COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 1 63 



the purposes above mentioned. The mode in which 

 they are taken, and several curious particulars re 

 specting their appearance and uses, are thus quaintly 

 described by an old author: "Whoso wanteth 

 cucuij," says Pietro Martire, in his Decades of the 

 New World, " goeth out of the house in the first 

 twilight of the night, carrying a burning fire-brande 

 in his hande, and ascendeth the next hillock, that 

 the cucuij may see it, and hee swingeth the fire 

 brande about, calling cucuius aloud, and beateth the 

 ayre with often calling and crying out cucuie, cu- 

 cuie. Many simple people suppose that the cucuij, 

 delighted with that noise, come flying and flocking 

 together to the bellowing sound of him that calleth 

 them, for they come with a speedy and headlong 

 course ; but I rather thinke that the cucuij make 

 haste to thfe brightness of the fire-brande, because 

 swarmes of gnattes fly into every light, which the 

 cucuij eat in the very ayre, as the martlets and 

 swallowes doe. Some cucuius sometimes followeth 

 the fire-brande, and lighteth on the grounde ; then 

 is he easily taken, as travellers may take a beetle if 

 they have need thereof walking with his wings shut. 

 In sport and merriment, or to the intent to terrify 

 such as are afrayed of every shadow, they say that 

 many wanton wild fellowes sometimes rubbed their 

 faces by night with the fleshe of a cucuius, being 

 killed, with purpose to meet their neighbours with 

 a flaming countenance, as with us wanton young 

 men, putting a gaping vizard over their face, en- 



