But besides these Worms, I have found, that _Mortar_ is eaten by an infinite number of small Creatures, of the bigness of Chees-Mites. These have but two Eyes, and are blackish. They have four feet on each side pretty long. The point of their Muzzle is very sharp, as that of a Spider. I send you but one of them, though I had abundance, but they are dead and lost. It may be, you'l find some at _Paris_, seeing that in the old Mortar betwixt Stones, that is found in Walls made with rubbish, there is great store of them, together with great plenty of their little Eggs. I have not yet examined, whether these be those, that in the surfaces of all the Stones, where they are met with, make little round holes, and small traces and impressions, which make them look like _Worm-eaten Wood_. But 'tis probable, they are such. It should be observed, whether these Worms do not take Wings, and all the other appearances of Caterpillars; and whether they are not to be found in plaister that is full of holes, in Bricks, in Greety Stones, and in Rocks. You may observe more of them in Walls exposed to the _South_, than in others; and that the Worms, that eat the Stone, live longer, then those, {323} that eat the Mortar, which keep not above eight days alive. I have observed all their parts with a very good _Microscope_, without which, and a great deal of attention, 'tis difficult to see them well. I have seen other very old Walls altogether eaten, as those of the _Temple_ at _Paris_, where I could find no Worms, but the Cavities were full of Shells of various kinds, diversly figur'd and turn'd: all which I believe to be little Animals petrified. * * * * * _Some promiscuous Observations, made in _Somerset shire_, and imparted by the above-mentioned Dr. _Beale_._ His words are these, in a Letter to the _Publisher_, of the 24. _Septemb._ 1666 at _Yeovill_ in _Somersetshire_; I have two or three remarks, perhaps not unworthy to be recorded for further application in like cases of time and place 1. In the Moores from hence towards _Bridgewater_, in the extreme drought, we have endured this Summer, some lengths of pasture grew much sooner whithered and parched, than the other pasture. And this Parched part seem'd to bear the length and shape (in gross) of Trees. They digg'd, and found, in the place, _Oakes_ indeed, as black as Ebony. And hence they have been instructed to find and take up many hundreds of Oakes, as a neighbour of good credit assures me. This advertisement may be instructive for other parts, as _Kent_, _Essex_, _Lincoln_, &c. [Sidenote: * _This had somewhat of a Vitriolate taste. But the Experiment being made with greater quantities of this water, which questionless will be done, the nature and kind of it may be better known._]