1756.] PETER COLLINSON. 201 



drowned lands, near the mountain, on much higher ground than it 

 is where the Doctor lives, where most of the stones are composed 

 of a coarse, sandy limestone, and scallop shells of a large size and 

 particular form, peculiar to this vale. I find, in our present bays, 

 or sea, the scallops lie much deeper than the cockle, which lie in 

 the sandy shores. If I should travel to the Doctor's again, I de- 

 sign to search the south side, and try to find that stone : but there 

 is now great alteration since I was there ; and very like, the woods 

 in which I found it may now be corn-fields, and it will be like 

 searching a needle in a bundle of hay. 



P. COLLINSON TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



January 20, 1756. 



I have the pleasure to tell my dear friend, that his boxes of 

 plants came in fine order, by Buddex. * * 



My son and I were both surprised at the sight of the great Mud 

 Turtle. It is really a formidable animal. He bit very fierce at a 

 stick. He had near bit my finger. Thy former description is very 

 good, excepting his sharp hook at the point of its bill, and his 

 shell being very jagged, or notched, near his tail. It made an un- 

 couth noise, I can't say barking ; but what a full-grown one might 

 do, I can't say. It is really a curiosity, and we are obliged to thee 

 for sending it ; for we had no notion of such an animal, for writers, 

 in general, content themselves by saying there's terrapins, or land 

 and water turtles, &c. 



I wish Billy could get one of this size, and draw it, in its 

 natural dress : but pray let the shell be well washed, that the 

 sutures of the shell may be well expressed. What eye it has, we 

 can't well say, for they seemed closed up, as if asleep. 



All the species of turtles, drawn as they come in your way, with 

 some account of them, would prove a new piece of natural history, 

 well worth knowing. 



The pretty Frog came safe and well, and very brisk: more of 

 these innocent creatures would not be amiss. But pray send no 

 more Mud Turtle. One is enough. The other Water Turtle is a 

 pretty species ; came very well. 



