Fireflies. 221 



the harmony and melody of their singing, and that he 

 also exerciseth his motion in the air according to the 

 a6lion of their dancing. But he, by reason of the divers 

 circuits of the gnats, of necessity swiftly flieth about 

 divers ways to seek his food and our men also read and 

 write by that light, which always continueth until he 

 have gotten enough whereby he may be well fed. The 

 gnats being cleansed, or driven out of doors, the cucuius 

 beginning to famish, the light beginneth to fail, therefore 

 when they see his light to wax dim, opening the little 

 door, they endeavour to set him at liberty, that he may 

 seek his food. In sport and merriment, or to the intent 

 to terrify such as are afraid of every shadow, they say 

 that many wanton, wild fellows sometimes rubbed their 

 faces by night with the flesh ot a cucuius being killed, 

 with purpose to meet their neighbours with a flaming 

 countenance, knowing whither they want to go, as with 

 us sometimes wanton young men, putting a gaping toothed 

 vizard upon their face, endeavour to terrify children, or 

 women who are easily frightened, for the face being 

 anointed with the lump or fleshy part of the cucuius, 

 shineth like a flame of fire, yet in short space that fiery 

 virtue waxeth feebler, and is extinguished, seeing it is a 

 certain bright humour received in a thin substance." 



The inse6t certainly retains a small amount of light 

 for some time after death. The luminous portion of the 

 abdomen easily separates from the remainder, it is a 

 tough, slightly elastic substance, the light becoming 

 more brilliant when the separated portion is squeezed, 

 many authorities hold that the light is phosphorescent 

 in its nature, but the distinguished Italian Scientist, 

 Matenni, has demonstrated by chemical analysis, that 



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