other ornamental design. In many cases there were only two kinds of
stones used, black and white; and these were arranged so as to form
borders, scrolls, and pattern work,--as it is called,--of various kinds.
In some places a border was formed around the room, and the figure of
some animal was placed in the centre. In other cases groups of animals,
or of men, were represented, in a very perfect manner. It has always
been considered wonderful that such spirited and beautiful designs could
be so well represented by a method apparently so rude as the arrangement
on a floor of bits of different colored stones.

The best of these mosaics were taken up and removed to the museum. You
would think at first that it would be impossible to remove them in any
other way than by taking them all to pieces and putting them together
again, each little stone in its proper place, on the floor of the
museum, where the mosaic was intended to go. But the artists contrived a
way to take them up without all this labor, and thus several of the best
ones have been removed without disturbing the arrangement of the stones,
and have been laid down on the floors of the museum.

[Illustration: THE MOSAIC.]

One of the most curious of these mosaics is a representation of a dog,
which was placed just _within_ the entrance of a house, and just _at_
the entrance were the words, also in mosaic, CAVE CANEM, which is the
Latin for LOOK OUT FOR THE DOG. On the preceding page is a
representation of this mosaic.

This mosaic was curious rather than wonderful; but in another house
there was one which has always been considered a most marvellous
production, on account of the complicated character of the design, and
the immense number of stones composing it. It represents a battle scene,
and contains a great number of men and horses, all mingled together in
great confusion on the field of battle. The number of pieces of stone
used in making this mosaic is almost incalculable.

Although it was originally made as part of a floor, it is now very
carefully guarded, and no one is allowed to walk upon it. It is
surrounded by a railing, and along one side of it there is a raised
platform for visitors to stand upon in order to see it to advantage.

There were one or two large rooms that were filled with
beautifully-formed jars and vases, of a brownish color, and ornamented
upon the outside with figures and devices of all kinds. These devices
represented all sorts