[ 286 ] 



they are amply fufficient to authenticate the principal fad, if 

 any one fhould be found to doubt it. 



The manner of working thefe ftones is by detaching from 

 the face of the quarry moderate fized blocks, which are then 

 drawn out, fet an edge, and quickly fplit with ftiarp-fided ham- 

 mers or wedges, the workmen glancing between the leaves, to 

 obferve if there be any mark of fifh, or other organic fubftance ; 

 when they difcover fuch, if they happen to be fhattered, as 

 they generally are, by the rude manner of opening, and the fra- 

 gile texture of the ftone, they fet about to colled all the frag- 

 ments that compofe the piece as carefully as poflible, detach- 

 ing alfo from the great ftone fuch parts as may remain 

 adhering to it. When their day's work is finifhed, they bring 

 their colledions to their ho\ifes, until they happen to go, either 

 to market, or on any other occafion, to Verona, when they take 

 them in bafkets, juft as they are, to the proprietor of the foil, 

 who is their landlord and employer ; or frequently, I believe, to 

 fell underhand, for their own profit, to fome naturalift there, 

 or to fome of the (hops that vend thefe produdions. Thofe who 

 receive them in this manner from the peafants are then obliged 

 to employ a fkilful ftonc-cutter, to find and arrange together the 

 feveral fragments that compofe each piece, and fineer or cement 

 them on another ftone of the fame kind, which is fometimes 

 done with fuch art and exadnefs that it is not eafy to difcern 

 where they have been joined ; and thus the fpecimens are made 

 up for cabinets or for fale. 



Besides 



