[2763] He being a native of that part of Italy.
[2764] The Green Colubine Ollar stone; or soap-stone of Italy.
[2765] See B. iii. c. 21.
[2766] Identified by Brotero with our Free-stone or grit-stone.
[2767] So called from its resemblance to the spots on a peacock’s tail. He alludes, probably, to the mode of roofing with tiles cut in the form of scales, still much employed on the continent, and in Switzerland more particularly.
[2768] Or “Mirror-stone.” Transparent Selenite or gypsum; a sulphate of lime.
[2769] Now Segorba, in Valentia.
[2770] Ajasson is of opinion that various kinds of mica and talc are the minerals here alluded to.
[2771] From φεγγὸς, “brightness.” Beckmann is of opinion that this was a calcareous or gypseous spar (Hist. Inv. Vol. II. p. 66); but Ajasson seems to think that it was very similar to Parian marble, which was sometimes called by this name.
[2772] This is more likely to apply to a white marble than to a calcareous or gypseous spar. Suetonius says, c. 14, that Domitian, when he suspected that plots were forming against him, caused the porticos in which he walked to be lined with Phengites, which by its reflection showed what was going on behind his back.