88 



Dr. Lifter to Mr. Ray* 



Dear S I R$ 



LOoking over my Boxes of Infects, I find a Row 

 of about a dozen of thefe Bees, and fome Cafes^ 

 out of which they were hatch'd. Thefe I find all 

 pierced at the Sides , and for the Bees themfelves^ 

 they differ much in Bignefs, as tho' that was not truey 

 that Infe&s of this Kind are at their full Growth 

 when born ; but it may well be, according to your 

 Obfervation, that thefe boiilerous and hafty elder Bro- 

 thers dwarfe the younger by fpoiling their Food. 



I do not fay that I ever found Cafes of other Leaves 

 than Rofes y but I have found Leaves of many other 

 Trees bit out by them, as Willow, Thorn $ and ef- 

 pecially a Lilach Tree, at the upper End of St. John's 

 Walks, had fcarce a whole Leaf in it, and fome of 

 thofe Leaves too were well husbanded, as having two 

 or three Side Pieces, and as many round Bits, taken 

 off of them. This I {he wed to many of our Fellows^ 

 who may well remember it, as Mr. Gower, &c. And 

 I know I have yet fome of thofe Pipe-tree Leaves in 

 fome of my Books, which are yet moft of them at 

 Cambridge, I fometimes ufe my Notes, and fome* 

 times I truft to my Memory, when I writ to you 

 according to Leifure, which may well eaufe fome 

 Difference in Circumftances j but I affure you, I am 

 as circumfpect and careful not to impofe upon my 

 felf and others as I can, and you have well leflbned 

 me to this Purpofe y and amongft other things I am 

 extremely obliged to you for it. 



As for the forking of Spiders Threads - y far be it 

 from me that I ifhould flight any Phenomenon of 



Nature? 



