176 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



small oval wart-like spots near the lateral borders of their prothorax, not 

 far from the head. These spots are ordinarily of a dull yellowish- white 

 color, but when the insect is disturbed or when in flight, they quickly 

 light up with a yellow-green glow that is almost dazzling to the eye. So 

 brilliant is it that it is conspicuous in broad daylight. At night, the hour 

 may be told upon even the yellow face of a watch when held near it, and 

 it is claimed that a printed page may be read by its aid. 



On the under side of the body between the thorax and the abdomen, 

 is another quite large light-giving place of a lenticular form, covered 

 with a thin membrane, and only seen when the body is arched upward 

 in the attitude assumed when the insect is about to make an upward 

 spring. Travellers tell us that the light from this phosphorescent organ 

 is distinctly seen as of a peculiar reddish color, when the insect is flying 

 overhead. This beautiful insect is found in the West India islands, in 

 Brazil, Guiana, and in Mexico. It is related that at the time of the 

 Spanish conquest, a battalion just disembarked, did not dare to engage 

 in battle with the natives because the Cucuyos, which were shining in the 

 trees, were supposed to be the matches of the arquebuses ready to fire 

 upon them. Figuier, the popular French writer on natural history 

 relates: "When the Mexican ladies wish to adorn themselves with these 

 living diamonds, they place them in little bags of light tulle, which they 

 arrange with taste, on their skirts. Sometimes imprisoning these animated 

 flames in gauze, the graceful Mexican women twist them in ardent neck- 

 laces, or else roll them around their waists like a fiery girdle. They go 

 to the ball under a diadem of living topazes or animated emeralds, and 

 their diadem blazes or pales according as the insect is fresh or fatigued. 

 When they return home after the soiree they give them a bath which 

 refreshes them, and put them back in a cage, which sheds during the 

 whole night a soft light in the chamber." 



Another writer states: " I saw a lady at the ' Retreta' once, with a 

 coronet and stomacher of them, and all the crown jewels of Spain could 

 not have made her so resplendent." 



Writers represent the Cucuyo as being short-lived in captivity, but 

 these received as above, had their lives prolonged quite beyond expecta- 

 tion, and former experiences with the beetles; and this notwithstanding 

 the hard treatment which they had undergone. Not one of them had a 

 foot (tarsus) remaining when brought to me and two had lost the pre- 

 ceding joint (tibia) from one or more of their legs. Still they were able 

 to travel with considerable rapidity, but made no attempt at flight. 

 Until near their death they frequently used their spring to regain their 



