ETYMOLOaY, 
5 
been introduced from, the Greeks a and unbegotten, 
in reference to the parthenogenesis of the Aphides But 
the plural Aphides could not arise until had been 
corrupted into and then it followed the analogy 
of afc^tq aKpidoq^ &c/^ 
A friend remarks that a(^vg should make the sub- 
stantive afva^ which word already exists as a genus in 
the system of some ichthyologists. He further suggests 
a(j)i] (aTTTOjLiai), pointing to the close contact or crowd- 
ing of the insects on the leaves or stems of plants. 
Etymologically we have an exact analogy in - (pacptj^) 
pafiq — ~i^oq from joairrcti. * 
The loss of the breathing in airropa^ perhaps, is not 
a serious objection. 
Another friend points out the word A^t/w, e^haurioj 
from afvaah), haurio, in reference to the suctorial habit 
of the family. 
Yet again another solution has been offered, but 
some may think it rather remote, viz. a and tpei^opai. 
The classical adjective is known, and to it 
may be given the sense “ unsparing,” which might 
refer to the voracity of some species. 
But if here we account for the d, we introduce the 
difficulty attending the shortening of the long syllable, 
in mitigation of which, however, we have ir'iOavogy 
froniTTstOw, and in Latin we leaye fides from f Ido, &c. 
With these remarks I must leave the derivation and 
meaning of the word Aphis to such adept philologists 
as may care to rescue it from its seeming barbarism. 
It may here be mentioned, that the phtheir {fdup, 
pediculus) of the ancient Greeks has been identified by 
Plan chon with Dactylopius longispinus, Jarg, which is 
a true coccus or bark-louse, and is still to be met with 
in the Crimea.* 
* See C. Y. Riley on ‘Noxious and Beneficial Insects in tlie State of 
Missouri; 1872. 
