The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Daniel Coxe (1640 - 1730)

Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/37319?docPos=2 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Coxe Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A continuation of Dr. Daniel Coxe's discourse begun in Numb. 107. touching the Identity of all volatil salts and vinous spirits; together with two surprising experiments concerning vegetable salts, perfectly resembling the shape of the plants, whence they had been obtained.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A discourse denying the præ-existence of alcalizate or fixed salt in any subject, before it were exposed to the action of the fire: To which is added a confirmation of an assertion, deliver'd in numb. 101. p. 5. q. 6. Of these tracts, viz. That alcalizate or fixed salts extracted out of the ashes of vegetables, do not differ from each other: The same likewise affirm d of volatil salts and vinous spirits; by the learned Dr. Daniel Coxe.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A way of extracting a volatil salt and spirit out of vegetables; intimated in numb. 100. p. 7002; experimented, and imparted by the learned and intelligent Dr. Daniel Coxe, Fellow of the R. Society.
 References in Documents:
Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685)
CHAP. I. Of ANIMAL BODIES PETRIFY'D; and such like.

Et procul a pelago Conchae jucure [jacure] marinae. Ovid. Metam. L:xv. V.264. ITIt hath been much disputed, and is not yet resolv'd, of many subterraneal Bodies, which have the semblance of Animals, or Parts of them, Whether they were ever such, or no. And I am not ignorant of the Arguments offer'd on both hands. If I may speak my own sense a little, Why not? Is there any thing repugnant in the matter? Why not a petrify'd Shell, as well as wood? Or is the place? If Shells are found under ground, far from Sea, or in Hills, unchanged; as we are sure they are; then why not petrify'd? Or is the form, to which no Species of Shells doth answer? The assertion is precarious: no man can say, how many are known to some one or other; much less, how many are not known: I have reason to believe, that scarce the one half of the under Species of Shells are known to this day. And so for Artisicials: if Coyns are found, every day under ground, then why not sometimes also Pictures, and other Works, in time petrify'd? And although Nature doth often imitate her self; yet to make her in any case to imitate Art, is unphilosophical and absurd: for the one, a natural reason may be given, not for the other.

On the other side: although Nature cannot be said to imitate Art: yet it may fall out, that the effects of both may have some likeness. Those white Concretions which the Italians, from the place where they are found, call Confetti de Tibuli, are sometimes so like round Confects, and the rough kind of Sugar'd-Almonds, that by the eye they cannot be distinguish'd. To call these Petrify'd Sugar-Plums, were senseless. What if we find in some Stones under ground the likeness of a Cross? Doth not Sal Ammoniac often shoot into millions of little ones? Or do we find in other Stones the resemblance of Plants? Why not naturally there, as well as, in Frosty Weather, upon Glass Windows? Or as Salts sometimes figure themselves (as Sir Th. Brown, (a) (a) Relig. Med. and Dr. Daniel Cox (b) observe) into some likeness to the Plants whereof they are made. Nay, why not too, a Face, or other Animal Form? Since we see that there are divers (b) Phil. Trans. N. 108. Palm-Nuts which have the like. That the Volatile Salt of Harts-Horn, will shoot it self into the likeness of little branched Horns. That of Flesh or Blood, into the shape of little flat fibrous Tendons or Muscles, as I have often observ'd. And though I have not seen it my self, yet I have been told by one (c) (c) Sir Thomas Millington. that doth not use to phancy things, that the Volatile Salt of Vipers, will figure it self into the semblance of little Vipers. But there can be no convincing Argument given, why the Salts of Plants, or Animal Bodies, washed down with Rains, and lodged under ground; should not there be disposed into such like figures, as well as above it? Probably, in some cases, much better, as in a colder place; and where therefore the Work not being done in a hurry, but more slowly, may be so much the more regular. I shall now come to the Particulars, and leave the Reader to judge of them.

