistance in. Some friends would put a new task upon me, that is, of drawing up a History of Insects, which I have some thoughts of doing, though, indeed, I am in ill case to attempt such a thing, labouring under almost constant pain, which renders me unfit for business, being not able to mind anything with attention. If I do undertake it I must desire the use of your exotic insects to describe, and get figured, as also a sight of your English Papilios, both diurnal and nocturnal, or Phalsense. I have seen and described the most part of the English diurnal ones, but I hear you have some new ones out of the west. The Phalaenae are innumerable, and doubtless you have met with abundance not discovered by me. Most of the exotic insects that are come over into England are in your and Dr. Sloane's hands. Dr. Sloane hath very frankly and generously promised me the use of -S CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 43& his, and I hope you will not deny the like of yours,- My design is, first to describe and figure our British insects by themselves, tribe by tribe ; and then to each tribe to add the exotics. I shall not pretend to write a perfect history ; for though I have described above 200 Phalaenae of our own land, yet I doubt whether I have described a third part of the natives thereof. The exotics are ten times more numerous ; but there are but few of them in comparison come over to us, with which I shall content myself. I shall begin with the Papilionaceous tribe, not because I intend that for the first, but because I have taken most pains in it. I shall give you no further trouble at present, resting, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, Aug. 25, 1703. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEK ?]. SIR, You may justly wonder that having so lately written to you I should now give you the trouble of another letter. But I hope you will be satisfied of the reason of my present writing when you shall have read the following lines. I have lately received a letter from Mr. Smith, wherein he tells me that Mr. Motte saith, he fears that he shall stay for the Appendix to the Third Volume of Plants, and that it will not be ready so soon as he shall have printed off all the rest. This will be very unhappy indeed if it should prove so, for the work hath been already retarded too long, &c. It concerns us, as well for our credit as interest, to get it out as soon as possible, so far he. Wherefore I do now again press you with all earnestness to expedite and get ready your additions as soon as may be. I esteem them so very considerable that the work must not want them, though the edition should be 28 434 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. retarded in expectation, which I hope you will take effectual care that it be not. As for the ' History of. Insects/ I am advised by some friends not to engage myself in it. And, indeed the sad pains and infirmities I labour under, threatening the approach of death, incline me to listen to their counsel, though I am not yet resolved what to do. No more at present, but that I am, Sir, Your faithful friend and servant, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, Sept. 1, 1703. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEK?]. SIR, I received yours of Sept. 9th, and am very glad to understand thereby that you are in so hopeful a way of a perfect recovery from so long-continued an indispo- sition. I give you thanks also for your readiness to communicate your exotic insects to be by me described for my intended history of those animalcules, with what you know of them. But truly they are so numerous, and I so crazy and infirm, that I am not resolved whether to attempt such a work or not. But yet to cut short and facilitate it, I intend not to insert more exotics than are to be found in the cabinets of the curious in England, and which I myself shall see and describe, the most of which (as I before told you) are in your and Dr. Sloane's hands, so that I shall not concern myself with those published and to be published by the Lady Marian, as neither with those of Goedartius, Hoefnagell, Hollar, Aldrovand, any further than to take out of them synonyma of our British ones, and such exotics as shall be seen to [be] described by me. I cannot but wonder you should have such a great number of diurnal exotic Papilios; by diurnal ones I understand with you such as have antenna: davata. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 435 And for the English ones you have been more industrious and happy than I in discovering fifty-five species ; whereas all that I could find or procure amount to no more than forty-three ; and yet I think I have all mentioned in your 'Centuries.' Of Phalaenae, or nocturnal ones, I have described above two hundred kinds, found near us, and yet am not near come to an end of those of our neigh- bourhood. I guess those to be found in all England are treble of that sum. But I shall say no more of this subject at present, because I shall not meddle with it till my Supplement be despatched ; only, which I had almost forgot, I must acquaint you with what method I intend to use, anfrthat is Swammerdam's, in his general 'History of Insects/ which seems to me the best of all. It would be long to describe it, and therefore I refer you to the book. Be pleased to respite the sending your insects till I be at leisure to describe them, which will not be till my Supplement be out. Your contributions to my Supplement I wish you would fit for the press yourself, to save me any pains about them ; for, alas, I am so ill and afflicted with pain that I am fit for nothing ; and yet were I never so well, to examine all particulars would be impossible for me, be- cause I want books, and it would take up more time than the undertaker's interest will admit. My parts and memory are much impaired by age and continual pain. Yet should I be glad to see the plants themselves, which you may please to send down as you intended next week. If figures cannot be procured, it were better lay aside all thoughts of writing a history. I shall at present add no more than that I am, Sir, Yours to serve you, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, Sept. 11, 1703. 436 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, November 17, 1703. SIR, I received yours of the 13th November by post, and the next day your rich and noble present of sugar by carrier, for which myself and relatives here return you our very humble service and thanks, which is all the amends we are either at present able, or for the future likely to make you ; yet am I willing and desirous to testify my gratitude by some real effect of it, if at any time it shall lie in my power. 1 shall be very glad to see your China, Indian, and Badminton plants, believing them to be a rare spectacle ; but, alas, I am not conversant enough with exotic plants as to be able to rectify any mistakes about them. I fear they come too late to be inserted in my Supplement. I am so constantly afflicted with pain, that I am able to do little, and can proceed but very slowly in any business I undertake. I have not laid aside all thoughts of the History of Insects, but wait till this Supplement be off hand before I set upon it. Dr. Robinson would have me first to compose and pub- lish a Method of Insects, which I think might be of use, especially if I should happen to die before the History be finished. My booksellers have imposed a new task upon me, that is, to make such alterations and amendments as are necessary or convenient in, and additions to, my three Physico-theological discourses, which they are now about to print the third time. This being all I have to com- municate at present, I take leave, and rest, Sir, Yours in all service, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 437 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, November 24, 1703. SIR, The box of plants, which you did me the favour to send me last week, came safe, for which I return you thanks. I have cursorily overlooked them, and do find that the specimens from Badminton are very fair ones, and curiously dried and preserved. The Chinese and Indian ones want much of that perfection and elegancy the others have. As Insure and freedom from pain will permit, I intend to survey all more diligently, and give you such a poor account as I can of them. I have not been conversant enough among Indian and American plants to be able to judge aright of them. Dried specimens cannot represent all the principal parts, flower, seed-vessel or fruit, and seed ; and I have seen none of late discovery growing in gardens, not having ability to take journeys to visit them. I long till this Supplement be off hand. I am sensible that I am no longer able to do anything laudable in botanies, memory and parts failing me, being much weakened by age and diseases ; but enough of complaints. I take leave, and rest, Sir, Your very humble and much obliged servant and orator, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 438 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Mr. MOTT. B.N., December 1,1703. SIR, I received yours of the 27th, imparting the sad news of the dismal effects of the late tempestuous wind at the City of London. We in the country hereabouts have not fared much better as to our damages, but I have not heard as yet of any person that hath been killed. For mine own part, I have not escaped altogether scot free, but have sustained considerable loss in the tiling and covering of my house and barns, and by the blowing down two trees, a large oak and an apple-tree. In the little roll of copy I sent you there were three parcels, the last of which wanted a title, which I have now subjoined to this letter, and desire you would prefix it to that parcel. I sent a paper containing several observations to be added to my Supplement to Dr. Sherard, who told me he had delivered them to Mr. Mott, who promised to insert them in their proper places ; but I do not find them in the copy. They cost me some pains, and I should be sorry they should be lost. Better be thrust into the Appendix than quite omitted. My wife and girls salute yourself and brother partner with the tender of their respects by the hand of, Sir, Yours to serve you, JOHN RAY. lor Mr. Mott, CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 439 Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVER P]. SIR, I received yours without date on Sunday last by post, and the evening before a parcel inclosing some letters, and the book you mention, which I read over, and found some very good observations and experiments concerning the male seed and generation of plants. You being in haste to have it returned, I shall send it next week if the carrier go, and may then send my papers to Mr. Mott, with punctual directions where to insert the particulars. You do very well to continue correspondence with ^Father Camelli, who is a very industrious and ingenious person ; but I am sore afraid that the wars will interrupt your epistolary commerce. He deserves to be by all means obliged, being made, as I may say, for the advancing of natural knowledge. The dried plants you were pleased to send me I had before now finished the perusal of and sent back, had not the weather fell out so sharp, and my pains so great as in a great measure to disable me ; however, God willing, you shall have them within three weeks at furthest, and then I desire you would send your Chusan plants, for I would fain compare them with those Dr. Sloane sent me, which are without names. The rest of the plants you signify your intention to send me, though I should be glad to see, yet because they will come too late for me to take any notes of to use in this work, you may please to respite the sending of at present ; only I desire you would draw up such an index as you mention of them, that the book may not quite want them. There are some other particulars which I should have returned answer to, but I want time at present, the messenger being in haste. I thank you for your kind expressions of affection, and am, reciprocally, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. Black Notlcy, Dec. 22, 1703. 440 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVER?]. SIR, I received your affectionate and obliging letter, and return you many thanks for your good opinion of rny doings, and so much the more by how much I am sen- sible it is less deserved. Though I dare not suspect for insincere anything I find therein, but do look upon all as the real language of your mind, and true expression of your present sense, yet I should very much contradict my own knowledge should I accept as due the high character you are pleased to bestow upon my mean per- formances, or value myself thereby. Tecum habita et noris quam sit tibi curta supellex, was a good advice of the poet. I may truly say, that if, secluding affection, you would, after just examination, weigh my ' History of Plants ' in the incorrupt balance of impartial judgment, you would find it rather to need pardon than to merit praise, so many defects and errors there might be dis- covered therein. Though I was to blame for undertaking such a task, being conscious of my own inability to per- form it, yet more culpable for not rendering it so correct and perfect as I was capable, by huddling it up in haste, and not bestowing time and pains enough upon it ; in excuse whereof I have no more to plead than I have already alleged in the preface. As for what I have said concerning yourself, I am sure that could not bribe you so far to exceed in my com- mendations, it being no more than you might justly challenge. You may, without the least imputation of pride or self-flattery, think as well of your own abilities as the usual acception of these epithets amounts to ; and this all that know you so well as I do must needs acknow- ledge is no more than the truth will warrant. I hope ere long you will verify what I have written of you, and oblige the ingenious by making public, with the addition of your learned illustrations, that rich treasure, or botanic CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 441 store, which you have with so much pains and cost amassed. You may with more alacrity and satisfaction prosecute such an undertaking, or might indeed have composed a history of plants, whose profession leads you thereto, than I, without the verge of whose calling it lies, and who can scarce find arguments sufficient to satisfy myself, and justify my proceedings. Your, and other of my friends' opinions and arguments do so much weigh and prevail with me, as to induce me to think more favorably of what I have done, and not altogether con- demn my studies. I could do no less than return these few lines in answer to your elaborate letter, to wluch I shall olfly add that I am, Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notlcy, March 5, 1704. SIR, Yours of April 1st I received, whereby I under- stood that the box of plants found not its way to you, at which I was not a little troubled ; whereupon I sent to the carrier's to inquire after it. They told the messenger the box was not at Braintree, but was sent up to London Wednesday before. The carrier laid the fault on his porter, but promised, at his next going up, to take care of it himself, as I hope he will, else he must be account- able for it. I must now, to do Sir Thomas Millington right, acknowledge a mistake of mine in the description of his antiscorbutic receipt, for he did not say that all the ingredients were to be boiled in the wort, but the dock 442 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. roots only. The herbs were to be put in a bag, and hung up in the vessel after the drink was wrought. I have not begun this method yet, the weather falling out so very sharp. My wife and girls give you their most humble services. I am, Sir, Yours entirely, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, May 7, 1704. SIR, Since you were so kind as to desire to know the success of the method of physic I have lately entered upon, I ought to have given you satisfaction before now, and you may justly think me very much to blame that I have not; but when I shall have acquainted you with my condition during this time, I hope you will excuse me. At first I began with a tincture of steel in wine, and the diet-drink prescribed me by Sir Tho. Millington ; after which, within a few days, I took a dose of rhubarb, which, though sufficient for any ordinary man, yet wrought not upon me till the afternoon, nor then to any purpose, but the day after I took it, sufficiently. After a few days more I took another dose of rhubarb, quickened with some grains of scammony, which wrought with me not only the day I took it, but four or five days after, yet moderately and without disturbance. This interrupted CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 443 me in the use of the chalybeate medicine, yet I stuck to my diet-drink ; but observing lately that I was still in a purging condition, so that I was forced several times to rise in the night, and that this purging happened those nights I had taken a draught of my diet-drink at or after supper, I began to suspect, and am now fully persuaded, that this diet-drink is purgative by reason of the dock roots, those that prepared it boiling too many in the wort ; so now I am returned to my chalybeate drink, and have moderated the use of my D. D. Notwithstanding the inteiTupted and irregular use of this method, my smaller sores on my legs and feet are most of them healed and l3*ied, and I have cleared my legs of a great part of the scabs and scurf wherewith they were almost covered ; but yet the pain continues still, and I am as unable to walk as before. Pardon this tedious w(>iavtv\yoia, which yet I should not have troubled you with but in obedience to your command. I am, Sir, Yours in all service, JOHN RAY. My wife and girls give you their very humble services. