DIOCESE is also used in ancient authors for the province of a metropolitan. Diocesis meant, originally, a civil government, composed of divers provinces. The first division of the empire into dioceses is ordinarily ascribed to Constantine, who distributed the whole Roman state into four: viz. those of Italy, Illyria, the east, and Africa. And yet, long before Constantine, Strabo, who wrote under Tiberius, takes notice (lib. xiii. p. 432) that the Romans had divided Asia into dioceses; and complains of the confusion such a division occasioned in geography, Asia being no longer divided by people, but by dioceses, each of which had a tribunal or court, where justice was administered. Constantine, then, was only the institutor of those large dioceses which comprehended several metropoles and governments; the former dioceses only comprehending one jurisdiction, or the country under one judge, as appears from this passage in Strabo, as well as from Cicero himself; lib. iii. epist. ad famil. 9. and lib. xiii. ep. 67. Thus, at first, a province included diverse dioceses; and afterwards a diocese came to comprise divers provinces. In after times the Roman empire became divided into thirteen dioceses or prefectures; though, including Rome and the suburbs, there were fourteen. These fourteen dioceses comprehended 120 provinces; each province had a proconsul, who resided in the capital; and each diocese of the empire had a consul, who resided in the principal city of the district. On this civil constitution the ecclesiastical one was afterwards regulated: each diocese had an ecclesiastical vicar or primate, whose judgment determined all the concerns of the church within his territory. At present diocese is confined to a single province, under a metropolitan, or more commonly to the single jurisdiction of a bishop. Brito affirms diocese to be properly the territory and extent of a baptismal or parochial church; whence the word is used by divers authors to signify a simple parish.

DIOCLEIA, ALOKλeta, in antiquity, a solemnity kept in the spring, at Megara, in memory of the Athenian hero, who died in the defence of the youth he loved.

DIOCLESIANUS (Caius Valerius Jovius), a celebrated Roman emperor, born of an obscure family in Dalmatia, in 245. He was first a common soldier, and by merit and success he gradually rose to the office of a general; and at the death of Numerian, in 284, was invested with imperial power. In this high station he rewarded the fidelity of Maximian, who had shared with him all the subordinate offices in the army, by making him his colleague on the throne. He created two subordinate emperors, Constantius and Galerius, by the title of Cæsars, whilst he claimed for himself and his colleague the superior title of Augustus. Dioclesian has been celebrated for his military virtues; and though he was not polished by education, was, nevertheless, a patron of learning. He was bold, resolute, and active; but his cruelty to the Christians has been deservedly branded with infamy. After he had reigned twenty-two years in the greatest prosperity, he publicly abdicated the crown at Nicomedia, in 305, and retired to a private station at Salona. Maximian, his colleague, was compelled to follow his example; and when he, some time after, endeavoured to rouse the ambition of Dioclesian and persuade him to re-assume the imperial purple, he received for answer, that Dioclesian took now more delight in cultivating his little garden, than he formerly enjoyed in a palace, when his power was extended over all the earth. He lived nine years after his abdication in the greatest security and enjoyment at Salona, and died in 314, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His persecution of the Christians forms a chronological era, called the era of Dioclesian, or of the Martyrs. It was long used in theological writings, and is still followed by the Copts and Abyssinians. It commenced August 29th, A. D. 284.

DIOCTAHEDRIA, in natural history, a genus of pellucid and crystalliform spars, composed of two octangular pyramids, joined base to base, without any intermediate column. Of these some have long pyramids, others short and sharp-pointed ones, and others short and obtuse pointed ones; the two former species being found in the Hartz, and the last in the mines of Cornwall.

DIODATI (John), a Protestant divine, and professor of theology at Geneva, who was born at Lucca in 1579, and died at Geneva in 1652. He is distinguished by his translations 1. Of the Bible into Italian, with notes, Geneva, 1607, 4to. This work is, however, rather a paraphrase than a translation, and the notes, divine meditations more than critical reflections. 2. Of the Bible into French, Geneva, 1644; and 3. Of Father Paul's History of the Council of Trent into French.

DIODIA, in botany, a genus of the monogynia order, and tetrandria class of plants; natural order, forty-seventh, stellata: COR. monopetalous and funnel-shaped: CAPS. bilocular and disper mous. Species six, natives of the West Indies and of Mexico.

DIODON, the sun-fish, in ichthyology, a genus belonging to the order of branchiostega. There are three species: viz.

1. D. trystrix, or the globe-fish, common to

Europe and South Carolina. The form of the body is usually oblong; but when alarmed it has the power of inflating the belly to a globular shape of great size. This seems designed as a means of defence against fish of prey, as they have less means of laying hold of it, and are besides terrified by the numerous spines with which that part is armed, and which the animal can erect on every part. The mouth is small; the irides white, tinged with red; the back, from head to tail, almost straight, or at least very slightly elevated, of a rich deep blue color. It has the pectoral, but wants the ventral fins: the tail is almost even, divided by an angular projection in the middle; tail and fins brown. The belly and sides are white, shagreened, or wrinkled, and beset with innumerable small sharp spines, adhering to the skin by four processes.