Part of the Upper JAW of a strange HEAD, together with some fragments of other Bones, and three very Great Double TEETH, or Grinders, all supposed to be of the same Animal. Found, about twelve years since, seventeen feet under Ground, in Chartham a Village three miles from Canterbury. The Ground within twelve Rods of the River running thither, and so to Sandwich-Haven. An Account hereof is written by Mr. William Somner: yet without a Description of the Jaw. But supposing it to be part of the Head of an Hippopotamus, takes occasion thence for a Discourse, wherein he endeavours to prove, That all the low Ground from the East-Kentish shore, to Romney-Marsh, was once under Water, and an Arm of the Sea. Published, since his Death, by his Brother Mr. John Somner: in whose Ground these Bones were dig'd up; and by whom they were bestowed upon this Musæum.

This Jaw-Bone, is only part of the far Cheek; about fifteen inches long, and seven where deepest: yet part of both the ends, and the Sockets of the Teeth are broken off. The Orbit of the Eye, neither so round, nor so big, as in the Hippopotamus: yet the Teeth far bigger. For the bigest Grinder in the Head of the Hippopotamus here preserv'd, is less than six inches about: one of these, near eight. And 'tis much, if they belonged to that Animal, that none of the long Cutters which grow before (as is represented in Tab. 1.) should be found with them.

Besides, in that Skull of the said Animal, the Orbits of the Eye stand so high, and the Forehead lies so low, that it looks like a Valley between two Hills: whereas in this Bone, the Forehead evidently stands higher than the Eye. The Knob also at the Corner of the Eye in this Bone, is six times as big, as in the said Skull. Although this perhaps, as well as the tuberousness of the Bone in some places, may be the effect of its lying so long under ground; as if it were thereby a little swell'd in those places: for they are more rare and soft, than the other, and the whole Bone, than the Skull of any grown Animal not bury'd. Considering all together, it seems to me more likely to belong to a Rhinoceros, for the being whereof in this Country, we have as much ground to suppose it, as of the Hippopotamus. See Wormius's Description of the Double Tooth (a) (a) Mus. lib. 3. of a Rhinoceros.

A PETRIFY'D CRAB. Carcinites. It seems to be of the undulated kind; whereof see the Description in Rondeletius. 'Tis very hard and solid, and as heavy as a Pebble. Yet dissoluble with Acids. There is one pretty like this in Aldrovandus, (b) (b) Musæum Metallicum. under the Name of Pagurus lapideus. And another in Besler.

A FISH-MOLD. Ichthyites in modum Typi. There are several figures of Fishes in Stones in Besler, Aldrovandus, and Moscardo. In Aldrovandus also of the Heads of Birds, Beasts and Men, in Flints. Septalius hath a Head in Marble. And Mr. Boyle (a) (a) Of Gems p. 156. a Pebble with a Serpent (all but the Head) perfectly shap'd, and coyl'd up in it. All these (except perhaps the last) are either semblances on a Plain, or at least in solid Stones. But this here is hollow, and was so found in the Island-Sea. About five inches long; now split into two halfs, like those of a casting Mould. On the insides of which, are fairly impress'd the form of the Spine, with the Ribs, Fins, and Tail, of a Fish. Without, a long Plate of the same substance, grows to each side; and others cross to these: as if to the Mould of the Fish, were also added that of its Funeral Cloaths.

This Stone, for consistence, is like that called Saxum Limosum, soft, inequal, and unpolishable. Of a blewish hue, like that of Tobacco-Pipe Clay, with some very small glossy Grains intermixed. Not only Spirit of Nitre, but Oil of Vitriol droped upon it, dissolves it, and is excited into a violent Effervescence. But the Saxum Limosum stirs not with any Acid. So that it is to be rank'd amongst the Gypso-limosa, or Calcilimosa.

A petrify'd BONE, taken out of a Gravel-pit in St. James Fields, above eight yards deep.

A Stone like the VERTEBRA of a Fish. Given by Sir Philip Skippon. It may be called SPONDYLITES.

