the Natural Htflory Part IM 



Matter, fubfiding thus, formed the 

 ^trat/!^ of Stone, of Marble, of Cole^ 

 of Earth, and the reft 5 of which Str^ 

 ta^ lying one upon another, theTerre* 

 ftrial Globe, or at leaft as much of it 

 as is ever difplayed to view, doth 

 mainly confift. 1 hat the Strata being 

 arranged in this order meerly by the 

 difparity of the Matter, of which each 

 confifted, as to Gravity, that Matter 

 which was heavieft defcending firft, 

 and all that had the fame degree of 

 Gravity fubfiding at the fame time : 

 and ihere being Bodies of quite diffe- 

 rent Kinds, Natures, and Conftituti- 

 ons, that are nearly of the fame fp€ci-s 

 fick Gravity, it thence happened thafi 

 Bodies of quite different kinds fubfided 

 at the fame inttant, fell together into, 

 and compofed the lame Stratum. That 

 for this reafon the Shells of thofe 

 Cockles, Efcalops, Perewinkles, and 

 the reft, which have a greater degree 

 of Gravity, were enclofed and lodged 

 in the Strata of Stone, Marble, and 

 the heavier kinds of Terreftrial Mat-^ 

 ter : the lighter Shells not finking 

 down till afterwards, and fo falling 

 amongft the hghter Matter, fuch as 

 Chalk, and the like, in all fuch parts 



of 



