tji Dr. Robitifon to Mr. Ray. 



c< half a Year old, under the fhort Ribs, in Merionyi* 

 « Jhire. 



London, Q5i. 22 # 1691. 



Dr. Robinfon to Mr. Ray. 



SIR* London^ Feb. zf — p*. 



ALL our Sea Officers , and underftanding Sea- 

 men agree that the Mediterranean fets out a- 

 gain into the AtUntick * and a Gentleman who was 

 employ 'd many Years in the Mole of Tangier* brought 

 back a Chart with him of this ebbing out of the 

 Streets Mouth 5 I own 'tis fcarce reconcileable to 

 the common Notions of Philofophy, that there fhould 

 be two contrary declivities or currents in the fame 

 Chanel i But the Seamen have often laugh'd at my 

 way of reafoning, telling me, that the fame thing is 

 frequent in many Streights, as the Hellefpont and Bof- 

 fhorus* but more notably in that of Negro^ont. I 

 would not be thought to byafs your better Judgment, 

 yet I mult tell you that all the Scholars about the 

 Town, who read your Book, do agree you to be un- 

 der an Error : Indeed general Opinions never deter- 

 mine me, when I am inclined to think upon any 

 Subjed (which happens feldom*) and to fpeak the 

 Truth, I doubt of this* tho' Dr. Lifter* Mr. Jftoffl 

 Mr. Hatty* Mr. Flamfted* &c. are all againft you, fo 

 are all the Sea-faring Men. 



I told you there are many PeSlunculites* four and 

 fix times as large as any Shell of that yet known } I 

 fpeak of England, 



The Nautilus Shell in Mufteums feems to me to be 

 only the Tail of the Animal, and the Diaphragms 

 thereof the Vertebra y I know not how many VQlut* 

 the perfeft Shell it fclf may have, 



Yom 



