441 



ever, obvious, from its having no correspondent depression at the 

 opposite end. I might adduce other bodies, bearing a very similar 

 appearance, at least in their forms, with oranges, apples, figs, &c. 

 which have originally been of marine growth ; having been alcyonia, 

 sponges, and similar productions. Among these may be also placed 

 a silicious fossil body, resembling, on its external surface, an enor- 

 mously large nutmeg ; but having been cut and polished, several 

 lines are shown, passing like radii from the centre to the circum- 

 ference, yielding a very uncommon and beautiful appearance. 

 There appears to be very little doubt of its being the same kind of 

 body as is depicted by Scheuchzer, as a petrified nutmeg *. 



As an additional proof of the propriety of receiving the earlier 

 accounts of the petrifaction of the seeds of plants, and particularly 

 of grain, with considerable caution, I must refer you to the fossil 

 represented PI. III. Fig. 6. A small specimen of this fossil is ac- 

 curately depicted by Swedenborg, and described as resembling a 

 species of Indian corn ; " Speciem praebet spies tritici Indici (mais) 

 dicti, nisi forma esset plana-j"." 



Thus Scheuchzer also figures a fossil which he not only describes 

 as an ear of corn, but reasons from its figure and fulness; and 

 thence derives arguments in favour of his opinion that the deluge 

 took place in the month of May $. But Mr. Walch remarks, with 

 much propriety, that the body figured by Scheuchzer has much 

 more the appearance of a zoophyte, the rays of which are divided 

 by transverse lines, marking their separation into distinct vertebrae. 

 Of the spica secalina et graminis panici, mentioned by Dr. Richard- 

 son , we can form no just opinion, as we receive no aid from either 

 description, or figure ; and with respect to the ear of barley, a figure 



* Herbar. Diluv. Tab. XIII. Fig. 2. 



t Emanuel Swedenborgii Miscellanea observata circa Res naturales, &c. pag. 15. 



$ Herb. Dilur. PI. I. Fig. 1. p. 1. Ichnograph. Lithophyl. Brit. p. 108. 



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