Law, the 25th of March, being the annunciation of the Holy Virgin. See Annunciation.

Lælius, Caius, a Roman consul and great orator, surnamed the Wise, distinguished himself in Spain in the war against Viriathus the Spanish general. He is highly praised by Cicero, who gives an admirable description of the intimate friendship which subsisted between Lælius and Scipio Africanus the Younger. His eloquence, his modesty, and his abilities, acquired him a great reputation; and he is thought to have assisted Terence in his comedies. He died about the year 126 B.C.

Læna, in antiquity, was a gown worn by the Roman augurs, and peculiar to their office. In this gown they covered their heads, when they made their observations on the flight of birds, &c. See Augur.

Laer. See Ramhocia.

Læstrygones, the most ancient inhabitants of Sicily. Some suppose them to be the same as the people of Leontium, and to have been neighbours to the Cyclops. They fed on human flesh; and when Ulysses came on their coasts, they sunk his ships and devoured his companions. They were of a gigantic stature, according to Homer's description. A colony of them, as some suppose, passed over into Italy with Lamus at their head, where they built the town of Formiae, whence the epithet of Læstrygonia is often used for that of Formiana.

Lætia, a genus of plants belonging to the polyandra class, and in the natural method ranking with those of which the order is doubtful. See Botany Index.

Lævinus, Torrentinus, commonly called Van der Bekin, or Torrentin, was a native of Ghent, and bred in the university of Louvain. He afterwards made the tour of Italy, where his virtues obtained him the friendship of the most illustrious personages of his time. Lagurus, a genus of plants belonging to the triandra clas, and in the natural method ranking under the 4th order, Gramina. See Botany Index.