122 



and moving lights of these insects in the woods im- 

 pressed them with the idea that the Spaniards were 

 advancing, and they returned in consequence to their 

 ships. Eight or ten of these insects put into a phial 

 will yield a light equal to a common candle ; and it is 

 said that this was the only light used by the natives of 

 Hispaniola, &c. prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. 

 The elater noctilucm will be found figured, if we rightly 

 remember, in Rees's Cyclopaedia. It much resembles 

 the elater porcatus, but is more slender, and has two 

 round marks on the thorax like elater oculatus : the 

 elater Ignitus is another luminous species of this genus. 



We are informed that in South America, by way of 

 amusement, small bits of lighted wax taper are affixed 

 to the heads of some of the larger scarabcei ; and thus 

 equipped, they are prompted to march into the room 

 to startle some evening party : such are called cocujas. 

 The scarabceus herculis, a native of South America, is 

 five or six inches long, and seen in numbers on the 

 mammcea americana. A few of these insects, thus 

 illuminated, would certainly have an odd appearance. 



The fulgora lanternaria *, Peruvian lantern-fly, or 

 the fire-fly of the West Indies, measures nearly three 

 inches and a half from the tip of its lantern to that of 

 the tail, and about five inches and a half from tip to 

 tip of the expanded wings. The body is divided 

 into several annular segments: the projecting head 

 nearly equal in length to the entire body of the 

 insect, is oval, inflated, and slightly curved or arched 

 upwards. The ground colour is a fine yellow, with 

 a deep tinge of green in some parts, and marked with 

 numerous bright red and brown variegations in 

 the form of stripes or spots. The wings are large, 



* See Plate, fig. 1. 



