411 LUMIXOUS INSECTS. 



other daiiibeau''. — Southey has happily introduced this 

 insect in his '' Madoc'" as furnishing the lamp by which 

 Coatel rescued the British hero from the hands of the 

 Mexican priests. 



^' She l)etkoiiecl and descended, and drew out 

 From underneath her vesi a cage, or net 

 It rather might be called, so tine the twigs 

 Which knit it, where, confined, two Fire-flies gave 

 Their lustre. By that light did Madoc first 

 Behold the features of his lovely guide." 



Pietro Martire tells us that the Cucuij serve the na- 

 tives of the Spanish West-India islands not only in- 

 stead of candles, but as extirpators of the gnats, which 

 are a dreadful pest to the inhabitants of the low p rounds. 

 They introduce a few fire-flies, to which the gnats are 

 a grateful food, into their houses, and by means of 

 these " commodious hunters" are soon rid of the in- 

 truders. " How they are a remedy," says this author, 

 ^' for so great a mischiefe it is a pleasant thing to hear. 

 Hee who understandeth he hath those troublesome 

 guestes (the gnattes) at home, diligently hunteth after 

 the Cucuij. Whoso wanteth Cucuij goeth out of the 

 house in the first twilight of the night, carrying a 

 burning fire-brande in his hande, and ascendeth the 

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

 the fire-brande about, calling Cucuius aloud, andbeat- 

 eth the ayre with often calling out Cucuie, Cucuie.'" 

 He goes on to observe, that the simple people believe 

 the insect is attracted by their invitations ; but that, 

 for his part, he is rather inclined to think that the fire 



* Pietro Martire, Tho Deai.ks of the A\ic TJ'crld, quoted in lladoc, 

 J). j43. 



