125 



infinitely short of the beautiful original. Le Chevalier M. 

 informs us that the annular segments of the insect, 

 attached to fine metallic thread, formed into armlets 

 and necklaces, are worn by the higher ranks of the 

 Brazilian ladies, and that their splendour is exquisite 

 and brilliant. Such a necklace will cost from 101. to 

 14/. sterling. 



The fulgora candelaria *, a native of China, is a 

 much smaller species than the other. It sometimes 

 measures near two inches long, and two and a half 

 inches broad when the wings are expanded. It is not 

 an infrequent insect in cabinets : we possess a great 

 many specimens. The head and curved horn are of a 

 fine reddish brown, occasionally mottled with white 

 specks somewhat mealy. The eyes and proboscis are 

 translucent, and curiously, as we have seen, reflect a 

 nebulous image of the candle. The under wings are 

 orange-coloured, with broad velvet black tips; the supe- 

 rior wings are decorated with yellow spots and bars, re- 

 ticulated with diffused squares, &c. We are informed by 

 the Rev. Mr. Davies of Hereford, that in India \heful- 

 gora candelaria illuminates the hedges with a faint purple 

 light, as is the case also in South America, from three 

 to five feet high ; and he observed the hedges on the banks 

 of the Ganges, under the Rajemahal mountains, about 

 300 miles above Calcutta, particularly brilliant. This 

 is the general altitude we have observed of the lam- 

 pyris italica in the north of Italy; and being the usual 

 height of nocturnal insects, it seems probable that our 

 view is correct. The apterous glow-worm yields a 

 yelloiv light ; but the lampyris italica on the wing 

 evolves a purplish gleam, which appears to be the case 

 with the fire-flies of China. This is the insect selected 



* See Plate, fig. 2. 

 G 3 



