706 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1755. 



sea, that of the level of the water naturally follows. Dr. Donati furnishes us 

 with a great number of facts in proof of this. He observed, that at Venice, in 

 Istria, and in Dahnatia, the level of the waters is several feet higher than it was 

 formerly. This elevation of the waters is observed only on the northern and 

 eastern coasts of the Adriatic. The sea seems on the contrary, to abandon the 

 western coast, that of Italy. This Dr. Donati has showed by many very inte- 

 resting facts. 



He proceeds then to the observations, which he made upon the plants and 

 animals of the Adriatic sea. He begins with some general reflections on the 

 nature of both. On this occasion he treats of the question concerning the re- 

 semblance between plants and animals, and in general of the chain, which these 

 different organised bodies form by the affinity between them established by na- 

 ture. In mentioning the facts, which show this imperceptible transition from 

 the class of animals to that of plants, he seems inclined to believe, that these 

 facts are most frequently to be met with in the waters. 



After having given a description of several very curious marine plants, he pro- 

 ceeds to the beds of polypes. He gives this name to all those organized bodies, 

 known under the name of coralline bodies ; and which were, for a long time, 

 ranged under the class of plants. He then mentions different bodies, which he 

 calls plant-animals, and animal-plants, according to the characters which he 

 found belonging to them, and which bring them more or less near to one or 

 other of these general classes. dini I 



LXXXIX. On a Parihian Coin, with Characters on the Reverse resembling 

 those of the Palmy renes. By the Rev. John Swinton, M- A. of Christ-Churchy 

 Oxon, F. R. S. p. 593. 



Some years before, Mr. S. met with a small brass medal, in but indifferent 

 conservation ; which he discovered, he thinks, by comparing it with others, to be 

 a Parthian coin. This medal, he apprehends, exhibits the head of Vologeses the 

 3d, adorned with a beard and a tiara, after the Parthian manner, with a beta be- 

 hind it, which seems to point out the place in which it was struck. The reverse 

 presents a strange sort of instrument or machine, which perhaps may be imagined 

 to represent a key, besides some traces of characters in a great measure defaced, 

 and which he thinks are 4 entire Palmyrene letters. 



XC. A Catalogue of the Fifty Plants from Chelsea Garden, presented to the 

 Royal Society, by the Company of yfpothecaries, for the Year 17 55, pur- 

 suant to the Direction Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet, by John Wilmer, 

 M,D., &c. p. 607. 



This is the 34th annual presentation of this kind, completing to the number 

 of 1 700 different plants. 



