228 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



than the works of art do from those of nature, which we 

 endeavour to imitate, as if the earth in these productions 

 (to speak vulgarly) should only ape the sea. To find out 

 the truth of this question, nothing would conduce more 

 than a very copious collection of shells, of the skeletons 

 of fish, of corals, pori, &c., and of these supposed petri- 

 fications. 



The figures of plants in the Cole-slat I have formerly 

 mentioned to you, is clearly a different thing from the 

 Pictrd Imboschata of Imperatus. Indeed I have hitherto 

 seen imperfect pieces of it ; but whereas the Pictra Im- 

 boschata (of which kind of figures we have also some 

 variety in England and Wales) represents only rude 

 branches imitating rather some coralline or sea-moss than 

 trees ; the Cole-slat exhibits whole branches with leaves, 

 and distinction of the veins and texture of them I have 

 a small piece which seems to resemble a branch of the 

 Filix fcem. very much, but the specimen is very im- 

 perfect. 



Mr. Bobart tells me the Gymnocrithon is the very same 

 with the London Triticum Spica hordei. The Alsine 

 my os. Ian. Alpina grandiflora \Cerastium latifolium, Linn.] 

 I do not question at present to be a distinct plant from 

 the Aur. muris pulchro fl. albo, J. B. [(7. arvense, Linn.], 

 which is very common in these parts, but nowhere in 

 North Wales (supposing this no mistake) that ever I 

 could find. The plant I mean I never saw but at the 

 highest part of all Snowdon : it is very woolly, but more 

 especially before it comes to flower, which is extraordinary 

 membranaceous, or thin ; the calyx very long, crooked, 

 and transparent, and divided at the top with many 

 notches; the whole plant every way bigger than the 

 Auricula muris. Since I sent you the collection of stones, 

 I have discovered several new ones, whereof you may 

 hereafter expect some farther account from, &c. 



Oxford, Nov. 25, 90. 



