Mr. Aubrey to Mr. Ray. 



SIR, London, December if. i5pz. 



THERE are Water Black-birds about Rent- 

 comb in Cotfwald, which I never heard of be- 

 fore, &c. Mr. Gib/on of Queen VCollege, Oxon. of 

 Westmorland, faith, that in Weflmorland,- Eagles do 

 breed in Willow- Cragg in the Parifli of Bampton. 



I remember the Salt-petre Men told me heretofore, 

 that in Ground abounding with Salt-petre they find 

 a little yellow Infe<5t, as yellow as Gold, which is a 

 good Indication to them for Salt-petre. In Mr. Wild\ 

 Woods, at Gotham in Ejfex, an Eagle was kill'd about 

 8 Years- fince, whofe Wings expended p Foot long 

 Mr. Wyld has one of the Feathers* 



Mr. Lhwyd to Mr. Ray. 

 I sir, ? i ' r \ : !^Mi%i i, 



THE Account you have been pleas'd to give me 

 of your ftraSl concerning the Diffblution of th$ 

 TVorld, makes me think it very long till I fee it. Your 

 Difcourfe of Ferm'd Stones comes in very opportune- 

 ly, and indeed mtlft neceflarily afFe& the Reader with 

 its Novity and Clearnefs of Argument. 

 ' As to the FoJJtt Olfters, and my other Obfervations 

 of late in this Kind, they do I muft confefs confirm 

 me in my Apoftafy $ for I have been inclined to a 

 Misbelief of their being Mineral Forms, ever fince I 

 found the firft Ichthyofpondylus, viz. above a Year 

 fince. If I had Abilities of travelling one or two 



Summers, 



