Abstract
YOUR correspondent, Rev. C. J. Robinson, drew attention in your columns (NATURE, Sept. 29) to the question whether these troublesome insects were known to the Ancient Greeks and Romans; he says, “there is a good deal to lead one to suppose that the μνλακρíς mentioned by Aristotle, and the Blatta pistrinorum of Latin writers was the same as our loathsome pest.” I think Mr. Robinson is mistaken in supposing that the μνλακρíς is mentioned by Aristotle, at least I can find no mention made of this insect in the writings of the Stagirite. The word μνλακρíς, meaning some kind of insect, occurs in the fragments of Aristophanes preserved by Pollux, who amongst other meanings of the term gives the following one:—ζννμλνμν and then quotes this couplet from Aristophanes,
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HOUGHTON, W. Were Cockroaches known to the Ancient Greeks and Romans?. Nature 3, 27 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/003027b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/003027b0
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