14 
HEMIPTERA. 
inferior only to F. lanternaria ; it is an undoubted nondescript, and may be considered 
as - a striking example of the entomological riches of a country hitherto scarcely known, 
the interior of Indostan. It was originally brought from India by the late Governor 
Holford, and is now in the possession of the author. He has sought in vain for this 
species in other cabinets of exotic insects, and ventures to deem his specimen unique.” 
Donovan, adopting the opinion of the luminosity of the Fulgorae, then pro- 
ceeds: — “ In the course of our remarks on the Fulgora so abundant in China, F. 
candelaria, our attention was naturally directed to the astonishing property some 
insects of this genus are known to possess, that of emanating light ; and it was to this 
insect we alluded in particular, when speaking of one from interior India, that enabled 
us to extend our observations on that property. The trunk is large, of a dark purple, 
thickly sprinkled with spots of white phosphoric powder, and the apex, which is scarlet, 
and somewhat pellucid, still retains a reddish glow, that almost convinces us the 
creature when living could diffuse light both from the apex and the spots. In admit- 
ting this conjecture, without wandering into the marvellous, its nocturnal appearance 
must be infinitely more singular than either of the known species of Fulgorae, 
Lampyrides, or any other luminous insect yet discovered ; for, when on the wing, the 
illuminated apex would resemble a globule of fire, or heated iron, and the numberless 
phosphoric spots on the tube, form a train of glittering stars to accompany it.* 
“ The only figure of a Fulgora in any respect resembling this species, is given in 
the works of Stoll, under the title of De Groote Groene Coromandelische Lantaarn- 
drager ; f but among other evident specific distinctions we need only notice the 
structure of the trunk, which is altogether different, being much recurved, and 
tapering gradually from the base to an acute point at the apex : its colour is also an 
olive black.” 
* “ As it may be thought improbable that any insect can exhibit such an extraordinary appearance, the words 
of Olivier on some species of Lampyrides may not be unsatisfactory. The insects are certainly very distinct, 
but reports of travellers countenance an opinion that the phosphoric emanations are analogous in the species of 
both genera. ‘ The phenomena produced by a natural phosphorous is still more wonderful in some foreign 
species, in which the males shine, and being provided with wings, will produce in their rapid flight a thousand 
small stars.’ — Olivier, Histoire des Insectes.” 
-j- “ PI. 26, fig. 143. Green lantern-carrier fly of Coromandel. — At the conclusion of the description, Stoll 
says, ‘ In de Nederlandsche Kabinetten, fyc. fyc .' — ‘ This insect was not known in the cabinets of the low 
countries till within three years, [anno 1780,] during which time a few were brought from Tranquebar, on the 
Coromandel coast, to the cabinet of natural curiosities of his Highness the Stadtholder of the United Provinces, 
of which I have been obligingly permitted to take the figure of a female by Mons. Vosmar, to whom I owe my 
public acknowledgments for it.’ — 99. tab. 26.” 
