440 PLimr's natural histoet. [Book XXXVII. 



according to their respective colours, I sliall proceed to mention 

 the rest of them in their alphabetical order. 



(10.) Achates^^ was a stone formerly in high esteem, but 

 now held in none. It was first found in Sicily, near a river 

 of that name ; but has since been discovered in numerous other 

 localities. In size it exceeds any other stones of this class, 

 and the varieties of it are numerous, the name varying accord- 

 ingly. Thus, for example, we haveiaspachates," cerachates,^** 

 smaragdachates,-^ hsem achates,^- leucachates,-^ dendrachates,^* 

 marked with small shrubs, as it were ; autachates,^^ which when 

 burnt has a smell like that of myrrh; and coralloachates,^ 

 spotted all over, like sappliiros, with drops of gold, and com- 

 monly found in Crete, where it is also known as " sacred" 

 achates. This last, it is thought, is good for wounds inflicted 

 by spiders and scorpions ; a property which I could really 

 believe to belong to the stones of Sicily, for, the moment they 

 breathe the air of that province, scorpions lose their venom. 



The stones, too, that are found in India are possessed of 

 similar properties, and of other great and marvellous properties 

 as well ; for they present the appearance in them of rivers," 

 woods, "^ beasts of burden, and forms even, like ivy^^ and the 

 trappings of horses. Medical men, too, make grinding-hones^° 

 of these stones, and indeed the very sight of them is beneficial 

 for the eyes : held in the mouth, they allay thirst. Those 

 found in Phrygia have no green in them, and those of Thebes 

 in Egypt are destitute of red and white veins. These last are 

 good as a counterpoison to the venom of the scorpion, and the 

 stones of Cyprus are held in similar repute. Some persons set 

 the highest value upon those stones which present a trans- 

 parency like that of glass. They are found also in Trachiuia, 



18 ^ general name for Agate, and possibly some other stones not now 

 included under the name. ^^ *' Jasper agate." 



^f* "Wax agate." The modern Orange agate, probably. 



-^ " Smaragdus agate. '' Emerald-coloured agate. 



^ "Blood agate." Agate sprinkled with spots of red jasper. 



" "White agate." 



"^^ "Tree agate." Moss agate or Mocha stone, coloured by oxide of 

 iron. 



2* Probably the reading should be " Stactachates," *' Myrrh agate." 



2^ " Coralline agate." See Chapter 56. 27 Undulated agate. 



^■'* Moss agate, probably. See Note 24 above. 



^' SiUig is of opinion that the reading here is corrupt. 



^ " Coticulaa." Stones for grinding drugs. 



