ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, V. ix. 8 



whose sap is of an oily character; and this is 

 why statues are sometimes said to ' sweat'; for 

 they are made of such woods. That which seers 

 call the menses- of Eileithuia,' l and for the appearance 

 of which they make atonement, 2 forms on the wood 

 of the silver-fir when some moisture gathers on it : 

 the formation is round 3 in shape, and in size about 

 as large as a pear, or a little larger or smaller. 

 Olive-wood is more apt than other woods to pro- 

 duce shoots even when lying idle or made into 

 manufactured articles ; tins it often does, if it obtains 

 moisture and lies in a damp place ; thus the socket 

 of a door-' hinge ' 4 has been known to shoot, and 

 also an oar which was standing in damp earth in an 

 earthenware vessel. 5 



2 i.e. as a portent, cf. Char. 16. 2. 



3 ffTp6y-yv\ov conj. Sob.; (TTpoyyvX-rjs UMVP Ald. 



4 cf. 5. 6. 4 ; Plin. 16. 230. 



6 irKivQ. -red. Kunrrj eV 7r?jAy conj. Spr. ; TtXivQivov reflelj TTJ 

 P 2 Ald.H. 



475 



