CHAP. 52.—THE PLANTS OF THE TROGLODYTIC SEA; THE HAIR OF ISIS: THE CHARITO-BLEPHARON.

Juba relates, that about the islands of the Troglodytæ there is a certain shrub found out at sea, which is known as the “hair of Isis:”1032 he says that it bears a strong resemblance to coral, is destitute of leaves, and if cut will change its colour, becoming quite black and hard, and so brittle as to break if it falls. He speaks also of another marine plant, to which he gives the name of “Charito-blepharon,”1033 and which, he says, is particularly efficacious in love-charms.1034 Bracelets1035 and necklaces are made of it. He says also that it is sensible1036 when it is about to be taken, and that it turns as hard as horn, so hard, indeed, as to blunt the edge of iron. If, on the other hand, it is cut before it is sensible of the danger, it is immediately transformed to stone.

Summary.—Remarkable facts, narratives, and observations, four hundred and sixty-eight.

Roman authors quoted.—M. Varro,1037 Mucianus,1038 Virgil,1039 Fabianus,1040 Sebosus,1041 Pomponius Mela,1042 Fabius,1043 Procilius,1044 Hyginus,1045 Trogus,1046 Claudius Cæsar,1047 Cornelius Nepos,1048 Sextius Niger1049 who wrote in Greek on Medicine, Cassius Hemina,1050 L. Piso,1051 Tuditanus,1052 Antias.1053

Foreign authors quoted.—Theophrastus,1054 Herodotus,1055 Callisthenes,1056 Isigonus,1057 Clitarchus,1058 Anaximenes,1059 Duris,1060 Nearchus,1061 Onesicritus,1062 Polycritus,1063 Olympiodorus,1064 Diognetus,1065 Cleobulus,1066 Anticlides,1067 Chares1068 of Mitylene, Menæchmus,1069 Dorotheus1070 of Athens, Lycus,1071 Antæus,1072 Ephippus,1073 Dion,1074 Adimantus,1075 Ptolemy Lagus,1076 Marsyas1077 of Macedon, Zoilus1078 of Macedon, Democritus,1079 Amphilochus,1080 Alexander Polyhistor,1081 Aristomachus,1082 King Juba,1083 Apollodorus1084 who wrote on Perfumes, Heraclides1085 the physician, Botrys1086 the physician, Archidemus1087 the physician, Dionysius1088 the physician, Democlides1089 the physician, Euphron1090 the physician, Mnesides1091 the physician, Diagoras1092 the physician, Iollas1093 the physician, Heraclides1094 of Tarentum, Xenocrates1095 of Ephesus.