1832.] FROGS AND FIREFLIES. 41 



hours, 1.6 inches of rain fell. As this storm passed over 

 the forests which surround the Corcovado, the sound pro- 

 duced by the drops pattering on the countless multitude 

 of leaves was very remarkable ; it could be heard at the 

 distance of a quarter of a mile, and was like the rushing 

 of a great body of water. After the hotter days, it was 

 delicious to sit quietly in the garden and watch the evening 

 pass into night. Nature, in these climes, chooses her 

 vocalists from more humble performers than in Europe. 

 A small frog, of the genus Hyla, sits on a blade of grass 

 about an inch above the surface of the water, and sends 

 forth a pleasing chirp : when several are together they sing 

 in harmony on different notes. I had some difficulty in 

 catching a specimen of this frog. The genus Hyla has 

 its toes terminated by small suckers ; and I found this 

 animal could crawl up a pane of glass, when placed 

 absolutely perpendicular. Various cicadas and crickets, at 

 at the same time, keep up a ceaseless shrill cry, but which^ 

 softened by the distance, is not unpleasant. Every evening 

 after dark this great concert commenced ; and often have 

 I sat listening to it, until my attention has been drawn 

 away by some curious passing insect. 



At these times the fireflies are seen flitting about from 

 hedge to hedge. On a dark night the light can be seen 

 at about two hundred paces distant. It is remarkable that 

 in all the diffierent kinds of glowworms, shining elaters, and 

 various marine animals (such as the Crustacea, medusas, 

 nereidae, a coralline of the genus Clytia and Pyrosoma), 

 which I have observed, the light has been of a well-marked 

 green colour. All the fireflies which I caught here be- 

 longed to the LampyridcB (in which family the English 

 glowworm is included), and the greater number of specimens 

 were of Lampyris occidentalis.'^ I found that this insect 

 emitted the most brilliant flashes when irritated : in the 

 intervals, the abdominal rings were obscured. The flash 

 was almost co-instantaneous in the two rings, but it wajj 

 just perceptible first in the anterior one. The shining 

 matter was fluid and very adhesive : little spots, where the 

 skin had been torn, continued bright with a slight scintilla- 

 tion, whilst the uninjured parts were obscured. When the 

 insect was decapitated, the rings remained uninterruptedly 



* I am greatly indebted to Mr. Waterhouse for his kindness in naminK 

 tor me this and many other insects, and in giving me much valuabU 

 2 assistance. 



