[3331] “Stone of Hephæstos” or “Vulcan.”
[3332] It acting as a burning-glass, probably.
[3333] See B. iv. c. 20, and B. v. c. 22.
[3334] “Genitals of Mercury.” This singular stone does not appear to have been identified. See Note [3294] above.
[3335] “Sixty colour stone.”
[3336] See B. v. cc. 5, 8, and B. vi. c. 34.
[3337] “Hawk stone.” It is perhaps identical with the “Circos,” mentioned in Chapter [56]. Aëtius says that Hieracitis was of a greenish hue.
[3338] “Sand-stone.” Ajasson thinks that this was a granular quartz, of a friable nature when subjected to compression.
[3339] As to the identity of “nitrum,” see B, xxxi. c, 46.
[3340] “Horn of [Jupiter] Hammon.” He here alludes to the Ammonites of modern Geology, an extinct race of molluscous animals that inhabited convoluted shells, and which are commonly known as “snake-stones.” They abound in strata of the secondary formation, and vary from the size of a bean to that of a coach-wheel.