a term denoting petrifications of the human body, as those of quadrupeds are called zoolites.

It has been doubted whether any real human petrifications ever occur, and whether those which have been supposed such were not mere fictions of nature. But the generality of naturalists best versed in this branch affirms us of real anthropolites being sometimes found. And indeed, as it is universally admitted that the zoolites are frequently seen, what negative argument therefore can be brought against the existence of the others? Are not the component parts of the human body nearly similar to those of the brute creation? Consequently, correspondent matter may be subject to, and acquire, the like accidental changes, wherever the same power or causes concur to act upon either object. If the former are not so common, it may be accounted for, in some measure, by reflecting that human bodies are generally deposited in select and appropriated places; whereas the bones of animals are dispersed everywhere, and falling into various beds of earth, at a greater or less depth, there is more probability of their encountering the petrifying agent. Could we credit some authors who have treated on this subject, they will tell us of entire bodies and skeletons that were found petrified: One in particular, discovered at Aix en Provence anno 1583, in a rocky cliff, the cerebrum whereof, when struck against a piece of steel, produced sparks, the bones being at the same time friable. The reports of Happel and Kircher are too absurd for belief. Van Helmont's strange relations, together with those of Jean a Colta, must also be rejected as fabulous. Scheuchzer has published an engraved figure, which he calls the Antediluvian man; how far it is authentic, it would be rash to say. It is, however, asserted by many respectable writers on natural history, that whole skeletons petrified have been brought to light from certain old mines, which remained closed up and disused for several centuries. These indeed are acknowledged to be very rare. Yet it is a known fact, that detached parts, oxtolithi, are sometimes found, especially in situations where either the water, the soil, or both, have been observed to possess a strong putrefactive quality. The human vertebrae, fragments or portions of the tibia, and even the whole cranium itself, have been seen in an absolute state of petrification. Some of these are said to appear vitriolated or mineralized. As to the petrified bones of pretended giants, they are more probably real zoolites, the bones of the larger animals. All these bones are found in various flates, and under different appearances. Some are only indurated; others calcined, vitriolated or mineralized; some, again, are simply incrusted; whilst others have been proved completely petrified. Notwithstanding what is here advanced, it may be granted that a positive fucus nature, in some hands, is repeatedly mistaken for a real petrification. They are, however, distinguishable at all times by an experienced naturalist; particularly by the two following rules: First, We may determine that fossil a fucus nature which, on a strict examination, is observed to deviate in any material degree from the true res analogica existens. Secondly, By the same parity of reasoning, those fossil shells are to be esteemed certain petrifications, and genuine Antediluvian reliquiae, in which, on a compari-