and its Configurations . 63 
with one Corner taken off obliquely, and 
that in different Angles ; leaving the other 
Corner fometimes quite a Point, and fome- 
times having a little Breadth. 
After Numbers of thefe are formed, they 
will often diffolve again under the Eye and 
entirely difappear 5 but if one waits a little, 
new Shoots will pufh out, and the Procefs 
go on afrefb. Thefe firff Figures fometimes 
enlarge only, without altering their Shape, 
and fometimes form in fuch Sort as the 
Drop reprefents; but if the Heat has been 
too great, they (hoot haftily into nume¬ 
rous Ramifications, very regular and beau¬ 
tiful, but which we have not .attempted 
to draw, from the great Difficulty of doing 
it. There feems all the while a violent 
Agitation in the Fluid ; and mo ft commonly, 
towards the Conclufion, a few Odtaedra 
(compofed of eight triangular Planes, or 
two quadrangular Pyramids joined Bate to 
Bafe) appear ; which belong probably to 
fome othe'r Kind of Salt intermixed with 
the Nitre : Pyramidal Figures of common 
Salt are likewife fometimes feen; and of 
thefe I have now and then found the greateft 
Plenty when the Nitre has feemed molt 
white and pure, which I pretend not to ac¬ 
count for, unlefs common Salt has been 
employed to make it fo. 
The' regular Cry dais of Nitre are repre- 
fentea underneath the Drop, greatly magni¬ 
fied 
