CHAP. XI. LUMINOUS INSECTS. 36l 



several species highly luminous. Among the largest, 

 if not the most extraordinary, is the F. lanternaria 

 (fig. 88.), or the great lantern fly of South America. 



The properties of this singular insect, we believe, were 

 first made known to the world by madame Merian, 

 who gives the following account of her first acquaint- 

 ance with it. " The Indians," she says, " once brought 

 me, before I knew that they shone by night, a number 

 of the lantern flies, which I shut up in a large wooden 

 box. In the night, they made such a noise, that I 

 awoke in a fright, and ordered a light to be brought, 

 not "being able to guess from whence the noise pro- 

 ceeded. As soon as we found that it came from the 

 box, we opened it j but were much more alarmed, and 

 instantly let it fall to the ground with affright, on 

 perceiving flames of fire issue out of it, for, as 

 many animals as Came out, so many flames of fire ap- 

 peared. When we found this to be the cause, we 

 recovered from our terror, and again collected the in- 

 sects, much admiring their splendid appearance." The 

 light produced by this insect, as it is said, proceeds 

 wholly from the hollow part, or lantern, of the head, 

 no other part being at all luminous. There is reason 

 to believe, however, that this marvellous account is some- 

 what exaggerated. Bancroft, however, also avers that 

 this insect is highly phosphorescent. " Two or three of 

 this species, put into a glass vessel," he observes, " afford 

 light sufficient to read by, without difficulty, if they 

 are placed close to the book. Even when the insects 

 are dead, their bodies still afford considerable light, 



