OF FULGORA CANDELARIA. Ill 



it is this ; that although these authors speak of the observations 

 of travellers on trees studded vi'ith the lights of multitudes of 

 Fulgorce, yet no travellers, indeed, no traveller, is referred to, 

 to whose works the inquirer might turn in order to examine, 

 and duly weigh his evidence on the subject. I do not hesitate 

 to say that I fully believe this omission accidental, not inten- 

 tional. If the works of these travellers are nowhere to be 

 found, then I acknowledge there will be some reason for fearing 

 that our beacon-banner, like the manifold theories of the day, 

 will become less palpable than the reflection of a nonentity, 

 less substantial than the shadow of a shade. 



The learned author of the Delta Letters dwells on the 

 fictitious character of Merian's work, and laughs at the idea 

 of her Fulgorcs being luminous in life, admitting, neverthe- 

 less, their luminosity after death. On this, the author of the 

 Letters of Rusticus accounts for the luminosity of Merian's 

 Fulgorce, by supposing they were dead. Now we gain nothing 

 by this, because we want to prove the luminosity of a living, not 

 a dead, Fulgora ; for ours is the effigy of a fire-fly in the full 

 blaze of his living and flying brightness. But surely the 

 Doctor has ventured on a slight departure from history, when 

 he endeavours to make it appear that Merian's fire-flies were 

 dead ; for he will doubtless recollect, that it was on account of 

 the great noise they made in fighting that the box was opened. 

 Now I imagine that fighting and noise are rather at variance 

 with the economy of dead insects. But waiving this unim- 

 portant discrepancy, there is something poetically beautiful ; 

 and I could have wished to have wreathed the idea into verse, 

 in the fact as recorded by the Frenchman, that the instant the 

 spirit has departed, the body, instead of mingling with and 

 becoming part and parcel of the earth, whence it originally 

 sprang, dies but to assume a brighter being, — lighting up its 

 own funereal pile, and truly possessing the *' gilded halo 

 hovering round decay." 



The Editor has treated the author of the Letters of Rusticus 

 with great severity for using the expression — common consent. 

 Now I am well aware of the Doctor's capability of self-defence, 

 were the opportunity allowed him ; but as we are only allowed. 

 Sir, to address you once on these occasions, excepting the right 

 of reply always reserved for the proposer, I shall volunteer my 

 services in his behalf. It appears to me the Doctor is not 



