104 CONTENT. 



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 Fire-flies of various species, among which the two 

 large ones above-named are conspicuous. I have 

 delighted to watch and study their habits in this 

 lonely spot, while the strange sounds, snorings, 

 screeches, and ringings, of nocturnal reptiles and 

 insects, sounds unheard by day, were coming up frojn 

 every part of the deep forest around, giving an almost 

 unearthly character to the scene. 



Pygolampis xanthophotis I have observed onlj in 

 flight : its light is of a rich orange-colour when seen 

 abroad, but when viewed in the light of a candle 

 appears yellow. It is not of so deep a tiat as 

 the abdominal light of Pyrophorus noctilucus. It is 

 intermittent. 



Photuris versicolor is noticeable by its fr5quent 

 resting on a twig or leaf in the woods, wher it will 

 gradually increase the intensity of its light till it 

 glows like a torch ; then it gradually fadbs to a 

 spark, and becomes quite extinct ; it thus remains 

 unseen for some time, but in about a minute, or, it 

 may be, two, it will begin to appear, and gradually 

 increase to its former blaze ; then fads again ; 

 strongly reminding the beholder of a revobing light 

 at sea. The light of this species is of a brilliant 

 green hue. I have seen a passing Pyg- xaitliophotis, 

 attracted by the glow of a stationary Phot, versicolor, 

 fly up and play around it; when the intanningling 

 of the green and orange rays had a charmiig appear- 

 ance, like the two lights of Pyrophorus nodilucus, of 

 which I shall presently speak. 



