NATURAL HISTORY. 
201 
fpecies in the Eaft-Inclies. Being deftinecl, 
ftemingly to roam by night, in order to 
avoid the exceffive heat of the fun by day in 
thofe fnitry climates, how providentially Na- 
ture has accommodated them with a fub- 
ftance that renders their aerial courfe percep- 
tible to each other ! But when they alight, 
and fwarm upon trees, their luminous fub- 
llance, being no longer uleful, is concealed 
and preferved by their clofed wings. 
LAMPYRIS NOCTILUCA of Martinico. 
The FIRE-FLY of Martinico. 
T HIS fly, according to the Pere de Ter- 
tre, is lefs than the common fly. They 
emit a fparkling golden light, which is ex- 
tremely agreeable. But the infedt w ithdraws, 
and lets it fliine at intervals, alternately, 
throughout the night. This effulgence^ is 
contained in a whitifh fubftance, of which 
the infeft is fo full, as to make it appear 
thi'ough the crevices of its fkin at its plea- 
fure. 
Thefe different fire-flies feem deftined by 
Nature not only to chear the bofom of dark- 
fome night, but to guide the wandering fa- 
Vage through the pathlefs wood, or defart 
wild. Indeed by their light, he may lay 
more fecret fna.rcs for his fhaggy prey on tha 
moun tiau 
