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

Solis gemma3404 is white, and, like the luminary from which it takes its name, emits brilliant rays in a circular form. Sagda is found by the people of Chaldæa adhering to ships, and is of a leek-green colour. The Isle of Samothrace gives its name to a stone3405 which it produces, black and imponderous, and similar to wood in appearance. Sauritis3406 is found, they say, in the belly of the green lizard, cut asunder with a reed. Sarcitis3407 is a stone, like beef in appearance. Selenitis3408 is white and transparent, with a reflected colour like that of honey. It has a figure within it like that of the moon, and reflects the face of that luminary, if what we are told is true, according to its phases, day by day, whether on the wane or whether on the increase: this stone is a native of Arabia, it is thought. Sideritis3409 is a stone like iron, the presence of which in lawsuits creates discord. Sideropœcilos,3410 which is a variety of the same stone, is a native of Æthiopia, and is covered with variegated spots.

Spongitis has its name from its resemblance to sponge. Synodontitis is a stone found in the brain of the fish known as “synodus.”3411 Syrtitis is a stone that used formerly to be found on the shores of the Syrtes,3412 though now it is found on the coasts of Lucania as well: it is of a honey colour, with a reflected tint of saffron, and contains stars of a feeble lustre within. Syringitis3413 is hollow throughout, like the space between the two joints in a straw.