52 ELATERIDJE — FIRE-FLTES, SPRING- BEETLES, ETC. 



CucKJi aloud, and bcatinp: the ayre with often calling and 

 crying out Ciicuji, CucujL . . . Beholde the desired num- 

 ber of Cucitji, at what time, the hunter casteth the fier- 

 brande out of his hande. Some Cucvji sometimes folio weth 

 the fier-brande, and lighteth on the grounde, then is he 

 easily taken. . . . The hunter havinge the hunting Gucuius^ 

 returneth home, and shutting the doore of the house, letteth 

 the praye goe. The Cucuius loosed, swiftly flyeth about 

 the whole house seeking gnatts, under their hanging bedds, 

 and about the faces of them that sleepe, whiche the gnattes 

 used to assayle, they seem to execute the office of watch- 

 men, that such as are shut in, may quietly rest. Another 

 pleasant and profitable commodity proceedeth from the 

 Cuciiji. As many eyes as every Cucuius openeth, the 

 host enjoyeth the light of so many candles : so that the 

 Inhabitants spinne, sewe, weave, and daunce by the light 

 of the flying Cucuji. The Inhabitants think that the 

 Cucuius is delighted with the harmony and melodic of 

 their singing, and that he also exerciseth his motion in the 

 ayre according to the action of their dancing. . . . Our men 

 also read and write by that light, which always continueth 

 untill hee have gotten enough gnatts whereby he may be 

 well fedd. . . . There is also another wonderfull commodity 

 proceeding from the Cucuius: the Islanders, appoynted by 

 our menu, goe with their good will by night with 2 Cucvji 

 tyed to the great tooes of their feete : (for the travailer^ 

 goeth better by direction of the lights of the Cucuji, then 

 if hee brought so many candels with him, as the Cucuji 

 open eyes) he also carryeth another Cucuius in his hande 

 to seeke the Utiae by night (Utiae are a certayne kind of 

 Cony, a little exceeding a mouse in bignesse.) .... They 

 also go a fishing by the lights of the Cucuji. ... In sport, 

 and merriment, or to the intent to terrific such as are aflfrayed 

 of every shaddow, they say that many wanton wild fel- 

 lowes sometimes rubbed their faces by night with the fleshe 

 of a Cucuius being killed, with purpose to meete their neigh- 

 bors with a flaming countenance . . . .for the face being 

 annointed with the lumpe or fleshy parte of the Cucuius, 

 shineth like a flame of fire."^ 



1 Peruvians travel by the light of the Cucujus Peruvianus. — See 

 Kirby's Worid. Museum, ii. 151. 



2 llist. of West Indies, p. 274. 



