historian, surnamed Siculus because he was 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 of which he has made mention in his history. It was the labour of 30 years. He is, however, too credulous in some of his narrations; and often wanders far from the truth. He 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 Julius Caesar and Augustus; and spent much time at Rome to procure information, and authenticate his historical narrations. This important work, which he composed in Greek, contained 40 books, of which there are only 15 remaining. The style is clear and neat, and very suitable to history. The best edition is that of Amsterdam, 1743, in 2 vols folio.

Dioecia, (from διεκτον, twice, and οίκος, a house or habitation) two houses; the name of the 22d class in Linnæus's sexual method, consisting of plants which having no hermaphrodite flowers, produce male and female flowers on separate roots. These latter only ripen seeds; but require for that purpose, according to the sexualists, the vicinity of a male plant; or the aspersion, that is, sprinkling of the male dust. From the seeds of the female flowers are raised both male and female plants. The plants then in the class dioecia are all male and female; not hermaphrodite, as in the greater number of classes; nor with male and female flowers upon one root, as in the class monocœcia of the same author. See Botany Index.