2. Precision in the mode of shading. The alternation of stressed and unstressed strokes is very regular. The two arcs of {O} are shaded not in the middle, as in Greek uncials, but in the lower left and upper right parts of the letter, so that the space enclosed by the two arcs resembles an ellipse leaning to the left at an angle of about 45°, thus {O}. What is true of the {O} is true of other curved strokes. The strokes are often very short, mere touches of pen to parchment, like brush work. Often they are unconnected, thus giving a mere suggestion of the form. The attack or fore-stroke as well as the finishing stroke is a very fine, oblique hair-line.[30] [Footnote 30: In later uncials the fore-stroke is often a horizontal hair-line.] 3. Absence of long ascending or descending strokes. The letters lie virtually between two lines (instead of between four as in later uncials), the upper and lower shafts of letters like {H L P Q} projecting but slightly beyond the head and base lines. 4. The broadness of the letters {M N U} 5. The relative narrowness of the letters {F L P S T} 6. The manner of forming {B E L M N P S T} _B_ with the lower bow considerably larger than the upper, which often has the form of a mere comma. _E_ with the tongue or horizontal stroke placed not in the middle, as in later uncial manuscripts, but high above it, and extending beyond the upper curve. The loop is often left open. _L_ with very small base. _M_ with the initial stroke tending to be a straight line instead of the well-rounded bow of later uncials. _N_ with the oblique connecting stroke shaded. _P_ with the loop very small and often open. _S_ with a rather longish form and shallow curves, as compared with the broad form and ample curves of later uncials. _T_ with a very small, sinuous horizontal top stroke (except at the beginning of a line when it often has an exaggerated extension to the left). 7. Extreme fineness of parchment, at least in parts of the manuscript. 8. Perforation of parchment along furrows made by the pen. 9. Quires signed by means of roman numerals often preceded by the letter _Q·_ (= Quaternio) in the lower right corner of the last page of each gathering. 10. Running titles, in abbreviated form, usually in smaller uncials than the text. 11. Colophons, in which red and black ink alternate, usually in large-sized uncials. 12. Use of a capital, _i.e._, a larger-sized letter at the beginning of each page or of each column in the page, even if the beginning falls in the middle of a word. 13. Lack of all but the simplest ornamentation, _e.g._, scroll or ivy-leaf.