Part of the SPINE of another Fish, consisting of several Vertebræ. 'Tis hard and ponderous; yet dissoluble with Acids. It breaks flaky, as the Lapis Judaicus, and many others, or with plain and glossy sides.

The TOOTH of a TIGER, growing to a kind of Limestone. 'Tis about as big as that described in the First Part, and of the same shape and colour.

A square crooked TOOTH, not much unlike that of a Bevir.

A very great DOUBLE TOOTH or GRINDER. 'Tis about five inches long, and two broad; twice as big as a Sea-Horse's. The stumps seem to have been saw'd off. The top divided into several Points and Ridges, as other double Teeth. Of a greyish colour and glossy; ponderous, and hard as a Flint or the hardest Pebble.

ANOTHER of the same shape, but not an inch long. Besler hath one like this, under the Name of Pseudocorona Anguina.

The SHARKS TOOTH. Glossopetra: so call'd, for that these Stones were fabled by some to be the Tongues of Serpents, in the Isle Malta or Melita, turn'd into Stones ever since St. Paul Preached there. But the English Name, is much more answerable to the shape. Which yet is various, as well as the size and colour; as ash-colour'd or black, long or broad, strait or crooked, with the edges toothed or plain. Of the brown, strait, indented and broader sort here are several very great ones. One, three inches broad; and four, long: with the exerted part, smooth; the Root, rough. Every way, in shape, so like the Tooth of a Shark, that one Tooth cannot be liker to another. Yet if it be such, then by comparing those in the Head of a Shark, with This, That to which This belong'd, to bear a just porportion, must have been about six and thirty feet in length.

A GLOSSOPETRA, growing to a stony Bed. 'Tis of a lightish colour: and was brought as is supposed, from Melita.

ANOTHER, of a lesser sort. The Root of this is rough, as of the rest. But not expanded with the exerted part, as is usual, but of a globular Figure.

These Stones are dissoluble with any Acid. Whereby it appears, That (besides such Metallick Principles they are sometimes tinctur'd with) they abound with an Alkalizate- Salt. They are found not only in Melita, but in Germany, and many other places. Figur'd by Aldrovandus (a) (a) Musæum Metallic. and by others.

DRAGONS TEETH. Given by Sir Phil. Skippon. Glossopetræ Claviculares. So I call them, because they seem to be of the same kind; and are long and slender, somewhat like a small Nail; and much more like a Tongue (sc. of some small Bird) than any of the former.

The GOATS-HORN. Tephrites Boetij; from its ashen colour. Selenites Cardani; from its almost Semilunar Figure. Inwardly, 'tis of a blewish Grey. Outwardly, mixed with oblique and white streaks. Of a bended figure, yet with one end thicker than the other, not unlike a Goats Horn; whence I have taken leave for the English Name. Broken at both ends, yet above ½ a foot long, and two inches and ¼ where broadest. The Belly or inward Ambit, an inch over, and furrow'd; the Back somewhat edged. 'Tis found in Germany, Moravia, Silesia, and other Parts.

A Scruple (a) (a) Boet. de Gennis & Lapid. hereof in powder, is an excellent Sudorifick. Spirit of Nitre droped hereon, dissolveth it with an Effervescence.

The FISHES EYE. Ophthalmites. A parcel of them given by Sir Philip Skippon. 'Tis a kind of Pisolythus. But by some of them, the Humors of the Eye, with the Tunica Uvea, and therein the Iris, are not ill represented: for which reason I have plac'd them here.

SOME other Varieties, from the same Hand.

The HERMAPHRODITE. Commonly called Hysterolithos. By Pliny, (b) (b) Lib. 37. c. 10. Diphyes, more properly; as representing, in some sort, the Pudenda of both Sexes. Well described by Wormius. 'Tis a black Stone, not much broader than Half a Crown; very hard, and dissoluble with no Acid. Accounted an Amulet against Hysterical Fits.

