290 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



of the reservatory of water made by the disposition of 

 the leaves of the Viscum caryophyttoides, [Tillandsia 

 lingulata, Linn.?] which was a thing wholly new to me, 

 having never heard or read of it before. I thank you for 

 your good advice concerning my herpeses, but hitherto I 

 linger and use nothing ; but the "pruritus which attends 

 them now, more than lately, will quicken me to attempt 

 something for their stopping and cure. My wife salutes 

 you with the tender of her very humble service, and I 

 am no less, 



Sir, 



Yours in all service, 



JOHN RAT. 



For his honoured friend Dr. Hans Sloane, 

 at his house at the comer of Southampton street, 

 towards Bloomsbury square, London. 



Mr. LHWYD to Mr. RAY. 



DEAR SIR, The first of your queries was, whether the 

 impressions be all of leaves, or parts of leaves ? To which 

 I answer, that the stone wherein these mineral leaves are 

 exhibited is generally so brittle, that when we endeavour 

 to split it, to get out a plant, it breaks also transversely ; 

 so that, for one whole fern branch we find, we see twenty 

 broken ones, but for single leaves, they are very common. 

 Moreover, those stones are broken in such small pieces 

 by the workmen in the pit, that we find few lumps big 

 enough for whole plants ; and indeed if they contained 

 whole ones, it seems impossible so to split them as an 

 entire plant should be exposed to view. Howbeit, it has 

 not been my fortune hitherto to meet with any other 

 parts of plants than either single leaves or branches ; 

 whether there be any roots or flowers to be met with I 

 shall endeavour, God willing, to be informed hereafter. 

 Your other questions are, whether they are found smooth 

 or crumpled, and whether we meet with the impressions 