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEK?]. SIR, The pains I do almost constantly labour under make it somewhat uneasy to me to write, else 1 had not deferred thus long to return you many thanks for the great pains you have taken to enrich my history with such a multitude of rare and nondescript plants from China, India, Africa, and America, as the many friends 444 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. and correspondents you have in all parts have furnished you withal. I cannot but wonder that my booksellers should be so slow and dilatory in publishing this book, the edition whereof one would think it should be their interest to hasten. I have received no sheets of the Appendix since Father Camelli's history. I am now about drawing up a Method of Insects, in order whereto the ' General History ' of Swammerdam, in Latin, would be very useful to me, and save me much pains and time in translating out of the French edition (which only I have) into Latin what I shall borrow out of it. I have written to Mr. Smith more than once to procure me one, but he hath either forgotten or neglected it, so that now I must entreat the loan of yours for a while. I shall carefully return it again so soon as I have done with it. Some of your English insects I have not seen, others I am in doubt of. Mr. Dale will send you an account of them. Such as I have not I desire you would send me to describe ; and so doing you will further oblige him who is already, Sir, Very much yours, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, May 17, 1704. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, June 8, 1704. SIR, Since my last to you, all my hopes of amend- ment and relief by the method of physic I use are CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 445 quashed. After the sores seemed to be in a fair way of healing, and my legs in a good measure cleared of the scabs and scurf that covered them ; I know not upon what occasion, they broke out again, with more and larger ulcers than before, which also ran at a great rate, and continue still so to do, notwithstanding all my physic, so that I do almost despair of any help or remedy. All that I have to do is to endeavour to render them as easy and peaceable as I can. However, I will go on still with my method for some time, till I find by experience that I shall reap little benefit by it. I have drawn up a little method of insects which may take up two sheets. It is very l&me and imperfect, especially in the tribe of muscae. I did intend to have sent it up this day, but I fear it is now too late and the carrier gone. I hear the third volume of my ' History of Plants' is now finished at the press. The ' General History of Insects' I fear I shall be in no case to undertake and carry on, should I live long enough (which I have no reason to hope), my pains are so grievous, and render my life so uneasy and uncom- fortable. My wife and daughters send you their humble services and thanks for the noble presents you have made us. Having nothing further to communicate, I take leave, and rest, Sir, Your very much obliged and affectionate friend and humble servant, Jo. RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloanc, at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 446 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, June 10, 1704. SIR, I received yours of June 8th, and return you thanks for your good advice therein contained. In most particulars I agree with you, as that this winter weather, unseasonable at this time of the year, hath and doth much exasperate the pain of my sores. Also I am [in] accord with you in what you write concerning too much purging in this or any course. But I have a body on which no cathartics which I have hitherto used will work orderly and seasonably, unless the dose be immoderate. I have not been so careful in keeping up my legs and not letting them hang down too much as you rationally advise, and which I was sensible would be best for me for the reasons you allege. Strait-stockings and bandage I have used and do still, but carelessly and to no great effect. The smalls of my legs I cannot bind straight, because they are almost surrounded with ulcers. Your advice about the antiscorbutic juices of scurvy- grass, watercresses, and brooklime, I doubt whether it would be agreeable to me, those juices being, I suspect, too hot for me. Sir Thomas Millington cautioned me against the use of scurvy-grass in my diet drink in sum- mer time, upon that account. I find you have a better opinion of my performances in natural history than they deserve. I have ordered my bookseller to present you with a copy of my Supplement of the larger paper, which I entreat you to accept as a small acknowledgment of your extraordinary kindness and the many obligations you have laid upon me. As for your observations by way of introduction to your ' Natural History of Jamaica,' I should be glad to see them, for my own improvement, not that my appro- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 447 bation is anything valuable. However, I should do nothing more willingly than to serve and gratify you in whatever lies in my power. I and mine are, Sir, Your very much obliged and most humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVER ?]. SIR, I received the parcel you sent by carrier, and soon after your letter by post, for which I return you many thanks. You have herein approved yourself to be a person of great candour, and a public spirit, so freely communicating whatever you have of rare and curious to the promoting of any useful design or undertaking, as I am in hopes this I am now entering upon may be, only T fear that I shall never live to finish it ; indeed at present I am in no good case to begin it. My design is in every tribe to put all our English insects that I can discover or procure that belong to that tribe in the first place by themselves ; then to subjoin all such exotics belonging to that tribe which I can get a sight or certain knowledge of ; the most part of which lie in yours, Ur. Sloane's, arid Mr. Stonestreet's hands. Whether I shall take in all described by Aldrovand, Mouffet, and others, I am in some doubt, and incline to the negative. This history of diurnal papilios I do not intend now to proceed any further in. I published it (if it be published) only as a specimen of the work. I have no catalogue or methodical disposition of the several tribes of insects already drawn up, nor do I intend to draw up any of any tribe till I come in order to that tribe from the beginning of the work, which will be the 448 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. a', when I shall come to those numerous tribes of scarabaei, phalaense, and muscae, then a little of your company will be very acceptable, and expedite and clear all things very much, and save a great deal of writing and sending to and fro, as you say well. The present of my Supplement is rather the payment of a debt than a gift, and therefore there is no thanks due for it. Mr. Dale and myself have diligently compared the specimens you sent of our English papilios, and the explications of them in the Catalogue, with ours, and find that you have several species we want, especially of the blue ones, and we but one or two which you want. I have desired Mr. Dale to give you an account of all, as also of some mentioned in your Catalogue which you have sent no samples of, &c., because much writing is grievous to me in the condition I am in at present, and besides, I have several letters to write. I have written to Mr. Smith to desire him to deliver to you two copies of my Supplement for Father Camelli and Mr. Bulkley, which I hope he will do. Your specimens of the more rare officinal plants are a very curious and lovely spectacle, and divers of them, nay, the most of them such as I had never seen. They shall be carefully remitted to you. This being all that I can think of at present, I rest, ..... offices of love, Black Notley, June 19, 1704. Mr. BAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, August 9, 1704. SIR, These are to acquaint you that I have now begun the ' History of Insects/ which, because it would be but a blind and useless work without cuts, I intend, with your approbation, to publish such a proposition as this. Having by me a competent quantity of materials for a CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 449 History of Insects, collected partly by myself, partly by Francis Willughby, Esq., deceased, expecting also great contributions from my friends skillful in that part of natural history, I intend, God producing niy life and granting me a tolerable measure of ease, to draw up such an history, and have already begun and made some progress in it ; which, because it will not be of half the use if published without figures as it would be if illus- trated therewith, and because the graving of them is a matter of greater charge than I can sustain, I am con- strained to beg the assistance of ingenious gentlemen and wellwillers to this kind of learning in contributing towarekthe charge of the plates the moderate sum of ten shillings, which shall be well husbanded and faithfully expended on the gravers and supervisors of the work. If the sum collected doth not suffice for plates for the whole work, then I must pray a further supply from the contributors, to whom what is finished and wrought off shall be delivered, who thereupon may either cease or contribute further as they shall see cause. If you mislike this proposition, or if you would have [any] thing added or omitted, altered or amended thereto or therein, be pleased to signify to me what you mislike or disapprove. I shall shortly want a sight of your exotic diurnal papilios, for I intend first to describe and figure that tribe ; but I dare scarce desire the sending them down hither, for fear lest they should receive any pre- judice by the way bringing down or carrying up. I continue still very uneasy, by reason of the pain I almost constantly labour under. I may possibly find about two hours in a day to bestow on this History. This is all I have to trouble you with at present. My wife and girls salute you, and give you their humble services, and I am, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. 450 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETITEK ?]. SIR,-^-! had this day sent back your books of figures, but I desired first to have a little conference about them with Mr. Dale, and he was so busy yesterday that he could not come over hither ; next week they shall be sent. I fear you may want them. I find that at least half the papilios therein figured are common to us in England. I have now begun my intended ' History of Insects/ which I shall prosecute as fast as health and ability will permit, but truly I am but seldom so easy as to do much in it. I cannot hope for above two hours in a day to bestow upon it. I intend to publish a proposition for a contribution toward the charge of graving plates for it, a rude draught whereof I have sent up to Dr. Sloane, with whom if you please you may see it. I have now described all the diurnal papilios hitherto observed in England, except two or three of your oculate ones ; which also I shall dispatch so soon as I see Mr. Dale ; and then there will want nothing but icons for them, which you are the fittest person to add, as know- ing where the best figures of such as are already graven and published are to be found ; and for the rest they must be new drawn. I have six of the rarer sorts curiously drawn, and sent me by Dr. Kreig when he was with you at London. I find in Mr. Willughby's collec- tions a diurnal papilio whose eruca is gregarious and feeds upon holly. I have written to Dr. Sloane to desire the use of his exotic diurnal papilios so long till I have described them, which I shall do with what speed I can. I now make the same request to you. J fear they may receive some prejudice by the carriage up and down, but I know not how to help it. Up to London I cannot go. One tiling may be of advantage, that you see what each other send, and so you may avoid the unnecessary sending the same CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 451 species twice. This is all necessary to acquaint you with which occurs to niy thoughts at present. So I bid you heartily farewell, and rest, Sir, Yours to serve you, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, August 9, 1704. Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEB ?]. SIR, 1 should not have troubled you with this letter had it not been to beg your pardon for not being so good as my word in sending back your books. Really, at the time I should have sent them to the carrier's I quite forgot it, my memory being much decayed by age and the sharp and long-continued pains I labour under. Next week I hope I shall remember better. I know not whether I told you that I have quite finished the descriptions of our English diurnal papilios ; there remains nothing now but procuring figures for them. I intend (as I told you) to publish a proposition for contributions for graving of plates. The rude draught I sent to Dr. Sloane is lame, not mentioning in what manner the contributors shall be reimbursed, which I intend to add to this purpose. If the sum advanced upon such a contribution proves insufficient to defray the charge of plates for the whole work, then upon delivery of so many printed sheets at \d. per sheet, and so many plates wrought off at 3d. per plate to each particular contributor as shall reimburse him, I shall pray a further supply of 5*. a person for the finishing of the work. I hope you will not forget to send me your exotic diurnal papilios to describe. They shall be carefully remitted, and I hope without any considerable harm. 452 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Perchance Mr. Stonestreet may have some exotic papilios which both Dr. Sloane and yourself want. I am, Sir, Yours to serve you, JOHN RAT. Black Notley, August 10, 3704. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, It is now high time that I give you thanks for the kind visit you made me here, and those rare insects you were pleased to communicate. 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. The main reason which induces me to undertake it is, because I have Mr. Willughby's History and Papers in my hands, who had spent a great deal of time, and bestowed much pains, upon this subject, when there were few that minded, or were diligent and curious in it, though now there be many, and it is pity his pains should be lost. I know not whether I told you that I designed, in every tribe, first to put our English species by themselves, and then the exotic by themselves. I desire you to afford me your help in carrying on this history, and enrich it with some of your observations, especially about flies, wherein we are most deficient. I hear you have published, in the ' Philosophical Transactions,' a full account, or history, of your new death-watch, but have not yet seen it. I am, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. Black Notley, August 16, 1704. CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 453 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received yours of Aug. 19, and return you many thanks for the pains you have taken in my affair, and the good advice you have given me. Upon second thoughts and further consideration, I think it not so con- venient to deliver sheets printed and plates to the con- tributors so soon as the sum contributed shall be expended, but rather, as you suggest, to deliver to them entire books when the work shall be finished, they paying the surplusage at the rates propounded. My proposition, therefore, (which I submit to your judgment) shall be as followeth : Having already published the Histories of Birds and Fishes, and a Synopsis of Quadrupeds, there remains only that of Insects to complete the History of Animals ; for the furnishing of which, having by me a competent quantity of materials, collected partly by myself, and partly by Francis Willughby, Esq., deceased, and expect- ing large communications from my friends skillful in this piece of natural knowledge, I am resolved (God producing my life, and granting a tolerable measure of health and remission of pain) to draw up a History of Insects, and have already begun and made some progress in it. But because such a work published without figures would not be half so useful as if illustrated therewith, I intend to get figures engraven for so many species contained therein as I can. The charge whereof being great, I must needs make some proposals for contributions for the carrying it on. For my own part I shall endeavour 1. That all the figures be exactly like the species described. 2. That they be curiously and elegantly engraven. 