ORDER COLEOrTFRA. 333 



did not possess this property ; it appears, however, that they 

 do possess it, but in a very feeble degree. Almost all the 

 lampyrides of warm climates, both males, as well as females, 

 being winged, and in great abundance, present to the inha- 

 bitants, after the setting of the sun, and during the night, 

 an amusing spectacle, a natural illumination, which, like 

 sparks, or little stars, wander through the air. Light may 

 be obtained by assembling many of these insects together. 



According to M. Dufour, (Annal. des Sciences Natur. III. 

 p. 225,) the alimentary canal of the female of our common 

 Lampyris (splendidula) is about as long again as the body. 

 Its oesophagus is extremely short, and dilates itself imme- 

 diately into a short crop, separated from the chylific ventricle, 

 by a valvular strangulation. This last part is very long, smooth, 

 inflated and cylindrical for two-thirds of its length, and then 

 intestini form. The slender intestine is very short, flexuous, 

 and presents a swelling representing the coecum, but perhaps 

 not constantly so, and which terminates in an elongated 

 rectum. 



From the genus LaiJipyris, of Linnaeus, some Brazilian 

 species have been separated, whose males have the antennae 

 composed of more than eleven articulations, in the form of 

 barbs of feathers. These species form the genus Amydetes, 

 Hoffm. Germ.* 



Other lampyrides, and also proper to South America, 

 having but eleven articulations to the antennae, present some 

 peculiar characters, which have obtained for them the same 

 generic distinction. (Phengodes, Hoffm.) The third arti- 

 culation of these organs, and the subsequent ones, throw out 

 each, on the internal side, two long ciliated threads, appear- 

 ing articulated, and rolled back upon themselves. The elytra 



* Lampyris jihanicornis, Lat. Voy. cle MM. Humb. et Bonpl. Zool. 

 XVI. 4 ; Amr/dctcs opicalis, Gcni). In3ect. Sp. Nov. p. 67. 



