vi] PHOSPHORESCENCE AND FIREFLIES 



and the relations in which they stand towards the plants amongst 

 which, or on which, they live ? In short, how can we ever come to 

 know the biology of this vast living world, which even the pro- 

 foundest philosopher fails to grasp as a whole ? 



The first nights passed in the primeval forest can never be for- 

 gotten ; their charm is indescribable ! I was as yet unaccustomed 

 to jungle life, and could sleep but poorly on the hard sheets of bark 

 and uneven flooring of the lanko. In my moments of wakefulness 

 I saw the forest under a new aspect hardly less beautiful than that it 

 presented during daylight. In these dense woods the nights were 

 extraordinarily still ; not the lightest breath of air stirred a leaf ; the 

 temperature was delightful. The profound and solemn silence was 

 only interrupted at long intervals by the harsh and penetrating cry 

 of the Argus pheasant. Through the gaps left by the trees we had 

 felled the sky could here and there be seen, but the blue was not so 

 intense as that of Italy, and the stars did not seem to shine so brightly 

 as at home. The intense darkness was lit up from time to time by 

 brilliant intermittent flashes — the love-lights of enormous fire- 

 flies. 1 



On the surface of the ground the darkness of night unveils a 

 world which the light of the sun only hides by day. Every dead 

 leaf, every branch or twig in a decaying condition, was luminous, 

 showing a pale glow through the slight mist which rose from the 

 humus of the forest soil. The rain of the preceding day had 

 apparently set alight the whole network of mycelium thread which, 

 invading the ruins of the giant vegetation, slowly disorganised and 

 consumed them. A huge rotten tree-trunk a few feet from where I 

 lay emitted a brilliant phosphorescent light, emanating from 

 certain white fungi belonging to the genus Agaricus. A single one 

 of these enabled me easily to read a newspaper when placed upon 

 it, so strong was the white and very beautiful light it gave off. 2 

 The temperature at the time was 8o c Fahr. 



1 The firefly which was so abundant at Mattang, and of which I procured 

 several examples, has only recently (1895) received the name of Pyroccelia 

 opaca (E. Olivier). Hitherto it has remained undescribed among the large 

 collection of insects in the Museo Civico of Genoa. It measures 21 by 9 mm. 

 In Sarawak we found five other species of firefly (Lampyridice) and among 

 them one still larger, Lamprophoms nitens, which measures 22 mm. in length, 

 (v. Ann. del M us. Civ. di Genova, Ser. 2a., Vol. II., p. 345.) I here gladly 

 avail myself of the opportunity of expressing my heartiest thanks to my 

 friend. Professor Raphael Gestro, Vice-Director of the Museo Civico at Genoa, 

 and one of the most distinguished of entomologists, who has always 

 afforded me his valuable aid when I have required information on the col- 

 lections made during my travels. 



2 This Agaricus was entirely white, with a dimidiate and lobate pileus, 

 exceedingly short lateral stipe, decurrent lamellae, scanty and nearly dry 

 flesh. 



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