LANTEKN FLIES. 211 



strange forms, and are entirely exotic. Several of the species are 

 reputed to be luminous, but this statement has been often and 

 strenuously denied, and never affirmed on what would appear to 

 be conclusive evidence. It is now generally discredited, but it is 

 so difficult to prove a negative in such a matter, especially with 

 reference to insects which are not natives of our own country, that 

 we are seldom justified in pronouncing a more positive verdict than 

 " Not Proven." 



Next to the great Cicadidce, the South American Lantern Fly 

 (Fulgom Laternaria, Linn.) is the largest Homopterous insect known. 

 It is nearly three inches long, and measures more than four inches 

 across the wings. The head bears an immense hollow projection 

 in front, which bends upwards at about half its length, and is then 

 continued forwards ; the end is rounded. The insect is greenish- 

 yellow, varied with black, and there is a large yellow ocellated spot 

 near the tip of the hind wings, with a black pupil, and enclosed 

 in a brown ring. 



Hotinus Candelarius, Linn., the commonest of the Chinese 

 species, is generally called the Candle Fly. It measures about two 

 inches and a half across the fore wings, which are black, banded 

 with green, and spotted with yellow the hind wings are yellow, 

 with brown borders ; the long curving-up snout is of a reddish- 

 brown ; in other species it is green. 



Pyrops Clavata, Westw., from India, is about the same size, but 

 is of a chalky-white colour; the fore wings are varied, and the 

 hind wings bordered with black. Its long curved snout ends in 

 a round knob, the extremity of which is of a bright red. 



Phrictus Diadema, Linn., is a South American species in which 

 we observe another curious modification of the frontal prominence, 

 which is here rather short, broad, and trifid at the extremity. 

 The fore wings, which expand about three and a half inches, are 

 greenish, varied with yellow and brown. The hind wings are 

 dark red, with the border broadly brown. 



The second sub-family, Lystrince, much resembles the Fulgorince, 

 and likewise contains many large and handsome species, but may 

 be distinguished from it at once by the absence of the curious 

 prolongation of the head. The species are all exotic, and are 

 chiefly found in South America. Aphcena Fariegata, Guer., from 

 Cochin China, is olive-brown, with black and brown spots on the 

 fore wings, and two yellow ones beyond the middle, the Jrind 

 wings, and abdomen are bright red, the former with some black 



