Chapter Sun to Superstitions of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

It contains in it an image of the moon, representing its increase and decrease every month.—Andreas Baccius.

(12) Onyx contains in it an imprisoned devil, which wakes at sunset and causes terror to the wearer, disturbing sleep with ugly dreams.—R. B.

Cupid, with the sharp point of his arrows, cut the nails of Venus during sleep, and the parings, falling into the Indus, sank to the bottom and turned into onyxes.—S., 212.

In the Zodiac it stands for Aquarius; some say it is the emblem of August and conjugal love; in Christian art it symbolizes sincerity.

(13) Opal is fatal to love, and sows discord between the giver and receiver.—R. B.

Given as an engagement token, it is sure to bring ill luck.

The opal is an emblem of hope, and is dedicated to October.

(14) Ruby. The Burmese believe that rubies ripen like fruit. They say a ruby in its crude state is colourless, and, as it matures, changes first to yellow, then to green, then to blue, and lastly to a brilliant red, its highest state of perfection and ripeness.—S., 142.

The ruby signifies Aries in the Zodiacal signs; but some give it to December, and make it the emblem of brilliant success.

(15) Sapphire produces somnambulism, and impels the wearer to all good works.—R. B.

In the Zodiac it signifies Leo, and in Christian art is dedicated to St. Andrew, emblematic of his heavenly faith and good hope. Some give this gem to April.

(16) Topaz is favourable to hæmorrhages, imparts strength, and promotes digestion.—R. B.

Les anciens regardaient ia topaze comme utile contre Pépilepsie et la mélancolie.—Bouillet: Dictionnaire Universel des Sciences, etc. (1855).

The topaz is an emblem of fidelity, and is dedicated to November. In the Zodiac it signifies Taurus, and in Christian art is given to St. James the Less.

(17) Turquoise, given by loving hands, carries with it happiness and good fortune. Its colour always pales when the well-being of the giver is in peril—S., 170.

The turquoise is the emblem of prosperity, and is dedicated to December. It is the Saturnian stone, and stands for lead in metallurgy.

N.B.—A bouquet composed of diamonds, loadstones, and sapphires combined, renders a person almost invincible and wholly irresistible.—R. B.

All precious stones are purified by honey.

All kinds of precious stones cast into honey become more brilliant thereby, each according to its colour, and all persons become more acceptable when they join devotion to their graces. Household cares are sweetened thereby, love is more loving, and business becomes more pleasant.—S. F. de Salis: The Devout Life, iii. 13 (1708).

N.B.—To exhaust the subject of superstitions, even restricted to animals and precious stones, would require more pages than can be spared in this book.