negative. The genitive της φλογονμένης is also a problem, since ή φλογουμένη ("which when it is fired") might be expected.
20. for pumice is found especially in places that . . . The phrase kv τοις is incomplete. The meaning seems to be "in places like this," i.e., in craters of volcanoes. Schneider suggested kv τοις (καιομίνοις), which would mean "in places diat are on fire." Turnebus gives in ardentibus as a Latin translation. A word ending in -τοις might easily have dropped out after kv τοις. Thus πνρικανστοις would mean "places that have been subjected to burning." Other possibilities are kv τούτοις ("in these places") or kv τοις τοιοντοις ("in such places").
21. Nisyros.
This is an island of volcanic origin in the southern Aegean near the coast of Asia Minor. Eruptive rocks of various sorts are found there. From the description it seems likely tiiat the material that was found was a loosely compacted volcanic tufa or ash rather than a pumice, though the reference may be to an especially soft and friable kind of pumice.
21. The \ind found in Melos is all . . . but some. Since an adjective seems to be missing after πάσα. μίν, Schneider suggested that IVia. δ' αν might be changed to εύθραυστος ("easily broken"), followed by kv λίθω δε; but Stephanides proposed σχεδόν ώς kv ~Νισυρω ("almost as in Nisyros"), followed by evict
av.
22. They differ from one another in color, density, and
weight.
It should be noted that the various kinds of pumiceous or scoriaceous rocks are distinguished only by their physical characteristics, for no hint is given that Theophrastus may have considered possible differences in composition.
22. the kind that comes from the lava stream in Sicily is blac\.
This black variety probably would not be termed pumice in our modern system of classification, but rather volcanic scoria. The article (17) is needed and has been added to the text.
