CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 189 



confess, for the Arbor aquam fundens, because it is said 

 to observe certain periods. 



The Manchinelo is not only mentioned by Hughes 

 and Lyon, but Rochefort. I think he hath misplaced it, 

 for, as I remember, he hath put it amongst the animals. 

 A planter tells me that they use the wood for beds and 

 floors, because those insects, which eat and destroy all their 

 other timber, will not touch this. Their beds and floors, 

 and other wood-work, suffer extremely by an insect un- 

 less they are made of the maiichinel wood. 



The Cochineal* is a dried hexapode, that runs up and 

 down a Ficus indica, and turns into a Lady-cow. I took 

 it once for a Kermes, or Coccus of an Opuntia, or Tuna. 



London, January 29, 8f 



Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. 



SIR, I have talked a long while of going to Jamaica 

 with the Duke of Albemarle as his physician, which, if I 

 do, next to the serving his grace and family in my pro- 

 fession, my business is to see what I can meet withal 

 that is extraordinary in nature in those places. I hope 

 to be able to send you some observations from thence, 

 God Almighty granting life and strength to do what I 

 design ; but our voyage having been put off so often, I 

 doubt it very much. I am glad to hear by Dr. Robinson 

 that your elaborate and excellent work goes on so fast as 

 to begin already to print the trees. Great feuds are like 

 to be between the French and our philosophers about the 

 magnitude of London and Paris, ours alleging that London 

 is as big as Paris and Rouen both together ; and being 

 urged by them to give some proof for what they say, I 

 intend to print certificates from hearthmen here, and 

 ingenious men there, that in London are 100,000 houses, 

 and in Paris but 24,000. There is no less a dispute on 



* The Cochineal is the Coctus Cacti (Linn.), it is found on the Cactus 

 cochenillifer (Linn.) It is scarcely necessary to add, that it does not turn 

 into a Lady-cow, or Coccinella. C. C. B. 



