CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 291 



of each side of a leaf? To which I answer, they are 

 always smooth and fair, and that I have seen both sides 

 of leaves. Nay, lately (since the date of my last) I have 

 seen both sides of the same numerical leaf, so that I can 

 now confirm that observation of Dr. Woodward's, which 

 I mentioned in that letter. I have sent you here a figure 

 of one of these coal plants, from which, and those in 

 Camden, you may make some estimate of the rest. I 

 found it at a coal-pit in the forest of Dean, together with 

 several others. As, 1st, Hart's Tongue; 2dly, a kind of 

 Trichomanes ; 3dly, Loncliitis aspera, called by the 

 workmen Vox Vearn, i. e. Fox Fern ; 4thly, a kind of 

 Equisetum, which they call Cat's Tail ; 5thly, a small 

 Gallium, or Mollugo, with some others which I know not 

 whither to refer. This seems to resemble partly the 

 Osmund Royal, but to me the leaves are too small, too 

 thick set, and round-pointed ; but I leave you to match 

 it, who are best able. 



Oxford, August 28, —95. 



Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray. 



Honoured Sir, — I received your letter of the 4th ; 

 and that you may have a truer idea of these subterraneous 

 plants than I can possibly give you by correspondence, I 

 have sent this day, by the carrier, a small box of them, 

 directed for you, to be left with Mr. Smith. I had 

 brought a great clod of them, about half a year since, 

 from the forest of Dean, and had buried it in the ground 

 here, in a moist place, in hopes it would keep the better, 

 the figures being very apt to disappear after some months' 

 keeping. This, at the taking of it up, crumbled to pieces. 

 However, I have sent it to you as it is, and hope it may 

 serve to give you as clear a notion of the state of these 

 fossil leaves as if you were yourself at the coal-pits. I 

 have also added those three specimens I have figiured in 



