238 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



the distant woods lighted up by innumerable 

 fire-flies. They supposed them to be Spaniards 

 advancing upon them by torch-light, with the 

 intention of destroying them, and immediately 

 retreated to their ships. 



Some of the early Spanish missionaries to 

 South America, having neither candles nor 

 lamps, were in the habit of reading and writing 

 by the light of fire-flies confined in bottles, and 

 when travelling over some parts of the country 

 at night, their guides fastened them in their hats 

 to enable them to follow them through the 

 darkness. 



Stephens, the well known American traveller, 

 says that when in Central America, he read, by 

 the light of a single fire-fly, the finely printed 

 pages of a newspaper. 



The fire-fly is not common in England, but 

 its place is partially supplied by the glow-worm. 

 The female, which is far more brilliant than the 

 male, is a small wingless insect, somewhat of the 

 form of the wood-louse, and is commonly found 

 under bushes and hedges. The male has wings, 

 but emits only a faint light. 



There are other luminous insects besides those 



