Naturalis historia 37.128

37.128

— Fiunt et leucochrysi interveniente candida vena. sunt et in hoc genere capniae. sunt et vitreis similes, velut croco fulgentes; vitro adulterantur, ut visu discerni non possint; tactus deprendit, tepidior in vitreis. In eodem genere sunt melichrysi veluti per aurum sincero melle tralucente. has India fert, quamquam in duritia fragiles, non ingratas. eadem et xuthon parit, plebeiam sibi gemmam.

CHAP. 44.—LEUCOCHRYSOS: FOUR VARIETIES OF IT. There is also a stone known as "leucochrysos," with a white vein running across it. To this class, too, belongs capnias; a stone also which resembles glass in appearance; and another which reflects a tint like that of saffron. These stones are imitated in glass, to such a degree of perfection, that it is impossible to distinguish them by the eye. The touch, however, detects the difference, the imitation being not so cold as the real stone.

CHAP. 45.—MELICHRYSOS. XUTHON. To this class also belongs melichrysos, a stone which has all the appearance of pure honey, seen through transparent gold. India produces these stones, and, although hard, they are very brittle, but not unpleasing to the sight. The same country, too, produces xuthon, a stone much used by the lower classes there.