NATURAL HISTORY. 219 
another lantern fly. 
^ ^ ^ HIS lantern fly is a nofturnal infeft, that 
has a hood, or bladder, on its head, which 
appears like a lantern, in the night: but by 
day it is clear and tranfparent, and very cu- 
rioufly adorned with red and green ftripes. 
Such a fhining light iffues from this part of 
the infeft, that it is poffible to read by it. 
The wings, and whole body are elegantly 
adorned with a rpixture of red, green, yel- 
low, and other fplendid colours. The crea- 
ture contrails or dilates the hood, or blad- 
der, as it pleafes. When taken, they with- 
draw their light ; but when at liberty, they 
fuffer it to ftiine again, with all its wonder- 
ful refplendency. 
Thefe flies are as luminous as a lighted 
torch, while they refleil a luftre on all neigh- 
bouring objefts. They are in continual mo- 
tion during the night ; but the motion is va- 
rious, and uncertain ; foAetimes they rife, 
and then fink. They will frequently difap- 
pear, and the next inflant rife in another 
place. They commonly hover about fix 
feet from the ground. It is faid, there is 
not a night in the year in which they are not 
feen. In the coldeft v/inter they arc more 
frequently obfervcd, than in the warmefl 
fuinnier. Neither rain or fnow hinders their 
appearance. From all thefe circumftances 
many 
