Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries 75 



finally appeared in 1634 as Insectorum sive Minimorum Animalium 

 Theatrum, by Thomas Muffet and others (see the next section) . 



The first important separate treatise on insects ^^ was Aldrovandi's 

 De Animalihus Insectis, libri VII (Bologna 1602) , with later edi- 

 tions in 1618, 1620, 1623, and 1638. Luminous forms are included 

 in Chapters seven and eight of the fourth book, entitled " De 

 Coccoio " and " De Cicindela," occupying eight pages (491-499) of 

 the 1602 edition. All known facts regarding the firefly and glow- 

 worm are given, together with the statements of many different 

 authors. The names by which these insects are designated in dif- 

 ferent countries, minute descriptions of various species, how they 

 arise, their habits and nature, what they presage, riddles and epi- 

 grams concerning them, and uses of the insects for lighting, in medi- 

 cine, and for fishing are included. 



Indeed, the history of luminous insects revolves around the firefly 

 and the glowworm. These small animals were discussed not merely 

 by the scientist but frequently appeared in literature, prose and 

 poetry, and also played a prominent part in the folklore and 

 medicinal remedies of the time. The sixteenth century marks the 

 beginning of rational inquiry concerning luminous beetles and for 

 convenience in treatment considerable space will be devoted to the 

 ideas regarding them, even though some earlier and some later 

 quotations are included. 



In addition to Aldrovandi and Muffet, the names of earlier 

 writers, Georg Reisch (died 1525) and J. C. Scaliger (1485-1558) 

 should be particularly mentioned, as giving important information. 

 Scaliger was apparently the first to observe the copulation of fire- 

 flies and to see the young larvae which hatched from the egg (see 

 the section on Muffet) , while Reisch, as indicated below, discussed 

 the origin of the light. 



The most common Latin name for a lampyrid was " cicindela " 

 (with various spellings) but " cantharis " was also used. It is interest- 

 ing to note that these names now stand for non-luminous genera 

 among the coleoptera, designating widely separated and wholly unre- 

 lated families, the tiger-beetles and blister-beetles. 



In connection with the habits of the cicindelae, Aldrovandi 

 wrote: ^^ 



This kind of insect has been endowed by a wondrous kindness of 

 nature. For it does not harm man when touched or held in his hand. 



^' As part of the animal kingdom insects were included in all the general natural 

 histories. See F. S. Bodenheimer (1928-1929) for much material on the history of 

 insects. 



'^ The quotations of Aldrovandi are from a translation of Mrs. Annemarie Holborn. 