Another of the same shape, but lesser.

A soft BUTTON-STONE. Echinites albus. Given by Sigr Boccone. Of these Stones there is some variety, with several Names, but confounded by Authors. They all agree, in having some likeness to the shell of the Button- Fish. This resembles that most with all small prickles. Of a white colour. Not very hard, and dissoluble, with Acids. See an excellent Figure hereof in Calceolarius's Musæum.

Another of the same Species and colour.

THUNDER-STONE or hard Button-Stone. Brontias. So called, for that people think they fall sometimes with Thunder. Yet different from the Ceraunias. This is shaped like a little round Cake. Very hard and indissoluble with Acids; being a kind of yellowish and opacous Pebble.

Another, a lesser one of the same Species.

A THIRD, also very hard (as all of them are) but Semiperspicuous.

A FOURTH, which is a whitish FLINT, stained with blew specks.

A FIFTH, a small one, and having a little flinty Stone (c) De figur. Lapid. c. 3. growing to the middle of it on both sides. This particularly resembling Gesner's Ombrias. (c) Or the Stone sent him by the Name of Lapis Hyæniæ. (d)(d) Ibid. c. 12.

A SIXTH, somewhat oblong and striated all round about.

The SERPENTS EGG. Ovum Anguinum. From the roundness, and form of Snakes Tailes pointing upward, and towards the middle of the Stone. This also is an Echinites, and by Ferranti Imperato called Histrix Marinus petrisicatus. Agricola makes it a sort of Brontias. It most resembles that sort of Button-Fish, with several Orders of great Knobs or Prickle-Bases, divided by lesser; described in the First Part of this Catalogue.

A STONE with the SIGNATURE of a Button-Fish upon it. So that it was once a Bolus or Clay.

The soft OVAL HELMET STONE. Given by Sigr. Boccone. So I name it from its similitude to the shell of the Echinus Spatagus, (a) (a) See Part I. which the English call Helmet--Fish. Oval, to distinguish it from the Conick. Soft, as being very brittle, and easily dissoluble with Acids. Several of these Stones are figur'd by Aldrovandus, (b) (b) Musæum Metallic. with the Name of Scolopendrites. And some leaves after, divers others not much unlike, with that of Pentaphyllites from its likness in some part also to the Cinquefoyle.

ANOTHER of the same kind, with four narrow Furrows, composed of fine short Rays, and meeting in the form of a Cross; to which a fifth is added, more broad. 'Tis somewhat hard, yet dissoluble with Spirit of Nitre.

The HARD OVAL HELMET-STONE. 'Tis an opacous Flint, and of a dark colour. But figur'd as the former.

ANOTHER, also flinty, and opacous; but betwixt citrine and yellow.

A THIRD, opacous and white.

A FOURTH, with one half, opacous and yellow; the other, whitish and Semiperspicuous.

A FIFTH, somewhat rounder and more depressed than the former; and may therefore more particularly be called Pentaphyllites. Some of these Ambrosinus (c) (c) Aldrov. M. Metall. hath misplaced with the Astroites.

The blunt CONICK HELMET-STONE. It hath, as it were, the Signature of the Echinus Spatagus. But rises up in the form of a Cone. Of which Figure I have not yet seen any shell. The top is blunt, and of a middle height. Encompassed with five double pricked Rows, all meeting in the fore part of the Belly. The spaces betwixt which, are cancellated much after the manner of the Sea-Tortoiseshell. 'Tis a perfect Flint, brown without, and whitish within.

ANOTHER of the same sort, with bigger pointed Rows.

A THIRD, of the same Figure, but soft, sc. of a kind of Limy substance, or that of Gypsum.

The SHARP CONICK HELMET-STONE. 'Tis a Semipellucid Flint. Surrounded with five double pointed Rows, meeting not only on the top, but also at the centre of the Base or Belly. Besler figures a small Conick Helmet, by the name of Echinites: a great one, by that of Scolopendrites. And several Species hereof are also figur'd by Aldrovandus. (a) (a) Mus. Metallicum. None of the flinty or other hard Helmet Stones make any ebullition with Acids.

