VOL. XLV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 46q 



this design, he filled with moss several garden pots, and he compressed the moss 

 more or less, as he judged the several plants he intended to place in them might 

 respectively require a closer or a looser soil. 



He then sowed in moss, wheat, barley, oats, and pease. And he found, first, 

 that all the grains sowed in that manner came to maturity later than those of the 

 same sorts which were sowed at the same time in mould. 2dly. That the stems 

 from the several grains sowed in the moss were generally taller than those which 

 sprung from the ground. 3dly. There came from the grains sowed in the moss 

 a greater number of blades than from the grains sowed in the earth. 4thly. The 

 grains sowed in moss produced more plentifully than the others. 5thly. Those 

 grains that were gathered, from the produce of those which vegetated in the 

 moss, having been again sowed some in moss, and some in earth, succeeded well 

 in both. 



Mr. Bonnet has also planted in moss, pinks, gilly-flowers, daisies, tuberoses, 

 tulips, hyacinths, jonquils, and narcissuses; and all these plants succeeded as 

 well as others of the same sorts, which he at the same time planted in mould. 

 He also placed in moss, cuttings and layers of vines, and these cuttings and 

 layers became vines; and these vines in a short time grew larger than others, 

 that came from cuttings and layers planted at the same time in the ground. 



ji Continuation of an Account of an Essay towards a Natural History of Caro- 

 lina, and the Bahama Islands. By Mark Catesby, F. R. S. ivilh some Ex- 

 tracts out of the /ifppendix. By C. Mortimer, Seer. R. S. N° 486, p. 157. 



This is the 11th extract from Mr. Catesby's work, and contains an account of 

 various animals and vegetables, brought down to the conclusion of this author's 

 Natural History. The descriptions, says Dr. Mortimer, of this magnificent 



making his observations on this ir.inute part of the animal creation, he was obliged to have frequent 

 recourse to the microscope, in consequence of which his eyes became disordered, and his general 

 health much impaired. But as he possessed a mind which could not endure to be unemployed, he 

 turned his attention to the physiology of vegetables, and published some interesting observations on 

 the use of the leaves of plants. He furtlier engaged in metaphysical inquiries, the result of which 

 he communicated to the public in his Essay on Psychology. His principal works on natural history 

 are his Inseclologie, and his Contemplation de la Nature ; which last has been translated into most of 

 the European languages, and into the Italian, with valuable notes and additions, by the Abbe Spalian- 

 rani. Mr. Bonnefs collected works, printed at Neufchatel 1779. amount to 3 vols. 4to. 



Mr. B. was a member of various learned societies, and corresj^nded with the most distingnislied 

 naturalists and physiologists of his time; such as Reaumur, de Geer, du Hjirael, Haller, Spallan- 

 zani, &c. Sec. 



His ardour for scientific pursuits did not prevent him from serving his country in a civil and poli- 

 tical capacity. He was a member of the Grand Council of the Reiniblic of Geneva, and for many 

 years he took a leading part in the deliberations of that assembly. He died in the 73d year oi his 

 age, in 1793. '•* 



