LUMINOUS INSECTS. 505 



Besides the different species of the genus Lampyris, all of which, to the 

 number of nearly two hundred, now divided into several distinct genera, 

 are probably more or less luminous, another insect of the beetle tribe, 

 Elater noctilucus, is endowed with the same property, and that in a much 

 higher degree. This insect, which is called the fire-fly, and is an inch 

 long, and about one third of an inch broad, gives out its principal light from 

 two transparent eye-like tubercles placed upon the thorax ; but there is 

 also a luminous patch in the posterior and inferior region of the meta- 

 thorax, in a somewhat triangular and depressed cavity ordinarily concealed 

 by the elytra, but when these are expanded in the act of flying giving out a 

 more considerable but more diffused light than the thoracic reservoirs ; in 

 fact the whole body is full of light, which shines out between the abdo- 

 minal segments when stretched ; and being strongly reflected by the two 

 basal abdominal segments, gives an appearance of the two luminous patches 

 there which De Geer has described, but which do not actually exist. 1 The 

 light emitted by the two thoracic tubercles alone is so considerable, that the 

 smallest print may be read by moving one of these insects along the lines ; 

 and in the West India Islands, particularly in St. Domingo, where they are 

 very common, the natives were formerly accustomed to employ these living 

 lamps, which they call Cucuij, instead of candles in performing their 

 evening household occupations. In travelling at night, they used to tie 

 one to each great toe ; and in fishing and hunting required no other flam- 

 beau. 3 Southey has happily introduced this insect in his " Madoc" as 

 furnishing the lamp by which Coatel rescued the British hero from the 

 hands of the Mexican priests. 



" She beckon'd and descended, and drew out 

 From underneath her vest a cage, or net 

 It rather might be call'd, so fine the twigs 

 Which knit it, where, confined, two Fire-flies gave 

 Their lustre. By that light did Madoc first 

 Behold the features of his lovely guide." 



Pietro Martire tells us that the Cucuij serve the natives of the 

 Spanish West India Islands not only instead of candles, but as extirpators 

 of the gnats, which are a dreadful pest to the inhabitants of the low grounds. 

 They introduce a few fire-flies, to which the gnats are a grateful food, into 

 their houses, and by means of these " commodious hunters " are soon rid 

 of the intruders. " How they are a remedy," says the author, " for so 

 great a mischiefe it is a pleasant thing to hear. Hee who understandeth 

 he hath those troublesome guestes (the gnattes) at home, diligently 

 hunteth after the Cucuij. Whoso wanteth Cucuij goeth out of the house 

 in the first twilight of the night, carrying a burning fire-brande in his hande, 

 and ascendeth the next hillock that the Cucuij may see it, and he swingeth 

 the fire-brand about, calling Cucuius aloud, and beating the ayre with often 

 calling out Cucuie, Cucuie.^ He goes on to observe, that the simple people 

 believe the insect is attracted by their invitations ; but that, for his part, he 

 is rather inclined to think that the fire is the magnet. Having obtained a 

 sufficient number of Cucuij, the beetle-hunter returns home and lets them 

 fly loose in the house, where they diligently seek the gnats about the beds 



1 Lacordaire, Introd. a TEntom. ii. 141. 



2 Pietro Martire, The Decades of the New World, quoted in Madoc, p. 543. 



