280 SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 



which are now properly excluded, as their forms and 

 structure were too diversified to be compatible with 

 the notion now formed of a generic group. The Ful- 

 gorae, strictly so called, are such as present the folio w- 

 ing characters. 



The antennae have the second joint of a globular 

 shape, and covered with pretty large granulations, 

 the terminal seta inserted in the centre of a minute 

 globose joint ; ocelli two, placed a little before and 

 under the eyes, between them and the antennae ; 

 forehead more or less produced anteriorly ; labrum 

 terminating in an acute point; sucker composed of 

 three joints, its extremity extending at least as far 

 as the insertion of the posterior legs ; hemelytra not 

 so broad as the wings, the length greatly exceeding 

 the breadth ; legs elongated, adapted for leaping, the 

 hinder thighs strongly spined ; pro thorax not so broad 

 as the metathorax, and somewhat emarginate on its 

 hinder margin. 



Even in the acceptation to which the above defini- 

 tion restricts it, the genus comprehend a considerable 

 amount of species. The greater number of them are 

 insects of large size, and warm if not brilliant colours 

 The prolongation of the forehead, and the extraor- 

 dinary forms it assumes, confers on them a peculiar 

 aspect, at once distinguishing them from all other 

 hemipterous tribes. 



The larger kinds have long been said to be lumi- 

 nous, and this belief has been so general, that they 

 have obtained the name of fire-flies, mouches a feu, 

 and lantern-flies. But recent travellers agree in 



