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

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Dawson, Major ( - )

Linked print sources: as Donator of object(s) - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
References in Documents:
Thoresby, Musaeum Thoresbyanum (1713)

But to return to Mr. Lhwyd's Method, from whence these Resemblances of Fruits have made me swerve. Ichthyospondylus clepsydratus, one of white Stone resembling a Joint of the Back-bone of a Fish. Another, that by the Colour may be called Anthracinus, but from the Form is called the Fairy-hower-glass. Don. R R. D D. Episc. Carleol. A blewish Stone with the Spine and Ribs of a Fish perfectly impress'd upon it: Twas found in a River in Craven, and sent me by Major Dawson. Another of white ruble Stone from Stowel in Glocestershire. These are both hollow like a Mold, but here is one that is very rare, being protuberant, and having the very Bones themselves, eleven on either Side. The Spina dorsalis very curious, little more than an Inch long. I know not where else to place what relates to the Members of other Animals, and some to the Parts of Humane Bodies. Of which one hath the fancied Resemblance of a (deformed) Face, with a Cavity on each Side for the Ears; it is a blewish Stone: Another of a bright shining Yellow, doth better correspond with that of a Kidney; and a third of a white Stone, with the Testicles; given me by Dr. Plot, who calls them Orchites or Lapides Testiculares (i)(i) Nat. Hist. Oxon. pag. 127.. In the same Table VII. Fig. 8. he represents a Sort of Toad-stone quite different from the Bufonites before-mentioned, being a reddish Liver-coloured real Stone, convex above, and concave below: This here is 2 ½ Inches round, and of the dark Red. Another of a yellow Colour from the River Tees.

A Catalogue of the Naturall and Artificial Curiositys in my slender Musaeum at Leedes Ano. 1708 a Dye from the Tower for coining of brass pennys, wn private persons had Liberty of inserting their names upon the Currant moneys. Mr. James Dawson