PHOSPHORIC INSECTS. 147 
Latreille has been most attentively studied. This 
insect, of a dark brown colour, attains about one 
inch and a half in length. On its back are ob- 
served two smooth yellow spots. It is extremely 
common in the Antilles and the whole of South 
America, and emits a much more vivid light than 
the Lampyride. Besides the two yellow dorsal 
spots, which are very brilhant at night, there 
exist two others, hidden under the wing-cases or 
elytra, the hght of which is only visible when the 
insect flies; it then shows four luminous points of 
great brilliancy. Moreover, the whole body of 
the insect appears glittering with light, which 
shines through the intervals existing between 
each segment or ring of the abdomen, and which 
1s easily perceived when these segments are gently 
pulled asunder. The light which is emitted by 
the two points upon the thorax alone, is suffi- 
ciently strong to allow us to read by its aid the 
smallest print. 
Under the common name of Lire-flies a great 
number of these exotic Hlaters are indistinctly 
grouped. Most of them are smaller than Hlater 
noctilucus. Closely allied to this is H. ignitus. 
But, besides these two species, [lliger has described 
ten others under the generic name of Pyr phorus ; 
and Kirby and Spence state that seventy distinct 
species of these luminous insects are spread about 
the hot climates, from Chili to the south of the 
