392 



thoxylon Abietis, is said to be found less frequently in a petrified 

 state than many other trees ; at the same time that it has been 

 found in a bituminous state, much more frequently, than any 

 other. But the supposed frequency of its occurrence, in a bitumi- 

 nous state, is very likely to exceed the fact ; since the high degree 

 of inflammability, which bituminous woods possess, has led to the 

 suspicion, that all such woods, especially if their fibres ran straight, 

 were of the fir or pine kind ; their inflammabilitybei ng attributed 

 to the resin, or turpentine, which they were supposed to contain. 



That they are frequently found in subterranean situations, in this 

 island, is indubitable. Dr. Leigh, speaking of the subterranean 

 trees found in several of the morasses in Lancashire, says *, " Not 

 only fir-stocks, but fir-apples, are likewise found in these morasses ; 

 and these, I hope, gentlemen will allow me could not belong to 

 any other tree, but to the fir : besides, the grain of the wood, and 

 the turpentine which upon burning drops from it, sufficiently de- 

 monstrate it to be really fir/' 



Mr. Daines Barrington informs us, that he happened to see, 

 near Loch Rannoch, and in other parts of the highlands of Scot- 

 land, subterraneous firs which had been lately dug up. On cutting 

 them he found that they smelt strongly resinous, and he concluded 

 that they were firs, the grain of the wood further warranting this 

 opinion. The poor people, he observes, in those parts, use small 

 pieces of this wood, instead of candles. He, therefore, thinks that 

 there is little doubt that the fir was formerly an indigenous tree, 

 ki the northern parts of this island. Dr. Plot argues, that Cresar, 

 not having seen the northern parts of this island, where the pines 

 most probably grew, might easily be mistaken in that, as well 

 as wih respect to the beech which he asserts was not in this 

 island, though the contrary has been found to be the fact. Whilst 



* The Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire, &c. by Charles Leigh, M, D, 1700, p, 59, 



