The insect was the _Pyrophorus noctilucus_; a longish click-beetle of a dull blackish-brown color, and covered over with a short, slight-brown pubescence. When walking or at rest, the chief light that it emits proceeds from the two yellow tubercles on the thorax, so conspicuous in dead specimens; but, when flying, another luminous spot is discernible on the hinder part of the thorax, and this is continued to the under side of the insect. Ovideo says that the Indians travel in the night with these insects fixed to their hands and feet; and that they spin, weave, paint, dance, etc., by their light. In Prescott’s “Conquest of Mexico,” we are told that in 1520, when the Spaniards visited that country, “the air was filled with the _Cucujo_,--a species of large beetle, which emits an intense phosphoric light from its body, strong enough to enable one to read by it. These wandering flies, seen in the darkness of the night, were converted, by the excited imaginations of the besieged, into an army of matchlocks.” [Illustration: PLATE XII. THE LANTERN FLY. (_Fulgora lanternaria._) According to Madame MERIAN, Marquis SPINOLA, and others.] At the time of the discovery of Hispaniola, Peter Martyr assures us that the natives, in their night journeyings through the woods, were in the habit of fastening a number of these light-givers to their feet to light the way. On this occurrence Southey founds the incident mentioned in “Madoc” where Coatel guides Madoc through the cave:-- “She beckoned, and descended, and drew out From underneath her vest a cage,--or net It rather might be called, so fine the twigs Which knit it,--where, confined, two fire-flies gave their lustre.” CHAPTER IX. LANTERN-FLIES. When Sir Charles Lyell visited this country some years ago, he expressed much interest in the sea-serpent question; and one of his first inquiries, when introduced to a certain gentleman, was, “Have you heard any thing about the sea-serpent?” The reply was, “Unfortunately I have seen it.” If Mme. Merian were alive, and a similar question should be propounded to her regarding the luminosity of the South-American lantern-fly, she could with propriety make a like response. She makes a definite and distinct statement concerning the phosphorescence of the _Fulgora lanternaria_, yet to-day it is declared non-luminous by nearly all scientists.