152 



what has been so supposed are pieces of splendid pyrites. Flies,, 

 small phalaena, and ants, or parts of these insects, are the foreign 

 matters which are most commonly thus entombed. From the perfect 

 state of preservation in which these are found, displaying the sound 

 appearance and fresh colouring of life, these specimens excite the 

 highest degree of interest. The position in which these insects are 

 found, frequently with their limbs separated, as though by strug- 

 gling to obtain their release, proves that they have been thus en- 

 gaged and inviscated, by alighting on this substance whilst it was 

 in a soft state. In the Metallotheca Vaticance, of Mercatus, edited 

 and brought into public notice by the splendid illustrations of 

 Lancisius, are excellent representations of various insects thus pre- 

 served, as well as of some other animals, such as small fishes, 

 lizards, and frogs, in a similar state of preservation. These latter 

 have, however, been suspected of being thus involved by some arti- 

 ficial process, especially as the high price which such rare specimens 

 would obtain would be a sufficient inducement to such ingenious 

 exertions. In 'the splendid and elegant work of Sendelius* are 

 displayed a prodigious number of figures, of specimens of amber, 

 containing animalculae, insects, &c. 



Animals thus, naturally embalmed have furnished the poet, as 

 might be expected, with an interesting topic. Martial thus ele- 

 gantly speaks of a viper enclosed in amber : 



Flentibus Heliadum ramis dum VIPERA serpit, 



Fluxit in obstantem suecina gumma feram ; 

 dose, dum miratur, pingui se rore teneri, 



Concrete riguit vincta repente gelu. 

 Ne tibi regal i placeas, Cleopatra, sepulcro, 



Viperi si tumulo nobiliore jacet. Lib, IV, Epigr. 59. 



V < 



* Historia Succinorum, Corpora aliena involventium ex regii* Augustorum Cimeliis 

 Dresdae conditis. Lips. H42. 



