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the creatures of these imaginary capricious powers, they excited 

 more general attention: and being better understood, they became 

 more capable of systematic arrangements, and the study of them 

 embraced more of science. 



The eighteenth century, therefore, commenced under the most 

 favourable circumstances for this science. The learned and indus- 

 trious Scheuchzer, who had adopted the most rational theory respect- 

 ing the origin of these substances, published, in 1702, his Lithogra- 

 phia Helvetica Curiosa ; which was followed by his Piscium Querelce 

 et Vindica, in 1708 ; with his Herbarium Diluvianum, in 1713; and his 

 Musceum Diluvianurn, in 1716, Mylius, Bajerand others also, about 

 this time, published the oryctological discoveries which had been 

 made in the several parts in which they resided, or which they had 

 explored. Among these writers, none deserves more particular men- 

 tion, than the accurate and diligent Rosinus ; whose examination of 

 the encrinus may be regarded as a model by which all similar in- 

 quiries should be directed. His projected works promised very con- 

 siderable addition to the knowledge of fossils ; but these were sup- 

 pressed by his premature death. Bruckman also pursued this kind 

 of inquiry, with the utmost assiduity and success ; which is rendered 

 evident by his work, de Lapide Nummali Transylvania; as well 

 as, by the numerous observations, in his epistolary accounts of 

 what he had discovered worthy of notice in his various travels. 

 The works of Ritter, . which were published also about this 

 time, contain much oryctological information. Indeed the science, 

 now rendered respectable, by being divested of the numerous absur- 

 dities, with which ignorance and false philosophy had loaded it, 

 was assiduously cultivated by many learned and ingenious men ; and 

 became more and more interesting, from the numerous objects of 

 astonishment it displayed. Linck, Jacobus a Melle, Harenberg, 

 L Ehrhart, Volckman, Klein, Donati, Reaumur, with many other 

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