I. -^art of tm Letters from Mr Edward Lhwyd, 
K^eeper of the Afiimolean ^^pojitory in Oxford, 
to Mr- S^imiiel Dale of Braintrce in Eflcx, co?z- 
Oxfard^ Sept. 19. 1 70 1. 
'W'^Eq ftate of thefe Bodies is quite different in your 
1 p.irts from what it is in Wales and Ireland. In thofe 
Countries the Shells are generally Cryftalline^ but with 
you ( and fometimes hereabouts ) they are iejiaaouf : 
Which difference is doubtlefs to be attributed to the 
Sod, and particularly to your Chalk and Flint, which 
all thofe Countries want, excepting a fmall part (1 know 
nor by what chance of Diluvian Dijfolutien) got into the 
Jslorih part of Ireland. But there 'tis remarkable that 
their Chalk is abfolutely petrify*d : I mean, whereas the . 
Flints are here imbodyed in Chalk, they are there in a 
Ch.ilk white Lime-Jione. And as your Chalky Countries 
only afford thofe Echmit£ Ih^ivc ftiFd, Pikatfff^ Galea* 
tus, and Cordatm : So I could never find them in all my 
Travels but at that place 3 from whence in the time o£ 
Paga»ifm the Druids procured them» and fold them 
amongft our Northern Brit aim for Stones of Miraculous 
efficacy againft perils by Fire and Water 5 perfwading 
the Vulgar they were generated in Cocks^knees 5 as Thou- 
Ifands in the High^L ands believe at this day. And one 
'Fellow had the Impudence to tell me (finding me a lirtle 
hard of belief ) that he himfelf had t ken one (that his 
Rafter had fliew'd me) out of a Gocks knte with his 
own hand* — ^ / Gx- 
I- 
