PLATE CXXII. 



species of locust at present under our consideration. During the 



day-time it lies concealed among the trees, or low herbage amidst the 

 rocks, for during that period it is mute, but when the sun is setting 

 and evening comes on, its sounds commence, and the noise it pro- 

 duces is so loud, that it may be heard at the distance of a mile from 

 the spot where it lies concealed ; in the island of St. Vincent's, 

 where those insects inliabit the woody places among rocks, it is 

 from this circumstance, in addition to the peculiar sound emitted, 

 that the name of Shock-sJiocJc, which it bears, has been assigned to it. 



The unusual loudness of the sound produced by this insect, we 

 may naturally conclude would engage the particular attention of the 

 naturalist, and the memoir of Mr. Guilding alFords us a very 

 satisfactory explanation of the means by which it is occasioned. 

 The generality of mankind would at once be led to expect, under 

 all such circumstances, that the organs of sound were to be sought 

 for in the mouth, but this idea is altogether unfounded, the organs 

 of sound are seated at the base of the wing-cases, where one space of 

 the wing-case of the right side is covered over by a corresponding 

 portion of the wing-case of the left side, and it is the peculiar organ- 

 ization of the two surfaces of this part, where they lie upon, or face 



several species of this tribe, the males of which are luminous as well as the 

 females, and those in the evening, when on the wing among the trees, 

 irradiate the foliage with their " fairy " splendour, like a host of stars in 

 ceaseless motion, and thus exhibit a scene of brilliancy a humble transcript 

 of that observable in the tropic regions to which the author of the memoir 

 adverts. We are quite aware that it is not the Lampyrides alone that 

 enliven with their " living fires the evening sylvan scenery of the West 

 India islands, for there are other insects which possess the same property, 

 and of which several kinds are distinctly well known. 



