Aristotle speaks of the Julios in his History of Animals[1]; but all the information which he gives us is, that it is an insect without wings, like the Scolopendra.
Speaking of animals in general, Aristotle distinguishes those which have only four feet from those with a larger number[2], and among the latter he names the Scolopendra and the Bee. It is evident that Aristotle names these two examples as being the extreme limits of the class; one animal having but six feet, only two more than the animals of his first division, or quadrupeds, and the other having a much larger number: one of Aristotle's commentators however, forming his judgement in a similar manner to the lexicographers, makes a Wasp of the Scolopendra. An insect without wings a Wasp!
Aristotle mentions the marine Scolopendra[3], a different animal, that lives in the sea; he describes it, and says that it is similar to the terrestrial Scolopendra, but of a deeper red colour; that it has a larger number of feet, and those more slender. He remarks upon the terrestrial Scolopendra[4], that if it be divided into several parts, each part has a progressive movement.
Pliny[5], translating this passage of Aristotle upon the marine Scolopendra, says that it resembles an insect of the earth named Centipede; and in another part of his work he thus defines the Centipede[6]: "The Millipede, which is also named Centipede and Multipede, is a kind of worm of the earth, which crawls upon all its feet, describing an arch, and coils itself up on the slightest touch. The Greeks call it Oniscos, and some of them Tylos." Further on he says again: "The species of Scolopendra which moves without sinuosities, and is named by the Greeks Seps, and by others Scolopendra, is more venomous."
"Millipeda, ab aliis centipeda aut multipeda dicta, animal e vermibus terræ pilosum, multis pedibus arcuatim repens, tactuque contrahens se: Oniscon Græci vocant, alii Tylon…… Ilam (centipedem) autem quæ non arcuatur Sepa Græci vocant, alii Scolopendram minorem perniciosamque.''
I may here remark, that in this passage Pliny[7] confounds the Julios with another species of Millipede, to which Aristotle gives the name of the polypodous Ass, [Asellus,] ονος ό πολνπος; and Pliny afterwards appears to give the names of Seps and Scolopendra to the Oniscos,
- ↑ Arist., Hist. Anim., book iv. chap. 1; vol. i. p. 129 of the Greek text, and vol. ii. p. 126 of the Latin translation, Schneider's edition; vol. i. p. 171 of the translation of Le Camus.
- ↑ Arist., book i. chap. 5. vol, ii. p. 16 of Le Camus's translation.
- ↑ Arist., book ii. chap. 4.
- ↑ Ibid., book iv. chap. 7.
- ↑ Pliny, Hist Nat., book ix. chap. 43.
- ↑ Ibid., book xxix. chap. 6. vol. x. p. 128.
- ↑ Pliny, Hist. Nat., book xxix. chap. 39. vol. viii.p. 273. Arist., Hist Anim., vol. v. chap. 25. (vulgò 31); Scaliger, 126. vol. ii. p. 221. Schneider's edition.
