Morning journal and courier., 1881-08-02
Live Beetles and Snakes for JeyyeIry,
 IErnIn tha Nauz York S1,,,

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 ' ''Here is something new in the way of or namentation," salesman in large uptown I jewelry store said, opening box Out walk. | ed a monster beetle fully four inches in length. About it's body was a solid gold l band, locked by tiny paddock, to | two inches in length, fastened to pin. The | beetles back glistened in the light, having been treated to dress of gold, and as if I numbered along it's long legs worked together | in curious fashion. ''It's a shawl min. ! You see the pin is used to fasten lace or a l shawl, or perhaps worn on the bonnet, the Y insect crawling around the length of the chain. They are perfectly harmless and not ' expensive, as they live on air-that is, they have never been seen to eat. This one was brought here to mount, which is a very fine operation, as the legs and antenna are all so delicate. After all, there is nothing obiec- tionable about them, except the idea of hav- ! ing them crawl over you. They all come from South America and the only lot now in the city is to be taken to France, where the owner will try to introduce the fashion of wearing them. They cost from ten to fifty | dollars, depending entirely on the mounting 1 of the ring There is nothing cruel about it, ! as they are bound loosely, and the gold has no effect upon their hard sides"
 In Brazil the fashion of wearing beetles is carried to 8 great extent. we'll known resident has beetle with collar of gold which meets at the top, and is there orna- ! mented with diamond of great value The ] insect has cage, surrounded by the plants among which it lives in it's native state. and nothing is neglected to make it as comforta ble as possible. But the most popular insect used for an ornament in Brazil is a small phosphorescent beetle. These are often worn fastened in the hair, and as the two phos- phorescent or hfe-giving spots are on the sides of the head, the black insect is. of course, invisible, especially when in the raven locks of the fair Brazilians. Twenty or thirty of these beetles will throw out a light sufficient to read by, and when arranged around the head in 6 circle, or grouped over
 the forehead and held in place, the effect is beautiful.
 Several years ago New York lady gave masquerade ball at her summer house in Newport. The dance was on the lawn and the guests were requested to be there half an hour before dark. The hostess wore the costume of night, and in the daylight her black dress, covered with ivy leayes did not attract special attention, but when she appeared in a gay throng after dark she presented perfect blaze of light, and was the centre of the admiring and wonder. ing company. Tremulous waves of reddish yellow flame seemed to move over her entire dress, while in cap on her head cleaned one great fiery star. The cause of this iIlu imitation was the phosphorescent light of more than five thousand frelies For weeks
 previous to the ball the designer of the cos
 tune had been storing away fireflies. and on
 the day of the fete they were rapidly put on
 the dress. As the ight-giving spot is on the
 ventral surface, each one was placed on it's
 back and held down by fine silver wire, so
 skllfully caught that it could not turn over
 or escape, and was not injured. The star
 was formed of many beetles.
 In Jamaica large beetle, the Lampyris,
 is used by the ladies. Some of the phos-
 phorescent beetles used by them give out
 lights which have to be seen to be appreci-
 are used, representing as many different de-
 grees of light, shade, tint, etc. One, the
 Pygolampis, has rich orange color, chang
 ing to yellow, fickering in intermittent
 flashes of light; another, called Photuris, is
 curious for the gradual increase of light it
 shows; commencing with faint red-5