CHAP. 55.—BALANITES. BATRACHITIS. BAPTES. BELI OCULUS. BELUS. BAROPTENUS OR BARIPPE. BOTRYITIS. BOSTRYCHITIS. BUCARDIA. BRONTEA. BOLOS.
Of balanites[3241] there are two kinds, the one of a greenish hue, and the other like Corinthian bronze in appearance; the former comes from Coptos, and the latter from Troglodytica. They are both of them intersected by a flame-like vein, which runs through the middle. Coptos, too, sends us batrachitis;[3242] one kind of which is like a frog in colour, another has the tint of ebony, and a third is blackish inclining to red. Baptes[3243] is a soft stone, and of a most excellent smell. Beli oculus[3244] is a stone of a whitish hue, surrounding a black pupil in the middle, which shines amid a lustre like that of gold. This stone, in consequence of its singular beauty, has been consecrated to the deity[3245] held in the highest veneration by the people of Assyria. According to Democritus, there is also a stone called belus, and found at Arbela; it is about the size of a walnut, and looks[3246] like glass. Baroptenus or barippe is black, and covered with knots of a white and blood-red colour: the use of it as an amulet is avoided, as being apt to produce monstrosities.
Botryitis[3247] is sometimes black and sometimes purple-red,[3248] and resembles a bunch of grapes[3249] in form, when making its first appearance. Zoroaster says, that bostrychitis[3250] is a stone which is more like the hair of females than anything else. Bucardia[3251] resembles an ox-heart in appearance, and is only found at Babylon. Brontea[3252] is a stone like the head of a tortoise, which falls with thunder, it is supposed: if too, we are to believe what is said, it has the property of quenching the fire in objects that have been struck by lightning. Bolos[3253] is the name of a stone found in Iberia,[3254] similar to a clod of earth in appearance.