710 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1142 



nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this new organ- 

 ism. A more complete description of the or- 

 ganism and the histology of the disease will 

 be published shortly. John A. Elliott 



Delaware College Experiment Station, 

 September 18, 1916 



THE SYNCHRONAL FLASHING OF FIREFLIES 



In Science for February 4, 1916, E. S. 

 Morse, under the title, " Fireflies Flashing in 

 Unison," mentions having seen fifty years be- 

 fore a striking instance of the synchronal 

 flashing of fireflies. Morse again discusses 

 briefly the same subject in Science for Sep- 

 tember 15, 1916. He states that he has never 

 since observed this phenomenon in the flashing 

 of these insects. McDermott, in Science for 

 October 27, 1916, also discusses the question of 

 fireflies flashing in unison. 



The synchronal flashing of fireflies appears 

 to be a very rare phenomenon in North Amer- 

 ica. So rarely does it seem to occur that one 

 may consider himself fortunate if he has ob- 

 served the phenomenon even once in a life- 

 time. The writer about twelve years ago ob- 

 served a most remarkable instance of the 

 simultaneous flashing of fireflies in Oxford, 

 Mass. On the night this phenomenon occurred 

 a heavy thunderstorm had recently passed over, 

 followed by a profound calm. From time to 

 time dazzling flashes of lightning illuminated 

 the landscape. The air was very warm and 

 humid, and fireflies became unusually abun- 

 dant and active, especially in a low field ad- 

 joining some woods. Here thousands of these 

 insects were sailing low over the ground, 

 flashing incessantly as far as the eye could see. 

 After a while a most remarkable synchronism 

 in the flashing appeared to take place. From 

 time to time, as if moved by a common im- 

 pulse, great numbers would flash so closely in 

 unison over the entire field that an extensive 

 sheet of tiny light-points would gleam upon 

 the vision for a moment — and then vanish. 

 This remarkable synchronism in the flashing 

 sometimes continued several times in succes- 

 sion, giving one the impression of alternate 

 waves of illumination and darkness in the dis- 

 tance. At times the rhythmic impulse ceased 



for a considerable period over the entire field. 

 At other times it appeared to take place only 

 in large groups occupying particular areas of 

 the field. Although the writer has given a 

 great deal of attention to the flashing of fire- 

 flies during the last twelve years, synchronism 

 in the flashing of these insects has never since 

 been observed. Depending more or less upon 

 atmospheric conditions, fireflies show consid- 

 erable variation in the character of their flight 

 and the flashing impulse. At times the in- 

 sects seem loath to leave the low herbage. On 

 certain evenings they appear to confine their 

 flight over the fields largely to the lowermost 

 stratum of the atmosphere ; at other times they 

 rise upward in myriads from the grass early in 

 the evening and drift away in all directions 

 toward the crowns of the trees. At such times 

 the upward flight is frequently accompanied 

 by a weak, prolonged emission of light so that 

 the insects appear to be tiny, glowing sparks 

 propelled upward by gentle air currents. 



H. A. Allaed 

 Washington, D. C. 



QUOTATIONS 



THE NEWCASTLE MEETING OF THE BRITISH 

 ASSOCIATION 



For the third time the British Association 

 has held its annual meeting during the great 

 war. There are some obvious reasons for sus- 

 pending such meetings, to which brief refer- 

 ence has already been made on the previous 

 occasions, and to which has been since added 

 the further restriction of available members 

 by the adoption of universal service. But 

 there are also good reasons for "carrying on," 

 the best of them being provided by experience. 

 The meetings have been eminently successful, 

 if success is properly gauged with due account 

 taken of the difficulties. In using the word it 

 is not implied that the numbers present were 

 large compared with the average numbers in 

 peace time : at Newcastle the tickets sold were 

 indisputably below that average — even much 

 below it: we must think rather of what might 

 have been, under the deplorable circum- 

 stances. The sections might have been 

 empty, whereas they were well attended, in 



