Bran or Chaff and great care taken of those that are small tender and brittle 12. The greatest Difficulty of all will be to preserve and send over safe the Flies and Insects by reason of the great Tenderness of them Endeavour to procure some of all the several sorts of these not exceeding 3. or 4. of each Worms Grubbs Caterpillars Spiders Beetles Grashoppers c. will keep best if put up as many as conveniently may together in Bottles with Brandy c. But the several sorts of Flies Bees Wasps Butterflies c. ought to be put upon Pins and stuck to the Bottoms Sides and Tops of small Boxes but care must be taken that they stick very fast for if one of them fall off and get loose 't will tumble about and so break and destroy all the rest that are in the Box. 13. It were likewise not amiss to send over some of the Idols of the East or West Indians or any other of the less civilized Nations as also of their Pictures their Writing whether upon Paper or the Leaves or Bark of Trees their Money Weights Measures their Instruments of any kind their Domestick Utensils their Habits or the things they wear Skins of Beasts Feather-dresses Rings Beads c. their Medicines their Poysons their Musical Instruments their Weapons Bows Arrows Darts especially those that are headed or pointed with Flints Bones or Shells their Drums and Tambours c. But for these and especially for the natural things that are thus sent over great Caution ought to be used that the Boxes wherein they are be not turned topsyturvy or much tumbled and shaken in carrying to and from the Ship And above all that the things be not broken or risled and confounded by the Custom-house Officers and Searchers which may be prevented by giving timely notice to your Correspondents here to get a Warrant from the Honourable the Commissioners of the Customs that the Cases and Boxes may not be searched on Ship-board but brought into the Custom-house Ware-house and that some careful person attend there at their opening to see that no Inconvenience or Damage befall them There remains now only one thing more to be hinted and that is in regard the Observations to be made both at Sea and Land are very many and the Plants Minerals and Animals to be collected are also very numerous 't is not expected that any one single Person will have leisure to attend to so many things and therefore 't is only requested that he make such Observations and Collections more or less as may be best suitable to his Convenience and to his Business If there be never so few Observations made or things collected yet even they will be very gratefully received But for such curious and inquisitive Persons who shall generously bestow a yet greater Diligence and Application in the Promotion of these many of them so very useful and considerable Parts of Knowledge the learned and better Part of Mankind will be so much the more highly obliged unto them And here are many of these things especially the gathering and preserving of Insects Shells Plants Minerals c. may be done by the Hands of Servants and that too at their spare and leisure times or in Journies in the Plantations in Fishing Fowling c. without Hindrance of any other Business the things herein desired being common and such as one or other of them occur in almost all Places Some Additions to be inserted each in their proper Places WHether some Seas be not salter than others This may be tryed partly by boyling or evaporating an equal Quantity of the Water of different Seas and then observing what Proportion of Salt each yields and partly by finding the several Gravities of the Waters of the said Seas by means of the Instrument mentioned Numb 4. in the List beneath By the same Instrument may the Weight of the Waters of Mineral-springs Hot-bathes and Lakes be tryed which it were to be wish'd might be done in all Places But above all Enquiry should be made whether the Sea in some Parts of it and Lakes have not their Water impregnated with Nitre and other Minerals besides Salt This may be discovered by the Taste or Smell of the Water by evaporating it or some other proper means The different Colour Thickness and Muddiness of the Water of the Sea and Lakes ought likewise to be noted What perpendicular Height the Sea rises at high-water I mean how much it rises above the Level of low-water Observe further at what time of the Moon and seasons of the Year the Sea ebbs lowest or flows highest in any Place not neglecting to note all other Accidents and Circumstances of the Tydes whatever they be Things flung upon the Shores by the Sea Amongst the rest look diligently for Amber-gris the Natural History of which is yet very little known 'T is supposed to be cast out by the Sea but whether it be so really or be drawn out of the adjacent Cliffs as many other Bodies are that were supposed to be owing to the Sea is to be determined by future Enquirers who would do well not only to make this a Part of their Consideration but to observe likewise its