Y538 ; 
IV. HISTORI A AMBR£,A»k< JUS TO KLO- 
B I O, D. in Academ. Wittebergenfi. 
Author reckons up 18 Opinions concertfflg Amber- 
A g r tf e > and having examined every one of them, he embra- 
ces that, which holds. That it is the Dung of a. Bird, ( called 
In the Madagafcar Tongue, Afchibobuch: ) of which he gives the 
defcription out of odoardus Barbofa and others ^ who affirm it to be 
of the bignefs of a Goofe, curioufly feather’d, with a big head, 
well tufted. Thefe Birds being found in great numbers in Mada- 
gascar ^ the Maldives , and other parts of the E aft Indies, are affirm- 
ed by Authors to flock together in great numbers , as Cranes 5 
and frequenting high Cliffs near the Sea- fide, and there voiding 
their Excrement, the Sea waflies it thence, if it fail not of itsfelf 
into it.- 
There is another opinion among the faid i8, for which the^«- 
f^rhatha good inclination, but yet dares not embrace it-, viz. 
that ’tis the Excrement of a certain kind of whales . If this 
Amber were but in thofe other places, where there is good ftore 
of fuch Whales , it feems that would make the Authondm<\\xi([-\ 
the former Opinion. 
This puts us in mind of a Relation , to be met with in Purchas , 
which, giving an Account of a certain Commiflion for a Gentle- 
man to go Fadlor into Greenland for the killing of Whales and Mor~ 
fesj takes notice, among other Particulars, of a fort of Whales, 
called Trompaj having but one Trunk on his head, whereas the Sar- 
da, another kind of W hales, hath two. 1 his T romp a , (faith the t 
Author) hath teeth of a fpan long, and as thick as a mans Wj ift, 
but no Finns. In his Head is the Sperma Ceti , faith he farther, and 
•In his Entrails , the Amber-greefe , being in fhape and colour like 
Cowes-dung . Exprefs order was given in the faid Commiflion, that 
the perfon deputed fhould himfelf be prelent at the opening of this 
fort of Whale, and caufe the refldue of the faid Entrails to be put 
in fmall Casks, and bring them along with him into England. 
This will give occaflon toincreafe our Inquiries for Greenland 5 
which perhaps may beinferted in the Book of the next Month. 
An 
