LANTERN-FLY. 38S 



room. Mr. Waller observed this species at Northaw, in Hertford- 

 shire. From the figure given by this writer it appears to be about 

 half an inch in length, which is much smaller than the common 

 female glow worm. 



In Italy this flying glow-worm is extremely plentiful; and we are 

 informed by Dr. Smith, and other travellers, that it is a very common 

 practice for the ladies to stick them by way of ornament in different 

 parts of their head-dress during the evening hours. 



The common or wingless glow-worm may be very successfully 

 kept, if properly supplied with moist turf, grass, moss, &c. for a 

 considerable length of time ; and, as soon as the evening commences, 

 will regularly exhibit its beautiful effulgence, illuminating every ob- 

 ject within a small space around it, and sometimes the light is so 

 vivid, as to be perceived through the box in which it is kept. This 

 insect deposits its eggs, which are small and yellowish, on the leaves 

 of grass, &c. 



The Fulgora Lanternaria, or Peruvian Lantern-fly, 

 is undoubtedly one of the most curious of insects ; it is of a very 

 considerable size, measuring nearly three inches and a half from 

 the tip of the front to that of the tail ; and about five inches and a 

 half from wing's end to wing's end when expanded : the body is of 

 a lengthened oval shape, roundish or subcylindric, and divided into 

 several rings or segments : the head is nearly equal to the length of 

 the rest of the animal, and is oval, inflated, and bent slightly up- 

 wards : the ground-colour is an elegant yellow, with a strong tinge 

 of green in some parts, and marked with numerous bright red- 

 brown variegations, in the form of stripes and spots : the wings are 

 very large, of a yellow colour, most elegantly varied with brown un- 

 dulations and spots, and the lower pair are decorated by a very 

 large eye-shaped spot on the middle of each, the iris or border of 

 the spot being red, and the centre half red and half semi-transparent 

 white : the head or lantern is pale yellow, with longitudinal red 

 stripes. This beautiful insect is a native of Surinam and many 

 other parts of South America, and during the night diffuses so strong 

 a phosphoric splendor from its head or lantern, that it may be em- 

 ployed for the purpose of a candle or torch ; and it is said that 

 three or four of the insects, tied to the top of a stick, are frequently 

 used by travellers for that purpose. The celebrated Merian, in her 

 work on the insects of Surinam, gives a very agreeable account of 



