442 PLINT*S NATUEAL HISTORY. [Book XXXVII. 



US. Antipathes^^ is a black stone, and not transparent : the mode 

 of testing it, is by boiling it in milk, to whicb, if genuine, it 

 imparts a colour like that of myrrh. A person might probably 

 expect to find some extraordinary virtues in this stone, seeing 

 that, among so many other substances possessed of antipathetic 

 properties, it is the only one that bears this name. The ma- 

 gicians will have it that it possesses the power of counter- 

 acting fascinations. 



Arabica*" is a stone which closely resembles ivory in ap- 

 pearance, and, indeed, might easily be taken for it, were it not 

 for its superior hardness : persons who have this stone about 

 them, it is thought, will experience a cure of diseases of the 

 sinews. Aromatitis,*^ too, is a stone that is found in Arabia, as 

 also in the vicinity of Phirse in Egypt : it is always full of 

 small stones, and like myrrh in colour and smell, a thing that 

 makes it much in request with ladies of rank." Asbestos*^ 

 is found in the mountains of Arcadia, and is of an iron 

 colour. Democritus informs us that aspisatis** is a native 

 of Arabia, that it is of a fiery colour, and that patients 

 should wear it attached to the body with camels* dung ; he 

 says, too, that it is found in the nests of certain birds ^'^ in 

 Arabia. The same writer also mentions another stone of this 

 name, that is found at Leucopetra in the same country, of a 

 silver colour, radiant, and an excellent preservative against 

 delirium. In India, he says, and on Mount Acidane in 

 Persia, there is a stone found that is known as " atizoe,"^^ of a 

 silver lustre, three fingers in length, like a lentil in shape, 

 possessed of a pleasant smell, and considered necessary by the 

 Magi at the consecration of a king. Augetis*" is thought by 

 many to be identical with callaina.*® Amphidanes,*^ which is 

 also known as '* chrysocolla,"°° is a stone found in that part of 

 India where the ants^^ throw up gold, and in it there are certain 



39 " Counteracting-stcne," 



*o Probably the stone mentioned in B. xxxvi. c. 41. 



*i " Aromatic stone." Caesalpinus is of opinion that this is grey or 

 clouded amber. *2 << Reginis." 



*^ See B. xix. c. 4, and B, xxxvi. c. 31. ** The reading is doubtful. 



*5 <' Called " melancoryphi " in Chapter 33. 



*^ Ajasson thinks that the reading should be " Aeizoe," from the Greek 

 ati^wjj, " long lived." *' ** Shining stone," apparently. 



*« See Chapter 33 of this Book. **> The reading is doubtful. 



^ See B. ixiiii. c. 2 : where a fossil ChrysocoUa is also mentioned^ 



" See B. xi. c. 36, and B. xxxiii. c. 21. 



