The Natural Hifiory 



have cnade Difcoveries in other refpeds 

 concerning them, and in other parts of 

 Nature likevvife, of that moment and 

 coniequence, as to have thereby laid a 

 great and lafting OWigation upon the 

 intelHgent and difcerning part of Man- 

 kind. 



But that they have failed notwith- 

 ftanding in this Enterprize, 'tis, I 

 think, not over difficult to prove. And 

 du is the Subject of the prefent Dif- 

 courfe. Wherein I hope clearly to 

 make out, that the Sea gave Birth to 

 thefe Bodies : that thej are fo far from 

 being formed in the Earth, or in the 

 places where they are now found, that 

 I fliall evince, ^ that even the Belem- 

 nites, Selenites, Marchafits, Flints, 

 and other natural Minerals, which are 

 lodged in the Earth, together with 

 thefe Shells, were not formed there^ 

 hut had Being before ever they came 

 thither: and w^ere fully formed and 

 finilhed before they were repofed in 

 that manner. 



That the above-mentioned Bodies 

 vwhich confifl: of Stone^ of Spar, Flint, 

 and the like^ and yet carry a refem- 

 blance of Cockles, Mufcles, and other 

 Shells, were originally formed in the 



Cavities 



