76 On An'imals depicted on Antique Munumeid.s. 



tree, between cedars ; whilst near the portico, where the priests 

 are, there is another individual of the same class. Regarding 

 the tree which is placed near the great round tower, nearly in 

 the centre of the mosaic, it evidently belongs to the Cassia fa- 

 mily ; and those w hich are seen in the same row, running to the 

 right of the mosaic, are date-palm-trees. This tree, occurring 

 in other parts of the picture, is so easily distinguished that we 

 need say no more concerning it. We may, however, observe, 

 that this species is often represented in antiques ; also that it 

 was very common in Upper Egypt, since Girge observed it in 

 Nubia, at Thebes, and especially near Elephantina. 



The tree above the lioness very much resembles a tamarind ; 

 as is also true of the one which is near to the gigantic serpent. 

 Upon the right of the mountain may be seen the large Euphor- 

 bium, whilst near the top of it there is an Acacia growing, the 

 tree which stands in front of the animal called in the mosaic 

 the Onocentaur. There is also to be seen a great thicket of 

 reeds near the building intended to represent the Nile. Other 

 plants also spring up at the side of the thicket, round which cro- 

 codiles and hippopotamuses are swimming. These plants ap- 

 pear to be the millet, which, according to Diodorus Siculus, the 

 Ethiopians much cultivated in many of the islets of the Nile 

 (lib. i. p. 24). Finally, under the thicket, and all round it, ap- 

 pear, on the surface of the water, many flowers of the lotus, 

 some of which are blue, and others red. Athenajus has long- 

 ago distinguished these varieties (Deipnos, lib. xv. p. 677), 

 and the French expedition to Egypt has made us acquainted 

 with others which had escaped the attention of ancient authors. 



Besides this, we shall add, that other rare animals are likewise 

 figured in the mosaics that are copied in the work of Jean Cim- 

 pini, entitled Vetera monumenta, in qnibus prcEcipue musiva 

 opera, sacrarum profanarumque CBdiuvi structura, &c., and 

 printed at Rome in 1790. The mosaic of Palestrina is there 

 represented, but in a .nanner far from accurate. In plate xxx. 

 may be seen a bustard {Otis tarda, Lin.), and also a fish of the 

 trigla or mullet kind. In plate xxxiv. of the same work there 

 is a mosaic, on which we observe the common and the large lob- 

 ster, also a turtle-dove> a Guinea fowl, and the variegated helix 

 shell of our gardens. 