2. D. mola, or the short sun-fish, differs from the oblong, in being much shorter and deeper. The back and the anal fins are higher, and the aperture to the gills not semilunar, but oval. The situation of the fins is the same in both. Both kinds are taken on the western coasts of this kingdom, but in much greater numbers in the warmer parts of Europe.

3. D. oblongus, the oblong sun-fish, grows to a great bulk: one examined by Sylvianus was above 100 pounds in weight; and Dr. Borlase mentions another taken at Plymouth in 1734, that weighed 500. In form it resembles a bream, or some deep fish cut in the middle. The mouth is very small, and contains in each jaw two broad teeth, with sharp edges. The eyes are small; before each is a small semilunar aperture; the pectoral fins are very small, and placed behind them. The color of the back is dusky, and dappled; the belly silvery; between the eyes and the pectoral fins are certain streaks, pointing downwards. The skin is free from scales. When boiled, it has been observed to turn into a glutinous jelly, resembling boiled starch when cold, and served the purposes of glue on being tried on paper and leather. The meat of this fish is uncommonly rank it feeds on shell-fish. The sun-fish of the Irish, the squalus of Gmelin, differs in all respects from this.

DIODORUS, surnamed Siculus, an ancient historian, born at Argyra, in Sicily. He wrote a history of Egypt, Persia, Syria, Media, Greece, Rome, and Carthage; and it is said that he visited all the places mentioned in his history, which was the labor of thirty years. He is, however, too credulous in some of his narratives; and often dwells too long upon fabulous reports and trifling incidents; while events of the greatest importance to history are treated with brevity, and sometimes passed over in silence. He lived in the age of Cæsar and Augustus, and spent much time at Rome to procure information, and authenticate his history. This important work, which he composed in Greek, contained forty books of which there are only fifteen remaining. The best editions are that of Amsterdam, 1745, in 2 vols. folio, and Heyne, 10 vols. 8vo. 1793. DICCIA, the twenty-second class in LinDæus's sexual system, consisting of plants which, having no hermaphrodite flowers, produce male

and female flowers on separate roots. These last only ripen the seeds; but require for that purpose the vicinity of a male plant; for the aspersion or sprinkling of the male dust. From the seeds of the female flowers, thus impregnated, are raised both male and female plants. The plants in the class diaecia are therefore all either male or female, on separate roots; not hermaphrodite, as in the greater number of classes; nor with male and female flowers upon one root, as in the class monœcia. See BOTANY.

DIOGENES of Apollonia, in the island of Crete, held a considerable rank among the philosophers who taught in Ionia before Socrates appeared at Athens. He was the scholar and successor of Anaximenes, and in some measure rectified his master's opinion concerning air being the cause of all things. It is said that he was the first who observed that air was capable of condensation and rarefaction. He taught with great reputation at Athens; but was at length banished for the freedom of his opinions. He died about A. A. C. 450.

and

DIOGENES the Cynic, an ancient philosopher, the son of a banker of Sinope. Being banished with his father for coining money, he retired to Athens, where he studied philosophy under Antisthenes. Here he added new degrees of austerity to the sect of the Cynics, and never did any philosopher carry contempt for the conveniences of life so far. He lodged in a tub; and had no other property beside his staff, wallet, and wooden bowl, which last he threw away, on seeing a boy drink out of the hollow of his hand. He used to call himself a vagabond, who had neither house nor country; was obliged to beg was ill clothed, and lived from hand to mouth Such singularity soon gained him reputation; Alexander the Great condescended to visit the philosopher in his tub. He asked if there was any thing in which he could oblige him: Ge out of my sunshine' was the only answer from the philosopher. The conqueror was so struck with the independence of mind thus exhibited, that he declared, if he was not Alexander, he would choose to be Diogenes.' In reply to one who asked at what time he ought to dine, Diogenes said, "If you are a rich man, when you will; if you are poor, when you can.' 'Would you be revenged upon your enemy,' said Diogenes, 'be virtuous, that he may have nothing to say against you.' As Diogenes was going over to the island of Egina, he was taken by pirates, who carried him into Crete, and there exposed him to sale. He answered the crier, who asked him what he could do, that he knew how to command men :' and perceiving Xeniades, a Corinthian, going by, he said, 'Sell me to that gentleman, for he wants a master.' Xeniades, struck with the singularity of Diogenes, bought him and carried him to Corinth, appointed him tutor to his children, and soon entrusted him with the management of his house. Diogenes's friends being desirous of redeeming him, "You are fools,' said he; the lions are not the slaves of those who feed them, but they are the servants of the lions.' Some say that Diogenes spent the remainder of his life in Xeniades's family; but Dio Chrysostom asserts that he passed the winter

