ON THE ICTIS OF DIODORUS SICULUS. 307 
represented the granitic district in the western 
part of Cornwall as an island; and that this sup- 
posed, or pretended island is the Ictis of Diodorus 
Siculus. 
Ortelius, under the article Cassiterides, alludes 
to the opinion of Camden, that these were the 
Scilly Islands; but adds, ‘“‘ I am almost inclined 
to believe, that the British Islands themselves are 
described by the most ancient writers under the 
name Cassiterides: if I am deceived, I would 
say, with Herodotus, that I am not acquainted 
with the Cassiterides.”* Mr. Carne too has 
conjectured, that the metalliferous district of St. 
Just constituted the principal portion of what 
was formerly known under the name of the Cas- 
siterides :} and it is a fact worthy of notice, that 
Pliny, who says, in one place,{ “ opposite to 
Celtiberia there are many islands, called by the 
Greeks Cassiterides, from the quantity of lead 
which they yield,” in another place seems to dis- 
* Abr. Ortelii Antverpiani Thesaurus Geographicus Re- 
cognitus et Auctus; Art. Cassiterides.—Herodoti Hist. 
Lib. iii. ec. 115. 
t Guide to Mount’s Bay ; p. 141. 
} Nat. Hist. ; Lib. iv. c. 22. Ex adverso Celtiberize com- 
plures sunt insule, Cassiterides dictee Grecis, a fertilitate 
plumbi. 
