LIGHTNING-BUGS. 51 



relating to the West-India species. He says at all times 

 their sparks, of various degrees of intensity, according to the 

 size of the species, are to be seen, fitfully gleaming by scores 

 about the margins of woods, and in open and cultivated 

 places. He observed about fourteen species, all luminous. 

 Photuris versicolor, a large species with drab-colored elytra, 

 he found abroad soon after his arrival in December. One 

 flying around the house in the evening, he was struck with 

 its swift and headlong flight and nearly permanent luminos- 

 ity, which was much more brilliant than that of any species 

 he had at that time seen. The large Pygolampis, which he 

 called afterwards P. xanthophotis, he did not observe until 

 May, when one flew into his house at Bluefields one evening; 

 and a few nights later he found them in great numbers on 

 the very sea-beach at Sabito. It was conspicuous for the 

 intensity of its light, much exceeding that of Photuris verm- 

 color. Sometimes it is only the last segment but two that 

 shows luminosity ; but, when excited, the whole hinder part 

 of the abdomen is lighted up with a dazzling glare. 



In June, in the woods of St. Elizabeth's, Gosse had special 

 opportunities for observing the Lampyridce ; particularly 

 along the road leading up the mountain from Shrewsbury 

 to Content, where it is cut through the forest, which over- 

 hangs it on each side, making it sombre even by day, and 

 casting an impenetrable gloom over the scene by night. 

 The darkness here, however, and especially at one point, 

 a little dell, which is most obscure, is studded thick with 

 fireflies of various species, among which the two large ones 

 above named are conspicuous. Pygolampis xanthophotis he 

 observed only in flight. Its light is of a rich orange color 

 when seen abroad, but when viewed in the light of a candle 



