418 DOMAIN V. CALCAREOUS. 



Greyish brown, with white transparent veins, 

 like agate. 



The same, with rose-coloured stripes. 



Brownish yellow, with small black shells. 



With regard to the inferior kinds of conchitic 

 marble, they seem to have been little regarded by 

 the ancients. The masters of the world, whether 

 seated at Rome or Constantinople, continued for 

 ten or twelve centuries their preference of the 

 Phrygian, with crimson or lilac flowers ; the im- 

 perial red of Africa ; the green of Laconia ; and 

 the yellow of Nurnidia. Among the capital co- 

 lours, a blue alone was wanting; but it is also 

 unknown to us, and perhaps to nature, lazulite, 

 the sole rock of that colour, being only found in 

 detached masses ; a circumstance as unaccountable 

 as that there should be only one shrub with a blue 

 flower, and that in our climate confined to the hot- 

 house. 



The artists and dealers at Rome, sometimes 

 with a view of distinction, and sometimes to in- 

 crease the price, may apply the name of antique 

 as jewellers do that of oriental, merely to the 

 more precious kinds. Such perhaps may be that 

 marble reputed ancient, and commonly styled at 

 f rnorto di Rome Panno di morto, or the funereal pall. It is 

 of the deepest black, sprinkled with white shells 

 like snails, each an inch or more in length, at 



