AMONG THE PALMS 



191 



cause it enhanced the brightness of the fire-flies' fairy 

 lamps. We imprisoned a dozen insects in a butterfly 

 net, and by the light which they produced were able to 

 read a watch dial. Luciala ftavicollis is a small beetle 

 of a light brown colour. During the day it clings to 

 leaves and twigs, becoming active after sunset. 

 Flashes of light are emitted from the end of the 



THE TWEED RIVER AT TUMBULGU.M. 



abdomen, like sparks struck from glowing iron, only 

 of a bluish-green colour instead of rose red. It is 

 worth while to spend a night in a tropical forest, if 

 only to see the fire-flies. 



When we reached the ferry it was nearly ten 

 o'clock, and the boat was moored on the other side of 

 the river. But the boatmen heard our urgent sum- 

 mons, and half an hour later we were among our 

 friends, who had returned before twilight, and had 

 begun to fear that we were "bushed." 



