150 PHOSPHORIC INSECTS. 
cles are wide open, and respiration more energetic 
than when they are in repose. 
An interesting observation was made formerly 
by Alexander von Humboldt. He drew out a 
very vivid light from an Later noctilucus that was 
dying, by touching the gangha of one of its an- 
terior limbs with a piece of zinc and a piece of 
silver. 
Some other Coleoptera, said to be phosphores- 
cent, belong to the genus Paussus. Of this genus 
at least three species have been brought to Hu- 
rope,—Paussus lineatus, from the Cape of Good 
Hope, P. mierocephalus and P. spharocerus, also 
from Africa. The habits of these insects are not 
well known. It is the species P. spherocerus (fig. 
27) which is stated to be phosphorescent. The 
Fig. 27. 
phosphoric light emanates from a peculiar swell- 
ing or vesiculous segment, which terminates the 
antenne or horns of this curious insect. The fact 
was observed by Afzelius. Mr. Westwood, who 
has written a monograph upon this genus of in- 
