GLOW-WORM. 
78 
colour, with the two or three last joints of the 
body of a pale or -whitish sulphur-colour. It is 
from these parts that the phosphoric light above- 
mentioned proceeds, which is of a yellow colour, 
with a very slight cast of green: the body, ex- 
clusive of the thorax, consists of ten joints or di- 
visions. The larva, pupa, and complete female 
insect scarcely differ perceptibly from each other 
in general appearance, but the phosphoric light 
is strongest in the complete animal. The Glow- 
Worm is a slovv-moving insect, and in its manner 
of walking frequently seems to drag itself on by 
starts or slight efforts as it were. The male is 
smaller than the female, and is provided both with 
wings and wing-sheaths: it is but rarely seen, 
and it seems, even at present, not very clearly 
determined whether it be luminous or not. The 
general idea among naturalists has been that it is 
not, and that the splendor exhibited by the female 
in this species is ordained for the purpose of at- 
tracting the male. This circumstance is elegantly 
expressed in some beautiful lines of Mr. Gilbert 
White, in his History of Selburne. 
The chilling night-dews fall; away, retire; 
For see, the glow-worm lights her am’rous fire ! 
Thus, ere night’s veil had half obscur’d the sky, 
Th’ impatient damsel hung her lamp on high: 
True to the signal, by love’s meteor led, 
Leander hasten’d to his Hero’s bed.” 
Dr. Darwin also, in his admired poem the Botanic 
Garden, commemorates the splendor of the Glow- 
Worm among other phenomena supposed to be 
