258 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY, 



lcMhjospondylu8, viz. above a year since. If I had 

 abilities of travelling one or two summers, I believe I could 

 make this matter clear enough, and beyond dispute. 



I have also an ear of rye out of Dolgelhe parish, 

 Meiryonydhshire, that was taken out of the side of an 

 infant. The truth whereof is so well attested, that as yet 

 I fully believe it. When the child was born, he had a 

 protuberance on the left side under the ribs, about the 

 bigness of a small nut ; all the sustenance given him for 

 six weeks he vomited, and did not thrive at all : about 

 which time the knob broke ; and the mother surprised at 

 some odd thing she saw therein, called to her husband, 

 who observing the straw end to peep in and out, as the 

 child cried, or was quiet, he held it between his nails, and 

 plucked out this ear. The mother applied a plantain 

 leaf to the sore, and it was well in twenty-four hours. 

 Your opinion how it came there would be acceptable. My 

 Lord of Bangor has sent to me to desire your opinion of 

 the Holywell moss, as to its sweet scent. It is very true 

 that it smells sweet (as I myseK experienced anno -88) 

 at the very place. Whence it acquires its scent is the 

 question : my lord thinks it sweetened by art ; but then 

 he knows not perhaps that it has that smell in its native 

 place. 



Oxford, Dec. 20, —92. 



Mr, Eat to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, Jan. 3], —93. 



Sir, — This morning I have sent back the box you were 

 pleased to send me, containing the papers of fishes, and 

 Mr. Sherard's dried plants ; and should have given you 

 by letter more timely advice, but that I was not sure I 

 should finish them so soon. You Avill find in the box a 

 letter to Mr. Sherard, and another to Mr. Smith the 



