306 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



Dr. HANS SLOANE to Mr. RAY. 



SIR, I have received, after much search, three sorts 

 of beans from the north-west islands of Scotland, which 

 are thrown up by the sea from the north-west great 

 ocean, and gathered in plenty on those north-west shores, 

 and are such as grow in Jamaica, viz. the bean called 

 there cocoons, that called horse-eye bean, and the ash- 

 coloured nickar, or bonduch. You will find them all in 

 my Catalogue, under those vulgar names, by the index ; 

 there is also a fourth sent me thence, which is, I think, 

 the Avellana quadrifida, J. B. Where its natural place 

 is I know not ; but the others you may find their countries 

 by the authors which speak of them, for they must come 

 to Scotland by the currents of the sea. I have heard of 

 some thrown up in England, and should be glad to have 

 your thoughts of this matter. The small coral in Eal- 

 mouth Road you may see I found in England, and had 

 it from the Magellan Straits. I beg your pardon for this 

 trouble. 



London, Sept. 11, 1696. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. HANS SLOANE. 



B. N., Sept. 17, 96. 



SIR, Yours of Sept. llth I received Monday last; in 

 answer whereto, first, I return you many thanks for the 

 pains you have already and shall further take in assisting 

 me and promoting my work ; but my haste is not so great 

 as to straiten you for time, not intending to begin to print 

 till next spring, so that you may proceed leisurely as your 

 affairs and occasions will permit. I am sensible what a 

 difficult task you have to clear up and reconcile things in 

 difference between yourself and Dr. Plukenet, which would 