colour smell and taste The Quantity of it what other Bodies are mixt with it or lye near it Also the condition of the Sea thereabouts whether turbulent usually or calm whether the Water be frothy or oyly and to be short all other circumstances that may give any light into this matter Of Winds Also of the different Effects Constitutions and Temperatures of Winds which hot which cold which moist or attended with Mists or Rain which dry c. Of Springs And whether there do not sometimes happen extraordinary Eruptions or vast discharges of water out of them without any externally apparent Cause The same also concerning Lakes as likewise concerning Grottoes Rivers And whether these do not also suffer sudden and unusual Eruptions of Water forth of their Sources whether they have not periodical Inundations occasioned by the great Rains that fall at certain Seasons as the Nile Ganges and several other Rivers have how high the Tides rise at their Ostia or outlets and how far they flow up them with the periods of the flux or reflux Mines How deep are the deepest Mines and Colepits whether there be not water continually draining and ouzing through the Ores of Metals and the Spar and other Minerals that lie in the Clefts of the Stone what are the peculiar Diseases that attend the Miners what Mines are chiefly detrimental to Health and whether there be not some that are observed considerably to shorten the Lives of the Miners also whether the Smoke Ashes c. that fall upon the Grass near the Forges and Smelting-works be not hurtful to the Cattle that feed upon it Lastly Whether the very Waters of the Springs Rivers and Brooks near especially about Lead-Mines are not
Month and so leave the Vessel standing out Once or twice a Week or oftner if either the Rain be so much as to fill the Vessel and endanger its running over or the Heat and Drought such as to quite dry up all the Water for either of these Accidents will elude the Experiment Visit the Vessel and take nicely the Depth of the Water noteing that Depth in a Register to be kept for the purpose and the Day of the Month and if it be dry Weather so that the Water is evaporated and sunk lower than it stood when the Vessel was first set forth then put in just as much more Water as will raise it to its original Height But if it hath rained so that the Water is raised higher than it was when first set forth after that the just Measure of it is taken and noted down take out so much of the Water as to reduce it to the Level at which it stood when first set forth This Experiment ought to be continued thus for one whole Year at least but longer if possible only during the Time of Frost no Observation need be made the Water in the Vessel then neither rising nor falling 3. Let there be an account taken of all Springs both the standing or stagnant ones and those which emit forth their Water forming Brooks and Rivers observing whether they rise out of high or low Grounds whether they be turbid or clear hot or cold Whether they ebb or flow Whether they incrust or petrifie Sticks Straws or other Bodies that lie in them Whether they contain Bitumen Petroleum Salt Nitre Vitriol or other Mineral Matter in their Water Upon what Occasions or at what Seasons chiefly their Water encreases or decreases In the Running Springs observe the Quickness of the Stream and Quantity of the Water discharged 4. As to Rivers observe their ordinary Depth Breadth and the Quickness of their Stream The several sorts of Fishes particularly the Shell-fish in them All sorts of Plants that grow in them On their Shores take notice whether there be not Amber Cornelians or other Stones valuable either for their Colour Texture or Shape and particularly whether any Stones that in Figure resemble the Shells of Muscles Cochles Perewinkles or the like The same Directions for the main may serve for Lakes and Meers only it were to be wished that these were carefully sounded and their Depths taken in several Parts of them 5. Observe the several sorts of Marls Clays Loams or other Soils at the Surface of the Earth And whether there be not almost every where a Coat of one or other of these at the Surface whatever else lyes underneath Take an Account of the several sorts of Metalls that the Countrey yields As also of the Minerals Rock-salt Allum Vitriol Sulphur Nitre Loadstone Cinnabar Antimony Talk Spar Crystal Diamonds Amethysts Topazes Emeraulds and other precious Stones Their Number and the manner of their Growth Likewise of Marchasites Amber for it is found in the Earth and at Land as well as at Sea Selenites Belemnites Flints Pebles c. in what manner they are found and at what Depths In what Quantities and whether the Metalls and Minerals are separate and pure or mixt Of what Figure they are and whether the said Metalls Minerals precious Stones c. lie in the Beds of Earth Cole Chalk Stone c. or in the Veins Clefts or perpendicular Intervals of the Stone Marble c. Endeavour to get Information whether