37 
tinging creta with madder and hysginum, a dye derived from a 
plant unrecognised, although called by Pliny the hyacinth. 
The finest purpurissimum had a tint like that of a deep 
coloured rose, and was laid on a picture to give the last lustre to 
sandyx (red ochre) and to produce the brilliant colour of Vermil¬ 
lion, but if it was desired to produce a purple, then a coat of 
ceruleum (probably copper ochre) was laid beneath, and one of 
purpurissimum with egg, upon it. 
The second colour which the pigment in question might be 
is madder, called by Dioscorides “ eruthodanus ’’ or ‘‘ ereatho- 
danus,” of the identity of this substance with our madder there 
can be but little doubt. Under the kermes berry our cochineal 
is described—‘‘ the holm oak with its scarlet berry. It is pro¬ 
duced in Galatia, Africa, Piscidia, and Cilicia; the most inferior 
kind is that of Sardinia.” 
This mistake of the Eoman author in describing an insect as 
a berry, is an excusable one, as it was a long time before the 
nature of the Coccus was understood. The Coccus Ilicis is 
here alluded to, and is found on the Ilex or Quercus Coccifera. 
My colour so far agrees with either of the two preceding, 
insomuch that it forms a lake with alumina, and it is the 
abundance of the latter to which its permanency may be due. 
Whilst agreeing in this matter, in other respects they present 
marked differences. The ancient colour is more permanent 
than a true vegetable lake would be, and they do not agree in 
some chemical reactions, especially in the action of chlorine 
upon them. Under the influence of this agent the ancient 
colour becomes more purple, and is remarkably stable when 
compared with a true madder or cochineal lake. So that I am 
inclined to think that if this pigment is not a lake derived from 
purpmissimum, that into the composition of this colour it at 
least enters combined probably with kermes and madder. 
Pliny says that the celebrated Greek painters only employed 
four colours—(1) White Melian earth, or more rarely cerussa; 
(2) Eubrica; (3) Yellows ; and (4) Blacks; but he gives a list 
of 17 besides several combinations used in his time. This 
statement arose probably from an imperfect recollection of a 
passage of Cicero. His statement may be true when applied 