The HELIX or Stone Nautilus; as from its Figure it may not improperly be nam'd. Cornu Ammonis; From Jupiter Ammon, pictur'd with Horns. Here are several of them, both in size, shape, and substance distinct. I find no Author describing them much broader than the ball of a mans hand. The highest Boetius reckons, about three pounds in weight. But in this Musæum there is one near two yards in circumference, and proportionably thick. Of an Ash-colour, and somewhat gritty substance. The several Rounds, as it were, carved with oblique waves. Given by the Right Honourable Henry Duke of Norfolk. With,

ANOTHER GREAT CORNU AMMONIS almost as big, sc. about five feet round about.

A SMALL CORNU AMMONIS, of an ashen colour, and softish substance: yet dissoluble only with Nitrous Acids. It maketh but one or two Rounds; ratably, far more swelling, than in the other kinds.

ANOTHER, of a soft and whitish substance; dissoluble in any Acid, and consisting of several Rounds.

A THIRD, growing upon a Stone of a like substance. Figur'd in Calceolarius's Musæum, and that of Olearius; in both under the Name of a Petrify'd Serpent.

The CASED CORNU AMMONIS. The outer part of this is dissoluble with Spirit of Nitre: of a shining blackish colour, thin, and as it were the shell of the far greater part within it. This also is very glossy, and transparent as Glass. Of a brittle substance, breaking into square flakes, like those of a flaky Spar. Yet no Acid will stir it.

The HARD CORNU AMMONIS. 'Tis a perfect whitish and pellucid Flint. These Stones are found in Germany.

Note, that if one of these Stones be broken, the several Rounds will part so, as the ridges of one, and the answerable furrows of the other, are apparent.

Likewise, that in some of them, there is not only a ridge, but a round part about as thick as the biggest string of a Tenor Viol, winding round between two Circumvolutions, as the Medulla Spinalis runs within the Back-Bone.

The Helick SERPENT-STONE. Ophites Ammoneus. See the Description hereof in Wormius, with the Title of Lapis Sceleton Serpentinum ferens. 'Tis of kin to the Cornu Ammonis; wrought all over with Striæ, imitating the Scales of a Serpent. In some parts of This, rather the jagged Leaves of a Plant. Of a pale Okre colour, but somewhat hard, and dissoluble only with Nitrous Spirits.

ANOTHER, which in the room of Scales or Leaves, is wrought all over, and as it were joynted, with sutures in the form of an s. obliquely waved from the rim towards the centre. Which Articulations are not only on the Surface, but, as Wormius well notes, in its intimate parts. This is of a dark amber colour, and somewhat hard; yet maketh an Effervescence with Spirit of Nitre.

The HELICK MARCASITE. Marcasita Ammonea. So I name it, for that it hath the same Figure with the Cornu Ammonis, and to the first of these in Boetius, is next a kin, if not the same. Yet appears to be a sort of Marcasite or Gold colour'd Fire-Stone; both by its Weight, and Copperas Tast. And some of them are cover'd with Vitriolick Flowers. Ambrosinus (a) (a) Mus. Metall. Aldrov. figures two of these under the Title of Crysammonites: not so properly, as not having a grain of Gold in them.

The HELICK MARCHASITE, having shallow Furrows on the Rim.

ANOTHER, with some also channell'd.

A THIRD, with the utmost round far more swelling, than in the other kinds; having its Centre lying deep, and its front spread wide on both sides.

A FOURTH, of all, the most flat, and with a sharp or edged Rim. Wrought all over, with undulated Striæ, almost as in the Serpent-Stone. These two last, particularly, figur'd in Aldrovandus. (a)(a) Ubi supra.

A FIFTH, with the Rounds, on one fide, all concave: so that it looks almost like one split through the middle.

