38 NARRATIVEOFAN- 

 CHAP, affording fufficient light for almoU any purpofe : thefe 



XVII 



L_ ^i^s are above three inches long, and very thick, the body 



green, with four tranfparent wings variegated with little 

 marks of all colours, particularly the under wings, on 

 which are two large roundifli fpots not unlike thofe on 

 the tail feathers of a peacock. Beneath the head of this 

 , ' infe6t is feen an inverted ftraight trump or tube like a 

 needle, with which it is faid to fuck its food from the 

 flowers. With the fame inftrument it is here fuppofed 

 to produce that difagreeable, loud, and grinding noife, 

 which I have already noticed. But, for my own part, I 

 fliould rather afcribe the noife to the fluttering of its 

 tranfparent wings, as is fuppofed to be the cafe with 

 fome flies in England : a large probofcis or fnout ftriped 

 red and yellow, and fliaped like the firft joint of a man's 

 flnger, proje6ls from the head, and makes one-third of 

 the whole animal ; this protuberance is vulgarly called 

 its lantern, and emits that furprifing li^ht whence it 

 takes its fecond name. I fliall only add, that it is a very 

 flovv^ creeper, but flies with amazing velocity. 



On the 26th, my boy Quaco arrived from Paramaribo 

 with the following lift of proviiions, which he had pur- 

 chafed for me. In order to give the curious a juft idea of 

 the prices in Surinam when things are cheapeft, I will 

 here infert fome articles as charged to my account, with 

 the prices in Englifh money, calculating at the rate of 

 eleven florins to one pound Iterling. 



Thefe 



