The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 6 (of 6)

Of balanites3241 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. Baptes3243 is a soft stone, and of a most excellent smell. Beli oculus3244 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 deity3245 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 looks3246 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.

Botryitis3247 is sometimes black and sometimes purple-red,3248 and resembles a bunch of grapes3249 in form, when making its first appearance. Zoroaster says, that bostrychitis3250 is a stone which is more like the hair of females than anything else. Bucardia3251 resembles an ox-heart in appearance, and is only found at Babylon. Brontea3252 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. Bolos3253 is the name of a stone found in Iberia,3254 similar to a clod of earth in appearance.