contained in the Oval and in the Elliptic Curves, 13 



of this beautiful creature. She held in her left arm a very 

 handsome oval vase ; and in the other a sort of scarf with 

 ribands, all serpentine in form. By her side is placed a young 

 man selected from another Etruscan design. 



Fig. 23. 



The line of this figure was the outline of an ellipse ; it is 

 •perfection in every respect ; and the grace was shown to de- 

 pend upon gentle curved lines of convex and concave, alter- 

 nately blended, and confluent. The motion of ships at sea is 

 described in gentle elliptic curves ; the wings and plumage of 

 birds assume the oval and elliptic curves ; all the fibres of their 

 feathers have that form ; some flattened, others more rounded : 

 the pine-apple and numberless fruits have all an oval character 

 of outline. 



Many4ake the character of eggs, pointed at one end, and 

 large and blunt at the other extremity. The leaves of trees 



