SCIENCE OF THE ROMAN PERIOD 



his omnivorous readings, shielding himself behind an 

 equivocal "it is said," or "so and so alleges." A sin- 

 gle illustration will suffice to show what manner of 

 thing is thought worthy of repetition. 



"It is asserted," he says, "that if the fish called a 

 sea-star is smeared with the fox's blood and then nailed 

 to the upper lintel of the door, or to the door itself, with 

 a copper nail, no noxious spell will be able to obtain 

 admittance, or, at all events, be productive of any ill 

 effects." 



It is easily comprehensible that a work fortified 

 with such practical details as this should have gained 

 wide popularity. Doubtless the natural histories of 

 our own day would find readier sale were they to pan- 

 der to various superstitions not altogether different 

 from that here suggested. The man, for example, who 

 believes that to have a black cat cross his path is a 

 lucky omen would naturally find himself attracted by a 

 book which took account of this and similar important 

 details of natural history. Perhaps, therefore, it was 

 its inclusion of absurdities, quite as much as its legiti- 

 mate value, that gave vogue to the celebrated work 

 of Pliny. But be that as it may, the most famous 

 scientist of Rome must be remembered as a popular 

 writer rather than as an experimental worker. In the 

 history of the promulgation of scientific knowledge his 

 work is important; in the history of scientific princi- 

 ples it may virtually be disregarded. 



PTOLEMY, THE LAST GREAT ASTRONOMER OF ANTIQUITY 



Almost the same thing may be said of Ptolemy, an 

 even more celebrated writer, who was born not very 



