The Hi/tor j of 



B O O K I. 



Their jagged edges are turned inwards, and though all are not 

 equally beautiful, yet are they all of the fame oval figure, 

 gaping in the midft, and turning in a little : But they are very 

 different as to bignefs and colour. 



The ordinary ones are of a gilt-yellow, checquer'd with lit- 

 tle white or red fpots, fo as that at a diftance a man would 

 think them little Pearls, or grains of Coral .* Of the reft, fome 

 are blewilh, fome as it were befet with ftars , fome greyilh, 

 fome like Chryftal, and fome colour'd like Agats, which are all 

 delightful to the eye. 



But the moft efteem'd by the Curious are on the out-fide 

 of a colour between coral and carnation, and of a lilver-cp- 

 lour, or of a bright iky-colour within, and a rich porplmy 

 with fmall golden ftreaks .* Thofe alfo are with reafon \ <}\ 

 efteem'd, which on the upper part are of a bright green like 

 an Emerald, and within on the edges, and in thediftancesof a 

 pearl-colour .* The ft me account is made of thole which on 

 the back are black as Jet, and all elfewhere of a pale blew in- 

 termixc with little purple veins. 



In fine, there ire fome have fuch a delightful mixture of co- 

 lours, as if the Rain-bow had communicated fome of its beai> 

 ties to thefe little creatures : Nay there are abundance of them 

 fo diverfifiM with odd figures and characters, that it may be 

 imagin'd Nature was in a very pleafant humor when fhe was de- 

 lives 'd of thefe miracles. 



But the mifchief of itis, that the Sea, which is pcfiefs'd of 

 them as her moft orecious jewels, never parts with them but 

 againft her will : For if the Winds did not enrage her, and 

 making her bowels fearch into the bottom of her Treamres, 

 and force them thence, (he alone would enjoy thefe beauties, 

 and never let us have any of them. 



The Curious, to heighten their luftre, plaae them according 

 to their value and efteem in feveral Cabinets, lin'd with green 

 Plufti, or fome other rich ftuff: And after the example of the 

 Flowrifts , who call their Tulips and Gilly-Flowers b^r the 

 names of the C<efars 0 and moft illuftrious Heroes, they in like 

 manner give them the titles of Emperours and Princes. 



SEA-CORNETS. 



THere are alfo feen in the Caribbie* two forts of thofe 

 great Shells called Sea-Cornets , which are turned at 

 the end like a fcrew : Some are white as Ivory, and not inferior 

 to it in luftre : Others are within of a mining pearl-colour, and 

 without of foveral fair and lively colours, which are fome times 

 like fcales, fometimes waving, falling one upon another from 

 the edge of the wide opening to the turn'd end, where they 

 ceafe .• If a little hole be made at the fmall end of thefe Cornets, 



they 



