PLATE CXLV. 



cribed in our former work (the Insects of India), under the name of 

 Fulgora Pyrorhynchus, the fiery -beaked Fulgora of Coromandel, 

 and other insects of this family and its analogous genera. 



The entomologist need not be reminded that this is one of those 

 very extraordinary insects which in addition to the novelty of their 

 appearance by day* light, exhibit a brilliant phosphorescent light in 

 the night-time, when the darkness favours their luminous emanations. 

 It is generally believed, that this luminous property exists in the 

 hollow elongated trunk or snout in the front of the head, and this is 

 currently admitted upon the testimony of Mad. Merian to be the case 

 with regard to the largest species of the tribe, Fulgora laternaria. 

 The idea may be correct, but we cannot avoid remarking, that in 

 Fulgora laternaria, as well as in the species now before us, and some 

 few others that are acknowledged to possess this luminous property, 

 there is a strong indication of such appearance not being entirely 

 confined to that part of the insect : we may remark, that on the 

 body, above and beneath, and on the wings, the head, and limbs, as 

 well as on the trunk of the head itself, a fine white powder more or 

 less abundantly sprinkled on the surface, and in which this luminous 

 property, or at least some portion of it. may also reside; it has 

 much the appearance of an exudation from within, and may be a 

 a natural secretion thrown out upon the surface for some useful 

 purpose in the economy of the species, which has hitherto escaped 

 the intelligence of the philosopher. The " Lampyris noctiluca," 

 and other species of the glow-worm genus are luminous in the pairing 

 season, and it may be the same with the insects of the Fulgora 

 tribe. 



