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Achates, Agate

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ACHATES.
5
cattle, and even more defined objects, such as chariots, pilasters, and the ornaments worn by horses." All these figures were suggested to the imagination by the capricious arrangement of the veins in many Agates, notably in the " Egyptian Pebble," which latter, indeed, often presents images so accurately defined that it is difficult to believe them the mere unaided freaks of Nature. In the Case of Jaspers, in the British Museum, may be seen the exact portrait of Chaucer in such a pebble ; the Strawberry Hill Collection possessed another of Voltaire ; De Boot had one no larger than the nail of the middle finger, marked with a perfect circle of a brown colour, within which was the veritable figure of a bishop with his mitre on. On turning the stone a little, a different image became visible ; and again turning it, two more, of a man and a woman, &c.. Numerous other examples equally illusive will occur to the recollection of every mineralogist.
Epiphanius, though so much later than the Roman naturalist, appears to have derived his notice of the Achates from some much earlier Greek source belonging to the times when the name was confined to one particular species. " Eighth Stone (in the Eationale) the Achates. This has been supposed to be that called Perileucos, already described under ' Hyacinthus.' This is an admirable gem, somewhat black (or blue) in colour, having externally a white zone, like marble or ivory, running round it. This, too, is found in Scythia. And amongst these there is an Achates having the colour of a lion's skin, which, powdered and mixed with water, smeared upon the bite of any rep­tile, counteracts the poison of the scorpion, the viper, and such like things." Isidorus also (Orig. xvi. 11) makes but one species of the Achates : " It is a black stone, having in the middle circles of white and black joined together and variegated ; and likewise resembling the Haematites." And
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