British Curiosities in Nature and Art (1713) The Scull of a Sea Horse; The Horns of a Spanish Ram 3 yards long, and 1 between the Tips— The Tail of
an Indian Cow, whose Hair is about a yard
and quarter long: (This Creature is worshipped by the People, near the Ganges.) A Camelions Skin
(which Creature is said to live by the Air.)
A Skeleton of a Crocodile near 5
yards long;
And a Salamander. The Rib of a Triton (or Merman;)
One joint of the
Back-bone of a Whale 30 l. in weight;
the Horn of
a Sea Unicorn;
the Head of a Manati (or Sea Cow.)
Several kinds of curious
Shells, particularly one of a Muscle, 3 quarters of a Foot in length.
The Webb
of a Bermudas Spider, so strong as to snare a Bird: part of a Stinking Tree,
smelling like Humane Dung:
a Palmeto Leaf, 1 yard and a half long; a Bulchafer,
(the biggest of Insects) this is about 5 inches long, and 2 and a quarter broad.
A Coco Nut in length 1 Foot, and in Compass 1 and 3 quarters: it is a most
useful Tree, for of it the Indians make
these uses: of the husk they make Ropes; of the Shell, Ladles, &c. The cover
next the Kernel, is a pleasant Meat; the Liquor, Drink; the Blossom, Vinegar;
the Kernel, a Milk to eat with their Rice, also Oyl to eat and burn; of the
Leaves of the Tree, they make Sails; covers for Houses, and Huts;
and of the Wood they make Ships.
A Cane of the Cedar of Mount Lebanon (some on this Mount
are said to be 12 or 14 Fathom circumference.)
Part of the upper Jaw, and 8 very
great double Teeth, and the Fragments of other Bones; all petrified and found
near Canterbury, 17 Foot under
Ground.
A petrified Crab, hard as a Pebble, dissolvable with Acids:
a great
double Tooth, 5 inches long and 2 broad Petrified;
a Sherks Tooth, that to which
this belonged must be 36 Foot long.
A piece of Chrystal 39 pound weight:
a Load-stone 60 l. weight; it moves a needle at 9
Foot distance, and was dug out of the Ground in Devonshire;
an Instrument whereby the quantity of Rain
that falls at any time, on any piece of Ground is measured.
The Model of a
Geometrical Floor, composed only of 4 pieces of Timber:
another of the Hull of a double bottomed Ship:
a Wind Gun, contrived by Bishop Wilkins:
a Gun that discharges, 7
times one after another, presently;
a Machine for Plowing, Sowing, and
Harrowing, all at once.
A Box of Cups (turned work) being 100 one within
another, the Bowl of the outmost is but 2 Inches and a half Diameter:
a Prism,
and the Head of a Princess, with her Hair both turned Work;
a Roman urn of Glass, above 1500 Years old:
Mosaick work found
under Ground, in Holbourn and
near the Bath.
A Roman
Money-pot, with several Roman Coins in
it, (they are particularly mentioned by Dr. Grew,) found in 1651, in Weekfield, in the Parish of Hedington, in the County of Wilts.
A Burning Glass, contrived
and given by Sir Isaac
Newton; it melts any kind of Metal, held in the
Focus, and even vitrifieth Brick and Tile.
A swiming Stone, about a Foot and a
half solid.
A Cane 26 Foot long;
a Chusan chair, a wonderful curiosity; being of
natural growth and shape, with Rails, Pillars, Seat, Back, Elbows, &c. It
was given by my Lord Somers in 1702, and
was brought from China.
The
Model of the Temple of Jerusalem;
a large Cylindrical piece of a Petrified Tree,
14 Inches diameter: and about the like depth, brought from Antegoa in 1695, by Benjamin
Middleton Esq;
The Horns of a Red Deer, 7 Foot 1 Inch
between the Tips, found in Ireland, 14 Foot deep in a bog, given by an Irish Bishop.
A Cinnamon Staff about
7 Foot long, and 1 and a quarter in the Diameter.