the ikatural Biflory Part IL 



ment the weight of them) being, bulk 

 for bulk, lighter than Sand, Marl^ 

 Chalk, or the other ordinary Matter 

 of the Globe, were not precipitated 

 till the laft, and fo lay above all the 

 former, conftituting the fupreme or 

 outmoft Stratum of the Globe, That 

 thefe being thus lodged upon the fefl:^ 

 and confequently more nearly expo- 

 fed to the Air, Weather, and other 

 Injuries ; the Bodies of the Animals 

 would fuddenly corrupt and rot : the^ 

 Bones, Teeth, and Shells, would like^ 

 wile all rot in time, except thofe which 

 were fecured by the extraordinary 

 Strength and Firmnefs of their Parts, 

 or which happened to be lodged in 

 fuch places where there was gr^at plen- 

 ty of bituminous or other like Matter 

 to prelerve, and, as it were, embalm 

 them : that the Trees would in time 

 alfb decay and rot, unlefs fuch as chan- 

 ced to be repofed io, and (ecured by the 

 lame kind of Matter : that the other 

 more tender VegeEables^ Shrubs, and 

 Herbs, would rot like wife and decay: 

 But the Seeds of all kinds of Vegeta^ 

 bles, being by this means repofed, Jnd, 

 as it were, planted near the Surface of 

 the Earth, in a convenient and natural 



Sbirb 



