certain
trees resembling pines." This quotation proves that the Roman
naturalist considered amber as a contemporary production. He was right
so far—amber is a resin; but it is a fossil resin.
The
places most rich in amber are the borders of the Baltic Sea, between
Dantzic and Memel; it is found also in Denmark, in Norway and Sweden,
in Poland, France, and England, and in different parts of Asia and
America.
Wherever
amber is found it is associated with lignites. It is nearly certain
that the resinous trees which produced these combustibles secreted
amber, since it is not rare to find fragments of amber lodged in the
midst of beds of lignite.
The
presence of organized bodies, and particularly insects imprisoned in
amber, was well known to the ancients, and is mentioned by the poet
Martial in particular.
The
illustration given here (Fig. 87) shows a lizard embedded in a piece of
amber. The original fragment of amber belonged to the collection of
Kircker, and was presented to him by the Duke of Brunswick.
The
amber which is most esteemed is translucid, and of a beautiful lemon
yellow; but there are also varieties semi-opaque, and one of a pale
yellow with veins and spots of dead-white that is much esteemed.
