ABSTRACT
THERomanInstitutionalTreatises,aftergivingtheir definitionofthevariousformsandmodificationsof ownership,proceedtodiscusstheNaturalModesof AcquiringProperty.Thosewhoareunfamiliarwith thehistoryofjurisprudencearenotlikelytolook uponthese"naturalmodes''ofacquisitionaspossessing,atfirstsight,eithermuchspeculativ€or muchpracticalinterest.Thewildanimalwhichis snaredorkilledbythehunter,thesoilwhichis addedtoourfieldbytheimperceptibledepositsofa river,thetreewhichstrikesitsrootsintoourground, areeachsaidbytheRomanlawyerstobeacquired byusnatu1·ally.Theolderjurisconsultshaddoubtlessobservedthatsuchacquisitionswereuniversally sanctionedbytheusagesofthelittlesocietiesaround them,andthusthelawyersofalaterage,finding themclassedintheancientJusGentium,andperceivingthemtobeofthesimplestdescription,allotted themaplaceamongtheordinancesofNature.The dignitywithwhichtheywereinvestedhasgoneon increasinginmoderntimestillitisquiteoutofpro-
portion to their original importance. Theory has made them its favourite food, and has enabled them to exercise the most serious influence on practice.
