428 
INSECTA. 
Elater, properbj so called. 
The antenrice of the males are simply serrated 
E. noctilucus, L.; Tatipin cucujo, Oliv., Col., II, 2, 31, 11,14, a. 
Rather more than an inch long ; dusky-brown, with a cinere- 
ous down ; a convex, yellow, round, shining spot on each side 
of the thorax near its posterior angles ; elytra marked with lines 
of small punctures. From South America. 
During the night, the thoracic spots diffuse a very strong 
light, sufficiently bright to enable one to read the smallest cha- 
racter, particularly if several of the Insects be placed in the same 
vase. By it also the Avomen of the country pursue their Avork, 
and Ladies eA^en use it as an ornament, placing it in their hair 
during the eA^ening paseo. The Indians fix them to their feet 
to light them in their nocturnal journeys. BroAvn pretends that 
all the internal parts of the Insect are luminous, and that it 
has the poAA’er of suspending, ad libitum, its phosphoric pro- 
perty f. The French colonists cdllii Mouche lumineuse, and 
the Indians, Cucuyos, C oy ouy ou, AA’hence the Spanish term Cu- 
cujo. An individual of this species, accidently transported to 
Paris in some Avood, in its larva or pupa state, completed its 
metamorphosis there, and greatly astonished the inhabitants of 
the faubourg Saint- Antoine by its, to them, extraordinary light. 
E. ceneus, L. ; Oliv., Col., Ib., viii, 83. Six lines long, bronze 
green ; glossy ; elytra striated; legs fulvous. Germany and the 
North of Europe. 
E. germanus, L, ; Oliv., Ib., 11, 12. Very common in the 
Aucinity of Paris, and only differing from the eeneus in the colour 
of its feet, Avhich are black. 
E. ci'uciatus, Oliv., Ib. IV, 40. A pretty European species, 
Avith the appearance of the seneus, but smaller ; black ; two lon- 
gitudinal red bands on the thorax, near the lateral margin; 
elytra yelloAvisb-red, Avith a black line near the anterior angles 
of their base, and tAVO bands of the same colour forming a cross 
on the suture. Rare near Paris. 
E. castaneus, L. ; Oliv., Ib. Ill, 25; v, 51. Black; thorax 
coA'ered Avith a reddish doAAui; elytra yelloAAUsh AA'ith a black ex- 
tremity; antennae of the male pectiniform. Europe. 
E. Tujicollis, L. ; Oliv., Ib., VI, 61, a, b. Three lines in 
length, and of a shining black; posterior half of the thorax red. 
North of Europe. 
*■ The anterior extremity of the head is sometimes on a level with the lahrum, 
or on the same horizontal plane ; at others it is more elevated, and terminated sud- 
denly ; but these differences, frequently imperceptible, cannot be used to establish 
generic sections — my genus Ludia requires a re-examination. 
f- M.de la Cordaire who has examined the living Insect informs me than the prin- 
cipal reservoir of the phosphoric matter is situated inferiorly near the junction of the 
thorax with the abdomen. 
