Of Nun. Part It 
Ofiricbes , or fometimes a Cajfowarys-Egg. Yet fo , as 
always to be Trivalvous, i. e. compofed or three Sides or 
Plates joyned together by the length of the Shell 5 one 
Side being commonly much bigger than either of the 
other two. At the Bafe of the faid Shell, are always like- 
wife three confpicuous Holes, by which originally are ad- 
mitted a confiderable number of Fibers into the Concave 
of the Shell. Next within the Shell is a thin, dry and Mem- 
branous Coat, branched or veined all round about with 
a great number of Fibers, chiefly for the conveyance of 
Sap. Within this Veiny-Coat , lie s a foft , white , 
thick and Oval Body, commonly 5 but falfly, fuppofed to 
be the Kernel: it being only the Covemcxt or immediate 
thereunto. In thicknefs about \ an inch, and of a fweet 
and pleafant taft. This Body, while the Nut is yet unripe, 
is filled full with a very limpid and fweetilh Liquor 5 which, 
in the Nut I had fent me, was in all about * a pint : all con- 
veyed from the faid fibrous Coat, and filtred through this 
thick foft Body. Out of this Liquor, the true Kernel is in 
time produced : the Liquor diminifhing, as the Kernel in- 
creafes, in the fame manner, as in an Egg, the White wafts, 
as the Chicken grows. Or as, indeed, in the Seeds of all 
Auttefirft P' ants wna tibever, (a) which are not meerly Metaphori- 
Book 0/ r cally, but really fomany Eggs (like thofe of many Ani- 
piams, Cap. ma J s ) without a Yelk. 
Letting this Liquor (land in a Bottle, corked up, for 
fome months 5 although at firft as clear as Rock-water, yet 
was it not only grown very fetid, but being after left open 
for fome time, did let fall a Sediment above I an inch thick. 
Arguments of its being impregnated with a fufhcient ftorc 
of feminal Principles. 
And as no Animal Egg is vital without the Male : fo 
neither is this Liquor,without the above-faid Fibers 5 which 
communicate their prolifick. Vertue to the fame. Amongft 
which Fibers, being many Aer-Vefels, they alfo ferve for 
the hardening of the Shell. As in like manner do all thofe 
that compofe the outward brufhy part of the Nut. For 
were the Shell not only filTd with fo great a quantity of 
Liquor 3 but alfo, as in many Fruits, furrounded with a 
juycy Pulp 5 betwixt both, it would remain a foft Paren- 
chyma (as all vegetable Stones at firft are) and never, or not 
foon enough, harden into a Ihell. For 
