504 THE INSECT WOKLD. 



to wheat-fields. They much resemble the meal-worm, or larva 

 of the Tenebrio. The Tetralobites are the largest of the Elateridce, 

 attaining to a length of two inches ; and are inhabitants of the 

 East Indies and Africa. 



In America are found phosphorescent Elaterida. These are 

 the Pyrophori, which the Spaniards of South America call by the 

 name of Cucuyos. They have, at the base of their thorax, two 

 small, smooth, and brilliant spots, which sparkle during the 

 night ; the rings of the abdomen also emit a light. They give 

 light sufficient to enable one to read at a little distance. The 

 Pyrophorus noctilucus (Fig. 552) is very 

 common in Havannah, in Brazil, in Guyana, 

 in Mexico, &c., and may be seen at night 

 in great numbers, in the foliage of trees. 

 At the time of the Spanish conquest, a 

 battalion, just disembarked, did not dare to 

 engage with the natives, because it took the 

 Cucuyos which were shining on the neigh- 

 bouring trees for the matches of the arque- 

 buses ready to fire. "In these countries," 

 says M. Michelet, " one travels much by 



Fig.552.-,TheCucuyo ni gK to 6SCa P 6 fr m tne ^eat. But One 



(Pyrophorus nocuiucus}. ^^ not fl are to plunge into the peopled 

 shades of the deep forests if these insects did not reassure 

 the traveller. He sees them shining afar off, dancing, twisting 

 about ; he sees them near at hand on the bushes by his side ; he 

 takes them with him ; he fixes them on his boots, so that they 

 may show him his road and put to flight the serpents ; but when 

 the sun rises, gratefully and carefully he places them on a 

 shrub, and restores them to their amorous occupations. It is a 

 beautiful Indian proverb that says, ' Carry away the fire- fly ; but 

 restore it from whence thou tookest it.'"* The Creole women 

 make use of the Cucuyos to increase the splendour of their 

 toilettes. Strange jewels! which must be fed, which must be 

 bathed twice a day, and must be incessantly taken care of, to 

 prevent them from dying. The Indians catch these insects 

 by balancing hot coals in the air, at the end of a stick, to attract 



* " L'Insecte." 



