Mr. Ray to Dr. Robinfon. 16 1 



ly j but where they may be had I defire demonftra- 

 tions. 



I never very curioufly obferv'd Frouts, hecaufe they 

 do not often come in my way, there being none in 

 the Countrey near us. I believe I was 30 Years of Age 

 before ever I faw one. 'Sprats I know to be nothing 

 elfe but the young fry of Herrings and Pilchards > both 

 which Fifties come to their full growth in a Years 

 time or lefs, and then breed. Upon this occafion I 

 will communicate to you a particular which hath a 

 long time perplex'd me, and that is, whether all Fijh 

 caB all their Spawn at once: I mean in one Year, or 

 only part of it, retaining part for future partus' s. 

 That Herrings caft all I am confident, finding none 

 in fhotten Herrings. It is a Principle with me that 

 all Animals have, from their very firft formation, the 

 Eggs or Seeds of all the Young they fhall ever bring 

 forth 3 for when they are cmce exhaufted and fpent, 

 the Ajiimal becomes effete. Now aFifh at every birth 

 calling forth fuch an innumerable number of Eggs as 

 are contain'd in her whole it feems ftrange 



there fhould remain Seed-Eggs enough, let them be 

 never fo fmall , as to fuffice many years Births 5 and 

 yet the whole Mafs of them together to be fo little and 

 inconfiderable, as not to be fo much as taken notice 

 of by any Naturalift. 



I find among my Papers a fhort Defcription I took 

 of the Skeleton of the Elephant^ in the Duke of Flo- 

 rence's Muf^um^ and therein this Defcription of the 

 Bones of the Feet. The Toes of the fore-Feet, or 

 father the Bones of the Metacarpium are five 3 for it 

 hath properly no Toes at all , but only five Unguis 

 upon thefe five Bones, which appear without fide the 

 Skin. The like is faid of the Bones of the Metatarfus^ 

 in the hind-Feet; It follows, the Unguis of thefe hin- 

 der-Feet are fmall, round, and blunt. So it feems 

 this Animal hath that peculiarity to have no Toes in 

 his Feet. And it is doubtful whether his Nails be 



UnguU 



