f ] 
faftites Tribe there are ilveral, which fo intirely 
approach the Texture and ConOitution of the Be* 
Umnites , that were their Shapes a little more regu- 
lar, the molt experienced LirhoJqgift might eafiiy be 
deceived : And I remember, when abroad, to have 
fecn fuch, of a prodigious Bignefs, which, tho’ I 
was then fomewhat converfant in the foffil Study, I 
could not help taking lor Belemnites, I do not there- 
fore wonder, that Petrus ^ fffaltus , in notis dd 
JSletallothecam Mercatiy p. 2S2, and LangiuSy Hifl, 
Lap . figurat . Helvetia p. 1 3 3 • fliould judge them 
a native figured Foffil, formed in the Earth, of the 
Stalactites kind, if that Term for the Belemnites 
might with Propriety be ufed. 
The Cavities of StalaEiites in feme meafure il- 
luftrate, and are adequate to the Cavities of Belem- 
nites s they are placed in as various Pofitions, and 
arc only different from them by not being exadly 
conic. As for the regular Figure of the Belemnites 
being excepted againft, I believe few Foffilifls will 
argument that, when we fee as perfed regular 
Figures in the foffil Kingdom as in any other 
Parts of the Creation ; as witnefs the Salts and Cry- 
ftals of all Kinds 5 the rhomboid, hexagonal, colum- 
nar, and other Selenites ; the cubic, octangular, 
dodecaedral, and other -Pyrites •> the quadrangular 
Pyramids of Tin, the Rhombs of Iron, Cubes of 
Lead, and infinite other native Foffils, which would 
take up Time to enumerate, and which are far more 
perfed Figures than the Belemnites arc. Chymicai 
and other Trials and Tefts (which I hope to have 
the Honour to lay before you in fome future Letter) 
demonftrate a greater Certainty of its mineral Origin, 
