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XII. But the moſt known and general Properties of Stones are their ſeveral Fitneſſes for the various Kinds of Work. Some of them are proper for engraving
tæ, Geſn. de Lap. 10. famous for its imaginary Virtues in aſſiſting in Delivery, preventing Abortions; and, which it at leaſt equally poſſeſſes, of diſcovering Thieves. That the general Opinion was long what our Author records as reported of it, is eaſily proved: and we cannot wonder at that's being firmly believed, when we find ſuch Virtues as the other, of choaking Thieves, &c. all certainly credited; and recorded by the graveſt Authors.
That it was, long after, as well as before this Author's Time, believed to have this Property of bringing forth young, is evident from the Words prægnans, gravidus, Uterus, ἐγκύμων, &c. ſo conſtantly uſed in deſcribing it. Pliny ſays of it, est autem lapis iſte prægnans intus, quum quatias, alio velut in utero ſonante. Dioſcorides, ἀετίτης λίθος ὡς ἑτέρου ἐγκύμων λίθου ὑπάρχων. And numberleſs Inſtances might be brought of the earlieſt as well as later Authors uſing the like Exprſſions; evidently teſtifying, that the Stone was, or had been generally believed to poſſeſs that ſo remarkable Quality; which perhaps this Author, who is accuſed of believing, was the very firſt who ever doubted.
In order to the eſtabliſhing a more rational Account of the Nature and Formation of this Stone, it may not be amiſs here to look into the Formation of Pebbles and Flints in general; of which Claſs this is a Species. By this Enquiry we ſhall find, that the Callimus, or included Stone, is, inſtead of a. young one, indeed the older of the two; and has had ſome Share in the Formation of its Parent, as the outer one was generally eſteemed; though that has nothing to do with its Production.
The Flints and Pebbles, we now every where ſee, have been all formed in the Waters of the Deluge, by the mere Afflux of their conſtituent Matter. The firſt Concretion of this was generally in ſmall Quantity, and formed a little Lump or Nodule; and this afterwards encreaſed in Bigneſs by the Application of freſh Matter, in different Quantities, and at different Times to it. If this new Matter happened to be of different Textures and Appearances, the ſeparate Quantities, that at Times affixed themſelves, became different Cruſts of various Colours as may be obſerved frequently in our common Pebbles; if of the ſame Nature and Colour, and affixed nearly all at once, the Appoſition became imperceptible af-
