441 
ever, obvious, from its having no correspondent depression at the 
opposite end. I might adduce other bodies, bearing a very similar 
appearance, at least in their forms, with oranges, apples, figs, &c. 
which have originally been of marine growth ; having been fungi, 
sponges, and similar productions. Among these may be also placed 
a silicious fossil body, resembling, on its external surface, an enor- 
mously large nutmeg; but having been cut and polished, several 
lines are shewn, passing like radii from the centre to the circum- 
ference, yielding a very uncommon and beautiful appearance- 
There appears to be very little doubt of its being the same kind of 
body as is depicted by Scheuchzer, as a petrified nutmeg* * * § . 
As an additional proof of the propriety of receiving the earlier 
accounts of the petrifaction of the seeds of plants, and particularly 
of grain, with considerable caution, I must refer you to the fossil 
represented PL HI. Fig. 6. A small specimen of this fossil is ac- 
curately depicted by Swedenborg, and described as resembling a 
species of Indian corn ; “ Speciem prsbet spic^ tritici Indici (mais) 
dicti, nisi forma esset planaf.” 
Thus Scheuchzer also figures a fossil which he not only describes 
as an ear of corn, but reasons from its figure and fulness; and 
thence derives arguments in favour of his opinion that the deluge 
took place in the month of May;j;. But Mr. Walch remarks, with 
much propriety, that the body figured by Scheuchzer has much 
more the appearance of a zoophyte, the rays of which are divided 
by transverse lines, marking their separation into distinct vertebrae. 
Of the spica secalina & graminis panici, mentioned by Dr. Richard- 
son §, we can form no just opinion, as we receive no aid from either 
description, or figure ; and with respect to the ear of barley, a figure 
* Herbar. Diluv. Tab. XIII. Fig. 2. 
Emanuel Swedenborgii Miscellanea observata circa Res naturales, &c. p. 
:j; Herbar. Diluv. PI. I. Fig. I. p. 7. 
§ Ichnograph. Lithophyl. Brit. p. 108. 
