in natural history, called also coticula, lapis heraclius, and lapis lydius, a kind of marble, of a very fine texture, of a deep glossy black, resembling that of polished steel, and mixed with no other colour, nor any extraneous matter. The most remarkable quality of this marble is its figure, being never found in strata, like other marbles, but always standing up in the form of regular angular columns, composed of a number of joints, one placed on and nicely fitted to another, as if formed by the hands of a skilful workman. It is remarkably hard and heavy, will not strike fire with steel, and is a fine touch-stone. See Plate LI. fig. 20. The basalt was originally found in columns in Ethiopia, in fragments in the river Tmolus, and some other places; we now have it frequently, both in columns and small pieces, in Spain, Russia, Poland, near Dresden, and in Silesia; but the noblest store in the world seems to be that called the Giant's causeway, in Ireland, where it rises far up in the country, runs into the sea, crosses its bottom, and rises again on the opposite land.