36 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



the Cinnabar of Antimony. To such a Salt may also be 

 referred our Brontice or Ombrice, and all the Echinites, 

 some whereof are plainly, all in some measure stellated at 

 the Top. 



"The Belemnites, which are all striated from a Center, 

 yet in the whole affect a Pyramidal Form, seem to have 

 somewhat also of an Antimonial, but a more prevalent 

 Quantity of a Nitrous Salt. 



"The Conchites, Pectinites and Ostracites, whether trans- 

 versely striated, or from the Commissures to the Rim, seem 

 to owe their origin to Urinous Salts, which start likewise 

 from a Center (as suppose from the Hinges of these Stones), 

 but generally are most extended to one side, as may be 

 seen in the branched Figure formed on the Surface of 

 Urine by freezing, as in Mr. Hook's Micrography, whose 

 St?Hce not obtaining much above the Quadrant of a Circle, 

 whatever other Differences they may be, in this respect at 

 least is agreeable to our Stones. 



" To which add the Opkiomorphif s or Comma Aimnonis, 

 most probably formed either by the Salts shooting different 

 ways, which by thwarting one another make a Helical 

 Figure, just as two opposite Winds or Waters make a Turbo, 

 or else by some simple, yet unknown Salt, that affects such 

 a Figure : perhaps the Stems and Branchings bended in a 

 most excellent and regular Order, like the Ribs of some of 

 our Opkiomorphif s, observed by Mr. Hook in Regulus 

 Martis Stellaris, might not a little conduce to the clearing 

 of this Matter." 



The difficulties which beset this explanation are duly 

 considered and disposed of; the last of them is so quaintly 

 treated that I cannot forego the pleasure of quoting it. 

 "That it seems quite contrary to the infinite Prudence of 

 Nature, which is observable in all its Works and Produc- 

 tions, to design every thing to a determinate end, and for the 

 attaining of that End, makes use of such ways as are (as far 

 as the Knowledge of Man has yet been able to reach) alto- 

 gether consonant and agreeable to Mans Reason, and of 

 no way or means that doth contradict, or is contrary to 

 Human Ratiocination : Whence it has been a general Ob- 



