E N T O M OLOGY. 



HEMIPTERA. 



Genus, Fulgora, or Lantern Fly. 



Character. — The Forehead truncated and rounded ; antenuaj 

 underneath the eyes, and doubly articulated ; 

 rostrum carved inwardly underneath. 



No. I. THE FULGORA PYRORHYNCUS, OR 

 BENGAL FIRE-FLY. 



An Insect hitherto almost unknown and remarkable for 

 the beautiful purple and green colour of its under wings. 

 This singular animal which bears some general resemblance 

 to the Genus Papilio, or Butterfly, has the extraordinary 

 power of eliciting a Phosporic Light from the internal 

 cavity of its trunk, which forms a striking character 

 in its appearance — The wonderful power which the Glow- 

 Worm possesses of illuminating by its small radiant lamp, 

 the darkness of night, has been the theme of Poets, as 

 well as Naturalists. The present Insect, which is a Native 

 of Indostan, is endowed with a similar power, and con- 

 tributes in no small degree to excite our wonder by the 

 curious formation of its trunk or lantern, which is intended 

 by Nature to light it on its way. One of the largest of 

 this family, the Lanternaria, has been ably figured and 

 described by Madame Merian, in her account of the 

 Indian Insects. Having received from the Indians several 

 of these, which she had carefully placed together in a 

 transparent box, she was surprised in the night by their 

 luminous appearance, and taking alarm at the display 

 of the fire, as it indeed appeared to be, let fall the box 

 to the ground, upon which the cause became obvious by 

 the liberation of the Insects. 



