The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6) by the Elder Pliny

[3247] “Grape-cluster stone.” [3248] “Puniceus” seems to be a preferable reading to “pampineus,” “like a vine-tendril,” given by the Bamberg MS. [3249] Possibly it may have been Datholite or Borate of lime, a variety of which is known as Botryolite. [3250] “Hair-stone.” This was probably either Iron alum, known also as Alun de plume; Alunogen, known also as Feather Alum or hair salt; or Amianthus, also called satin Asbestus. See B. xxxvi. c. 31. [3251] “Ox-heart.” Supposed to be a sort of Turquois, Hardouin says. [3252] “Thunder-stone.” [3253] “Clod-stone.” It may possibly have been a kind of Geodes. See B. xxxvi. c. 32. Dalechamps, however, identifies it with Crapaudine, Toad-stone, or Bufonite, supposed in former times to be produced by the toad, but in reality the fossil tooth of a fish. [3254] See B. iii. c. 4. [3255] See B. xxxiv. c. 22, and Chapter 65 of this Book. [3256] Identical, probably, with the Callaina of Chapter 33, our Turquois. [3257] Lapis lazuli. [3258] “Smoke-stone.” Identical with the jasper called “capnias,” in