OR SNAKE STONE. 385 



No. 2, was purchased in the Bazar of Nujeebahad, and No. 3, which 

 I class with it, from an itinerant dealer at Haridwar. They are irregular pieces, 

 apparently broken from a larger mass. The first has a specific gravity of 

 2-58, hardness 3-5; the latter, a specific gravity of 2-68, with a hardness 4. 

 They have both that unctuous aspect which is discriminative of Magnesian 

 Stones. The fracture is imperfect conchoidal, sometimes uneven or irregular. 

 The only difference between them, besides that of specific gravity, is in color. 

 The latter is of a bright greenish yellow, including to Sulphur yellow, the 

 other a dull or oil green. 



There appears to be little doubt, in considering the above description, 

 that these specimens are Serpentine, the specific gravity of which is given 

 by Professor Mohs, as 2-5 to 2-6 and hardness 3. Much uncertainty has 

 hitherto prevailed as to the real character of this rock, and many very different 

 substances have been confounded under this term. So great has been the 

 latitude in consequence given to the characters, that many Mineralogists have 

 doubted whether there be a distinct Mineral species entitled to this name, 

 or whether it be not always, as it certainly is very often, a compound Rock. 

 The whole natural order of Magnesian Minerals is, even yet, in great confu- 

 sion ; but the precision which has been introduced into this Science by Pro- 

 fessor Mohs, and the admirable artificial arrangement proposed by him, bid 

 fair to throw a general and strong light on this, and other obscure parts of 

 this interesting Science. 



'& 



We see in the remarks by the Secretary appended to the paper before 

 mentioned, that the Bezoar has been called Pierre de Serpent, Pedra del 

 Serpente, and Snake Stone. It is equally clear, that the Mineral called Ser- 

 pentine is frequently sold for the Bezoar, and supposed to possess all its 

 virtues. The origin of the term Serpentine, has never been satisfactorily 

 accounted for. It has been said to owe its name to the resemblance which 