3. That they be printed on very good paper. For the effecting whereof the contributors are to lay down ten shillings a-piece, to be put into the hands of Mr. Samuel Smith and 454 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. Mr. Benj. Walford, booksellers, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Churchyard, and in each university paid in to such a person as the said booksellers shall appoint to receive it. Each printed sheet shall be afforded at a penny and each plate at . When the work shall be finished, every contributor shall have a book delivered him, he making up what shall be wanting of a penny per sheet, and per plate. If any shall please to contribute more than ten shillings, he shall receive proportionably in printed sheets and plates at the rates aforesaid. 1 am sorely afraid that your insects may receive some prejudice in sending and returning, let all imaginable care and caution be used in securing them ; though I once received a large box of insects from Mr. Tilleman Bobart, from Oxford, without being harmed at ah 1 . I thank you for your good opinion of me, and wish this work may answer your expectation. I shall push forward with all the haste my crazy condition will permit, con- sidering that my life is uncertain and may likely deter- mine before the work be finished. I do not well like the cuts of Mr. Petiver's Gazophy- lacium j they are not so elegant and polite as I could wish mine might be. I am, Sir, Your highly obliged and most humble servant, JOHN RAY. I had almost forgot to tell you that I should be very glad to see your Mouffet, and that it may be of great use to me. I mention receivers to be appointed in each university, because I conceive that if the money be to be sent up to London by each contributor, I shall not have half the num- ber of contributors as if it were to be paid at the universi- ties. The like might be done [in] other great cities, &c. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at Ms house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 455 Mr. RAY to Mr. DERHAM. SIR, Yours of August 28th came to hand, for which I return thanks. I am sorry you cannot as yet perfect your ' History of Gnats,' of which I admire you should discover so many distinct species, indeed that there should be so many in rerum naturd. As for the cimices they may easily be compassed ; but to find out, describe, and methodise all the species of flies and beetles of England alone, is the work of a man's life. ^ The phala?nse are so numerous, that should I live twenty years longer, and were in condition to search them out, yet I should despair of coming to an end of them, much less of discovering the several changes they go through, from the egg to the papilio, and describing the eruca3 and aureliae of each. I am of opinion that the number of beetles is equal to if it doth not exceed that of papilios, and they all undergo the like changes with them, of which I know no man hath given us any tolerable account. The name of Musca I know not how far to extend, but if we make it to comprehend all the Diptera, then it will take in gnats and tipula3 ; and if them only, where shall we place the Mmcce papilioniformcs and formici- formes, &c. I should refer all flying insects with four inembrana- ceous wings and a sting in their tails, to the bee-kind ; but then I must draw under that tribe the formicae, which have bodies too unlike. The work which I have now 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, I have not bestowed sufficient time and pains in the quest of any tribe of insects except papilios, and I have told how far 456 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 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. Stonestreet. As for my own papers on this subject, they are not worth the preserving ; and Mr. Willughby's must be returned to his son, Sir Tho. Willughby, from whom I had them, with promise to return them if I did not make use of them. Black Notley, Sept. 6, 1704. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Oct. 4, 1704. SIR, I received yours of Sept. 30th, and am of your opinion, that the booksellers will not go cordially about the work. There is not that prospect of gain, which alone moves the wheels with them. As for any engagement of mine to give Mr. Smith the copy, I remember no such thing. Let him produce any letter of mine containing such promise, and it will suffice. I proposed to him whether he would be concerned in the work or no ; and after I told him what endeavours I would use to procure subscriptions, he consented. Now of a long time I cannot extort a letter from him, though I have written to him about several particulars. I suppose the sale of my third volume of 'Hist. Plant.' doth not answer expectation; and that he thinks my demand for the copy too great, though it be no more than Mr. Faitherne gave me, and he himself first put me upon it. My demand is thirty pounds in money, and twenty copies to present my friends. Dr. Robinson and Mr. Petiver have business enough of their own, and cannot spare time to bestow upon another man's work. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 457 I am in a sad infirm condition, and my sores run worse than ever, and (which is worse) my toes are ulcerated and run at a great rate, so that I have little heart to proceed in this work, and have had thoughts to finish the work so far as I can before I make proposals for contributions. But then the graving of plates would be so tedious a work that it deters any from contributing. I humbly thank you for your great kindness to me, and the offer of the use of your insects, but am not yet ready for them. This cold weather hath given me a great shock. My wife and daughters present you with their humble services by the hand of Sir, Your devoted servitor, J. RAY. To liis honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. B. N., November 1, 170-4. SIR, I should have written to you in answer to your last of Oct. 10, to give you thanks for your many favours, but truly I have been ever since so afflicted with pain, that I have no heart to do anything. I do very much approve all your advices, but yet cannot take them. The ' History of Insects' must rest, if I continue thus ill, and I see no likelihood of amendment unless I should overlive this winter, which I have little reason to hope or expect. However, though I fail, there are many at present more able and skillful in this part of the history of animals than myself; as first of all yourself, next Mr. Stonestreet, then Mr. Petiver, Mr. Derham, Mr. Morton, Mr. Antrobus, 458 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. Dandridge, Mr. Bobart, and many more. Pardon my scribbling, who am scarce able to manage a pen. I am, Sir, Most highly obliged and obedient friend and servant, J. RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, December 12, 1704. SIR, Monday last I received by carrier your noble present of sugar, for which I return you a thousand thanks, as do also my wife and daughters, who say you are [a] brave man. I thank you for all your advices, I cannot but highly approve of that of keeping up my legs. But my knees being almost constantly kept bent by .my sitting, the nerves and muscles are so contracted that I cannot stretch them out without pain, much less keep them so. I will endea- vour what I can. The other I shall also carefully observe so soon as I can get the things, and do hope and believe they may be use- ful and helpful to me. Your judgment I much value. I continue still full of pain, and my sores rather spread than contract, which quite spoil my memory, and weakens my other parts, and therefore I hope you will pardon the many errors in this short letter, resting, Sir, Your extremely obliged and most humble servant and orator, JOHN RAY. To Ms honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 459 Mr. RAY'S last letter to Dr. HANS SLOANE * B. N., Jan. 7, 1704. DEAR SIR, THE BEST OF FRIENDS, These are to take a final leave of you as to this world. I look upon myself as a dying man. God requite your kindness expressed anyways towards me an hundredfold, bless you with a confluence of all good things in this world, and eternal life and happi- ness hereafter, and grant us a happy meeting in Heaven, I am, Sir, Eternally yours, JOHN RAY. \\%en you happen to write to my singular friend Dr. Hotton, I pray tell him I received his most obliging and affectionate letter, for which I return thanks, and acquaint that I was not able to answer it. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house in Southampton square, London. Mr. DALE to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Braintree, Jan. 19, 1704. SIR, By last Sunday's post Mr. Ray's solemn farewell was sent you, since which, viz. on Wednesday, the 17th instant, about 10 in the forenoon, death cut the fatal thread of life, and deprived the commonwealth of learning, of so valuable and worthy a man ; but our loss is without doubt his gain; God grant we may meet him above, where death can no more separate, which is the earnest prayer of Sir, Your obliged humble servant, S. DALE. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton square, Bloomsbury, London. * Mr. Ray died on Jan. 17, 170$, about 10 o'clock in the morning. Note on the original letter. 460 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. \Tliefollowing Letters of Mr. Ray, without date, are pre- served in the Library of Sir Hans Sloane, and as it is difficult to assign any particular period to their authorship, I have inserted them in this place '.] Mr. RAY to [Mr. PETIVEK?]. SIR, T. received yours of Feb. 3d, mistaken, I suppose, for March, but aui but in bad condition to return answer. I suppose Mr. Smith hath acquainted you how I am at present. Yet since my last to him a sad accident hath befallen me; part of the flesh of one of [my] insteps by degrees blackening is come to putrefy and corrupt. I suppose it is a beginning gangrene. I very much approve what you advise concerning the addition of F. Plumier's Catalogue of American plants : but I cannot without great difficulty write to Dr. Hotton ; and should I write, I fear it would come too late. The heads of Rumphius's History I heard nothing of from Dr. Sherard, which I much wonder at. The sending the Chusan plants you may please to respite for the present, for I can do nothing now. I shall add no more, but that I am, Sir, Yours to serve you in what I can, JOHN RAY. CORRESPONDENCE OP 1 RAY. 401 Mr. KAY to [Mr. PETIVER?]. SIR, I received yours of October 23d, and the box of plants you sent by carrier. I have run them over, but not as yet carefully perused them ; there are many rare things. I thank you for the sight of them, and shall after awhile carefully return them to you. I shall be very glad to see your Chusan treasure. I give you thanks also for your 10 Centuries, which indeed are very useful to me. For your second Decade I was beholden to you before, and therefore this now sent I desire your order how to dispose of. I have another alarm from Mr. Smith concerning the Appendix, which Mr. Motte tells him, he thinks he shall stay for the copy of, which will be a great prejudice to them, the work having been long in hand already ; they having disbursed a considerable sum for paper long since,, and for the printing lately : wherefore I entreat that you would speedily get ready what you are pleased to contri- bute ; and if you think it convenient for me to revise it, I pray send it hither. What I have to insert I intend to send up by next week's carrier; the chief of which is Father Camelli's manuscript, and Monsieur Tournefort's Corollarium put in an alphabetical method, and your sixth book of Mr. S. Brown's in the ' Philosoph. Transact.' Dr. Robinson hath persuaded me to draw up and publish a Method of Insects, with some general notes, which yet I must defer doing till this Supplement. Hist, be off hand. Those very kind expressions wherewith you conclude your letter, I cannot but gratefully resent, and acknow- ledge myself obliged to you for, whom I look upon as one of the most skillful and active promoters of natural history, I will not say in England, but in all Europe. Indeed, I know not any which hath a more comprehensive and critical knowledge of all the species of nature. Proceed with courage, and transmit your name to all posterity. I am, Sir, Yours in all offices of love and service, JOHN RAY. 462 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, These are to acquaint you that the box of papers you sent last week came safe to hand the beginning of this. I cannot but wonder you should find such a multi- tude of birds in Jamaica, and yet I suspect some might escape your diligence. Among the numerous species of Mexican birds described by Hernandez, possibly there may be some the same with some of your smaller birds ; but it would be too great a fatigue to compare them, his being put in no order, so that for every bird one must tuni over the whole book, and read the descriptions too of such as are of equal bigness. I am in some doubt about the Perdix montana, which you, not without good reason, refer to the dove-kind, for most of the notes agree to it : only by the figure it seems to be shorter and rounder winged than any pigeon, and therein to resemble the poultry kind. Its breeding upon trees argues it to belong to the pigeon kind, for the young of all the poultry tribe feeding themselves, must needs be hatched on the ground. If it breeds but two young at a time, and feeds them by eructating into their mouths meat mollified in its crop, it is certainly a pigeon, be the wings of what length or figure they will. Your singing-bird, mock-bird, or nightingale, is the same which Hernandez, and out of him Nieremberg, describe by the name of cenconthatolli, and is common to Virginia, described by Mr. Clayton in his letter to the Roval Society, registered Philosoph. Transact. N. 206, p. 993. Your Noddy, is the Passer stultus of Nieremberg, which I suppose he took out of Oviedo, a book I am not ac- quainted with. (See Willugh. Ornithol., Append.) Your Long-legs seems to me to be the very same with the Euro- pean Himantopus of Gesner and Aldrovand : (Willughby Ornithol. p. 227), all notes agreeing. But I will trouble you with no more remarks by letters, CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 463 what else I have made, or shall further make, I will send you as I did the former upon the fishes, when I remit the papers, which I shall despatch so soon as conven [iently] ice, and I am, Sir, much yours in both capacities, friend and servant, JOHN RAY. Mr. RAY to Dr. HAUS SLOANE. SIR, I received your letter, with the specimen in- closed, which seems to me to be the Sesamoides Sala- manticum magnum of Clusius, or Lychnis viscosa flore muscoso of C. D. [Silene Otites, Sm.], which I have observed togrowplentifully upon Newmarket Heath, that part I mean that is in Suffolk, for on Cambridgeshire side I have not found it. I can but wonder it should have such a virtue as you mention, but it seems it is well attested. Dr. Hulse writes me he finds it in Grayes Farrier. If you go to Jamaica, I pray you a safe and prosperous voyage. We expect great things from you, no less than the resolving all our doubts about the names we meet with of plants in that part of America, as the Dildoe, Mammae, Mangrove, Manchinello, Avcllance purpatrices, the Sower- sop, and Custard-apple, of most of which though I am pretty well informed, and satisfied by Dr. Robinson, yet I shall be glad to be either confirmed, or better informed by so knowing and curious an observer as yourself. I should be glad to know what manner of fruit the Mandioca bears, for (whatever some have written) that it is not without, I am confident. You may also please to observe whether there be any species of plants common to America and Europe, and whether Ambergrise be the juice of any 464 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. sort of metl or aloe dropped into the sea, as Trapham would have it. What kind of Arundo it is the same author calls the Dumb-cane, as also what his animal seeds may be. The shining barks of trees he mentions deserve observation, because I find nothing of them in other writers. I shall not instance in more particulars. I wish your voyage had so long prevented the publication of my History that I might have been satisfied and informed by you of these and a thousand other particulars, and had so great an accession of new and nondescript species, as your inquisitions and observations would have enriched it withal. I take leave, and rest, Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at Mr. Wilkinson's, a bookseller at the Black Boy, over against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet street, London. Mr. HAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I have herewithal sent you a short account of your Jamaica Catalogue, which I could not defer to draw up, being requested by so good a 'friend. What you find deficient therein please to supply what erroneous to cor- rect ; what, upon any account, you mislike, to expunge ; or, if you please, to cancel the whole, and draw up a better of your own. Myself and wife are so far obliged to you already for the rich presents you have made us, that we are ashamed to receive any more ; however, we return you our humble thanks for your kind intentions. As to the Sorffvm, you remember aright, that it hath a more compressed and compact panicle than the Milium, &c., and the branches of it more stiff and erect, so that (as CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. 