140 BARON WALKENAER ON THE 



found in damp situations; and finally, that Suidas alone has 

 said that this insect is injurious to the vine. 



• 13. Biurus. 



We now come to the names of insects injurious to the vine 

 in use among the Romans, and the first is a word that, by its 

 etymology, would appear to be derived from the Greek. 



The name biurus, used by Cicero for an insect injurious to 

 the vine, is only known to us by a passage of the naturalist 

 Pliny. That ancient writer, speaking of divers medical pre- 

 scriptions, and some singularities relating to the natural history 

 of animals, ends a chapter with these words : — " Marcus 

 Cicero says, there are insects called biuri, which eat the vines 

 in Campania:" " M. Cicero tradit animalia biuros vocari qui 

 vites in Campania erodant." 



It has been well remarked, that this word is derived from 

 the Greek oura, and appears to be synonymous with bicaudes, 

 an insect with two tails. 



It is necessary to pay attention to this etymology, which 

 furnishes us with the only particular which can enable us to 

 recognise this insect. The most ancient manuscripts read 

 biuros, and we must therefore reject the reading, byturos, 

 which certain of Pliny's editors have adopted, whilst they have 

 neglected the true reading. Modern naturalists have applied 

 the word byturos to a genus of Dermestidas. 



14. Involvolus, Involvulus, or Involvus 



The words we have now to examine are purely Latin ; they 

 have, indeed, if I may be allowed the expression, a family 

 likeness, and appear to be derived from each other. 



We will begin with the word used by the oldest author, the 

 same which occasioned these Researches. 



Involvolus, or involvulus, occurs in Plautus. In the Cistil- 

 laire, Act I. Scene ii. ver. 455 — 458, a slave, Lampadisca, 

 addressing her mistress, says of another slave, who is also 

 one of the dramatis persona, that she is like a dangerous 

 animal : — 



" Imitatur, nequam bestiam, et damnificam." 



