Armenian stone, in natural history, a mineral substance, which is but improperly called a stone; being no other than an ochreous earth, and properly called blue ochre. It is a very valuable substance in painting, being a bright and lively blue. It was in so high esteem as a paint among the ancients, that counterfeits were continually attempted to serve in its place. Theophrastus has recorded it as a thing judged worthy a place in the Egyptian annals, which of their kings had the honour of inventing the fictitious kind; and he tells us the genuine native substance was a thing of that value, that presents were made of it to great persons, and that the Phoenicians paid their tribute in it.—It is a very beautiful earth, of an even and regular texture; and of a fine blue, sometimes deeper, sometimes paler, and frequently mixed with green. It is soft, tender, and light; of an even, but somewhat dusty, surface; it adheres firmly to the tongue, and is dry, but not harsh to the touch. It easily breaks between the fingers, and does not stain the hands. It is of a briskish disagreeable taste, and does not ferment with acids. It is a very scarce fossil; but is found very pure, though in but small quantities, in the mines at Goffeler in Saxony. It is frequently found spotted with green, and sometimes with black; and very often is mixed among the green ochre, called berggruen by the Germans, which has thence been erroneously called by its name. See further the article BICR.

AMERIS, a town of Hainault, in the French Netherlands, seated on the river Sambre. E. Lon. 3. 45. N. Lat. 50. 15.