LANTERN FLY 271 



In the woods of Sarawak Mr. Adams observed a splendid 

 L^low-worm (Lampyris), each segment of the body illuminated 

 w ith three lines of tiny lamps, the luminous spots on the back 

 Ix'iiig situated at the posterior part of the segmentary rings on 

 t lie median line, while those along the sides of the animal were 

 placed immediately below the stomates or spiracula, each spira- 

 (• Ilium having one bright spot. This very beautiful insect was 

 found shining as the darkness was coming on, crawling on the 

 narrow pathway, and glowing among the dead damp wood and 

 K.tten leaves. When placed around the finger, it resembled in 

 beauty and brilliancy a superb diamond ring. 



The sparkling effulgence of the tropical Elaters is frequently 

 made use of by the fair sex, as an equally singular and striking 

 ornament. The ladies of the Havana attach them to their clothes 

 on occasions of festivity, and the Indian Bayaderes often wear 

 them in their hair. 



In Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico," we are told that in 1520, 

 when the Spaniards visited that country, the wandering sparks 

 of the Elater, " seen in the darkness of the night, were converted 

 by the excited imaginations of the besieged into an army with 

 matchlocks ; " and on another occasion their phosphorescence 

 caused British troops to retreat : for when Sir John Cavendish 

 and Sir Robert Dudley first landed in the West Indies, and saw 

 at night an innumerable quantity of lights moving about, they 

 fancied that the Spaniards were approaching with an overwhelm- 

 ing force, and hastily re-embarked before their imaginary foe. 



Above two hundred species of tropical insects are known to 

 possess the luminous property in a greater or smaller degree; 

 but the phosphorescence of the famous 

 Lantern Fly {Fulgora laternaria), as 

 described by Madam Merian, in her 

 " Insects of Surinam," and repeated 

 upon her authority in liumerous works 

 on natural history, ?eems to be en- 

 tirely fabulous, no modern traveller 

 having ever seen it emit the least Lantern FJy. 



light. The enormous transparent prolongation of the forehead 

 with which this beautiful and large insect is endowed, may, 

 from its fanciful resemblance to a lantern, have given rise to the 

 lable. 



