382 PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS. [ANNO I677. 



feel the wainscot seats on which we sit or lean to tremble constantly at certain 

 notes on the organ or other wind instruments ; as well as at the same notes on 

 a bass-viol. I have heard also of a thin fine Venice glass cracked with the 

 strong and lasting sound of a trumpet or cornet, near it, sounding an unison or 

 a consonant note to that of the tone or ting of the glass. And I do not judge 

 he thing very unlikely, though I have not had the opportunity of making the 

 trial. 



An Improvement of the Bononian Stone shining in the dark. 



Signer Malpighi, in a late letter of his to the editor, of the gth of March, 

 takes notice, that one Signor Zagonius had a way of making out of the 

 Bononian stone calcined, statues and pictures variously shining in the dark. 

 But he adds, that unfortunately that person lately died, without discovering to 

 any one his method of preparing the said stone.* 



An Extract of a Letter written from Aberdeen, Feb. 17, 167^, bi/ Mr. George 

 Garden. Concerning a Man of a strange Imitating Nature, as also of several 

 human Calculi of an unusual Size. N° 134, p. 842. 



I remember when Mr. Scougall and I were with you last summer, we had 

 occasion to speak of a man in this country very remarkable for something pecu- 

 liar in his temper, that inclines him to imitate unawares all the gestures and 

 motions of those with whom he converses. We then had never seen him our- 

 selves. Since our return we were together at Strachbogie where he dwells, and 

 notwithstanding all we had heard of him before, were somewhat surprized with 

 the oddness of this dotterel quality. This person, named Donald Monro, being 

 a little old and very plain man, of a thin slender body, has been subject to this 

 infirmity, as he told us, from his very infancy. He is very loath to have it ob- 

 served, and therefore casts down his eyes when he walks in the streets, and 

 turns them aside when he is in company. We had made several trials before he 

 perceived our design ; and afterward had much to do to make him stay. We 

 caressed him as much as we could, and had then the opportunity to observe, 

 that he imitated not only the scratching of the head, but also the wringing of 

 the hands, wiping of the nose, stretching forth of the arms, &c. And we 

 needed not strain compliment to persuade him to be covered; for he still put 

 off and on as he saw us do, and all this with so much exactness, and yet with 

 such a natural and unaffected air that we could not so much as suspect he did it 



* It has been already mentioned in a note at p, 139, volume i. of this Abridgement, that the 

 method of preparing the Bonoiiian stone for shining in the dark, is no longer a secret 



