The tourmaline is remarkable also for the variety of its colours, indicated by various and not always appropriate names. SCHORL, the black variety spoken of by Ruskin, was so called according to De Costa (1761) by the German miners. The same writer says “our English miners call them ‘bockle’ and ‘ball’.” The name appears as shirl, schirl (so spelt by De Costa), schoerl, shorl. In the 16th century it was known in Germany as SCHRUL, but later in the 18th century it appears as SCHORL. The name is now becoming unpopular, the simple term Black Tourmaline being preferred. The colourless variety is termed ACHROITE, from a Greek word meaning colourless; pink and rosy red are termed RUBELLITE; indigo blue, INDICOLITE; blue, BRAZILIAN SAPPHIRE; green, BRAZILIAN EMERALD; yellow-green, BRAZILIAN PERIDOT; honey-yellow, CEYLON PERIDOT; red violet, SIBERITE. The brown variety is usually known as Brown Tourmaline, although it has been known and still is known as Brazilian Topaz or Ceylonese Topaz. It is not so hard as the topaz, however, ranging in the scale somewhere between quartz and zircon. The refractive powers are likewise not in agreement, and in Methylene Dioxide the topaz (stone of Mars) sinks, whilst the Tourmaline (stone of Mercury) floats. There are also amber-coloured, cinnamon, lilac, grey, blue-grey, water-green and many beautiful parti-coloured specimens. It is believed by some students that this gem was known to the ancients by the name LYNCURIUM, which Mr. King believes to be a species of jacinth, Dr. Brotero an orange-coloured hyacinth. Professor Ajasson, believing the name to refer to Tourmaline, suggests that LYN may be derived from the Sanscrit word LANKA, the name of Ceylon, a place where the stone is plentifully found. The general opinion now is that the stone described by Pliny under the name of LYCHNIS is our tourmaline. Pliny writes in his 37th Book on Natural History of the power of the LYCHNIS of drawing straws and fluff towards it when heated by the sun or by the friction of the hand. The peculiar attractive and repulsive properties of the tourmaline may be compared with the mysteries contained in the caduceus of the wise and ever-restless Hermes. The symbolical snakes which adorn the rod represent knowledge received and knowledge imparted in the hermetic scheme of the Rosicrucians. The tourmaline is symbolical of wisdom, strength of mind, eloquence, learning and the power of knowledge. It is the stone for the author, poet, editor, and teacher. To dream of it means—in harmony with ancient philosophy—success through knowledge in all walks of life. The tourmaline in all colours is under the zodiacal Gemini. TURQUOISE “_The fair Queen of France Sent him a turquoise ring and glove, And charged him as her knight and love For her to break a lance._” SIR WALTER SCOTT.