land Islands; to this last place they come about the end of September or beginning of October, among other birds, in great abundance. The nests are made on the ground with earth, are round in shape, a foot in height, indented at top. The egg is larger than that of a goose, four inches and a halfl ng, white, marked with dull spots at the bigger end, and is thought to be good food, the white never growing hard with boiling. While the female is sitting, the male is constantly on the wing, and supplies her with food: during this time they are so tame as to suffer themselves to be shoved off the nest while their eggs are taken from them; but their chief destruction arises from the hawk, which, the moment the female gets off the nest, darts thereon, and flies away with the egg. The albatross itself likewise has its enemy, being greatly persecuted while on the wing by the dark gray gull, called skua. This bird attacks it on all sides, but particularly endeavours to get beneath, which is only prevented by the first settling on the water; and indeed they do not frequently fly at a great distance from the surface, except obliged so to do by high winds or other causes. As soon as the young are able to remove from the nest, the penguins take possession, and hatch their young in turn. It is probable that they pass from one part of the globe to another according to the season; being now and then met with by different voyagers at various times in intermediate places. The food is supposed to be chiefly small marine animals, especially of the mollusca or blubber class, as well as flying fish.

DION, the son of Hipparinus, a Syracusan, famous for his power and abilities. He was related to Dionysius, and often joined with the philosopher Plato (who at his request had come to reside at the tyrant's court), in advising him to lay aside the supreme power. His great popularity rendered him odious in the eyes of the tyrant, who banished him to Greece. There he collected a numerous force, and resolved to free his country from tyranny. This he easily effected on account of his popularity. He entered the port of Syracuse with only two ships; and in three days reduced under his power an empire which had already subsisted for fifty years, and which was guarded by 500 ships of war, and above 100,000 troops. The tyrant fled to Corinth, and Dion kept the power in his own hands, fearful of the aspiring ambition of some of the friends of Dionysius: but he was shamefully betrayed and murdered by one of his familiar friends called Callicrates, or Callippus, 354 years before the Christian era.

DION CASSIUS, a native of Nicæa in Bithynia. His father's name was Apronianus. He was raised to the greatest offices of state in the Roman empire by Pertinax, and his three successors. He was naturally fond of study, and he improved himself by unwearied application. He was ten years in collecting materials for a history of Rome, which he published in eighty books, after a laborious employment of twelve years in composing it. This valuable history began with the arrival of Æneas in Italy, and was carried down to the reign of Alexander Severus. The first thirty-four books are totally lost; the twenty fol

lowing, that is from the thirty-fifth to the fiftyfourth, remain entire; the six following are mutilated; and fragments are all that we possess of the last twenty. In the compilation of this extensive history, Dion proposed Thucydides for a model, but he is not perfectly happy in his imitation. His style is pure and elegant, and his narrations are judiciously managed, and his reflections learned; but, upon the whole, he is credulous, and the bigoted slave of partiality, satire, and flattery. He inveighs against the republican principles of Brutus and Cicero, and extols the cause of Cæsar. Seneca is the object of his satire, and he represents him as debauched and licentious in his morals.

DIONEA, in botany, a genus of sensitive plants lately discovered. It belongs to the order monogynia, in the decandria class. There is but one genus as yet known: viz. D. muscipula, or Venus's fly-trap. Every one skilled in natural history knows, that the sensitive plants close their leaves, and bend their joints, upon the least touch (see MIMOSA); but no design of nature has yet appeared to us from these surprising motions: they soon recover themselves again, and their leaves are expanded as before. But the diona shows that nature may have some view towards its nourishment, in forming the upper joint of its leaf like a machine to catch food; upon the middle of this lies the bait for the unhappy insect that becomes its prey. Many minute red glands that cover its inner surface, and which discharge a smell of carrion, tempt the poor animal to taste them; and the instant these tender parts are irritated by its feet, the two lobes rise up, grasp it fast, lock the two rows of spines together, and squeeze it to death. And lest the strong efforts for life, in the creature thus taken, should serve to disengage it, three small erect spines are fixed near the middle of each lobe among the glands, that effectually put an end to all its struggles. Nor do the lobes ever open again, while the dead animal continues there. The plant, however, cannot distinguish an animal from a general substance; for, if we introduce a straw or a pin between the lobes, it will grasp it full as fast as if it was an insect. It grows in North America, in about 35° lat. N., in wet shady places, and flowers in July and August. The largest leaves are about three inches long, and an inch and a half across the lobes, the glands of those exposed to the sun ar of a beautiful red color; but those in the shade are pale, and inclining to green. The roots are squamous, sending forth but few fibres, and are perennial. The leaves are numerous, inclining to bend downwards, and are placed in a circular order; they are jointed and succulent; the lower joint, which is a kind of stalk, is flat, longish, two edged, and inclining to heart-shaped. In some varieties they are serrated on the edges near the top. The upper joint consists of two lobes; each lobe is of a semi-oval form, with its margins furnished with stiff hairs like eye-brows, which embrace or lock in each other when they close.

The upper surfaces of the lobes are covered with small red glands; each of which appears, when highly magnified, like a compressed arbutus-berry. If the fly, enclosed in