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CHAP. 56.—CADMITIS. CALLAIS. CAPNITIS. CAPPADOCIA. CALLAICA. CATOCHITIS. CATOPTRITIS. CEPITIS OR CEPOLATITIS. CERAMITIS. CINÆDIA. CERITIS. CIRCOS. CORSOÏDES. CORALLOACHATES. CORALLIS. CRATERITIS. CROCALLIS. CYITIS. CHALCOPHONOS. CHELIDONIA. CHELONIA. CHELONITIS. CHLORITIS. CHOASPITIS. CHRYSOLAMPIS. CHRYSOPIS. CEPONIDES.

Cadmitis differs only from the stone that is known as ostracitis1 in being sometimes surrounded with blisters of an azure colour. Callais2 is like sapphires3 in colour, only that it is paler and more closely resembles the tint of the water near the sea-shore in appearance. Capnitis,4 in the opinion of some, is a peculiar species of stone: it is covered with numerous spiral streaks, of a smoky colour, as already5 stated in the appropriate place. Cappadocia6 is a native of Phrygia, and resembles ivory in appearance. Callaica7 is the name given to a stone like a clouded callaina;8 a number of them are always found united, it is said. Catochitis9 is a stone found in Corsica, of larger size than the other precious stones; and of a more wonderful nature, if the story is true, that it retains the hand like gum, when placed upon it. Catoptritis10 is found in Cappadocia, and, from its whiteness, reflects figures like a mirror. Cepitis11 or cepolatitis is a white stone, with veins upon it uniting together. Ceramitis12 has a colour like that of earthenware.

Cinædia13 is a stone found in the brain of a fish14 of a corresponding name. It is white and oblong, and possessed of marvellous virtues, if we are to put faith in what is said, that it announces before-hand whether the sea will be tranquil or stormy.15 Ceritis16 is a stone like wax: circos17 resembles the plumage of the hawk: corsoides18 is like white hair in appearance. Coralloachates19 is very similar to coral, marked with drops of gold; and corallis, a native of India and Syene, resembles minium20 in appearance. Crateritis21 is in colour a medium between chrysolithos22 and amber, and is remarkable for its hardness. Crocallis23 is a gem like the cherry in its tints. Cyitis24 is a stone found in the vicinity of Coptos; it is white, and to all appearance has an embryo stone within, the rattling of which may be heard on shaking it. Chalcophonos25 is a black stone, but when struck it clinks like brass: tragic actors are recommended to carry it about them. Of chelidonia26 there are two varieties, both resembling the swallow in colour: one of them is purple on one side, and the other is purple besprinkled with black spots. Chelonia27 is the eye of the Indian tortoise, and is the most marvellous of all the stones, if we believe the lying stories told by the magicians. For, according to them, this stone, placed upon the tongue after rinsing the mouth with honey, will ensure power of divination, if this is done at full moon or new moon, for one whole day. If, however, this plan is adopted while the moon is on the increase, the power of divination will be acquired before sun-rise only, and if upon other days, from the first28 hour to the sixth.

Chelonitis,29 too, is a stone that resembles the tortoise30 in appearance, and the many virtues of which are talked of for calming storms and tempests. As to the one that has all the appearance of being sprinkled with spots of gold, if thrown with a scarabæus into boiling water, it will raise a tempest, they say. Chloritis31 is a stone of a grass-green colour: according to the magicians, it is found in the crop of the motacilla,32 being engendered with the bird. They recommend also that it should be set in iron, for the purpose of working certain portentous marvels which they promise, as usual. Choaspitis is a stone so called from the river Choaspes,33 of a brilliant, golden colour mixed with green. Chrysolampis34 is a native of Æthiopia, and is pale by day, but of a fiery lustre by night. Chrysopis35 has all the appearance of gold.36 Ceponides37 is found at Atarna, a borough, and once a city, of Æolis. It is transparent, presents numerous tints, and has sometimes the appearance of glass, sometimes of crystal, and sometimes of iaspis. Indeed, the stones of this kind that are tarnished even, are possessed of such singular brilliancy as to reflect objects like a mirror.

1 See B. xxxiv. c. 22, and Chapter 65 of this Book.

2 Identical, probably, with the Callaina of Chapter 33, our Turquois.

3 Lapis lazuli.

4 "Smoke-stone." Identical with the jasper called "capnias," in Chapter 37.

5 In Chapter 37 of this Book.

6 "Cappadocian stone."

7 Like the "callaina," or "callais."

8 See Chapter 33 of this Book.

9 "Attractive stone." A large rocky stone, according to Solinus. Dalechamps thinks that it must have been a kind of amber or bitumen, an opinion with which Desfontaines coincides.

10 "Looking-glass stone," or "mirror stone." A variety of Specular stone, probably.

11 "Onion stone." A kind of agate, according to Dalechamps. It had its name probably from the union of its streaks like those on the neck of an onion.

12 "Pottery stone."

13 See B. xxix. c. 38, Vol. V. p. 415.

14 The Cinædus, See B. xxxii. c. 53.

15 By its clear or clouded colour, it was said.

16 "Wax stone."

17 From κίρκος, a "hawk" or "falcon."

18 "Hair-like;" from κόρση, the "hair."

19 "Coral agate." See Chapter 54 of this Book.

20 Vermilion. See B. xxxiii, cc. 37, 40.

21 "Strong stone"—from κρατερὸς, "strong." Supposed by some to have been amber-coloured Hyacinth.

22 Oriental topaz, probably. See Chapters 42 and 43 of this Book.

23 "Saffron-coloured," probably. If this is the meaning of the name, it may be supposed to have resembled the bigaroon cherry.

24 "Pregnant stone. An aëtites or geodes, probably. See B. xxx. c. 44, and B. xxxvi. c. 39.

25 "Sounding like brass." Probably Clinkstone or Phonolite, a compact feldspathic rock of a grevish colour, clinking under the hammer when struck, somewhat like a metal.

26 "Swallow-stone."

27 "Tortoise-stone."

28 Six in the morning until mid-day.

29 "Tortoise-like stone."

30 "Chelone," in Greek.

31 "Grass-green stone." It is just possible that the Chlorite of modern Mineralogy, a kind of emerald-green tale, or hydrous silicate of magnesia, may be meant: but we must dismiss the story of the wagtail.

32 The pied wagtail, Motacilla alba of Limæus.

33 See B. vi. c. 31.

34 "Godden Hgnt." Ajasson suggests that this may have been a yellow phosphate of lead, which emitted light at night, from its close vicinity to naphtha. Bologna store, Bolognian spar, or sulphate of Barytes, has also been suggested. Topaz, too, is mentioned.

35 "Golden face."

36 A variety of Hyacinth, according to Dalechamps.

37 From κηπὸς, "a garden," it is thought; on account of its varied colours.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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