Of 0 XFO I^JD^SHITiE. in 
Clifton near Dorche/ier^ but found as I was told at Sandford near Ox- 
ford^ about eleven inches over, and (eventeen pounds in weight ; 
having fingleri^i only, without knobs or ridges at the back, which 
is plain and even, -as in Fig, 15. which though little more than 
half" fo big as that mentionM by Dr. Merret of 21 inches diame- 
ter that he faw in the Garden of one Mr. Rawdon^ yet 1 guefs 
it muft needs fo extravagantly exceed the biggefi: Nautilus or For- 
ctlhnt-Jhell^ both in latitude and number of turns^ that we muft 
be forced to feek out another on^i;2forit. 
96. Befide, its being in-laid M/ith a fmall fort of Conchites^ fo 
placed in its fides, that they have fegments (if I may fo call them) 
within the very bulk or body of the Ophiomor-^hite^ feems flatly 
to deny its original U om X.\\t Nautilws^ for had this fallen out by 
compreffion of their iliells together, their uniform figures muft 
needs have been fpoiled, contrary to what appears as well in the 
fione as its draught. Which brings me to confider the great Que- 
fiion now fo much controverted in the World. 
Whether the ftones we find in the forms of Shell-fifli, he Lapides 
fui generis, naturally-produced hj fome extraordinary plaftic 
virtue latent in the Farth or Quarries where they are found? 
Or whether they rather owe their form and figuration to the 
Chells of the Fifties they refrefent^ brought to the places 
where they are now found by a Deluge^ Earth-quake, or [omt 
other fuch means-, and there being filled with mud, clay, 
and petrifying juixes, have in tra5t of time been turned into 
ftones, 06 we now find them^ ftill retaining the fame fiape 
in the whole., with the fame lineations, futures, emincn- 
cies, cavities, orifices, points, that they had whil' ft they 
were ftiells ? 
97. In the handling whereof, though I intend not any per- 
ttniptory decifion, hut z friendly debate ; yet having according to 
the wifties and advice of thofe Eminent Virtucft^ Mr. iToo^and 
Mr. Ray J made fome confiderarble colleftions of thefe kind of 
things., and obferved many particulars and circumftances con- 
cerning them : Upon mature deliberation, I muft confefs I am 
inclined rather to the opinion of Mr. Lifter^ that they are Lapides 
* Phiax rerumNaturalhm, 'p. 21^. There is another about thacbignefs in the Repofitory of the 
"RoyalSociety, given by the Right Honorable Henry Earl of NoT'Wich, Earl Marjhal of England. 
fui 
