603 
an ornament on the shields of some of the Roman Emperors, on the 
obverses of their coins, and on gems and other works of art. In this 
instance the story is more than usually illustrated by the introduction 
of the fig-tree — Rumini fans, of which Ovid tells us some remains were 
in existence in his time. 
" The bird no doubt is intended for that which shared with the wolf 
the honour of feeding the infant heroes. 
' Lacte quis infantes nescit crevisse ferino, 
Et Picum expositis ssepe tullisse cibos ! ' 
1 Ovid's Fasti, lib. iii., I 53.' 
" It was found in Moorfields, with a thin star-shaped piece of similar 
metal, perforated in the centre." 
The last quotation from Ovid is rendered by Mr. Grower — 
" 'Tis known these infants sucked a wild beast's teat, 
And that a Pie did daily bring them meat." 
The only exception we have to take liere is the adoption of 
a Picks, or member of the Woodpecker family, for Pica, a 
pie or magpie, — a palpable but not unnatural error for a non- 
naturalist to make. Picus was a fabled king of Latium, 
celebrated for his beauty, and of whom Circe, meeting him in 
the woods of Monte Circello, became greatly enamoured. 
Mortified at her advances being treated with disdain, this 
ocean nymph, or syren, brought her celebrated magical arts to 
bear upon the scornful monarch, who was summarily con- 
verted into a Woodpecker. 
In this circular engraving we have a very different treat- 
ment from that of the mosaic ; for although somewhat rude, 
it is yet far less conventional in style, and the tree appears 
more shrubby, being devoid of any main stem or trunk. 
But we have also an addition to the group, in the introduction 
of a bird, unquestionably the woodpecker alluded to by Ovid, 
the honoured assistant in sustaining the traditional founder 
of Rome arid his brother. The dugs are large and rotund, 
offering a great contrast to the narrow elongated ones of the 
long-legged brute upon one of the smaller coins, and the 
