430 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
dres, se changent en une graisse blanche, laquelle se durcit et prend 
la forme de cire.” 
«“ Tchi hen dit c’est une drogue absolument nécessaire aux chirur- 
giens: ellea des effets admirables.” (Du Halde, tom. iv. p. 495., large 
fol minisos) 
Sir George Staunton, in his work on China, has also described and 
figured the wax insect which he found at Turon Bay, in Cochin China. 
Gordon also, in his description of China, notices this production as 
caused by vast numbers of little worms. (Donovan, Ins. China, p. 42.) 
Much uncertainty exists as to the real existence of any luminous 
power possessed by the typical species of this family. This account 
originated with Madame Merian (Insecta Surinam, p.49.), who as- 
serted it to be possessed by Fulgora laternaria in an eminent degree, 
and her statement long received general assent, and appears to be the 
only authority for its existence. Olivier appears to be the first 
author who doubted the luminosity of the Fulgoree (Ene. Meth. 
art. Fulgore *), from information given to him by M. Richard, who 
had reared the F. laternaria in Cayenne and had not found it to 
be luminous. Hoffmansegg (Mag. Nat. Berl. vol.i. p.153.), the 
Prince Von Nieuwied (Reise nach Bras. tom. ii. p. 111.), and 
still more recently M. Lacordaire (the two last-named authors hav- 
ing been long resident in South America), also concur in this opinion, 
none of the individuals they had ever seen alive exhibiting the least 
trace of luminosity. The majority of the natives also who had been 
questioned on the subject denied the luminous power, although a few 
affirmed it; hence Lacordaire suggests whether one sex may be lumi- 
nous and the other not. (Introd. a ? Entomol. tom. 1i. p. 143.) Roseland 
Donovan imagined that the white farinaceous dots upon the snouts 
and bodies of these insects were phosphorescent, but they are clearly 
nothing else than particles of the waxen secretion above noticed. Dr. 
Hancock also read a memoir on the luminosity of the Fulg. laternaria 
before the Zoological Society, on 24th June, 1834, in which its lumi- 
nosity is considered as entirely fabulous. M. Wesmael has recently 
reasserted the luminous property of the South American species on 
the authority of a friend who had witnessed it alive. (Ann. Soc. Ent: 
de France, App. 1837.) And W. Baird, Esq., has informed me of the 
* Olivier, however, states that he had ‘* souvent trouvé au midi de la France de 
grandes espéces de Cigales enti¢rement phosphoriques aprés leur mort.” 
