Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK XVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FOREST TREES., CHAP. 94.—THE METHOD OF MAKING BIRDLIME.

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BOOK II. AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD AND THE ELEMENTS.

BOOK III. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.

BOOK IV. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.

BOOK V. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.

BOOK VI. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST, OR FORMERLY EXISTED.

BOOK VII. MAN, HIS BIRTH, HIS ORGANIZATION, AND THE INVENTION OF THE ARTS.

BOOK VIII. THE NATURE OF THE TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS.

BOOK IX. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF FISHES.

BOOK X. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS.

BOOK XI. THE VARIOUS KINDS OF INSECTS.

BOOK XII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF TREES

BOOK XIII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF EXOTIC TREES, AND AN ACCOUNT OF UNGUENTS.

BOOK XIV. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FRUIT TREES.

BOOK XV. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FRUIT-TREES.

BOOK XVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FOREST TREES.

CHAP. I.—COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NO TREES.

CHAP. 2.—WONDERS CONNECTED WITH TREES IN THE NORTHERN REGIONS.

CHAP. 3. (4.)—THE ACORN OAK. THE CIVIC CROWN.

CHAP. 4.—THE ORIGIN OF THE PRESENTATION OF CROWNS.

CHAP. 5.—PERSONS PRESENTED WITH A CROWN OF LEAVES.

CHAP. 6. (5.)—THIRTEEN VARIETIES OF THE ACORN.

CHAP. 7. (6.)—THE BEECH.

CHAP. 8.—THE OTHER ACORNS-WOOD FOR FUEL.

CHAP. 9.—THE GALL-NUT.

CHAP. 10.—OTHER PRODUCTIONS ON THESE TREES BESIDES THE ACORN.

CHAP. 11. (8.)—CACHRYS.

CHAP. 12.—THE KERMES BERRY.

CHAP. 13.—AGARIC.

CHAP. 14. (9.)—TREES OF WHICH THE BARK IS USED.

CHAP. 15. (10.)—SHINGLES.

CHAP. 16.—THE PINE.

CHAP. 17.—THE PINASTER.

CHAP. 18.—THE PITCH-TREE: THE FIR.

CHAP. 19.—THE LARCH: THE TORCH-TREE.

CHAP. 20.—THE YEW.

CHAP. 21. (11.)—METHODS OF MAKING TAR—HOW CEDRIUM IS MADE.

CHAP. 22.—METHODS BY WHICH THICK PITCH IS PREPARED.

CHAP. 23. (12.)—HOW THE RESIN CALLED ZOPISSA IS PREPARED.

CHAP. 24. (13.)—TREES THE WOOD OF WHICH IS HIGHLY VALUED. FOUR VARIETIES OF THE ASH.

CHAP. 25. (14.)—TWO VARIETIES OF THE LINDEN-TREE.

CHAP. 26. (15.)—TEN VARIETIES OF THE MAPLE.

CHAP. 27. (16.)—BERUSCUM: MOLLUSCUM; THE STAPHYLODENDRON.

CHAP. 28.—THREE VARIETIES OF THE BOX-TREE.

CHAP. 29. (17.)—FOUR VARIETIES OF THE ELM.

CHAP. 30. (18.)—THE, NATURES OF THE VARIOUS TREES ACCORDING TO THEIR LOCALITIES: THE MOUNTAIN TREES, AND THE TREES OF THE PLAIN.

CHAP. 31.—TREES WHICH GROW ON A DRY SOIL: THOSE WHICH ARE FOUND IN WET LOCALITIES: THOSE WHICH ARE FOUND IN BOTH INDIFFERENTLY.

CHAP. 32. (19.)—DIVISION OF TREES INTO VARIOUS SPECIES.

CHAP. 33. (20.)—TREES WHICH DO NOT LOSE THEIR FOLIAGE. THE RHODODOENDRON. TREES WHICH DO NOT LOSE THE WHOLE OF THEIR FOLIAGE. PLACES IN WHICH THERE ARE NO TREES.

CHAP. 34. (22.)—THE NATURE OF THE LEAVES WHICH WITHER AND FALL.

CHAP. 35.—TREES WHICH HAVE LEAVES OF VARIOUS COLOURS; TREES WITH LEAVES OF VARIOUS SHAPES. THREE VARIETIES OF THE POPLAR.

CHAP. 36.—LEAVES WHICH TURN ROUND EVERY YEAR.

