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2S8 1>ITCHST0N£ I'AMlLY 1 . Asia.—Ternate, and the other Molucca Islands. America.—In Mexico. Uses. Common pumice is used for polishing glass, soft stones* and metals; also by parchment-makers, curriers, and hat-makers; and hence it forms a considerable article of trade, and is exported from the Lipari Islands in great quantities to the different countries of Europe. It forms a pernicious ingredient in some teeth powders : sailors in the Mediterranean use it for shaving; and in the East it is an indispensable article in every bath, for the purpose of removing hairs from the body. On account of its po rosity, it is used in Tencriff as a filtering-stone. In Italy it is ground down, and used in place of sand in the mak ing of mortar. Observation. It is distinguished from Glassy Pumice by its lighter colours, the nature of its lustre, its more perfect fibrous fracture, its lower translucency, and inferior hardness. Third Subspecies. Porphyritic Pumice. Porphyrartiger Himstein, Werner <§• Karsten. External Characters. Its colours are greyish-white, and light ash-grey, an ^ very seldom pale blackish-brown. It occurs massive, in mountain masses; and internally it i3 minutely porous. The
