cial value of the genuine coral varies, and is dependent, to a
great degree, upon the color.
Amber, called in science succinite, was the succmum or the
eiectrum of classic times. It received the latter appellative on
account of its repelling light bodies, whence our word electricity. Various and fanciful have been the theories about the
origin of this substance, from early times down to the present,,
and it is still claimed by some theorists that it is not yet
understood. The ancient Greeks, who were always ready to
give an explanation of all the phenomena of nature, ascribed
its origin to the grief of the sisters of Phaeton, who, after his
untimely death, were changed into poplars on the banks of
the Evidanus, the modern Po, and expressed their emotions
by weeping tears of amber. At the mouth of this river were
the Electrides Insula;, or Amber Islands. Pliny alludes to this
legend, but takes the learned Greeks to task for their credulity
or imposition about the source of this substance, and proceeds
to give what he believes to be the true origin, that is, the gum
or juice of a pine-tree,— hence the name succinum, from a word
signifying juice. In regard to the " Electrides Insulce," he
says those so ignorant of geography should not write upon
the subject.
Amber is supposed to have been unknown to ancient orientalists, since no tracés of this substance have been discovered
in Egyptian, Chaldsean, or Assyrian remains, though it constantly occurs in the tombs of Latium, Etruria, and Prasneste,
and was known to the Greeks as an ornament in Homer's time,
who refers to the gold and amber necklace presented to
Penelope by one of her suitors. At a later period Thaïes
noticed its property of attracting or, rather, repelling light bodies ; and Theophrastus speaks of amber in his " History of
Stones." Tavernier calls it a certain congelation, made in the