CHAP. 37.—THE CARE BESTOWED ON THE LEAVES OF THE PALM, AND THE USES TO WHICH THEY ARE APPLIED.

CHAP. 38.—REMARKABLE FACTS CONNECTED WITH LEAVES.

CHAP. 39. (25.)—THE NATURAL ORDER OF THE PRODUCTION OF PLANTS.

CHAP. 40.—TREES WHICH NEVER BLOSSOM. THE JUNIPER

CHAP. 41.—THE FECUNDATION OF TREES. GERMINATION: THE APPEARANCE OF THE FRUIT.

CHAP. 42.—IN WHAT ORDER THE TREES BLOSSOM.

CHAP. 43. (26.)—AT WHAT PERIOD EACH TREE BEARS FRUIT. THE CORNEL.

CHAP. 44.—TREES WHICH BEAR THE WHOLE YEAR. TREES WHICH HAVE ON THEM THE FRUIT OF THREE YEARS.

CHAP. 45.—TREES WHICH BEAR NO FRUIT: TREES LOOKED UPON AS ILL-OMENED.

CHAP. 46.—TREES WHICH LOSE THEIR FRUIT OR FLOWERS MOST READILY.

CHAP. 47.—TREES WHICH ARE UNPRODUCTIVE IN CERTAIN PLACES.

CHAP. 48.—THE MODE IN WHICH TREES BEAR.

CHAP. 49.—TREES IN WHICH THE FRUIT APPEARS BEFORE THE LEAVES.

CHAP. 50. (27.)—TREES THAT BEAR TWO CROPS IN A YEAR. TREES THAT BEAR THREE CROPS.

CHAP. 51.—WHICH TREES BECOME OLD WITH THE GREATEST RAPIDITY, AND WHICH MOST SLOWLY.

CHAP. 52.—TREES WHICH BEAR VARIOUS PRODUCTS. CRATÆGUM.

CHAP. 53.—DIFFERENCES IN TREES IN RESPECT OF THE TRUNKS AND BRANCHES.

CHAP. 54.—THE BRANCHES OF TREES.

CHAP. 55. (31.)—THE BARK OF TREES.

CHAP. 56.—THE ROOTS OF TREES.

CHAP. 57.—TREES WHICH HAVE GROWN SPONTANEOUSLY FROM THE GROUND.

CHAP. 58.—HOW TREES GROW SPONTANEOUSLY—DIVERSITIES IN THEIR NATURE, THE SAME TREES NOT GROWING EVERYWHERE.

CHAP. 59.—PLANTS THAT WILL NOT GROW IN CERTAIN PLACES.

CHAP. 60. (33.)—THE CYPRESS.

CHAP. 61.—THAT THE EARTH OFTEN BEARS PRODUCTIONS WHICH IT HAS NEVER BORNE BEFORE.

CHAP. 62. (34.)—THE IVY-TWENTY VARIETIES OF IT.

CHAP. 63. (35.)—THE SMILAX.

CHAP. 64. (36.)—WATER PLANTS: THE RUSH: TWENTY-EIGHT VARIETIES OF THE REED.

CHAP. 65.—REEDS USED FOR ARROWS, AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF WRITING.

CHAP. 60.—FLUTE REEDS: TET REEDOF ORCHOMENTFS; REEDS USED FOR FOWLING AND FISHING.

CHAP. 67.—THE VINE-DRESSERS' REED.

CHAP. 68.—THE WILLOW: EIEGT VARIETIES OF IT.

CHAP. 69.—TREES IN ADDITION TO THE WILLOW, WHICH ARE OF USE IN MAKING WITHES.

CHAP. 70.—RUSHES: CANDLE-RUSHES: RUSHES FOR THATCHING.

CHAP. 71.—THE ELDER: THE BRAMBLE.

CHAP. 72. (38.)—THE JUICES OF TREES.

CHAP. 73.—TE VEINS AND FIBRES OF TREES.

CHAP. 74.—THE FELLING OF TREES.

CHAP. 75.—TE OPINION OF CATO ON THE FELLING OF TIMBER.

CHAP. 76.—THE SIZE OF TREES: THE NATURE OF WOOD: THE SAPPINUS.

CHAP. 77.—METHODS OF OBTAINING FIRE FROM WOOD.

CHAP. 78.—TREES WHICH ARE PROOF AGAINST DECAY: TREES WHICH NEVER SPLIT.

