THE CLASSICAL PLANTS OF SICILY. 139 
a protection against lightning, according to the following 
narration of Suetonius;—Tonitrua tamen propter modum 
expavescebat, et turbatiore colo nunquam non coronam 
Lauream capite gestavit. (Vit. Tib. cap. 69). And it is 
related by the same author, that Augustus wore a skin of the 
sea-calf (Vitulus marinus) for the same purpose.—Conf. Vit. 
Aug. cap. 90, also Plin. lib. ii. cap. 55. A piece of badger's 
skin and a fox's brush, have taken the place of a laurel 
wreath and a seal's-skin, as modern preservatives against 
lightning, both in Italy and Sicily, and are now generally 
attached to the harness of Horses, Mules, &c. 
The wood was not much used; although Hesiod mentions 
that the most durable beams for ploughs were of laurel. 
Adgung 0, À arering dxiiraror ioroßoňes—( Op. et dies. v. 435.) 
And old people made staves of it, vide Theoph. lib. v. 
cap. 8. 
According to Dioscorides, an oil was extracted from the 
berries and used medicinally. It was called, Aagvedcsov, or Acuov 
dcigvivery and the berries, Acgvides. lib. i. cap. 50. 
The cave of Polyphemus in Sicily was Aúgwnor xarngepés, as 
Homer describes it. The Bay-tree, il lauru, grows spontan- 
eously throughout the island, 
THYMELZ#. 
110, Daphne Gnidium.—Flax-leaved Daphne.— Fl. Grac. 
vol. iv. tab. 356. 
Ovutroua, Diosc. lib. iv. cap. 113,—apud Floram Graecam. 
292440, hodiè vocatur.—Sibth. Observed amongst sand on 
the sea-beach near Sciacca. 
ARISTOLOCHLE. 
111. Aristolochia longa.—Long-rooted Birth-wort. 
Agurodoyia paxed, Diosc. lib. iii. cap. 5.—Agiorohoyia. Theoph. 
lib. ix. cap. 13. A plant of great use in the ancient Pharma- 
