290 
PHOSPHORIC BEETLE. 
common candle. This brilliant phosphoric emana- 
tion issues from the two smooth yellow spots no- 
ticed in the specific character ; and we are told that 
the inhabitants of Hispaniola, &c., before the arri- 
val of the Spaniards, made use of no other light 
than what was produced by these insects. It has 
even been said, though with no great degree of pro- 
bability, that when Sir Thomas Cavendish and Sir 
Robert Dudley, son to the Earl of Leicester, first 
landed in the West Indies, they were surprised by 
the number of lights which, in the evening, they 
saw moving about in the woods ; and, supposing 
that the Spaniards were advancing towards them, 
tliev became alarmed and immediately retreated to 
•/ 
their ships. 
