38 
to tlie earliest Greek painters, to tke time of Apelles. But those 
of the later school all evidence serves to show were perfect 
masters in all the resources of colouring both in variety of 
tints as well as means of producing effect and harmony. 
This examination, limited as it is, seems to show that mineral 
colours were most extensively employed hy the Eomans as 
pigmentary substances, arising in all probability from a know¬ 
ledge that they possessed greater permanency than those ob¬ 
tained from the organic kingdom, and likewise that pure native 
minerals, without artificial preparation, were- adopted and this 
serves to account for the numerous small quantities of foreign 
matters found in their pigments. The presence of alumina in 
large quantities with colours of animal or vegetable origin, 
would also seem to demonstrate, that they were acquainted vdth 
the method of preparing those compounds which we now call 
lakes, which are simply vegetable coloims precipitated in com¬ 
bination hy that earth, giving them greater brilliancy, and 
in the generality of cases, more permanence than the colour 
alone would possess. It woidd he somewhat interesting to 
learn whether they were acquainted vith the property which 
tin possesses, as well as alumina in this respect. 
Oct. 2nd. —The Eev. Canon Eaine read a paper on some 
Eoman curiosities recently discovered in York. He stated 
that in the summer of 1874 a remarkable sculptured stone was 
discovered hy the workmen who were making an entrance to 
the new railway station through the mediaeval wall of the city. 
It represents a rude headless figure of a deity vlth vings, 
leaning against what seems to he a seat. The right hand, most 
of which is lost, seems to have held a staff, the left has a hunch 
of keys. Around the middle of the figure is a girdle or apron, 
curiously fringed with something running or coiling round it. 
Under the feet is a plinth or label containing a fragmentary 
inscription, the D being on the outside. It may he read as 
follows :— 
VOL- IRE 
^ARIMANIY 
The figure was probably placed in a niche in some building. 
