Steptmber 1$, 1955 
' Air Letter 
Dr, C. Benmrd Lewis 
Llrectdr sod Csmtor 
Science Mtisem 
The Lastitcte of Jsa^icft 
Kingston} Jamaica, 3« V* I. 
Dear Dr, Leeis* 
It isn't often that I address jroc bet evezy one 
of os needs help once in a while, this time I wonld 
like to ask you if you have any knowledge of so called 
fire fly lani^s that were carried in the West Indies a 
good many years ago. We have two veiy old specimena 
of ti»m here in the Museum, one is a three story cage, 
made of fine bamboo, -slivers I want to say, perhaps I 
should say slats, fliey are placed closely enough to- 
gether to prevent the escape of the fire fly wh^ put 
inside, the other stylo is a small gourd ^th perfo- 
rations idiich is the better known of the West Indies 
fire fly lamps, Are things of this sort still used 
in the remote parts of the Caribbean area and, if you 
are not aware of it, have you s<mie correspondent in 
one or another island who might give us acme informa- 
tion about their present or past use? When was one 
last seen in use is more or less the burning «tuestion 
here. 
We imve been unable to dig up any: inforeation 
regarding these lamps since our Ihr. Hough published a 
few words ^>out thm in Bulletin 139 and ^lletin liil 
of the United States National Ifijseum. Any information 
that you can give me w)uld be keenly appreciated but 
don't go to too much trouble about the mtter. I am 
also writing to Dr, John B, Lewis at St. James in 
this same strain* 
’li^th kindest regards. 
Sincerely, 
Waldo L. Sedmitt 
Head Curator 
Department of Zoology 
