164 
NATURAL HISTORY OP 
deavour to terrify children, or women who are easily 
frighted,” &c. 
During the splendour of a tropical sunshine — 
the long, sunny lapse of a summer day’s light 
Shining on, shining on — 
the sombre hues of the fire-flies attract but little at- 
tention amidst the infinite variety of living beings 
of more imposing form and attractive manners that 
people to overflowing these prolific lands, while 
every lesser light is lost in the effulgency of “ re- 
dundant day.” But no sooner do the lofty and 
umbrageous trees begin to throw their shadows 
across the landscape, than occasional specks of light 
are seen to flit amidst the growing obscurity. As 
the darkness increases, these become more nume- 
rous; they mount into the air and shoot athwart the 
gloom like igneous meteors, and when the underwood 
is disturbed they rise in such numbers that they span- 
gle the air as with a thousand stars. The brilliancy 
of this spectacle, so far transcending any similar ap- 
pearance witnessed in temperate climates, seldom 
fails to excite the admiration of an European tra- 
veller. Its effect on some British visitors has been 
thus described : 
Sorrowing, we beheld 
The night come on ; but soon did night display 
More wonders than it veiled ; innumerous tribes 
From the wood-cover swarmed, and darkness made 
Their beauties visible ; one while they streamed 
A bright blue radiance upon flowers that closed 
