The history of the Caribby-islands, viz, Barbados, St Christophers, St Vincents, Martinico, Dominico, Barbouthos, Monserrat, Mevis, Antego, &c in all XXVIII in two books : the first containing the natural, the second, the moral history of those islands : illustrated with several pieces of sculpture representing the most considerable rarities therein described : with a Caribbian vocabulary / rendred into English by John Davies ...

GLO-WORMES.

THere are in these Islands several kinds of great Flies of divers figures and colours: but we must assign the first place to those which the French call Mouches Lumincuses, and we may English Glo-wormes: Some Savages call them Cucuyos, and the Caribbians by a name not much differing from it, Coyou∣you. This Fly is not recommendable for its beauty, or figure, as having nothing extraordinary as to either, but only for its luminous quality: they are of a dark colour, and about the bigness of a Locust: it hath two hard and strong wings, under which are two lesser wings very thin, which appear not but when it flies; and it is then also it may be observ'd that un∣der those lesser wings there is a brightness, like that of a Can∣dle, which enlightens all about it: besides, the eyes of this In∣sect are so luminous, that be it ever so dark, it flies any where in the night, which is the time that this glittering light may be seen.

It makes no noise flying, and lives only on flowers which it gathers off the Trees. Being taken between ones fingers, it is so smooth and slippery, that by the little endeavours it makes to recover its liberty, it insensibly gets away: Being kept in captivity it conceals all the light it hath under the wings, and communicates only that of its eyes, but even that very weak∣ly in comparison of the brightness it sheds being at liberty: it hath no sting, nor any claw for its defence: The Indians are glad to have of them in their houses, for they serve them in∣stead of Lamps: but indeed of their own accord, in the night time, they come into those rooms which are not kept too close.

There are in these Islands certain shining Worms, which also flie. All parts of Italy, and all the other parts of the Levant, are also full of them.

But how famous soever these little Stars of the East may be, yet are they but small sparkles in comparison of the great fire which these flying Torches of America cast forth: For they do not only guide the Traveller by shewing him his way in the night, but with the assistance of this light a man may easily

write, and read the smallest Print that may be. A Spanish Hi∣storian relates, that the Indians of Hispaniola, having these Flies fasten'd to their hands and feet, they serv'd them instead of Torches to go a hunting in the night time: it is affirmed al∣so by others, that some other Indians extract that luminous liquor which these Flies have in their eyes and under their wings, and that they rub their faces and breasts therewith in their nocturnal meetings, which makes them appear in the dark to the beholders, as if they were covered with flames, and like dreadful apparitions.

These Flies are easily taken in the night time; and that is done by turning a lighted stick in the air: For as soon as those which at the close of the evening are ready to come out of the woods perceive that fire, imagining it to be one of their companions, they immediately flye to the place where that light appears to them, and so they may be either struok down with a Hat, or flying of themselves against the lighted stick, they fall to the ground, not knowing where they are.

Nor will it be amiss to insert in this place what a learned and curious French Gentleman, one Mons. du Montel, from whose generous liberality came several other remarks which enrich this History, lately writ to a friend of his concerning these Flies.

Being in the Island of Hispaniola, (saith he) I have often at the beginning of the night walk'd about the little Huts we had set up for our abode there while our Ship was repairing, to consider how that the Air was in some places enlightned by those little wandring Stars: But the most pleasant sight of all was, when they came neer those great Trees which bear a kind of Figs, and were not far from our Huts; for sometimes they flew about them, sometimes they would be within the thick boughs, which for a time obscur'd and eclips'd those lit∣tle Luminaries; yet so as that their beams might ever and anon be seen to break through, though weakly, the inter∣posed leaves: those pretty interruptions of light came to us sometimes obliquely, sometimes in a straight line, and per∣pendicularly: Afterwards those glittering Flies extricating themselves out of the obscurity of those Trees, and coming neerer us, we had our pleasure heightned by seeing them on the adjacent Orange-trees, which they seem'd to set a fire, gilding those beautiful fruits, enamelling their flowers, and giving such a lustre to their leaves, that their naturally de∣lightful verdure was extreamly encreas'd by the pleasant combination of so many little lights. I wish'd my self at that time the Art of Painting or Drawing, that I might re∣present a night enlightned, and as it were turn'd into day by so many fires, and so pleasant and luminous a piece of Land∣skip. Think it not much that I am so long about the story of

a Fly, since Du Bartas sometime gave it a place among the Birds, and in the fifth Day of his first Week speaks very nobly of it in these terms:

New-Spain's Cucuyo in his forehead brings Two burning Lamps, two underneath his wings; Whose shining rays serve oft in darkest night, Th' Embroiderer's hand in royal works to light: Th' ingenious Turner with a wakeful eye To polish fair his purest Ivory: Th' Usurer to count his glist'ring Treasures: The learned Scribe to limne his golden measures.

If five or six of these Flies were put into a vessel of fine Cry∣stal, no doubt, the light of them would be answerable to the Poets description, and be a living and incomparable Tortch. But it is to be noted, that these Flies shine not at all when once they are dead, their light being extinguish'd with their lives.