164 INSECTS ABROAD. 



the creature was in tlie net. It turned out to be what in your 

 Natural History is called the 'Cucujo.' 



" I have it still alive in a chip pill-box, through which the light 

 is perfectly visible in a dark place. I want to try some expe- 

 riments with the luminous spots, and, if possible, detect their 

 nature and origin." 



That this habit of coming to the light was known to the earlier 

 naturalists is evident from the same Peter Martyr, or Pietro 

 Martire, to whom Mr, Gosse has alluded. In his " Decades of 

 the New World " he remarks concerning the insect : " Whoso 

 wanteth cucuij, goeth out of the house in the first twilight of the 

 night, carrying a burning firebrande in his hande, and ascendeth 

 the next hillock, that the cucuij may see it, and hee swingeth 

 the firebrande about, calling cucuius aloud, and beateth the ayre 

 with often calling and crying out, cucuie, cucuie. 



"■ Many simple people suppose that the cucuij, delighted with 

 that noise, come flying and flocking together to the bellowing 

 sound of him that calleth them, for they come with a speedy 

 and headlong course ; but I rather think that the cucuij make 

 haste to the brightnesse of the firebrande because swarmes of 

 gnattes fly into every light, which the cucuij eat in the very 

 ayre, as the martlets and swallows do. Some cucuius sometimes 

 folio weth the firebrande, and lighteth on the ground e ; then is he 

 easily taken, as travellers may take a beetle, if they have need 

 thereof, walking with his wings shut. 



" In sport is merriment, with the intent to terrify sucli as are 

 afraid of every shadow, they say that many wanton wild fellowes 

 sometimes rubbed their faces by night with the fleshe of a 

 cucuius, being kiUed, with purpose to meet their neighbours with 

 a flaming covmtenance ; as with us wanton young men, putting 

 a gaping vizard over their faces, endeavour to terrify children or 

 women who are easily frighted." 



Some of these insects have been brought alive to England, 

 the bags in which they were kept being every day dipped in 

 water. They fed upon sugar-cane, which they easily broke with 

 their mandibles, and when the cane was exhausted they fed 

 freely on brown sugar. Mr. Lees, who first succeeded in this 

 attempt, remarks that when the insects were roused and in 

 perfect vigour, the whole body seemed to be saturated with 

 himinosity, even the back shining when the elytra and wings 



