[ 96 ] 
produced above. This form required, that the books 
fhould be laid at their length upon the (helves, where 
they were depoiited with either their fide, or one of 
their ends, appearing outwardly. Now of thefe two 
portions the latter, which expofed the umbilicus to 
view, might be thought (all circumdances duly con- 
fidered) the mod convenient. To this part there- 
fore it might with probability be conjectured, that 
the index or title was fattened ; but the paintings 
mentioned above plainly demonftrate, that it actually 
was fo. 
Monf. Dacier fays (18), that the titles of books 
were anciently infcribed upon the leathern covers, 
wherein they were wrapt, and which, by the means 
of thongs fattened to them, kept the volumes clofe 
and compact together. If that learned gentleman 
had fupported this fa£t by proper evidences, then it 
mud have been concluded, upon the joint authority 
of fuch evidences, and of the antiquities under con- 
lideration, that the pra&ice of the ancients was, be- 
fides the title on the fides of the volume, to affix 
another on a label at one of its extremities. And 
indeed this additional notation (whatever we deter- 
mine concerning its ufefulnefs, while the books lay 
on a flielf in a library) mud have been very necefiary, 
when fuch books dood upright in a capfula (like 
thofe in the painting before us), where no part of 
them, but one end alone, could pofiibly be feen. 
VIII. 
Some pieces of fine paper, coloured red on one 
fide, and black on the other, found upon the bread 
(18) Not. on Hor. L, i. ep. 20. v. 
of 
