410 DOMAIN V. CALCAREOUS. 



that continent was possessed by the Egyptians, 

 Carthaginians, and various Greek colonies, and 

 afterwards ruled for many centuries by the Ro- 

 mans. As the intercourse with Italy remained 

 frequent till the seventh or eighth century, there 

 is the less occasion for wonder that the tradition 

 of the Roman artists should have preserved the 

 distinctions of some African marbles ; and as they 

 are not numerous, it will be more satisfactory to 

 consider them all in one point of view. 



What is called the ancient red, already de- 

 scribed. This is dotted or pondered with white; 

 but there is another kind with white spots. 



The dark red, with small triangular white spots, 

 must also be classed among the African ; and the 

 red, with spots like flames. Similar marbles are 

 called./fonYz, among which is a white or grey, with 

 purple flames*. 



> iimidfon. The ancient yellow, according to Boot and Wai- 

 terms, and many ancient authorities, was from 

 Numidia; as was the grey with yellow spots. 

 Pliny, who informs us that ships were built for 

 the sole purpose of importing marbles t, mentions 

 the Numidian and Synnadic as being variegated 

 by art, with inserted fragments. He reproaches 



the bad taste of those who altered the natural 

 \ 



* For the African bricia see the Glutenites. 

 f xxxvi. 1. 



