INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



CHOROGRAPHIA. 



[!T has been thought sufficient to print only a few brief extracts from this Introductory Chapter, 

 which in the original is of considerable length. Its title (derived from the Greek words x M P os 

 and ypatyiu) is analogous to " Geography." By far the greater portion of it has no application to 

 Wiltshire, but, on the contrary, consists of Aubrey's notes, chiefly geological and botanical, on every 

 part of England which he had visited ; embracing many of the counties. His observations shew 

 him to have been a minute observer of natural appearances and phenomena, and in scientific 

 knowledge not inferior to many of his contemporaries ; but, in the present state of science, some 

 of his remarks would be justly deemed erroneous and trivial. 



It will be seen that he contends strongly for the influence of the soil and air upon the mental 

 and intellectual faculties or " wits," of individuals ; on which point some of his remarks are curious. 

 Ray's comments on this part of his subject will be found in the letter already printed (page 7). 

 " The temper of the earth and air," in the opinion of Aubrey, caused the variance in " provincial 

 pronunciation." 



The author's theory of the formation and structure of the earth, which is here incidentally noticed, 

 will be adverted to in the description of Chapter VIII. J. B.] 



PETRIFIED SHELLS. As you ride from Cricklad to Highworth, Wiltsh., you find frequently 

 roundish stones, as big, or bigger than one's head, which (I thinke) they call braine stones, for on 

 the outside they resemble the ventricles of the braine ; they are petrified sea mushromes. [Fossil 

 Madrepores ? J. B.] 



The free-stone of Haselbury [near Box] hath, amongst severall other shells, perfect petrified 

 scalop-shells. The rough stone about Chippenham (especially at Cockleborough) is full of petrified 

 cockles. But all about the countrey between that and Tedbury, and about Malmesbury hundred, 

 the rough stones are full of small shells like little cockles, about the bigness of a halfpenny. 



At Dinton, on the hills on both sides, are perfect petrified shells in great abundance, something 

 like cockles, but neither striated, nor invecked, nor any counter-shell to meet, but plaine and with 

 a long neck of a reddish gray colour, the inside part petrified sand ; of which sort I gave a quantity 

 to the R. Society about twenty yeares since ; the species whereof Mr. Hooke says is now lost 



On Bannes-downe, above Ben-Eston near Bathe, [Banner-do wne, near Bath-Easton. J. B.] 

 where a battle of king Arthur was fought, are great stones scattered in the same manner as 



c 



