dried toads. Generally, however, amulets consist of stones, herbs,
or passages from Sacred Writings written on paper. This latter class
are sometimes called "characts," as an example of which may be
mentioned the Jewish phylacteries.

Every precious stone was supposed to exercise its own peculiar virtue;
for instance, amber was regarded as a good remedy for throat troubles,
and agate was thought to preserve from snake-bites. ELIHU RICH[1]
gives a very full list of stones and their supposed virtues.
Each sign of the zodiac was supposed to have its own particular stone[2]
(as shown in the annexed table), and hence the superstitious though
not inartistic custom of wearing one's birth-

. Month (com-
Astrological mencing 21st
Sign of the Zodiac. of preceding
Symbol. month). Stone.


Aries, the Ram . {} April Sardonyx.
Taurus the Bull . {} May Cornelian.
Gemini the Twins . {} June Topaz.
Cancer, the Crab . {} July Chalcedony.
Leo, the Lion . . {} August Jasper.
Virgo, the Virgin . {} September Emerald.
Libra, the Balance . {} October Beryl.
Scorpio, the Scorpion {} November Amethyst.
Sagittarius, the Archer {} December Hyacinth (=Sapphire).
Capricorn, the Goat . {} January Chrysoprase.
Aquarius, the Water- {} February Crystal.