Of OXFO %<>*$ Hl%E> til 



Clifton near Dorcbefier, but found as I was told at Sandjord near #x- 

 ford, about eleven inches over, and feventeen pounds in weight ; 

 having tingle ribs only, without knobs or ridges at the back, which 

 is plain and even, as in Fig. 15. which though little more thari 

 half fo big as that mention'd by Dr. Merret of 21 inches diame- 

 ter *, that he faw in the Garden of one Mr. Rawdon, yet I guefs 

 it mull needs fo extravagantly exceed the biggeft Nautilus or For- 

 cellane-Jhell, both in latitude and number of turns, that we muft 

 be forced to feek out another origin fork. 



96. Befide, ks being in-laid with a fmall fort of Conchites, fo 

 placed in its fides, that they have fegments (if I may fo call them) 

 within the very bulk or body of the Ophiomorphite, feems flatly 

 to deny its original from the Nautilus, for had this fallen out by 

 compreffion of their fliells together, their uniform figures muft 

 needs have been fpoiled, contrary to what appears as well in the 

 fione as its draught. Which brings me to confider the great Que- 

 (lion now fo much controverted in the World. 



Whether the/tones we find in the forms of Shell-fifti, be Lapides 

 fui generis, naturally produce d'by fome extraordinary plaftic 

 virtue latent in the Earth or Quarries where tbey are found? 

 Or whether they ratber owe their form and figuration to the 

 {hells of the Fifties they reprefent, brought to the places 

 where they are now found by a Deluge, Earth-quake, or fome 

 other fuch means, and there being filled with mud, clay, 

 and petrifying juices, have in trail of time been turned into 

 ftones, as we now find them, fiill retaining the fame Jhape 

 in the whole, with tbe fame lineations, futures, emincn- 

 cies, cavities, orifices, points, that they had whiV ft tbey 

 were fliells ? 



97. In the handling whereof, though I intend not any per- 

 emptory decifwn, but a friendly debate ; yet having according to 

 the willies and advice of thofe Eminent Virtuafi Mr. Hookand 

 Mr. Ray, made fome confiderable collections of thefe kind of 

 things, and obferved many particulars and circumfhnces con- 

 cerning them : Upon mature deliberation, I muft confefs I am 

 inclined rather to the opinion of Mr. Lifter, that they are Lapides 



* Pinax rerumNaturalium, p. 2i<j. There is another about thatbignefs in the Repofitory of the 

 "Royal Society, given by the Right Honorable Henry Earl o{ Norwich, Earl Marjhal of England. 



' fit 



