420 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [BookXXXVlI. 



colour,* 7 partly resembling carbunculus, and partly chrysolithos 

 and aincthystos ; a variety, however, which he altogether 

 disapproves of. The real onyx, according to him, lias numerous 

 veins of variegated colours, interspersed with others of a milk- 

 white hue: the shades of which, as they pass into one another, 

 produce a tint which surpasses all description, and blends itself 

 into one harmonious whole, of a most beautiful appearance. 



Xot unlike sardonyx, too, is sarda,* 8 a stone which also has, 

 in part, a kindred name with it ; but before passing on to it, 

 we must first take some notice of all those precious stones which 

 have a brilliancy like that of flame 



CHAP. 25. (7.) CAKBCXCULUS : TWELVE VARIETIES OF IT. 



In the first rank among these is carbunculus, w so called from 

 its resemblance to fire ; though in reality it is proof against the 

 action of that element:** hence it is that some persons call' 

 these stones "acaustoi.' ? ' L There are various kinds of curbun- 

 culus, the Indian and the Garamantic, for example, which last 

 lias been also called the Carehedonian, 92 in compliment to the 

 former opulence of Great Carthage. 93 To these are added the 

 ./Ethiopian and the Alabandic stones, the latter of which are 

 found at Orthosia 94 in Caria, but are cut and polished at Ala- 

 banda. 9-i In addition to tin's, each kind is subdivided into the 

 male carbunculus and the female, the former of which is of a 



87 " Carnosas." It is somewhat doubtful whether our Carneliai), or 

 Cornelian, take its name from this word, or from "coruus," a cornel-berry. 

 - Sec Chapter 31. 



* a Literally meaning a "red-hot coal." The carbunculus of Pliny is 

 supposed to include not only the red, or Iron and Iron-lime garnet, but 

 tLe Spinelle ruby also, or Ori< ntal ruby. 



90 There is some truth in this, as some few kinds both of the Garnet ntid 

 Ruby are infusible. Of the ruby, the red varieties change to brown, black, 

 and opaque even, as the temperature increases, ami on cooling become lirbt 

 green, and then nearly colourless, tmt at last resume their red colour. 



91 From the Creek; meaning "incombustible." 



- z From Kapxrjcuf, the Greek name for Carthapc. 



* 3 Carthago Magna, so called in contradistinction to Carthage Xova, or 

 New Carthage, in Spain. <jl See H. v. c. 29. 



95 In the vicinity of Orthosia. It is from this placo that one kind of 

 garnet is now called " Almandine." There is also the -Alrnamline, or 

 violet-coloured ruby. Sec Beckmann, Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 238. Jiohus 

 Edition. It is probable that Carthage was the great entrepot for the car- 

 bunculi of the Garamantes and ^Ethiopia, where Hed .sapphire, lied coruu- 

 duin, or Oriental ruby, was probably found. 



