196 
pliny's kattjeal histoet. 
[Book XIIL 
in waving lines, or else forming spirals like so many little 
whirlpools. In the former arrangement the lines run in an 
oblong direction, for which reason these are called tiger "^^ 
tables ; while in the latter the marks are circling and spiral, 
and hence they are styled panther"" tables. There are 
some tables also with wavy, undulating marks, and which are 
more particularly esteemed if these resemble the eyes on a 
peacock^s tail. Next in esteem to these last, as well as those 
previously mentioned, is the veined wood,^^ covered, as it were, 
with dense masses of grain, for which reason these tables have 
received the name of apiatse." ^® But the colour of the wood 
is the quality that is held in the highest esteem of all : that 
of wine mixed with honey^^ being the most prized, the veinsbeing 
peculiarly refulgent. Next to the colour, it is the size that is 
prized ; at the present day whole trunks are greatly admired, ' 
and sometimes several are united in a single table. ' 
The peculiar defects in these kinds of tables are woodiness,^^ 
such being the name given to the table when the wood is dull, 
common-looking, indistinct, or else has mere simple marks 
upon it, resembling the leaves of the plane-tree ; also, when 
it resembles the veins of the holm-oak or the colour of that 
tree; and, a fault to which it is peculiarly liable from the 
effect of heat or wind, when it has flaws in it or hair-like lines 
resembling flaws ; when it has a black mark, too, running 
through it resembling a murena in appearance, various streaks 
that look like crow scratches, or knots like poppy heads, with a 
colour all over nearly approaching to black, or blotches of a 
sickly hue. The barbarous tribes bury this wood in the 
ground while green, first giving it a coating of wax. When 
it comes into the workmen's hands, thej^put it for seven days 
beneath a heap of corn, and then take it out for as many 
strata lignea, running perpendicularly in the trunk, and the number of 
which denotes the age of the tree. 
.56 Tigringe." 
57 " Pantheringe." The former tables were probably made of small pieces 
from the trunk, the latter from the sections of the tubers or knots. 
58 Crispis." 
59 Or " parsley-seed '* tables. It has also been suggested that the word 
comes from " apis," a bee ; the wood presenting the appearance of being 
covered with swarms of bees. 
"Mulsum." This mixture will be found frequently mentioned in the 
next Book, 
fii Lignum, 
