Chap. 68.] TECOLITIIOS. 457 



stone like iron, the presence of which in lawsuits creates dis- 

 cord.^ Sideropoecilos,25 wliich is a variety of the same stone, is 

 a native of iEthiopia, and is covered with variegated spots. 



Spongitis has its name from its resemblance to sponge. Sy- 

 nodontitis is a stone found in the brain of the fish known as 

 ** synodus."2« Syrtitjs is a stone that used formerly to be 

 found on the shores of the Syrtes,^^ though now it is found on 

 the coasts of Lucania as well : it is of a honey colour, with a 

 reflected tint of saffron, and contains stars of a feeble lustre 

 within. Syringitis^^ is hollow throughout, like the space be- 

 tween the two joints in a straw. 



CHAP. 68. TEICHBTJS. THELYRRHIZOS. THELTCAEDIOS OR 



MTJLC. THKACIA ; THEEE VARIETIES OP IT. TEPHRITIS. TECO- 

 LITEOS. 



^ Trichrus"^ comes from Africa : it is of a black colour, but 

 yields three different liquids, black at the lower part, blood- 

 red in the middle, and of an ochre colour at the top. The- 

 • Iyrrhizos=^° is of an ashy or russet colour, but white at the lower 

 part. Thelycardios^^ is like a heart in colour, and is held in 

 high esteem by the people of Persia, in which country it is 

 found : the name given to it by them is '* mule." Of thracia^^ 

 there are three varieties ; a green stone, one of a more pallid 

 colour, and a third with spots like drops of blood. Tephritis^^ 

 is crescent-shaped, with horns like those of the new moon, but 

 it is of an ashy colour. Tecolithos^^* has all the appearance of 

 an olive stone : it is held in no estimation as a gem, but a 

 solution of it will break and expel urinary calculi. 



25 «' Variegated iron." 



26 So called from its teeth meeting evenly, like the jaw-teeth, and not 

 shaped like those of a saw, so formed that the teeth of one jaw lock with 

 those of the other. See B. xi. c. 5. The Linnsean genus Sparus is of this 

 kind.' 27 See B. v. cc. 4, 5, and B. vi. c. 37. 



2& " Fistulous stone.-' 29 " Three-coloured stone. 



3C Meaning " Female root," apparently. The reading, however, is un- 

 certain. ^' " Female heart," apparently. The readiug is doubtful. 



^'^ " Thracian stone." The reading, however, is doubtful. 



33 » Ash-coloured stone." It has been identified with Uranian agate 

 by some. 



3* " Dissolving stone." Probably our Jew stone, and identical with the 

 Phoenicitis of Chapter 66. See Note 13. 



