| Description | ' The Experiment of killing Froggs with Pitch Quicksilver, Vinegr, was made : with Quicksilver or Vinegar, it succeeded not ; but good store of Pitch being put upon one, killed it at last.
Mr Waller mentioned that Toads love to come abroad, out of the Woods and other shady places, in moist and cool weather and Colonel Long added, tht the use to walke a good way of from their formes, and returne into the same. He suggested also a means of driving Frogs and Toads out of Ponds as well of Stagnant as running water, by burning old Shooes, and putting them at he haed of the Pond, where the water cometh in ; affirming to have seen them come out by hundreds, upon the use of this trick.
Mention being made of Toads infecting Sage, Mr Waller alledged, that it had been observed by a Microscope, that Sage has little Cavityes, used to be filled with Small Spiders, and that this was the cause, which made this plant noxious, if not well washed.
Colonel Long having related divers considerable Observtions of his owne, concerning Insects, and having made a Collection thereof, was desired by the company to communicate the same to them ; and also to continue his curiosity , in observing further, their Various productions and changesat what time, and upon what plants or leaves they breed : how much time they take for their change etc.
The same took particular notice, that even bitter herbs, as Rue, hath its insects vizt. a Caterpillar that feeds upon Rue, as Silke wormes upon Mulberry leaves.
Mr Pell observed that Silkwormes after they were changed into Butterflyes, and had laid their Egs, and dyed, being put up by himselfe, into a wooden boxe, tyed over with a paper-cover, produced after sometime a sort of flyes thaqt did eat through the wood. This was suggested to move others to observe more than hath been done hitherto, the changes of Insects after they are dead.
Colonel Long said that he used to line the inside of the boxes wherein he usethto shup up insects, with Camphir, to hinder theire boaring them through.
Mr Waller related, how in an iron Candlestick, such a one as wax-candle is wound upon, after the Candle was burnt down to that part which claspeth it in, and had heated it, there was heard about the same part, a noyse like that of a dead-watch, continuing for a while nd then ceasing ; and that putting his finger upon it, when somewhat cooled, he found the iron beat like a pulse.
Mr Long seconded him, and said, that an iron-back in a Chimney well heated, useth to make a noise like that of Bell-mettle.
Mr Hook added that blowing a Glasse - ball with a Lamp, after it was come to a certain degree of heat, he had heard a sound in it like that whichis made in the Exeriment of drawing a wett finger about the Lip of a glasse, with water ; which there by that pressure is made to friske : observing further that the Glasse being all red hot, the noyse ceased, but returning in the Cooling to the former degree, was heard again, till it became cold, and so ceased.
Dr Goddard mentined, that wainscoted rooms were heard to make a cracking noise, in the mornings and evenings, according to the various temer of the Air, as to moist and dry . Colonel Long related, to have seen young Ash-trees, grown upon a rotten block of Ash-wood, in such a manner that they were Spring up, and had theire Roots in the very rotten part of the Stumps, adding tht these young Trees, thus sprung up, being transplanted, grew up and thrived like other trees : and that there was no other Ash-wood neer to that place, where the said Block stood, So that there could be no Suspicion of Ash-keyes, blown from thence to that rotten Ashe.
Mr Boyle said that the very stemms of Potatoes, put into the ground alone, do prodce good roots.
Colonel Long said that a Bean, cut into 2 or 3 peices, produceth good beans.
Mr Waller related that in a Beech-wood of his, the Beech being cut downek other kinds of Trees succeeded, as Hasles, Willows, Sallows, ththad never grown there afore.
Sir Robert Moray related that in Scotland a Darnway, on the River Tindarne, in the province of Moray, where nothing had growne but Oak in a wood 3 miles long, there grew now nothing but Birch ; and that he had seen in the same wood, a Birch growne out of an Oak.
Dr Whistler observed tht Darnell never comes, but where whet and other corne grows.
Colonel Long said that in any new grownd, as in Ditches newly throwne up, Blu-bottles, Popies etc. will grow.
Mr Packer assured, that in Surrey, neer Mr Georg Evelins of Walton a whole Oaken wood being cut downe, nothing but Bech was growne in stead thereof.
Mr Henshaw mentioned, to have seen a gret Holly growne out of an Ash-tree.
Mr Brereton related that in the Mosses or Boggy ground of Chesheire, there are found buried under ground ~Firres and firme black Oak.
The same mentioned that Sarjeant Nudegate had assured him to have seen in Northamptonshire, a Tree cut in the middle, whose heart was Ashwood, and the Exteriour part, Oak.
Mr Packer said to have seen an Elm in Barkshire, about a mile from Farringdon, which had been cut towards the Root, and was in the Cut part petrefyed. He was desired to produce before the Company, that outwardly petrefied peice which he said to have of the sane wood.
Mr Hoskins suggested that a good enquiry should be ade into these Subterraneous Trees, that in Chesheire, Lancashire, and elsewhere are found buried under grownd. the consideration hereof, was referred till next day : a salso of the Trees, said by Mr Long to be found in his Mines.
Mr Hook produced 3 Microscopical Observations : the Head of an Ant ; A strange fly like a Gnat, and the point of a Needle.
Dr Goddard produced a curious peice of petrefied wood, given to Mr Hook to have it cut even, to see whether it will polish.
Dr Charleton undertook to shew in a Fish the Ductus from the Bladder to theGills, the Operator was ordered to provide a brace of Carps against next day.
Dr Bruce and Dr Ball were chosen into the Society by the Council, according to the power granted the Council [crossed out; them] by the Charter for the Space of 2 months, from the date of the same. '
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