465 I have elsewhere noted) they make brushes at Venice of the panicles thereof, when the grains are stripped off. I am inclinable to believe that Dr. Plukenet is in the right in making the American Couhage and the Nai- Corunna of the East Indies to be distinct plants, as I was suspicious when I wrote my 'History of Plants,' from the different colour of their seeds. I shall not at present return answer to the other parti- culars of your letter, being somewhat straightened for time, but with the tender of my wife's humble service, conclude and rest, Sir, ~ Your affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. To his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Preface by Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE'S Catalogue of Plants. THE author of this Catalogue doth not present the reader with titles of plants collected out of other men's writings, or of which he had seen only dried specimens, but of such as himself saw growing in their native places, among which there are a great multitude of new and non- descript species; in one genus alone, viz. those called capillaries, no less than three score, besides those lately published by F. Plumier in his first volume of 'Descrip- tions of American Plants,' which our author had observed and described long before that book came out ; and these not small and contemptible ones, or hardly distin- guishable from the plants of that kind already described, but of eminent stature and beauty, and some of them of so strange and exotic form, that if delineated they could not but invite and gratefully entertain the spectator's eye; 30 466 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. for, 1st, who would not be delighted to see an arborescent fern, of a single woody stem, straight and undivided, bearing leaves only at the top like a palm-tree ; or, 2dly, capillaries of almost ah 1 kinds creeping on trees, or rocks, or the ground, with wires after the manner of strawber- ries ; or, 3dly, capillaries, the tip of whose leaves turning downwards, and touching the earth, takes root and puts forth a new plant, so propagating their kind ; or, 4thly, capillaries putting forth from the middle stem of their leaves two shoots, each bearing a spike of flowers and seeds ? I confess, when I first saw the author's stock of dried plants collected in Jamaica, and some of the Caribee islands, I was much surprised, and even astonished, at the number of the capillary kind, not thinking there had been so many to be found in both the Indies. I might say much of the other generas, but I refer the reader to the book itself. Secondly. The author in this Catalogue hath done great service to at least the inferior ranks of herbarists, in reducing and cutting short the number of species, which were unnecessarily multiplied. For observing that those who have published Itineraries, or descriptions of the several parts of America, for want of sufficient skill in botanies, and not being versed in describing plants, have given us such lame, imperfect, and obscure descriptions of such as they took notice of, and of the same tree or herb many times under different names, that the compilers of general histories of plants meeting with these descriptions, and having no other knowledge of such plants than what they derive from them, have repeated one and the same species, once, twice, thrice, (nay, some great authors some- times even nine times) over, for different kinds. Now the number of plants being in nature so vast, it is pity to add to it more than there are in nature, making two or three of one, thereby both deterring and confounding the learner. To clear up these difficulties, and to reduce all to their proper kinds, no man be well qualified but he that hath a comprehensive knowledge of such plants as CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 467 grow wild, or are commonly cultivated in gardens here in Europe, and hath seen the nondescript Americans, or such as are here less known, growing in their natural places, and hath read, considered, and compared, what hath been written of them, either by such who have lived some time in those countries, and published descriptions or natural histories of them, or by such as have only made voyages thither, and given us relations and accounts of their travels, and what they observed during their short stay there, all which qualities concur in our author. Thirdly. This work is of great use to those that are delighted in reading the relation and accounts of navi- gators and travellers to and in those parts, to inform them concerning the names of American and Indian plants, they shall therein meet with, to what plants they belong, and where they may find exact descriptions or characteristic notes of them. The author having with infinite pains and patience read the most part of the books of voyages and travels extant, referred the plants he met with therein named or described to their proper genera and titles, under which they are ranked, and by which they are denominated and characterised by the most learned and skilful herba- rists of the present or immediately precedent age. Fourthly. The author in this work hath cleared up and resolved many doubts and difficulties, and informed us of what plants are signified by many nam quent in the mouths and writings of our own countrymen, of which before we were either ignorant, or in some doubt. For example, he hath informed us that the Dumb-cane so called, which being tasted, inflames the tongue and jaws in that manner, that, for awhile, it takes away the use of speech, is not properly any species of reed or cane, but of arum, or wake-robin; which quality, indeed, agrees very well to the nature of an arum, which is very acrimonious, but not to any sort of cane. That logwood is not (as we conjectured) the Ligno Brasiliano simile, seu Lignum Sapon, lanis ting endis per commodum of Caspar Bauhine, but Lignum Campechianum, so called from Campeche, a 468 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. province of the continent of America, where they fell yearly great store of these trees, and bring them to Jamaica, and our other plantations, to be transported hither for the use of dyers. That the Dildoe-tree is the same with the Cereus or Torch-plant. " Cseterum Dildoe nonnullis Priapum fictitium significat, quo oflfoenis lascivias mulierculae abuti solent ad nefariae quoddam libidinis genus seu coitum umbratilem exercendum." I might add to these the Toddy-tree, the Prickly-pear, the Sower-sop, Bonavists, and many others whose significations may be found in this Catalogue. Besides, we are assured by this work, that there are some plants common, not only to Europe and America, but even to England and Jamaica, notwithstanding the great distance of place, and difference both of longitude and climate. But here it is to be noted, that the greatest part of these common plants are such as grow in the water or watery places ; there being, it seems, a greater agree- ment between the temper of the waters than of the air in these remotely distant countries. Mr. RAT to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received yours of Feb. 29th, in answer whereto in the first place I must deny any obligation on your part, but own a very great one on mine. Next I shall acquaint you with the reason I made those queries, which was because in the intended Supplement to my History I am resolved to acknowledge and correct all the errors and mistakes that myself, friends, or strangers shall discover therein. Yet would I do nothing rashly, but be fully satisfied before I correct anything, that it is indeed a mistake. I proceed now to the particular answers you are pleased CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 469 to give to my queries: 1. As to the Phyllitis, &c., you have fully satisfied me that yours is a distinct species from Mr. Banister's. 2. The jfrumentum indicum minus, described by"C.B." out of Tabermont. I do still suspect to be a figment. But I myself, when I was in Germany, observed whole fields, some with a lesser kind of maize differing in nothing from the greater but in the lowness of its stature and small- ness of all its parts. But whether this lesser sort be or be not a distinct species, you are not concerned to deter- mine, no such growing in Jamaica. 3:~J, am not yet fully satisfied that Clusius's igname is a species distinct from Marcgrave's, because (as I said) they both came from, or at least were denominated of, St. Thome, and besides, the figures of the root in both authors are alike. Probably, as you intimate, Clusius might have of both sorts, and mingle or confound them into one. It concerns me to be more curious in this inquiry because in my History I have made Marcgrave and Clusius's inhame to be one and the same, which, if it be a mistake, must be corrected in my Supplement. 4. You have staggered me in the opinion and per- suasion I had that the Xylon herbaceum and arboreum were two distinct species. I find Bellus is of your opinion, and that Veslingius's description of the seed of the tree kind agrees well to that of the herbaceous, as you also have observed it. But then the fruit which J. Bauhine describes, and which I have seen, must be of another kind. What say you to J. Bauhine's note of the tree kind, that its leaves are smooth ? and Vesling's, that he observed not in it that pale yellow flower which is noted in the Xylon herbaceum ? As to the difference of arborescent and herbaceous, I make no great account of that. 5. Concerning the Pimpinichi of Manardes, I see I must still remain in suspense. 6. The Jamaica pepper, or allspice, I am persuaded is specifically distinct from Clusius's amomum, &c. This 470 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. I was suspicious of when I wrote my History, upon com- paring the Jamaica pepper with Clusius's description of the fruit of his amomum, wherein he saith it contained but one seed, and takes no notice of the umbilicus or corolla on the top of its fruit, but was fully confirmed in upon the sight of your figure of the Jamaica pepper-bush, and a branch of Clusius's armomum, in which the leaves differ too much to be of the same plant. I shall now, according to your desire, give you those literal errata I have observed in your Catalogue, which are very inconsiderable and not worth the taking notice of, such as you may find thousands of in my books : p. 4, 1. 8, pro fuciformi lege fusi formi ; 1. 1 7, pro ejectum lege ejecta; p. 9, 1. 3, lege avAA<^; 1. 10, Tpyo$v\\<& and aKiaBc o/coTuXrjSwv opov ; p. 23, 1. 36, lege Lonchitidis ; p. 34, 1. 14, lege panicula ; item 1. ] 7 ; item 1. 22 ; item 1. 26, 28, 30, 33, 34. But I will go no further, none of these, except the Greek, can be suspected to be mistakes of the author, but only typographical errata, nor can stop or abuse the reader. The truth is, I have not met with a book better corrected. If anything afterwards occurs that needs mending, I shall give you advice of it. My wife gives you her humble service. So I rest, Sir, Your very affectionate and obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. p. 94, 1. 28,jro Homin. lege Hormini; p. 95, 1. 22, pro polyrhizo lege polyrrhizos; p. 129, 1. 27, pro illinita lege illita ; pro pericutietur, percutietur. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. 471 You have done botanies great service in contracting the number of species, and in reducing many exhibited to us by authors under different names to one. I cannot sufficiently commend your pains herein, being so well qualified for such an undertaking. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house, at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I return you most hearty thanks for your noble present of venison, which seems to be very good. I could wish we might have your good company at the eating of it, only I know it is no novelty to you. I should be glad to see you here as soon and as often as you please, where you shall be exceeding welcome, as you well deserve, to, Sir, Your very humble servant, JOHN RAY. My wife tenders her humble service to you. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at Newhall. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I thank you for your last very kind and friendly letter of August 28th, and the advice and directions therein r'ven, which, so soon as I can get the medicine prepared, intend to follow, unless I find a sudden amendment, which I am not without some hopes of, the ulcers lately seeming to promise healing. I agree with you in opinion, and hope that I may find great help from the use of it. Mr. Dale tells me that it would not be safe for me to dry 472 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. the sores without drawing an issue, to give the humour vent, which hath so long been wont to be drained away by them, lest it become the matter of some other disease. The German which was with me from Dr. Tournefort told me that Schelhammerus (as I remember) had written to Kivinus and me, and that he believed you had a copy of his letter, which, if you have, I beg a sight of it. I lately received a letter from Tentzelius, the author of the Epistle to Magliabechius, published in the ' Philosophical Transactions,' together with some fragments of the teeth and skull of the supposed elephant's skeleton digged up at Tonna, wherein he tells me he had sent the like fragments to the Royal Society, with a letter, desiring their opinion concerning them, but had as yet received no answer from them, so that he suspects his letter mis- carried; whereupon he wrote to me urging the same request, viz. that I would send him the opinion of the Royal Society, or, if that cannot be obtained, my own particular, concerning his controversy with the Collegium Medicum Gothanum, which it seems have written against him, and would have these bones to be Unicornu fossile. I wonder the Royal Society should vouchsafe him no kind of answer. I have sent Dr. Robinson a copy of Tentzelius's letter, which, if you please, he will give you a sight of. My wife salutes you with tender of her very humble service by the hand of Sir, Your very affectionate and much obliged friend and servant, JOHN RAY. Be pleased to send me word in your next, what is be- come of Dr. Preston. I have a parcel of plants 1 received from him which I would willingly remit. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house at the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 473 Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I received your very kind letter, attended with a noble present of sugar, for which myself and wife, with the tender of our humble services, return you most hearty thanks. Only give me leave to tell you that you have permitted your generosity and kindness too much to in- fluence your liberality, and cause this effect of it far to exceed the merit and expectation of the receivers, and possibility of requital. I have some time since heard of your change of state ; and though I have not told you that Impish you much joy, yet really I do, and humbly pray that such a confluence of blessings may attend your marriage as may render that estate comfortable and happy to you, Your Pinax of Jamaica plants I should be glad to see ; not that I hope to correct anything, but for mine own information and satisfaction. My opinion is of little value, my skill being not great in American plants ; and the greater part of those you have observed I have no other knowledge of than I received from yourself. I was in hopes that you would have perfected and published your ' Natural History of Jamaica' before my Supplement might have been ready for the press, that so I might thence have borrowed materials and orna- ments for the enriching and beautifying of my work. But I see you proceed with deliberation, and so as may consist with due attendance upon the occasions and business of your profession, which I cannot but commend; though in the meantime others prevent you, and intercept the honour due to you, by publishing before you what you first discovered. I would willingly take leave of this subject of Plants ; but, by the importunity of some, and opposition of others, I am constrained to proceed still in it. When this Supplement shall be finished, and some- thing I have further to reply to Monsieur Tournefort, with a fuller explanation and defence of my own method (if God grant me to live so long), I shall have done. The principal 474 CORRESPONDENCE OP RAY. help I shall want will be the sight of the plants in the gardens in and about London. Dr. Robinson, as I re- member, once told me that you either had, or could procure, Monsieur Magnol's piece about method, which I was promised by Dr. Sherard, but have not yet seen. If you have it by you, please to lend me it for some short tune. I thank you for your good opinion of my doings and endeavours, which yet I must not own or accept as in any measure due, but look upon as another effect of your good will, resting, Sir, Your much obliged and affectionate friend and servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, the corner house in Southampton street, next the Square, Holborn. Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, I have read over with great pleasure and satis- faction Frederick Martens's Voyage to Spitzberg you were pleased to lend. The author seems to me to have been very diligent in observing, and no less true and faithful in re- lating and setting down his observations. He hath given me a better prospect and idea of those very northern parts than I had before. I cannot think that there is very much difference in the nature and temper of sea and land, from thence to the Pole itself. Several of the species of birds are the same I have observed to frequent and build on the islets and cliffs on our sea coasts in England and Scotland ; only I cannot but wonder that he should meet with so many sorts of Lari there, which want the hind toe ; whereas we met with only one here which doth want it, and he too hath some rudiment of it. I have now a request to make to you, that if you have in your Jamaica voyage, or other travels, observed any new or undescribed species of birds or fishes, you would [be] CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 475 pleased to communicate the titles of them, and some short characteristic notes, whereby they may be known, towards the enriching and perfecting my Synopses of those genera which I have now drawn up. I shall do you right in owning from whom I received them, and referring to your future work for a more full account of them ; which work, though I long to see published, yet do I with the more patience expect, because I know it will lose nothing by laying in your hands, but will at last come forth, if death prevent not, more elaborate and complete. If death, I say, prevent not, which is possible, the consideration whereof may spur you on to make the more haste with it, knowing the disadvantage posthumous pieces come out with if ever they be published. I have formerly urged to you the expectation of all ingenious persons that know of it, and the danger of being de- frauded of some part of the honour justly due to your pains and performance. Indeed, God himself seems to me to have honoured you in having, as it were, made choice of you, and sent you out upon such an errand as observing the rarities and undescribed species of that island, and communicating the history of them to the learned world. I lately received a letter from Dr. Briggs, wherein he tells me that he had consulted with Dr. Lister and your- self concerning the ulcers on my legs, wherewith I have been troubled now the best part of a twelvemonth, and that you expressed a great concern for my condition ; for which kindness I return you hearty thanks. Since my answer to him I found the success of the calomelanos I acquainted him I had taken, better than I did then ex- pect. For after the disturbance and tumult caused by the mercury was appeased, my sores of a sudden grew so well, the pain leaving them, and only a gentle itching succeeding, that I was in great hopes they would have suddenly dried and healed up ; but the day following, whether it proceeded from some error in diet, or some other to me unknown cause, the pain returned again, and 476 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAT. they continue still running and unhealed, though better than they were before, so that I am encouraged to repeat again the same medicine, and do hope, through God's blessing a good effect of it. So I take my leave, and rest, Sir, Your affectionate friend and humble servant, JOHN RAY. For his honoured friend, Dr. Hans Sloane, at Montague House, London. [Amongst the MS. of Sir Hans Sloane in the British Museum are the following letters from Mrs. May, which, although not strictly coming within the scope of this work, possess an interest on account of their connexion with the history of the family of John Mrs. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, .... 1704. SIR, My dear deceased husband always esteemed you one of his best and truest friends, and this you manifest to me his mournful widow in your kind letter, for which I re- turn my most humble and hearty thanks ; and do entreat the favour of you to use your interest with Sir Thomas Willughby to allow me this half year's salary towards the charges of my husband's sickness and funeral ; it is true I cannot demand it, and he hath always been kind to Mr. Ray, which I gratefully acknowledge hath been the support of the family ; but being left with three daughters, of which the eldest is about twenty years of age, and the youngest sixteen, and nothing near so much left to main- CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 477 tain myself and them with as that legacy was, my circum- stances must be but straight. I do intend to dis- pose of Mr. Ray's books, and will get Mr. Dale to make a catalogue of them, which shall be sent to you, as likewise an account of what papers Mr. Ray left, and doubt not your assistance therein. The papers about insects are delivered to Mr. Dale, to inspect and give you an account of, as likewise the insects, to make a draught of them for to present you with, according to Mr. Ray's order. I intend shortly to write to Sir Thos. Willughby, and acquaint him that his papers are safe, and shall be delivered according to his order ; but desire your advice, whether I shall request the half year's salary of him, or leave [my] friends to intercede for me. I can add no more, but that I am, Sir, Your most humble but sorrowful servant, MARGARET RAY. For Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house in Southampton square, Bloomsbury, London. Mrs. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. SIR, Yours of the 9th was very accceptable to me, nor can I enough acknowledge the kindness you have therein showed to the poor family of your deceased friend, which had been done sooner, but that yours came not to hand until the 13th, at night. I must confess, sir, that although money is the most needful, considering the scantiness of the maintenance left by Mr. Ray, and the great charge occasioned by his long sickness, yet it is not for me to dictate to Sir Thomas Willughby's gene- rosity, but leave it to his pleasure ; entreating you to travel in that affair for me as you shall think fit ; requesting you likewise to present my most humble service to 478 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Sir Thomas, and to acquaint him that all his papers are safe, and ready to be delivered to his order, and thereby you will add to the many obligations of, Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, MARGARET RAY. My daughters present their most humble service to you. Black Notley, Feb. ye 15th, 170|. Mrs. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Nov. ye 19. 1706. SIR, Your very kind letter I received last week, for which and all other of your favours and kindness I hereby return you my most hearty thanks, and especially for the great pains and care you have taken upon the account of my dear husband and self. I will, as you desire, return Sir Thomas Willughby thanks for his kindness, and by the first opportunity order where the money he sent me shall be paid ; and as to his book and papers about in- sects, they are herewith sent to you, and hope they will come safe. As to the monument for my husband, I must leave wholly to the directions of my friends, whose kind- ness and care to preserve his memory I gratefully acknow- ledge. I having formerly acquainted you with the cir- cumstances of my family, need not repeat it, only let you know it cannot but be straight with us, when Mr. Ray did not leave 40 per year among us all, out of which taxes, repairs, and quit-rents make a great hole. As to my husband's papers, I have put all of them, except some letters, into Mr. Dale's hands, of which I presume he hath given you an account, and will publish what he finds fit. The History of Insects, you know, was left unfinished, and is at your direction ; and as to my books, I will send them up as soon as weather will permit, which I fear will CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 479 not be now until summer, not doubting in the least of your assistance in their disposal. Sir, I have no more to add, but the repeating of my thanks and the presenting the services of myself and daughters, subscribe myself, Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, MARGARET RAY. To Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house in Southampton square, Bloomsbury, London. With a box. Mrs. RAT to Dr. HANS SLOANE. Black Notley, Dec. 24, 1706. SIR, I would not have you think me ungrateful in not returning you my most hearty thanks for your last kind letter ; as likewise for the pains you have taken for me with Sir Tho. Willughby, but especially for your own very kind intended gift therein mentioned me. The only hindrance hath been because I could not happen of any person in these parts whose stay in London would permit them to wait upon you, considering that your business occasions your being often absent from your house. I entreat the favour of you to leave the money, at your own convenience, with Mr. Saml. Smith and Mr. Ben. Walford, or either of them, to whom I have given advice to receive the money and give you a discharge. As to my husband's letters, I intend very shortly to have them overlooked and send them. I cannot close this without repeating my humble thanks for all your favours, and presenting my daughters' humble services, which likewise accept from, Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, MARGARET RAY. To Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house in Southampton square, Bloomsbury, London. 480 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. Mrs. RAY to Dr. HAXS SLOANE. Black Notley, Nov. ye 20, 1709. SIR, When your kind and obliging letter came to niy hand, I was sick in bed of a fever, which continued upon me for some time ; but being now, through the blessing of God, pretty well recovered, I was not willing any longer to omit returning you my most humble thanks for all the kindnesses I have received from you, and espe- cially for the great respect you have now shown to the memory of my dear husband; and I would willingly have done the same to my Lady Child and Madam How- land, but not knowing where to direct to them I entreat the favour of you to present my humble thanks, as like- wise to my Lord of London, and the rest of the contri- butors, though unknown to me. As to the remaining money which you mention, if you please to pay it to the Reverend Mr. Wm. Stonestreet, it will come safe to the hands of, Sir, Your most obliged humble servant, MARGARET RAY. To Dr. Hans Sloane, at his house in the corner of Southampton street, towards Bloomsbury square, London. APPENDIX. APPENDIX A. [For the following Notice of George Scott, of whom no biographical notice could be given in the 'Memorials ' (p. 5), the Editor is indebted to Edw. Forsier, Esq., Fice-P resident of the Linnaan Society.'} GEORGE SCOTT, Esq., P.R.S., the Editor of his uncle Derham's Select Remains of the Learned John Ray/ was Lord of the Manor of Woolston Hall, in the parish of Chigwell, in the county of Essex. This manor and seat had been in the family many generations, of which he was the twelfth and last of-%} name; from him it was inherited by Robert Bodle, Esq., de- scended from the daughter and only child of his great grandfather's second and youngest son George, Mr. Scott being the grandson of William, the eldest. This manor was granted, about the beginning of King Henry the Seventh's reign, to William Scott, of Stapleford Tawney, in the same county, who was lineally descended from Sir William Scott, Lord Chief Justice of England, and Justice of the Forests in the reign of King Edward the Third, whose papers and silver drinking-cup were in the possession of George Scott, the subject of this memoir, who was born in Watling street, London, on the 29th December, 1719, and was educated at St. John's College, Oxford, where he took the degree of Master of Arts in 1743, and an honorary degree of Doctor of Common Laws was conferred on him in 1763. He was married on the 13th of May, 1746, in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, to Jane, daughter of Dr. Edmund Gibson, Bishop of Lincoln, and afterwards London, the inti- mate friend of Ray, who communicated the County Lists of Rare Plants in the Bishop's edition of Camdeffs Britannia, with the exception of Middlesex, which was furnished by Petiver. George Scott gave some assistance in family history, in a subsequent edition. His aunt Anne, daughter of William Scott, married Dr. William Derham, rector of Upminster, the author of the 'Select Remains.' George Scott died a widower, without children, on the 26th August, 1780, and was buried in the parish church of Cliigwell, on the 5th of September in that year. His wife died on the 5th of January, 1770, and was buried on the 21st, in the Bishop's vault at Fulham. There is no monument or inscription for him among those of his ancestors in what is called the Scott chapel in the parish church. The only memorials of him and his wife are their achievements against the walls. It is rather remarkable that, among those of the Scott family, there is an achievement for Bishop Gibson, and another for Dr. William Scott, President of St. John's College, Oxford, son of the rector of Upminster, and therefore Scott's cousin, neither of whom dwelt in Chigwell. This zealous antiquary resided some time in Sackville street, Piccadilly, which house he disposed of on the death of his wife, which happened in 1770, and also gave up a residence at Bath, and from that time lived entirely at the family seat, Woolston Hall, perhaps rather recluse, as the Rev. Michael Tyson, rector of Lamborn, the adjoining parish to Chigwell, in a familiar 31 482 APPENDIX. letter to the celebrated antiquary Richard Gough, calls him " the Hermit of Woolston," not meaning certainly that he avoided all company, for Tyson, himself fond of antiquarian pursuits, on becoming incumbent of Lamooni, was soon in habits of social intercourse with him, dining at his table. His not mixing more with the world arose from the pain he suffered from a dan- gerous complaint which hastened his end, and he was excused serving the office of sheriff of the county, for which his name was three times put on the list, on account of extreme ill health, wldch rendered him incapable of any exertion. He was remarkable for his great knowledge and goodness of heart, a diligent inquirer after antiquities, freely imparting his discoveries to his friends. The late Mr. Da Costa describes him as a very humane, friendly, and communicative gentleman; and Morant, author of the ' History of Essex,' in acknowledging the assistance he had received from him, by the communi- cation of several curious particulars relating to the part of the county in which he resided, notices him as " this good man." A plate of the monumental brass of Archbishop Harsnet in the work alluded to was supplied by Scott. There is no record or tradition of his having a knowledge of botany, to which his neighbour Tyson was much attached, but he left a collection of minerals, still preserved in Woolston Hall. He appears by Da Costa to have been a col- lector of all sorts of antiquities, charters, leaves, records, coins, abbey-seals, Roman lamps, Etruscan ware, swords, daggers, pistols, helmets, saws, and other ancient instruments, regalia, watches, sarcophagi, bronzes, idols, appa- rel, pictures, miniatures, and prints. A part of his collection was sold in July 1782, and about the same time, his extensive and valuable library. The man- sion, now the residence of Robert Bodle, Esq., son of Robert above mentioned, still retains its venerable character, the walls hung with portraits of the family, two or three of Scott himself, one of Derham (our author), and one of his son, the President of St. John's, Oxford, in which college is another portrait of George Scott. Among the numerous antiquities, there is the little brass Mercury figured in Morant's ' History of Colchester,' also other Roman remains from that town. In the hall is a handsome carved oaken chair, the principal part of which is known to be five hundred years old. APPENDIX B. EDWARD LHWYD, whose letters to John Ray, in this work, are reprinted from the 'Philosophical Letters,' was born in South Wales about 1670, and was the sou of Charles Lhwyd, Esq., of Lhanvorde. He is best known as an antiquary, but he deserves more notice than he has received as a naturalist. Although many of his works are still well known, the materials for his biography seem never to have been collected together. He appears to have received his early education in Wales, and in 1687 was entered at Jesus College, Oxford. In 1701 he was created M.A. He studied natural history with great diligence as a pupil of the celebrated Dr. Plot, and, in 1690, he succeeded his master in Oxford as keeper of the Ashmolean Museum. In 1699 he published the work on fossils which gives him a claim to regard as a naturalist, and which must for ever connect him with the history of the science of palaeontology. This work was entitled 'Litho- phylacii Britannici Iconographia,' and consisted of a systematic catalogue of the fossils in the Ashmolean Museum, and was illustrated by a large number APPENDIX. 483 of wood engravings. It was printed at the expense of Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Hans Sloaiie, aud some ot his other scientific friends. Only one hun- dred and twenty conies of the first edition were printed. Subsequently a new edition was published under the care of Mr. Huddesford, and to which several of Lhwyd's other contributions to palaeontology were annexed. This work contains a systematic arrangement of fossils, which, whatever may be its defects, possesses the merit of being the first attempt that was made to connect the study of fossils with other branches of natural history. The following is a list of his published works and papers from the 'Bib- liotheca Britannica : 1. ' Lithophylacii Britannici Iconographia,' London, 1699. 