428 THE WEST INDIAN FIRE BEETLE. 


















The light given off by this insect is of a very peculiar 
nature. When seen during the day it is of yellow color, 
strongly tinged with green ; at night the green is not percep- 
tible, and the amount of light given off, though considerable, 4 
is of an intangible character. .I use the word intangible, for — 
want of a better one, to describe the opalescent appearance — 
of their lights when we look directly at them. Its effect 
upon the retina of the eye is, at times, painful when looked : 
upon steadily for some minutes; and after being shut up ina — 
dark room with them for an hour or even less, I have found, — 
upon looking at the gas-light in the street, it had a brilliant . 
red appearance, as intense as the crimson stars of rockets 7 
made by the burning of strontian. This effect lasted several 4 
minutes. 4 
By placing the luminous parts of one insect quite near the — 
paper, very fine print can be easily read by its aid, though I 
cannot imagine the light, even of a large number, to be suf 
ficient for any practical illuminating purposes as has eset 
affirmed by some writers. The Cuban ladies make a singular 
use of these living gems, sewing them in lace bags, whieh 
are disposed as ornaments upon their dresses, or arranged $ 
a fillet for their hair. Eo 
The perfect control which the insect has over these lumi- of 
nous spots is very marked. While they remain dormant 
during the day, their light is wholly extinguished, not evel 
soon as they begin to crawl, that moment they light pi s= 
path with the lanterns on the thorax, not often usmg ” 
patch upon the abdomen, except while flying oF me 
for flight, and it is only while on the wing that their r 
illuminating apparatus is displayed in all its intensity 4 
eauty. : ative 
Their period of perfect insect life, even in their ow? neti 
island, is quite brief, lasting only about three or four m ee 
not one being seen before the commencement of the pe 
season, which begins about April, and disappearing ™° 
