Introduction. vii 



they did in regard to their Texture ; and that, in many of 

 them, this Texture was fuch, as feemed to indicate their be- 

 ing more of an animal, than vegetable Nature. 



This put me on feparating fuch as had thefe apparent In- 

 dications, from thofe, which, from their Form of growing, 

 I ftill took to be Sea-plants ; placing thofe in a third Clals, 

 which feemed to partake of the Nature of both. 



The firft Divilion comprehended all thofe, that were evi- 

 dently the Nidus s^ or Cells of Animals. 



The fecond took in the curioufly branched Corallines. 



The laft confifted of the ftony articulated Corallines and 

 Keratophyta, 



Thefe were regularly difpofed in four Pidures^ which I 

 had the Honour to produce before the Royal Society, about 

 ytine 1752, with a Defcription of their Contents, as they 

 then appeared to me. 



As I was convinced, from my own Obfervations of the 

 Subjeds themfelves, that feveral, which had hitherto been 

 confidered by Naturalifts, as Marine Vegetables, were in 

 Reality of animal Produdlion : So from the Opinions of fe- 

 veral Gentlemen then prefent, my Sufpicions were increafed, 

 that others likewife, which I had taken for Vegetables, 

 might in Reality be of an animal Nature. 



To determine how far thefe Sufpicions were jufl, it 

 feemed the moft expedient to examine the Subje(5ls, when 

 recent, with Attention. And accordingly, in Aiigujt 1752, 

 I went to the Ifland of Sheppey^ on the Coaft of Kent ; and 

 took with me Mr. Brooki?tg^ a celebrated Painter of Sea- 

 pieces, to make the proper Drawings for me. Here we had 



an 