A SIXTH, beded within a tuberated Fire-Stone.

Several small ones, of the kinds above-mentioned.

The SHORT WHIRLE-STONE. Trochites.

The LONG WHIRLE. Turbinites. There are several of them. In one, the several Rounds are hollow: a ground to believe it was once a shell.

The WHIRLED or SPIRAL MARCHASITE.

The CONICK SNAIL-STONE. Cochlites pyramidalis. Very brittle, and maketh an Effervescence with any Acid.

Divers others SNAIL-STONES; some of them of a Limy substance, others perfect Flint.

The SEA-OYSTER-STONE. Ostrites Cymbiformis. Shaped almost in the figure of a Boat. In the right side especially there is as it were the signature or seat of the Animal. So that one can hardly doubt of its being once a shell. Yet this kind of Stone is sometimes found many miles from Sea or any great River.

A Petrify'd Oyster and Wilk growing together.

A great petrify'd SCALLOP. Figur'd by Ambrosinus (b) (b) Aldrov. Mus. Metall. with the Name of Hippopectinites. Given with several more of the same bigness, by Mr. Wicks. 'Tis half a foot over. Many of the same kind were taken out of a great Rock in Virginia, forty miles from Sea or River.

The smaller PECTINITES, with smooth ridges.

ANOTHER, of a kind of Lead-colour. Dissoluble with Acids.

The Coralline PECTINITES, furrow'd, and wrought all over with the Species of fine Needle-WORK. Also soluble with Acids.

A blackish PECTINITES, a perfect Flint.

A soft Stone of a blewish grey, with part of the Belemnites growing to it on one side, and a Pectinites on the other.

A petrify'd COCLE immersed in a Flint.

The SMOOTH SPONDYLITES, with an Oblique Navle.

ANOTHER, with an Oblique Navle, all over striated.

A THIRD of the same, furrow'd.

A FOURTH, also furrow'd, and with the Navle sharper and more produced. So hard, as scarcely dissoluble with any Acid.

A FIFTH, with a strait Navle, and numerous Joynts.

The OXES HEART. Bucardia. So call'd from its figure. Described and figur'd by Ferranti Imperato, and others, and out of them by Wormius. 'Tis divided, by a ridge along the middle, into two halfs. Each of them having a prominent Knob, a little winding, somewhat like a Navle: so that it may not be improperly called Conchites umbilicatus. Figur'd by Besler with the name of Hysterapetra.

A SMOOTH CONCHITES, with an Oblique Navle, unequal sides, somewhat round, and fill'd with a Limy substance.

Part of one, filled with a sort of granulated Spar.

A smooth and round one, undulated.

ANOTHER, as hard as a Pebble; of a yellowish and pellucid red.

Another hard one, yet dissoluble with Acids.

Another, with the Margins of the two halfs furrow'd and indented one into the other.

A LONG CONCHITES, of a black colour.

Another, undulated, and white; filled with a black and yellow substance, which with Acids maketh a strong Effervescence.

ANOTHER, compressed, and the end opposite to the Base, pointed, like the common form of a Heart: and may therefore be called Cardites. 'Tis of a Limy substance dissoluble with Acids.

A Broad equilateral CONCHITES, radiated.

Another, undulated, and radiated.

A Third, undulated, radiated, and circinated.

A Broad one, of a Limy substance, and fill'd with a flaky and glistering Spar.

The HIGH-WAVED CONCHITES; that is, where the middle of one Valve making a high and broad ridge, the other falls into it. 'Tis of a white Limy substance.

ANOTHER of the same, but shining and pellucid like a Spar. Dissoluble with Acids. I meet not with any shell of this form.

A little BIVALVOUS MARCASITE. Conchites Marchasita.

The MUSCLE-STONE. Musculites. This is black and of an oblong Figure.

A Second, lesser and rounder.

Another of the same, more Concave.

A Third, broader, and more expanded.

