[ 45 1 I 
Maze in which it has pretty long lain hid, by the 
Help of the beft Clue that I could pofiibly find. 
Having made the Study of Botany the agreeable 
Amufement of my younger Years, I was very much 
puzzled with what I met with in the Appendix to the 
2d Volume of the General Hiftory of Plants, com- 
piled by the Reverend and Learned Gentleman but 
now mentioned (who was pleafed to honour and 
favour me both with his- Friendfhip, and Epiftolary 
Correfpondence) concerning the Spamjh Catch-fly , 
which he there affirms (p. 1895.) to be the Star of 
the Earth , fo famous for the Prevention of the Hy- 
drophobia '■> whereas I always (before I read this Af- 
lertion in Mr. Ray) took the Coronopus , or Bucks- 
horn Rlantain , to be the true Star of the Earth , 
and do ftili believe it fo to be, for the Reafons that 
will occur to you in the Sequel. 
Being defirous to know what Grounds Mr. Ray 
had for afcribing fuch Virtue to the Catch-fly , I wrote 
a Letter to him, dated fo long ago as Dec . 1. 1698. 
in which (among feveral other Particulars that would 
be impertinent to mention) I requefted of him to 
tell me what his Sentiments were at that time upon 
this Subjeft. My Words were thefe, 
[Opinionem tuam de Herba ilia a Grayo in fua 
Hippafrice Memorata, quam Stellam Terras vocat, &c 
ad morfum canis rabidi effkacrffimam efle afierit, 
fcire cxopto. Stirpes dux (ut videtur) hoc nomine 
infigniuntur, viz. Plantago ilia foliis laciniatis Coro- 
nopus difta, & Lychnis vifcofa fiore mufcofo, five 
Sefamoides Salamanticum magnum. Prior in Comi- 
tatu Norfolcienci magno in pretio habetur, ■& in cafti 
piaedifto (nec fine certo fucceffu) temper fere in ufurn 
venit. 