Metalls or Minerals have a Natural Growth or a Natural Decrease in any Part of the Mine And what Rules the Miners give for the Discovery of Metalls and Minerals latent in the Earth or by what Signs they find them Also take Account of the several sorts of Stone Marble Alabaster Cole Chalk Okers Sands Clays and other Earths Their Depths The Thickness of their Strata or Beds The Order in which they lie the Situation of their Beds whether level or not In deep Quarries Mines Cole-pits c. observe in what manner the Water comes in in what Quantity and at what Season of the Year it abounds most and whether it be clear and tasteless or be impregnated with mineral matter Take an account of the Damps of what kind they are what harm they do at what season chiefly they happen and whether there be not Sulphur or Nitre or both in all Places where there are Damps Observe also the Heat of Mines by Assistance of the Weather-glass if to be had both Summer and Winter noteing how much it exceeds or falls short of the Heat at the Surface of the Earth and whether it be not greater at certain Depths than at others And enquire whether in Mines Colepits deep Grottoes or Caverns the Work men are not sensible of Gusts of Wind breaking forth of the Bâ—owels of the Earth 6. Get an Account of all Grottoes or Natural Caverns in the Earth their Breadth Depth Length what Rills or Rivers of Water passes them what Metallick Sparry or other Mineral Incrustations cover their Stones or hang down like Iceycles from them Get an Account likewise of the several Mountains and Rocks the Stone Marble or other matter of which they consist what Plants grow upon them what Metalls or Minerals they yield what Springs or Rivers issue out of them the Heighth of them especially it is much to be desired that the height of Pico Teneriffe of the highest Alps and Pyrenaees of Mount Atlas of the Mountain called the Table nigh the Cape of good Hope of the Armenian Persian and Chinese Mountains and of the Andes and other high Mountains in America were exactly taken by Observation Enquire farther whether they are not by little and washed away by Rains and so become lower whether their Tops be not covered with a Fog or Mist especially before Rain whether some of the highest of them have not their Tops covered with Snow a great part or all the Year whether at some times great Quantities of Water do not burst forth of them with the Season that this happens and whether attended with Heat Thunder Lightning Storms or what other Circumstances whether some of them emitt not Sulphureous or other Steams Flores Sulphuris Nitre or Sal-Ammoniack whether any send forth Heat Smoke or Flames as Aetna and other Volcanoes do and whether near such there be not constantly Thermae or Hot-springs 7. But in regard that Sea-shells Teeth and Bones of Fishes c. are found very plentifully in England and many other Countries as well upon the Surface of the Earth and the Tops of the highest Hills as within the Earth in Cole-pits Mines Quarries c. the said Shells Teeth c. being lodged amongst the Cole in the Mass and Substance of even the hardest Stone Marble c. 't is very extremely desirable that careful search be made after these things in all Parts of the World and an account kept where-ever they are found particularly search
Brief Instructions For Making OBSERVATIONS IN ALL Parts of the World AS ALSO For Collecting Preserving and Sending over NATURAL THINGS BEING An Attempt to settle an UNIVERSAL CORRESPONDENCE for the Advancement of Knowledg both Natural and Civil Drawn up at the Request of a Person of Honour and presented to the ROYAL SOCIETY LONDON Printed for Richard Wilkin at the King's Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1696. Imprimatur Decemb. 29. 1695. Robert Southwell V. P. R. S. Brief Instructions for the making Observations and Collections in order to the promotion of Natural History in all parts of the World I. At Sea KEEP a Journal of the Ship 's Course Of the Latitude as often as taken Of the Variation of the Compass of the Soundings observing what sorts of Shells Sand or other Matter is brought up with the Plummet In Calmes or with any other Opportunity both at Main Sea or elsewhere sound to the Bottom if all the Line or Tackle you have will reach it but if not only note what Length of Line you used In the said Journal also keep an Account of the Currents of the Brizes and other Winds as well those which are settled and constant as those which are accidental of Storms and Hurricanes of the Rise and Fall of the Weather-glass Of the Weather Heat and Cold Fogs Mists Snow Hail Rain Spouts or Trombs vast Discharges of Water from the Clouds Thunder Lightning Meteors c. Observe whether some Seas be not salter than others or distant Parts of the same Sea differ not in Saltness Whether the Water of the Sea be not warmer than ordinary or suffer not some unusual Bubblings or Commotions before Storms or there do not some other like uncommon Accidents