FlllE-FLlES. 103 



sparks, of various degrees of intensity, according to 

 tlie size of tlie species, are to be seen, fitfully gleam- 

 ing by scores about the margins of woods, and in 

 open and cultivated places. About fourteen species 

 have occurred to me, all luminous. Photuris versi- 

 color, a large species with drab-coloured elytra, I 

 found abroad soon after my arrival, in December. 

 One flying around the house in the evening, I was 

 struck with its swift and headlong flight and nearly 

 permanent luminosity, which was much more bril- 

 liant than that of any S2)ecies which I had at that 

 time seen. 



A large Pygolampis, which I have called P. xantho^ 

 photi<s, I did not meet with until May, when one flew 

 into 'he house at ]31uefields in the evening ; and 

 two nghts afterwards I observed it rather numerous 

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

 for the intensity of its light, much exceeding that of 

 PhoturiH versicolor. Sometimes it is only the last 

 segment but two that shows luminosity ; but when 

 excited, the whole hinder part of the abdomen is 

 lighted ip with a dazzling glare. 



It is ill the woods of St. Elizabeth's, in the month 

 of June, that I have seen the LampyridcB in their 

 glory; and particularly along the road leading up 

 the mourtain from Shrewsbury to Content, where it 

 is cut thr)ugh the tall forest, which overhangs it on 

 each side, making it sombre even by day, and casting 



glow-worm vhich is occasionally seen being no more comparable 

 to that of ihcFAatcr than a dying oil-lamp to a jet of pure gas " ( Tr. 

 Ent. Soc. I. xvi.), I can by no mi'ans conlirm. 

 F 4 



