424 



scribed by Leibnitz ; those of Saxony, by Mihlius ; those of France, 

 and particularly those of Saint Chaumont, in the Lionnois, by Jus- 

 sieu ; and those of England, by Dr. AVoodward, Mr. Lhwydd, and 

 Dr. Dickinson. Even the Antediluvian Herbarium of the learned 

 and indefatigable Scheuchzer cannot be relied on : but, on the 

 contrary, by far the greater part of the specimens, mentioned by 

 him, appear to have very doubtful claims to the names which they 

 have obtained. Nor is this to be wondered at, when it is consi- 

 dered, that these were collected from the writings of men, who, 

 although of acknowledged learning, had written when this science 

 was still in a considerable degree of obscurity. 



Yours, &c. 



LETTER XLV. 



FOSSIL STEMS OF PLANTS. ...OF THE REED, &C FOSSILIUM 



INCOGNITUM. 



THE fossil stems of plants (Phytolithi Caulis, Wallerii et Linnaei, 

 Lithocalami, nonnul.) occur very frequently. They most commonly 

 belong to the family of grasses ; and have been sometimes supposed 

 to be analogous with some of the known species of the reed kind. 

 Thus Scheuchzer figures Arundo Sativa, Gasp. Bauhin, in a schist 

 from the coal mines of England*. Volckman also figures the Arundo 

 Saccharma-^. The Acorus has also been said, by Scheuchzer, to be 

 found in a petrified state ; and common Bamboo is mentioned, by 

 Walch, as having also undergone this change. But a review of 



* Herb. Diluv, Tab. IV. Fig. i. f Siles. Subterr. Tab. XIIL Fig. 7. 



