17 z Sir Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray. 



I believe you may have feen moft of thefe, they 

 being Survivors of the laft Winter, and proba- 

 bly the moft of them will keep out this. Mr. Watts 

 having a new Contrivance, (at leaft in this Countrey) 

 viz. he makes under the Floor of his Green-houfe a 

 great Fire-place with Grate, Afh-hole, &c. and con- 

 veys the Warmth through the whole Houfe, by 

 Tunnels $ fo that he hopes, by the Help of Wea- 

 ther-Glafles within, to bring or keep the Air at 

 what Degree of Warmth he pleafes, letting in upon 

 Occalion the outward Air by the Windows. He 

 thinks to make, by this Means, an artificial Spring, 

 Summer, Winter, &c. . 



Sir Hans Sloane to Mr. Ray. 



S IR} , London^ Dec to. 1684. 



TH E Fungus Campaniformis niger mult a Sem. plan, 

 in fe continens of Merretfs Pinax, grows plen- 

 tifully here in feveral Places in Londqn^ and feems to 

 me very pretty in the Contrivance of the Seed : For 

 within the Cup of the Fungus^ (which is like a Bell, 

 or rather the Top of Mufcus Pyfoides^ or Pixidatus 

 Ger.) there lies feveral Seeds fattened to the bottom 

 of the Cup, by means of a very fmall Thread, or Fi- 

 bril, which I fuppofe might bring the Sap from the 

 Root to the Seed : It has but a fmall Root, and ufu- 

 ally comes out in a round white Tumor from old 

 Wood, which ferves to keep up the Sides of Borders : 

 The Rain falling into this Cup, and filling it, the 

 Seeds are heav'd up, and wafh'd over, audfowthem- 

 felves. Perhaps this Fungus may have a near Affinity 

 with the common Mufcus Pixidatus^ and this may 

 have fome Seed too : This Fungus is figur'd by Men- 

 "zelimjxx his Defcription of fome Plants in feveral Places 



