214 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



egg as big as a sparrow, and that the young one hatched 

 of it was twice as big as the egg, of which particulars I 

 desire confirmation from you. 



Black Notley, May 16, 90. 



Dr. ROBINSON to Mr. RAT. 



SIR, Mr. Charlton has such a snail-shell, as you 

 mention, with eggs and young ones, which are the 

 wonder of our philosophers here ; but I being naturally 

 too jealous, do almost suspect (though I durst never 

 declare my suspicion, the thing appearing clear to every- 

 body besides myself) that the eggs and young ones have 

 been severally, and very artificially added to the snail, 

 though indeed the snails are oviparous, and peradventure 

 perfect-shelled animals may be observed in the eggs 

 themselves ; so that I may be under an unreasonable 

 doubt. 



London, May 17, 90. 



Dr. PLUKENET'S Observations on Mr. RAY'S Synopsis Stirp. Britan.* 



Page 57. SIR, The laborious Parkinson was indeed 

 mistaken when he confounded the Cham am. vuty. [Ma- 

 tricaria Cliamomillu, Linn.] that grows among corn with 

 the Nobile \Anthemis nobilis, Linn.], or Roman kind ; 

 and we are not a little obliged to your learned and pierc- 

 ing observation for the discovery of it; but I cannot 

 readily submit that the Cham&ui. for. pi. (which we 

 have so common in gardens, or the naked sort) should 

 either of them be varieties of this Amarum [Matricaria 

 Chamomilla, Linn.], kind, since they are both very fra- 



* It is the first edition of the ' Synopsis,' published in 1690, to which 

 ibis letter refers. C. C. B. 



