10 Reafons for fuppofing that 
hazel nuts, the cones of birch and alder, a number 
of moffes, and.fome ferns. I think we may fafely: 
conclude, that thefe fubftances have been brought: 
by rivers, after heavy rains, into the primitive 
lakes; or, that they have been blown, from off 
their branches where they grew, into the water; 
that the trees have then been driven by the wind, 
which, in fheltered places, can only blow in certain, 
directions, into parts obftructed by weeds, and; 
have there been entangled and prevented from — 
moving till, their weight growing fpecifically greater 
than that of the fluid whereby they were fupported,. 
they have funk in fuch a pofition, that the direc- 
tion of the. prevailing wind is commonly pointed. 
out by the direction of their branches. ‘The fore- 
going. fads feem futficient to fhew how well the. 
theory is fupported by the evidence of nature. 
I will, therefore quit this part of the enquiry; 
but, before the fubje& is difmiffed, will take the 
liberty of fubjoining the following obfervations,, 
which may perhaps be acceptable to the naturalift. 
Firt: I have been informed by perfons well 
acquainted with our marfhes, that the yew makes. 
a part of the foffil wood of the North of England; 
but it isfo rarely found, that I have not hitherto 
been able to procure a fpecimen of it, though. 
confiderable endeavours have been made to obtain, 
one, as fuch an acquifition would incontrovertibly, 
prove the tree to be a native of this Ifland, a cir- 
cumftance | which has been. difputed of late, But 
_ fince 
