The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

270 XII.viii.7–viii.17 Isidore of Seville
(cicindela)isakind of scarab, named because it gives off
light when it walks or flies (cf. candela,“candle”).
7. Moths (blatta) arenamedfrom their color, since
indeed they stain one’s hand when they are caught,
whence people also name a color ‘purple’ (blatteum).
This animal cannot bear to see light, in contrast to the fly,
for the fly is light-seeking and the moth is light-fleeing,
and it only goes about at night. 8. Butterflies (papilio)
are small flying creatures that are very abundant when
mallows bloom, and they cause small worms to be generated
from their own dung. 9. Locusts (locusta, also
meaning “lobster” or “crawfish”) are so called because
their legs are ‘long, like spears’ (longis . . . asta,i.e. hasta,
“spear”). Whence the Greeks call the sea as well as the
land creature (i.e. “lobster”). Cicadas (cicas,i.e.
cicada)are born from the saliva of the cuckoo (ciculus).
In the Reggio region of Italy these creatures are mute,
but nowhere else.
11. Thewordforfly(musca) comes from Greek, as
does ‘mouse’ (mus). These animals, just like bees, when
drowned in water, sometimes revive after an hour has
elapsed. 12. Thecynomya is named with a Greek word,
that is, a ‘dog-fly,’ for is Greek for ‘dog.’ 13.Thegnat
(culex) isnamed from ‘sting’ (aculeus) because it sucks
blood, for it has a tube in its mouth, like a needle, with
which it pierces the flesh so that it may drink the blood. 31
14. Sciniphes are very tiny flies, very troublesome with
their stinging. The proud populace of Egypt was struck
down by these flies in the third plague (see Exodus 8:16–
18). 15.The horse-fly is associated with cattle, and is very
troublesome with its stinging. The name for the horsefly
(oestrus)isaGreekword;inLatinitiscalledtheasilus,
and is commonly known as the tabanus.
16. Bibiones (i.e. drosophilae) are creatures that are
generated in wine; they are commonly called mustiones
from wine-must (mustum). Whence Afranius (fr. 407)
says:
When you look towards me and begin to tell stories,
bibiones fly from your mouth into your eyes. 32
17. Theweevil (gurgulio, lit. “gullet”) is so named
because it is almost nothing except a throat (guttur).
31 Isidore seems to take culex to mean “mosquito,” and sciniphes
may mean “gnat” or “mosquito.”
32 Afranius means that you tell lies when drunk.