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An encyclopedic survey that first catalogs marine animals, algae, and shellfish, describing habitats, curious behaviors, reported antipathies, and numerous folk remedies and practical uses attributed to specific species, organized by ailments and applications. The later portion treats metals and their ores—including gold, silver, mercury, copper, and brass—describing modes of occurrence, extraction, alloying, testing, gilding, and decorative and monetary uses, alongside technical observations and medicinal remedies derived from metallic substances, with systematic lists and practical instructions interwoven throughout.
Nasamonitis is a blood-red stone, marked with black veins. Nebritis, a stone sacred to Father Liber,3375 has received its name from its resemblance to a nebris.3376 There is also another stone of this kind, that is black. Nipparene3377 bears the name of a city and people of Persia, and resembles the teeth of the hippopotamus.