Fire-flies 249 



cibundant in the Southwest, where, during sum- 

 mer evenings its constant flashes of hght give the 

 air the appearance of being filled with moving 

 sparks of fire. The beetle is of oblong form, some- 

 what flattened and varies from one-half to five- 

 eighths of an inch in length. It has a dull black 

 wing covered with pale yellow edges, a yellow 

 chest with a central black spot set in patches of 

 rose color. The under side of the abdomen is dark 

 brown with the exception of the two end rings, 

 from which the light is sent out; these are sulphur 

 yellow. 



If you live in the southwest middle states, note 

 the way the lightning bugs give out their light while 

 on the wing, then when you travel into Yankee 

 land note the way the lightning bugs there send 

 out their light and the way they do it down in Mis- 

 sissippi. Some of them emit light as the}' make a 

 downward dash, thus making a streak of lightning, 

 suggesting the name of lightning bug, while others 

 seem to glimmer, glow, increase gradually in in- 

 tensity of light — the light grows brighter and then 

 gradually fades out again. 



You should, if possible, collect the fire-flies 

 from all these difl^erent sections of the country. 



