BRAZIL. 9 



Among others, we lound the bird-spider, {Aranea 

 aviadaria,) the bite of which is here considered 

 mortal. Nature does not teach man what he really 

 has to fear. 



As soon as the sun has sunk below the horizon, 

 luminous creatures of all kinds enlighten the air * 

 sea ,t and earth, t Their glittering light, the 

 barking and cries of the amphibia, of the frog kind, 

 and the shrill notes of the grasshoppers, give to this 

 verdant world the animation of a scene in fairy- 

 land. 



We are indebted for our first knowledge of the na- 

 tural history of Brazil to Prince Maurice of Nassau, 

 Marcgraff and Piso, whose manuscripts and original 

 drawings are preserved in the library of Berlin. 

 In later times. Count Hoffmannsegg, by means of 



* Elater nocticulus and E. phosphorcics, with two points of 

 constant light on the breast-plate, and several kinds of 1am- 

 pyris, with light on the belly, returning at equal intervals. 

 Their numbers, however, according to the observations of Dr. 

 Eschscholtz, seem to be magnified in Fabricius' System, where 

 several varieties are enumerated as species. The shining or 

 swarming of these beetles seems to depend upon circumstances, 

 that require further examination. Sometimes the air is filled 

 with them, and sometimes they entirely vanish. 

 \ Larvae and small species of Scolojjendra. 

 J Particularly Medtisce, of which we took some up on the 

 beach, but which had suffered too much to be more accurately 

 determined. The light was particularly visible in a wreath of 

 points round the edge of the body, and increased by being 

 touched, or any other excitement. The hands rubbed with 

 the mucus of the animal, retained the phosphorescence for 

 some time. 