CHAP. 79.—HISTORICAL FACTS CONNECTED WITH THE DURABILITY OF WOOD.

CHAP. 80. (41.)—VARIETIES OF THE TEREDO.

CHAP. 81. (42.)—THE WOODS USED IN BUILDING.

CHAP. 82.—CARPENTERS' WOODS.

CHAP. 83. (43.)—WOODS UNITED WITH GLUE.

CHAP. 8.—VENEERING.

CHAP. 85. (44.)—THE AGE OF TREES. A TREE THAT WAS PLANTED BY THE FIRST SCIPIO AFRICANUS. A TREE AT ROME FIVE HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

CHAP. 86.—TREES AS OLD AS THE CITY.

CHAP. 87.—TREES IN THE SUBURBAN DISTRICTS OLDER THAN THE CITY.

CHAP. 88.—TREES PLANTED BY AGAMEMNON THE FIRST YEAR OF THE TROJAN WAR: OTHER TREES WHICH DATE FROM THE TIME THAT THE PLACE WAS CALLED ILIUM, ANTERIOR TO THE TROJAN WAR.

CHAP. 89.—TREES PLANTED AT ARGOS BY HERCULES: OTHERS PLANTED BY APOLLO. A TREE MORE ANCIENT THAN ATHENS ITSELF.

CHAP. 90.—TREES WHICH ARE THE MOST SHORT-LIVED.

CHAP. 91.—TREES THAT HAVE BEEN RENDERED FAMOUS BY REMARKABLE EVENTS.

CHAP. 92.—PLANTS THAT HAVE NO PECULIAR SPOT FOR THEIR GROWTH: OTHERS THAT GROW UPON TREES, AND WILL NOT GROW IN THE GROUND. NINE VARIETIES OF THEM: CADYTAS, POLYPODION, PHAULIAS, HIPPOPHÆSTON.

CHAP. 93.—THREE VARIETIES OF MISTLETOE. THE NATURE OF MISTLETOE AND SIMILAR PLANTS.

CHAP. 94.—THE METHOD OF MAKING BIRDLIME.

CHAP. 95.—HISTORICAL FACTS CONNECTED WITH THE MISTLETOE.

BOOK XVII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CULTIVATED TREES.

BOOK XVIII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF GRAIN.

BOOK XIX. THE NATURE AND CULTIVATION OF FLAX, AND AN ACCOUNT OF VARIOUS GARDEN PLANTS.

BOOK XX. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE GARDEN PLANTS.

BOOK XXI. AN ACCOUNT OF FLOWERS. AND THOSE USED FOR CHAPLETS MORE PARTICULARLY.

BOOK XXII. THE PROPERTIES OF PLANTS AND FRUITS.

BOOK XXIII. THE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE CULTIVATED TREES.

BOOK XXIV. THE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE FOREST TREES.

BOOK XXV. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF WILD PLANT

BOOK XXVI. A CONTINUATION OF THE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM PLANTS, CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO PARTICULAR DISEASES.

BOOK XXVII. A DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS, AND OF THE REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THEM.

BOOK XXVIII. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM LIVING CREATURES.

BOOK XXIX. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM LIVING CREATURES.

BOOK XXX. REMEDIES DERIEVED FROM LIVING CREATURES.

BOOK XXXI. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE AQUATIC PRODUCTION

BOOK XXXII. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM AQUATIC ANIMALS.

BOOK XXXIII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF METALS.

BOOK XXXIV. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF METALS.

BOOK XXXV. AN ACCOUNT OF PAINTINGS AND COLOURS.

BOOK XXXVI. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STONES.

BOOK XXXVII. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PRECIOUS STONES.

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CHAP. 94.—THE METHOD OF MAKING BIRDLIME.

Birdlime is made of the berries of the mistletoe, which are gathered at harvest, and while in an unripe state; for if the rainy season comes on, though they increase in size, the viscous juice is apt to lose its virtues. They are then dried,¹ and when brought to a state of perfect aridity, are first pounded, and then put in water, in which they are left to rot for twelve days; this being, in fact, the only thing that finds improve- ment in decay. After this, they are again beaten in running water with a mallet, and after losing the outer coat there is only the viscous inner pulp remaining. This substance is birdlime; and after it has been thinned by the addition of walnut oil, it is found particularly useful for catching birds, it being quite sufficient if they only touch it with the wings.

1 The method used in Italy for making bird-lime is very similar at the present day.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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