a name given in the Annales de Chymie to the LAMPYRIS ITALICA (See LAMPYRIS, Encycl.). According to Dr Carradori, the light of the luciole does not depend on the influence of any external cause, but merely on the will of those insects. While they fly about at freedom, their shining is very regular; but when they are once in our power, they shine very irregularly, or do not shine at all. When they are molested, they emit a frequent light, which appears to be a mark of their resentment. When placed on their backs, they shine almost without interruption, making continual efforts to turn themselves from that position. In the daytime it is necessary to torment them in order to make them shine; and thence it follows, that the day to them is the season of repose. The luciole emit light at pleasure from every point of their bellies, which proves that they can move all the parts of their viscera independently of each other. They can also render their phosphorescence more or less vivid, and continue it as long as they please.

A slight compression deprives the luciole of their power of ceasing to shine. The author is inclined to believe, that the movement by which they conceal their light is executed by drawing back their phosphoric substance into a particular membrane or tunic. He supposes also, that the sparkling consists in a trembling or oscillation of the phosphoric mass. He is of opinion, that there is no emanation of a phosphoric substance, and that the whole phenomenon takes place in the interior part of the luminous viscera. When the shining is at its greatest degree of height, it is so strong that a person may by it easily distinguish the hours on the smallest watch, and the letters of any type whatever.

The phosphoric part of the luciole does not extend farther than to the extreme rings of the belly. It is there inclosed in a covering composed of two portions of membranes, one of which forms the upper, and the other the lower, part of the belly, and which are joined together. Behind this receptacle is placed the phosphorus, which resembles a paste, having the smell of garlic, and very little taste. The phosphoric matter issues from a sort of bag on the slightest pressure; when squeezed out, this matter loses its splendour in a few hours, and is converted into a white dry substance. A portion of the phosphoric belly put into oil, shone only with a feeble light, and was soon extinguished. In water, a like portion shone with the same vivacity as in the air, and for a much longer time. The author thence concludes, that the phosphorescence of the luciole is not the effect of slow inflammation, nor of the fixation of azotic gas, as the oil in which they shine does not contain a single air-bubble: besides, the phosphorus of these insects shines in a barometrical vacuum. The observation made by Foster, that the luciole diffused a more vivid light in oxygen gas than in atmospheric air, does not, according to Carradori, depend upon a combustion more animated by the inspiration of this gas, but on the animals feeling themselves, while in that gas, in a better condition. "Whence, then, arises (says the author) the phosphoric light of the luciole? I am of opinion (adds he), that the light is peculiar and innate in these insects, as several other productions are peculiar to other animals. As some animals have the faculty of accumulating the electric fluid, and of keeping it condensed in particular organs, to diffuse it afterwards at pleasure, there may be other animals endowed with the faculty of keeping in a condensed state the fluid which constitutes light. It is possible, that by a peculiar organization they may have the power of extracting the light which enters into the composition of their food, and of transmitting it to the reservoir designed for that purpose, which they have in their abdomen. It is not even impossible that they may have the power to extract from the atmospheric air the luminous fluid, as other animals have the power of extracting from the same air, by a chemical process, the fluid of heat."

Carradori discovered, that the phosphorescence of the luciole is a property independent of the life of these animals, and that it is chiefly owing to the state of the phosphoric substance. Its light is suspended by drying, and it is again revived by softening it in water; but only after a certain time of desiccation. Reaumur, Becaria, and Spallanzani, observed the same thing in regard to the pholasides and the medusa.

By plunging the luciole alternately into lukewarm and cold water, they shine with vivacity in the former, but their light becomes extinct in the latter; which, according to the author, depends on the alternate agreeable and disagreeable sensation which they experience. In warm water their light disappears gradually. Dr Carradori tried on the luciole and their phosphorus the action of different saline and spirituous liquors, in which they exhibited the same appearances as other phosphoric animals. These last experiments prove that the phosphoric matter of the luciole is only soluble in water.