i62 LETTER VII. 



13. Befides, a S^one with a reprefentation of 

 a fmall headlefs Snake upon it, which I do not 

 pretend to account for, though I think you call 

 it Cornu Ammonis^ together with a piece of pe- 

 trified Mofs, both given me by a Torkjhire Gen^ 

 tleman ; I fent to Dr. WQod%vard\ Collection fome 

 other Stones, that are in fhape of the hollow Shells 

 of Oyfters, (It is fomewhat remarkable that I ne- 

 ver met with above one like the flat fide of an 

 Oyfter) and indeed do fo very nearly refemble 

 them, that you will perhaps infill upon their 

 being Petrifications, and that about ten days be- 

 fore Noah's, Flood, they contained excellent Fifh 

 in them; but that very unfortunately, in that 

 great jumble and blending of Rocks, Earth, Sea, 

 Rivers, Sand, S^c. all in confufion together, the 

 poor Oyfters periflied, and their Shell (in com- 

 pany with an innumerable Heap of other Mat- 

 ters) petrified, and remained in that very ftate 

 till I (walking out to take the Air,) picked them 

 up in a Gravel-pit, near Bedford. I cannot give 

 in to that opinion, and could enlarge copioufly 

 upon fo fertile a Topick ; but as M, Mijfon Ipeaks 

 my fincere thoughts, in better terms than I am 

 mafter of, vol. 3. page 251. I fliall refer you to 

 that paflage, as follows. 



14. "I obferved, near CerfaldOy {in Italy) ac- 

 *' cording to the advertifement you gave me, fe- 

 " veral Hills of Sand, fluffed with divers forts of 



" Shells. 



