3IO INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



Thomas Cavendish first landed in the West Indies. 

 The idea of flying lights had not yet got abroad ; 

 so when in the evening brave Sir Thomas and his 

 party saw lights moving in the woods they were 

 convinced that their enemies, the Spaniards, were 

 advancing upon them, and they sought safety in 

 their ships. 



But though the Fire-flies were unknown to 

 Cavendish, they had already become known to 

 literature, for Peter Martyr, who was contemporary 

 with Columbus, has left us some account of them 

 in his Decades, which Southey quoted in the notes 

 to his Madoc. Peter says that in the Spanish West 

 Indies the natives employed these living lamps 

 instead of candles, and when abroad at night 

 travelling, hunting or fishing, they tied a Cucujo 

 to each big toe and needed no other light. He also 

 says that they employed them in their houses, not 

 only to light the apartments, but to prey upon 

 the gnats, which were a dreadful pest. This state- 

 ment is very doubtful, though made in good faith. 



To capture the Cucujos the native would go out 

 of the house at the beginning of twilight, carrying 

 a burning fixre-brand in his hand, and ascend the 

 first hillock that his light might be better seen by 

 the beetles. There he would swing the firebrand 

 around and call " Cucuie, Cucuie." The simple 

 people, Peter says, believe that the Fire-flies come 

 in response to their call, but for his part he believes 

 that the fire is the attraction. 



On certain festival days in June the beetles were 



