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and probably the due confideration and extenfion 

 of the volcanic fyftem, will open new foufces of 

 information in this way. 



This volume begins with Linn^us's own 

 theory of the origin of fofiil bodies in general, 

 and their feveral combinations into thofe forms in 

 which we meet with them in the body of the 

 earth. The methodical and abbreviated manner 

 in which our author has here given his philofophy 

 of fofTil bodies, renders it incapable of an ab- 

 ftrad. He then proceeds to give a fynoptical or 

 claflical view of the feveral fyftems of arranging 

 thofe bodies, as they ftand exhibited in the beft 

 authors on the fubjed, beginning with Bromelius^ 

 who publifhed in 1730, and enumerates WaU 

 lerius in 1747, Wolterfdorf in 1748, Cartheufer in 

 1 755) J^^fi^ '^151') Ayiomymus \Cronftedt\ in 1758, 

 and concludes with Vogel'm 1762. To each of 

 thefe he has fubjoined fhort remarks relating to 

 their methods, and theory of foflil bodies, and 

 concludes this introdu6tory part with an ex- 

 planation of the terms of art ufed in his own 

 work. 



In thefe termini artis^ our author, with his ufual 

 precifion, has defined a fet of terms equally new 

 and curious, which are principally adapted to, and 

 ufed in, the ultimate and moft difficult part of the 

 Syftem, the fpecific chara61:ers. They are happily 

 framed to exprefs all differences in the figures of 

 folTil bodies-, in their cruft^ or outward appear- 

 ance their fuperficies \ their component particles^ or 

 fibres ; in their texture^ whether plated, filTile, ^c, \ 

 in their hardnefs-^ or in their colour: the alterations 



they 