8vo. New edition, by W. Huddesford, 1760. 2. ' Archseologia Britannica,' Oxford, 1707. Folio. 3. 'Adversaria de Fluviorum Montium, Urbium,' &c., 'in Britannia Nominibus,' 1719, London. 8vo. 4. 'Letter to the Scots and Irish.' Translated by W. Malcolm. Edin- burh,"*W39. 5. Some account of a fiery exhalation in Merionethshire. 'Phd. Trans.,' Ab. iii, 671. 6. A note concerning an extraordinary hail in Ibid., 1704. 10. Account of very large stones voided by the urethra. Ibid., 1704. 11. Observations in natural history, made in travels through Wales. Ibid. 12. Account of some uncommon plants growing about Penzance and St. Ives, in Cornwall. Ibid. 13. On the natural history and antiquities of Wales. Ibid., Ab. vi, 19, 1713. 14. On an undescribed plant \Tubulanu indivisa, Linn.], Ibid. In the ' Gentleman's Magazine ' (vol. Ixxvii, p. 41 9) there is an account of the sale of Mr. Lhwyd's library, which consisted chiefly of works of antiqua- rian interest. Many of his letters to Dr. Martin Lister, and other dis- tinguished naturalists, were presented by Dr. Fothergill to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, where they still exist. He died in July, 1709, and his death is said to have been hastened by immoderate application to his antiquarian studies. The immediate cause was sleeping in a damp and close room in the museum at Oxford, which ho chose to sleep in, for the convenience of pursuing his studies. The following extract, giving an account of the church in the parish in which Lhwyd was born, and some account of his family, is from the MS. of the late Mr. John Dovaston, and has been kindly communicated by his son, F. M. Dovaston, Esq. A.M., of Westfelton, near Shrewsbury : " The old church of Oswestry stood near to Llwynymaen, in a field there called to this day Caeyr Eg^lwys, or the Church Leasow. It was called the church of Llanforda, from its vicinity to River Morda, and was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Near to the spot was a well of fine water, to which the vulgar do yearly resort on Trinity Sunday, where they hold a kind of wake, and drink the water of the said well, with sugar in it. No remains of this church are to be seen. Llwynymaen house is very near to where the churcli once stood ; and I cannot pass this place without very strongly supposing that hereabouts was a Druid's place of worship ; for the word Lfan, or Llwyn (which is the same thing), does not signify a church. And yet we always find churches in those places so bearing tnc name of Llan ; but it signifies a grove, or place of Druid worship, which always was in woods of oak; and Llwyn y Macn signifies 'the grove of stone;' and probably there 484 APPENDIX. were formerly stone pillars erected, such as Orsedd or Meine Gwyr, or Cronlech, for the performance of their religious rites. Amongst the old names given to Oswestry, not one of them has the word Llan to them ; and possibly this may be the reason, because there was no Llan or grove there, nor any church in former days, but a monastery ; for the church which belonged to the town was built at Llwynymaen, where the Llwyn originally was, and was called Llanforda church, or alonn, a grove of trees for patri- archal worship, whence proceeds the Welsh word Llaii, which, although it doth not signify a church, although at such places there generally is a church, because it was formerly a grove, or Druid place of worship ; and the first preachers of Christianity to their followers, did in general erect their churches near to these groves, in order, by this means, and slow innovations of the patriarchal into that of the Christian, to convert them, which at length was accomplished; for there are many places where now there are no churches that are called Llan, from there having been groves there. * * Llwynymaen, now mostly taken down, was an ancient stone edifice, in form of a castle, built very strong, with a square high tower at each end of it ; had a gateway before the entrance, and strong doors thereto, and had once been walled round. All the demesne of Llanforda once belonged to it. It hath been for nearly 200 years past in the family of Llwhyd, the last whereof was Edward Lloyd, who died about 1557. Llanforda was given to a branch of that family, who were Lloyds of Llanforda for many years, until by marriage it came into the family of Williams. Edward Llwhyd, the antiquary, who published the ' Archaeologia Britannica ' in 1707, was born there. His father, Edward Llwhyd, lived there; and during his life he kept a small light carriage, with four wheels, which was drawn by dogs ; and he frequently used to ride in it, and drove his dogs to Oswestry, on which account the public-house now called ' The Coach and Dogs/ which was then his property, had the sign of the Coach and Dogs." Mr. Dovaston has in his possession a curious ancient stone sun-dial, found, in 1819, among some ruins at Llwynymaen, having on it the initials and arms of Edward Lhwyd, without gnomon, showing the hour on five surfaces, the edges of the curved hollows acting as gnomons, and casting their shadows on the hours. APPENDIX C. The following notices, extracted from the volumes of the ' Philosophical Magazine ' for 1828 and 1829, of the commemoration of the second centenary of the birthday of Bay, would have been more appropriately published with the 'Memorials,' but the Editor was not at that time aware of their existence. COMMEMORATION OF THE SECOND CENTENARY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF RAT. A meeting is about to take place in London, which, to judge from the name of the gentleman who has consented to take the chair, and from the stewards who have undertaken to act on the occasion, may be regarded as a national festival in honour of our distinguished naturalist Ray. Throughout the whole of a long and industrious life, that enlightened observer and sys- APPENDIX. 485 tematist devoted himself unceasingly to the study of the works of the Creator, whom in those works lie learned devoutly to adore. His researches extended into every branch of natural history, and in each of these he excelled. His labours were deservedly esteemed by his contemporaries, and continued to receive from succeeding writers the attention to which their intrinsic value entitled them. To them Linnaeus himself was deeply indebted ; and Cuvier, the first of the zoologists of the nineteenth century, does not hesitate to avow his obligations to our illustrious countryman, who laboured in the same vineyard during the seventeenth. The admiration and gratitude of every naturalist, to what branch soever of the science his atten- tion may be more particularly directed, are justly due to Ray, and are indeed on all occasions most freely tendered. How well he merited them will readily be illustrated by even a brief enumeration of a few only of those numerous and valuable productions which we owe to liis observation, bis study, and his research. Rayhas been pronounced by Cuvier to be the first true systematist of the animariRngdom, and the principal guide of Linnaeus in this department of nature. To him chiefly the zoologist is indebted for the excellent ' Ornitho- logy' and 'Ichthyology' which pass under the name of Willughby. The notes collected by both were, after the decease of the latter, digested and arranged by Ray, who revised and methodised the whole, and gave to the works the form in which they were presented to the world. Both these productions are well known, and are still justly esteemed ; the ' Ichthyology ' especially, the principles first applied in which have been adopted by Cuvier in his primary divisions of the fishes in that great work for which he has been collecting materials during nearly the whole of his life, and of which the first livraison has just appeared. The posthumous publications of Ray, the ' Synopsis Methodica Avium,' and the ' Synopsis Methodica Piscium,' afford abridgments of the 'Ornithology' and the 'Ichthyology,' with numerous additions. His ' Synopsis Methodica Quadrupedum et Serpentiui generis ' was published during his life, and very shortly after his decease appeared his ' Methodus Insectorum.' The ' Historia Insectorum,' a work of real value, was printed some years after his death, at the expense of the Royal Society. By Haller, Ray was designated as the greatest botanist in the memory of man. Still more emphatic is the character of him given by the late revered President of the Linnaean Society " The most accurate in observation, the most philosophical in contemplation, and the most faithful in description, amongst all the botanists of his own, or perhaps any other time." To Rav the British botanist is indebted for the first good Flora of his native land. At an early period of his life he gave to the world his ' Catalogus Plautarum circa Cantabrigiam nascentium,' wliich was followed in a few years by his ' Catalogus Plantarum Angliae et Insularum adjacentium.' The tliird edition of the latter work was entitled ' Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum,' and is still universally known. This also passed through three editions, the last of which was considerably enlarged and improved by the celebrated Dillenius. His earliest attempt as a general systematist was the ' Methodus Plantarum nova,' in which, availing himself of the labours of former writers, corrected by his own philosophical genius, he produced an outline in several respects superior to those of his predecessors. His later 'Methodus Plantarum ernendata et aucta ' adopts many of the views advanced by his generous rival and contemporary, Tournefort. These systems, modified from time to time according to his continually increasing knowledge, had 486 APPENDIX. been employed in his ' Synopsis/ and in conformity with them he digested his ' Historia Plantarum generalis,' a work of immense labour and research, which contains descriptions of nearly 20,000 species of plants, arranged in a systematic order, many of the groups of which are purely natural, and agree perfectly with those admitted by the best informed of modern botanists. Tn the first book of this history, entitled De Plantis in genere, Ray fully established his rank as a physiological botanist. His detached remarks on the motion of the sap in plants, ana on other points of vegetable physiology, are there embodied with the principal discoveries made by previous or con- temporary writers, so as to form, according to Du Petit thouars, the most complete treatise which yet exists on vegetation taken as a whole. " To isolate this book, and to reprint it in a separate form," continues that dis- tinguished botanist, " would constitute the most noble monument that could be erected to the memory of Ray." As a geologist, the fame of Ray must rest on his three physico-theological discourses concerning the primitive Chaos and Creation, the General Deluge, and the Dissolution of the World, a highly popular work, which was fre- quently reprinted, and which proposes a theory at least as plausible as any which had then appeared, or was advanced until long after its publication. A portion of his Collection of Unusual or Local English Words, with the Preparation of Metals and Minerals in England, &c. proves also that he was by no means neglectful of this interesting branch of natural science so often as he possessed opportunities of attending to it. The preceding list, copious as it appears, contains only the more important works of Ray as a naturalist, without including his Appendices, his Supple- ments, his Catalogues, his detached papers, &c., and without adverting to his various publications on philology, his travels, his philosophical treatises and letters, and his theological productions. Of the latter, one, however, cannot be passed by without notice. Few works have been more frequently reprinted than 'The Wisdom of God manifested in the Works of the Creation,' and none have better deserved the popularity they have enjoyed. On the character of its author, whether as a naturalist or a divine, that lasting monument of his knowledge and his piety confers equal and immortal honour. Ray was born on the 29th of November, 1628. The two hundredth anniversary of his birthday is now rapidly approaching. It will be celebrated in a manner worthy of the man and of the occasion. The cultivators of natural science, in each of its various branches, are anxious to take a share in the commemoration of the event. The President of the Royal Society, Davies Gilbert, Esq. M.P., has con- sented to act as chairman at the proposed dinner, and the following gentlemen have already accepted the office of stewards : P. M. Roget, M.D. Sec. R.S. E. Forster, Esq. V.P. and Treas. L.S. J. Sabine, Esq. Sec. Hort. Soc. Rev. W. Kirby, r.u.s. &c. J . E. Bicheno, Esq. Sec. Linn. Soc. R. Taylor, Esq. Assistant-Sec. Linn. Soc. W. J.Broderip, Esq. Sec. Geol. Soc. N. A. Vigors, Esq. Sec. Zool. Soc. E. T. Bennett, Esq. Vice-Sec. Zool. SoC. T. Bell, Esq. F.R.S. &c. J. Brookes, Esq. r.n.s. &c. APPENDIX. 487 Rev. W. Buckland, D.D. F.R.S. Prof. Min. and GeoL Oxford. J. G. Children, Esq. F.E.S. &c. Rev. J. Goodall, D.D. R. E. Grant, M.D. Prof. Zool. Univ., London. G. B. Greenough, Esq. F.R.S. &c. Major-Gencral Hardwicke, F.R.S. &c. Rev. J. S. Henslow, F.L.S. Reg. Prof. Bot., Cambridge. A. B. Lambert, Esq. V.P.I, s. J. Lindley, Esq. F.R.S. Prof. Bot. Univ., London. J. Morgan, Esq. F.L.S. J. F. Stephens, Esq. F.L.S. N. Wallich, M.D. F.R.S. Ed. Cur. Bot. Gard., Calcutta. W. Yarrell, Esq. F.L.S. To this list additions are still making daily. ' > ^ p( COMMEMORATION OF KAY. The proposal for employing the occasion of the second centenary of the birthday of the illustrious John Ray, which happened on the 29th of Novem- ber last, for the purpose of a public expression of the high estimation iu which he is held at this day by the lovers of every branch of natural history, was eagerly adopted, and the public dinner at Freemasons' Hall was attended by about 130 of the most distinguished cultivators and patrons of science, including most of the officers of the Royal, Linnaean, Geological, Horticul- tural, and Zoological Societies, the Rev. the Provost of Eton, and several of the professors of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and London. Davies Gilbert, Esq. M.P., the much-respected President of the Royal Society, took the chair, supported by His Grace the Duke of Somerset, President of the Royal Institution, Lord Astley, and other persons of distinction. In proposing " The Memory of Ray," the chairman said that he felt it to be his duty to express his sincere acknowledgments to the company for the high honour they had done him in calling mm to the station he then so unworthily filled. He was aware that so gratifying a compliment had been paid to him solely on account of his occupying the chair in which the too great kindness of the Fellows of the Royal Society had placed him ; but he valued it the more from that reflection. That society had been greatly honoured by having such a distinction conferred upon it ; and he spoke the sentiments of every member of the Royal Society when he returned to the company his sincere thanks on their behalf for tins distinction. To take an active part on such an occasion must be gratifying to every friend of science and of virtue ; but, however much pleasure might be felt in participating in the proceedings of that day, and doing honour to the memory of a truly great man, still far more satisfaction must be derived from a consideration of the good effects which such a meeting must produce. Men who had done good service to their country, whether in the field of science or elsewhere, were entitled to its grateful remembrance. The display of that remembrance was calculated to incite others to an honorable struggle for similar distinction ; and he was sure that when these proceedings should become known, they would tend greatly to promote the cultivation of the science of natural history. On the merits of the illustrious man whose birth they had met to commemorate, although any remark from him must be unnecessary, he could not avoid saying a few words. The state of science at the period in which 488- APPENDIX. Ray lived must be so well known to those present, that it must be useless for him to refer' to it, except to remind them of the difficulties with which he had to contend. To show the extent and importance of the labours of Raj, he would mention some of the principal works which he had produced. Among them were ' Historia Plautarum Generalis ;' ' Catalogus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam, &c. with Appendices ;' ' Methodus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam,' &c. ; ' Catalogus Plantarum Angliae et Insularum adjacen- tium ;' 'Catalogus Stirpium in exteris regionibus observatorum ;' ' Synopsis Methodica Animalium Quadrupedum, &c. ;' ' Synopsis Methodica Avium et Piscium;' 'Methodus Insectorum;' 'Observations made in a Journey through part of the Low Countries, Germany, Italy, and France, with a Catalogue of Plants, not natives of England;' to which is added, 'An Account of the Travels of F. Willughby through Spain, and a Collection of Travels into the Eastern Countries ;' ' A Collection of English Proverbs and unusual Provincial Words ;' ' Dictionarium Trilingue ;' ' An Itinerary through England;' ' Translation of Bishop Wilkins's real Character;' various sermons and theological works. The work published by Mr. P. Willughby, under the title of ' Ornithologise libri tres,' &c. was known to be principally by Ray. In the ' Philosophical Transactions ' were printed, among other papers, On the manner in which Spiders project their Threads ; On the Dis- section of a Porpoise; On the Swimming-bladders of Fish ; On the Effects of Poisonous Roots, and the Virtues of the Leaves of Hemlock; and Observations (1699) made on the Comet that appeared at Rome ; and the last of his works which he should mention was 'The Wisdom of God manifested in the Creation.' This had been very frequently reprinted, and was clearly the prototype of a late celebrated book on the same subject. He had read the work of Ray with infinite delight, and it was alike an honour to his head and to his heart. But although his productions were so numerous, it was by their excellence that they commanded attention. Ray was the first who reduced natural history to a system, and prepared the way for those more perfect arrangements which have since had so salutary an influence on its cultivation. It was to his penetrating genius and indefatigable exertions that the civilized world was indebted for many most important discoveries. If he did not himself always arrive at the goal, he pointed out the road ; and it was to his pursuing the course he had commenced that we owed our present advanced state in many particulars of natural history. Haller felt now much he owed to Ray, and he termed him " the greatest botanist in the memory of man." Ray very early distinguished himself. While at college he acquired a high fame, and some of the exercises he performed there have been found to oe worthy of preservation even to this period. They formed the foundation of some of his late and important works. " Of this inestimable writer," says Stillingfleet, in his ' Calendar of Flora,' " whose works do honour to our nation, as a late disciple of the great Swedish naturalist justly observes, I cannot help saying further, that no writer till his time ever advanced all the branches of natural history so much as that sagacious, diligent, English observer, whose systematical spirit threw a light on everything he undertook, and contributed not a little to those great and wonderful improvements which have since been introduced." He was invited to become a member of the Royal Society in 1667 ; and he happily lived in amity with some of the most able and most virtuous men of his age. It was to do justice to the memory of such a man that they were then assembled, and he would not longer detain them from drinking APPENDIX. . 