S88 Hisioav or 



The Caiitliaris is of the beetle kind, from wlieuce come can- 

 tharides, well known in the shops by the name of Spanish Hies, 

 and for their use in blisters. They have feelers like bristles, 

 flexible cases to the wings, a breast pretty plain, and the sides of 

 the belly wrinkled. Cantharides differ from each other in their 

 size, shape, and colour; those used in the shops also do the 

 same. The largest in these parts are about an inch long, an 

 as much in circumference, but others are not above tliree quar 

 ters of an inch. Some are of a pure azure colour, others of pure 

 gold, and others again have a mixture of pure gold and azure 

 colours ; but they are all very brilliant, and extremely beautiful. 

 These insects, as is well known, are of the greatest benefit to 

 mankind, making a part in many medicines conducive to human 

 preservation. They are chiefly natives of Spain, Italy, and 

 Portugal ; but they are to be met with also about Paris in the 



table round a lighted candle iii an open room. But lie surely forgets that 

 gnats and moths do the same, although their females are not luminous. 



]n a still more splendid luminous iiiseet, the fire-fly of tropical countries, 

 we are not informed whether the light is in any way connected with pairing. 

 The insect itself is one of the click.beetles, several others of which are also 

 luminous. Southey has given a sjiiiited and accurate description of this 

 tire-fly : — 



. . " soon did night display 



More wonders than it veil'd : innumerous tribes 

 From the wood-cover swarmed, and darkness made 

 Their beauties risible : one u'hile tliey streamed 

 A bright bine radiance tipon flowers that closed 

 Their gorgeous colours from the eye of day ; 

 Now motionless arid dark, eluded search, 

 Self-shrouded; and anon, starring the sky, 

 Rose like a sh<)wc>r of fire." Mndoc. 



SVe are told by Mouftet, that when Sir Thomas Cavendish and Sir Kobei t 

 Dudley lauded in the West Indies, and saw in tfie evening au infinite number 

 of moving lights in the woods, which, though nothing more than fii o-fiieu, 

 were taken by them for Spaniards advancing upon them by torch-light, 

 they immediately fled to their ships. 



We are not aware that any native insect is luminous besides the glow- 

 worm and the electric centipede, which is by no means uncommon, though 

 its light is seldom seen, in contcqueuce of its living in holes or under 

 ground, from which it is seldom roused during the night. We have, how- 

 ever, more than once seen it in out-houses, or crawling along a pathway, 

 upon which it srjmetimes leaves a track of phosphoric matter that may bo 

 lifted. On two diflferent occasions we collected some of this, but it disap- 

 peared, probably by evaporation, before we could subject it to chemical 

 Bualysis. — See Insect Miscelluiius. 



