of the Earth. 



force 5 infbmuch, that whatfbever lies 

 deeper, or underneath, whether Stone^ 

 Marble, Chalk, Gravel, or whatever 

 elfe, this Stratum is ft ill expanded at 

 top of all 5 ferving, as it were, for a 

 common Integument to the reft : and 

 being (as fhall be (hewn in due place) 

 the Seminary or Promptuary that fur- 

 nifheth forth Matter for the formation 

 and increment of Animal and Vegeta- 

 ble Bodies ; and into which all of them 

 fucceflively are again finally returned. 



The Obfervations being thus dif- 

 patchM, my next ftep ftiould have 

 been to have propofed the Deduftions 

 from them; to have determined how 

 thele Sea- (hells were brought to Land, 

 and how they became interred in the 

 bowels of the Earth, in the manner 

 defcribed in thofe Obfervations. But 

 before I could proceed any farther to- 

 wards that, I found my felf necelTarily 

 obliged to take off a difficulty not long 

 fince ftarted by fbme learned Men, 

 who fufpecfc that thefe Shells are not 

 real; that they were never bred at 

 Sea ; but are all of Terreftial Original, 

 being meer Stones, though they bear 

 a refemblance of Shells, and formed^ 

 in the places where they are now 



found. 



