Of OXF 0^7)^8 HI%E. m 
leJgecf man ha6 yet been able to reach} altogether confonant and 
greeabkto mans reafon^ and of no way or means that doth contradid^ 
or PS contrary to human ratiocination : Whence it has been a general 
ebfervation and Maxim, that Nature doth nothing in vain. It feems 
I fay contrary to that great vp'ifdom of Nature, that thefepretily fiaped 
bodies J/jould have all thofe curiom figures and contrivances f^^hich 
many of them are adorned and contrived with ) generated or wrought 
by a plaftic virtue, for no higher end than only to exhibit a form 
121. To which I anfwer, that Nature herein afts neither con- 
trary to her own prudence^ human ratiocination^ or in vain^ it be- 
ing the wifdom and goodnefs of the Supreme Nature^ by the 
School-men called Naturans^ that governs and directs the Natura 
naturata here below, to beautifie the World with thcfe varieties ; 
which 1 take to be the end of fuch productions as well as of moft 
Flowers^ fuch as Tulips^ Anemones^ isc. of which we know as lit- 
tle ufe as of formed Clones, Nay, perhaps there may proportion- 
ably, number for number, be as many of them of Medicinal or 
other uje^ fuch as Selenites, Belemnites^ Conchites^ Lapis ^udaicu^^ 
isrc. as there are of Plants : So that unlefs we may fay alfo 
(which I gucfs no body will) that thefe are produced contrary 
to the great wifdom of Nature, we muftnot of ftones. 
12 2. And thus I have given the grounds of my prefent f)/>i/zi(?;;^ 
which has not been taken up out of humor or contradiSiion^ with 
intent only to affront other worthy Authors modeft conje.flures, 
but rather friendly to excite them^ or any others^ to endeavor col- 
Icdions of fiell-fiffj^ and parts of other Animals^ that may an- 
fwer fuch /or;72r^/i>7om as are here already, or may hereafter be 
produced : Which when ever I find done, and the reafons zlh- 
gcdfolidlyzn^wered^ I ftiall be ready with acknowledgment to 
retrad my opinion^ which I am not fo in love with, but for the 
fake of Truth I can chearfully caft off without the leaft relu- 
ftancy. 
123. However, in the meantime fince no doubt it will be ex- 
pefted, upon fo deliberate rejeftion of Animal molds^ thatfome 
further and more particular account fhould be given of the Pla- 
ftic virtue^ or whatever elfe it is, thateffeCh thefe^tf/fs- : I ftiall 
briefly fet down alfo my prefent thoughts concerning it, which 
yet 1 intend not my felf (much Icfs defire the Reader} to cm- 
° y^i. Hooks Micrographia> Obfcrv. ij. 
brace^ 
