HEMIPTERA. 



prising particulars of a specimen of it from Peru.* Her account has, however, been 

 generally believed since the missionaries! in countries which produce those insects have 

 confirmed her account. It is admitted that the Chinese Fulgora has an illuminated 

 appearance in the night. ' The foreheads of many Fulgora (especially those found in 

 China) emit a lively shining light in the night-time, which, according to some authors, is 

 sufficient to read by.' — Yeats. 1 



" The light of the Fulgora is generally imagined to issue from the trunk, or 

 elongated projection of the forehead ; but Roesel offers a conjecture on the light of the 

 Fulgora Laternaria, which, on further investigation, may enable naturalists to determine 

 whether the light is entirely produced by an innate property of the trunk, or receives 

 additional splendour from some external cause. He notices a white farinaceous sub- 

 stance on several parts of the wings and body as well as the trunk, which, he observes, 

 looks like the decayed wood which shines at night. We mention this conjecture of 

 Roesel, though the same occurred to us before we perused his observations. We have 

 invariably found a similar white powder on other insects of this genus, but usually upon 

 the trunk only. The remarks of Roesel were necessarily very limited, two species of the 

 Fulgora only being then known. We possess twelve distinct species, and have made 

 dissections and observations on several others ; from all which we are inclined to imagine 



them into a wooden box, without being aware of their shining at night; but one night, bein°- awakened by an 

 unusual noise, and much frightened, I jumped out of bed and ordered a light, not knowing whence this noise 

 proceeded. We soon perceived that it originated in the box ; we opened with some inquietude, but were still 

 more alarmed after opening it, and letting it fall on the ground, for a flame appeared to issue from it, which 

 seemed to receive additional lustre as often as another insect flew out of it. When we observed this some time 

 we recovered from our terror, and admired the splendour of these little animals." Dissert, de generatione et 

 metamorphibus Insectorum Surinameyisis. 



* Cucujus Peruvianus. " That which, beside the figure of the head, is most wonderful in this insect, is the 

 shining property of the same part, whereby it looks in the night like a lantern, so that two or three of these 

 fastened to a stick, or otherwise conveniently disposed of, will give sufficient light to those who travel or walk 

 in the night." Grew. Museum Regalis Societatis , p . 158. 



t Le ver-luisant. Ceux que nous voyons a la campagne dans les nuits d'ete ne jettent qu'une foible lueur : 

 mais ds y en a dans les Indes modernes qui repandent un eclat tres-vif. Ce sont, pour ainsi dire, des phosphores 

 animez. " Les Indiens," dit le savant auteur de la Theologie des Insectes, " ne se servoient autrefois dans 

 leurs maisons, et dehors d'aucunc autre lumiere. Lorsqu'ils marchent de nuit, ils en attachent deux aux gros 

 doigts du pied, et en portent un a la main. Ccs insectes repandent une si grande clarte, que par leur moyen 

 on peut lire, ecrire, et faire dans une chambre toutes les autres choses neeessaires." Lesser. Liv. 2. c. 3. rem. S. 

 " Le trait rapporte par le P. du Tertue dans son Histoire des Antilles, auroit bien du etre cite, il dit avoir 

 lu son breviare a la clarte d'un de ces vers-luisans." 



I Yeats. Institutions of Entomology. 



