150 PHOSPHORIC INSECTS. 



cles are wide open, and respiration more energetic 

 than when they are in repose. 



An interesting observation was made formerly 

 by Alexander von Humboldt. He drew out a 

 very vivid light from an Elater noctilucus that was 

 dying, by touching the ganglia of one of its an- 

 terior limbs with a piece of zinc and a piece of 

 silver. 



Some other Coleoptem, said to be phosphores- 

 cent, belong to the genus Paussus. Of this genus 

 at least three species have been brought to Eu- 

 rope, Paussus lineatus, from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, P. microcephalus and P. spJiteroce?*us, also 

 from Africa. The habits of these insects are not 

 well known. It is the species P. splicerocerus (fig*. 

 27) which is stated to be phosphorescent. The 



Fig. 27. 



phosphoric light emanates from a peculiar swell- 

 ing or vesiculous segment, which terminates the 

 antennae or horns of this curious insect. The fact 

 was observed by Afzelius. Mr. Westwood, who 

 has written a monograph upon this genus of in- 



