that the white powder has a phosphoric appearance in the liv in g insect, and increases
the light when the end o f the trunk is illuminated.
“ One o f the Fulgor® o f considerable magnitude, from the interior o f India, enabled
us to make many observations. The trunk is o f the same form as that o f the Fulgora
C a n d e la r ia ; the colour is a dark but beautiful purple; the apex scarlet, o f a perfectly
pellucid appearance, and still retains a reddish g la r e ; the spots o f white sprinkled on
the purple colour o f the trunk exhibit also a slight appearance o f phosphoric matter.
On the trunk o f the Fulgora Candelaria these white spots are very conspicuous.
“ Though the generic name Fulgora seems to imply some effulgent property in the
insects that compose the genus, it is uncertain whether all possess that property. They
are indeed furnished with a trunk, but it is smaller in proportion in several species tlian
in F. Laternaria, Candelaria, Flammea, Phosphorea, and some others. It has not been
determined wliether any o f the European Fulgor® shine in the night-time.” *
C IC AD A ATRA TA
P la te 15.
F a m il y . C ic a Di d .e .
G e n u s . C ic a d a , L in næ u s . T e ttig o n ia , Fa b ric iu s.
C i i . S p . C. a tra . alis a lbis b a si nigris, venis testa c e is. E x p an s. a la r. 4 | unc.
C. b la ck, w ith iride sc ent white w ings b la ck a t th e b ase, a n d with yellowish brown
nerves. E x p a n s e o f tlie wing 4 ^ inches.
S y n . Cic ad a a tr a ía , F a b r . E n t . S y s t. 4 . p . 2 4 . no. 2 8 . S y s t. R h y n g . p . 42.
Though the observations o f Sir G. Staunton on the natural productions o f China
were necessa rily very general, the study o f insects appears to have engaged his particular
a ttention ; and on that account we must lament that untoward events precluded
him from observing more minutely tbe peculiarities o f some kinds, and the economical
■ (N o tw ith s tan d in g th e observations o f D o novan a n d th e various authoritie s cited by him, it is certainly a
m a tte r o f d o u b t, a t th e p re s en t d a y , w h e th e r th e Fulgorec in re a lity possess any luminous pro p e rty . No re c en t
a u th o r o r trave lle r h a s n otic ed its existenc e in the se inse c ts, a lth o u g h it is re la ted in every w ork o f trave ls as
exhibited b y th e Elatcridcc a n d Lampyridm. Moreover, th e farinaceous m a tte r n otic ed by Rosel exists in m any
o th e r insects k n own to be n o t in th e le a st degre e luminous, a n d o f which th e woolly or waxen ap p en d ag e s in
L ysira la n a ta , th e Dorthe sim, Cocci, &c. is b u t a modification o r more extensive developement. iM. V e sm a e l,
o f Brussels, h a s , however, ju s t re a sse rted th e luminous p rope rtie s o f th e S o u th American F u lg o ra on th e
a u th o rity o f a friend who h a d witnessed it alive, A n n . Soc. E n t . F ra n c e , 1837, Ap}). J . 0 . W.)