COMMENTARY. Nicander says, that the scolopendra has two heads, and walks in both directions upon its many feet. Avicenna admits that he was wholly unacquainted with it. See in particular Ælian (H. A. iv, 22; and vii, 35.) Our author and Actuarius copy almost every word from Dioscorides. See also Aëtius (xiii, 15); Nonnus (272); Alsaharavius (Pract. xxx, 2, 23); Avicenna (iv, vi, 3.) Avicenna calls them, _saculufudurni_; and Alsaharavius, _alhatrabay_. Alsaharavius approves of wine with birthwort, rue, mint, &c., internally; and of salt, with honey, vinegar, &c., externally. The Pseudo-Dioscorides recommends salt with vernix, pitch, and honey. (Euporist. ii, 121.) We need have no hesitation in deciding with Sprengel and the other authorities on this subject, that the land scolopendra is the _scolopendra morsitans_, and the sea, the _aphrodite oculeata, L._ SECT. X.—ON THE STELLIO OR SPOTTED LIZARD. Those bitten by the spotted lizard experience intense pain and lividity of the part, but are relieved by the immediate application of cataplasms consisting of onions and garlic to the wound; and some by eating these things and drinking undiluted wine have been cured. * * * * * COMMENTARY. That the galeotes and ascalabotes are but different names for the same animal is evident from Aristophanes (Nubes, 170, et seq.); and from the Scholiast’s note on Nicander (Ther. 484.) Pliny says of the stellio: “Hunc Græci coloten vocant et ascalaboten.” (H. N. xxix, 28.) On the stellio, see further Bochart (Hieroz. ii, 510); Harris (Nat. Hist. of the Bible, in the word spider); and Dr. Martyn on Virgil (Georg. iv, 244.) All agree that it was a kind of lizard. In short it is the _lacerta stellio, L._ A learned modern authority says it is venomous in Greece, but innocuous in Sicily. He describes it as resembling the lizard in shape, and the chamæleon in nature. (Agricola de Anim. Subterran.) Dioscorides does not treat of the stellio. Aëtius recommends very nearly the same treatment as our author. (xiii, 12.) Avicenna and Rhases direct us to get the wound sucked, to put the patient into a warm bath and administer the theriac. The harbæ of Avicenna is probably only a species of the stellio. Alsahaya and alvesghe of Alsaharavius seem to have been two species of stellio. (Pract. xxx, 2, 27.) He approves of the same treatment as that recommended by Avicenna and Rhases. SECT. XI.—ON THE MUS ARANEUS OR SHREW-MOUSE.