( 1774 ) 
ML A Letter from Mr Antony Van Lcuwenhoek, 
K (^. S. Concerning fome Foj^ls of Swiffcrland, 
&CC. 
Delft, igfA Decemb. 1704. 
Lhfk Fehrudfj I imparted my Thoughts andObfevations 
to the Learned and Famous Monfieur Peter Valk^enier^ 
Envoy ixomxh^ StaitiGe^eral to the Swifs Qantorjs^ about 
Mountdtn-Crifidl^ and particularly that it was not produced 
from Ice, oor grew in the Mountains, where it has its 
Increafe, as many are of opinion 5 but that it is coagulated 
of the Air, there where it is fixt in the Mountain, that 
Air and a little Moifture is fliut up in Cryftals 5 the Parti 
of which being feparated, are again relblved into Long 
Particles, of which a great many are Hexangular. 
When the faid Gentleman return d from Swifferland^ 
I obferved in his Houfe divers Shells of Fifhes, and Snails, 
and other Rarities, which were Petrify'd, and a great 
many tum'd into Metal, with which he had fiU d a 
Cabinet 5 having made the Golleftion among the Moun* 
tains and Rocks of Swijferland. A few weeks ago Mr 
Vdlk§mtr did me the honour of a Vifit, and among other 
things, gave me four of the little Snail-ftiells that he had 
gathered in the faid Mountains, where thro length ol 
time they were chang d into Metal, for they were extra- 
ordinary Heavy. 
For my farther fatisfaftion, I took one of the Snail- 
fhells, that I judged to be Metal, and beat it to pieces 
with a little Hammer 5 but finding that it broke very 
eafily, I feparated the parts with the lefs trouble, and 
broke 
