ng lustre, which seems to undulate between a green-yellow and a
luminous blue, with a phosphorescent glow, or fire, something like that
seen in the eyes of a cat in the dark, or the steady, burning glow
observed when the cat is fascinating a bird--hence its name. This is not
the same variety as the "asteriated," or "cat's eye" or "lynx eye"
mentioned above.

CHAPTER XIV.

VARIOUS PRECIOUS STONES--_continued._

_The Chrysoberyl._

There are certain stones and other minerals which, owing to their
possession of numerous microscopically fine cavities, of a globular or
tubular shape, have the appearance of "rays" or "stars," and these are
called "asteriated." Several of such stones have been discussed already
in the last chapter, and in addition to these star-like rays, some of
the stones have, running through their substance, one or more streaks,
perhaps of asbestos or calcite, some being perfectly clear, whilst
others are opalescent. When these streaks pass across the star-like
radiations they give the stone the appearance of an eye, the rays
forming the iris, the clear, opalescent, or black streak closely
resembling the slit in a cat's eye, and when these stones are cut _en
cabochon_, that is, dome-shaped (see Chapter XI. on "Cutting"), there is
nothing to deflect the light beams back and forth from facet to facet,
as in a diamond, so that the light, acting directly on these radiations
or masses of globular cavities and on the streak, causes the former to
glow like living fire, and the streak appears to vibrate, palpitate,
expand, and contract, exactly like the slit in the eye of a cat.

There are a considerable number of superstitions in connection with
these cat's-eye stones, many people regarding them as mascots, or with
disfavour, according to their colour. When possessing the favourite hue
or "fire" of the wearer, such as the fire of the opal for those born in
October, of the ruby for those born in July, etc., these stones are
considered to bring nothing but good luck; to ward off accident, danger,
and sudden death; to be a charm against being bitten by animals, and to
be a protection from poison, the "evil eye," etc. They figured largely,
along with other valuable jewels, in the worship of the ancient
Egyptians, and have been found in some of the tombs in Egypt. They also
appeared on the "systrum," which was a sacred instrument used by the
ancient Egyptians in the performance of their religious rites,