A sort of MUSCULITES fill'd with Earth like Tobacco- Pipe Clay or Marle. Found amongst the earth of a Hill that was overturn'd at Kenebank in New England.

The square MUSCULITES. Musc. quadrilaterus. I have not yet met with any shell of answerable shape. 'Tis, as it were, bivalvous: and each Valve, hath two sides. Of the four, two are broader, and a little Convex, especially towards the Base, at the other end somewhat sharp: with oblique furrows, from the first to the last growing shorter. The other two, striated and plain, joyned with the former at obtuse Angles. Of a limy substance dissoluble with Acids.

The TOOTHLESS MUSCULE. Found, of several sizes, beded in a lump of Irish Slate: yet not petrify'd, but a perfect shell. It is of a rare kind, no where figured or mention'd, that I find, nor have I met with it elsewhere. The biggest of them two inches long, and ¼ over. That end near the Base, as it were pinched up, almost into the form of a Childs fore-Tooth. On the outside of the Base, stands a plated piece, contiguous therewith at both ends, but in the middle, joyned to it by the intervention of other very small transverse Plates, like the Wards of a Lock: supplying the use of the Teeth in other Muscles, which are here wanting; from whence I have nam'd it. The outside, is adorn'd with circinated Lines, and in some sort also radiated with very small Tuberculi, especially at the narrow end.

The SHEATH-STONE. Solenites. Like the petrify'd shell of the Sheath-Fish. 'Tis fill'd with a kind of limy substance.

A piece of WHIRLY-ROCK. Turbinites Saxum. A sort of Gypsum of a dark colour, with the semblance of divers kinds of turbinated or whirled shells immersed therein. Dissoluble with Spirit of Nitre, but very slowly. There is one like to this in Besler.

A Piece of white MUSCLE-ROCK. Musculites Saxum. With the similitude of little, white, furrow'd Muscle-shells.

Another Piece of an Ash-colour, and more soft.

A piece of spoted MUSCLE-ROCK, sc. with white, red and brown, in imitation of Marble. In which also are beded, as it were, several Muscle-shells. Although it hath the face of Marble, yet is it a kind of Gypsum, dissoluble with Spirit of Nitre.

A Piece of MIXED SHELL-ROCK. Conchites miscellaneus. Composed of petrify'd shells, both of the Turbinated, and the Bivalvous kinds, beded in a kind of gritty Lime-Stone. In Calceolarius's Musæum (a) (a) Sect. 3. p. 317. is one like to this, in the form of a Choping-Knife, but without a Name. Another in Ferranti Imperato. (b) (b) Lib. 24. c. 25. And in Aldrovandus's Musæum, by Ambrosinus called Ostracomorphos Lapis. Not properly, Lapis, as being part of a Rock: nor, by the former word, sufficiently expressing the mixture of shells therein.

Another, consisting of such like shells (or their resemblance) beded in a brown Stone.

Grew, Musaeum Regalis (1685) The FIXED SALTS of Carduus bened. Garden and Sea Scurvy-Grass, Ash and Oak Barques, Rosemary, Mint, Mugwort, Agrimony, Wormwood, Sorrel, Mallows, Liquorish, Anise-Seeds, Sena, Jalap. By Me prepared and given. Together with a Discourse read before the Royal Society concerning the same, which I purpose to publish ere long. I shall here only Note, that although Many think and affirm, That all the Fixed Salts of Vegetables are alike: yet by These, duly managed, it doth appear, That there is a great difference, both as to strength, and otherwise, between divers of them, even when they have been equally calcin'd. So far, that the promiscuous use of some of them, in Physick, is unsafe: as, for instance, of Tartar and Wormwood; half a Scruple of the former, being as strong as one whole Scruple of the latter. Of the Fixed Salt of Vegetables, see a Discourse in the Phil. Transact. N. 107, & 108. Of the Volatile Salt, N. 101. (a)(a) Both communicated by Dr. Daniel Cox.