CENTURY IX. 100 



is worthy the inquiry, to see how you may make more 

 accurate infusions by help of attraction. 



Experiment solitary touching heat under earth. 



885. \\ r ater in wells is warmer in winter than in 

 summer ; and so air in caves. The cause is, for that 

 in the hither parts, under the earth, there is a degree 

 of some heat (as app eareth in sulphureous veins, &c.) ; 

 which shut close in (as in winter) is the more ; but if 

 it perspire (as it doth in summer), it is the less. 



Experiment solitary touching flying in the air. 



886. It is reported that amongst the Leucadians, in 

 ancient time, upon a superstition, they did use to pre 

 cipitate a man from a high cliff into the sea ; tying 

 about him with strings, at some distance, many great 

 fowls ; and fixing unto his body divers feathers, spread, 

 to break the fall. 1 Certainly many birds of good wing 

 (as kites, and the like,) would bear up a good weight 

 as they fly ; and spreading of feathers thin, and close 

 and in great breadth, will likewise bear up a great 

 weight ; being even laid, without tilting upon the 

 sides. The further extension of this experiment for 

 flying may be thought upon. 



Experiment solitary touching the dye of scarlet. 



887. There is in some places, (namely in Cepbalo- 

 nia) a little shrub which they call holy-oak, or dwarf- 

 oak ; upon the leaves whereof there riseth a tumour 

 like a blister ; which they gather, and rub out of it a 

 certain red dust, that converteth (after a while) into 



1 This story is mentioned by Sandys, p. 4, 



