484 THE NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS OF CARNARVONSHIRE. 
AcERACE (Two Species). 
7. The Common Maple (Acer campestre).—A handsome, round- 
headed tree, usually of smaller size than the sycamore, with smaller 
reniform leaves and corky back. The timber of this tree is highly 
valued by the cabinet-maker, for turnery, and for picture frame 
making, much of it being curiously marked and known as “ bird’s- 
eye maple.” When beautifully veined, or spotted, it was much 
prized by the Romans; and of such were composed the celebrated 
Tigrin and Pantherine tables, some of which are said to have been 
worth nearly their weight in gold. In Southern England this tree 
is fairly abundant, but it gradually becomes rarer as we travel 
northwards, 
8. The Great Maple, or Sycamore (Acer Psewdo-platanus).—This 
is a large, handsome tree, with spreading branches and luxuriant 
massy foliage. Few trees are so well adapted for planting singly 
on the lawn or pleasure ground, in exposed situations, or within 
the influence of the sea. Although included in most floras, still the 
sycamore has but little claim as a native of Britain, and is generally 
supposed to have been introduced about the middle of the sixteenth 
century, Turner and Evelyn deny its being indigenous; and 
Parkinson, in 1640, says—‘“‘It is nowhere found wilde or naturall 
in our land that I can learne, but only planted in orchards or walkes 
for the shadowes sake.” It was little known in England so late as 
the seventeenth century. Chaucer speaks of it as a rare exotic in 
the fourteenth century ; and Gerard, in 1597, as “a stranger in 
England, which groweth only in the walkes and places of pleasure 
of noble-men,”’ The wood is close-grained, susceptible of a high 
polish, and easily worked. It is used for wooden dishes generally, 
for cabinet, violin, and piano making, and by wood sculptors, and 
for founder’s patterns. The sycamore is by no means fastidious 
about soil, thriving well in that of very opposite descriptions, 
although attaining greatest perfection in that of a light, soft nature, 
if not surcharged with moisture. It is reproduced in great 
abundance from seed throughout Britain. 
AQUIFOLIACEH (One Species). 
9. The Common Holly (Llex aquifolium).—This is undoubtedly 
the handsomest of indigenous trees, but more particularly during 
winter, when the rich shining evergreen foliage contrasts so beauti- 
fully with the bright scarlet berries. From its dense foliage, the 