forerun them whereby they may be foreseen What Voragines or Whirlpools appear at Sea to what Distance the Force of their Flux or Stream extends whether they only receive and swallow in the Water or spue it forth or if both with what Periods i. e. at what time doth each begin and end What sorts of Fowls occurr at Main Sea What Fishes what Weeds Shrubs or other things In brief take notice of every observable natural Occurrence throughout the whole Voyage and this too in as full and circumstantial a manner as may be II. Upon the Sea-shores OBserve to what perpendicular Height the Sea rises at high-water what Space of Time passes between the Ebb and Flood and again between Flood and Ebb What kinds of Fish reside near the Shores particularly what Shell-fish What Fowl are most frequent there What Weeds Shrubs c. also what Shells are flung up by the Sea What Shrubs Weeds Mosses Sponges Coralls or Coralline Bodies e. g. Sea fans Sea-roses c. grow out upon the Shores Rocks or Cliffs What sorts of Pebbles Flints Marchasues or other Stones lie upon the Shores or are washed out of the Cliffs by the Tides and beating of the Sea-waves Whether there be not found Grains of Gold or Silver or Lumps of other Metalls or Minerals Amber Crystal-pebbles Agates Cornelians or other Stones that have somewhat observable in them either for Lustre Texture or Figure and particularly Stones that resemble Muscles Cockles Periwinckles or other Shells But more especially take notice whether by great Inundations Storms or Hurricanes there be not thrown up out of the Sea some sorts of Shells that are not flung up ordinarily and at other times as also whether upon the Seas beating down and washing away the Earth from the Cliffs there be not disclosed Glossopetrae Teeth Bones or Shells of Fishes that were originally lodged in those Cliffs but since beaten and washed out these being commonly somewhat decayed as also more dusky foul and black than those Shells c. which are thrown up by the Sea In all such Places where there is any sort of Dyveing and particularly for Pearls observe what sort of Earth Sand or other Terrestrial Matter is found at the Bottom of the Sea What Weeds Shrubs c. what Shells of all kinds or other Bodies taking a particular account of all the several kinds of Shell-fish that yield Pearl as also at what Distance from the Shores the diveing is made To what Depth and how long the Dyvers can endure under Water In the Coral-fishing observe in what Manner or Posture the Coral particularly that which is shrubby and the Sea-Fans grow whether upright horizontally or flatwise or hanging with the Heads downwards To what Bodies it grows or adheres Whether it grow only in such Parts as are constantly covered by the Sea Water or such only as are uncovered when the Tide is down or both indifferently If constantly under Water whether in the the Shallower or deeper Parts of it And whether it grow chiefly in such Places of the Water that are calm and still or where it is more rough and agitated by beating against the Rocks Cliffs c. Of how many several Colours it is And to what Bigness both the rude Coralline Mass and the Shrubs and other Coralline Bodies ever arrive The same Directions may serve indifferently for the Amber-fishers with this only Addition that they carefully observe whether the Amber be not also found in the Earth and Cliffs in all such Places where it is found upon the Shores And whether that which is thrown up by the Seas Flood may not justly be presumed to have been born down from the Cliffs by its foregoing Ebb. III. At Land 1. TAKE an exact account of the Brizes and other ordinary Winds with the Quarter from whence they blow what time they begin and how long they last Also of other Winds Storms and Hurricanes As likewise of the Weather Heat Cold Fogs Mists Snow Hail Rain Thunder Lightning Meteors c. with the Seasons of the Year most obnoxious to these Rains c. Their Quantity The Time of their Duration keeping also a Register of the Weather-glasses both Thermometer and Barometer 2. The following Experiment being of considerable Importance as serving to determine several Difficulties in the Natural History of Rains Vapours c. and being likewise very easily tryed it is desired it may be done with Care and Exactness in all Parts of the World Get some Vessel either of Copper Wood or Earth about 2. Foot wide or if wider the better and at least a Foot and half deep be sure it be firm and sound and that it do not leak in the least Fill it about ¾ full of Water Cover it over with a Net or very thin fine Wier-grate to keep off Birds or other Creatures from drinking the Water and then set it forth either upon the Leads of some flat-roof't House or in the midst of a Garden or some other fit Place where the Sun may shine upon it all Day from Sun-rising to Sun-setting or at least as much as may be Then with some Rule or Measure take the just perpendicular Depth of the Water noteing down the Depth and the Day of the