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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 "air of Isis:"1 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,"2 and which, he says, is particularly efficacious in love-charms.3 Bracelets4 and necklaces are made of it. He says also that it is sensible5 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,6 Mucianus,7 Virgil,8 Fabianus,9 Sebosus,10 Pomponius Mela,11 Fabius,12 Procilius,13 Hyginus,14 Trogus,15 Claudius Cæsar,16 Cornelius Nepos,17 Sextius Niger18 who wrote in Greek on Medicine, Cassius Hemina,19 L. Piso,20 Tuditanus,21 Antias.22

FOREIGN AUTHORS QUOTED.—Theophrastus,23 Herodotus,24 Callisthenes,25 Isigonus,26 Clitarchus,27 Anaximenes,28 Duris,29 Nearchus,30 Onesicritus,31 Polycritus,32 Olympiodorus,33 Diognetus,34 Cleobulus,35 Anticlides,36 Chares37 of Mitylene, Menæchmus,38 Dorotheus39 of Athens, Lycus,40 Antæus,41 Ephip- pus,42 Dion,43 Adimantus,44 Ptolemy Lagus,45 Marsyas46 of Macedon, Zoilus47 of Macedon, Democritus,48 Amphilochus,49 Alexander Polyhistor,50 Aristomachus,51 King Juba,52 Apollodorus53 who wrote on Perfumes, Heraclides54 the physician, Botrys55 the physician, Archidemus56 the physician, Dionysius57 the physician, Democlides58 the physician, Euphron59 the physician, Mnesides60 the physician, Diagoras61 the physician, Iollas62 the physician, Heraclides63 of Tarentum, Xenocrates64 of Ephesus.

1 "Isidis crinem." Fée says that this is evidently black coral, the Gorgonia antipathes of Linnæus.

2 "The eyelid of the Graces." Fée is almost tempted to think that he means red coral.

3 Amatoriis.

4 Spatalia. Armlets or bracelets.

5 By this apparently fabulous story, one would be almost inclined to think that he is speaking of a zoophyte.

6 See end of B. ii.

7 See end of B. ii.

8 See end of B vii.

9 Papirius Fabianus. See end of B. ii.

10 See end of B. ii.

11 See end of B. iii.

12 Fabius Pictor. See end of B. x.

13 See end of B. viii.

14 See end of B. iii.

15 Trogus Pompeius. See end of B. vii.

16 See end of B. v.

17 See end of B. ii.

18 See end of B. xii.

19 See end of B. xii.

20 See end of B. ii.

21 See end of B. xii.

22 See end of B. ii.

23 See end of B. iii.

24 See end of B. ii.

25 See end of B. xii.

26 See end of B. vii.

27 See end of B. vi.

28 See end of B. xii.

29 See end of B. vii.

30 See end of B. vi.

31 See end of B. ii.

32 See end of B. xii.

33 See end of B. xii.

34 See end of B. vi.

35 See end of B. iv.

36 See end of B. iv.

37 See end of B. xii.

38 See end of B. iv.

39 See end of B. viii.

40 See end of B. xii.

41 See end of B. xii.

42 See end of B. xii.

43 See end of B. viii.

44 Nothing certain is known of him; but he appears to be the geographer, a native of Lampsacus, mentioned by Strabo in B. xiii.

45 See end of B. xii.

46 See end of B. xii.

47 See end of B. xii.

48 See end of B. ii.

49 See end of B. viii.

50 See end of B. iii.

51 A writer on Agriculture, or domestic economy; but nothing further is known of him.

52 See end of B. v.

53 Perhaps the same writer that is mentioned at the end of B. xi.

54 For two physicians of this name, see end of B. xii.

55 One of his prescriptions is preserved in the works of Galen. Nothing else is known of him.

56 See end of B. xii.

57 See end of B. xii.

58 See end of B. xii.

59 See end of B. xii.

60 See end of B. xii.

61 See end of B. xii.

62 See end of B. xii.

63 See end of B. xii.

64 See end of B. xii.

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