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i'everal breadths, in which the animal works it. In 
all other refpedts it appears to be a plexus of fibres, 
very rudely platted together, and no way fuperior to 
the meanefl: fort of whited- brown paper, with which 
I have compared it. 
In refpedl of ftrength it is much inferior to it-; 
having nothing of that toughnefs, requifite to every 
other ufe of paper, except that one, for which this is 
intended. 
Upon this fingle account the more rigid nature of 
its woody fibres is an advantage to it ; as it is lefs bi- 
bulous than the common blotting paper, retains its 
ftiffnefs better when it is wetted, and does not col- 
lapfe fo foon. 
The colour is the fame with that of oak-wood, 
and the common forts of timber, after it has been 
for three or four years expofed in the air ; and ap- 
pears in the microfeope to be intirely owing to ex- 
traneous matter adhering to it : for the fibres them- 
felves are of a clear white, little differing from thofe 
of white paper, with this fordes fcattered over them. 
It burns like paper, but with a weaker and quicker 
flame, as if a great part of its oil had been before 
exhauffed : and its fmell in burning difeovers no- 
thing of the pungency of volatile falts, but proves it 
to be a purely vegetable fubftance. 
Each of thefe obfervations confirms Mr. de Reau- 
mur’s account of its formation ; it being compofed 
of the fibres of wood, that is in its firff ftage of 
decay ; when, by having been long expofed in the air 
to the adtion of the fun and rain, its external parts 
begin to feparate, and give thefe animals an oppor- 
.tunity to tear off certain fmaller filaments, which 
are 
