[ 39 6 ] 
time, anfwers his defcription. But, fil'd, it is plain 
that Dr. Woodward's hypothefis of the belem- 
fiites being the Lyncurium, was ill founded ; inaf- 
much as the belemnites is neither pellucid, nor fit 
for engraving feals upon, on account of the friability 
of its texture ; neither can it, by any management, 
be made to attrad draws, chips of woods, or other 
light bodies. Nor is Geoff r of s opinion lefs liable to 
exception j as amber, though it has the attractive 
power mentioned by Theophradus, yet it has by no 
means the firm texture requifite to have feals engraved 
upon it ; neither is it fo very hard, as is exprefly faid 
by this author concerning the Lyncurium, as to re- 
quire great labour in polifhing it. Add to thefe, that 
‘ Theophraftus has given a particular account of the 
hi dory and properties of amber * feparately, in the 
before-mentioned work. 
If, after what has been faid, I may be permitted 
to give my thoughts concerning the Lyncurium of the 
ancients, I make no fcruple to think it to be exceed- 
ingly probable, that what we now call the Tourma- 
line was the Lyncurium of Theophradus, as it agrees 
with that author's defcription in all its fenfible qua- 
lities ; to wit, that it is a very hard pellucid done, of 
a deep-red colour ; that it is very proper to engrave 
feals upon ; that it attrads, like amber, not only 
draws and light pieces of wood, but filings of iron 
and brafs, as has been lately evinced by many expe- 
riments. And what will give fome weight to this 
* Vide Theophraft. Trspi ray ktQay. vy. ^ ^ , t 
Kell TO ijASK.'rpoj/ Ai0of. K) yap op v/joy to TTSfi A lyvriMV. Ta cova.v >1 
TK iklitv S'Ovcty.li UKOkdjilV. 
opi- 
