442 
of which was given by Mylius*, which was repeated by Scheuchzerf , 
it obviously does not bear the proportions, or the form, of an ear of 
that kind of grain. 
The bodies, whose appearances most warrant the opinion of their 
having been the ears of corn, are the Stangengraupen of the Germans. 
These are flat, oblong, blackish, and sometimes greenish bodies ; 
but becoming white, and acquiring a metallic lustre, on their pro- 
minent parts, by friction. They have been supposed by many to 
be mineral substances, to which mere accident has given their pre- 
sent forms ; but that they are really vegetable substances, which 
have acquired an impregnation with metallic particles, there cannot 
exist a doubt. These bodies vary very considerably in their form ; 
but are generally flattened, and are studded with little round pro- 
minences, bearing very much the appearance of corn, which has 
been transmuted into silver. They are but very rarely found, and 
are said to have been only discovered in the copper mines at Frank- 
enburg, in Hesse. M. Lihman, who has written a tract expressly 
on these substances, does not consider them as changed vegetable 
substances, but as being originally of mineral origin. Having sub- 
jected them to a chemical analysis, he discovered that they con- 
tained a small quantity of silver, with a large portion of copper, 
combined with arsenic, sulphur, and iron. Wolfart has delineated 
these substances with great exactness, and describes them as Spicce 
frumenti metallares, acknowledging himself not to be able to deter- 
mine the particular species of grain from which they had origi- 
natedj. By a reference to PI. IX. Fig. 6 and 7? you will perceive 
a representation of two of these bodies, which I have purposely 
selected as throwing some additional light on this subject. The 
specimen represented at Fig. 6, bears the appearance very much of 
* Saxon. Subter. Memorab. p. 15. -j- Herbar. Diluv. Tab. V. Fig. 4. 
J Histor. Nat. Hass. Infer, p. 35, Tab. V. Fig. 5 and 6. 
