COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 167 
to one sex, but its absence was more probably caused 
by a languid state of the animal. The light is far 
more beautiful in colour, and greater in power, than 
the mild secretion of the glow-worm ; and the sub- 
stance, if removed from the beetle immediately after 
death, will remain luminous like phosphorus, on the 
objects on which it is placed. 
“ It is to be hoped that others will be induced to 
bring these insects over alive earlier in the season ; 
for there can be little doubt that they would live 
through a warm summer in this climate. I do not 
despair therefore of seeing our fair countrywomen 
at home, as well as abroad, employing these living 
gems to add to the splendour of their attire. At 
the Havannah they are collected and sold for orna- 
menting the ladies* head-dresses at evening parties, 
when they are, I understand, generally confined 
under gauze which covers the head, and from among 
the ringlets of hair these terrestrial stars shine forth 
with all their beauty 
ELATER PORCATUS. 
PLATE VII. Fig. 2. 
Fabricius — Olivier , ii. No. 31, pi. 7? fig* 74. — Chalcolepi- 
dius porcatus, Esch — Dejean. 
The body of this insect is of a shining black, but 
it derives its superficial colour from a coating of 
* Zoological Journal, voL iii. p. 379. 
