420 plikt's natural history. [Book XXXVII. 



colour," partly resembling carbuneulus, and partly chry soli thos 

 and amethystos ; a variety, however, which he altogether 

 disapproves of. The real onyx, according to him, has numerous 

 veins of variegated colours, interspersed with others of a milk- 

 white hue ; the shades of which, as they pass into one another, 

 produce a tint which surpasses all description, and blends itself 

 into one harmonious whole, of a most beautiful appearance. 



Not unlike sardonyx, too, is sarda,^^ a stone which also has, 

 in part, a kindred name with it ; but before passing on to it, 

 we must first take some notice of all those precious stones which 

 have a brilliancy like that of flame. 



CHAP. 25. (7.) — CAEBTJNCULTJS : TWELVE VARIETIES OF IT. 



In the first rank among these is carbuneulus,^^ so called from 

 its resemblance to fire ; though in reality it is proof against the 

 action of that element :^° hence it is that some persons call 

 these stones "acaustoi."^^ There are various kinds of carbun- 

 eulus, the Indian and the Garam antic, for example, which last 

 has been also called the Carchedonian,^^ in compliment to the 

 former opulence of Great Carthage.^^ To these are added the 

 Ethiopian and the Alabandic stones, the latter of which are 

 found at Orthosia^* in Caria, but are cut and polished 9,t Ala- 

 banda.*^^ In addition to this, each kind is subdivided into the 

 male carbuneulus and the female, the former of which is of a 



" " Carnosas." It is somewhat doubtful whether our Carnelian, or 

 Cornelian, take its name from this word, or from "cornus," a cornel-berry. 



8^ See Chapter 31. 



89 Literally meaning a " red-hot coal." The carbuneulus of Pliny is 

 supposed to include not only the red, or Iron and Iron-lime garnet, but 

 the Spinelle ruby also, or Oriental ruby. 



^0 There is some truth in this, as some few kinds both of the Garnet and 

 Ruby are infusible. Of the ruby, the red varieties change to brown, black, 

 and opaque even, as the temperature increases, and on cooling become first 

 green, and then nearly colourless, but at last resume their red colour. 



3^ From the Greek ; meaning "incombustible." 



^- From Kapxi7^wv, the Greek name for Carthage. 



^'^ Carthago Magna, so called in contradistinction to Carthage Nova, or 

 New Carthage, in Spain. 9* See B. v. c. 29. 



3' In the vicinity of Orthosia. It is from this place that one kind of 

 garnet is now called " Almandine." There is also the Almaadiue, or 

 violet-coloured ruby. See Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. tl. p. 238. Bohn's 

 Edition. It is probable that Carthage ^; s the great entrepot for the car- 

 bunculi of the Garamantes and Ethiopia, where Eed sapphire, Red corun- 

 dum, or Orieatal ruby, was probably found. 



