are not ihllied and disfigured by the fal t waters, coriacious or ito-
i ny lichens, nuifcus, balani, or labours o f marine in ( e f t s , but c o f -
.»roded only by the air, and the afperfion of the waves, flacw the
internal texture o f the marble,-and-the moll intricate paffages o f
.the fmalleil canals, in which the fparry fubftance is depofited
and cryilallized, opening the way between the divifions, and be-
•tween the.fmalieil lumps o f the particles o f clay not fufficiently
hardened, .which it proceeded to petrify, when affilled by the
vWaters that.ferved as.its.vehicle. The aftion o f the mol it and
.fait air, and the drizzling o f the fea water concurring in the de-
compofition o f thofe marble ilrata, ordinarily finds the pure calcareous
cryilallized fubilanee lefs eafily diffolvable, becaufe its
parts not being amalgamated with the clay, are more in a condition
to refill, as being more continued, compait, and adhe-
rent.j and hence, corroding all round it, leaves prominent every
one o f the fmall canals above mentioned, together with all their
.capillary ramifications. Though this exafl anatomical fyflem
cannot be obferved in every fpecies o f marble, and perhaps' in
fame kinds the obfervations may feem at firlt fight direftly oppo-
fite, yet I think we may reafonably conclude, from the refult o f
the combinations concurring in the formation, and diffolution o f
the marble o f Cherfo, that all, or the greatell part o f the itones,
which owe their origin to the water, were rendered folid, and
continued by the fame operation of nature ; from whence, perhaps,
arifes a new chain o f coherence and analogy between the
mineral kingdom andthe other two. T he examination o f a variety
o f agates and jafpers containing curious fpots, ihades, and
herborizations, i f made under the eye o f a fkilful lithologilt,
might contribute much to confirm the fimilarity and conneaion
ju ll mentioned.
Befidet