316 plot's NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XV. 



were first known to us. It is generally agreed, too, that one 

 peculiar variety has derived its name of " caryon," 19 from the 

 headache which it is apt to produce by the pungency 20 of 

 its smell. 



The green shell of the walnut is used for dyeing 21 wool, and 

 the nuts, while still small and just developing themselves, are 

 employed for giving a red hue to the hair : 22 a discovery owing 

 to the stains which they leave upon the hands. "When old, 

 the nut becomes more oleaginous. The only difference in the 

 several varieties consists in the relative hardness or brittleness 

 of the shell, it being thin or thick, full of compartments or 

 smooth and uniform. This is the only fruit that Nature has 

 enclosed in a covering formed of pieces soldered together ; the 

 shell, in fact, forming a couple of boats, while the kernel is 

 divided into four separate compartments 23 by the intervention 

 of a ligneous membrane. 



In all the other kinds, the fruit and the shell respectively 

 are of one solid piece, as we find the case with the hazel-nut, 24 

 and another variety of the nut formerly known as "Abel- 

 lina," 25 from the name 26 of the district in which it was first 

 produced : it was first introduced into Asia and Greece from 

 Pontus, whence the name that is sometimes given to it— the 

 " Pontic nut." This nut, too, is protected by a soft beard, 27 

 but both the shell and the kernel are round, and formed of a 

 single piece: these nuts are sometimes roasted. 28 In the 

 middle of the kernel we find a germen or navel. 



A third class of nuts is the almond, 29 which has an outer 



19 Implying that it comes from the Greek fcap/j, " the head." Some ety- 

 mologists think that it is from the Celto-Scythian cariv, a boat ; such being 

 the shape of the two parts of the inner shell. 



20 It is still a common notion, Fee says, that it is highly injurious to 

 sleep beneath a walnut-tree. 



21 It is still used for this purpose. 



22 Red hair was admired by the Romans. The Roman females used 

 this juice also for dyeing their hair when grey. 



25 They are not entirely separate. 



24 The Corylus avellana maxima of "Willdenow. 



25 The filbert, the Corylus tubulosa of Willdenow. 



26 Abellinum, in Campania. See B. hi. c. 9. 



27 The down on the nut is more apparent when it is young ; but it is 

 easily rubbed off. The outer coat is probably meant. 



28 Hazel nuts are sometimes roasted in some parts of Europe^ but not 



with us. 



- a The Amygdalus communis of Linnaeus. 



