Chap. 60.] n.flMATITTS. 451 



resemblance to the male organs which it presents, on a ground 

 that IS sometimes white, sometimes black, and sometimes of 

 a pallid hue, with a circle surrounding it of a golden colour. 

 Hexecontalithos^^ receives its name from the numerous variety 

 of colours which, small as it is, it presents : it is found in 

 Troglodytica.51 Hieracitis^^ jg entirely covered with mottled 

 streaks, resembling a kite's feathers alternately with black. 

 Hammitis*^ is similar in appearance to the spawn of fish : there 

 IS also one variety of it which has all the appearance of beino- 

 composed of nitre," except that it is remarkably hard. Ham'^ 

 nionis cornu^5 ^g reckoned among the most sacred gems of 

 Ethiopia ; it is of a golden colour, like a ram's horn in shape, 

 and ensures prophetic dreams, it is said. 



^ Hormiscion^« is one of the most pleasing stones to the sight ; 

 it IS of a fiery colour, and emits rays like gold, tipped at the 

 extremity with a whitish light. Hy^nia^^ is derived from the 

 eyes of the hygena, it is said, the animal being hunted to ob- 

 tain it; placed beneath the tongue, if we believe the story, 

 It will enable a person to prophesy the future. HEematitis,^^ 

 of the very finest quality, comes from Ethiopia, but it is found 

 m Arabia and Africa as well. It is a stone of a blood-red 

 colour, and we must not omit to mention the assurance given 

 [by the magicians], that the possession of it reveals treacherous 

 designs on the part of the barbarians. Zachalias of Babylon, 

 in the books which he dedicated to King Mithridates, attri- 

 buting the destinies of man to certain properties innate in 

 precious stones, is not content with vaunting the merits of this 

 stone as curative of diseases of the eyes and liver, but recom- 

 mends it also as ensuring success to petitions addressed to 

 kings. He also makes it play its part in lawsuits and judg- 



-o !! S""^^ ^'''^°"'' '^°°^-" " ^'6 ^- ^- cc. 5, 8, and B. vi. c. 34. 



.. ""' f^^^.^ stone." It IS perhaps identical with tlie " Circos," men- 

 tioned in Chapter 56. Aetius says that Hieracitis was of a greenish hue. 



_^-^ ** Sand-stone." Ajasson thinks that this was a granular quartz, of a 

 triable nature when subjected to compression. 



5* As to the identity of " nitrum," see B. xxxi. c. 46. 



55 "Horn of [Jupiter] Hammon." He here alludes to the Ammonites 

 ot modern Geology, an extinct race of molluscous animals that inhabited 

 convoluted shells, and which are commonly known as "snake-stones." 

 They abound in strata of the secondary formation, and vary from the size 

 of a bean to that of a coach-wlieel. 



5'' The reading of this word is doubtful. 57 u Hy^na stone " 



58 As to this stone, see B. xxxvi. c. 25. 



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