rot. XVir.] J?HlLOSOPHICAI- TRANSACTIONS. 495 



formerly not to be seen at a certain distance, but now visible by the sinking of 

 an interposed hill, which the rains have gradually lessened and washed down ; 

 (with some other observations of the like nature) he argues, that the waters may 

 at last level the whole earth, and bring a total subversion thereof ; to which 

 purpose is inserted a large quotation out of Josephus Blancanus. For a second 

 cause he alleges the extinction of the sun, instancing some observations of 

 unusual defects and paleness of the sun for a considerable time, and thinks it 

 not impossible but the maculae solares may so far prevail, as wholly to rob us 

 of his necessary influence. For a third cause, he brings the eruption of the 

 central fire, the possibility whereof he argues particularly from new stars ap- 

 pearing and disappearing, which phenomenon he thinks may be so solved. A 

 fourth cause may be the dryness and inflammability of the earth in the Torrid 

 Zone, where by the way he explains what fire is, and in the end rejects this 

 cause as insufficient. Coming to that question, how this dissolution will be 

 effected ; he answers, by fire, and concludes it will be after a miraculous way, 

 suddenly, &c. He determines not the time, but allows it possibly at a great 

 distance, and thinks it likely that it will be a renovation, and not an utter an- 

 nihilation, which he proves from several old writers. 



Leonardi Plukenetii Phytographia seu Plantte quamplurimct novts et Literis hue 

 usque incognita ex variis et remotissimis Provinciis ipsisque Indiis allatte Nomine 

 et Iconibus. Tabulis ^neis 1 30, Fig. ferh 800 magnd cum Industrid et insigni 

 sank in Successores Beneficio illustralce. Fol. Land. 1692. Pars HI. N° 196, 

 p. 6I8. 



Som,e Experiments on a Black Shining Sand brought from Virginia, supposed to 

 contain Iron, made in March 1689. By Allen Moulen, M. D. F.R.S. 

 N° 197, p. 624. 



A small phial filled with ordinary white sand, and containing only 31. gr. xi. 

 being filled with the Virginia sand, was found to contain jii, gii, gr. i, that is, 

 3i. ss. more than the former. 2. This sand applied to the magnet both before 

 and after calcination, but the latter applied better to it than the former. 3. A 

 parcel of this sand, mixed and calcined with powdered charcoal, and kept in a 

 melting furnace for about an hour, yielded no regulus, but applied more 

 vigorously to the loadstone than either of the former. 4. I fluxed a parcel of 

 this sand with fixed nitre in a melting furnace for above an hour, but could ob- 

 tain no regulus, nor any substance that would apply to the magnet, excepting a 

 thin crust that stuck firmly to a piece of charcoal that dropped into the crucible 

 •vhen the matter was in fusion. 5. I fluxed it also with saltpetre and powdered 



