118 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



Helena, which would make the age of the 

 tree about 1300 years. 



Pliny also records the particulars of several 

 remarkable plane-trees, and tells us of one in 

 Lycia, that had a cave or hollow in the trunk, 

 which measured 81 feet in circumference, in 

 which were stone seats covered with moss, 

 and that Licinius Mutianus, when consul, with 

 eighteen of his friends, used to dine and sup 

 in the cavity of the tree, the branches of 

 which, we are told, spread to such an extent, 

 that this single tree appeared like a grove, 

 and this consul, says our author, preferred 

 sleeping in this hollow tree to his marble 

 chamber, where his bed was composed of 

 curious needlework, and canopied with beaten 

 gold. Caligula, the tyrannical emperor, who 

 was murdered in the year 41, a. d. had also 

 a similar plane-tree in Velitra, which he called 

 his nest, in the cavity of which, this haughty 

 Roman and fifteen of his debauched courtiers 

 used to sit and dine, leaving ample room for 

 his train of attendance to wait on the party. 



The peasants about Apamia and Phrygia 

 showed a large plane-tree, on which they 

 affirmed Marsyas was hanged up, and flayed 

 by Apolio, who was incensed at his presump- 

 tion, in pretending to contend with him in 

 music. Fable pictures to our view 



