LUMINOUS INSECTS. 409 



to each great toe ; and in fishing and hunting required 

 no other flambeau :i . Southey has happily introduced 

 this insect in his " Madoc" as furnishing the lamp by 

 which Coatel rescued the British hero from the hands 

 of the Mexican priests. 



" She beckon' d and descended, and drew out 

 From underneath her vest a cage, or net 

 It rather might be call'd, so fine the twigs 

 Which knit it, where, confined, two Fire-flies gave 

 Their lustre. By that light did Madoc first 

 Behold the features of his lovely guide.'* 



Pietro Martire tells us that the Cucuij serve the na- 

 tives of the Spanish West India islands not only instead 

 of candles, but as extirpators of the gnats, which are 

 a dreadful pest to the inhabitants of the low grounds. 

 They introduce a few fire-flies, to which the gnats are 

 a grateful food, into their houses, and by means of these 

 " commodious hunters " are soon rid of the intruders. 

 " How they are a remedy," says this author, " for so 

 great a mischiefe it is a pleasant thing to hear. Hee who 

 understandeth he hath those troublesome guestes (the 

 gnattes) at home, diligently hunteth after the Cucuij. 

 Whoso wanteth Cucuij 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 beating the ayre with often 

 calling out Cucuie, Cucuie." He goes on to observe, that 

 the simple people believe the insect is attracted by their 

 invitations ; but that, for his part he is rather inclined to 

 think that the fire is the magnet. Having obtained a 



3 Pietro Martire, The Decades of ihc New World, quoted in 

 Madoc, p. 543. 



