Part of the Trunk of a young MOUNTAIN CAB BIGE. Sent from Jamaica by Mr. Sam. Moody to the Author. Now it is dry and shrunk in, not above a foot and ¼ in compass. Consisteth of a great number of very thin fibrous Rings or Tubes one within another, now, by the shrinking up of the pithy parts, distinct.

The COCO-NUT. The Fruit of a very tall Tree, both in the East and West-Indies, growing only upon the top of it. Mention'd by many Writers of Natural History, but not by any one distinctly describ'd. As by one sent me fresh by Mr. Sam. Moody from Jamaica, I had the opportunity to observe. Here are three of them entire. The bigest whereof is about a foot in length, and one and ¾ in compass. With three sides, one whereof more flat; belly'd in the middle, and somewhat Conick at both ends; so that it is a kind of Sphærical Triangle. The Husk or outmost part of the Nut on the sides, about an inch thick; at the Corners, an inch and ½; almost wholly consisting of tough woody Fibers; so that being cut transversly, it looks like a stiff Scrubbing-Brush. Next within this Fibrous Part, lies the Shell, brown, hard, and brittle, like a Plum-Stone; the ⅕ of an inch in thickness; about three inches Diametre, and of an Oval Figure, not much unlike that of an Ostriches, or sometimes a Cassowarys-Egg. Yet so, as always to be Trivalvous, i. e. composed of three Sides or Plates joyned together by the length of the Shell; one Side being commonly much bigger than either of the other two. At the Base of the said Shell, are always likewise three conspicuous Holes, by which originally are admitted a considerable number of Fibers into the Concave of the Shell. Next within the Shell is a thin, dry and Membranous Coat, branched or veined all round about with a great number of Fibers, chiefly for the conveyance of Sap. Within this Veiny-Coat, lie's a soft, white, thick and Oval Body, commonly; but falsly falsely, supposed to be the Kernel: it being only the Cover next or immediate thereunto. In thickness about ½ an inch, and of a sweet and pleasant tast. This Body, while the Nut is yet unripe, is filled full with a very limpid and sweetish Liquor; which, in the Nut I had sent me, was in all about ½ a pint: all conveyed from the said fibrous Coat, and filtred through this thick soft Body. Out of this Liquor, the true Kernel is in time produced: the Liquor diminishing, as the Kernel increases, in the same manner, as in an Egg, the White wasts, as the Chicken grows. Or as, indeed, in the Seeds of all Plants whatsoever, (a) (a) See the Authors first Book Of Plants, Cap. ult. which are not meerly Metaphorically, but really so many Eggs (like those of many Animals) without a Yelk.