BQ lilt. A MUJtUAY ON AN UNUKaOUlliliD 



But, to returu to the affinities of the larva in question, tho 

 general diffusion of light throughout the body indicates a greater 

 resemblance to the Firefly than the Glowworm. 



The new larva, however, diflers materially from the normal type 

 of Elateridous larva) : they are all nearly rounded, cylindrical, 

 hard worms, like a bit of wire (the "Wireworm is one of them) — 

 whereas the present species is only convex on the upperside, 

 which has something of the consistency of the Elateridous larva; ; 

 but the underside must have been softer, although still of 

 a pergarainous texture ; for it is wrinkled and flatter, or even 

 somewhat concave, instead of being linear, and the segments not 

 fitting into each other so as to make an even wire-like surface, but 

 telescopically fitted, the anterior one always being a good deal wider 

 than the one next behind it. The terminal segment in the great 

 majority of cases (not in tho Wireworm, which is one of tho ex- 

 ceptions), and vei'y often every segment, has a roughened, finely 

 papillose part, which serves as a rasp or file-like surface by 

 which to keep a hold on tho walls of its burrow by pressing 

 against them when it desij'es to move, the minute legs at the 

 anterior end being obviously insufficient to have much eflfect 

 on the long body, which extends far behind. This larva has 

 nothing of that sort ; and the reader will see by comparing the 

 figures (2 and 8) already given that here again the resemblance is 

 very distant. 



On passing in review the whole of the larvse of dilferent 

 families of Coleoptera as yet described or figured, however, I can 

 find none which quite suits the present form ; but I think it cornea 

 nearer the Elateridae tlian any other. The form of the head and 

 mouth is nearer that of it, as may be seen in figs. 3, 4 and 5, 

 There are some of the Heteromera which also come near it, and, 

 curiously enough, in a group of them which approaches theEla- 

 teridse in form and appearance, as Serropalpus, Dircea, &c. Size 

 goes for little, as, unlike the perfect Beetles, the larvae grow ; 

 and, besides, there are species of Firefly small enough almost to 

 suit this larva. Anotlier reason which inclines me more than 

 anything else to suspect that a species of Firefly may be the 

 imago of the present larva, is the fact that we know no other 

 luminous Beetle in Brazil except them and the Glowworms ; 

 and as the liglit is found to exist both in the larva and imago in 

 the only instances where we know both, it seems an inforence 

 which we are bound to admit as probable at least, that it will 