489 with gratitude and veneration to the memory of the disciple of Bacon and friend of Locke, the intimate friend and contemporary of Willughby, and the precursor of Haller and Linnseus. After toasts to " The Memory of Linnseus," and " The Improvement of Natural History," Mr. Bicheno (Secretary to the Linnaean Society) proposed, " Prosperity to the Royal Society." In giving such a toast, and in such a company, all remark must be unnecessary ; still he might be allowed to say, that he pro- posed it from his heart, and that he did so principally from having, in an official situation in another society, experienced the good effects which proceeded from its fostering care, its kindly protection, and the powerful assistance it extended to other societies, especially to that to which he belonged, when they had arrived at maturity. He then pronounced a warm eulogy on Ray, whom Cuvier had justly called un Methodiste, and whose works he had studied, still with fresh advantage, for the last twenty years. Ray was indeed a methodist : he was the first who arranged the grand out- lines' ^t natural history, and enabled every one to become acquainted with the groups, the grand formations of nature. With the minute particulars of his subject, Ray had not much interfered; but he had originated that system of arrangement which gave perspicuity to the labours of others, and had accurately described the character of nature's grand operations. No doubt he had gathered much from Grynseus ; but still, even in the application of what he had gathered, he had done a vast deal. Most ages were proud of the advances they had made in science. While, however, we boasted o, systematic arrangement, it should be remembered that, although the natural method was too much overlooked during the latter part of the last century, Ray first discovered its value. As a zoologist, he was not prepared to speak of that great man; but in that branch of natural history with which he might pretend to some acquaintance, he felt an admiration for his genius beyond the power of language to express. The Chairman, on proposing " Prosperity to the Linnsean Society," gave a sketch of its origin. It was, in truth, a branch of the Royal Society. It had been formed on the suggestion of the late Sir Joseph Banks, in conse- quence of the multiplicity of business the Royal Society had been called upon to attend to. How well it had discharged its duties the scientific world well knew. Mr. Lambert, Vice-President of the Linnsean Society, returned thanks; and Mr. E. Forster, Vice-President and Treasurer, said, that born and educated in the same county with Ray, he had been taught from his infancy to admire that great man ; and his admiration soon became veneration, from a study of his writings. Nearly forty years ago he had first visited his tomb, before it had long since undergone a repair at the expense of a gentleman present (Sir Thomas Gery Cullum). In his pilgrimages to Ray's tomb,* he had felt * It has lately been repaired again by Mr. Walker, the rector of Black Notley. Mr. Tyson, in a letter to Mr. Cole, 1779, says, "One part of my ramble was to visit the last residence of that pious philosopher, Mr. Ray, Black Notley, con amore. I made a drawing of the church, and of his monu- ment in the churchyard. The parish clerk had such remembrance of him from others, that he related various incidents. The clerk pointed out to me the farm-house which was once his dwelling. I there saw his library (that is, the room which once contained his books), and bis garden below it, about an acre of ground. Here the father of English naturalists lived em- ployed and happy." 490 APPENDIX. great delight iu seeing also the place of his birth, the church in which he had been baptised ; and in entering the house in which this good man had lived and died, it was pleasing to reflect that he was treading the very boards which Ray had trodden, and that he was looking, perhaps, on trees and plants which Ray had admired. The Linnaean Society was proud of being thought so nearly connected with the chief labours of Ray ; but that great philosopher ought not to be considered merely as a botanist, we must look on his character as a man. " His religion was pure and free from cant ; his piety sincere, and without affectation ; his morality consistent, and his manners gentle, affable and kind to those around him." One proof only of his integrity need be mentioned, his having resigned his fellowship ; and, though reduced to poverty, refused all further preferment in the Church, because he would not declare that those who had sworn the solemn league and covenant might break their oaths ; not that he had himself signed it, for he thought it an unlawful oath ; yet he could not conscientiously make the declaration required. " Prosperity to the Geological Society" having been given, the President (Dr. Fitton), in returning thanks, stated his concurrence in all that had been said respecting the great merit of Ray as a naturalist, and the excellence of his private character. Ray was in fact, he said, an honest man ; he gave up station and emolument rather than swear to what he did not believe ; and if such examples of integrity were not found amongst those who devote themselves to the pursuit of truth, where else, he would ask, should they be looked for ? In geology, Ray made many sagacious observations, and enter- tained some opinions much beyond the state of the subject in his own time. But our chairman had justly stated, that geology, as a distinct branch of knowledge, had not then obtained a name ; and in fact it supposes such an advanced state of scientific inquiry, that it scarcely could have existed till a much later period. The geologist, it is true, is in a great measure nothing more than a physical geographer, and all that constitutes his exclusive business lies within a very narrow compass ; but he requires a high degree of cultivation in several other departments of inquiry with which his own is allied, especially in chemistry, zoology, and botany ; for what without these would be geology at the present day ? Instead of regretting this state of dependence, he was rather disposed to rejoice at it, since it tended to produce more frequent intercourse with those who are engaged in the pursuit of other branches of natural science ; so that when he looked about him in such an assembly as the present one, he felt that he was surrounded with bene- factors ; and great as the merit of Ray unquestionably was, as an original observer of the earth's structure, he was disposed to rate still more highly the services he had rendered to geology, by contributing to the perfection of those other departments of natural history, to which his attention was prin- cipally devoted. But there were more general views, which made him rejoice that a meeting like this had been brought together. It proved, and must if possible contribute to increase, the cordiality of intercourse and feeling that distinguish, so very creditably, the naturalists of this country ; and it tended also to increase their power and resources. It had been said, perhaps with too much truth, that England, notwithstanding the number and wide distri- bution of its colonies, has done much less to advance the natural history of foreign countries than might have been expected : occasional meetings like the present must facilitate the inquiries of our naturalists, not only by enabling them to combine their own exertions, but by impressing upon the government of the country the importance and value of the researches in which they arc engaged. In a country like ours, the government itself could APPENDIX. 491 not, perhaps, be expected to originate measures for the improvement of natural knowledge ; it is for you, therefore, to suggest them ; the govern- ment can have no other wish than to give effect to the suggestions of dis- interested and well-informed men. On every ground, therefore, both of general feeling, and as a member of a society, to the success of which the progress of the other departments of natural history is almost essential, he was happy that this meeting had been held, and Lad peculiar pleasure in being present upon such an occasion. Mr. Green ough passed a high eulogy on the character of Ray ; and said that the meeting gave a strong proot that honorable exertions were never thrown away. Independent of the inward pleasure they gave, they were sure of receiving the admiration of the good and the informed. After some remarks upon the rapid spread of the study of geology, he concluded by expressing his hope that that science would daily become more general. " The Zoological Society" was then given; and Mr. Vigors, in returning thanks, spoke of the high sense now entertained of Ray's merits as a philo- sophigj^zoologist, and alluded to the advantages which were to be expected from the establishment of the Zoological Society. On the healths of the naturalists of Great Britain and Ireland being drunk, coupled with the name of Mr. Kirby, the rev. gentleman said that he had never before addressed a public assembly of a festive character ; but he felt it right to take that opportunity of testifying his admiration of the great and good Ray. He was great as a natural philosopher, and great also as a moral philosopher. He penetrated the world of science further than any of his contemporaries, and by his exertions formed a bright constellation of information, whose beams had served as a guide and Deacon to more modern labourers. In entomology, the branch of science to which he himself was devoted, the naturalist of the present time was indeed deeply indebted to Ray, who had combined the system of Aristotle with that of Swammer- dam, and cleared the way for Linnaeus. Much had been done to unveil nature, but still much remained to be done ; and he hoped that a course of perseverance would be pursued until all was accomplished. The healths of Cuvier and Jussieu, and the naturalists of Europe, were drunk with much approbation. Dr.Buckland's health, and "Prosperity to the University of Oxford," having been most cordially received ; the learned professor addressed the meeting as follows : " The President of the Royal Society has already informed you, by a detailed examination of his extensive works, how great are the advantages which natural history has derived from the labours and the genius of Ray ; and in the presence of so many illustrious botanists as I now see assembled in this place, it would be highly presumptuous in me to say one word on the benefits, the inestimable benefits, which he has conferred on the science of botany. My excellent friend and colleague, Professor Sedgwick, were he now present (and I regret that severe illness alone has caused his absence), would tell you how extensively the influence of his exertions and his example have operated to excite a taste for natural knowledge iu the University of Cambridge, a taste which he, a member of the same college, and animated with the same spirit as the immortal Ray, maintains and keeps alive in the present generation with a zeal and talent worthy to follow his great prede- cessor in the field of natural science. " As a member of the University of Oxford, I rejoice to bear most ample testimony to the lasting benefits which the exertions of the age and friends of Ray have transmitted to that scat of learning, to which it is my happiness 492 APPENDIX. to belong. The labours of Lister, Plot, and Ashmole, of Lloyd, and of Robert Boyle, and the establishment of the Botanic Garden and of the Ash- molean Museum, mark in our University the burst of a kindred flame to that which Ray had excited in the sister University, and laid in Oxford the foundation of that right method of investigation, and of making collections in natural history, which have been transmitted to our own time. In the department of science to which my own attention is peculiarly directed, the genius of Ray had made advances that would do honour to the present day. In his 'Treatise on the Wisdom of God in the Creation,' he points out examples of design and utility in the form and structure and composition of our planet, founded on extensive and accurate observation of facts, and illus- trated with sound argument, mixed with much good feeling and good sense. And in his ' Discourses on Chaos, Creation, and Deluge,' there is a know- ledge of many phenomena of the earth's surface, the discovery of which the present generation are too apt to consider as exclusively their own : that important and leading doctrine of the Huttonian theorv, which attributes the elevation of islands, mountains, and continents to the force of vapour acting from below, is set forth in words that form almost an exact parallel to the statements of the same theory in Playfair's ' Illustrations ;' the theory in neither case was new ; it was, indeed, handed down from high antiquity, but it is illustrated by Ray with such abundant arguments and examples, derived from the effects of earthquakes and volcanoes which in his time raged so terribly in Jamaica, and with such copious and judicious references to the authentic records of the elevation of Thera, Therasia, and other vol- canic islands, that the essence and leading features of much that has been written since, on the theory of elevation and disturbance by subterranean vapours, have been anticipated by Ray. His remarks on the ' Structure of Mountains,' as containing and affording access to metallic veins, their influence on climate, and use in collecting clouds for the formation of rain and production of rivers ; his observations also on the general diffusion of springs, and their never-failing supply of water, as derived from rains and dews, show much accurate observation, and point out correct conclusions which have been often repeated, but rarely surpassed, by his followers on these subjects. "In another curious and extensive branch of geological inquiry which relates to the history of fossil shells, he contended (in opposition to the pre- vailing theories of his predecessors and of many of his contemporaries) that they were not accidental results of the plastic power and the sport of nature, but the real and true exuviae of animals that formerly inhabited them. He contended further, that these shells for the most part belong to species un- known in our existing waters, but recommends caution iu pronouncing them to be absolutely extinct until we know the contents of the bottoms of all our deepest seas. Can it be said that modern geology has advanced on this point much further than Ray? " Again, with respect to the prevailing taste and studies of his time, he complains that men are too much occupied in the study of words, and too regardless of the study of things ; exclusively absorbed, in attending to the works of the creature, and regardless of the woi-ks of the Creator ; admiring and collecting carved ivory and curious instruments of human invention, but insensible of the exquisite and ten thousand times more admirable mechanism " He complains further, that men are too much disposed to rely on the authority of others, and too little willing to undertake the labour of investi- gating nature for themselves ; he stimulates them to exertion by the hope of useful discoveries, any one of which may amply reward the labours of a life. APPENDIX. 