fect cf inf 1 anirratior; , nor cf thè fixa« 
ticn of azotic gas, as Gcettling thinks , as 
thè oil in which they shine does not ccn- 
tain a single air-hublole; hesides, thè phcs« 
phorus of th.es e insects shixìes in a barcme- 
trio vacuujrn, The obs ervatioh in.ade by Foster 
that thè lucide diffused a inore vivid light 
in oxygen gaz than in atnospheric air, does 
not, acccrding to Carradori, depend uron a 
coirbustion more animated by thè inspiration 
of this gaz, but on thè animai s feeling them- 
seives whii e in that gaz, in a better oondi- 
tion« ‘’V^hence then arises” says thè author, 
'*the phosphoric li.ght cf thè lucide? I am 
of thè opinion’* he adas ”that thè light is 
peouliar ano inate in these insects, as 
several cther predue tions are peouliar tc 
other animai s* As some animai s have thè 
f acuì ty of accumulating thè electric fluid, 
and of keeping it ccndensed in particular 
ergans, to diffuse it aftemjvards at pleasure, 
there may be other animai s endowed with thè 
faculty of keeping in a ccndensed state thè 
fluid which consti tu tes light. It is possilie ; 
that by a peculiar organization they may have 
thè power of extractin^? thè light which enters ' 
intc thè compositicn of their feod, and of 
t ransuii tting it to thè reserve ir destined 
for that purpose, w'^-^ich they h,ave in tlieir 
abdcm.en. It is not even impcssible that 
they may h.ave thè power tc ex trac t from. thè 
atmospheric air thè luminous fluid; as other 
animiais have thè power cf extracting freni 
thè same air, by a Chemical prccess, thè fluia 
of heat.” 
Carradori discovered that thè phscphorescence 
of thè luciole is a prcperty independent cf j 
thè life of these animai s, and that it is j 
chiefly owing to thè seft ffeate of thè phes- | 
p.horic substance. Its light is suspended by | 
drying, ?vnd it is aprain revived by scfteninpg I 
it in water; but oniy after a, certa in time i 
of desiccaticn. Heaumur, Beccaria and Spai- j 
lanzani ebserved thè same thing in reg.ard tc 
