C 3 ] 
utmoft fize, becaufe the others, which are in this 
piece of wood, feem nearly of the fame magni^ 
tude. 
The great valves are of a duflcy white, inclining,- 
towards the bafe end, to a purplilh cad: ; where the 
Jhice arc very fine and minute, running upwards to- 
meet thofe which are larger on the main body, in a 
weavy curve diredion j and the fmooth parts of thefe, 
as well as the other pieces, are perfectly white, and 
without any ftriae at all. The bafe end of this fifli 
feems covered with three plates that are white and* 
fmooth ; but thefe are only the two fmooth pieces of 
the great valves, and the circular pofterior plate,, 
mentioned before : and where thefe meet, there are 
two depreflions, which terminate in two holes in the 
bafes of the great valves, which are half covered by 
the pofteriour circular piece. The apex is. round' 
and flatidi, and- forms almoft a^ flaarp edge by the 
concurrence of the two great valves and the fore 
and back edges are united, by the long; pieces fpokeii 
of already; 
The wood in which they lie was faid to be cedar; 
but it rather feems to be of fir, having a fiflile grain., 
like common deal wood, and is as eafily. fplit as that,;, 
it is allb extreamly light, and its fibres- are very loofe',, 
nor has it the lead Imell like cedar they have the- 
fame colour, which is of a yellowifh call; ;, but the- 
cedar has- a clofe fmooth graiuj though it is a light 
wood, and foft in itlelf : whereas this does not feem; 
to be as hard as what we call white deal, which is. 
efteemed the lighted and tendered, of ail the clafs of, 
firs. 
B 2. 
The.* 