493 " Such were the feelings and such the principles by which his energetic soul was ever actuated; such the exertions to which he called on his con- temporaries; constant and strenuous exertions to extend the sphere of human knowledge and useful discovery, and thereby advance the welfare of mankind. And surrounded as I now am by a host of individuals, the most illustrious members of the numerous learned and philosophical societies which in our day have arisen to adorn and benefit our country, I feel that you all not only sympathise with me in admiration of the great example he has set us, but yourselves rejoice to follow in those paths of useful labour which Ray not only pointed out, but was himself indefatigable to pursue. To do just honour to the memory of so great and good a man is the object of this day : a man whom as an individual we must ever esteem, love, and venerate, and whose name the annals of philosophy will never cease to record among the first founders and benefactors of natural science." On giving " The University of Cambridge," the Chairman took notice of the expulsion of Ray from that University, which harsh act he was disposed to attnJuite to the persecuting spirit which raged without the walls of that learned seminary. He could say of many of the present members of Trinity College, that they regret that the violence of the times had compelled their predecessors to acquiesce in the retirement of Mr. Ray from his fellowship, for refusing to subscribe a declaration altogether unwarrantable. Oxford had as much to answer for in regard to her treatment of Mr. Locke. The Rev. Professor Henslow returned thanks. He remarked that the University of Cambridge had, so far as the marble or the canvas could make amends, endeavoured to atone for the little, or, he should rather say, the great, injustice which Mr. Ray had sustained. The bust of that great man was ranged by the side of those of Newton, Boyle, Barrow, Dryden, and Willughby ; and his portrait was considered to confer honour on the place in which it was. But Cambridge might with justice boast of possessing a far more powerful proof than those of the estimation in which it held the genius and conduct of Ray. His spirit still lived there : and although the study of natural history had not yet been brought to that degree of perfec- tion there which it might be, he hoped the day was not far off when it would command general attention : such pursuits he considered the best correctives of fanaticism and bigotry. " The Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London," and the healths of Baron Humboldt and Dr. Wollaston having been severally drunk, the Chairman retired, amidst the applauses of the company. The health of Mr. Children, who suggested the commemoration, was then given with hearty approbation, and the company separated, after having spent a day which they will long remember with delight. INDEX. ABIES, 144. Acacia indica, 355. Accentor inodularis, 117. Aceras antkropophora, 5. AchillwcPtarmaca, 384. Actsea spicata, 25-6. Adianthum aureum, 47. Adiantum album, 299. Adonis autumnaiis, 5. Adwa, 115. Agaricus piperatus, 124. Agrostis spica venti, 60. Aiuga Cbamsepitys, 5. Alauda arborea, 122. Alcea indica, 179. Alchimilla vulgaris, 14, 45. Alga marina, 190. Alsine, 81. aquatica, 46. scandens, 383. Althrea, 350. Ambergrise, 195, 464. Amarum, 214. Amber, yellow, 49, 52. Amomum, 469. contrayeron, 348. Amsterdam, plants in, 331. Anagallis lutea, 45. Anas acuta, 16. arctica, 114, 131. boschas, 149. crecca, 149. penelope, 16. Angel, sylvestris, 216. Anser leucopsis, 33. segetum, 183. Anthemis tinctoria, 3. nobilis, 214. Anthus pratensis, 96. Apium palustre, 314. Apocyna, 351. Araneum rufum, 30. Araneis, 36. Arenaria peploides, 385. Arctium Lappa, 373. Ardex cinerea, 106. Areca, 356. Aron, 352. Artemisia campestris, 85. Arundo, 464. Asclepias, 351. Vincetoxacum,133. Ascyron tomentosum, 319. Aselli, 113. Aspkodelus palustris, 388. Asplenium rkizophyllum, 288. Asterias, 213. Astragalus boeticus, 108. sesameus, 108. Atriplex maritima, 186-91 . Attractilys lutea, 133. Avellana quadrifida, 306. Avellanae purpatrices, 463. Balsaams from oils, 144. Bangue, 160. BAUHINTJS, 131. Bardana, 373. Barleria hystrix, 355. BARNHAM, Mr., 9. Barnacles, 105. Barberry, 355. Bastoons, St. Paul's, 104. Bats, 359. Bee maggots, 97. Beetles, 364, 455. Bernicle, 33. Bidcns, 400. Birds in Jamaica, 462. Bistorta, 46. alpina, 133, 135. major vulgaris, 27. 496 INDEX. Bittoun, 106. Blackbirds, water, 257. Blita, 387. Blitum americanum, 140. Blood, movement of the, 310. Blood, transfusion of, 22. Blood, venous and arterial, 283. Bluecaps, 127. Boccarell, 101 . Bombycilla garrula, 183, 418. Bononian Phosphorus Lapis, 152. Booby, 111. ' Botaurus stellaris, 106. Branlin, 183. Bret, 94. BrHl, 94. Brontiae, 155. Broom-tree, 29. Berberis vulgaris, 355. Buccinum, 107. petrified, 186. Bunting, 117. Bupleurum rotundifolium, 5. Bursa pastoris, 44, 56. Buteo vulgaris, 50. Butterfish, 128. Buzzard, bald, 50. legs of, 50. wood, 50. Cactus opuntia, 143, 147. Csesalpinus, 355. Cakile maritima, 385. Calabrian ash, 369. Calceolus Marise, 25. Calligo, 160. Camelina, 44. Campanula, 109. latifolia, 27, 45. Canary birds, 121. Cannavan Beg, 372. Capillaries, 466. Capilli veneris, 45. Cardona, 7. Carduus heterophyllus, 27- Carlina sylvestris, 216. Carpinus, 43. Catananche cserulea, 131, 136. Carthamus lanatus, 133. Caryophyllon, 377. Plinii, 289. Caryophyllus, 3, 48. Cedar, Jamaica, 302. Celandine, 355. Cenconthatolli, 462. Centaureum luteum, 54. Cephalanthera grandiflora, 5, 85. Cereus, 468. Cerastium arvense, 56. Chamacistus plantag., 133. Chelidonium majus, 355. Chicken, blood in a, 283. Chilblains, 361. Chlora perfoliata, 54. Chenopodium maritimum, 387. Chondrilla Sesamoides, 137. Cichorium pratense, 131. Cimex, 87, 455. Cistum, 21. Coal plants, 291. Cocoa nut, 302. Coclilearia Armoracea, 46. Cochlea, 22. citrina, 110. Coccus Cacti, 189. Cod-fishes, 113. Codling, 113. Coffee fruit, 193. Colchicura, 46. Colocasia, 352. Colymbus, 131, 134, 148. Conchula persica, 107. Condor, 275. Convallaria Polygonatum, 26. Conyzaacris, 135, 147. canadensis, 133, 135. Cork trees, 143. Cortex, 190. Cornus suecica, 61. sanguinea, 276. Corvus corone, 96. monedula, 96. Cotula inodora, 215. fcetida, 215. Corymbiferse, 400. Crepis vesicaria, 131. Christophoriana, 25. Crocus autumnalis, 46. Crows, 96. Chrysanthemum, 3. Cuckoo, 278. Cucubalus baccifer, 383. Cucubalum Plin., 383. Curruca, 117. cinerea, 96. Custard apple, 195. INDEX., 497 ress po Cypripedium calccolus, 25, 276. Cystopteris fragilis, 45. Dab, 95. Daws, 96. Death-watch, 400. Delphinus, 39. Dentellaria, 355. Dianthus deltoides, 48, 60. Digitalis purpurea, 45. Dils, 192. Dildoe tree, 195, 468. Dioscorea alata, 288. Dog, a mad, cure of the bite of, 354. Dogsbane, 351. Douqjcers, 134. Draba muralis, 44. Dracontium, 352. Dullysk, 305. Dumb cane, 464. Eagles, 257. Echeneis remora, 116. Echini spatagi, 155. Echium marmum, 61. Eels, breeding of, 127. efficacy in hydrophobia, 98, Elephant's skeleton, 473. Emberiza miliaria, 117. Empetrum nigrum, 44. Epipactis ovalis, 27. Equisetum, 291. fcetidum, 386. Erigeron canadense, 133, 147. Erica, 140. baccifera nigra, 44. Erodium moschatum, 46. Eruca, 62, 329. Eryngium campestre, 276. Erythraea rubicula, 117. Euphorbia hiberna, 319. , Excrescences, vegetable, 88. Falcon, haggard, 121. Faugel, 356. Fetu, 114. Ficidula:, 96. Ficus indica, 143, 147. Fieldfare, 95, 183. Fishes' blood, 283. Filicula lusitanica, 395. Filix. saxatilis, 45. Flair, 113. Flairmaid, 118. Flayre maydes, 16. Fluke, 95. Foenum burgundiacum, 133. Fountain, boiling, 136. Foxfern, 291. Frankenia lams, 140, 217. Fratercula arctica, 117, 149. Frogs, 399. Frumeutum indicum, 308, 469. Fuci, 299. Fucus spongiosus, 186. Fuligula ferma, 16. marila, 54. Fumaria alba, 47. claviculata, 47. Fungi, 299. Fungilla canaria, 121. Fungus campaniformis, 158. piperatus, 124. Gadida;, 113. Galeatea, 188. Galeopsis ochraleuca, 26. Galium, verum, 124. Gallium, 291. cruciaturn, 26. luteuro, 124. Gandia, 8. Garrulus bohemicus, 183. German silk tail, 418. Geranium columbinum, 5. museum, 46. sylvaticum, 26. Gentiana pueumonanthe, 3, 27. Glastum, 47. Glossopetrae, 153, 213. Gnats, 402. generation of, 401. history of, 455. Gnaphalium maritimum, 217- Gossipium, 145. herbaceum, 288. Graye's farrier, 463. Gramen, 109. dactylon, 328. Grass, 3. Green cormorant, 33. Guaiacum, 302. Gurnellus vulgaris, 128. Haddock, 113. Hairworm, 97. Halibut, 94. 32 498 INDEX. p, way to make, 101. Hart's tongues, 159. Hauke butterfly, 33. Heath-throstle,' 125. Hedgehog, blood of a, 283. Helleborine, 85. Hemlock- water drop-wort, 313. Hemlock water-wort, 304. Hemp, 52. Hemionitis, 298. Herba dysenterica, 320. Herniaria, 382, 384. Herniaria lenticulata, 217. Hermau's Paradisus, 349. Heron, 106. Herpes, 325. Herring fishery, 87. Hespens, 47, 44. Hibiscus, 350. Hieracium, 44. umbellatum, 14. rectum rigidum, 14. Himantopus, 462. Hippoglossus vulgaris, 94. Hippophse rhamnoides, 45, 276. Hirundo rustiea, 117. Hockesdon earth, 177. Holcus bicolor, 308. saccharatus, 308. Honey dews, 280. Homionitis, 139. Hornbeam, 43. Horse ants, 30, 36. Horses, blindness in, 23. Hyacinthus ambrosinus, 397. Hypocistidem, 21. Hypcricum, 109, 144. elodes, 319. Ichneumones, 88. Ilex coccigera, 137. Isatis tinctoria, 47. Jacea, 109. purpurea, 132. Jaundice, remedy for, 86. yellow, 84. Jesuit's bark, 190. Juncus conglomeratus, 320. cyperoides, 328. effusus, 320. Juniper, 302. Juniperus, 144. oxcedrus, 137. Kali, 186. geniculatum, 190. Kermes, 86, 96. Ketmia, 350. Knoutberry, 44. Lactuca marina, 192. muralis, 44. sylvestris, 54. virosa, 54. Lanner, 101. Lantern fish, 95. Lapathum folio acuto, 3. Lari, 474. Lark, 278. Lathy rus maritimus, 276. sylvestris, 45. Leaf, how to take the shape of a, 94. Leucoium, 44. LHWYD, EDWARD, notice of, 482. Lignum Brasilianum, 467. sapou, 467. Ling, 113. Linota cannabina, 33. Linum catharticum, 384. LISTEK, Dr., 11. List of local words, 418. Lithospermum maritimum, 61. Locustella, 96. Locusts, 281. Logwood, 468. Lonchitis, 298. aspera, 291. Loom, 177. Lota molva, 113. Lotum pentaphylloii siliquosum villosum, 21. Lotus, 47. hirsutus, 21 Loxia curvirostra, 6. Luciniae, 138. Lumbrici lati, 321. Lunago, 145. Lunaria radiata, 179. LychAts, 56, 179, 383. diurna, 44. sylvestris, 44. viscosa, 463. Lycium indicum, 355. Lycopodium, 124. alpinum, 43. helveticum, 43. Lysimachia nemorum, 45. INDEX. 499 Macreuses, 131, 132, 135, 147, 149. Mallard, 149. Mallow, Indian, 350. Malva, 350. Mammee, 195. Manchinella, 195. Maiidioca, 463. Mangrove, 195. Manna corporis, 6. Marchantia polymorpha, 387. Maryland plants, 337. Matricaria chamomilla, 211. Mayds, 15. Medica, 179. Medicago, 179. sativa, 133. Mentntrum, 45, 47. Menstruum, 92. Menyanthes trifoliata, 319. Merganser, 150. Mergi, 148. Mergus albellus, 16. cirratus, 150. serrator, 150. Merlangus carbonarius, 113. vulgaris, 113. Meura athamanticuni, 26. . Mevisses, 122. Milium, 464. indicum, 308, 327. Milkwood, 289. Milvus serugiuosus, 50, 53. vulgaris, 50. Mistletoe, 60. Moorcock, 33. Moorhen, 33. MOOKE, THOS., epitaph on, 91. will of, 90. Morrhua a?glefinus, 113. vulgaris, 113. Morts, 127. Moschatelliua, 384, Musca, 456. Muscelin, 160. Muscus clavatus, 43. corniculatus, 43. denticulatus, 22, 47. denticulatus major, 43. lycopodium, 124. pyroides, 158. pixidatus, 158. Mushrooms, 99, 47. Musci, 299. Naucratcs ductor, 116. Nasturtium petrseum, 56. Narthecium ossifragum, 46. Negroes, blood of, 120. Neria, 351. Nerites fluviatilis, 107, 110. Nidularia campanulata, 158. Noddy, 463. Nymphaea alba, 4. Oak apples, 90. (Enanthe aquatica. 313. crocata, 304. Oidemia nigra, 131. Oleum petroleum, 7. Ornus sive fraxinus, 44. Ouiscidae, 106. Ophiomorphites, 155. Opium, 52, 21. Orobus sylvaticus, 61. Osmund royal, 291. Oxycedrus, 302. Palmipedes tridactylse, 131. Palustria thy mi, 46. Papilios, 328, 364. English, 410. Paris Garden Catalogue, 185. Passer dornesticus, 96. stultus, 462. Pedata, 400. Pedata tantum, 400. Peltidea canina, 98. Peplis portula, 387. Pepper, Jamaica, 470. Perdix montaua, 462. Petasites, 373. Phaeton aethereus, 111. Phaleu!E, 328, 431, 455. Phalacrocorax carbo, 112. graculus, 33. Phaseolus, 193. Phyllitides, 302. Phyllitis, 139, 298, 469. Phthiriasis, 284. Pigeons, 114, 462. Pelicanus sula, 111. Pilot fishes, 116. Pimpernel, 47. Pimpinichi, 469. Pink, 60. Pinus, 137. Pirmi)inichi, 289. Pistachia trifolia, 356. 500 INDEX. Pistolochia, 357. Pisum arborescens, 159. Plaise, 95. Plantago psyllium, 133. Plants, rare, at Chelsea, list of, 15. Platella fluviatilis, 107, 111. Platessa floras, 95. limanda, 95. pola, 95. vulgaris, 95. Plumbago europaea, 355. Pneumonanthe, 3. Pocker, 16. Pole, 95. Polemonium cseruleum, 26, 57, 115. petraeum, 56. Polygonum, 140, 217, 384. viviparum, 25, 26, 133. angustissimum, 3 Bistorta, 27, 346. Polypodium, 298. plumosum, 138. Potentilla fruticosa, 61. Porcelain shells, 107. Porpesse, 39. Poterium sanguisorba, 383. Prickly pear, 468. Proverbs, list of, 87. Primula farinosa, 27. Prunella, 372. Prunus padus, 27. Psyllium erectum, 13S. Pteris crispa, 26. Pulmonaria masculosa, 138. officinalis, 133. Puffin, 117, 114, 134, 149. Pusillum veriniculatum, 217. Pyrola rotundifolia, 27, 44. vulgaris, 27. nostras, 44 Pyrus aucuparia, 44. Pytolochia retica, 358. Quinquina, 144. Rabihorcado, 279. Radiola millegrana, 385. Raia batis, 113. oxyrhvnchos, 113 clavata, 16, 113, 118. lajvis, 113. Isevis oculata, 113. Raphanus rusticamis, 46. Raspberry, 44. RAY, second centenary of birth, 484. Reseda crispa, 133. lutea, 133. Respiration, primary uses, 302. Reticula scutulata, 66. Rhamnus primus, 45. Rhinobatos, 113. Rhodomenia palmata, 192. Rhombus asper, 95. maximus, 94. megastoma, 95. vulgaris, 9 4. Ring-puzle r 125. Riverius, 311. Robin redbreast, 117. Rosa spinosissima, 47. sylvestris, 46. marina, 21. Royal Society, 109. Rubus chamaamoms, 27. Rumex maritimus, 3. Rust, eggs in the, 320.- Sabina sylvestris, 43. Salicornia fruticosa, 186, 190. Sal fossilis, 7. . ' Salk amygdalina, 60. angustifoh'a, 45. reticulata, 61. repens, 45. peiitandra, 27. Salmo salar, 127, 183. eriox, 127. trutta, 127. Salmon, 127. Salsoia kali, 386. Sanatados, 354. Sapo, 144. Sardina, 143. Sorgurn, 464. Sardone, 143. Savanna bird, 278. Saxifraga aizoides, 26. oppositifolia, 26. Scarabsei, 329. Schoberia maritima, 387. Scolopax rusticula, 183. Scolopendrium vulgare, 139. Scorodonia, 44. Scorjrions, 137. Scoter, 131. Scyphophorus, 158. SCOTT, GEORGE, notice of, 481. Sea-snails, 128. - INDEX. 501 Sea-wrack, 197. Sedum, 3. aizoides, 3. anglicum, 27. arboresc., 159. Seeds of plants, 114. Sempervivuni arboreum, 159. Serpentaria, 357. Sesamoides, 131. Salamanticum, 10G, 463. Seseli pratense, 132. tortuosum, 62. Shark, skill of a, 115. Shell-like stones, origin of, 151. Sheldin, 16. Sideritis Scordioides, 133. Sfajjs pratensis, 132, 137. Silcne nutans, 48, 56, 60. otites, 463. Siliquose trees, 317. Silver, native, in spar, 292. Sisymbrium -Sophia, 355. Sium aquaticum, 314. Skate, 113. Smew, 16. Snails, 107. Snake-stones, 195. Snap-apple, 6. Solanum dulcamara, 45. lignosum, 45. Soland goose, 149. Sole, 95. Solea vulgaris, 95. Sopliia chirurgorum, 355. Sorgurn, 308, 327, 464. . Sonchus Isevis, 44. Sows, 106. Sparrows, 96, 117. solitary, 122. Spermaceti, 8. Spiders, flying of, 84. Squatina, 113. Statice spathulata, 215. Stellaria uliginosa, 46. Stirpium Luzonicaruin, 378. Staeehas citrina, 131. Sula alba, 112, 149. Swallow, 117. Swallow-worts, 351. Sylvia sylvicola, 96. Tadorua vulpauser, 16. Taearum 377. Teal, 149. Teesdalia nudicaulis, 56. Teucrium Chamsedrys, 133. Scorodoma, 44. Tetrao tetrix, 33. Thlaspi, 25, 44. alpestre, 25, 26. Thornbacks, 15, 118. eggs of, 119. Throstleheath, 122. Tiger hunt, 360. Tilia fcemina, 43. parvifolia, 43. Tillandsia lingulata, 290. Tithymalus hiberuicus, 319. Titlarks, 96. Toddy tree, 469. Tofiefdia palustris, 388. Torch plant, 469. Tracheiium majus, 45. Trees, extravasations of, 188. bleeding, 80. north side of, 93. Trefoil, 132. Trichomaues, 298. Trientalis Europa:a, 25, 26, 61. Trifolium folliculateum, 132. rcsupinatum, 132. Trolh'us europseus, 27. Tropic bird, 111. Trvgon pastinaca, 16, 113, US. Turbut, 94. Turdus pilaiis, 95, 183. Turdus torquatus, 122. Turritis glabra, 45. hirsuta, 133. minor, 133. vulgatior, 45. Turtles, Barbadoes, 106. Tussilago pctasitcs, 373. Unicornu fossile, 473. Urtica, 308. Vaccinia nubis, 27- nigra, 46. rubra, 33. Yaccinium oxycoccos, 46. myrtillus, 46. uhginosuin, 62. vitis-idsea, 33. Valeriana graca, 26, 45, 57. Venus, motions of, 22. Vcrmis setaceus, 97. Veronica crccta, 133. 502 INDEX. Veronica triphyllos, 60, 85. Wild birds, to. tame, 117. Vicia sesamacca, 108. Wild rose, excrescences on, 89. Violet stones, 7. Willow, 81. Viper, bite of a, 354. Willows, weeping, 188. Viseum caryophylloides, 290. Woodlark, 122. Volatiles, history of, 106. Woodpecker, name derived from, Vultur gryplms, 275. 150. Worms bred in the human body, Waxwing, 183. 284. Widgeon, 16. Whewer, 16. Xanthium, 351. Whiff, 95. Xylon, 145, 288. Whitethroat, 96. ; herbaceum, 469. THE END. I'ltlM'BU BY C. AND J. 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