CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 107 



mentioned to receive that satisfaction, which I could not 

 omit to give you notice of. 



Loudon, July 11, — 7i. 



Mr. Ray to Dr. Lister. 



Dear Sir, — In the last ' Philosophical Transactions,' 

 I saw a table of land and fresh-water snails of your draw- 

 ing up, which is indeed very full and disposed in an 

 excellent method, and the Kvely figure of each shell, being 

 elegantly engraven, added; so that there is little wanting to 

 a complete history of them. I have not been very curious 

 in searching out and noting the varieties of our English 

 land-snails ; many of yours I have not taken notice of. 

 The second kind I think is that you and I observed about 

 Montpellier, but I do not remember to have seen it in 

 England. Of your Avater-snails I have discovered most, 

 if not all. Your first Buccinum, which is the 18th in the 

 plate, I used to call Conchula persica for some resemblance, 

 if I mistake not, it hath to that shell. It hath also the 

 likeness of those they call Porcelain shells beyond seas, 

 and use for cosmetics. I have observed a small water- 

 snail in our brooks, which I used to term Nerites fluvia- 

 tilis for its similitude, which I think is not in your table, 

 unless it be the 18th; but then it is not rightly figured, 

 for the bottom or vertex in mine is round and not at all 

 produced. I have also observed abundantly in oiu' brooks 

 a Patella Jluviatilis no broader than a lentil sticking to 

 the stones. But of these things, being thus by you quick- 

 ened, I shall hereafter, God granting life and health, take 

 more exact notice. I thank you for your communications, 

 and exhort you as earnestly as I can to proceed v^^ith all 

 vigour in yom' search into the history and mysteries of 

 natm-e ; in the prosecution whereof, the success you have 

 ah-eady had, and discoveries you have made, have both 

 rewarded your endeavours and given you encouragement 

 to persist. 



