FULGOBA LATERNABIA. 281 



affirming that they never witnessed this phenomenon 

 in any other insects except certain species of Lam- 

 pyris and Elater. Certain writers of older date, 

 however, affirm that they have, and it is difficult to 

 determine the fact amidst such conflicting evidence. 

 Still, however, when we consider Madam Merian's 

 circumstantial statement, and how improbable it is, 

 notwithstanding the grave errors into which she occa- 

 sionally falls, that she could be mistaken in a matter 

 so obvious, while, at the same time, she could have 

 no motive intentionally to mislead that the natives 

 affirm they have sometimes seen it luminous and 

 that the names given to the insect, both by the 

 colonists and natives, such as Lantarendrager, Porte- 

 Lanterne, mouche a feu, all bear allusion to this 

 property it may be concluded, that the opinion 

 generally received is nearest the truth. It should be 

 kept in mind that all the negative evidence merely 

 proves that the light is seldom exhibited, while the 

 testimony of a single trustworthy observer affirming 

 that he has witnessed it, is conclusive. All luminous 

 insects are capricious in displaying their radiance; 

 and, in many instances, it is only under a certain 

 combination of circumstances that they can do it at all. 

 In the present case, it may be that only one of the 

 sexes is luminous, and even in the sex so endowed, 

 the property may depend on the age of the indivi- 

 dual, the season of the year, and even the state of 

 the atmosphere. 



The narrow- snouted Fulgorse have likewise ob- 

 tained credit for being luminous, but there is a stiL 



