Chap. 57.] DHAC0N1TI8. 447 



native of iEthiopia, and is pale by day, but of a fiery lustre by 

 night. Chrysopis* has all the appearance of gold.* Ceponides* 

 is found at Atarna, a borough, and once a city, of ^olis. It 

 is transparent, presents numerous tints, and has sometimes the 

 appearance of glass, sometimes of crystal, and sometimes of 

 iaspis. Indeed, the stones of this kind that are tarnished even, 

 are possessed of such singular brilliancy as to reflect objects 

 like a mirror. 



CHAP. 57. DAPHNEA. DIADOCHOS. DIPHTES. DIONTSIAS. 



DRACONITIS. 



Daphnea' is mentioned by Zoroaster as curative of epilepsy. 

 Diadochos^ is a stone that resembles the beryl. Of diphyes^ 

 there are two kinds, the white and the black, male and female, 

 with a line dividing the characteristics of either sex. Dionysias'" 

 is hard and black, and covered with red spots. Triturated in 

 water, this stone imparts to it the flavour of wine, and it is 

 generally thought to be a preservative against intoxication. 

 JDraconitis" or dracontia is a stone produced from the brain of 

 the dragon ;^^ but unless the head of the animal is cut ofl" 

 while it is alive, the stone will not assume the form of a gem, 

 through spite on the part of the serpent, when finding itself at 

 the point of death : hence it is that, for this purpose, the head 

 is cut off when it is asleep.^^ 



Sotacus, who tells us that he once saw a stone of this kind in 

 the possession of a king, says that persons go in search of it in 

 a chariot drawn by two horses ; and that, the moment tliey see 

 the serpent, they strew narcotic drugs in its way, and then cut 

 off its head when asleep. According to him, this stone is 

 white and pellucid, and admits of no polishing or engraving. 



phosphate of lead, which emitted light at night, from its close vicinity to 

 naphtha. Bologna stone, Bolugnian spar, or sulphate of Barytes, has also 

 been suggested. Topaz, too, is mentioned. * " Golden face." 



5 A variety of Hyacinth, according to Dalechamps. 



^"Fxom KTiTTOQ, "a garden," it is thought; on account of its varied 

 colours. 



7 "Laurel-stone." ^ ** Substitute" for beryl. 



^ " Two-forraed," or " of a double nature." A grand acquisition, as 

 Ajasson remarks, for the worshippers of Priapus. See a similar character- 

 istic in the Eryngium, our Eringo, B. xxii. c. 9 : also Mandragora, B. xxv. 

 c. 94, Note 70. lo " Stone of Dionysus" or "Bacchus." 



1^ "Dragon stone." 



12 The serpent so called — " draco." See B. xxix. c. 20. 



^^ A story invented, no doubt, by the sellers of some kind of precious 

 stone. 



