138 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



of Insects.' Several curious persons of this city have 

 assured me that they have killed several animals with 

 these scorpions ; so peradventure some circumstances 

 make them differ from those of Italy, with which S. Redi 

 might make his experiments. Animals stung by these 

 scorpions fall generally into tremblings and convulsive 

 motions. Their blood is always found coagulated, which 

 may make a philosopher suspect that the venom of these 

 scorpions, of vipers, and many other animals, may chiefly 

 consist in a subtle acid ferment ; for, besides the pheno- 

 mena, we find by experience that volatile alkalies (as the 

 volatile salt of vipers, of salt armoniac, &c.) are the most 

 effectual remedies in these cases, as they destroy those 

 nimble acids upon the account of texture, and free the 

 blood from coagulations. Be pleased, sir, to pardon 

 these imperfect miscellanies, for you may encourage 

 thereby one that does really admire you above the rest 

 of mankind ; and is, &c. 



Montpellier, Sept. 10, 1683, s. N. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



Black Notley, Feb. 11, 84. 



SIR, I thank you for your letter of Jan. 31, which I 

 received by post, with the plants inclosed. The Fungus, 

 upon opening the letter, unluckily slipped out, and was 

 not minded, because not expected, and it being candle- 

 light, and company in the room, was trod to pieces of a 

 sudden, before I had taken out the other plants, and 

 read so far as to know it was sent. The other two were 

 a little crumpled, and the Lucinice doubled, but without 

 much prejudice I reduced them again to their right 

 situation. They are both plants I had never before the 

 good hap to see. The Polypodium plumosum is an ele- 

 gant plant, and the leaf you sent a perfect one, and well 

 conserved ; but I am to seek for the reason of the name, 



