[ <iS ) 
its exterior Appearance, as well as by rubbing in my 
Hand, in order to try if it would colour it, as decayed 
Wood, that has imbibed Moiflure, will do. Within 
the Laming of fevcral, I found a fair Imprefllon of 
Leaves, in no fmall Number, and with little Trouble : 
The Leaves I knew not, as not being very familiar in 
the Vegetable World, though they appeared to me 
much to refemble White-thorn-leaves in their Shape, 
differing in this alone, that the Imprefllon of the fore 
Part of the Leaf had many fmall indented Cavities, 
equal in Size to a Pin’s Point, which had been formed 
by fmall Protuberances in the Leaf itfelf. Some 
Pieces I found quite flat, as if the chalky Laming 
had involved a Chip, and the Cavity consequently 
went off infenfibly lefs towards each Extremity. 
Others I found, whofe Cavities at the Extremities 
were irregularly fhaped, agreeable to the jagged Ends 
of broken Sticks. Some, in fine, 1 found excavated 
on one Side, and convex on the other, as if the 
Laming had furrounded a Piece of Bark. Thefe are 
the chief Obfervations which l have hitherto made, 
and which, I hope, are fufficient either to fix the Point 
where I have placed it, or to enable you to draw better 
Confcquences ; a Communication of which, at your 
Leifure, would pleafe me much more than my own 
Suppofition does, and inhance my pad Obligations. 
I cannot fay, that I am fo thoroughly fatisfied with 
what I have advanced, as to judge it unqueftion- 
able ; though I am fenfible, that the finding of 
feverai Malles of Malm, the Structure of which 
is not reducible to, nor explicable by, this Scheme, 
is no Obje&ion to it; becaufe, as every one knows 
the Tendency which chalky Particles have to dilpofe 
them.- 
