any knowledge of, that their appearance cannot fail to excite ad- 

 miration, and an eager desire to obtain all the information respect- 

 ing them, which can be acquired. 



Notwithstanding the interest which they must excite, want of 

 information, respecting these bodies, generally prevails. Even in 

 those places in this island, where they most commonly are found, 

 all inquiries respecting them are, in general, answered only by the 

 most silly tales and legends. This is, perhaps, attributable to the 

 circumstance of no particular treatise, on these subjects, having yet 

 appeared in the English language ; excepting a few valuable papers 

 in the Philosophical Transactions, Dr. Woodward's Catalogue of 

 his Collection of Fossils, Mr. Walcot's Description and Figures of 

 Petrifactions found near Bath, some observations in Mr. Jones's 

 Physiological Disquisitions, and Mr. Martin's Figures and Descrip- 

 tions of Petrifactions collected in Derbyshire. What else has 

 hitherto been published, in this country, respecting them, has 

 been chiefly in those works which, treating of mineralogy in gene- 

 ral, have necessarily spoken of these substances, but in a su- 

 perficial and unsatisfactory manner. In France and Italy, and 

 more particular in Germany, the most ardent and scientific in- 

 quiries have indeed been instituted ; in consequence of which, 

 discoveries of the most curious and interesting nature have been 

 made. These, however, having been published either in French, 

 German, or Latin ; and not having yet appeared in an English 

 dress, it is not to be wondered at that the astonishing information 

 which they impart, is so little known in this country. 



From the consideration of this circumstance, I am disposed to 

 offer to the public eye whatever information I shall be able to col- 

 lect, whilst complying with your request ; trusting that the interest, 

 excited by the subjects of my inquiry, will be sufficient to awaken 

 attention to a most pleasing, but much neglected science.. 



The illustrious Bergman elegantly describes fossils, as the MEDA..L& 



